Clarification

Keiko: does every pork have a chop?
Me: what?!

Smoothie Love

A special birdie friend shared these yummy recipes with me...

The OG Bowl
Blend: apple juice or soy milk, acai, bananas, strawberries
Top: granola, bananas, honey

Sharks Cove
Blend: apple juice or soy milk, acai, bananas, strawberries
Top: granola, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, goji berries, honey

Maui Sunrise
Blend: coconut milk, pineapple juice, acai, blueberries, strawberries, mango
Top: granola, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, coconut shreds, honey

Diamond Head
Blend: apple juice or soy milk, acai, bananas, blueberries, celery, spinach
Top: granola, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, honey

Off the Wall
Blend: guava juice, acai, bananas, strawberries, dark chocolate
Top: granola, bananas, kiwi, coconut shreds, honey

DaKine
Blend: chocolate soy milk, acai, bananas, strawberries, peanut butter
Top: granola, bananas, almond slices, honey

Banzai Bowl
Blend: apple juice or soy milk, acai, papaya, banana, strawberries
Top: granola, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, bee pollen, coconut shreds, honey

Surprise Dinner

When I got home this evening, the entire house was filled with the intense smell of corned beef. MMM... I was so surprised there is hot food. Ken cooked a big pot of corned beef and cabbage dinner for us. The meat was cooked to perfection and the cabbage was just right. I squirted some catsup and mustard on my plate and I went to town. It was such a pleasant surprise. Normally I stress over what to cook when I get home. It was so nice to eat with my teeth and not just swallowing everything down. I was so excited to eat and forgot to take a photo.

Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom

We celebrated July 4th with a dinner at the Newport Rib Company. Peanut had great fun trying out a rib. He got meat juice all over his face, hands and shirt. It was so much fun watching him eat that beef rib. He liked the BBQ sauce and the meat A LOT. It was hard to take that bone away from him. We had to give him a bath after this dinner before we enjoyed the fireworks show on Irene's balcony.

Whataburger

Ken came back from Texas last night and surprised me with my favorite burger! His flight was delayed for 2 hours and got home around 10pm. We didn't care how late it was, put them in the little toaster oven and assembled the burgers for a late night snack! Texas, they do fast food burger right!

Yummy Fish Heads -- Yuck!!

Went to the newly opened Korean supermarket to get some Kalbee b/c I've been craving meat. With joy, I pushed Peanut to the meat isle, but before I got there, I ran to a batch of eyes looking at me. Yuck!

Treats

Would you eat these colorful treats? There is a huge shop within the ex-Marshall Fields dedicated selling these neon goodies to your dogs. Spoiled dogs... I don't see any treats made for cats. What's wrong with this world?

Da Pork Chop

Mike Ditka's Restaurant has the most awesome pork chop. Five years ago with much reservation I ordered the pork chop fearing that it may taste gamy and porky. I was stunned by how delicious it was. This time I ordered it again. It's cooked to perfection like I remembered, no blood but tender inside. The outside has a thin crispy crust probably seared by high heat. The thin layer of fat on the outside gave it a great flavor. It's seasoned simply with just salt and pepper. The cherry sauce and mashed sweet potatoes are nice side kicks. I will forever link this meal to Chicago.

My Last Adult Only Dinner?

Ken and I joined Irene's Thursday Dinner Group to Fujiyama for dinner last night. As we drove there, we realized this could be our last adult dinner until 18 years from now. I ordered Chicken Teriyaki and Tempura Combo. It was delicious. Irene's Thursday Ladies' Dinner Group was fun. Everyone was extremely sociable and had great parents suggestions for Ken and I. We had a great time chatting with the ladies. They offered me suggestions on what I should do with my next sewing project. Of course, after dinner we went to Joann's and got more materials for my next sewing adventure. I am picking up my crafty skills again. I remember the last time I did anything crafty like this I was in the fourth grade. It's been a long time.

Sweets On My Mind

Just a few more days and these are not forbidden anymore. I should ask anyone who wants to see me to bring me a treat. I am so desperate. It's been a long time since I had a guilt free sweet treat. Orange is fine too. I am not so picky.

Mary's Summer Supper

Ken and I had a wonderful home made summer supper at Mary's place last night. We had so much fun. Most of all the company was top notch. We talked about anything and everything. Food was superb. It's nice to eat a "mom made" meal. It felt so good in the system and my blood tested out perfectly. We had:

• Sun dried tomato bruschetta with cream cheese
• Raspberry walnuts spinach salad
• Savory mushroom baked chicken
• Sauteed herb zucchini
• Harvest quinoa and wild rice pilaf

For dessert, we had a great time in the orange grove picking the fruit right off the trees. Here is my loot from last night.

My Raspberry Red Velvet Cake

Finally got to Stater Brothers to get a box of the Red Velvet Cake Mix and made this gorgeous cake. I used three boxes of raspberries to add a sour punch to this cake. I love it. It's so dramatic looking. There is another chunk left in the fridge. I should cut a piece.

Fish For Boys

These fish icon jelly sweet desserts were special releases for Japanese's Boy Holiday. Not sure why the fish icon but I will accept any excuse to get my hands on a treat.

Takoyaki

Once a year takoyaki comes back to Mitsuwa. I was lucky to visit Mitsuwa that on that day and was able to order these delicious hot balls of gooey stuff before they ran out. They were so good, I couldn't wait to let them cool down to eat. I burnt the top of my mouth, but who cares. I had takoyaki and you didn't.

Black & Red Baby Shower

My work group threw me an awesome baby shower three weeks ago. Yes, I've been slow updating my blog. Viviana + Jesika designed the whole Black + Red theme, my favorite!! It came out incredibly beautiful despite my other friends' opposition of using this color combo for my real Baby Shower. Barabara made this amazing Red Velvet Cake with chocolate frosting on it. Good thing I didn't have to test blood that day. I ate a huge piece plus some. This ginormous cake was gone within 2 hours. After this, all I can dream about is to have another piece of it. I plan on making one this weekend to take over to my buddy's house. Instead of strawberries, I will use raspberries. Yeah!!

Bored Observations -- in Vegas with restraints

"What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!" I wish this line works for me. I am here in Vegas surrounded by temptations -- yummy food and sweet drinks. I don't think my diabetic blood meter will lie for me.

I had to eat lunch alone by myself today, I felt super lonely even though I was surrounded by hundreds of people. Sitting there, I noticed people's butts are getting bigger and bigger. The butts barely fit within the surface area of the the chairs. What's wrong with us? What happens if only one cheek can fit? What are we going to do? Next, I was fixated on the slushy machine stirring the yummy colorful drink mixture. Round and round it goes...it stirred up my desire to have one of those. I found myself standing next to it and about to order one, but Peanut kicked me. It was Ken's mini me telling me, you can't drink while pregnant. Dang, I was brought back to reality. Next time I came to consciousness, I was standing in front of Lenotre staring at the delicious desserts. This time, I saw bubbles above people's head with this caption "here is a pregnant girl looking to stuff herself." Feeling defeated, I quickly turned around and headed up stairs to my 1300 sq ft suite. I came back to hug my metallic Apple for the rest of the afternoon... It's sugarless and guilt free.

I want macaroons

I can't wait to get off the gestational diabetes diet plan. I am craving for Macaroons again. These are so good with a cup of good quality coffee or tea.

Gestational Diabetes

So I am officially verified by numerous pokes that I have gestational diabetes. I have to kiss the freedom to eat good bye. Went to my first diabetes class today and got a folder worth of instructions on how, when and what to eat. This will make me focus on more things that I can't eat. I recently started eating Pinkberry frozen yogurt. I really don't want to stop. It's so addicting. Even the Pinkberry song said so. I must have it.

















Jesika, I am going to put you on a yogurt free diet. That's it.

PIg Knuckles

In 10/2005 we spent two days in Munich and two thousand photos later I can't forget this one. We walked by this place served pig knuckles and we couldn't move until we had one. It was one of the yummiest things I've ever had. It's skin was crunchy and the meat inside was tender and juicy. Perfectly salted. I enjoyed this feast with my new found drink -- bitter lemon. I miss Munich... Forget BMW let's have another pig knuckle.

Texas BBQ

So we found this hole in wall BBQ place in Dallas 02/2007. Of course, we couldn't decide what we wanted so we ordered everything. Needless to say, it was the best BBQ I've ever had. We stuffed ourselves before attending El Corteo. Good thing we didn't have to do any acrobatic moves.