Also – I feel like I am promoting crazy drinking in this post (and sort of the last) and that’s the last thing I want to do. Just remember to keep it safe kiddies!!

You can drink – but in MODERATION! :D

Don’t go loko.

The house and decorating aside, the kitchen was what really had me seething in a sudden desire to grow the heck up and make money and find a permanent place to live. I say this, but in all honesty, I’m a bit scared to grow up and graduate. Don’t get me wrong, I can’t wait for June, but after that it’s up to me to make what I want of life and though I have strong passions in art and food…I’m not quite sure how those interests are going to pan out or turn into a career. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see, or work and see I should say since I’m currently trying to launch Sweet Pencil as a legitimate freelance business.

Sorry, I got sidetracked…enough about my life and wanting a home and pretty kitchen designed all by myself with granite counters and convenient drawers and fresh ingredients in store…

The point of this gathering was for my Mom and her friends to catch up, have fun, and COOK! My third favorite thing to do is cook (after baking and drawing, that is). Lisa gave hints of making pasta and so when my dad said he’d be drilling in the hallway for hours I immediately imposed myself upon my Mom’s plans. Thankfully, I was accepted and the rest of the night was simply spectacular.

Before the labor of food preparation began, Lisa whipped out some martini glasses rimmed with sugar, lined with chocolate, and filled with chocolate martini…ohh so good, chilled and wonderful. Not to mention it went well with the fancy-pants cheese, crackers, grapes, pears and lemon oil that Lisa had set out for appetizers. I was in my own epicurean dream surrounded by a kitchen of Christmas bows and spirited lights, a table setting straight out of Pottery Barn, and fresh food that did nothing but please my overly picky and particular taste buds.

We began the cooking/baking by mixing some sweet ingredients together on the stove to make a syrup for the caramel corn that we proceeded to toast in the oven all night. It was crisp, crunchy and as addicting as looking at food recipes online (okay, maybe this isn’t a common problem for most people, but for me, it’s a serious handicap when it comes to getting work done!).

After this, I’m not sure of the order in which we gourmet chopped, mixed, kneaded, tasted, tossed, tonged, layered and stirred the ingredients…but I will tell you of the final results. Let it be known that the consumption of this glorious cheese (I have no idea what the name of it is) with the lemon oil and ground pepper continued nonstop throughout this whole pretend-to-be-a-chef part of the night.

First course : homemade caesar vinaigrette dressing (with lemon + anchovies + garlic + other fresh stuffs), homemade toasted croutons dipped in pesto, and shaved parmesan. This, hands down, even over Cheesecake Factory, was the best salad I’ve ever had. So much unprocessed flavor that I think my mouth had a seizure. This was accompanied by a white wine that was scrumptious as well (don’t know the label).

Main course: Lasagna complete with handmade noodles, meat sauce, and some other creamy filling. My Mom and I got to make the noodles. We kneaded some flour and egg and maybe some salt and oil? I can’t quite remember, but anyway, we kneaded that then took it to Lisa’s fancy rolling machine.

Through this we created the freshest, thinnest, most melt-in-your mouth pasta that I have ever digested. Good lord. This, also, was accompanied by a wine. I wish I knew the label because it was so good. I don’t normally like red, but it damn near converted me to the dark side of wines.

Dessert: We were full, yes, but so what? What is life without some sweetness? Duh, I think you all know my philosophy on this by now. Save room in your second stomach for dessert or you just aren’t my friend. Lisa was all responsible for this one…I think she said it was how Italians eat their ice cream. Graeter’s Double Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, shot of espresso, hazelnuts, and some rum and maybe something else, but anyway…mmmm. We sipped away on this for what seemed like hours talking about the enneagram and other things that made me feel like some sort of mature adult.

All I have to say is thank you to Lisa and everyone else for letting me join. The company, conversation and learning that went on during this pasta-making, taste-bud-party fiasco was so enjoyable. It was the perfect start to the Christmas season!

As for this post – this post is about Taza. Taza is a wonderful little coffee/tea cafe off of Jefferson near Daniels and Turner Hall. I wish I had known this existed when I lived as a freshman in Daniels…or I wished I liked coffee at all back then. It’s an adorable, cozy two story shop with lots of couches, a stage for melodious performances, a small outdoor patio, board games, and the most delicious selection of latte flavors in the Clifton area. On this particular afternoon, with my dear friend Rachael, I ordered a maple vanilla iced latte while she sipped a cinnamon brown sugar iced latte.

Both were superb though Rachael claimed mine tasted like watermelon because of the soy milk…bizarre (I blame her incredible sensitized sense of smell for this mix up). The espresso/coffee isn’t burnt like a certain chain’s tends to be…(hint -they just put opened a new location in CCM…) and the flavors…well you know me…they had the option for a peanut butter or almond coconut mocha! Hooray! I don’t even know if Roh’s street (the other superb Clifton cafe) offers those kinds of glorious options of loading your drink with sweetness. Throw vanilla and caramel to the side and experiment every once in a while, it’s most definitely worth it.

magicalness 2 : steak & casual fun.

magicalness 3 : DISNEYLAND.

In order of magicalness this blog will be written.

(1.)CUPCAKES. On Wednesday Brett and I went to Crumbs! Crumbs it has been nearly a year since I’ve tasted you. The display in this store on S. Santa Monica was impressive. There were way more flavors than listed on the website and I was giddy happy over the sugarly colorful array of calories.

I bought the Fluffer Nutter (peanut butter marshmallow frosting with marshmallows baked inside) and the Coffee Toffee (vanilla cake with caramel inside and coffee caramel icing on the outside rimmed with toffee – Nana I thought of you when getting this flavor!). I made the mistake of eating a half of each in one sitting. sicky? a little. I was disappointed in the dryness of the cake, but the flavors were a blend of favoritism. Also, I think the sweetness overload, for once in my life, defeated me! I’ve realized now that Crumbs cupcakes taste better when they are picked at.

Now, it pains me to say this, but, I think my cupcake loyalty has switched to Sprinkles. I’ve written about this bakery before, and now again, I must praise, praise, praise their holy balance of icing to moistily meltable cake…each bite assimilates in my mouth and enlightens my tongue in SUGAR PERFECTION. I was lucky enough this past Friday (after a long meeting at work) to discover that there was a Sprinkles TRUCK (yes a vehicle that carries around these cupcake gems and delivers them to lucky street-goers) outside of my work, waiting for me to bombard it. Without much thought I got the lemon coconut. Sigh. so. yum.

Speaking of trucks…they are quite the popular thing in LA (and Portland for that matter). People at work have raged about the Nom Nom Truck and since it,too, was outside on Friday, I bought a little taco of pork, pickled veggies, lettuce, and spicy sauce. $2.50 for a perfectly gourmet tasting lunch from a kitchen on wheels!! I was thrilled.

(2.)STEAK. Food goodness continued that day when Brett and I went to take advantage of my Birthday entree at a Mexican restaurant in Westwood. Margarita Gigante, guacamole, steak, shrimp and chicken fajitas, AND fried ice cream. After this slew of food we bar hopped, met some people that wouldn’t leave us alone, met some Aussies or Irishmen (I don’t really know) and then crashed at home and slept in and had the most wonderful lazy Saturday accompanied with free FroYo (true B&A style).

GIGANTE.

Saturday night my boss/supervisor at work hosted a BBQ at her and her partner’s beautiful home. It felt like a true LA backyard shindig – gourmet cheese, wine, mini-crackers (haha), kabobs of steak and chicken, grilled mushrooms, pearl couscous, mac salad, asparagus, ribs, a huge cake…It was so nice to hang out with co-workers outside of BLT! This co-op has been the first in which I’m part of a real “team”. Go Marketing Team!! I love it and the camaraderie is great…totally helps pull you through those tough workdays.

(3.)DISNEYLAND. What more can I say? I fulfilled my childhood dreams that stem from watching the Disneyland-fun Sing-a-Long VHS almost every week as a 6 year old. My favorite parts consisted of the song at the Haunted Mansion, Pooh Bear failing at eating his honey, and the Canyon roller coaster on which all of the little kids in the video looked like they were having an absolute blast. Mom, you deprived me of this joy!!! How dare you?!

Anyway, I finally got to see Adventureland, Frontierland, New Orleans, Fantasyland, Toon Town, Tomorrowland, Main Street U.S.A… FINALLY. I gasped out loud when we came across the Haunted Mansion. I then started to recall the sing-a-long video…and so did Brett and suddenly our little kid excitement increased times twenty. We rode the tea cups, Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Carribean….and mucho more!

We also waited in line with the other little girls to see the princesses! Jasmine, Mulan, and Belle (who I have a new found affinity for. So much to relate to – France, books, Felipe the horse, a loving Dad (miss you Daddy!!), and a beast (or a few)) were the princesses that we got to “meet”. Speaking of princesses, we also saw Tiana singing in New Orleans – she was so cute and fun!

We continued walking around, shopping, saw more characters…but what really impressed me overall was the seamless architecture and landscaping of the entire park. Everything was integrated and themed in such a way that made me forget I was in icky LA. I wish I knew the right architectural terms…but everything from the woodwork, ironwork, the plants, the small sets, the themed music, the displays as you waited in line, the cleanliness, the perfection and enchantment of every structure and composition was impeccably imaginative and indulgent for any mind from 2 to 22 and beyond. I was in love!!! I don’t think my mouth ever closed – constant awe and nostalgia in every street corner and ride…to say the least, it was magic at magic’s greatest. Thank you Walt Disney…over 50 years later…people are still falling back through childhood into your world of happiness :D