Oh Seattle ...
 Home to coffee lovers, nature hikers, and rain enthusiasts, this city has become one of my favorite places in the good ol' U.S of A.
Which is weird because ... I've never actually been there.
This weekend will be the first time I will be going to the city where Nirvana and Pearl Jam waved their flannel flag of grunge... ahh those were the days.

Listen, I don't mind a little "Spice up your Life" or "Backstreets Back..Alright" but for the most part, Eddie Vedder, was my dreamy teenage idol.

Seattle is also responsible for creating cult classics such as 10 Things I hate about you.
Oh Heath Leadger.. may he rest in piece..

But lets get back to Seattle shall we, Why would anyone love a city where it rains 150 days a year?  And a sunburn is a wet dream!

It's because this place rocks! From the people to the food, Seattle has it going on.
I only have three days to make all my dreams come true, so  here is my list of the top 3 things I have to do while I'm in the land of my people ... Hipsters unite!

1. My First mission is to go to the Unicorn Bar in Capital Hill.

In this carnival themed bar, you can order a deep fried snickers bars, drink Pabst Blue Ribbon, all while wearing a unicorn helmet.

Dream job? Sign me up!

2. After drinking the night away.... I want to head over to Molly Moon's Ice Cream to get my sweet tooth fix on!

This delicious god sent pictured above is her Strawberry Rhubarb Sorbet. Not only is all of her ice cream handmade she also has a organization called  MOLLY MOON'S ANNA BANANA check it out and .... donate!!! She provides fresh milk to families in need for only $10 a month. You don't realize how much we need milk or use it. This will be a blessing to a family! BE THE BLESSING! Oh yeah and check out her blog Molly Moon's Ice Cream  for all your ice cream fantasies! 

Last but not least ... 

3. Take a very touristy picture near/ in front of/ on top of  the Space Needle. 

Buy this picture HERE 

I will be using the hastag #SNEEDLE

Maybe I'll try something like this 

What am I missing from this list?

I am a coffee, shopping, picture taking, food lover who is down for anything! 

Comment below to help a sista out!!

I will also be finding ideas through the  Fool Proof Living blog!

/Easter Brunch/

I was raised in a Christian household, so Easter is a big deal in our house. When I was a kid, my mom and dad would place eggs all around our house, and my sister and I would have to wait at the top of the stairs while my dad got the video camera running. When that record button lit up, we would race down the stairs to see who would spot the first vivid neon colored plastic egg. After counting out our chocolate and jelly bean loot, putting on the matching frilly dresses, and attending Easter service, we were back to the house for baked ham and deviled eggs. It was a family event all day!.

Well, this year is a little different. We decided we needed a vacation for spring break, and we decided to go to Las Vegas ... (my packing list is provided in this Post). 

This year, there was an Easter egg hunt down by the pool, and I'm listening to praise music while I write this post, and for Easter breakfast I had a delicious Eisenstein bagel; cinnamon raisin with thick cream cheese ... of course.

Listen, change is good, right?!

But in honor of this very special day, I have found 3 amazing blogs to help you plan your wonderful day called Easter.

If you are interested in making the most delicious looking Mini Spinach Quiche, head on over to the Unsophisticcook Blog.

If you haven't thought about what to make for Easter Brunch yet or need new inspiration for next year, head on over to The Domaine Home Blog  for 12 mouthwatering brunch ideas. 

We cannot forget about dessert. Over at the Taming Twins Blog they have created Caramel Egg Stuffed Easter Croissants. I will be making these as soon as I'm done sipping on my lava flow! 

I had mentioned playing music earlier. I am a big Spotify user and I'm listening to an amazing track called Easter Sunday.....here is the LINK.     

Happy Easter

xoxo

The Mess That Matters 

/#TBT....Austin, TX/

Let's take it all the way back to last year in Austin, TX!

What an amazing trip that was. Austin is my absolute favorite place in the whole wide world. Why, you ask?
The culture, life, weather, food, not to mention their capital building is made of pink granite. Austin, Texas has it going on!

I am so excited to share with you the fun I had in the capital that stole my heart <3

MEMORIES + LANE:

It was 95 degrees and we had a random thunder storm in the middle of the day, so of course I started dancing in it! 

We don't have that kind of excitement in California! The best part was that I was not the only one dancing! People came out of restaurants and local shops and started to dance in the rain as well. It turned into an amazing memory that I will always treasure!

 FOOD + DRINK:

Rainy street is like a warm huge from your favorite aunt! 

There is this amazing ... amazing sausage and beer tavern on Rainy St. 

If you're ever in Austin, you must..must go there.

BANGERS is so delicious, that people actually get tattoos of their logo to honor this diamond in the rough!

They stand by their food so much that they will even pay for the tattoo!

Please check them out--->BANGERS

I ordered the Wit beer with their Tempura Eggplant & Red Bell Pepper Vegan Sausage. 

(P. S I don't eat red meat)

My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

I can still remember the feeling of home when I was here!

and, we can't forget about dessert. I was walking along Brazos St. when I stumbled across this ever so elegant building called The Driskill. 

The hostess told me that they had a small cafe and that I should try their double chocolate cupcake. 

This cupcake was so rich and creamy and moist I almost fainted. I remember face timing my mom to show her this moment of pure bliss. 

I think I texted my mom this picture and said, "Mom I have a problem"... 

She told me " Do 50 crunches, it helps with the guilt."

The time I spent in Austin, TX made me realize how much I loved traveling and exploring new cities.

I am so blessed to be able to live this life...and on that note... I am going to leave you with a picture of my favorite (pink) capital building!

/Just a Tourist.../

Chicago's real nickname shouldn't be Chi Town....but Chow Town or maybe The Land of Gorge. 

I say this because the amount of tantalizing restaurants this city has to offer should be illegal.

Here is my Top 3 favorite restaurants in the windy city:

Number 1.

 La Cantina in the Italian Village 

We decided to check out the Italian Village which is located at 71 W. Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603. Go there!

 It's a great escape from the busy streets of Chicago. You have a choice between three different restaurants all located in this one area. We chose to eat at La Cantina. 

Delicious + Cozy are the two words that come to my mind when I think about this place. 

I ordered the lasagna, and was more than blown away when it came to the table. The best part of lasagna, in my opinion, is the cheese that is baked on top.

Well, they obviously feel the same way.

Number 2.

RPM

This is the food child of Bill and Giuliana Rancic, Doug Psaltis, and Lettuce Entertain You.

 One of the hardest places to get in to. If you get a reservation here, consider it a golden ticket. My good friend, Adam Leebow, some how got us a table and let me tell you, it is everything I thought it would be! 

I feel like I need to say something about the Happy Birthday cotton candy dish. I went to the bathroom and when I arrived back at the table, I was serenaded with the " Happy Birthday" song. I immediately was taken back and blushing, not because I was embarrassed by this, but because my birthday isn't until August. I guess Dave (the guy on the far right) saw them on other guest's tables and during my leave of absence told the waiter it was my birthday.

Talk about a night to remember.  

Number 3. 

Fig & Olive 

1. Taken by me 

2: Taken by Fig & Olive

I was invited by the president of Olivia Garden and my boss to eat here for our last night in Chicago. What a wonderful way to wrap up the show. 

The first dish we ordered was the CHEESE assortment with Fig Jam, Marcona Almond & Toast Fromage de Chèvre, Gorgonzola Dolce, Robiola , Manchego, Rocchetta .

Absolutely amazing!

The waitress recommend the CHILEAN SEA BASS for my main dish which was marinated with lemon + thyme. It comes with carrot, asparagus, celery root purée, heirloom potato, charmoula mascarpone harissa olive oil emulsion. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Chicago....you really get the saying...

a way to a woman's heart is through her stomach. 

Right?

/Chi Town/

This photo was taken by Stephanie Kaplan

The Windy City, The Second City, or Chi Town. Whichever name you want to call it, Chicago is one of my favorite places to visit in the good 'ol U.S of A. It's like no other city I've ever been to. 

Last year, I got the opportunity to work at the American Beauty Show 2014. 

I had such an amazing time, I just have to share a few of my favorite moments with you. 

One place you have to go while you're there is Three Dots and a  Dash!

Not a lot of people know about this gem which makes it so unique. One of my friends from Chicago told me that we were going to a fun bar and that I just needed to trust her. I laughed as she looked at me with all seriousness. With that, I agreed and we began our journey to the most interesting bar I have ever been to. 

You walk down a random alleyway to be met by a row of tiki torches guiding the way to a secret door. When you enter the bar, you are greeted with a wall full of skulls hanging above the steps leading you down to the sitting area. It is full of lush greenery!

  You are transported to Hawaii Cira 1940's, and it's a warm 78 degrees inside.

It is simply magical!

Here are some pictures from last year.

Photo's courtesy of :Kalie Calder + Google Plus Three Dots and a Dash 

Also, a great place to get real Chicago style deep dish pizza is from Lou Malnati's. 

Here I am last year. Can't you see the excitement on my face! 

Look at this delicious slice of authentic Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza!!!

Photo Courtesy of: The Delicious Life

Things I am looking forward to for this trip to Chicago!

Bar + Food

1. Have a drink at The Signature Lounge .

It is located on the 95th floor of the John Hancock Center Building. The views must be amazing.

2. Eating at GT Fish. It's a little pricey but totally worth it! 

3. Get a delicious doughnut at The Doughnut Vault! 

Parks + Monument 

1. Visit the Bean/Cloud Gate!  

2. The Navy Pier!

3. The Willis Tower!

Let's take this city by storm! 

/Bagels + Coffee: NY edition/

A toasted cinnamon raisin bagel, thick cream cheese and a caramel macchiato.

That, my friend, is my perfect breakfast. I almost wish it was 6 AM again, and that is saying something!

For the last day of the IBS New York International Hair Show we decided it was time to enjoy something New York does best: bagels.

We owed ourselves for working so hard those last 4 days.

 I'm talking 14+ hours a day! I earned those carbs! 

Caffe Bene has chains all around the nation but started in South Korea in 2008. They are primarily based in Los Angeles and New York. So if you're ever craving a delicious Bagel + Coffee, stop on in and enjoy their warm and inviting environment!
 It's almost like you never left your own living room.

MOST POPULAR CAFFE BENE LOCATIONS 

161 Broadway                                             3287 Wilshire Blvd #B

New York, NY 10019                                   Los Angeles, CA 90010

/Day one in the Big Apple/

There is no place like New York City. The lights, energy, and constant hustle of the working woman  makes this city a very special place to me. I was so excited to attend the IBS New York International Hair Convention and was thinking of writing this post about what I do, who I work with and so forth. Then I realized that I'd much rather talk about the amazing food  I experienced in this city.
If you had your hopes up about seeing a sneak peek into my work life,  don't worry, it will come up in another post, but for right now let's indulge together, shall we?

Have you seen the movie "Chef"?  If so,  you've experienced what I experienced, Euphoria!  Watching him make the best looking Cuban sandwiches was the cherry on top of all the amazing food we got to witness him create. If you have not seen that movie, stop reading this, go to Netflix, watch it, then come back to me and we can talk!

Ever since that movie, I've craved one of these bad boys and finally got to have my first one, EVER.
I was so excited to eat at Havana Central!

It's located on 151 W. 46th St, New York, NY 10036.  It was perfect because we were staying around the corner at the Crown Plaza Time Square.

 The minute you walk in you feel like your in little Havana in Miami, FL.

We got to sit on the top balcony overlooking the downstairs sitting area. It was beautiful. It made me want to put on a salsa skirt and heels!
When the waiter came over, I was so excited, I think I shouted, " THE CUBAN SANDWICH..."
Best decision of my life.
Look at it in all it's glory.

The pork was tender and juicy, the bread was soft on the inside and crispy on the outside, the pickle was heated just enough. This was a mess that I did not mind! 

I was in heaven!

If you are in New York, you have to try this place!  

Make reservations though, it tends to book quickly.

For those who love to cook, make your own Cuban Sandwich at home with this FREE Cuban Sandwich Recipe! 

Day one in the Big Apple was a success! 

More un-messing to come.