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New post! Head over to Wordpress to check it out: http://andreasomething.wordpress.com/2011/05/16/popeye-would-be-ashamed/

I'm moving!

Well my blog is....

I've decided to make the switch over to Wordpress. I've used it previously and after tooling around with it for a little while yesterday, I remembered how much I love the interface and more advanced options.

So new post. And feel free to head on over to AndreaSomething.wordpress.com from time to time. (Will probably be AndreaSomething.com in the next few days... but I'm working on a few things first.)

I promise I won't bite. 

Celebrate the Good Times

As I alluded to in my last post, work is going very well right now. Which is such a welcome change from the previous few months. Working at a start-up has many, many advantages to it. We're flexible, we're innovative, our schedule and daily tasks are constantly changing so we're always on our toes. We're scrappy and we're risk takers. But it has a few downsides. Sometimes it's stressful. We are small, but our goals are big. That often translates into working loooong hours without much thanks (or compensation!). But that's okay. It's what I signed up for.

So yesterday I officially took a new position in work. It was a good day. A celebration of sorts was therefore necessary. And thanks to a bottle of wine I was gifted, I decided it was going to translate into a home cooked meal.

It was amazing. I haven't been cooking much, and getting back in the kitchen after a few weeks of snacking and "making do," it felt great. It also provided the perfect opportunity to try out SooFoo. I had picked this up, on impulse, at Whole Foods a few weeks ago and I've been wanting to try it since.

Soo Fooing Good

Check out the ingredient list: barley, black lentils, brown lentils, buckwheat, green lentils, long grain brown rice, oats, rye berries and wheat berries. Day-um! It cooks up like brown rice and if you visit the website, there are many great ways you can jazz it up. Next time I think I'll add some mushrooms and onions :) This time, I just cooked with some chicken stock for added flavor. Highly recommended.

And then there was the star of the show. Ribeye steaks. Cooked medium rare. Kind of on the rare side. Kind of delicious. I always get nervous grilling on my own, but I must say, I think I nailed it! You may refer to me here on out as the "Grill Master."

The path to my heart? Ribeyes...

I roasted up a few brussel sprouts and bam - dinner was served!

Success, I has it.

My friends and I gobbled it all up. I think SooFoo is going to become a staple of mine. It's nutritious, flavorful, and has a texture like rice/pilaf/cooked grain but a little crunchy too. I can't wait to make it again and experiment a little.

What's your favorite way to celebrate good news?

Case of the (Anti) Mondays

Yesterday was a good day. I've got to tell you ladies and gents, May has been a good month so far.

My baby turned a month older. (I know, but it's like the equivalent of a year for a dog! It's a big deal...)

Bunny Love

And I got a new position/promotion at work. I'm extremely happy about this (duh). And while I will probably be working a considerable amount more, I'll do so happily.

So when things are going swimmingly, it's nice to top off with a cocktail. Especially when work is within walking distance of one of my favorite restaurant/bars EVA.

Some may call it hipster heaven, but I don't care.  The food and drinks are amazing. The service, although slow at times (I'm looking at you - lunch!), is personable and above par. And the people watching? Priceless. 

Anything with mustard cannot be bad.

Mini-corn dogs? Don't mind if I do! There were lots of other bites, but I wasn't in picture mode. If you do go, you MUST order the mussels. They are heaven. Habanero-infused heaven. I'm dying just thinking of them. Also, if you order them you MUST allow the accompanying fries to soak up all the brothy buttery goodness in the bowl. I'm serious.

Here are a few snapshots of the interior. Seriously guys, this place is tragically hip. The inside is reminiscent of a cabin. With lots of books. Books everywhere, in fact.

A bibliophile's dream.

 I especially love the brick walls.

Demand (less)!

For a place that gets pretty crowded, it's amazing how intimate the atmosphere remains. I think it's one of those places that is equally appropriate for a romantic night out OR a large group. I'll take both :)

My How Time Flies!

My baby is 5 months old today!

Ain't I a cutie?

Would it be too much if I gave him his own ribeye tonight? On an unrelated note... When did I become that girl? ;)

But honestly. Just a few months ago my little bear cub looked like this:

Me? Shy?

I can't stand it! I know everyone says it, but wow. They grow so fast!

Now, while I decide if the big boy gets a steak tonight or not, he will be getting some new new spoils to play with. Did you know Ross has an AMAZING selection of dog toys? I didn't....until today :)

A few new goodies

Unpictured was another "Pork femur" bone like the one my friend Lioyd brought him once and for which he goes CRAZY for and a few other goodies he has already gotten into. Also, he got some new dog food. (I'm sorry if you're not a dog person, but this is my blog, so please allow for this moment of canine indulgence)

Not your average chow

This stuff is not cheap. In fact, it's probably one of the most expensive dog food brands out there. BUT I think it's worth it. I wasn't paying attention, but most dog food is full of corn, fructose and other fillers. NOT protein. And I've noticed Tino's coat (which is gorgeous and full and thick by) has been extremely dull. And his skin is flaky and itchy. That's not cool. And to be honest, I feel bad that I wasn't paying attention. Thankfully, I've done a little research and now he's eating food where the first few ingredients are animal proteins (in this case - lamb) and full of good fatty acids. Phew! I mean, if I'm going to go to the trouble of buying organic fruit and vegetables and free range protein for myself, I think it's only fair that I practice the same with my dear pup.

Am I right?

Am I the only crazy dog person out there? Do you have any pets that you like to spoil?

Mama Mia

Happy Mother's Day to all of the wonderful mothers out there, especially my own.

I'm extremely lucky to be surrounded by loving, caring and strong women in my life. I am forever grateful.

I'm not great at the mushy stuff, so here are some favorite pictures...

At the Grand Canyon in 2008. ( Can you believe I lived in Arizona for 8 years and that was my first time there???)

Me, Mi Madre, brother Alex

At my dear friend Angela's wedding last Spring.

Pretty sister Dianne, my Dad, Stepmom Ann, me

Greasewood Flat. It's a Scottsdale tradition. (Cheap beers too!)

Dianne, Ann, Me

 Law School Graduation:

Alex, Mom, Me

To all my moms, hope you had a good day :)

Seis de Mayo

I hope you all had a wonderful Cinco de Mayo. I may have had a few too many Margaritas. And Chips. And Guacamole. But that's life.... and today's Friday :)

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Laker Hater

My friends know this, and if they don't then they clearly have never spent time around me in the months between October and May/June. I do NOT like the Lakers for many, many reasons. Most of them arbitrary, but I'm fine with that. I won't bother you with the details. But suffice it to say, this girl loves to see them lose.

So last night was a good night. Lakers lost (to one of my favorite teams!) and I was fortunate enough to be at a lovely beachside venue to watch it go down. I've been to the BeachWood before, but usually for happy hour. So it was nice to sit down, watch the game and have a few snacks.

My date and I ordered a few appetizers to share. I think I prefer this to ordering entrees. You should do this. Here are some crappy iphone snapshots:

Dip trio: garlic hummus, olive tapenade, roasted red pepper salsa

Salt and Pepper Calamari

Lobster Macaroni and Cheese

They were all amazing. The calamari was nice and crispy and very flavorful. But who are we kidding - lobster mac and cheese? I DIE. So good. Worth a trip back, even if the place was a little trendy.

The view from the Patio. That would be the ocean.

Wasabi Peas Please

I've mentioned it before, but finding lunch in Little Italy, let alone an affordable lunch, is not that easy. Sure, there are plenty of restaurants. But for me, a full plate of pasta or pizza doesn't really sound that appetizing during the middle of the day. Especially if I plan on NOT having a food coma come afternoon. And although Burger Lounge makes an amazing salad and quinoa patty, at 8 bucks a pop, it's not that wallet friendly. (Tastebud friendly, yes)

So today, finding myself without a lunch, I decided to head down to the 7-Eleven down the street for a soda and some snacks (they have pop chips! my fave!). I know, healthy.

After perusing the aisles for a few minutes, I left with these in hand:

Love.

Wasabi peas! These little boogers claim to be all natural, cholesterol free and MSG free. For a quick snack, not too bad.

Boogers?

The verdict? Love them! They are crunchy, have a nice little kick and pretty cheap. Every once and a while you get one that really clears the ol' sinuses. Fortunately, I had plenty of liquid nearby to extinguish the fire in my mouth.

Wasabi peas: best if accompanied with Big Gulp.

After a few handfuls:

Wasabi face.

Also, don't worry. This wasn't my entire lunch. Just the most exciting part ;)

Bring On the May Flowers!

Happy May Day! I hope it was a lovely one for you! I have no complaints :)

Spring has sprung (honestly, it feels like summer is here already) in San Diego, and flowers are everywhere. One place that ALWAYS has beautiful flower arrangements is Influx Cafe in Little Italy. They always have bright and visually stunning arrangements on display. That + the best espressos in the city make it one of my favorite spots. (Doesn't hurt that it's also super close to work...)

Here are a few arrangements that I've managed to snap on my phone while waiting for a caffeine fix:

I love this deep scarlet red. So elegant.

Artichokes are not just for eating!

Same with lemons ;)

I think my favorite is the lemon arrangement, but I really, really like the artichokes. Hopefully I can take a cue from these beautiful and unusual arrangements and branch out next time I decorate with flowers inside. Fingers crossed!

As far as my weekend went, it was full of sun, sun and more sun! Throw in a little dancing into the early hours of the morning, great friends and I'd say it was a success!

Unfortunately, I was a little forgetful when it came to the something pretty important.

Someone did not apply enough sunblock this weekend. Dummy.... 

Lobster face = fail. I'll make sure to double up on the sunblock this week. Sigh....

How did you spend your weekend?