Good Eats - From Sushi to Macarons in DTLA

Downtown Los Angeles...Here We Come!

So us from the "burbs" like to live it up sometimes in the "city."
For this Sunday date nite, we drove down to Downtown for a little adventure.

FYI, this is how you know you are "old, boring parents from the burbs."

• Left the burbs at 4 pm...
• Went to do some Asian market shopping because we can do it quickly without the kids...
• Made reservation for 6 pm, but got there like 20 mins early...(to beat the crowd b/c tomorrow is a school day)
• Picked Sunday as a date night, so there are free street parking...(and to beat the traffic b/c tomorrow is a school day)
• Had dinner, dessert and were on the fwy by 7:30 pm (b/c tomorrow is a school day)

Hey...it's the thought that counts (b/c we are old, boring parents from the burbs)!

Sugarfish was Wonderful!
http://www.sugarfishsushi.com/index.php

Preset menus to choose from 6, 7, 9 offerings of fish.
Everything was fresh, melt-in-your mouth texture, distinctive flavors of  "umami" (the Japanese's Sixth Taste).
If they sauced it already, don't add more soy sauce or wasabi.

note:  they do automatically add on a 16% gratuity...Maybe, that was why our waiter was not too interested in our dinning experience. But, it's still worth going to, IMHO.

For Dessert:  'Lette Macarons - Downtown Location
http://www.yelp.com/biz/lette-macarons-los-angeles

Currently, there are 3 locations in Los Angeles:  Downtown, Pasadena & Beverly Hills
http://www.lettemacarons.com/

The storefront was very minimalist, but you know what the focus is...Macarons...
Colorful...Perfectly Round...Rows after Rows...Eye Poppin'...Confections!

I chose as wisely as I could without actually buying one of each kind (next time, I will).
Coffee, Pistachio, Green Tea, Violet & Rose...$1.77 each (a very good price for such perfections)

Green Tea was the most underwhelmed, the coffee, pistachio and violet were all true to their flavors.
I was very surprised by how light and a tag bit less sweet than the many other versions I have tasted.
I LOVE them all.

But I was Blown Away by the Rose!

The infusion of the rose essence delicate and yet so distinct, it was like  a sweet rose petal slowly melting in your mouth...crazy good.

Sunday Reflection - Oh Happy Day!

Oh Happy Day...Jesus Culture

I woke up to one of those mornings that I am filled with the joy and blessings of my current life.


It's not perfect...far from it..
                              But...I feel "Good Enough."

• Whatever happened yesterday, God had Forgiven.
• Whatever will come, God holds the Truth.
• Whatever is today, it will be "Good" because He is in it!

It's a Happy Day!

Oh Happy Day...Lyrics 

Oh Happy Day - Jesus Culture with Kim Walker Smith

The Allure of On-line Shopping...Danger Ahead...

On-line Shopping...
So Easy...So Convenient...So Dangerous (to the keeping of budget)

So we needed a couple of new showerheads...
Very limited selections at the usual stores...Wm, Tg, HD, & Ls.
Went online and it was like showerhead heaven.
from $19.99 to $1,999.99...who knew?

Functions, I didn't know I need, now they are a "must have" on my list.  Reading the reviews can be helpful or harmful...making decision harder than ever. "Information overload!" exclaimed my brain.

Now I am obsessed with find "The" showerhead for my wants and needs...3 hours later, I am still online!
Crazy right?!...I bet you do the same thing at one time or another...

That's the Allure of On-line Shopping.

You are not limited to what the store offers, with a few clicks, you have thousands of choices with...
Free shipping or purchase $50 and you get free shipping and a free prize...you name the gimmick, and it's going to be out there.

So, back to my showerheads...
After 3 hours, I decided to take a break...narrowed down to 2 choices and they are only in the "under $40" range.  Nerdy Hubby  would be happy to hear I didn't go for the hi-tech rain shower and steam function ones in the $999 range.

Will sleep on it for one more day before I click "Check Out."

Beware...

As Shopping Season is Approaching us...

Be Very Very Aware...

The Allure is So Very Very Strong!

Thinking About...Fried Chicken!

I am drooling!

Every so often...I think about Fried Chicken.
Not KFC, Church's or Popeyes...nothing to do with fast food.

Old Fashioned, brined, buttermilk, peanut oil, kind of fried chicken.

I usually do not cook or appreciate Paula Deen's recipes.  But her recipe for her Spicy Buttermilk Fried Chicken looks insanely good this Friday evening.

Fried chicken is one of those things that "I don't make."
I don't like to fry...what do I do with the oil after?  Don't have a bio-diesel car engine to pour into.

So here are a few suggestions if you live in L.A.

Honey's Kettle Fried Chicken - http://www.honeyskettle.com/index.html

Kettle Chicken, Kettle Fish, Kettle Fries, even Kettle Tea...
Then there is the biscuit, the hot cakes (even blue berries), hush puppies and the pies and cakes...

Golden Bird - http://www.yelp.com/biz/golden-bird-los-angeles#query:best%20fried%20chicken

Perfectly fried...Crispy skin...juicy meat...medium batter and a lot of yum!
Sides cannot out shine the bird.

And the institution of fried chicken and waffles - Roscoe's House of Chicken' N Waffles
http://www.roscoeschickenandwaffles.com/

Chicken & Waffles...Waffles with Chicken...
There are other stuff on the menu, but the only 2 reasons to go is Chicken and Waffles!

Well, I wish you Fried Chicken...Happy Bird Hunting!

Fun Thursday - Live Performances for Kids

L.A. Opera Open House...

This Saturday, November 5, 2011
http://www.laopera.com/support/openhouse.aspx

Introducing the art of Opera to children and their family...what fun!

The Geffen Playhouse...West Los Angeles

Theater for Families Series...10 Different Shows from September - June
http://www.geffenplayhouse.com/show_listing.php?filter=Saturday_Scene

This Saturday is "Theodore Boone and the Thrill of Rights"
http://geffenplayhouse.com/more_info.php?show_id=149

El Portal Theatre...North Hollywood

Shows for All Ages...Upcoming November & December
A Snow White Christmas
A Cinderella Christmas
http://www.elportaltheatre.com/events.html

There is a whole world out there waiting to be explored

...Check It Out!

Life In A Day - A Film By "The People" Around the World

Life In A Day...

Submissions from 80,000 people from around the globe.  People from 192 countries shot clips of their lives on July 24, 2010.

A documentary that serves as a time capsule to show future generations what it was like to be alive, what does it mean to be human on the 24th of July, 2010.

National Geographic & Youtube came together and produced an amazing piece of art and history. And you can watch the entire film for free on youtube!

Life In a Day Channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/lifeinaday

Trailer for the Project

Trailer for the Film

The Parent-Child Relationship

The Challenging Years of Parenting...

Adults often speak of children as challenging (i.e. difficult, moody, negative behaviors and so on).

I have often thought about it the other way around (including myself).  What if it is the parents who are challenging to the kids.

Kids are doing their job, growing up, physically, emotionally and developmentally.  Maybe it is the parents who are not keeping up?

Howard Glasser -  http://nurturinggreatness.net/howie.html
of Children Success Foundation and the designer of The Nurtured Heart Approach to parenting raised a few common sense questions to parents:

Why do we spend so little time and energy on our children when they "do the right thing?"
But...
Why are we so colorful, animated, and high energy and verbal when our children "do the wrong thing?"
If you were a child, which type of engagement get you more attention and connection?

Do you know why children are so "into" video games?
- Goals are clear
- Rules are defined
- Reward comes in the forms of winning and recognition 
- There is a "Re-set" button when you make a mistake or fail at one particular level
- There is no judgement, just consequences
- Pick right back up from where you left off

The new rule of parenting for the last decade has been "catch your children doing the right thing."
Glasser suggested create situations in which your children "will do the right thing." 

Reading Howard Glasser's The Nurtured heart Approach certainly made me realized how "challenged" I've been.  I do not agree with every aspect of his work.  I am sure, he doesn't expect nor want that of his readers and parents.  But, it's definitely help me to re-organize my thoughts.

All Children Flourishing - Igniting the Greatness of Our Children