Recipes: Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Brussels Sprouts, Cooking, Recipes

I went to do my monthly grocery shopping the other day and I found myself standing in the produce section looking at recipe cards the grocers have for customers to take.  I grabbed one that said Glazed Brussels Sprouts  and I headed on my way.  Please keep in mind that I had never purchased this vegetable or even tasted it.



Today I prepared them and to my surprise they were pretty tasty. My hubby liked them but didn't love them.  I'm trying to expand our palate and as I do that I will share with you my experiences.

More loveliness here »

Life: Mending a Broken Heart

Life, Love, Relationships

Like I previously mentioned I began this blog when I was planning my wedding and now it has grown into my personal outlet where I share with the world my inner thoughts.  Okay, so I might be exaggerating a tad but I do like sharing with you real things that are going on in my life.


Here is my dilemma:

A close friend of mine has a broken heart (yes it is a friend and no it’s not me) and I don’t know how to fix it.  I feel like I might be taking a different approach than my other friends and I don’t know if I’m being too insensitive.  Let’s just say that the love of her life did something that he shouldn’t have and they broke up as a result of it.  I love her dearly and even had her stay at our apartment for a couple of days until she finds her own place.  The problem is that a lot of our mutual friends keep texting me and asking me what they should do to cheer her up.  I believe that she should have time to “grieve” the relationship and then go out but my other friends are adamant about taking her out.  Please keep in mind that this happened a few days ago.


The questions I have for you are:

  • Do you believe infamous claim once a cheater always a cheater?
  • Should someone have a grieving period after a relationship ends? If so how long?
  • Am I being too insensitive by not taking her out and about myself?
  • If your best friend had a broken heart what would you do to cheer her up?     



I should know the questions to all these answers but I feel that it’s always good to get an outsiders perspective.


I would appreciate any feed back you can give me as I attempt once more to help my friend mend her broken heart.

Rubber Ducky You’re the One…

Baking, DIY, Sweets

..making chocolate so much fun.  Okay so that might not be the right words but this past week they made my cupcakes absolutely adorable.  My cousin’s are both pregnant and our family decided to throw them a joint baby shower two weeks ago.





I love baking so I decided to bake something special for them.  I made vanilla cupcakes with baby blue butter cream icing.





The design I was going for did not come out right since I never took into account how hot and humid it was going to be that weekend.  Let me just say that my adorable duckies that were supposed to bring the design together became nothing but pool of chocolate and icing. Complete and utter failure but still delicious.




The duckies were easy to make and if I can make them in my first attempt you can too.  You will need to purchase a candy mold, candy melts, oil base food coloring for added color, and something to stir them with. Once you have your materials then you’re ready to begin.  Follow the directions on the mold.  Clean the mold. Dry it.  Melt the candy melts in the microwave (or in my case melt the chocolate in a double broiler).  Pour the melted chocolate into the molds and let it set in the refrigerator.  So those were basically the instructions that came with the mold.  What I learned along the way was that if you work with chocolate you need to have a candy thermometer handy.  It turns out that chocolate is sensitive and one needs to learn how to temper it correctly.  Since I used Ghirardelli chocolate for my duckies I found it useful to read what they had to say about melting it correctly.  Let me just tell you that I found it easier to work with white chocolate rather than milk chocolate.  To get the different colors on the duckies I mixed the colors in a separate bowl and added them first to the mold then on top of those colors I added the color yellow.  I used a long pick but you can use special brushes they have at the craft store for this specific task.  It was so easy to make especially if you have a microwave where you can melt the candy and then just pour.  I hope you guys have fun making your own designs.


I really enjoyed making these and I can’t wait to try other molds.  Next time I’ll make sure to check the weather report before hand.

Have you guys ever worked with chocolate before or attempted anything with candy molds? 

Life: Getting to Know What he Loves

FIFA, Life

Since June 11th of this year all you hear in our apartment is the loud bee like sound of the bubuzuelas or what looks like a plastic trumpet.  We are coming towards the end of the World Cup and the excitement in the air grows greater with each passing game.  I was never much of a “soccer” fan but I think that’s because I was never educated on how the sport was actually played.  I realized before the World Cup actually began that either I was going to get annoyed with my hubby for constantly watching the games or I could enjoy them along with him.  I chose the latter and this year I told my hubby that if he wanted me to stay engaged in the game then he should spend the time trying to teach me about it so that I can follow along.   Since some of you might be in the same predicament that I was in I have decided to share the knowledge I have gained through watching countless games since it began this year.  I haven’t learned everything by any means since this is my first time actually following the World Cup.  What I can say is that learning about the game has prevented several fights from ensuing in my household.

  • The World Cup is held every 4 years and different countries host it.
    • 2014 Brazil
  • It is a month long event.
  • There can be ties in the first round since it is based on a point system
    • There is a mathematical equation that is used to determine who is the winner of the first round the amount of points that is given in ties, wins, and losses. 
      • 3 points for a win
      • 1 point for a tie
      • 0 for a loss
  •  You cannot have a tie the rest of the game.
    • If a tie occurs somewhere besides the first round then they first go to overtime.
      • About 30 minutes all together.
    • If it’s still tied after overtime then it goes to penalty. 
      • In penalties each team gets five free kicks and who ever gets the best out of that wins the game.
      • If they are still tied after that then each team shots one penalty until somebody wins.
  • The first round has 32 teams.
  • The second has 16 teams.
  • The quarterfinals has 8 teams.
  • The semifinals have 4 teams.
  • The finals have 2 teams.
  • Where it gets tricky in the manner in which teams are paired up in the second round.  Once you understand that the teams are linked up with a lesser team then the rest is clear.  What I mean is that the 32 teams were divided into 8 groups of 4 each.  
    • Each of the 8 groups has a first and second place winner.
    • The first place winner plays the second place winner of another group and vice versa.
      • For example: Group A #1 plays Group B #2 and Group A #2 plays Group B #

That is pretty much the format of the World Cup.  I won’t continue to bore you with more details since someone could easily go on speaking on the subject matter for a few more posts.  If you want more information visit here, here, here or simply Google it.

One thing that I would like to mention is that in the rest of the world “soccer” is known as futbol and it really is a huge thing unlike here in the U.S.  If you want to join the campaign to bring the world cup to the U.S. please sign the petition here.
I hope I simplified futbol enough for you to enjoy watching a game with someone you know that loves the game.  I really appreciate the hubby for teaching me about the game.  On a small side note my mommy is now a futbol convert after my hubby took the time to tell her how it works and no way in a million years would I have imagined this to be possible.
Do you have anything to add to this list?

A Pelican Hill Wedding

Photos, Purple, venue, Wedding

On my previous post I shared with my friend’s candy buffet well now I would like share with you some photos I took of her special day.

Isn’t the ocean beautiful from here?  The Pelican Hill has an amazing view especially on a clear day. 

My friend’s wedding was outside and was fortunate that it was a lovely southern California day.  
I’m obsessed with clean bathrooms that I couldn’t resist taking a photo especially since nobody was there.
I got to hold the bouquet for a tad while my friend used the restroom and I couldn’t resist taking a snap of these beautiful calla lilies especially because purple is my favorite color. 
Simple but lovely.
The maid of honor and my friend’s oldest daughter as her she sees her mom walk down the aisle. 
The beautiful bride and groom.
I just had to take a photo of her train.
She looked like a goddess. 
The centerpieces were just as lovely as everything else and I still can’t believe that I didn’t win one. 
The gold table setting matched the rest of the golden color scheme.
The only dancing at the wedding was done by these Khmer dancers as a way to honor the bride and groom.
If you’ve read through my blog before you must know my obsession with popcorn and I thought it was lovely that they served it on the appetizer. 
The amazing and delicious cake that they served at the wedding. Behind the cake was the candy buffet that I swear really was there but you can’t see it from this photo.  
Overall the wedding was a different experience for my hubby and I since we are used to loud parties that don’t end early.  I would describe the wedding as beautiful, enlightening, and lovely.  The couple did not accept gifts but instead opted to accept donations for an organization they run that provides rice to the Cambodian population.  During dinner they presented videos of the couple doing humanitarian work in Cambodia and it was refreshing to see how these two individuals in such a short time of knowing each other found harmony in helping others.  To me my friends that is something that you can’t put a price on.  I wish the lovely couple a long and happy marriage and hope that they continue to do good in this world.  
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Love is Sweet: Part 2

Candy Buffet, Gold, Purple, Ribbon, Wedding

In my previous post I showed you our candy buffet and told you that I was fortunate enough do have done my friends candy buffet too.  Now I would like to show you photos from my friend’s wedding.

I purchased a “photo box” at Marshall’s and added some ribbon around it pretty it up.  I bought all the gold and purple ribbon at the Fabric Barn.  If you haven’t had the chance to visit down town Los Angeles’s Fashion District and live near Long Beach you should really check out this place.

I bought the bags at Paper Mart and decorated them with purple card stock from Michael’s.  Since my friend wanted me to keep everything simple I stamped a thank you on them and added some ribbon. I think they turned out very good.

I bought some of the candy from Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, Big Lots, Target, and from Costco.  I did the name tags with ivory and purple card stock and wrote the names myself.

I left a gap between the candy because they were also going to have a “kid” cake.  I purchased all the jars at the Flea Mart or Swapmeet and cleaned them up myself.  If you choose this route don’t be afraid to haggle with the people.  

I bought everything for $350 and it served about 100 people.  My friend only wanted the candy buffet for the children but unfortunately the adults at the wedding didn’t get the message. The candy was not enough for the 170 guest she had and since she originally told me it was for 70 people I only gave myself a small cushion.

My hubby snatched this photo to show me how successful the candy buffet was.  Next time I’ll make sure to ask how many guest are actually invited to the wedding.

Love is Sweet: Part 1

Candy Buffet, Sweets, Wedding

I’m back and just like I promised I will be sharing with you all that I’ve done. I will begin by telling you about my friend’s wedding that took place on June 18, 2010.  My friend and her new husband were fortunate enough to get married at one of the most beautiful venues I’ve ever been to, the Pelican Hill.  They had a lovely wedding and the service at the venue was top  notch.  I couldn’t believe that I was among the several vendors they hired.  I’m not a professional by any means but my friend wanted me to do her candy buffet since she saw mine at our wedding.  The theme at our wedding was Love is Sweet and the candy buffet idea fit perfectly with it.  Since I haven’t shared with you my candy buffet here it is along with a little bit about how it came together.

My friend Kay along with the Cheesecake Factory Staff set up the candy buffet at my wedding and  I was pleased with the result.

Kay gave me the idea of doing the little spoons and I loved them when I was finished with them.

I bought the take out boxes from Paper Mart and jazzed them up a tad to fit our wedding. 
I bought the candy at Costco, at Target (insert any holiday sale here), and at See’s Candies (please note that state employees get a discount and I found someone that was able to get it for me).
Kay made the adorable flowers and I was very grateful she was able to help me out with these.

I bought all the candy containers at Ross, Marshall’s, and the Dollar Tree.  There was no way I was going to pay full price for anything.  Get creative when looking for candy containers you’ll be amazed how cheap you can find them.  I found the smaller ones for $1 and the bigger ones for $12.

On part 2 I will share with you my friend’s candy buffet and her wedding pictures…

Life: I couldn’t help myself

Life

I know I told you that I wasn’t going to be on here until I was finished with this quarter but I just couldn’t help myself.  As I’m sitting here surrounded by all these books I realized that I haven’t shared with you one of my favorite quotes.

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” -R.W.E.



Sometimes I find myself comparing myself to others and in those occasions I try very hard to internalize this quote.  My hubby has always told me that happiness comes within yourself and comparing yourself to others doesn’t help anyone’s personal growth.  I believe this to be true well at least when it comes to me.  Today for some reason I woke up with a different attitude about life and I feel great.  Please don’t get me wrong I’ve always been a very upbeat and bubbly person but today was different.  


Before today for some reason or another I was an individual who didn’t think I deserved all the good things that were happening in my life but things have changed.  I have realized that I am worth everything that I have and much more.  I have gone through life feeling like a victim and making different excuses about not accomplishing different tasks that seem easy to others.  I have faced many adversaries but if it wasn’t for those things I wouldn’t be the individual that I am today.  I’m certainly not the type of person that goes around totting my own horn so please don’t mistake all that I’m telling you for cockiness. I’m just really excited about what I have realized.  I’m finally able to except myself with all my faults and I’m happy at the type of individual that I have become.  


My hubby has always accepted me and all my quirks but now I have realized that I love the person that I am.  I won’t let other’s dictate who I am and who I strive each day to be. 


Along with what I had previously said about becoming healthier I now want to extend it to other aspects of my life.   I’m going to stop making excuses for the direction my life has taken, for the things that I haven’t accomplished and those that didn’t quite turn out the way I expected.  Like the cliche goes you live and learn, right?  I began my transformation by deleting my facebook and twitter accounts which has liberated me.  I’m not saying that everyone should go out and do the same but for right now I believe that I have made the right choice.      


Now that I’m finished rambling on about what has changed I shall return to my never ending school work and to living my life.  I’ll see you guys at the finish line in a couple of weeks.     

What are some of your favorite quotes you would like to share with me?