Food Friday >> Wine & Dine in Sonoma

Continuing from Wednesday's post.. my college roommate was still in town for a few more days so I wanted to take her to the infamous wine country! We love Moscato so I researched all the wineries/tasting rooms that have Moscato or a dessert wine in Sonoma. We also love cheese so we did a lot of eating as well. Here are some spots we stopped by while we were in Sonoma.

1. Sonoma Wine Shop & La Bodega Kitchen

This place had a lot of good reviews on Yelp so I wanted to give this place a try! We each ordered the wine tasting ($5) and a platter of cheese ($20) to share. The owner lady was so kind and helpful. She asked us what kind of cheeses we usually like then she chose ten from the kitchen and brought it out. We had to keep asking for my bread though because she only gave us four slices at a time. Also, the wine tasting was really catered to each person's individual taste -- I think she said there was over 2,000 wines in the shop o_O. By the end of the meal, I discovered that I actually really like sparkling dessert wines and moscato after all. Overall, I thought this was a nice place for brunch, and being able to try new types of cheese and various types/brands of wine was exciting!

2. Sonoma Cheese Factory
I was so disappointed when we got here because they totally reduced the selection of samples! There used to be dozens of cheeses to try and now just like a handful of jack cheese variants. We wanted to grab some lunch before consuming more alcohol so we decided to get the paninis to share. However, we waited in line for about 40-45 minutes for the paninis ($7) - lunch time was crazy busy and they were very understaffed! Paninis were delicious but I do not want to wait that long next time.

3. Ravenswood Winery

This place is so cute - I imagine that it looks very beautiful and quaint during the summer time. It's like a little cottage and I love the stairway going up.

We shared the tasting ($10) and each got a sample of the moscato ($15). It was very sweet and tangy, and easy to enjoy but I think I still prefer the sparkling kind.

4. Charles Creek Vineyard Tasting Room

The wines here have won many awards but I came here mainly to try the chocolate raspberry port. The owner seemed annoyed at first because we just wanted to share a tasting ($10) but she warmed up to us in the end - after I bought some stuff from the store, and waived the tasting fee. The port came with a small piece of chocolate to go with it - however, it was much stronger than I anticipated - I thought it was going to be a nice, easy dessert wine, but it was definitely one of the stronger ones I've tried.My boyfriend said he could taste both the chocolate and raspberry but all I could taste was alcohol.

5. El Dorado Kitchen

After the two wine tastings we decided to get some food. I absolutely love this place, I would say it's one of my favorite restaurants. Everything here is delicious, fresh, and local/organic. 

 El Dorado Kitchen is part of the El Dorado Hotel and is a nice place to stay for a weekend getaway, or a host a small, intimate wedding reception.

 Menu from the bar area

 Mushroom Flatbread

One of my favorite dishes here, the mushrooms and the truffle oil together is just heavenly!

 Steamed P.E.I Mussels

Nice broth and earthy flavors, with sausages and strangely, croutons.

 Truffle Fries

Very sinful and delicious, the truffle oil and parmesan cheese pair so well together.

Mixed Lettuces

A nice spring salad to balance the heaviness from the french fries. I love everything about this salad except the blue cheese - I just don't like it.

Overall, this place has never disappointed me, it's always perfect. I would also recommend the wagyu beef carpaccio, mushroom risotto, and the edk burger. 

6. Global Heart Fair Trade

I really love this store because everything is handmade! I really admire this shop and I would highly recommend you shop here for gifts and support the fair trade industry. I love getting greeting cards even though I make my own - the ones made from elephant dung is just astonishing to me - how they can turn something so yucky into something so beautiful. Each purchase also comes with a piece of free chocolate!

Links Sonoma Wine Shop & La Bodega Kitchen

      Sonoma Cheese Factory

      Ravenswood Winery

      Charles Creek Vineyard Tasting Room

      El Dorado Kitchen

      Global Heart Fair Trade

What's Up Wednesday >> Tour of SF

My college roommate came to visit me and I only had one day to show her all my favorite spots around San Francisco. Follow us around on our epic and busy day!

1. Union Square >> Parking

I decided to park in Union Square Garage since it was at the center of all the places I wanted to go. The cherry blossom trees were in full bloom and the weather was perfect!

2. Chinatown >> Golden Gate Bakery

This is my absolute favorite place to get egg tarts in the entire world! We stopped by here first to get some breakfast, then walked back towards Downtown on Grant Avenue. We also stopped by some shops for some souvenirs, and checked out Lululemon as well.

3. Downtown >> Westfield SF Shopping Center

We love shopping together especially at our favorite stores, which were all inside the Westfield mall. We spent about 1.5 hours inside the mall for Madewell, Victoria's Secret, Aritzia, and Zara, then headed towards the car while stopping by at H&M, Sephora, and Lush. We could've saved some time if we didn't spend so much of it on shopping but hey, we're girls.

4. Japantown >> Crown & Crumpet

What better way to get some afternoon lunch than at a tea room? It was her first time experiencing tea time and I wanted it to be perfect, so I chose Crown & Crumpet because I knew they would not disappoint. I love the blueberry scones + clotted cream and I don't even like blueberries!

We ordered two tea sets and we were stuffed! If we had more time and room in our bellies, I would've taken her to B patisserie for some kouign amanns and around the Japantown center for crepes but I will save that for next time.
Random fact: The street parking situation is insane - $0.25 for 3 minutes - or $5.00 for 1 hour - make sure you bring lots of quarters!

5. Marina >> Golden Gate Bridge & Crissy Field

My roommate loves the outdoors so I knew she would appreciate this spot since it's right by the water. It's also right by my campus so we stopped by there as well.

Random fact: I didn't know you could fish here! There were some guys dangling their feet off the pier and waiting for the catch of the day.

6. Sunset >> San Tung Restaurant

My roommate doesn't get to eat much Chinese food in San Diego so I wanted her to try something a little different. San Tung chicken wings are my absolute favorite and I never get tired of eating them -- I get them non-spicy but I still think they taste amazing.

Their potstickers are quite unique because they are also deep fried for a thick, crispy skin and juicy meat filling. We also ordered a tofu veggie dish and steamed dumplings.

7. Sunset >> Blackthorne
I didn't want to end the night too early (but we're also not hardcore party people) so we got some sodas and played pool at Blackthorne. Then we headed to my friends house nearby and played some friendly poker.

8. Sunset >> Irving Pizza
Ended the night with some late night pizza to satisfy my midnight cravings!

So those were all the places we got to see -- there were lots more but couldn't fit it all in one day. What's your favorite/must see SF spot?

Links Chinatown >> Golden Gate Bakery
      Japantown >> Crown & Crumpet
      Sunset >> San Tung
      Sunset >> Blackthorne
      Sunset >> Irving Pizza

Food Friday >> Dumpling Empire

I usually go to Shanghai Dumpling Shop in Millbrae for my dumpling cravings but my boyfriend suggested Dumpling Empire instead since I've never been there. This place doesn't look like much but I admire their authenticity and freshly homemade dumplings (meaning not frozen). I couldn't eat the green chives pancake because it had dried shrimp inside but my boyfriend really enjoyed it. I still prefer the Shanghai dumplings from Shanghai Dumpling Shop because these lacked the salty pork flavor and broth. I really liked the mustard green noodle soup - so much that I forgot to take a picture of it when it first came out - so I took a picture of my own bowl instead. It had absolutely no oil in the broth which is something I really appreciate, lots of veggies and shredded pork, and the broth wasn't bland but very refreshing. The noodles had a great texture, so I'm guessing homemade as well. The pork potstickers had a thick skin (similar to San Tung's potstickers) but they used a different frying method - Dumpling Empire uses a pan fried method whereas San Tung uses a deep fried method.

 Green Chives Pancake

Shanghai Soup Dumpling

 Mustard Green Noodle Soup

Pork Potstickers

I would definitely go back next time to try either the green onion pancake or the beef pancake since I didn't get to eat the green chives pancake this time. I would also like to try some of the other dumplings since I didn't quite enjoy the Shanghai soup dumplings - maybe there are others that I might fall in love with - fingers crossed! Overall, I'm happy to have discovered a hole-in-the-wall dumpling shop that doesn't overcharge and serves homemade dishes!

Overall Evaluation >> 4.5/5
Service | 4.5/5
Taste | 4.5/5
Atmosphere | 4/5
Menu | 5/5
Presentation | 4.5/5

Links South San Francisco >> Dumpling Empire

What's Up Wednesday >> Bath & Body Works Candle Sale

If you love buying candles then I would definitely take advantage of the Bath & Body Works 3-wick candles sale (2 for $22) going on right now! You're basically getting one for free since they are regularly $22.50. Here are a few of my picks!

1. Mahogany Teakwood
"Revel in the cozy fine woods fragrances of mahogany, cedar wood and oak, highlighted by delicate lavender and geranium notes."
This candle is part of the White Barn Home collection and has been around for a few years now. I heard that this candle smelled like Abercrombie & Fitch stores so I wanted to smell for myself, and to my surprise, it does! It is slightly lighter than the signature A&F scent which I really love and thus, I think this is a versatile unisex scent.

2. Black Sands
"Visit Hawaii's dramatic black sand beach with an unforgettable blend of ocean mist and exotic amber finished with creamy cedar wood."
Again, this candle has a cedar wood scent in it which I guess I am really attracted to. To me, this scent smells like men's cologne which can be quite versatile as well. If you're a woman and you just love the smell of men's cologne, then this candle is perfect for you. If you're a man and you don't want your house smelling like musky man smell, then this candle is perfect for you because it's masculine enough and you don't have to buy a super feminine floral candle to have your home smelling good. This is a recent release and came out alongside various other Hawaiian/tropical inspired scents.
Note: This lid has a special floral pattern engraved on it - so pretty!

3. Oceanside
"A blend of sun-ripened citrus, juicy melon and refreshing ocean air brings you to a perfect day on the shore."

This has a very fresh scent, and I am always drawn to citrus scents, especially verbena. I really enjoy this scent and it reminds me of a perfect summer day, relaxing by the beach. This is also a recent release and came out alongside various other beach themed scents.

These candles are highly rated because of the variety of scents and its long burning time (25-45 hours). I also really like these candles because the jar is reusable (perfect for storing small things) and very high quality.

Links Bath & Body Works >> 3-Wick Candles

      Bath & Body Works >> Mahogany Teakwood Candle

      Bath & Body Works >> Black Sands Candle

      Bath & Body Works >> Oceanside Candle

Makeup Monday >> Lavender Lace

I had a bridal shower in the day time and another wedding to go to at night. I decided to wear the same dress for both events, but created separate styling and makeup looks for a smooth transition. The Hollister lavender lace dress is perfect for spring and can be styled two ways. For the day time, I wore a slouchy oversized cream sweater from Aritzia and paired it with some black flat sandals. For the night time, I wore a thin black cardigan from Juicy Couture and paired it with some black pumps from Shoedazzle.

For the bridal shower, I kept the eye makeup minimal (lavender and cream shades), light blush, and just some lip gloss. I left my hair naturally straight to keep the outfit low key.

For the wedding, I added more eye makeup (more lavender and a darker purple shade), false lashes, bronzer and blush, and a fuchsia lipstick. Lastly, I curled my hair with a curling iron and clipped my bangs up.

Outfit:
Hollister >> Mission Beach Lace Dress Lilac
Aritzia >> Wilfred Diderot Sweater Heather White


Products Used:
Dior >> Nude BB Creme Fair 002
Anastasia >> Brow Wiz Soft Brown
Shiseido >> Refining Makeup Primer SPF 20
Clinique >> Limited Edition Color Surge Eyeshadow Quad
Tarina Tarantino >> Eyedream Highlight Duo Iris Plume Moon Opal
The Face Shop >> Face It Extreme Brush Pen Black
Dior >> Diorshow Extase Mascara Black
Benefit >> They're Real! Mascara
MAC >> Select Moisturecover NW20
Too Faced >> A Few Of My Favorite Things Raindrops On Roses Blush
Tarte >> Mineral Powder Bronzer Park Avenue Princess
MAKE UP FOR EVER >> HD Microfinish Powder
Fresh >> Sugar Lip Treatment
NYX >> Round Lipstick Paris 620

Food Friday >> Serendipity 3

Located right on the strip, in front of the Caesars Palace Resort and Casino, is Serendipity 3. I've heard so many good things about this place and I was super excited to try this place for myself -- especially the praised frozen hot chocolate -- a conundrum I know, but it's absolutely divine.

 Outdoor Seating

Indoor Seating

Menu

Frozen Hot Chocolate

Seriously, you must try this baby! It was very decadent and cold, and I'm glad we shared one because I would not have been able to eat anything else if I had this to myself. Quick Tip: my friends signed up for the Total Rewards program at Planet Hollywood, and we got the frozen hot chocolate for free! Also, there is a discount off the bill if you are a Total Rewards member. 

 Ahi Tuna Salad

Fresh ingredients and the tuna was cooked perfectly, but the dressing was quite tangy/salty (so definitely ask for it on the side).

 Mac & Cheese

You can definitely smell the truffle and the cheese. But you can also see a layer of oil floating in the bowl (so pour that out if that grosses you out). Other than that, it was delicious and sinful.

Bacon Cheeseburger

A little difficult to eat since the buns are so big but very well seasoned. Fries were yummy too!

Also, the Don't Drop Your Skirt Steak Frites (not pictured) was very well cooked, tender, and tasty. We ate it so fast I forgot to take a picture!

My only complaint is that we didn't get the discount off the bill for some reason (computer errors) but the waitress was trying really hard to readjust the bill and etc. I think you should definitely mention this to the staff before you order so they can punch in the prices before printing out the receipt. I really enjoyed this place and I'm looking forward to more frozen hot chocolates! (they also sell them in packets but you need a blender!)

Overall Evaluation >> 4.8/5
Service | 4.5/5
Taste | 5/5
Atmosphere | 4.5/5
Menu | 5/5
Presentation | 5/5

Links Caesars Palace >> Serendipity 3
      Serendipity 3 >> Menu

What's Up Wednesday >> Britney Spears Concert

Today I'll be sharing about the Britney Spears Piece of Me concert I went to at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. It was an amazing show! And it's only here for about 2 years so I highly recommend you going soon. By the way, I'll be talking about the concert throughout this post with pictures too so be prepared for SPOILERS!

First off, tickets are quite expensive and I believe that ticket prices have gone up since I went. My friend was able to get us general admission tickets for about $175. We lined up 3 hours early in front of the arena so that we could get closer to the stage. It was well worth it because we did end up standing at the front of the standing area. The general admission section is separated into two parts - left and right - and we stood on the left side. Although the view was amazing all night, being so close to Brit, and getting some amazing shots, I would love to see the show again from a greater distance so that I can experience the entire stage/set. The show was about 1.5 hours long and Brit performed over 20+ songs, including some classics and some songs off her new album Britney Jean. Now, without any further ado, let's get to the pictures!

 Opening Introduction

 "Work B*tch"

Britney did move a lot around the stage and danced in almost all the numbers so I applaud her for that. She looked a bit uncomfortable but I think it's just nerves and focused concentration on all the steps. It was cute when she would smile and wink at us ;)

 Classic nude bodysuit with crystals >> fierce

 "Everytime"

This was my absolute favorite part of the show. She looked so pretty and angelic and she sang the song so beautifully. It was like chills. Also, there were cherry blossom confetti falling down as she was singing so it felt like we were in a Japanese garden/forest.

"Baby One More Time" & "Oops I Did It Again"

 "Circus"

The costumes and set for this part of the show were so well done. There are some cool visual displays and amazing costumes i.e., bearded lady, ringmaster, and others.

"Lucky"

Nostalgia all around me.

 "Toxic"

Another stunning set on stage, jungle themed, with a large tree at center stage, and Brit jumping off!

"Crazy" 

I think there were about 5-6 costume changes which kept things interesting. The intermission parts weren't boring at all because there were always dancers and visual displays on the large background screen. Will.i.am even made an appearance on screen for "Scream and Shout".

 "Til The World Ends"

Overall, the concert was amazing and I'm so happy I got to experience Britney in Vegas! Go check her out now!

Links Planet Hollywood >> Britney Piece of Me

Makeup Monday >> Vegas Concert Look

I've been meaning to post about my Vegas trip but I've been so busy with school so blog posts have been slow. But happily this week is going to be all about Vegas -- enjoy!

Outfit >> Work B**tch Video Stills Tank Unisex XS

I was inspired by the tank I bought at the Britney Spears store inside Planet Hollywood, located across from the concert venue arena. It says WORK B**CH and features video stills from that music video - it's very graphic and not too in your face Britney Spears. So I decided to go with a simple eye look with heavy winged liner and a red lip. I recommend using waterproof mascara and liner because it gets really hot in the general admission area with everyone pushing you and sweating next to you. Also, don't forget to set your makeup with powder because you will also be sweating and crying, trust me.

Products Used
Dior >> Nude BB Creme Fair 002
Anastasia >> Brow Wiz Soft Brown
The Face Shop >> Face It Extreme Brush Pen Black
MAC >> Select Moisturecover NW20
MAKE UP FOR EVER >> HD Microfinish Powder
Fresh >> Sugar Lip Treatment
Marc Jacobs >> Highliner Gel Crayon Black