A Table Set for Four September 18, 2009
I got to use my china for the first time. It was so fun pulling it all out and setting a table with such beautiful china.
I couldn’t find any candles to float so I dropped in some flowers from a bouquet I had.
Going Green September 17, 2009
It is so annoying having to spend money on paper products. Paper towels, paper napkins, toilet paper, paper, paper, paper, paper….. ANYWAY, I stopped using paper towels to clean with. I don’t even use paper towels to clean the glass and mirrors in my house. A soft towel works even better.
Also, I bought several cloth napkins so I don’t need to buy/use paper napkins. I bought them on sale at JCPenny. They were 75% off (about $0.75/napkin). It is actually very nice using cloth napkins. It feels as if your eating at a restaurant.
I think I will keep buying toilet paper… My husband might move away if I stop buying it. LOL
Remember the Tickle Me Elmo? September 16, 2009
This is the Tickle Me Elmo of the adult world.
If you go into a Starbucks and see this cup, buy it!!!! For one, it is a cool cup and is very handy for taking drinks to work, school, etc. Two, you can sell it on Amazon or eBay for more money than you paid for it. They are in such high demand that they are being sold online for $10+ more than Starbucks sells them for. My mother-in-law bought me the large one for my birthday on amazon.com and she calls it the “Golden Chalice.” She was here recently and asked me for a drink of the golden chalice. I had no idea what she was talking about until she explained.
I’m a Barista! September 15, 2009
With the purchase of our new Espresso machine, we have acquired a smattering of coffee essentials.
In addition to coffee drinks, I have also been making Italian Sodas. Here is how I make them:
- Fill a glass tumbler with ice
- Squirt in 1-2 T of strawberry syrup in (amount depends on preference)
- Fill with sparkling mineral water (Perrier) until almost full
- Top with milk (Coffee shops use half & half but any milk is fine)
This drink is typically served not mixed, but if you are making it at home mix it up. Serve with a straw and enjoy! It is so easy to make.
My Ride September 14, 2009
My new ride (for two days) is bringing out my inner country girl….ok, maybe not… It is probably just the Sirius radio. It is set to a country station and I don’t know how to change it yet.
This pickup is so quiet inside. I am super impressed. It drives just like a car! It is nothing like my Ford 150, stick shift, plain jane pickup I learned to drive in.
I am driving this because my car has to get a headlight fixed. Yes, I wish bad things on the engineer that designed the Mercury Montego’s headlights. It is $300 to change the light without labor, $500 to change the ballast (what the light is fixed into), and $700 without labor for the light assembly (the glass part that contains the light and ballast). It appears that the light assembly’s seal is corroded ruining the ballast and light. The ballast is a very very sensitive part. It can not be touched by anything or it will fail. It is very annoying paying an upwards of $1500 per year to get a headlight fixed. Do you think this could have been planned service department job security on the part of Ford? Everything involving this situation seems unreal.
New Toy – DeLonghi Rialto 4500 September 13, 2009
Starbucks DeLonghi Rialto 4500
One-Touch Super Automatic Espresso Machine
We said goodbye to our trusty Saeco and hello to a one-touch wonder. It grinds the beans, steams the milk, and cleans itself. We used our Saeco so much we knew we would love a newer model that would save us time. This is so cool that, after staying with us, my mom went and bought one too.
You do have to clean the inside parts, but is very easy and doesn’t take a lot of time. Here are the innards:
By the way, don’t you love my bronze wall tile in the first picture.
Kitchen Nightmares August 9, 2009
I should have known it would get a lot bigger considering it had yeast in it!!!
House Progress April 20, 2009
It is painted inside and outside!!
I really like the way the paint turned out. It really does pull the gray tones out of the tile on the floor. The granite will have gray tones as well. NOW….all I need is one of the paintings at Spa Lux (it would go perfectly in this new house)!! I am going to drag my husband in there to look at their collection. I will probably take a few pictures if they will let me. They are modern paintings that are not too funky and have 10-25 different colors of gray in them. It would be perfect for above the fireplace!!
Haruno April 13, 2009
After these comments were made on Tulsa Food Blog, I decided to try Haruno. It is a new Sushi place but also serves Korean food. According to Haruno’s website, it is a “Pan-Asia restaurant specializing in Japanese sushi and Korean cuisine.” The restaurant’s atmosphere had a fine dining feel and look without the formality or price of actual fine dinning. The restaurant had a room and bar in the back that looked like it would be great for private parties. The place seemed very clean and our waitress was uberly efficient.
Each meal is served with Miso soup and the salad featured below that had about three dried cranberrys in it and featured a citrus dressing.
The sushi was good. We ordered several rolls. These two were my favorites…
If I remember correctly, this is the Sansei Roll:
This was the Haruno Roll. There is a piece missing. My husband did feel it necessary to wait on my picture taking.
This was the Fireworks Roll. In my opinion it was the least impressive. It was supposed to have fried asparagus in it, and that is why I ordered it but it was smothered in a heavy sauce so I couldn’t see or taste the fried asparagus. According to the description in the menu, I was expecting a very spicy roll but it didn’t taste spicy to me.
We also ordered a Korean dish to share, because I wanted to experience it all. We asked the waitress which Korean dish was the most liked. She recommended the Bulgogi. It was served with a bowl of rice, lettuce, a sweet sauce, something else I could not identify, and written instructions on how to eat it. My husband keep referring to it as “the steaming pile of meat.”
It was served on a very pretty plate, but the food itself did not appear real appetizing. ….and it was steaming. This was not inedible, but I would not order it again or suggest that you order it. The flavor was too intense for me. You don’t hear that very often do you?! That taste and smell will stay with you for several days, so make sure you like it before making such a commitment! Next time, I will stick to the sushi which was very good.
Lastly, we received one bowl of green tea ice cream. It must come with the Korean dishes.
Check out another one of my sushi reviews: Asahi Sushi Bar.
