MAGIC

I just got back from a whirlwind trip to Vegas all thanks to the ladies of Boutiquing. If you don't know what Boutiquing is, hop on over to their site to see what they're all about (shameless plug).

We left on Sunday, which happened to be my birthday, but the girls made sure I was well taken care of.  We sped down I-15 just in time to get to the Mirage to watch The Beatles.  I've never been a huge fan of shows, but this is a must see.  All the music and acts were beyond amazing.

The whole point of the Boutiquing Brigade being in Vegas for Magic was for the 1st even Teen Vogue Blogger Lounge.  We were asked to come to be the birds eye view for everyone that couldn't be there.  We Tweeted and Facebooked our way through the floors of Magic about everything and anything fashion related.

I had gone to Magic the previous year, but this year was definitely slower than last.  The crowd just wans't as big and the energy wasn't quite there.  I did love the excitement that the bloggers showed throughout the entire event.  I loved seeing how different girls portrayed their best styles in 3 short days.  The bloggers came from near and far, some as close as LA and others as far as NYC and Canada. 

I had an amazing time with my Boutiquing girls.  Even though we were there during my birthday and Valentine's day, I was with great company. 

See you next time Magic

Hash House A Go Go

After hearing so much about this restaurant, a couple of us made the drive down to San Diego to try Hash House.  They are epically known for their chicken & waffles.  Apparently, people are saying it's better than Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles.  I split an order of Andy's Sage Fried Chicken w/ mash potaters and a BIG blueberry pecan flapjack with the boyfriend.

The flapjack went unpictured, but it was the size of a giant dinner plate.  We barely even made a dent in it.

Their infamous fried chicken wasn't all that great.  I'm a big fan of dark meat chicken, so this just didn't do it for me.  The whole meal just felt too heavy for me and didn't sit well.

I declare: HYPE

Knott's Berry Farm

The best part of Knott's:

 Funnel cake w/ half strawberry and half boysenberry topping. EXTRA POWDER SUGAR PLEASE!

Mesa

The only two reasons why anyone should ever go to Mesa in Costa Mesa

Reason #1: Lychee Martini

Reason #2: Cast Iron Skillet Mussels

The two things that are actually worth going for and paying the $$$ for.  The only great thing about this lounge is the retractable roof that pulls back at 11pm.  Otherwise, you're paying to cram into a small space and fight off douchebag bouncers.  Since when did this place get so crowded they needed security at the door?

Go early, get the mussels and lychee martini.  Then leave and hit up a more affordable bar.

Wine & Cheese Pleae

Lately I've been craving a little of this...

I love all things wine and cheese. Pour me a good glass of white wine and feed me endless amounts of cheese & salami.

How to: Roasted Vegetables

Over the past several years, I've really grown to like vegetables.  When cooked perfectly, I can eat them by the pound.  I've found that the best way to cook them is by roasting.  It is the easiest, but take so long to cook.  It is a set it and forget it way of cooking, easy enough for me. 

How to go from this...

 ..to this

Chop up whatever vegetables you want to roast. Make sure you chop them all about the same size so they cook evenly.  Coat them with olive oil and season with salt & pepper. Toss them in the oven for 45-50 minutes at 375 degrees.  Half way thru, stir them around. 

Feel free to get creative with what you toss the veggies in.  Sometimes I do garlic salt instead of regular salt, Italian herbs, chili powder, or whatever you have in your spice cabinet.  

In the picture above, I roasted brussel sprouts, carrots, zucchini, mushrooms, and bell pepper.  Feel free to toss in any veggies you like.  If you live in Orange County, be sure to stop by Grower's Direct in Costa Mesa.  They have a ton of fresh produce at insanely low prices.  I've never found any bad produce there. 

Enjoy!

Old Vine Cafe

I've had Old Vine Cafe bookmarked for a while now and finally got around to trying it for lunch.  I'm a bit against spending $20 for lunch, but their 3-course set lunch was well worth it.  I stalked their menu beforehand so I knew exactly what to order when I arrived.

1st course: Porcini Bisque with a crostino

2nd course: Porcini Mac & Cheese 

3rd course: Grandma's Cheese Cake

I'm sure you can sense the theme I went with for my lunch.  I'm sure if they offered a mushroom dessert, I would've went with it.  The porcini bisque was nice and creamy with the perfect subtle taste of the mushroom.  It wasn't too heavy which I hate in a bisque.  The pocini mac&cheese had the perfect blend of cheeses.

Let's talk about the cheesecake.  I die.  When they first brought it out, I couldn't believe how small it was.  This thin little sliver on this ginormous plate was the biggest tease.  I don't normally eat desserts, but this was hands down the best slice of cheesecake I've ever had.  The graham cracker crust and the berry jam did it for me.

Overall, Old Vine Cafe was well worth my $20 spent on lunch.  I'd be happy to even order the cheesecake for all three courses.