Coco Et Olive

Yesterday afternoon, my mom and I spent over an hour at Coco Et Olive (located at Main St. and 21st) for a little afternoon coffee or tea. I love the name. Coco Et Olive. Good beverage selection. And a good enough selection of baked goods. Also served paninis. Place was simple and rustic. White walls were adorn with paintings I'm assuming from a local artist. All the tables were mismatched. So were the chairs. So were the cups. In fact, our drinks came in a bowl.

Mom's bowl of latte.

My chai was pretty good. A tad more chai spice would have made it even better, but not complaining.

Resolutions

Oh, the list I keep telling myself I'll find time to tweak. Who's got time? Without tweaking, here it is.

1. Pick up my camera.

In 2011, I went from dropping my DSLR to picking up my beloved p&s. The last couple months, I've neglected even my LX-5, and started taking randoms with my iphone. This year, I'm going to pick up my cameras and take photo walks more often.

2. Run.

I've been having the urge to go for runs, but it's been much too cold outside. (Running in the cold causes me to have uncontrollable cough attacks for the rest of the day). But, I plan to pick this up again. 10k with me, anyone?

3. Drop the toys.

When I'm not at work, (actually, even when I am at work), I seem to be glued to these devices. Namely my laptop and iphone. Now that it's been a couple months since I got the iphone, and the novelty of it is starting to wear off, I need to give myself some "turn it off" days. Of course, when I'm not blogging.

4. Bake.

Last year, I had one resolution for myself. That was to cook more. I think I've done pretty well at that. This year, I hope to continue with it... but on top, to bake more. Since I recently got a brand spankin' new Kitchen Aid mixer, I have to put it to good use.

5. Drink more water.

6. Volunteer/Charity

Time to find a way to give back to the community! Used to do a whole lot of volunteer work in highschool and university. Then, schoolwork got kind of heavy and then work got in the way... then it was sadly forgotten. This year, I can hopefully find at least one thing I could help with.

7. Continue last year's resolutions.

Cook more. Sleep more. Surprisingly, even though I'm a night owl, I try to get my seven hours of sleep every night. Some nights may fall short, but I'm doing pretty good on the whole.

__________

I've already started with number 6.

Although, this has nothing to do with resolutions at all.

I've mentioned before about this blog I've been following for some time now : www.kellehampton.com . This is currently one of my favoritest blogs. (Yes, I'm using words that don't exist). You can click on her "Start Here If You're New" link to see what it's all about. I love everything about it. I love her photos of her family. I love her stories. I love her raw-ness in her writing. And boy, can she write! Reading her blog makes me love bigger and better, and truly understand or more so, confirm my beliefs of what true love - the real kind - really means. I don't know anyone personally who has Down Syndrome, but I am in full support of helping those with special needs to have a brighter and hopeful future. So, I have donated to Kelle Hampton's "2 for 2 Fund". If you so desire, you can join me in donating too.

Hapa Umi

(Phone photo dump).

Decided to try out a new place for dinner tonight. Braving the cold and the warnings of snow, we went out and trekked all the way to the waterfront area of downtown for Japanese food at Hapa Umi. (Insert Ming's rolling eyes here when I said "braving", as I'm the only one out of us two who's scared of snowy driving conditions).

We were half an hour late for our resos, (yes again, me being tardy and not being able to find the restaurant), so we lost our table and ended up sitting in the lounge area. All the same, 'cept maybe the dining side had more of a window view.

So, it was a belated birthday celebration dinner for Ming. Okay, to be honest, I was a bit hesitant at calling it his birthday dinner. There was twice before where I've dragged him across town, raving about some Japanese restaurant he has to try, and both times they didn't deliver. (One was Aoki on West Broadway, and the other was Zipang on Main St - and trust me, I've had really good food there before, but just not the times I went with Ming). This time though, I've never been to Hapa Umi - maybe third time's a charm? Reading Urbanspoon with a 62% rating didn't help it either. I even looked up the menu and said there wasn't much all too interesting. So why were we going there??

LivingSocial coupon. Yes, using a coupon on a birthday. That's ok. We like our deals.

"Menu doesn't look all that interesting."

"Don't say that. Then you won't look forward to it."

At least someone has the optimism of sunshine and rainbows. Leave it to me to be the bleaker (yes, I made that word up). I wasn't trying to be bleak... with the low expectations of the restaurant and the worry-wart of the snow... but I was subconsciously playing it down in case this restaurant sucks too.

Anyhow, upon being seated, we were handed lightly-scented hot towels for our hands. Felt so nice after walking in from the cold. We were then handed menus, which without much thought, Ming said right away, "tuna tataki and negitoro roll". The thing with Ming (sorry, that rhymes...), he loves to stick with his tried, tested and true. We always get those no matter where we go. We also ordered the Hapa Roll (which had cucumber, avacado, asparagus, carrot, mayonnaise, salmon and salmon roe), their yuzu and miso glazed sablefish, and a stone bowl of a bunch of things that included bacon and kimchi.

The tuna tataki came first. Although the sauce looked like wasabi, it wasn't. All we caught was the tail-end of their description, which had some sort of seven spice. The sauce was a bit spicy. Mmm... it was really good. Tuna was nicely seared and super fresh. The slices were also a fair thickness.

Then came the Hapa Roll with the negitoro roll. Hapa Roll was pretty good too. The mayonnaise was also spiced and seasoned. The veggies inside made it refreshing. This was the funny part. Ming popped a negitoro roll into his mouth first. "Oh, the negitoro roll is good!". I gave him a look of disbelief. How good could it be? Negitoro roll is always good. What's different this time?

So I popped one in my mouth. And I had to laugh... It was really THAT good. Usually, when you bite into a negitoro roll, there is more rice than fish. But this one, the tuna exploded out of the roll into my mouth. There was more tuna than rice. And the tuna was so fresh, the flesh was soft and super tasty. That's the best I could describe it. We had a good laugh at how a negitoro roll, something that we always order, could get such a reaction out of both of us. Mmm... I'm wanting it now as I type this.

Next up was the sablefish. Ming has never had sablefish before. I love sablefish. What's not to like with a super fatty fish. It was cooked nicely. It was also very fresh, with the meat flaking off so smoothly. Totally melt in your mouth.

By this time, we were already super satisfied. Lastly, was the stone bowl. We both agreed that it was also good, but not compared to all the dishes we had previous. We were stuffed.

Overall, I don't know why Hapa Umi gets a 62% rating on Urbanspoon. Perhaps the price. Or perhaps the innovation of their food compared to their sister restaurant, Hapa Izayaka (a not-as-fancy version) is not that far off. Regardless, I would go back to Hapa Umi. I thought everything was super fresh, which is more so important in Japanese food when a lot of things are raw. Yummy dinner. Thank goodness!

We were still talking about that negitoro roll on the way home.

You really are sometimes that punch in the stomach, that bothering cramp in the side, that annoying bee buzzing by your ear, that irritating pest, that pain in the -.... but today, I wish you a very very very Happy Birthday! :)  

Pedal Pedal

Even with the seat beyond the lowest height and sitting on the frame of the bike, my legs are at 100% extension when pedalling on this stationary bike. (Was told it should only be 90% extended). Meaning, it's too big for me. Boo... perhaps he bought this one on purpose so I don't have a reason to tamper with his things. But, I hopped on to my brother's stationary bike anyway and cycled away...

Ouch. The seat is so hard. Butt hurts and not in that "it was a good workout" kind of way.

Serenity

After a long week of work, finally a day off today. Friends were either sick or busy, so I took the opportunity of a sunny day to go for a long walk by myself. 

There has been a light dusting of snow the past couple of nights, leaving the grounds covered in a blanket of white. The cold air against my face, the sun shining down, and the snow crunching beneath my boots... I couldn't be happier. 

I greeted my neighbours as I walked pass them and continued up the block. The streets were quiet. All I could hear were the birds chirping in a distance, and the couple talking to each other taking their stroll on the other side of the road.

I turned the corner and continued to walk. An elderly lady walked by me and said hi. I said hello back. We exchanged smiles.

I went by a track and saw diligent people doing their exercise. I'd join the runners if running in the cold doesn't induce an uncontrollable cough. I chose to stay mainly on the quieter streets, enjoying the serenity of my neighbourhood. I could smell the fragrance of someone's dinner cooking in their kitchen. Every stranger that I passed smiled or greeted me with a hello.  

My phone text-message alert went off a few times during my walk. One was to help a friend answer a drug-related question. I'm that pharmacist-on-the-go. Second, was a friend just informing me he was enjoying some salsa I had gave him that I bought from the States. And thirdly, was a friend answering my text about vacation. We chatted via text messages about Spain and upcoming baby showers and celebrations. I felt like she was on this stroll with me. We would be doing just the same. Chatting about everyday things. It reminds me, even when I'm by myself, I'm not alone. 

With every breath of cool air that I took, I was thinkin', this is good for me. I was content. 

An hour and a half later, the sky was getting darker and the air was getting chillier. And as I was returning home, walking that last block, I thought to myself... this is the reason I'm not ready to move. I love my neighbourhood. I loved that every person I walked by exchanged a hello or a smile. I love the quiet tree-lined streets. I love that I'm far from hustle and bustle. Of course, I'd dream to get a house, but that seems to have to come with a husband or another way of getting a double income ... considering how expensive Vancouver is. That's a topic for another day. 

Right now, just enjoying my moment of serenity.

Made With Love

Twenty-five is too much to post, so here are some.

I've been obsessed with grey this year. Do not know why. This card was done as I went along with specific colour choices in mind. I ended up loving the design of this card so much, it popped up similarly in other cards as well. I love the grey, red, silver, gold and white combination.

I love the soft blue with white polkadot background. Making for a much shofter card. I thought the birdie stamp was super cute. Coloured him that way to match the background... and of course, the hat has to be red, which made it pop. Kinda weird... I got the idea of the colour theme from the recipient's livingroom colours. I'm secretly in love with her livingroom.

I knew I wanted to give this recipient something colourful and bright and fun. To hopefully put some cheer in her holidays. Just something to offset some of the tough times she's been through this year. 

This recipient is an avid card maker as well. What do I have that she doesn't already have? For one, the cricut cut-outs ... for now! I spent an entire night at Kat's trying to figure out the sentiment. The stamps and sentiment cut-outs I had didn't seem to fit this card. I needed something small and cute. Not large and fancy or loud. I ended up writing out the sentiment. Which may not be the neatest... but I think it fit the card the best.

The recipients (a couple) of this card has kids. Hence the more kiddy, colourful look of it all. I loved making this card because of all its layers.

The credit goes to kwerner designs for the design of this card. I love the houses. You cannot tell by this photo... but the windows with the lights on also sparkle. 

I had told this recipient, we always have a hoot together!

This started off actually as a mistake. I cut out the words way too big. But with a few sparkles and design tweaking, this turned out to be my mom's favorite pick out of all the cards. I must say... it's rather festive. Love it.

Black ribbon always brings a card a bit of elegance. Which is what I think suits the recipient perfectly.

I love the background paper... the starry starry night. And the two snowmen enjoying a joyous snowflake moment. The ribbon is a double-sider colour ribbon. You can't tell in this picture.. but the circle is 3D. Umm, yah I just love love love this one.

Some of my best moments of 2011 is when we enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate (or tea or coffee) on the couch. I knew that penguin needed to be holding a cup... so I drew one and cut it out. Oiy is right.

I love buttons! Thanks Kat for the array of button choices. It's different. It's cute. Hence why I think it fits the recipient. That pink heart button is actually on its own... but sticking it on top of another button makes it stand out perfectly.

Yellow represents this recipient's bright and bubbly personality.

This card probably took the longest. I thought the recipient would enjoy the complicated, three-dimensional-ness of this card. And he totally did! It's suppose to represent snowy mountains...

Too much talking. Here are a few more ...

This is not exhaustive, but that's it, m'friends!

Jinx

I feel like I jinxed myself at work today when a customer and I got into a discussion about the wondrous Cold FX. I had told him that I haven't been sick in a long time. I am in no way advertising for them, but the couple times I've felt under the weather, after popping Cold FX as directed, I seem to always nip it in the butt before it becomes full blown. Customer was raving the same thing.

Not that I feel like I'm coming down with a cold or a flu, but tummy is definitely not sittin' right. And I've seem to have lost my appetite the past couple of days. A tummy ache and a pang of indigestion. I'm now just reminded of another patient who complained about stomach issues and haven't been eating anything for the past four days. But, his belly (being a relatively skinny guy) was obviously distended.

My hands touched his forehead when he ducked his head low and forced me to check if he felt like he was burning up. My hands just accidentally grazed it. Ugh. My coworker saw the whole interaction and reminded me to wash my hands right after. Which I did. With a ton of soap. And after that, a dose of Purell on top of that. Nasty.

I'm just going to try and sleep it all off.