slateblu

the past week and days...by instagram

Here are images of the past few days...and last week as well.  Time goes by really fast. June is coming next week!

Instagram is like quick blogging and since I don't post as much as I would here are 9 posts altogether.  You can click the image for a bigger view.

1: Lunch at Darwin Cafe - This was the Bay Shrimp Melt.  There's always a line out this door, even if you go to lunch early.

2: Sign at the top of the Westfield Center.  There is a paper Golden Gate  Bridge in celebration of their 75th Anniversary.  They put this sign so people won't walk on this cardboard bridge.

3: Driving back home from a party that was across the bay.  (I wasn't driving)

4: Blue and green jello blocks that I made for a grand nephew's birthday party.

5: Bloody Mary's - this was for our Fall Book Launch Party at work.  They also served yummy empanadas at this work event.

6:Shoe browsing at Nordstrom with my sister and sister-in-law.

7:Dynamo Donuts one of my bosses brought this to work for our department.

8: Lunch at Ironside- grilled snapper sandwich...really good.

9: Mission Minis -bought for a birthday party - red velvet.

You can find me here.

 

la boulange

I was on a quest to pick up la boulange's brioche loaf for a recipe Friday after work.  There's quite a few locations now and I suppose you can say walking distance from my work...but when you're tired, it may seem a long distance.

This is the Market St. location and they stopped selling the brioche loaf there. I walked another 10 minutes to the California St. location and found it there.  The California St. bakery/cafe is really big and kind of in the heart of the finanacial district.  If I worked closer I would probably lunch there a lot.

A few extras that I bought besides the brioche loaf.

I made french toast baked in muffin tins with sausage the following day.  I used the brioche loaf and it came out really good.  The kids loved it.  

Here's a close-up of the baked french toast.  Served with fresh fruit, warm syrup, and powdered sugar.

jeremy's

Shopped at Jeremy's after work today. Found some Elizabeth and James shoes for $49!

The weather in San Francisco is always unpredictable but these are some good spring/summer shoes...plus my cousin said I don't have to hem my long jeans if I wear these with them =)

happy new year and other random things...

Happy New Year!  How quickly the holidays came and went.

This picture was taken on New Year's Day before going to a family party.  They can be sweet to each other but as my mom would say, they can fight like a cat and dog.

If you're in San Francisco and looking for a yummy dessert, head on to Japantown to eat honey toast at Juban.  It's very very good...

Here's my photo before we devoured it:

It's a sweet toast -topped with honey and ice cream... It's a must try!

Here's a San Francisco view...driving on California Street on my way to work from an appointment.  I usually take public transportation but it was easier to drive the car that day.  I wanted to take a picture on Nob Hill but this was the best I could do at the moment and with my phone camera.

chanel

So in 2006, I wrote this post about the Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner.  I've been wearing it since 2003 but now I've switched (for the time being).  I'm not sure if it's my aging eyes or maybe my eyeliner dried out but my sister and sister-in-law have both experienced the same thing of this gel liner drying out and coming off.  It could have been the batch of eyeliners sold, I don't know. Anyway, I've decided to try a couple of new ones.  My first to try was the Nars larger than life long-wear eyeliner. I've read good things about it but it did smear even past the setting time.  It does go on smooth with not so much effort but it's not for me.  Then I tried the Chanel automatic liquid liner.  I wore liquid eyeliner in high school and college and loved the staying power but this one didn't do it for me either.  It was a bit watery.  My sister also didn't like it when she bought it to try it out. After these trials I found the one I loved: Chanel's:waterproof long-lasting eyeliner...doesn't smear and stays on through my work day.  If I were to go out the same night, I would re-apply to retouch.  I use brown (espresso) since it's a little less harsh than black.  I'll reserve black for going out at night or special events.

 If you're looking for an eyeliner...try this.

I'm using Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine line of lipsticks in #65 Cavaliere right now.  I've been wearing light and sheer for work everyday.  I think my favorite color in Bobbi Brown has been discontinued but this new color may be worth a try next time.

I took a close-up picture so you could see the color and the shine of the lipstick.

Something limited edition... My sister is a fan of limited edition items and so I picked this up. She coerced me into getting it.  It has two replacement pads along with the one included on the curler itself.

Of course, when you leave, the sales associate gives you samples...which is a plus.

I'm home nursing a cold and cough.  It's nice and quiet since the kids are at school and I don't have so sit at work fighting with numbers and staring at spreadsheets. I'll probably browse this pile of catalogs that came in the mail this past week and watch a couple of movies.

wayfare tavern

I ate at Tyler Florence's Wayfare Tavern with my sister and friends. I brought my book just in case he was at the restaurant so he could sign it.  It was a Friday night and not quite filled yet except the bar area a bit.  I thought it a silly question to ask the host if he was there so I didn't. I'll let the pictures tell you what we ate...

For starters:

salt roasted bone marrow:rutabaga jam, grilled sourdough and parsley

deviled petaluma eggs:mustard yolks,capers, celery,crisp shallots - these were the best eggs I've ever tasted...they were really good...

cauliflower soup

baked macaroni and cheese:jack cheese, garlic bread crumbs,chive and smoked olive oil

lobster cobb:crisp romaine,soft boiled jidori eggs,tomato, smoked bacon,avocado, fresh corn,beets and radishes  -this was my entree...it was an excellent salad...

caramel pear tart

gooey brown butter cake

We did miss Tyler Florence when we were there.  Our waiter said he was there the whole afternoon.  He probably left right before or soon after we arrived.  It's okay though, I did get to take a picture with him at the T2:SFO opening.

a little shopping...

After work yesterday, my kids requested that I bring home some Beard Papa's so I went to fulfill their request.  I was trying to time going home so that I could catch a ride at the BART station from my husband.  I had time to go to Madewell and MaiDo.  I picked up some favorite pens, the Japanese masking tape and a tape disepenser for the tape from the stationery store...and a top I probably didn't need from Madewell =)

A few months ago in the Sunday paper, there was an article about Rae Dunn.  I bought a couple things from her store and absolutely love her stuff.  

I bought this "create" wood-like ceramic dish.  It's a lovely piece.

I also just picked up this salt bowl, including wooden spoon.  It's just the right size.

...and I was able to snag this Missoni (for Target) sweater for Ava.  She loves it.  She doesn't like dressing up and wearing dresses but she does like her sweater a lot.  Since my sister was able to log on to the site and also stop by Target, she was able to pick up some things for us both.  I love having a sister =)

madewell

Madewell opened up this month in San Francisco. Here is one article and another one about the store.

I decided to go one day after work when I didn't have to rush home.  I picked up a couple of twist-back tanks for our upcoming trip to Southern California.  It's great to see the clothes in person and to try them on rather then guess when you shop online.

I forgot my discount e-mail when I was there and told them about it.  The cashier was nice and honored it anyway.  If you're in SF, check it out.

10th annual dine about town - garcon

I went to Dine About Sunday before last with my sister and a couple of friends.  We tried out Garcon.  The French food was good and enjoyable but I think I may have preferences over this one after dining here.

 
We started out with cocktails and wine

 
My beet salad with endive, watercress, goat cheese fondue, crispyshallots, and sherry vinaigrette

 
My summer fettucine, squash, mushrooms, sweet peppers, basil, almonds, and eggplant-garlic puree

 
Beignets...(not quite as good as the just for you cafe beignets)they were a little bit dense and hard.

 
Espresso pot de creme (this was really good!)

What I like about Dine About is that you get a 3 course meal for an affordable price.

fragrances...

Back in college I wore a victoria's secret perfume that was bottled in a gold and blue box.  This was way before they changed their image to "pink", etc. and created a new look for themselves.  It was a light sweet fragrance and I did get lots of complements on it.  I first smelled it on a paralegal at a law firm I worked for part-time during college.  I was intimidated to ask about her perfume but an aunt of mine was wearing the same thing one day and she told me where she got it.  For a few years, I would get that bottle of perfume from my aunt during birthdays and Christmas.  Then they stopped making it and I wanted a different scent.  I went with my cousin one year to buy her mom a limited edition (at that time) Chanel fragrance:  Gardenia.  The scent was really pretty so we both decided to buy one for ourselves as well.  It's a little stronger and it does have staying power I think.  It's a very sweet scent.

It was this trip that I learned about Bulgari's green tea scent.  We went to the store and the lady at the counter mentioned that it's very light and also noted that nurses like the scent because it's allergy-free.  You can apply and apply and the scent won't be over-powering at all.  This is the one I wear all the time now...

 
My collection of used bottles...makes for a nice display but I think I do need to start recylcling...

The other day, I went to Bloomingdales to pick up another bottle since I ran out and next to the counter was a Hanae Mori rep.  They sold me on the No. 2 scent.  It's also light though I think a bit stronger than my green tea scent.  I love the graphics on the bottle.

 
 
Bulgari's Green Tea is my all time favorite though.  I do prefer the cologne to the perfume.  There is a difference between the two when you compare them.

Do you have a favorite fragrance?