The last of the shaved ice hot spots: Guppys Tea House

Oh man is this post so long overdue.  College starts in a little less than two weeks!  But before that happens, I've been trying to fit in as many meet ups with friends (and many many many visits to the dentist I shadow) as possible.  So last week Laura came over for a drama marathon!

Her computer + my tv = skipping lunch for five hours straight of Korean goodness.

It was a great idea: spazzing over how wonderful Jung Yong Hwa sounds and looks and complaining about the lackluster ending to Heartstrings.  That is, until our stomachs started growling.  It's what skipping breakfast and lunch will do to you.  So it was off to Guppys Tea House (check out their Yelp page!) for their famous shaved ice!

Snickerdoodles

Once upon a time (a few weeks ago), all my friends decided to leave me.  Some went to San Diego, others went to Harvard, and then there were those that just wouldn't respond to my IMs.  I was a very very sad Vivian that weekend.  I was so lonely that I actually baked with my little sister and her friend.  And voila, snickerdoodles were born.

I still remember the first time I had a snickerdoodle.  It was "bring your kid to work day," so my mom brought me along.  Her coworker  Sabrina offered me several cookies, but it was the snickerdoodle that caught my ear.  I imagined a cookie oozing with caramel goodness and dipped in chocolate--just like the candy bar.  So you can picture the confusion and disappointment I had when she handed me a flat cinnamon-sugar cookie.

I couldn't even finish it and handed the rest to my mother.  Well, that was a stupid mistake because I can't get enough of it now!  My parents are actually mad that our butter supply is dedicated solely to these cookies now.  Haha.  It has a cakey, fluffy texture which I absolutely love.  Substitute this for shortening if you want--either way, it's tasty!

Fruitsland Masks

After Rachel and I finished eating at Pa Pa Walk, we decided to cross Valley Blvd and explore Focus Plaza, home to Asian goodness.  In the center of the plaza lies the Focus department store.  It's seriously a treasure trove: makeup and home products on the first floor, clothes on the second, jewelry on the third, and a restaurant on the fourth!

I've always wanted to try facial masks.  I mean, a facial at the beauty salon is nice and all, but after a while, all that adds up.  And in a month, I will be a poor college student--$40 facials are no longer an option.  So while perusing the aisles of the makeup section, Rachel and I decided to try out some Fruitsland masks.  They were being sold for $0.50 each; of course, I had to snag a few.  There are plenty of different fruits and vegetables you can choose -- potatoes, apricots, green beans...  Each fruit/vegetable claims to do different things, so read the back before you buy.

Since I had never heard of these before, I decided to be safe and bought a cucumber (for skin elasticity) and apricot (for skin purity).  I've only tried the cucumber one so far.

Shaved Ice Showdown

Earlier this summer, I had created a "bucketlist" to hopefully complete before my summer was over.  Being the food fanatic that I am, I made sure to include "go to all the popular shaved ice/snow places"--in fact, it's first on my list.

Today I was lucky enough to hit up another shaved ice hot spot with my friend Rachel!  I had heard a bunch of awesome stuff from another friend, so I guess she had built my expectations of the place way too high.  Pa Pa Walk is definitely not my holy grail shaved snow restaurant, but it's good.  It's definitely pretty good.

Spotted on Bruin Walk

Recently I've been really excited about attending UCLA.  Actually, well no.  I lied.  I've always been excited--ever since I was a little girl, really.  True to my creeper personality, I've been living vicariously through blogs and tumblrs and websites targeted for Bruins.

Today I came across this website called "Spotted on Bruin Walk," and it is the most hilarious thing ever.

Class 302 and other discoveries in "Asia"

After my cousins brought me to Tasty to Go in Arcadia, an Asian "fast food" restaurant popular for their milk fusion drinks and shaved snow, I have been craving shaved snow.  It's different from shaved ice because instead of shaving frozen water, they shave frozen milk which creates a much softer texture.  Instead of crunching on it, the snow melts in your mouth.  Heaven on a plastic spoon, seriously.  Needless to say, I needed more.

I had always heard great things about Class 302 in Rowland Heights and their amazing shaved snow, but uh, unfortunately I am car-less, insurance-less, and usually money-less.  Not to mention, most of my friends who can drive cannot drive freeway to the eatery.  So I have been stuck reading their Yelp page over and over again, vicariously living through the reviews and pictures.  I know, so pathetic.  But today, my cravings have been answered, as well as a trip to Asia.  Thanks Laura!

Asparagus: two ways

Roasted Asparagus, seasoned with salt and pepper

Asparagus makes my world go round.  I also like little Japanese boys (forget about little white boys that hit on you at the beach) and sweating a lot.  You know, because I'm nasty and like to share with you my deepest darkest secrets.

So if you couldn't tell, those were all lies.  Because I'm just like that. I really hate asparagus.  It makes my urine smell terrible.  It's the only cursed vegetable my family cannot tame.  I mean, seriously.  Throw them into the stir-fry?  They come out mushy.  Wrap them with bacon and bake them in the oven?  Well I guess we just wasted that packet of bacon by burning the whole batch to a black crisp.  And yet, my mother still likes to torture me, buying them by the bundle.