Quebec City

Life has been very challenging for me in the past few months, I was constantly worry about my health, and started to develop anxiety for months. I am trying to let go the pain I experienced in the past few months and catching up with my life, including my blog post. 

I made a trip to Quebec City, Canada. I found Quebec City is peaceful and charming. 

La Citadel

Petite Champlain

Picturesque place – Petite Champlain

Paillard-great breakfast croissant with reasonable price

Fontaine de Tourny in front of the Parliament Building

Terrassee Dufferin with Chateau Frontenac at the back

“If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath”–Amit Ray

This is so true! For those who is having anxiety for whatever reason, let’s practice together live in the moment and live in the breath! We will beat the anxiety away, one day. 

Napa, my favorite place on earth

Again, I went to Napa last weekend 🤗

First stop, wine tasting at Domaine Carneros, I really love their champagne, Demi-Sec and Pinot Noir, The Famous Gate ❤️

Pinot Noir tasting

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Gorgeous bubbles

Can’t miss the cheese plate

Smoked salmon plate 😜is delicious

This goes very well with the bubbly

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This chocolate bar pairs really good with both champagne and red wine

Can you see the 🌈?

 

The view is spectacular at the outdoor seating area, it would be nice to grab outdoor seats during the warm days.

Second stop, V. Sattui, though I have been to this winery multiple times, this was the first time I did the tasting in the members tasting room. Their off dry Riesling is one of my must have, especially on a summer day’s BBQ!

I wish I can bring this home

❤️ my Allsaints city monument coat

After everyone had enough wine, we headed to Ristorante Allegria in Napa downtown for dinner. The tapenade for bread dipping is one of the best I have ever had.

Great food

It was a really fun outing with good friends, great wine and yummy food.

I can never have enough of Napa Valley.

Where is the wine?

Can you believe that I made a trip to Sonoma yesterday without having a glass of wine? 

I am in love with my Burberry scarf and coat

First time visiting Benziger Family Winery, but I missed the tram tour due to the late arrival. I walked around a little bit in the winery, and really love the ambient of it. There wasn’t many visitors at the time I was there because it’s almost 5pm on a Sunday. I am sure I will be back for the tour.

My main purpose of visiting Sonoma is for this place The girl and the fig.

There were a few empty tables at the patio 🤔

I arrived at 5:45pm, which I thought it’s still considered early for normal dining hours, and didn’t expect to be packed at the restaurant. I was told by the host that there wasn’t any table available for party of two, and the waiting is an hour.

Without wanting to wait for an hour, I took the communal table seating. I ordered a drink, a cheese plate, and side of fries.

After taking my orders, the server further asked if I wanted to have my entree ordered because it would take an hour to get the entered prepared and served. I wasn’t very happy to hear that, and decided to take a pass on the entree. 

Very refreshing non alcoholic drink, with pomegranate juice, soda, ginger and mint

The fig compote and the fig cake were tasty, the cheeses were kinda disappointed

This is a nothing special fries

Despite of the over 2500 reviews in Yelp, the whole dining experience I had in the restaurant really turned me off. Maybe it’s me, maybe will be more pleasant if I made a reservation ahead? Maybe…

The Girl and The Fig

110 W Spain St, Sonoma, CA 95476

Beer Brined Chicken and Espresso Brined Chicken

From time to time, I ran out of ideas what to cook for dinner. It happened yesterday. 

I picked up a pack of chicken drumstick from  Sprouts Farmers Market, went home and started to brainstorm ways of cooking chicken. 

Steamed? Pan fried? Braised? Stir Fried? Next, at a glance into the fridge, I found the beer! 

Beer Brined? That sounds cool! I quickly deboned the chicken drumsticks and poured in the beer, added salt and black pepper. While I was doing that, another idea flashed through, “how about espresso brined?”

So, I put that into action as well, pulled two shots of espressos! 

Look what I found in the fridge? It’s beer

Pouring in the good stuff

The happy soak for 30 minutes

This is definitely for coffee lovers

🙄🙄🙄

While the brining process going on, I cooked the Capellini, and stir fried the Enoki mushrooms. 

30 minutes later, I pan fried the chicken, started with the beer brined. It tasted so good, that my boyfriend and I finished it in no time. Of course, I forgot to take picture of it. Yummy yummy in my tummy! 

The next batch of pan fried chicken was the espresso brined. My boyfriend isn’t a coffee drinker, he doesn’t like the taste of the coffee in the chicken, but I love it so much, it is  made with my favorite Lavazza Super Crema espresso. This time, I managed to take a picture of the plate. 

Pan Fried Espresso Brined Chicken, served with Capellini, along with Enoki mushrooms

A little something on a cloudy day

It’s cloudy outside and I am staying home with my pajamas today! How exciting 😜

Yup! That’s my new pajamas gifted from my best friend who knows me well

I love my brew coffee ☕️ only one way, black

Got these little things out from my vase and rearranged

Some white sands in the vase

Voila! I got too excited and forgot about taking the ‘before’ picture 😂

Birthday gift from Sephora

Picked up my little gift from Sephora yesterday, I chose the Tarte lips and cheeks over Caudalíe.

I can’t wait to put them on first thing in the morning today, and I love the natural tone it sets on my face, it’s like make up with no make up 🙂 

Thank you Sephora!

I really like the mini size because they fit perfectly in my tiny purse

New hair color

Finally, I decided to color my hair. 

It’s been almost 8 years having my natural black hair

I have always wanted an ash brown color, but after a few tries 8 years ago, I couldn’t get the right color I want. Maybe I went to the wrong places in the past, that they never did it right? So, I embraced my natural black hair ever since.

There is this hair stylist I went to for the past two years for my regular hair cut, who always have a very nice hair color on her. I asked her during one of my most recent hair cut if she can do an ash brown color for me, which has a tiny green shade. She said yes.

Today is my hair color appointment, and it started at 11am. 

1st part of hair bleaching

Final bleaching

After went through three parts of hair bleaching, I was shocked to see the color of my hair! I started to worry if the outcome is what I am looking for…

Up close on my bleached hair, along with my worry look

Final hair color

After 5 hours of the entire hair coloring process, the final hair color is indeed what I am looking for. I was rushing to get out of the salon without taking a finished look picture, because I was afraid to be late for my dinner appointment. 

Once I got home, I styled my hair with a really cool T3 auto-rotating curling iron.

How can I miss the pic of my supercool curling iron

All ready for dinner

I am really loving my new hair color ❤️️❤️️❤️️ 

Happy Birthday to me 🎂

Birthday, it’s a day with a feeling of love and hate!

Love that I had a great time spending my birthday with my buddies and bffs! Surely, with yummy food 😋

Hate that I am growing older but not taller 😤

Wishing myself not just happy birthday, but happy days!

Zola
565 Bryant street, Palo Alto, 94301

Mushroom, potato gnocchi, poached egg, black truffle! All good stuff

This pork chop is to die for

Very tasty braised short rib

Another year wiser 🍷

I am lucky to have my BFF organizing the birthday dinner

😘

Thanks for coming!

I am going to celebrate my birthday for a week long!

London, here I come

Finally, I am flying to London today! A place that I been wanted to go since 15 years ago 🙂

Ole Henriksen Power Bright

Taking advantage of Sephora VIB 20% off discount, I got myself a new product to try, Ole Henriksen Power Bright.

I did not feel the extreme tingling sensation as a lot of the reviewers said, instead it’s very mild. I hoped I followed the instruction right?!

I know it’s not magic, but I can’t see major difference on my face after washed. My face does feel softer like after applying a mask.

The box comes with 6 treatments, hopefully magic comes after 6 used 🙂