DUSSELDORF & COLOGNE

Toykio!

Obsessed w/ that Croissant light on the wall!!! 

I want one because seriously is there anything better then a perfectly flaky and butter croissant.  I think not hehehe!

Freaked out there were like 6 impeccably groomed Shih-tzu's just strolling down the street.  Sadly didn't get a good pic but it was cutest thing ever!!

Semi-Sweet Dark Chocolate Brownie

Densest Brownie ever..  so rich and decadent!!

Hello Kitty x UglyDoll Collab!

I'm actually slightly obsessed w/ the concept of UglyDoll.  You can read all about it here on it's Wikipedia page but essentially the concept is that "ugly" actually means "unique" & "special" and to remember that we're all unique!

I think (especially) in a world of "blogging" & "bloggers" everyone (bloggers, subscribers & yes even the haters!) become obsessed with this idea of "perfection" or what I like to refer to as "controlling the narrative" ie. what people perceive as reality.  

I've try not to subscribe to that mentality - I don't even consider myself a blogger I just "journal" my life and if you care to follow along you are more then welcomed to and if you don't want to don't! :) 

Life is hard and it's a struggle. I don't always blog about my struggles mostly because I didn't start blogging to talk about my struggles I wanted a mindless space to just talk about my life loves (The Hubs, my Fur Babies, Friends & Family) & my superficial loves (Luxury Goods, Travel & Food - the most important one lol!).  

The UglyDolls serve as an amazing reminder to be true to yourself and that we're all just human!!

Obsessed w/ the mirrored glass subway tiles.  

This would make a gorgeous kitchen backsplash! 

Although now that I think about it would probably be a pain in the butt to keep clear lol!  The fingerprints and smudges!!!  Eeks!

MARK RYDEN!!!

His work is so amazing!

This space is so kitchy and fun if you're ever in Dusseldorf it's worth a stop in for an afternoon pick me up :)

COLOGNE CATHEDRAL

If you're into Pop Art the Ludwig museum right next to the Cathedral and it's pretty amazing (it's the unique metal looking building on the left)

Dim Sum!

Was randomly walking through Hotel Nikko and fell upon this MCM display!!!

Kushi-Tei of Tokyo

One thing I miss from Hawaii is Japanese Izakaya food!

Essentially it's a "drinking establishment" that serves Japanese bar food.  Luckily we were able to find a really delicious one and their menu is HUGE!!!  It sort of looks like a news paper advertisement and was 4 pages long!

Sesame Chicken Wings

Curry Fries

The most PERFECT fries I've ever had in my ENTIRE life.  I don't really know how to describe it but the outside was perfectly crispy and the inside was the perfect amount of potato and consistency.  It was really bizarre but good lol!

Chicken Karrage

Green Onion & Steak, Bacon wrapped Asparagus, Quail Eggs, Yakitori, Chicken Meatballs & Liver

My little family :)

Waygu Beef burger w/ Aged Cheddar & a Fried Egg w/ Onion Rings 

Super rich Semi-sweet chocolate milkshake

I have to say I was never ever really into Chocolate but I realize after moving to Germany it was just because I wasn't into the Chocolate in the US.  European Chocolate is a breed unto itself.  Not too sweet and the flavors are all very delicately balanced.

The colorful little balls were fruity & tart candy pieces!!

Japanese baked goods for the drive home :) 

Bye Cologne & Dusseldorf you've been amazeeee!

LIFE.

Scored this Michael Kor platform booties 50% off on Net-a-Porter!  

WOOT!  

OBSESSED w/ the gold studs!!!! 

Expect to see these babies A LOT in my upcoming fall & winter OOTD'S!! :p

Peanut noodles w/ sliced ham, chicken, egg & cucumbers

My mom makes the YUMMIEST cold peanut sauce noodles!!  

Takes me right back to my childhood summers!

Been O.D.'ing on cherries all summer long hehehehe.

Heart him!

Vogue'ing!

(More so the Hubs than me haha)

I.D.K.

But love that he can make me laugh from 987239487918273987 miles away!

Confetti Cupcake nails!! :)

Zha Jiang Mien

My mom made me a heaping bowl of Zha Jiang Mien yum yum yum!!   

I added a healthy portion of steamed brocolli so I wouldn't O.D. on carbs (which BTW's are the bane of my existance muhahaha.) 

Hubs drew a picture of our Europe cruise!

There's me on the left on a plane next to the globe leaving from the United States .. and the Hubs is on a plane on the right hand side of the screen leaving from Germany and we're flying towards Barcelona where we'll meet and board our cruise ship.. underneath the ship is a little fishy and a octopus hahaha.

Oyamisua

My favorite Taiwanese night market noodles!

Glutinous Rice

Pai Gou Fan

Pork Chop rice w/ all the fixin' - Perserved pickles, Cabbage, Minced pork, Daikon, Egg

Soo Nommy!

I went to the Chinese grocery store to stock up on snacks for our vacay... Yeah I might have over did it a bit. 

BAHAHAHAHAHA.

When the lady handed me my reusable shopping tote w/ my snacks in it.. she called me a "Xia Mei Mei" which literally translate into "Little Girl"

My mom started cracking up and said that I was 30 & married!

-____-

I GET IT NOBODY MY AGE BUYS/EATS THIS MANY SNACKS

::SAD FACE::

bahahahahahahahaha

My mom spent a Saturday afternoon teaching me how to make all sorts of yummy Chinese things from scratch!

Xia Long Bao's

Juicy Pork Dumplings!

You can tell which one are mine.. they're horrible looking -___-

hahahaha

Gou Tie

Fried Dumplings!

We also made scallion pancakes.. and this amazing Chinese fried meat pizza.. but my hands at that point were too messy and covered w/ dough and flour to take pictures hahahaha.

#badblogger

Jojo heard a loud bang and ran to the window to inspect!

We found Bambi

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is it just me or does Bambi seem more startled by us then we are of her even though he/she ran into our window.

AWWWWWW!

Jojo made a new friend!!

I was up late watching a movie until 3am and when I went back to my room I checked and Bambi was still sleeping right outside the window! 

One of the snacks I miss most from Hawaii are Taro Chips!!

However when I moved back to the mainland I couldn't find them anywhere!

I recently found these at the Chinese grocery store... they taste JUST like the ones I use to eat in Hawaii 

::CLAP CLAP::

So happy!!!

They're so good.. caveat is they're a tad salty.. I can only eat about 1/3 of the bag in one in sitting otherwise I sort of feel like my lips are blistering. 

Worth it.

bahahahahaha

Char Siu Bun, Shui Mai, Ha Gaw, Chicken Feet, Pork Spareribs, Rice Noodles w/ Shrimp, Turnip Cake

Yummy Dim Sum!! 

HELL YES.

BEST INVENTION EVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Founding Farmers!

Hibiscus Soda

In-house made hibiscus soda it was like I was back in Hawaii!!

Farmers Chips w/ Onion, Pimento & Goddess Dip & Pickled Seasonal Vegetables

Yums!  

Loved this.. I have a weakness for fresh made chips I can't help it!!  Loved the dips.. the green "goddess" dip had tons of avocado and the "onion" was actually onion dip w/ chicken salad!!

It paired really well with the pickled veggies because they were really crisp and sour..  I love me good sour pickled veggies hehe it really balanced out the richness of the chips and dips!

Chicken, Waffles, String Beans w/ Candied Lemon & Mac & Cheese

This was ONE entree.. yeah.  I barely made a dent (it was SO DELICIOUS but very very rich and filling) when I got home I gave some of the chicken to my fur daughter and I still had enough for LUNCH & DINNER the next day.

WHAT THE EFFF'

HAHAHAHAHA.

#couldfeedafamilyoffour

Crab, Chicken Salad & Shrimp rolls w/ Chips

This was delicious too!!  

AND SOOOO FILLING!!!  It's insane how stuffed these were.. I'm totally going back just so I can order this!

Mini high school reunion :)!

Cute!

Whoa look at this girl. 

Sexy much. 

This is how she dresses to work. 

muhahaha :p