Paris.

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My love for Paris probably started the summer before my freshman year in high school after watching "Beauty and the Beast" for the fiftieth time. It was the first time I started to care that Lumiere spoke French or that the words 'bonjour' and 'monsieur' were repeated multiple times throughout the film. Haha. A similar kind of thing happened with the "The Sound of Music" ages ago. After learning about Hitler and the Holocaust in junior high, I realized Rolfe (one of the characters) was a member of the Nazi Party and the funny sounding phrase he kept saying in the film was "Heil Hitler" - it was an "ohhhh" moment for me.

I have yet to visit Paris, but WILL take my own photograph of the Eiffel Tower one day. Maybe even open a bottle of champagne under it. I hear that's what the French do? Just want to try it~ Maybe I'll take a bottle of sparkling cider with me on the plane for the occasion. Haha~~

I think I'd want to visit Paris for New Year's Eve despite the freezing cold. Wishing French people a cheerful Bonne Annees and exchanging bises (small kisses on each cheek) at the stroke of midnight sounds great to me!

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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We need a little Christmas~

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Aside from Christmas songs on the radio, holiday decorations and peppermint lattes - my favorite part of Christmas is the wrapping of gifts. :) Sitting on the floor with scissors, wrapping paper, tape and ribbons makes Christmas whole for me. Love it! All I'm missing now is a Christmas tree...

Thankfully, I'm a paranoid freak when it comes to buying gifts early - so, I'm nearly done. Woohoo! :) I finally started wrapping gifts today~ Check out Martha Stewart's gift wrapping ideas! I'm actually just using regular rolls of holiday wrapping paper from Target this year. :)

Some of my gifts will probably be homemade - but, this all depends on how diligent I decide to be. Haha. If I do make homemade treats, there are three recipes I'll probably use. :) Chocolate caramel popcorn (with pecans instead of macadamia nuts); Walnut snowball cookies & Kellogg's Rice Krispies. Yummy~

Anyways, good luck to you all and to all a good night. But, seriously - good luck on your Christmas shopping and gift wrapping! :) Merry early Christmas!!

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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holiday. chocolate. presents.

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You can make your own chocolates, have them imported from the UK or simply pick up a few affordable Belgian bars at a local Trader Joe's. Whichever way you prefer your chocolate - chocolate adds something very special to the holidays. And, it can be a great gift (if done right). So, in honor of chocolate - I did a little research and here are some of my chocolate faves. It was a lot of fun. Wish I got paid to do this. :)

First, Marcie Blaine Artisanal Chocolates. This chocolate shop is located in Philly, the largest city in Pennsylvania aka "The Chocolate State" (home to the Hershey factory). Once you visit the webpage, you'll want a box of chocolates for yourself - and I say, get one. I'm purchasing a box for myself very shortly. Haha. It is a bit pricey ($17.95/box of 9 chocolates; $23.95/box of 12 chocolates) compared to the huge box of chocolates you can buy at Walmart for $5.99 - but, it's unique and a great possible gift for your friends and family. Just see the photos! Plus, you can say you had them shipped from Philadelphia. :D Haha. Let Marcie Blaine make tummies happy.

Second, Chocolate Editions. Based in Brooklyn, New York - Mary and Matt share wonderful chocolate bars made of dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, strawberry chocolate with us. There's an array of chocolate combinations - pick and choose your favorite here. Check out the Chocolate Pie Chart - it's a neat and tasty gift for chocolate lovers. Trying to think of people who might appreciate this edible gift...hmm...

Third, Rich Chocolates & Candies. Chocolatier, Lauren Pett, specializes in handmade artisan chocolates. Take a look at her collection of chocolates. Scrumptious. Unfortunately, you can only buy her chocolates at a few stores in Chicago, Illinois. Makes me a little sad because I'm not visiting Chicago anytime soon. Maybe I can purchase the chocolates through one of the stores online? More research needed.

Lastly, though these treats don't fall under the chocolate category - I'm going to mention them anyway. Haha. Ever had salted caramel coffee or hot chocolate? Delicious, right? Well, Petite Bouchée specializes in packaging caramels au beurre salé (salted butter caramels) - flavors range from expresso to gingersnap. Their most popular flavor is the fleur de sel and the pricing isn't too bad. I think I'll buy a couple bags for myself. I mean, other people...

Okay, that's enough chocolate for now. Wait...no, it's not! Anyways, hope you enjoyed this entry almost all about chocolate. :D

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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chicken curry salad sandwich.

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Simply Recipes is a food blog I faithfully follow - one of my favorites. I discovered it about a year ago while browsing the internet for a peanut butter cookie recipe. Here's the cookie recipe. :]

If you've ever had the chicken curry sandwich at Urth Caffe - you know how amazing it is. If you haven't tried it and want to pamper your tummy with sandwich goodness, PLEASE order it when you visit Urth [at any of their four locations]. You won't be disappointed. ;]

For those of you who don't like driving and/or live outside of Los Angeles - there's a solution. Make it at home. The recipe [below] isn't a sandwich recipe, but in between two slices of bread - it can be. If you use this recipe, I hope you make many people very happy. Enjoy it with your favorite drink. Mine is lemonade or Cactus Cooler. :]

Chicken Curry Salad [sandwich]

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 1/2 lb skinless chicken breast, cut into 1 inch cubes
• Salt
• 1 yellow onion, roughly chopped
• 2 heaping Tbsp yellow curry powder
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 apple (tart or sweet, your preference), peeled, cored, and diced
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro (just lightly packed)
• 2 green onions, sliced
• 1 Tbsp mayonnaise optional

Method

1 Heat olive oil on medium/medium-high heat in a thick-bottomed sauté pan. Add chicken pieces and cook, stirring frequently until just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle some salt on the chicken pieces while cooking. Check doneness by removing the thickest piece and cutting it in half. If it is still pink in the middle, keep cooking. Try not to overcook the chicken or it will be dry. Remove chicken pieces with a slotted spoon, set aside in a bowl.

2 Add yellow onion and cook. After a few minutes, when the onions are beginning to get translucent, add 2 heaping tablespoons of yellow curry powder. Cook a few minutes more, stirring frequently. If the curry sticks to the bottom or the mixture gets dry, add a bit more olive oil to the pan. As you stir, scrape up the stuck curry bits. Add raisins, and cook, stirring another minute. (If adding optional mayonnaise, remove curry from heat and mix in mayo.) Add raisin and onion mixture to chicken and mix well, coating the chicken pieces with the curry infused olive oil. Refrigerate until cool. At this point you can make the salad a day a head of time.

3 When you are ready to serve the salad, mix in the apple, green onions, and cilantro.

Serves 4.

[recipe: courtesy of Simply Recipes]

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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The Duck and Bunny.

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I came across a creperie called The Duck and Bunny via Amy Cao's blog. If you don't know who Amy Cao is - she's a writer + food blogger residing in New York. Um...I'd like her job, please. :] She also has her own website: Amy Blogs Chow and uploads very cool videos about food called Stupidly Simple Snacks. I just watched a bunch of videos on how to make simple snacks and I'm making the deviled eggs tomorrow! Yummy~ May you be inspired as well. ;]

Okay, back to what I was talking about - The Duck and Bunny. The creperie is based in Providence, Rhode Island - located just seven minutes away from the Amtrak station I'll arrive at on my 'holiday' [as the British would say]. My reasons for wanting to visit The Duck and Bunny are as follows: their peanut butter and banana sandwich looks amazing AND it's in Rhode Island [the perfect place to visit on my way to Boston]. Which reminds me, maybe I'll pack a peanut butter and jam sandwich for my plane ride to New York. Another lingering thought: should I take my laptop? Probably not, right? Okay. :]

Another very cool website: Foodspotting.com. My initial reaction to this website was - how am I discovering this now?? + a few OMG's. You'll probably do the same thing - if you don't, I'm truly sorry. Whether you live in Los Angeles or Buenos Aires - you'll find plenty of great places to eat through this website. Try it! :]

Okay, I'm off to watch Toy Story 3! I hope it's as good as people say it was!! :] Good night! Over and out.

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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the east.

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i will travel to the east in a few short months [the side of this country i love]. four destinations: new york, ny - new haven, ct - providence, ri - boston, ma.

the most exciting part about this trip is getting to ride the train to each city. i guess this trip will be a personal retreat for me in many ways. haven't had one in a very long time. plus, i sort of need a holiday [away from los angeles]. i'm looking forward to the trip. a lot.

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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all things pumpkin.

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This Thanksgiving was the first time I made turkey - my very first one! I've always been afraid of cooking the turkey (in fear that I might ruin it), but not anymore. I overcame my fear and the turkey turned out delicious!

It was also my very first time baking pumpkin cheesecake a couple days ago. It wasn't anything fancy, just something really simple and fast. I didn't have to use flour or eggs - just canned pumpkin, cream cheese, cool whip, sugar & cinnamon. After combining the ingredients, I dumped the mixture into a 9" graham cracker crust and popped it in the refrigerator for three hours. And, the result? The most amazing pumpkin cheesecake I've ever had. Here's the recipe:

2-step Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe

Serves/Makes: 6 | Difficulty Level: 3 | Ready In: 2-5 hrs

Ingredients:

1 package (8 oz. size) cream cheese, softened
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 container (8 oz. size) cool whip
1 prepared 9" graham cracker crust

Directions:

Beat cream cheese, pumpkin, sugar and pumpkin pie spice in large bowl with wire whisk or electric mixer until smooth. Gently stir in whipped topping. Spoon into crust.

Refrigerate three hours or until set. Garnish as desired.

Pumpkin bread is next on my list of things to bake. I'm going to make the rest of this year pumpkin-themed. Haha.

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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cookies for the jetplane...

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a pastry chef + author living in paris, france. david lebovitz. he's an inspiration for this blog, actually. :] i'm a novice blogger, but aspire to be like david one day. maybe i can also live in paris one day...
packing a snack for your upcoming flight takes diligence. if you have time a few hours before your flight - make some chocolate chip cookies! maybe you can make some for your travel buddy. :]

Great Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
1/2 cup (120 grams) firmly packed light brown sugar
8 tablespoons (1 stick) (115 grams) unsalted butter, cold, cut into 1/2-inch (1cm) pieces
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 cups (175 grams) all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups (200 grams) semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup(130 grams) walnuts or pecans, toasted and chopped

Adjust the oven rack to the top 1/3 of the oven and preheat to 300F (150C). Line three baking sheets with parchment paper.

Beat the sugars and butters together until smooth. Mix in the egg, vanilla, and baking soda. Stir together the flour and salt, then mix them into the batter. Mix in the chocolate chips and nuts.

Scoop the cookie dough into 2-tablespoon (5cm) balls and place 8 balls, spaced 4 inches (10cm) apart, on each of the baking sheets.

Bake for 18 minutes, or until pale golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.

Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Make about 20 cookies.

[recipe: courtesy of David Lebovitz]

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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i love this tree.

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that's all.

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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leaving it up to Him.

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a series of recent events in my life have freaked me out a little. some of it is due to my negligence - but, i guess there's no use in worrying about such things...

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" [Matthew 6:25-27]

so, i will not worry about tomorrow (literally). i will leave the results up to Him and celebrate my newfound confidence with frozen yogurt. :]

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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i'm your hero.

breakfast...just around the corner.

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i LOVE good food and, i've recently discovered breakfast to be very enjoyable and gratifying. it has been a rather expensive exploration.

growing up, breakfast was boring. milk and pop-tarts. that was it. but, now - a countless assortment of pancakes and omelettes make breakfast interesting. so, in honor of breakfast (the most important meal of one's day) - this entry is a tribute to different cafes in orange county that offer wonderful AM food. here are a few breakfast-serving locations on my "must eat" list.

i'll start with plum's cafe & catering. the dungeness crab omelet with fresh asparagus & dill hollandaise sounds especially mouthwatering. how can anything with crab be bad? it has to be amazing. i have great expectations for this dish. the blueberry brioche french toast at old vine cafe looks the most appetizing right now. i eat blueberries with everything. and, at rooster cafe - the two egg breakfast (three strips of bacon or five pieces of portuguese sausage, red potatoes or brown rice and toast) will probably win because two strips of bacon is not enough. i really really love bacon. :]

i hope you will visit one of these cafes (or, have the desire to do so) upon reading this entry. that is, afterall - the point of all this rubbish. haha.

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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yellow brick road.

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i finally know what i want - what a relief (after all these years). i really hope everything works out. i sort of feel like dorothy on the yellow brick road, only i don't have sparkly red shoes. maybe i can find a pair at the flea market. that'd be neat.

...what of the tin man, cowardly lion and scarecrow? i don't know.

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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applesauce in a jar.

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yes, applesauce in a jar for wedding guests in the land of oregon. wonderful, isn't it? i love this kind of stuff. maybe i'll distribute nicely packaged jars of boysenberry jam (so delicious~) at my wedding...perhaps in a smaller jar though...

but, anyway - oregon is on my great, big list of states to visit. in particular, portland. i found this wonderful site that guides you through everything one can do whilst visiting portland. and, if you're like me - you'll be on the site for at least an hour. so, perhaps i will visit portland, oregon somewhat soon. :]

also on my list are: boston, massachusetts; anchorage, alaska; seattle, washington; providence, rhode island; staten island, new york; and, just all of connecticut.

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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Beautiful III.

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Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I'd really like to meet him one day...

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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El Captain.

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Park Ji Sung. In his name, there is power. I'd say, he's the prince of football* in South Korea. He is an incredible football player with astounding talent and heart. In England, he plays for Manchester United (one of the most prominent football clubs in the world) alongside some of the most talented and celebrated football players in the sport.

As captain of the South Korean national team for the World Cup in South Africa this year - there's a great deal of pressure for Korea to meet the monumental standards set in the 2002 World Cup. So, right now - there's only focus and teamwork.

*football: soccer [as it is known in the US]

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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Baked goods.

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I've been baking a lot lately [I repeat, A LOT]. Baking makes me feel productive - it's very therapeutic. Haha. If you bake - you must share. Sharing food [especially, dessert] brings joy into lives...many lives.
Hmm...I should start taking pictures of things I bake. Will attempt to do so on the next recipe. Some of the recent things I've made include: chocolate chip cookies, shortbread cookies, peanut butter cookies, raspberry crumb breakfast bars, mint cream cheese bars. Next, I plan to make some type of fruit turnover or a pie [maybe an apple pie...].

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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Video.

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Video [a song by India Arie]. Just as teenagers [now] relate to Taylor Swift's songs on the radio - I relate to this specific song a lot. It expresses everything I feel about myself [well, almost]. Once you hear this song, it's hard not to sing along. Haha. Thank you, India Arie - mostly for writing these lyrics [for me].

***
Sometimes I shave my legs and sometimes I don’t
Sometimes I comb my hair and sometimes I won’t
Depend on how the wind blows I might even paint my toes
It really just depends on whatever feels good in my soul

[Chorus]
I’m not the average girl from your video
And I ain’t built like a supermodel
But I learned to love myself unconditionally,
Because I am a queen

I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I’m wearing I will always be India Arie

When I look in the mirror and the only one there is me
Every freckle on my face is where it’s suppose to be
And I know my creator didn’t make no mistakes on me
My feet, my thighs, my lips, my eyes, I’m loving what I see

[Chorus]

Am I less of a lady if I don’t where pantyhose
My momma said a lady ain’t what she wears but what she knows…
But I’ve drawn the conclusion, it’s all an illusion
Confusion’s the name of the game
A misconception, a vast deception,
Something got to change

Now don’t be offended this is all my opinion
Ain’t nothing that I’m saying law
This is a true confession
Of a life learned lesson
I was sent here to share with y'all
So get in when you fit in
Go on and shine
Clear your mind
Now’s the time
Put your salt on the shelf
Go on and love yourself
‘Cause everything’s gonna be alright

[Chorus]

Keep your fancy drink, and your expensive minks
I don’t need that to have a good time
Keep your expensive cars and your caviar
All I need is my guitar

Keep your crystal and your pistol
I’d rather have a pretty piece of crystal
Don’t need you silicone, I prefer my own
What god gave me is just fine

[Chorus]

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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The type.

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Hmm...turns out - I do have a type. Haha. Dark hair. Light eyes. Slightly nerdy. Articulate with words. Funny (in a witty sort of way). Musically ambitious. Well-dressed (think Adam Brody's style). Moderately athletic (but, must be an excellent basketball player). Exudes Mr. Darcy's charm (from Pride & Prejudice). Passionate. Plays chess well.

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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Oh, Mr. Jake...

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I recently saw this beautiful man at a private screening for his latest movie "Prince of Persia" in Century City and, YES - he is just as good looking (and, funny) in person as he is on screen. Jake is considerably, the most attractive man I've seen in Los Angeles - and, the witty banter only adds to his charm.

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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Vogue.

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Vogue [vohg]: something in fashion, as at a particular time; popular currency, acceptance or favor

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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His passion.

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pas•sion [pash-uh n]

1. Any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, as love or hate.
2. A strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire for anything
3. Boundless enthusiasm

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you” (John 15:18-19).

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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Recipe #2: Corn Casserole

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It was my very first time making corn casserole yesterday – and, it was a delicious success! I ate a third of it last night whilst watching the latest episodes of The Vampire Diaries and Castle. Best meal ever. I’m a sucker for vampires, crime dramas and good food.

I gave my coworkers a tiny taste of my corn casserole in the morning and, they loved it! So, I’m bringing more tomorrow. Hungry stomachs must be fed and I’d really like the salivating to stop. Haha.

I will most definitely be using this recipe again (soon) – but, please indulge yourselves in corn heaven in your own casserole dish.

Ingredients
2 eggs, beaten
1 (15 ounce) can cream-style corn
1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 (15.25 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 (4 ounce) can diced green chilies, drained
1 (8.5 ounce) package dry corn muffin mix

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 2 quart casserole dish. In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs, cream style corn, sour cream and melted butter. Stir in whole kernel corn, cheese, onion and chilies. Stir in the corn muffin mix until just moistened.

Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven for 75 minutes; or until an inserted knife comes out clean and the top is golden. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Good eats!

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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I am robot.

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ro·bot [/roh-buh t, -bot]

1. A machine that resembles a human and does mechanical, routine tasks on command.
2. A person who acts and responds in a mechanical, routine manner, usually subject to another’s will; automaton.
3. Any machine or mechanical device that operates automatically with humanlike skill.
4. Operating automatically

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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It all started with a grilled cheese sandwich.

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I ordered a grilled apple and cheese sandwich at Syrup Desserts (located in downtown LA) a couple days ago and that grilled cheese sandwich is the inspiration for this entry.

Parking was a pain and expensive (like it always is in downtown LA) – but, standing in line, waiting for a supposed grilled cheese masterpiece was well worth the drive. I devoured the little sandwich within minutes of opening the take-out box in my car.

So, in an attempt to concoct the perfect grilled cheese sandwich – I picked up a few ingredients at the supermarket yesterday. I decided to use slices of American cheese on dark rye bread for lunch. The sandwich was decent, but something was...missing. I probably should have used a different cheese, not American.

Today, I'm experimenting with cheddar cheese and blueberries on dark rye bread - sounds strange, doesn't it? Strange, but hopefully delicious.

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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In Pursuit of Happiness.

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Lately, I don’t have time for much more than work and the occasional meal with co-workers or sipping French-pressed coffee with friends. During the week, I’m perfectly content with a good book, watching TV or perusing the World Wide Web. Fun is restricted to the weekends, unless it's raining - then, I prefer my bed with take-out Indian food.

I have the usual routine of getting home, checking my email, spending too much time on Facebook and updating my blog. But, I’ve recently discovered Etsy, a remarkable online marketplace of homemade pieces of art. I will always resort to Amazon for my DVDs and books, but for one-of-a-kind brooches or wall art - Etsy is the place to go for your merchandise.

Most of the people on Etsy also have blogs and today, I stumbled upon a notable blog worth mentioning. It's called Abby Try Again and this 26-year old blogger sells her inimitable photographs for less than anything you'd even find at IKEA (a department store commited to selling the cheapest goods in the history of mankind - seriously).

She writes that she quit her day job to pursue blogging and photography. How daring and exciting is that?! Instead of being tied down to her desk, she’s doing what she loves – blogging and capturing the beauty around her, all through a camera lens. She inspired me to pursue what I love - so, let the pursuing begin!

The act of pursuing would be much easier if I had the leisure of doing so. I’d travel the world and stay in different cities for months at a time, sending postcards to my friends; take pictures with my ridiculously expensive camera (that, I have yet to purchase) and blog about all of it. Of course, this would all be done in the accompaniment of various types of tea and treats made from flour, sugar and chocolate. I wouldn't do it any other way.

Lesson learned: leap to do what you love in the company of sweets.

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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In Honor of Julia Child.

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Julie & Julia night, we called it. And, oh my - was it a fantastic night.

Boeuf à la Bourguignonne (Boeuf Bourguignon). Oignons Glacés a Brun (Brown-braised Onions). Champignons Sautés Au Beurre (Sautéed Mushrooms).

These are the three fabulous French dishes my friends and I cooked (from scratch – yes, 100% scratch) over the weekend. The recipes are directly from Julia Child’s cookbook, “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” – and, it’s wonderful.

As of Saturday night – I am officially, a fan of French cuisine.

Top Left: Multi-colored fingerling potatoes (the purple ones were so delicious - they're my favorite). Top Right: Our amazing Boeuf à la Bourguignonne (Boeuf Bourguignon) accompanied by Oignons Glacés a Brun (Brown-braised Onions) and Champignons Sautés Au Beurre (Sautéed Mushrooms) - we mixed it together because Julia recommended it. Did I mention the mushrooms were delightful? Bottom Center: Pan-fried asparagus seasoned with salt, shallots and a touch of olive oil.

Thank you, Julia. We love you.

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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Glee.

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Glee is currently one of the most refreshing shows on television. I watched the pilot episode expecting a really corny version of High School Musical – but, I was wrong because it was oh-so-amazing (though, we can’t completely rule out corny – haha). Every minute is worth celebrating – especially the amazing cast (they can sing!). Sure, singing and dancing through the halls of your high school probably isn’t realistic (or safe) – but, who says it can’t happen? Glee clearly shows us, it can.

Thank goodness someone had the brilliant idea of bringing bundles of joy to television once a week in the form of characters like Will Schuester, Sue Sylvester, Finn, Rachel, Mercedes, Puck, Quinn, Artie and Tina. Not only does Glee bring a whole legion of songs, from every genre, back to life - they do it with spice, color and heart.

This is why I love Glee.

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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Recipe #1: Peppermint Bark

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There was a brief period in high school when I collected recipes, much like one collects baseball cards. I ordered recipes via catalog (before people started ordering everything from Amazon), hoping to pass it down to my grandchildren one day. Once I got these recipes in the mail, I tossed them into a plastic box to display on my desk (seeking admiration from others) - but, my recipe box went unnoticed and that hobby soon ceased to exist. But, when I finally discovered the art of cooking many years later, the recipes I had once collected became a very useful tool in the kitchen.

Experimenting with food hasn't always been my forte. I've always been one to stick with the "safe" foods (if there's such a thing). Cooking what I know guarantees success – whether it be a stew, curry, or a poultry dish. But, really – what’s the fun in that?

So, with fun in mind – I started stepping out of my comfort zone to seek new recipes on the interweb and occasionally asking my friends and co-workers for recommendations. Through trial and error, my ability to cook becomes more promising every time I pick up a spatula or wooden spoon. And, most of all - it's fun to pace around the kitchen with measuring cups in hand and raw ingredients waiting on the cutting board to create something wonderful for the mouth. I’m no Julia Child, but – I aspire to be a master in the kitchen one day.

Discovering new tastes and different flavors is a refreshing experience and perhaps it is what drives me to whisk, bake, sauté, steam and broil. I give thanks to my obsessive recipe collecting teenage self because without her - my passion for cooking may have gone undiscovered for a very long time. And, that would have been a shame for you and for me.

This month – I will be making peppermint bark. I'll keep you posted.

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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Genius.

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As cliché as this sounds, I’m an irrevocable Marc Jacobs fanatic*. The Marc by Marc Jacobs collection is modern, chic and affordable – perfect for someone like me.

Whenever I walk into a department store (usually Bloomindales – which is one of my favorite places in the world, by the way) – I head straight for the Marc Jacobs section to marvel at the wonderful inventions known to mankind as bags, purses, totes, clutches, etc. Of course, he also has a beautiful collection of shoes, watches, clothes and accessories – but, the bags are exquisite.

My point: I’m glad subtle “fashionistas” (like me and some of my friends – and, maybe you) have been blessed with the genius-ness of Marc Jacobs and his wonderful little creations of art. And, of course – we don’t want to forget his team, the people who put the amazing ideas together to make leather-smelling products of goodness.

Marc Jacobs is a genius – an utter genius.

*Fanatic = a person with an extreme and uncritical enthusiasm or zeal

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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Bleeding Red.

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There are a few things in life I'm willing to invest my time and money in: bags, shoes, books, food and people. Well, this time – it’s a bag.

My latest mission has been to find the perfect red bag. I have yet to find her, but I know she's out there. I don’t know what shape, brand or design yet – but, I’ll know in time. And, I think – soon.

I'll keep you posted on how the search goes. This is going to be FUN (for me).

Posted by : Grace J. Lee
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