Twins Birthday's Gifts

My cousins are going to celebrate their 15th birthday in another week time. (twin siblings) As their cousin, I already bought them tons of stuff during the last 5 years we knew each others, perhaps I'll get them something different this time? After browsing through many websites, I still cannot decide what to get for them. Baseball cap for Michael, he has aplenty; I thought of getting some skincare products for Alicia, but lately she hinted that she has a few bottles left. I was at my wits end when suddenly I came across this awesome website that sells boys baseball necklace, I decide to buy him two of this since he's a huge Yankees fan. Then when I click around, I found this cheap camisoles and cheap women's claddagh ring, I decide to get her few of these. I think they will love this gifts very much!

Categories: Gift Ideas

My Rainy Days Craving

On these rainy spring days in New York, I long to turn on my Tuscany music collection, watching lily sleeping, a cup of hot cappuccino and read a good book. Of course that's not possible when going to school long hours and filled up my gap. So I find myself having serious cravings on these rainy days. Go back to simplicity comfort zone.

These are my rainy days craving, what's yours?

Categories: Bloggy Stuff, Just My Thoughts, Life, Random in NYC, Spring

Sad Bear

Categories: Bloggy Stuff, Just My Thoughts

Midori Matsu Hibachi Japanese Restaurant Review - Forest Hills, NY

4.0/5 Stars.

I always wanted to try the Hibachi restaurant ever nice I moved to Forest Hills last year, I heard through my friend that Midori Matsu's food was delicious, so I decided to walked few blocks down from my apartment to tried out the hibachi grill.

The decor is not what I expected to find at a sushi bar or hibachi grill. I had the impression that Midori Matsu was a teppanyaki style restaurant, or a cook-it-yourself hibachi at the table like those found in many Korean restaurants. Midori Matsu is a highly decorated japanese restaurant with the modern bar seating, water fountain and nicely decorated table. I almost forgot to mention: they have an indoor pond with live goldfish!

There was sushi, sashimi, tempura, udon, teriyaki/hibachi, soup, and seaweed or seafood salad on the hibachi menu. I started with the tempura shrimp appetizer, which was more than enough food. The tempura was cooked perfectly in a golden yet crispy crust that made me wanted to reorder, it came with clear miso soup along with a dinner salad and house ginger dressing. Also I ordered sushi!

By the time my entrée arrived, I was close to full. Still, when the beautifully prepared salmon and shrimp arrived, I couldn’t resist. It was made teppanyaki style along with a side of the “white” sauce and "brown" sauce that completed the aroma. The salmon was cooked well in a glazed teriyaki sauce.

The service was on point. Any time i needed a drink refill or more sauce, they were on the ball. Midori Matsu is a little pricy but the food is certainly worth a trip come to Forest Hills, Queens to take a bite.


Overall I gave it 4/5 stars.


Midori Matsu

111-16 Queens Blvd

Forest Hills, NY 11375

(718) 263-4110


Nearest Transit: 75 Av (E, F), Forest Hills - 71 Av (E, F, M, R)

Categories: Random in NYC, Restaurant Review

GROSCHE INDIGO Heatproof Glass Kettle / Teapot

So I bought this really cute GROSCHE INDIGO heatproof glass kettle from Amazon, I can't help but have to write a review about it! Gosh, one of my best buy ever with a smiley face ^.^

When I had my tea party few weeks ago, this little thing was the life saver! I put my teavana loose tea into the tea infuser, bring it to boil on the stove top, within few minutes then my mango coconut tea was ready to serve.

INDIGO tea pot are sturdy enough to not break if I accidentally hit the cabinet, but elegant enough to keep out and look nice out. Kettle and tea pot two in one, as a tea lover who drinks tea everyday, this product is second to none and I just love it, in fact I bought few of these as Christmas gifts for my family, they've been using it to boil water on a daily basic, they love it too! Can't wait for my next tea party.

Categories: Bloggy Stuff, Gift Ideas

Customized Travel Mugs from Quality Logo Products

One of those year .. When I was a Treasurer of Student Government of SUNY Cobleskill, I promoted SGA to student body through giving out free custom made t-shirt, pens, note pad and travel travel mugs. I never underestimated the power of giving out customized items to public to promote companie's products are so useful. In fact, I've been a customer for citiback since year 2006 when I received a free mug from them to open a student checking account. For most businesses, customized mugs are considered as one of the most effective marketing tools. Lots of business have improved their business credibility through personalized mugs.

Back to 1990s when companies were using banners and brochures to promote their products and services was not eco-friendly. Imagine when all the brochures will be thrown away at some point, it just create more environmental issues. But nowadays, custom mugs have changed this tradition in a more sustainable way. Companies prefer to have custom mugs as a giveaway gift to their employees, customers and prospect customers because of a lot of reasons. These reasons include the usefulness of the mugs and their little cost. Mugs can be reuse in any household or office without ending up in the trash can after receiving it from companies.

Many businesses find personalized mugs as an effective promotional item for with not much effort, mugs can have logo or a short message about their business. Giving mugs with company's logo or message about the business is a unique way to advertise the company together with its products and services. Customized mugs cost little when companies order in a bulk, it's a practical business gift for employees and customers.

Categories: Bloggy Stuff, Gift Ideas

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day 2012

Categories: Bloggy Stuff, Life

My Virgin Stone Crab Recipe

2 fresh stone crab for $5! Such a great deal right? I'm gonna share my virgin stone crab cooking recipe!

Pour 5 litres of water into a large saucepan and add around 5 tablespoons of sea salt. Bring to a rapid boil.

Grasp the live crab by the back legs and drop it into the water headfirst. For a more humane method, as you grasp the crab by the legs, stroke the top of its head until it falls asleep and then slowly drop it into the boiling water.

Bring the water back to the boil and only then start timing. You should cook large crabs (about 2lb) for around 15 - 20 minutes, whilst smaller crabs will only need around 8 - 10 minutes.

Once the water has started to boil again, reduce the heat and simmer for the required time. The crab's shell should turn a bright orange when done.

When the crabs are done, immerse them for a few seconds in cold water so that cooking stops and they do not overcook.

When cutting open the crabs, remember to remove the limbs and discard them

Serve immediately with hot melted butter or let the crabs cool down in their shell until they are cool enough for you to remove the meat and refrigerate it until further use.
Crabs are also delicious cold.

Categories: Photography, Recipes

Ho Wan Chinese Restaurant Review - Richmond Hill NY

4.0/5 Stars

Ho Wan Chinese Restaurant! At least that's what I think they're shouting at us after a long search for the restaurant's location.

40 years old Ho Wan Restaurant was hidden under the A train station. Nothing special to look at from the outside, but this restaurant was rather big and appealing on the inside.

I come to this restaurant because of the good reviews we found online, so I told myself, why not give it a try. When we walked in, the service was good, we were escorted to our table, sat down, and my waiter was nice enough to do a briefing of alleged menu and kind enough to tell us what to order and what not to order because it might taste less than ideal.

I ordered some food while we enjoyed the (complimentary) olong tea. Our drinks arrived quickly as did 2 complimentary hot soup with green onion. Bonus! Satisfaction!

Finished with the healthy stuff for the moment, I ordered the deep-fried fish with sweet and sour sauce. Arriving a lovely golden brown and piping hot, I immediately put the fish sauce in my mouth! It wasn't greasy aftertaste, the fish was fresh and tasty.

And we had a combination veggie plate, It was “fresh, fresh, fresh.” The veggies were cooked to perfection, with a crisp snap indicating freshness as we ate them.

Lingering over our last dish, our complimentary homemade ice cream arrived. Green tea with almond crunch ice cream, I was surprised by the taste of it, refreshing and fulfilling!

The service was excellent and clean bathroom (that matters a lot to me) I'll come back again for the fish and try something new.

Overall I give it 4/5 stars.

Ho Wan Restaurant
111-05 Liberty Ave
Richmond Hill, NY 11419
Neighborhood: Ozone Park
(718) 843-3288

www.howanrestaurant.com

Nearest Transit: 111 St (A) Ozone Park - Lefferts Blvd (A) 104 St (A)

Categories: Random in NYC, Restaurant Review

Summer in Washington D.C and Maryland

Over the summer I went down to Washington DC to spent the July 4th weekend with Elena and Vic. Vic had been to Washington a number of times, but it been at least a few years and he hadn’t actually looked around in a while. So we took the car and drove down in the morning and we spent the better part of Friday afternoon from lunch in DC Chinatown, Ford's Theatre, Spy Museum and hotel in Maryland.

Monuments, museums and statues, oh my! The thought of Washington, DC probably brings images of one of these to mind. The District of Columbia is all about politics and power. History, too, plays a big role in why visitors choose the area as a travel destination every year.
Along the way we made a number of stops along the way at places like the White House, Washington Monument, downtown D.C, Treasury Building, Lincoln Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial as well.

We took some time to visit the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. While there I saw the Hope Diamond and amazing displays on dinosaurs, gems, and planetary evolution. Of course another great museum would be the Air Space Craft Museum! Awesome!

The trip to Washington D.C left me inspired and motivated, especially most of the memorials seemed to reach out to me. I know we can do more to help shape our great nation for generations to come if we only follow the example set by our forefathers, and in particular these two great men! Kudos to Lincoln!

Categories: Photography, Road Trip, Summer, Travel Log, Washington D.C