Ode to "Twilight"...And a lil' Rob Pattinson action...

Hi All,

I'm sorry for being M.I.A. in my posting lately, I've been a little distracted (but in a very good way distracted). Not sure if I mentioned this before, but one of my good friends (and former roommate) Stephanie had the once in a lifetime chance to interview THE Robert Pattinson from the upcoming fan frenzied film of "Twilight" last week in San Francisco. Yes, I was just as shocked when I heard the news of her latest work assignment, too (lucky gal!!). You see, Steph works for this great company called Common Sense Media that focuses on family oriented media in film, tv, and literature and so sometimes she gets these really amazing opportunities (hence the Rob interview).

Anyway, yesterday Steph and I were chatting about her whole Rob Pattinson experience, (bells & whistles and all, he was such a sweetie she says) and then I watched the video, and it was just fabulous! Nearly 3 minutes of heaven! I'm so proud of her. So I wanted to devote a post to her journalistic debut.

So without further ado, here's the link of Stephanie my friend with none other than Robert Pattinson aka Edward "Vampy Hottie" Cullen: Stephanie Interviews Rob Pattinson From Twilight

(note, I would have embedded the video here but her company forbids it, so hope you will take the link and check it out on youtube)

Love ya Steph! You did a superb job and I can't wait to see who you interview next!

Winter Fashion Wishlist...London Style

I'm not sure about all of you, but when I'm bored, I like to look for new clothing and accessories online. Granted that doesn't mean I buy it all, far from it, but I like to fill my head space with pretty stuff for my imaginary closet. Also, in lieu of recent plans, I'm going to London next January or February 2009 to visit a guy "friend", so I want to be prepared to make my British debut in style and warmth (it will be rather cold there during that time so I need a good wool coat!). Of course this will all be done on a budget, so I am on the lookout for fabulous wear at a nifty price.

Here are some recent finds that really excited me. So just in case any of you want to buy them for Christmas for me... or Santa is reading this... here's the pictures and info (just kidding, but a girl can dream can't she?) Its alright, I'll probably buy at least one of these for myself anyway by the time I go.

COATS: I definitely need a new winter coat. Here are some I found on victoriassecret.com that I really like.


ITEM #1 Victoria's Secret "Via" black A-line wool blend coat. $149 Very chic and Audrey Heburn-esque but with an urban flair, plus its a wool blend so should keep me nice and toasty. PROS: Goes well with any color and is a good price CONS: Can't think of any as yet.


ITEM #2 Victoria's Secret Via double-breasted white military coat in wool. $178 I love the classic white and detail with the silver buttons, big lapel, belt and buckle at the waist, which gives a nice tapered silhouette. PROS: Sophisticated and timeless, would be a staple piece in my winter wardrobe. CONS: Is white so may show dirt easier and be harder to clean, although it could be bought in a different color.


ITEM #3 Victoria's Secret Double Breasted A-Line coat in Red. $139 I love the big collar and popping red. Of course I might look like the Queen from Snow White with that collar, but I always like making a big statement with fashion anyway. PROS: Sexy and sultry color, long, which means more coverage= warmer. Good price. CONS: Doesn't match everything as well, but then maybe it wouldn't matter since it would cover up any mismatching tops anyway.

Or the cheap de la cheap...but still cute...


Old Navy Double-Breasted White Wool Coat $89.50 Very classic. Simple. PROS: Price but still some flair CONS: Only 60% wool so may be not as warm as looks. May have to wear more layers because of it. In addition, not as good quality probably.

Now we must move onto boots, an essential part of the English wardrobe. I've taken a fancy to these four...but must only choose one pair probably...

Via Spiga Bronze Brown Leather Boots from zappos.com $394. Yes, a girl can dream can't she? I love the color, wrapped leather and medium-thick heel. Totally gorgeous boots, out of my price range so I won't buy them. But I found a good compromise...


White MT Celebration Boots in Dark Brown Suede from zappos.com $93. These are almost nearly as gorgeous as the Via Spiga ones but monumentally cheaper. PROS: Simple and classic CONS: Is suede so will probably need protective suede spray for English rainfall. Also, is 4 inch heel, so may get tiresome after long bouts of walking.

Or we could go a totally different style or texture...


RSVP Poet Victorian Brown Leather Boots $125 from zappos.com These boots are pretty classic and would go with most anything. They also look very sturdy and more comfortable than the aforementioned boots. PROS: Classy, good heel, only 3 inches vs. 4 inches. Cute touch with the buttons at the top and tighter on the calf, which I like. CONS: Can't think of much really other than a little more expensive than the others.

and lastly...

Chinese Laundry Turborn Dark Brown Suede Boots $98 from zappos.com PROS: These babies would look great with a pair of skinny jeans or a skirt (though it may be too cold in England for that). Very comfortable for walking distances as a tourist. CONS: I like them a lot but perhaps they are too long, and also, I kind of miss the taller heel, it adds more sex appeal to a foot in my opinion.

And I haven't even gotten started on clothes and accessories, but once again, it will be done on a budget. So much to take in. What do ya'll think? What would you choose if you were moi?

When an hour really means 35 minutes...

Yesterday, after a 45-minute ordeal of washing a mountain of dishes as high as the Himalayas and cleaning a most disorderly kitchen I was happy for the space to attempt my first ever batch of Banana nut bread (without the nuts I realized). My sis and I were given a copious amount of bananas recently and they were going downhill at a very rapid pace and since I'm no monkey I decided we should make use of the bananas in a useful fashion vs. letting them go to waste. Mind you, I am no culinary goddess, but I figured, how hard can banana bread be? You just follow the recipe, right? I was wrong. For even recipes are sometimes wrong.

Here is the recipe I followed...

GENERIC BANANA BREAD (sounds delish doesn't it, lol?)

1 cup of butter

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

¼ tsp salt

2 tsp baking soda

4 cups of flour

6 large bananas mashed

The directions were to mix butter and sugar. So I did. Add eggs one at a time. I did. Sift dry ingredients together and then add to creamed mixture. Roger that. Mash bananas and add to mixture last. Yes, mam. I followed all of these precisely, and it was the perfect batter, perfect consistency, perfect mashed bananas. I was so very proud. I ended up having a lot of batter so I filled 2 half a dozen muffin pans in addition to the glass pan as well, thought they’d come handy as snacks.

Now the directions said to cook the bread in the oven at 325 degrees for one hour. I had a moment then where my intuition said, “One hour, that can’t be right?” But alas, I did not listen to my sixth sense. I looked at other banana bread recipes online quickly and they directed the same amount of time. So putting aside my intuitive nudge I popped them in the oven, and put the first timer for 15 minutes for the muffin part of my project.

15 minutes later, the muffins were done. Took them out and looked at the main pan of the bread, it was evolving into a golden color rather swiftly. But then I thought, maybe that’s how it goes? The oven browns the edges before it cooks the middle?

Now I have estimated the banana bread would have been cooked just right between 30-35 minutes of cook-age (I just made that word up, haha) which was right around the time the alluring smell of cooking bread began to stop floating out of the oven. Would have being the key words to avoid disaster. I should have pulled the pan out during that time period but was busy chatting away with my mother on the phone, la dee dah. Why did I put my faith and trust into an internet recipe?!! And I should've realized that when you're on the west coast, cook time is MUCHO shorter. At about 42 minutes in I said to my mom on the phone, “Hmm, something smells kind of burning….Oh my gosh…MY BREAD!!”

This is what I pulled out of the oven…

All that time to prepare! All that pride, and all that hard elbow grease mashing the bananas and blending in the flour! All of my TLC put into a mixing bowl and pan, for what?!! I saved bananas so they could be burned alive by the evil oven monster. I am ashamed. So very ashamed.

I console myself that the bread would’ve been perfect if I had listened to the cooking fairy conscience that sat on my shoulder. She was a cute little sprite with spaghetti hair and green bell pepper shoes and she said, "Hark! Do not listen to the recipe Jess, for it lies, and makes false promises of beautiful tasty banana bread in an hour. But it is is wrong my friend, so very very wrong!" But I did not heed her warnings.

So now I make this vow... next time I will listen to you, oh dear cooking fairy, and I shall know the error of my ways...and hopefully the fruit of my labors! At least in edible terms!

In the meantime, I'm going to be reading this as my culinary go-to reference book...

*Note* Though maybe I shouldn't be taking cooking or dating tips from someone named "Jinx". Just an after thought!

Halloween Night...A Night of Youthful Remembrance...

Right now I am sitting here with a bag of Branch's mix of Mellowcreme pumpkins and candy corn (don't you love those post-Halloween candy sales, 65 cents a bag) and reminiscing on another holiday passed. It was a holiday with memories that will last a lifetime and stories that will pass on for generations and generations (just kidding, not really, it wasn't that special but wouldn't that make for an intriguing intro of a story? lol). Basically Halloween 2008 was a fabulous day of tricks and treats, kooky costumes and random meets, a night of laughter and fright, and all manner of excitement and delight.

This year, in light of all the political excitement and also lack of personal finances, I had to be creative when it came to my costume. In an ode to India I scrounged together my collection of colorful Indian-esque fabrics and jewelry and dressed up as a woman from India. If people asked me I decided to tell them I was going as political activist Indira Ghandi (the Bollywood version mind you, as we didn't bear much resemblance in retrospect). Little did I know that this 'persona' would become very apropos as I later immersed myself in some very highly-spirited political discussions with friends and strangers. It was an interesting and fun night.

Together with a collection of friends and my sister Cindy we ventured out to good old West Hollywood for the Santa Monica Blvd celebrations, which was basically a big party of live music, food, and crazy people in crazy costumes. The traffic along the way was madness so we decided to park in the Beverly Center, (which felt like a mile away from Santa Monica Blvd). We did not mind, however, as there was much to be seen and keep our minds and eyes occupied.

Here is a collection of my random photos with random folks at the street party and the anecdotes that follow...

I like to call this photo "The Bloomin' Brownies". I didn't know the names of these girl scouts, but I sure wanted to know their plastic surgeon's. The girl scout(far right) expressions were priceless!

Me and the Blooming Brownies. They were such friendly gals and even told me how to get my own "Hello kitty" achievement patch.

Random Guy dressed as Superwoman. Despite this he was very masculine and could even fly. Well okay, not fly, but he was handsome, and flirty so why would I care?

Me and Mr. Planter's Peanut Man. He was such a friendly fellow. He even did a little tap dance for me with his cane. Just kidding, but that would've been really funny.

My friend Jared and a "friendly monster". The pic is grainy but I can't get over Jared's expression. He looks like an innocent little kid posing with a buddy on the playground or something.


Jared the 80's rocker and the12-foot monster's wife. So candid and precious.

Wizard of Oz meet Bollywood.

These gentlemen told me oil was $60 a barrel, but I was more interested in their bling.

In a moment that can only be described as pure kismet I found Ghandi in a crowd of thousands. The first photo didn't turn out so I had to run back to him again and ask for another photo op. He kindly obliged. This is my favorite photo of the night. Doesn't it just ooze peace and tranquility, lol?

Pouring a spot of tea from Miss Pott's. As you can tell I have the most delicate and proper of manners.


Me and some "wannabe" missionaries. After this photo I quickly confiscated their cigarettes. Tsk tsk!

I like to call this photo "Moral Dilemma". Yeah, the devil in this pic is pretty freaky and I didn't particularly like his creepy hands on my head, lol.


Can someone identify this superhero for me? He was REALLY blue he glowed in the dark. Not sure about his superpowers but he'd make a great night light.

Random snap of our group towards the end of the festivities.


Cruella DeVille inspired car at a crosswalk on La Cienega Blvd. My friend Jared was even crazy enough to pet the cat in the window whilst passing. Hilarious!

Some other highlights, or interesting notes of the night. Walking down La Cienega Blvd we passed the club and saw Lo from "The Hills" posing in front of the paparazzi on the mini-red carpet. She was dressed as Little Red Riding Hood, and she looked, well, little (people on television are always shorter than you imagine). On the way back from the Santa Monica Blvd party I also saw the actor Jesse Spencer (from the TV show "House). He kissed a girl by a parking meter, and it looked like he was having a bit of a tiff with her from the look on the girls face and he was trying to mend things with a kiss? It probably worked, he's a cutie. I've seen him in person once before on the "Fox" lot when I was an extra once. Seems a nice fellow.

Anyway, that's my recollection of Halloween night ladies and gents. And I've just realized...I just finished my bag of candy whilst making this post. WOOPS! I think there's such a thing as too much of a good thing. Will try not to gorge oneself on too much candy again, at least until Christmas! Hope each and everyone of you had a lovely holiday!