Chocolate and Seafood in San Francisco

Playing: The Days-Patrick Wolf
Reading: Elle Spring Summer 2011 Collections
I really haven't been up to much lately other than homework and studying. I think it may have been a bad idea to take two APs and an Honors, especially since the Honors is in my worst subject...I took a test in Chemistry today and finished off a very hard math problem and got the answer right, while most kids ran out of time and had to guess. Then when I got home, I was chatting with a friend on Facebook and he told me that I forgot about significant figures, so I actually got it wrong...I really hate myself sometimes. I'm truly sorry for my lack of posting, but the truth is I don't have enough energy or time to post after I'm done with homework. I pretty much just eat and go to bed now. To get my minds off of things, I want to do a post about something I did over summer break.

I went to the Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory for the first time, even though I've been to San Francisco multiple time. The line was so incredibly long, but it was worth it, so I could smell all the lovely chocolate.

I ended up sharing the Presidio Passion with my brother, but the whole time I spent waiting for it, I kept on thinking, I should've gotten the classic sundae because everyone around me got that and it looked great. However I am very happy with my choice. The fruit in it helps to lighten up the heavy chocolate.

We decided to walk to Pier 39 afterwards and the walk was freezing cold, even in my sweater. Obviously, I need a windproof jacket next time I go. I saw a segway tour group and it made me laugh because segways remind me of Weird Al.

I posted pictures of the sea lions at Pier 39 last year, but I wanted to do another photo because they're just so cute. This one drunk lady was yelling all sorts of things at the sea lions...It was quite humorous at first, but then it started getting annoying.

While walking around, I just decided to take a photo to show you the touristy center of Pier 39. I like the carnival theme, but it's a bit odd, considering everything else is themed around a fishing wharf. Still, it's pleasant and I like walking around this area.

The real reason my family goes to Pier 39 is for the food. We love to have seafood, so we decided to try the Pier Market, which was owned by the guy that came up with the idea of Pier 39. The clam chowder was pretty good, but I still prefer Manhattan clam chowder over New England.

My brother had been craving a lobster sandwich the whole day, so he grabbed a lobster sandwich, while I grabbed a crab melt. It was very good, but I found it too rich after the first half, so I encourage sharing or skipping on the clam chowder, if you're going to eat this. Also, squeezing some fresh lemon juice on it really brightens up the flavor.

What book are you currently reading? 

I'm reading Catcher in the Rye for school and so far, I love Holden Caulfield. We could be best friends. My mum's response to that was, "You're just like your father. You like rebels and odd people." My English teacher told us as we go on, through the book, we're not going to like him as much, so that makes me pretty upset.

"The City That Doesn't Sleep"

Playing: Lonely For Her-Jack's Mannequin
Reading: The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger

 

 Since I haven't had time to blog, I thought I'd share something I had to write for school. I had to write a small essay about a place that I'm in love with and describe what we love about it, so this is what I wrote.

Frank Sinatra’s velvety smooth voice sings over the radio, “I want to wake up in the city that doesn’t sleep.” For me, it’s the same; I want to wake up in the city that never sleeps. New York, New York is a magical place, a blend of history and modernity.  New York is my favorite city in the world, especially during spring. Gothic churches dot the landscape and hide in between sleek buildings that stretch forever into the sky.  From the creamy cannolis at Ferrera Barkery to the saltiness of a pastrami sandwich at Carnegie Deli, the list of superb food is endless.  Even the parks are special in New York, especially Central Park. Central Park’s lake, which thawed at the beginning of spring,  is filled with hundreds of plump ducks swimming about in the blue green water. Flowers are starting to bud and the ground is still damp with the melting snow.  Rickshaws are scattered throughout Central Park, waiting to whisk you away.

At night New York truly comes alive. The air is cold, but a pleasant sort of cold and the wind has calmed down to a mere breeze. Art galleries stay up all night for the young and restless, while the older, sophisticated crowd can enjoy operas at the brightly lit Carnegie Hall or musicals on Broadway. Although, these all add to the charm of New York, my favorite is Times Square late at night. The neon lights light up the pitch black sky and the ever-present crowd. Street vendors shout at the tourists to buy their special deals that range from anything like socks to turtles.  Everyone is so excited to be in Times Square and you can just feel the happiness emanating from everyone. It’s truly a magical feeling to be in a place, where everyone is just so glad to be there. New York is a symbol of American strength, wealth, and fashion. It’s a place for dreamers of all kinds to get their start, whether it’s on Broadway or on 5^th avenue.  It’s a place that sells dreams and makes them.

By the way I created a tumblr that will consist of all the things I love: whimsy, fashion, and whatever else I like. Click here to see it and please follow! Also, leave your link in the comments, so I can follow and check out your's!

Fashion's Night Out

Playing: Neverending Story-The Birthday Massacre
Reading: Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck
I went to celebrate Fashion's Night Out for the first time. Last year I couldn't go because of homework and this year homework almost stopped me, but I was determined to go! It was only my first day of school, so I zoomed through my homework, got changed into something semi-comfortable and picked up Jessy to go! Jackie was supposed to come, but last minute cross country stopped her, so she'll just have to come with us next year.

Here's the proof that I went to Fashion's Night Out and not just on any other random day, so here you go, a photo of the Jimmy Choo store. Jessy and I went to South Coast Plaza because I really wanted to go to Burberry. (Burberry is my love.)

Most of the stores celebrated by giving out free champagne, appetizers, or desserts. Like Max Mara gave out cupcakes, but I didn't try any of them because I hadn't eaten dinner yet and didn't want to spoil my dinner. Chanel was doing free manicures and nail painting, but Jessy and I skipped on that to look at the new Chanel flaps. A lot of stores had DJ's going on, which made it hard for Jessy and me to talk to each other about what we loved this season.

I just wanted to show you a photo of Jessy's outfit because I loved her skirt! It was so flowy and it looked amazing, when she walked. We were looking at Marni and this was actually my first time going in the Marni store. Love the coat racks!

While we were walking around South Coast Plaza, we saw this man carrying a huge wedding dress and Jessy told me the guy was on Project Runway. It took me awhile to get my camera out and that's why the photo is of his back. I wanted a picture of his face, so I could try to figure out who he was, so if you recognize his design aesthetic and know him, let me know!

Jessy was wearing wedges and I was wearing my uncomfortable vintage boots, so we had to take some breaks, as the night wore on. (OH PUN! GET IT WORE, LIKE CLOTHES? Excuse my lame sense of humor...) We sat in the Gucci store because Gucci's gowns are amazing and because we were making our way to miu miu and Louis Vuitton!

This is the only photo of me I go that night and it's a photo of me with my chubby cheeks smiling awkwardly in the Gucci store. I love how half of the photo is of a Gucci trench coat. By the way, if I moved to New York City or London, I think I would start a trench coat collection. I really like how you can wear a plain top, skinny jeans, boots/Converse, and the trench coat and look completely pulled together!

Of course, the best part of going to Fashion's Night Out was people watching! This lady had a bunch of interesting pieces on, but it didn't go together smoothly. I think each piece was good on it's own, but all together? Really, it was a tad much for me. I was going to ask her for a photo, but then I felt bad asking her for a photo, when I knew I was going to say her outfit was too much...

Overall, the evening was a nice way to spend time with my friend and to forget that school had started. It also gave me an excuse to go into so many of the stores I had never been into before. I grabbed tons of catalogs like I always do, when I go to the mall. I seriously love these things. It's like having a book with the whole season's looks. Chloe's are especially nice and last season, Prada and miu miu had wonderful ones. I'm still waiting for miu miu and Prada to get their F/W 2011 catalogs in and for Burberry to mail me mine. The people at miu miu are so nice. One of the salesmen saw that Jessy and I had a lot in our arms, so he grabbed us bags to put them in. Free advertising for them, but so convenient for us! Since Jackie couldn't come with us, I decided to give her one of my Max Mara catalogs. I hope she can come with us next year.

How did you spend your Fashion's Night Out? Leave me a link of your day, if you did a post on it!

Istanbul Archaeology Museum

Playing: Don't Ask Me-Ok Go
Reading: Ways of the World: A Brief Global History with Sources (Chapter 2 of my AP World Textbook)
I'm going to try to post, while school is going on, and try to get through all my Istanbul memories before they become fuzzy. Trying to sort through my Istanbul photos proved to be more work than I thought, so that's why these posts take me awhile to write out. I went to the Istanbul Archaeology Museum on my second to last day in Turkey and it costs 10 TL to get in, which made it one of the more inexpensive tourist attractions.

The main building of the Istanbul Archaeology Museum is home to many classical statues and things from Mesopotamia. There are burial artifacts too on the basement level from the Romans, I believe. I only looked at the basement level and the first floor because any higher than that was uninviting. The staircases weren't lit at all and it was rather dark, so I wasn't sure, if I was allowed to go up. The only reason I went was because my brother had gone up already. When I saw him, he told me he'd been on the 2nd and 3rd floors already and there really wasn't anything worth looking at. At the time I went, they had a special exhibit on the Roman Empire and the Sultans' jewels on the first floor, which were very impressive.

Across from the main building was a building dedicated to Muslim arts and the Muslim style of living. This museum was definitely more impressive than the other one, but I think I liked it so much because it's brightly lit using sunlight and it's very free and open. It was actually the home of someone before it was turned into a museum.

And then while I was inside, I decided to sneak in a photo of me using the Floo Network. Obviously, I'm off to go save the world with Harry Potter. (Excuse my derpy smile and awkward wave.) Seriously, there were a lot of wizard-y things in Turkey like the turrets on the mosques, the towers that peaked out of the city skyline, and the fire places that look like they're part of the Floo Network!

My brother and I were feeling a bit ill from being dehydrated, so we grabbed some drinks and a sandwich at their cafe outside. They have one outside, but the outside one has lovely seating that overlooks the royal gardens. I loved the Peach Nestea they had in Turkey  because it was more nectar like. Also, you can see, the audio tour system they use at the museum in the background. It's actually triggered by where you move. It'll turn on and start talking to you, when you enter the right room. Be warned, the cafe is expensive and my brother and I felt a tad ripped off. One sandwich and two cans of ice tea for 22 TL? Outrageous!

There are so many stray cats and dogs in Turkey and I loved having them around, especially the cats. I kind of miss the random cats, since I've returned home. I actually carried around food in my purse for the cats because I enjoyed feeding them so much. We ended up giving the kitty half of the sandwich we bought...

Then we headed back in to the main building to look at some of the Mesopotamian tile work. It's so cool to have seen these in real life because I learned about this stuff four years ago in history. I was surprised by how much I remembered about them and I find it amazing how they didn't just put these tile works on a plain wall, but added their own tile work to complement it. Overall, this museum was very nice, although a bit stuffy and warm during summer, and I think if you do have the time, you should visit it.

How's school treating you?

PS School isn't treating me well. I have tons of homework and tons of challenging classes to take. I no longer have the time or energy to craft, read as many blogs as I used to, or continue my John Steinbeck marathon. I was trying to read every single one of his novels, but school has momentarily stopped me. However, I'm still finding time to cook on the weekends.