Also, I wanted to blog about one of the coolest (no pun intended) ice cream cafe in Chicago called the “icream cafe“.  Remember in my previous blog when I mentioned it was one of eateries that I definitely wanted to try out? Well I did and I wish we had one here in California! Maybe one day someone will open a shop over here because I know it’s going to be a major hit! You can custom create your ice cream right then and there and using liquid nitrogen, it takes between 3-6 minutes! They also offer a variety of other frozen dessert options as well! IT’S SOOOO AWESOME!!

I ordered a scoop of ice cream and the flavors I choose were Vanilla with Honey and Graham Crackers. Then the lady behind the counter asked me what color I wanted my ice cream to be. I was like, “color!?” and she said, “Yes, choose any color you like!” and so I said blue because that’s my favorite color! :) This is what I got and it was DELICIOUS! 

Can I, like, copyright that Vanilla-Honey flavor or something or at least get it called, “the Solitario” flavor?!? What do you think!?!?

Here’s a picture of me and Ryan enjoying our ” icream” masterpieces! :D – Please don’t mind me and my frizzy hair! It was straight when I left the hotel that morning :P

So if you’re ever in Chicago… OR if you LIVE in Chicago, you must try out this place!!

Anyways, without further delay, here is our summary slideshow of our awesome trip to Chicago, IL :)

16 years ago, I was baptized into the one and only true church, the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ). I am forever  thankful to God for this blessing because it really is my true and only wealth in life. So, tonight, I’ll have to tell Ryan that we need to do something to celebrate today!

By the way! If you’re ever in the Long Beach, CA area and you are craving for some Italian dishes, please try Il Poggio’s Restaurant. Ryan and I ate there on Friday night and it is such a friendly, family-owned restaurant. We ordered a dish that was a Spinach-stuffed Ravioli and it was delicioso!!  

Be sure to make room for dessert because to me, desserts totally scream, “LET’S CELEBRATE!!”

Anyway, Ryan finally took me to a new restaurant that I haven’t tried but heard of: BJ’S Restaurant. This past Wednesday, after Ryan got his fingerprints done, we headed to the restaurant for lunch before going to work. Since we love calamari so much we devoured the Crispy Calamari appetizer in less than 5 minutes :oP.  Ryan ordered the Fish Tacos, while I decided to get the Fresh Atlantic Salmon dishes that we both couldn’t finish.  We decided to take the rest home so that we could still have room for dessert: BJ’s Famous Pizookie, which was suggested to us by our friend Shana (Thanks a lot Shana!). All the dishes we ordered were delicious in case you’re looking for some recommendations on what to eat… :o)

Here are a couple of photos from our lunch date and our proof that working 5 minutes away from one another was the right decision! :o)

I was happy that Vanessa and Maia were able to join us too because we really don’t get to see them as much as before now that they are part of the Torrance locale.  I think that little gatherings like these are important and spending quality time with the ones you love and care for are priceless…

Life is too short… Especially nowadays… I seem like I’m always running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off…  I have to remind myself to slow down… smell the roses…or make time to have a cup of tea with my family.. my friends.. and all those that I care for…

I love Elise’s Tea Room :o)

Our special guest…. Maia

Cheers! ;oP

Thank you for joining me for tea!!!

Ryan and I have been married for the past six and a half years and we’re still going strong! We don’t have kids yet ;o) because we’re still in our “honeymoon” stage… We’re just two people enjoying each other company and trying our best to see as much of the world as we can! If we’re not traveling, then we make sure we have a couple’s night or day out! It’s the little things we do together that keeps our love as sweet as German Chocalate Cake!

Yesterday, Ryan and I finally decided to try out a new eaterie place that we haven’t been to together.  The restaurant is in the Bixby Knolls community in Long Beach and is called, “Jongewaard’s: Bake & Broil”.  Delicious food! We liked it so much that we decided to eat breakfast there this morning after our worship service.

My favorite is the fresh strawberry jam. It was so good that I decided to buy some before going home!

So, if you decide you want to take your significant other somewhere nice, definitely try this place out! It’s always busy and packed, which goes to saying how much other people like this place too!

Here are a few photos from yesterday:

Of course I had to take a picture of my husband – fresh from the barber shop with his hair cut!

I really don’t like my photos – i’m always a MESS… but here’s one of me anyway… NOTE: I belong behind the lens!

This was our delicious dessert that we shared! Vanilla Ice Cream and German Chocalate Cake! Such a sweet combination it deserves to be in color!

Usually, they have events booked there for Bridal Showers, Baby Showers, Weddings, and Parties so I made sure nothing was going on. I called the restaurant and Elise answered the phone. I asked her if the place was available for me and Ryan to come by and she said yes.

Elise’s Tea Room is such an inviting place. I enjoyed our afternoon drinking tea, eating their assortment of sandwiches, and her homemade scones were delicious! I would recommend the Chai Tea! It. Was. Soooo Gooooood!

After our afternoon tea, Ryan and I checked out their event room that they are currently renovating. They also have an antique Grand Piano that Ryan was able to play.  According to Marcos, who is the Event Coordinator for Elise’s Tea Room, that piano was made sometime in the 1800’s!  But it sounded so awesome when Ryan was asked to play on it.

Here’s a video (HAPPY FRIDAY VIDEO) I took of Ryan playing on the Grand Piano with my iPhone. There’s a lag with the video/audio, and Ryan made mistakes on some of the music, but oh well, it still sounds marvelously grand!! 

I LOVE how Ryan plays the piano/organ… I just fall in love with him every single time…. ;o)

If you ever have a chance to visit Long Beach, definitely check it out! Here’s a picture of Elise and Marcos that I borrowed from Elise’s Tea Room’s Website. So.. who’s up for a tea party???

They have been named “Restaurant of the Year” by VegNews. Located in Irvine and in El Segundo, the restaurant called Veggie Grill  is like vegetarian heaven. My favorite dish is called the V-Burger with a side of sweet potato fries! Delicious! And it’s good for you too!

A meal is not a meal without dessert, so my new favorite place to go to get some toothsome cupcakes is Sprinkles. 

Ryan told me he had to work late today.. so I told him, that’s fine as long as he takes me to try some Sprinkles cupcake. He agreed.. 

I got the Red Velvet (but it was green today) and he went for the Chocolate Marshmallow. So goooood but sooo baaadd… (This photo was taken with my new lens!! Makes the cupcakes so lifelike.. ;oP)

Happy Birthday Kuya Richard! We ate a cake to celebrate your birthday :o)

One of our newest lunch favorites is SanSai Japanese Grill. Their dishes are delicious and affordable. I love the fact that I can call in ahead of time to order. It get’s pretty busy at lunch time so I recommend ordering ahead of time unless you get there before or after the crowd.

If you’re in the MacArthur Blvd, Newport Beach area and looking for a place to eat, try this place out. They also have locations around Southern California.

See how much Ryan loves it here too?