Weekend Recap

Hope you all had a fantastic weekend!

My weekend was filled with events and a lot of fun. Warning photos are from iphone and instagram, my camera ran out of battery and I forgot to charge it.

Friday night dinner date with hubby at Guapo's, before send him off for a guys night out. We each had a margarita, we love their margarita and can't believe 1 drink and we both feel the nice buzz. He had combo fajita which included shrimps, steak and chicken and that was yummy. I had "Pollo Criollo"1/2 chicken, I've to say it was too over cooked for my taste, meat too soft and not juicy compared to Peruvian Chicken I had else where. After dinner he spent his time with the guys and I went shopping all by myself.

our yummy margarita

my half chicken

his yummy fajita

Coral Cynthia Rowley top from Marshalls, leopard top and flat from Ross

Feature Friday: Fitness "Kazaxe by Azuka"

Happy Friday!

It's my every other Friday off! I just got back from a fitness workout that I got hooked over a year ago, I used to go 2-3 times a week.  But the timing has not been working out for me, so I try to drop in every now and then when time allow. It is Kazaxe by Azuka, you wonder what Kazaxe is? here is the definition from the website  "(Kah-Zah-Shay) Get a HUGE SWEAT dancing to the thundering rhythms of  Hip Hop, Dancehall, Brazilian Funk, Soca,!  It ain’t no SISSY dancing workout, it’s HIGH intensity through the whole hour!"  The instructor will motivate, push and work out with you through out the 1 hour of workout and you won't feel like it has been an hour. I feel very energetic and sweat like a pig afterward. True story here; I can home from the workout one time with my hair all soak wet and Mr.K asked me "did you just came out from a shower?", umm no I just got home from workout. Azuka is amazing, check out her video!

Going to get a real shower now, since I just had my first shower from the workout, and onto my chores for the day:

• laundry
• clean up the house mess
• walk Leilani
• grocery
• may be squeeze in a little shopping time

Have a marvelous weekend everyone!

Travel Thursday: Punta Cana, DR

Conversation I had with Mr.K, he’s not a “pretty boy” type of person. So when I heard this from him, it’s hilarious.

Mr.K: Looks in the mirror with him making crumpled face and says. I got wrinkles baby!
Me: umm…you’re not suppose to crumple your eyes like that…everyone have wrinkles that way. Plus you’re “inserted his age” you know. Do you want to use my night cream?
Mr.K: No, but I thought I was still young, like 17.
Me: HAHAHA…you’re funny. Why are you bargaining down your age so much?

Punta Cana, DR for his early 30th birthday a few years back.We stayed at the all-inclusive Majestic Elegance Punta Cana and it was an amazing resort with awesome food & drinks, stunning view, magnificent room and friendly staff. It was the best resort we’ve ever stay, I was debating between Majestic Elegance and Excellent. But end up with Majestic Elegance because there was a good deal due to its grand opening. December weather is hit or miss there, we had a couple nice sunny days, and some days with occasionally overcast.

Please excuse the quality of the photos, my Sony T7 at the time didn’t take good photos in low light environment.

Vit Kho Sa (Vietnamese Braised Duck with Lemongrass)

We were craving for my mom’s Vit Kho Sa (Vietnamese Braised Duck with Lemongrass), so last night I decided to try to make it. While it turned out really good; however, the taste wasn’t the same as when mom cooked it. So I’m not going to share the recipe just yet, will consolidate with her to see what I’ve missed. Don’t you sometime crave the taste of mom’s cook food that you can never replicate it? I guess will just have to visit my parents more often.

Meanwhile, here are photos of my version Vit Kho Sa, we ate with white rice and pickled bean sprout that I made.

Marinated Duck

Vit Kho Xa (Braised Duck with Lemongrass)

Favorite Beauty Products

I've been meaning to write a post about my favorite beauty products that I can't live without. What a perfect timing, Lena is hosting a link up and today theme is Tuesday 10 ~ Beauty Products. So here are my 10 Favorite Beauty Products, I've more but may be another time. 

Urban Decay's Eyeshadow
(Blaze & Goddess)

Mac's Eyeshadow
(Shimmermoss & Black Tied)

Real Simple: Home and Organizing

Great tips from Real Simple on Home and Organizing; Easy Organizing Solutions for Your Most Cluttered Cabinet, Storage Ideas for Small Spaces.

I've always had a hard time keep my drawers and cabinets nice and neat. I’ve been working on a small project at the time, so these ideas and tips will help greatly. Love the junk drawer idea, I’m going to start working on it.

Easy Organizing
Solutions for Your Most
Cluttered Cabinet

Storage Ideas for
Small Spaces

From the junk drawer to the electronics bin, tackle those tiny
areas of your home with these easy organizing tricks.

Fun Friday: Pedicure

Nice weather is here and I'm big fan of a good pedicure, so last night I gave myself a quick pedicure and color my toes with China Four Leaf Clover and a touch of Color Club Orange Revenge. The picture was taken by Ipad and Instagram, but it's more greenish in real life. Oh and you can follow me on Instagram @binhtheredonethat.

Tip: use Q-tips dip in polish remover to remove the excess color around the toes, it will looks like professionally done.

Have yourself a fabulous weekend everyone!

Travel Thursday: Harpers Ferry, WV

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Crossing Potomac River at  Harpers Ferry

I’ve travel out of the country and within the states quite a bit in the past and love to write about it. However, today I like to introduce you all to a little historical town call “Harper Ferry” in West Virginia, about 1 ½ hrs drive from Northern Virginia. My two BFFs and I got to tag along on a day trip to Harper Ferry for our sister’s engagement photos session in Autumn/Fall 2010.  I know summer is on the way and I’m here talking about Autumn, but I want to give you a heads up so you could may be plan a day trip when Autumn comes. I love that there are 4 seasons in our region, and my favorites are Spring and Autumn. You’ve seen some of the photos I took of cherry blossoms last month (check out here and here); now you get to see the Fall foliage. Standing on top of the hill look down to colorful foliage is magical. At Harper Ferry, you can enjoy zip line, white water rafting, tubing, kayaking, canoeing, biking, camping & fishing adventures on the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers. We had a great time just walking around enjoy the nice serene scenery and being goofy together as what best friends to best.

Tom Xao Dau Ha Lan (Stir-Fry Snow Pea and Shrimp)

I've not cooked much over the weekend, and my sister invited us over for dinner on Monday night. Therefore, I was feeling lazy to cook dinner last night, so I made this quick dish "Stir-Fry Snow Pea and Shrimp" and fried some tofu to pair with shrimp paste. Sometime simplest meal could be the best meal; crunchy great texture of snow peas and carrots, fresh juicy shrimps make such a good combination.

5-10 minutes prepare, 5 minutes cook

Favorite Kitchen Gadgets

My favorite DIY blogger Centsational Girl is having a Link Party for Favorite Kitchen Gadgets, favorite blogger and topic no way I could missed it.

When it come to kitchen gadgets, I am very simple and old fashion. However, I do have a few must have gadgets that does the job that I can't do or quicker than manually. Here they are:

Tiger rice cooker, I'm Vietnamese and in Vietnam we used to eat rice like 3 meals a day. But here in America I compare us eating rice like the American eating bread/pasta/potato. My mom and sisters used to cook rice with no measuring cup, no electronic rice cooker, instead they have to aim for the right amount of rice and water, cooked on charcoal or dried rice straw. In this modern day, here I’m can’t imagine my life without a electronic rice cooker, in about 15 minutes I’ve a nice hot bowl of rice.



Magic Bullet Set, a best xmas gift from my girlfriend couple years ago; and oh how I love this thing. Just like it adversities, I used it for smoothies, and for cooking such as chopping, mincing, and chunky. I love how it comes in various cups size and mugs, so easy and convince.

After years of cooking, I just automatically know the amount of ingredients to put in a dish. But ever since I decided to put my cooking into recipes, measuring cup and spoon sets are must have.

My dad gave us this KitchenAid Tea Kettle in white, and since I'm a tea girl I so loving it.

Tuesday Temptation: Spring Fashion

I think I'm in Spring shopping mood, last week shopping wasn't enough. So I started to look more online and found these:
My current favorites from H&M, and really want to go to the store and check it out.

Weekend Recap: Shopping, Food Festival and Gardening

Pass weekend is full of events, but mostly involved gardening.

Friday didn't goes as I plan, but did finished some errands. End up shopping in Georgetown with a girlfriend; finally, I got to go to Zara, scored a white blaze and a blue skinny jean. Later we met up with few more friends for a nice dinner at Leopold's. 

Random and Errands Day

Happy Friday!

My weekend started, I guess its paid off to have 3 days weekend after a busy work week. Last few nights I've been trying to finish up our tax and finally finished last night, phew what a relief. Reminder if you've not done your tax, you have until Tuesday April 17th to postmark it.

Ready to Buy My First DSLR, Please Help.

Photography is something I have wanted to pick up for years, but never took on the initiative. Years ago, I had the Sony T7, this thing is so light and convenient and it took great photos with limitation at night, but it finally gave up on me.  In 2010, I received a Canon point and shot as a gift, and let me tell you I’ve make use of it. However, now that I have my blog, I am ready to take photography on a next level to give my readers better photos and finally put my ambitious in plan.  I need your expert help in selecting a DSLR and lens. I will mostly use the DSLR for food photography, nature landscape/scenery when travel, and may be portray of my nieces/nephew and my 4 legs child. Since it’s going to be my first DSLR I would like to stay in the budget of $1000 for body and $500 for len(s).  I’m overwhelm when looking at different options out there, so hoping your suggestion to narrow down the choices.

What DSLR and lens are you using and loving it? Please share.

Canh Kho Qua Nhoi Thit (Vietnamese Stuffed Bitter Melon Soup)

We love bitter melons, when it's in season we eat it quite often from raw to cook. I cook it variety ways, but today I’m going to present to you “Stuffed Bitter Melon Soup” recipe. My parents plant it in their backyard every year, it’s so fresh and convenient when you just pick it and eat right away. But since it’s early in the season, I have to get the melons from the market.

Note: For more information check out Bitter Melon and Medicinal uses on Wikipedia

Ingredients

Stuffed bitter melons

3- bitter melons
1-container 14 oz gio song ("Hong Ha" Vietnamese brand fresh seasoned Pork Patty Mix) or you can use ground pork
1-small bunch vermicelli
½-cup dried black fungus 
2-stalks scallion or 1 shallot (chopped)
1-teaspoon 3 crabs brand fish sauce
½-teaspoon black pepper
½-teaspoon Mushroom Seasoning
 ½-teaspoon tsp sugar
½-teaspoon tsp sea salt

 

For Soup

1 big can chicken both 48 oz
3 ½ cup water
1-inch ginger (smashed)
1 white or red onion
1-teaspoon Mushroom Seasoning
2-teaspoons Sugar
1-teaspoon 3 crabs brand fish sauce
black pepper
cilantro
Maesri ground chili in soya bean oil

Hot N Juicy Crawfish in Washington, DC: Restaurant Review

We first got introduced to Hot N Juicy Crawfish in Las Vegas in April 2010 and immediately loved it. We are still talking about it until this day; and luckily, one of our friends found out there was one open in Washington DC early 2011. Fresh crawfish, no need to travel to Vegas, in the heart of DC = awesome. So we have been going there ever since, last Friday was our latest visit . Between the two of us, we had:

• 1 shrimp Po'Boy platter Restaurant Review
• 2 lbs crawfish in Hot n Juicy Medium
• 1 lb crawfish in Hot n Juicy Mild
• 1 lb shrimp in Hot n Juicy Medium

Gardening Tips From Real Simple

RealSimple.com has some very useful information on Gardening, today I'm going to share with you some of the articles and links. Happy gardening!

Composting 101

Start-a-Garden Checklist

Readers' Top
10 Gardening Mistakes

22 Container
Gardens in Bloom

Month-by-Month Guide to
Vegetable Gardening

8 Steps to a Vegetable and
Herb Container Garden

Easy Gardens for Small Spaces

How to Create a
Cutting Garden

Shortcuts to a
Backyard Makeover

How to Save on
Gardening Supplies

Gardening New Uses
for Old Things

Easy Container Gardens

Travel Thursday: St. John

While we were in St. Thomas, we hopped on the ferry with our car and headed over St. John for a day, and I've to say I'm glad we did that. I love the beaches there so very much!

On a ferry to St.John leaving St.Thomas behind

Arrived at Great Cruz Bay, St. John

Canh Dau Hu Do Bien (Extra Soft Tofu Seafood Soup)

This is one of my favorite quick fix recipes, my own version of the Korean Soft Tofu Seafood Soup. It's so quick and easy to make, good and hearty; will be ready in less than 20 minutes.

Ingredients

1/2 bag seafood mix (pacific marine brand)
6 jumbo shrimps (peeled)
½ white onion (sliced)
2 stalks scallion
Cilantro
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 pack extra soft tofu (house foods brand)
1-teaspoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 pack tofu broth seasoning (pulmoune brand)
3 ½ cup water
1-teaspoon 3 crabs brand fish sauce
¼-teaspoon sea salt

tofu broth seasoning

Chasin' Tails Crawfish in Arlington: Restaurant Review

We love to eat good food, and writing review is something that I’ve been wanted to do because I could appreciate and rely on the honest opinions. We especially love seafood, so on my 31^st birthday we tried out the new crawfish place in town “chasin' tails crawfish.” We went on the 4^th days it opens; the place is nice and spacious, big bar area and staff is friendly. He ordered chicken tenders and I ordered seafood combo (which comes with crawfishes, shrimps, mussels, clams, and crabs) in “shebang” medium spicy.

The chicken tenders have a nice crunch batter and very juicy, but 1 order for $10 only come with 3 thin strips with fries. Seafood combo was fresh except for crabs, 3 out of 4 crabs were bad but they replaced for us. We are all about the crawfish and it’s in season so they were super fresh, big and meaty. However, the sauce was somewhat salty and not as flavorful. We did have a chat with the manager and gave him our feedback and he’s aware of it. We think this place have room for improvement, and will try again in a couple weeks. Meanwhile, if you’re a big fan of crawfish; go try it out for yourself while it’s in season.

My Birthday

Just blew my candles!

Today is a nice sunny day and it’s my birthday, life is good. There is something that I’ve in common when turning 21 and 31. Can you guess it?...Well let me tell you, I can’t sleep the night before. Yup you read it right, the night before I turned 21 I can’t sleep because I can’t wait be 21. The night before I turn 31, I can’t sleep because I can’t believe I’m going to be 31 and aware of every surround noises. What happened to my theory “age is just a number” I guess it is different when it comes to your own real number lol. Although, I forever want to be 29^th just like in Mr.K mind, he’s too kind. However, I am relieve that 30^th is over as it was a very emotional year, a lot of happy and sad news. So CHEER to a new beginning and hope it'll be an awesome year.

Thank you to family and friends, I had an awesome early celebration over the weekend. On Friday, we had dinner at Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse and yummy cake from Alexandria Pastry. The night ended with plenty of drinks to celebrate one of our friends who turn 30^th. Hope 30^th rocks for you P! The rest of the weekend was just eating, relax and recover.