If I had a choice between sweet and savory, I would always opt for the later. However Sublime Doughnut was a recipient of the Bake Magazine’s America’s Best Bakery of 2012 and earned multiple endorsements from Food Network and The Cooking Channel, so naturally I had to see for myself if I do or do-nut agree with the critics. :p
Box of doughnuts!
There are two locations in Georgia and one in Thailand, so I went to the original brick and mortar store near Georgia Tech (535 10th St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318). On the outside it looked like any other donut shop in a strip mall; however, one inside you can’t help but feel kawaii and in need of something sweet.
Selection!
After looking at the selection my friend I decided to share three: Chocolate Banana Fritter, Orange Creamsicle, and Fresh Strawberry n Cream. All three were really airy and light, unlike many doughnut shops and before I knew it the box was empty. Although I do think I have a slight preference towards chocolate banana fritter – yum!
Do you have a sweet tooth? Where do you go to curb your sweet craving?
I’m a hard core outlet shopper at Las Vegas, so naturally I’d need to eat a big breakfast to energize my day-long shopping sphere. After some thorough research I decided to take a chance on Sausagefest and while the name of the restaurant doesn’t scream breakfast their “breakfast all day” philosophy is one that I can be on board for.
Sausage Waffle and Green Eggs & Spam
After looking at the menu I decided on the Sausage Waffle and Green Eggs & Spam. Both mind you were made from scratch and were the perfect way to start the day. The scrambled egg with spinach, basil-pesto and goat cheese was both vivid in flavor and presentation and the potatoes had the perfect crisp on the outside and softness on the inside. I loved it. You could tell that the sausage waffle was freshly taken out of the waffle maker because it had that light airy texture to it. The portions were very generous and $9.95 (egg dish) and $6.95 (waffle), this combo was a steal!
I had a fantastic meal here and on my next visit I’m eager to try their non-breakfast items. I heard “The Fridge” was epic with 2 angus beef patties, house-baked brioche bun, grilled onions, swiss cheese, and grilled polish sausage, but sadly it’ll be a meal I’ll have to order on my next Vegas trip.
I visit Las Vegas annually with my family and while I’ve heard of Ellis Island Hotel, Casino and Brewery I’ve never actually visited The Village Pub. Friends have often posted photos of the cheap eats there so this year I decided to check it out as it was walking distance from my hotel.
Posing in front of the Ellis Island Tree
Upon entering the building, the casino has an old school charm to it, the restaurant had multiple plaques indicating awards it’s won in the past including: Best Microbrewery and Best Cheap Eats. My friend and I decided to share the Steak and Eggs ($11.99 – I’m sure cheaper if we played with the Players Card), a pint of rootbeer ($2.50) and a pint of their seasonal beer ($2.50).
Steak and Eggs
I wasn’t expecting much, but to my surprise out came a what appeared to be a filet cut chunk with my two over-easy eggs. The steak was cooked perfectly medium rare and tasted as if it was from a fine-dinning restaurant – you could have fooled me! The sourdough toast was a nice touch and while the potatoes were forgettable, the overall meal was a hearty-one. The beer was surprisingly very VERY good. I even liked it more than the housemade root-beer that my friend ordered for me. lol I thoroughly enjoyed my experience here and for less than $20 this establishment is a great place to catch up with friends and enjoy a warm meal for cheap.
In the past I use to go monthly treasure hunting for bargains galore and when I’m traveling I try to hit up at least one charity shop to find some hidden gems. My trip to Georgia was no different and The Drake House mission statement in providing shelter and education for women and children, it was a worthy cause to support.
Drake Closet Alpharetta Location
I started my day at the Drake Closet Alpharetta location and when driving by I felt like I was going to someone’s house and upon entering it was as if I was shopping in someone’s closet. The set-up was very spacious and clean, with a purple and white color pallet. Most pre-loved garments shared the same sticker price, but some higher end designers were individually tagged in their boutique section ($20 starting price). Brands included mid-to-high designers including Banana Republic, J-Crew, Michael Kors, and Sherri Hill with prices ranging starting at $7 and most regular priced items falling around the $10 range.
Drake Closet Roswell Location
The price-point is a tad-higher than what I have paid for in comparable charity shops, but the store presentation and variety of clothes made the experience fun and enjoyable. I had such a great experience that I visited two of their three locations.
Alpharetta
26 Old Roswell St, Alpharetta, GA 30009
(678) 319-1410
Sandy Springs
6030 Sandy Springs Cir, Sandy Springs, GA 30328
(678) 515-3349
Roswell
825 Mimosa Blvd, Roswell, GA 30075
(678) 682-3551
Alpharetta had the biggest selection and Roswell branch didn’t distinguish the garments early as closely as Alpharetta. Overall, if you’re looking to diversify your closet or find something fabulous to wear for 2019 check out Drake’s before dishing out some serious dough at the mall.
I wear many Banana Republic garments, but I love Betsey Johnson pieces! What are some of your favorite fashion brands?
When I think of Georgia I think of peach pie, fried chicken, and any and all good Southern soul food. Gosh, even the amazing brunch at Hen Mother Cookhouse (Stomach Souvenirs Entry) in Alpharetta would fit the bill. Yet, it’s hard to imagine that Atlanta would be home to one of my favorite ethnic restaurants – Snack Boxe Bistro, a Laotian restaurant focused on street food and one of Atlanta’s newest hot, up and coming restaurant.
(Front: Beef Laap; Back: Mok Pha and Khao Poon)
I’ll admit I was a bit skeptical about trying Laotian food from a restaurant that seemed so far away from the country, but after hearing so many rave reviews I thought I’d check it out myself. My friend and I ordered the following items.
Mok Pha ($8) Banana leaf wrapped steamed herb fish
Beef Laap ($10) Minced salad with rice powder, kaffir, galanga, chili herbs.
And the verdict…
The Mok Pha was super soft and just melted in your mouth and the Khao Poon, a last minute addition was one of my favorite dish of my Atlanta trip! The were so many different textures and taste profiles that made the soupy noodle dish so complex and delicious. It was a little spicy, a little sweet and all the ingredients just worked so harmoniously. You definitely want to order the Khao Poon if you want an explosion of flavors. I’d love to try the cuisine in the motherland.
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays of the year as you get to spend time with family and friends over a feast. Home-cooked meals are hard to come by in my household as it takes love and time to make and I’m always on the go. I usually bring drinks or a sinfully delicious dessert to Friendsgiving, but with a competitive office side-dish showdown happening I thought I’d give it a go to partake.
I decided to go with an easy cream corn recipe from a slow cooker. It was a hit and super easy to make!
Ingredients
1/2 cup of whole milk
1 1/2 cups of unsalted butter
1 package of cream cheese
6 slices of American cheese
1/2 cup of white sugar (Though I will probably try 1/4 cup next time)
5 cans of corn
Recipe
Strain can of corn and dump all ingredients into your slow cooker. I personally cut the butter and cream cheese into smaller pieces, set on low for three hours (stir occasionally) and voila! You have a delicious dish. Serve it warm and it’ll be a crowd favorite!
So sorry for missing a week of posts. It’s just been busy and I’ve only got $20 in my pocket… Okay, so maybe I used a card, but I was super impressed in all the things I bought last weekend when I decided to see what I could find with a strict budget. It’s been ages since I’ve gone thrift shopping and while I usually have obligations and events to attend during the weekend, I decided to check out some old spots that I use to frequent and see what hidden treasure I could find.
NCL Sidewalk Sale
I started my day at Artwalk store closing sale and bought two holiday pins for $.50 a piece then headed to NCLTicktockers (yelp) Sidewalk sale. Typically you’d go inside their store and all items have priced according to what category they belonged to; however, on that day they were switching out their summer for fall items hence the huge sidewalk sale. I came around noon and they announced that everything was going to be half off! Woo!! Talk about massive savings!
Salvation Army
After picking up a few NEW tights, and other random things, I headed to Deja New (yelp)- another favorite shop in Irvine. I didn’t find anything on this occasion, but if you’re looking for quality clothes they have a great selection. My last stop was Salvation Army (yelp) in Fountain Valley and boy did they have some interesting things. This store truly is a gold mine and on that day all clothes were an additional 50% off. There was a random couch perfect for therapy and lots of really interesting cat items. meow?
What I ended up getting…
4 tan convertible tights (Bloch) – NEW
2 fishnet stockings (Capezio) – NEW
1 tan convertible tights (Body Wrappers) – NEW
2 holiday pins
10 papyrus holiday cards
1 college sweatshirt
1 plaid shirt (for cowgirl spirit day)
2 college tshirts
1 100% wool hat
It was definitely a fruitful haul and while every trip isn’t always, I think I was excited that I not only could save money but also that my dollar contributed to an organization that helps others. It’s a win win!
What was your best bargain item bought and for how much?
I don’t frequent the South OC Shop often, so when I was invited to attend the 6th annual Taste of Lake Forest this past Sunday I was curious to see their offering. I saw many soccer type moms with children at this event and the palm trees and bright sunny afternoon made it a fun family event for people of all ages to enjoy. One element of this tasting that’s different from other tastings I’ve attended in the past is how guests play an active role in selecting their favorite restaurant at The Taste of Lake Forest. With a map in one hand and a guide of all the participating restaurants, my guest and I went down the rows to sample each restaurants offerings to see which was our favorite.
Tastes at the Taste of Lake Forest
There were many familiar restaurants and businesses that participated in the event including: Mimi’s Cafe, Pick Up Stix, and Jamba Juice just to name a few. Yet, my favorite was definitely Tito’s carnitas tacos with cabbage. It was juicy and the the tostado was a good solid base to carry this substantial bite. Miguel JRs was also present at the event, which is the perfect segway to introduce my Gift Card Winners. Drum roll please…. Congratulations Jean L and Lisa! Please email me at yurockstar4life@gmail.com by Friday September 29th to claim your prize!
Didn’t win this time? Don’t worry! I will throw another Miguel’s JR Giftcard giveaway on my Instagram account for another opportunity to win! Pst… there’s a good chance that it may be on Friday *wink wink*
Whats your criteria when judging a food competition?
I know it’s been a long time coming, but it’s finally here!!!! My popular annual Birthday Freebie post is finally complete! This year I was able to redeem over 20 birthday freebies in the month of April, and while this may seem overwhelming many freebies allow the patron to redeem the promotion either the day of, week of, or month of your birthday!
I’ve arranged them alphabetically for your convenience with a hyperlink to the retailer’s site for more information to sign up for their loyalty program. Personally, I created a junk email account for all these retailers to send me their promotions and then I check that email account during my birth month to print out the coupons, and collect all my goodies. Check out to see if your favorite retailer is here!
Baskin Robbins: (Free scoop of ice cream). I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! They’re really picky about printing out the coupons, so be sure to do that!
Black Angus (Free Steak Dinner with purchase of entree): Join the Prime Club and get a free steak dinner with a purchase of an entree of equal or greater value. Yee-ha! Good for the month of your birthday.
Boston Market (Free side): Join their VIP club and get a free dessert or an order of a regular side. I chose a side of creamed spinach. Yum! No purchase necessary. Expires a week after your birthday.
Brueggars Bagels (Free bagel!): Start your day with a free toasted bagel with cream cheese. You will get the email the week before your birthday and it will expire on your birthday.
Buca De Beppo (cake and meal discount): This year Buca De Beppo gave a $15 off with a minimum purchase of $30 and if you make a reservation with 4 or more they will also give you a cake for everyone to enjoy! Be sure to make your reservation through opentable to earn rewards points for your next restaurant gift certificate!
Corner Bakery (Free dessert), El Pollo Loco (Free meal), Del Taco (Free milk shake), Boston Market (Free side), Bruegger’s Bagels (Free bagel)
Charming Charlie ($5 gift card): Join the Charm club and earn a $5 gift card to purchase anything in the store! You can get jewelry, accessories, shoes etc
Churned Creamery (Free Scoop): Sign up on the “Five Stars” App on your smartphone and add Churned Creamery to your list. I believe the freebie is good for a week and expires on your birthday.
Corner Bakery: (Free Baked Good): Sign up for their eCafe list to redeem a free pastry treat. I chose a giant M&M cookie to take home. Expires a week after your birthday.
Cost Plus World Market(20% one item): Sign up to be a member and you’ll get a 20% off coupon
DSW($5 gift card): You can get kicks, heels, or flip flops, but I always get a new pair of cool socks.
Del Taco (Free milkshake): Your choice of strawberry, vanilla, or chocolate! No purchase necessary. Expires a week after your birthday.
Denny’s: I worked till 9pm on my actual birthday, and most places are closed by the time I left the office. Luckily I just flashed my drivers license for a complimentary grand slam (I opted for a “choose your own”). Who else loves breakfast for dinner?
Godiva ($10 gift card), Mimi’s Cafe (Muffin Sundae), Buca De Bepo (Free cake and meal discount), Baskin Robbins (Free Ice Cream), Black Angus (B1G1 Free Steak)
El Pollo Loco (Free meal!): Join the E-Club and enjoy your choice of “Original Chicken Tostada” or “2 piece fire-grilled chicken meal” within the month of your birthday.
Godiva (chocolate covered strawberries): Complimentary $10 gift certificate at the Godiva shop. I decide to purchase a cone of dark chocolate covered strawberries ($12.50) and paid the difference. The freshly dipped treat was a lux indulgence that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Kiehls (Free Lip Balm): Be a Loyalty member and get a free lip balm ($7 value) with a purchase of any item.
Mimi’s Cafe (muffin sundae): If you love the contrast of cold ice cream topped with fudge, strawberries and whip cream over a warm muffin, this offer is for you. Expires one week after your birthday and no purchase necessary.
Red Robin (Free meal!): I think this is the best deal meal deal. A free gourmet beef or chicken burger plus unlimited fries for free, and on my visit they also gave me a free birthday ice cream as well. Just show them your Red Robin’s Rewards Number. This is always one of my favorite places to visit during my birth month.
Sephora (Free Makeup): Love makeup? Be a beauty insider and you can get a deluxe sample of the latest products! No purchase necessary. This year I choose the Caldalie skincare items and so far it’s been very luxurious. Oh la la!
Kiehls (Free Lip Balm w/ purhcase), Sephora (Free makeup!), Charming Charlie ($5 gift card), and DSW ($5 gift card)
Souplantation: Join Club Veg and you will receive coupon for a free lunch with drink or a to-go combo #2 which includes a salad plate, two small soup containers, and a bakery bag
Starbucks (Free drink – any size!): This year they changed their promotion. You will get an email the day before your birthday and need to redeem it either on that day or on your birthday. Must have a Starbucks account.
Togos (Free Sandwich): Sign up to be part of the Togo Tribe on your phone and get a free birthday sandwich!
Veggie Grill ($5 gift card): This year Veggie Grill gave me a complimentary $5 gift card towards any menu item. I decided on a Grillin’ Chickin’ (fake meat) meal and enjoyed my healthy lunch. It’s a great healthy fast food option for people on the go. Offer good a week before and after your birthday.
Wienerschnitzel (Free Corn Dog): You get a coupon a week before your birthday to redeem an item and this time for me it was a free corn dog. Expires on your birthday.
Whats your favorite birthday freebie to redeem? Are there freebies that I missed? Comment below!
Think about it… A single day ticket at both the Chihuly Garden and Glass Musuem and Space Needle is $22, so if you bought both it’d be $44. However, if you purchased the package deal it starts at $36 (general adult) – so you save $8. If memory serves me correctly I believe you had to pick times that you wanted to visit and the different time slots were different prices. The beginning of the day and the end of the day were the cheapest with the mid-day charging the premium. We chose to go right at the beginning of the day for three reasons
A cheaper rate
A greater opportunity to take nice photos without crowds of people and
Good lighting for photos
Alternatively you could also go with the CityPass which allows tourists to visit 5 attractions for $74.
But first we went to Lola, a local breakfast spot with a national reputation. Featured on Food Network, Chef and TV Host Giada De Laurentiis raved about the fresh and made to donuts on the “Best Thing I Ever Ate – Fried Food Edition.” I generally like to start my day with something savory so I went for one of their most popular dishes the Eggs benedict and smashed potatoes.
The entree was quite substantial and easily could feed two people. The Bavarian ham was on the saltier side, but the poached eggs were perfect and I popped it open to allow my crispy potatoes soak in the ooey gooey magic. I was extremely full even though I only ate one portion. It’s a $20 dish and they add a 20% gratuity on all items.
With bellies full we took a short stroll and headed towards the Space Needle. We gave our ticket printout to the greeter and bypassed a huge portion of the line (mainly school groups taking a class field trip). I think that’s another advantage of buying a ticket early on.
We were then directed to the elevator and flew up 605 floors until we hit the observation deck. The sight was beautiful and it’s definitely a destination that all tourists should visit at least once. After a few shots and selfies we walked around the deck and headed down.
The Chihuly Garden and Glass Musuem is absolutely a must see destination. The glass blown masterpieces are breath-taking and while I think I captured the essence of their beauty I think everyone NEEDS to see this in person. Photos and words can’t really express how glorious and exquisite these art pieces are.
Within the museum each room is dark and reflects a certain theme. I think the under-the-sea rooms were my favorite as I felt as if I was swimming with the little mermaid, but each exhibit had a charm that really could appeal to anyone.
After you finish the museum interior you are invited to the gardens where they infuse flowers with glass sculptures. It’s so majestic and I’m convinced that when I win the power-ball I’d want this Dale Chiluly (the glassworks artist) to design my backyard. But until then this museum definitively tops my list on one of the best places to visit in Seattle.
Do you have a favorite place to visit in Seattle? Leave a comment.
What I ended up getting…
Insider Irene 