Happy Birthday to Dana!

Well, her birthday was 9/5, and we celebrated on the day. But, i'm lazy and yea..

We've been friends since elementary school because we came to America around the same time.

Then, we were separated when she moved to another city. Even though we were living close enough, we didn't get to hang out as much.

But, whenever we talk on the phone, we never fail to crack each other up.
She's the best at lightening my mood, and I love her for that.

So, I took her to Cheesecake Factory because she said she has actually never been!!!!
Insanity.

Since I got there earlier, I asked our server to secretly bring a cheesecake since it's her bday. He said that they sing and stuff, so EVEN BETTER!
Finally, when Dana got to the table, I casually asked her what kind of cheesecake she likes because I like a certain kind. (; COVERT! HAHAHA And she said she likes the original plain cheesecake. So, when the server came to take our order, I just pointed at the menu and asked for it.

And VOILA, by the end of our meal, he brought out the cheesecake and sang for her. She was obviously really surprised and embarrassed and happy HAHA.
WIN FOR HAYON.

Good night overall (:

Done: Chocolate cupcakes with PeanutButter Frosting

It's been a crazy couple of weeks, and I really haven't had the time or the energy OR the material to even write about.

But, yesterday, I woke up earlier than my usual morning time on Sunday. So, I decided to bake some cupcakes since I haven't in a while. And my boyfriend's sisters have been asking for them for a while.

And I got a new camera! yay.

I don't really have a recipe for this.

Chocolate cake is the only cake that I prefer cake mix.
It's so easy and the cake mixes tend to be really good.
Not too sticky or too sweet.
I try to get the dark chocolate ones since they are obviously less sweet.

As for the frosting, I never buy the pre made frosting from the market.
They are just gross to me.

I usually don't use recipe for the frosting.
For this particular cupcakes, I just eyeballed everything.

1 + 1/2 stick of unsalted butter that I melted in the microwave for 10 seconds.
Then, I hand-whip it to make fluffy.

6 spoonful of peanut butter (creamy organic peanut butter)
I just went by the taste of it. I added more when I thought the frosting could be more peanut-y.
Then, I just hand-whipped it some more until the whole thing was one color.

When it comes to powdered sugar, I also just eyeball it.
I just add some until it's not so buttery.
I try to make it not so sickeningly sweet.

And that's it!

Done: Peace Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting

I found a recipe a longggggg time ago that I've bookmarked and forgotten about and just found!

Since it is summer, peace seemed like the perfect fruit to make into delicious cupcakes.

This is the LINK to the recipe, if you are interested.

The cupcakes turned out amazing!
Dana helped me with them and took some home for her bro's bday. (:

I haven't baked cupcakes in a while, so it was fun and rather impromptu.

Yummy,

Hayon

Done #12: Go to the beach

This is going to be completely out of order, but i've been feeling lazy about posting due to having a bit too much fun! HAHA... well kinda.. just lazy.

And this keeping in track of lists has become quite cumbersome, but oh well.

Anyways, I haven't been to the beach in a long time and figured that it's about time that I stop denying the fact that I live 20 minutes away from the ocean and just effing go and get some beach sunlight and interact with oceanic nature.

But let me just say how much I dislike the sand. It gets everywhere and it's gross.. but so unavoidable AT THE BEACH lol.
again.. OH effing WELL.

So, I convinced Chris and Wesley that we need to do something like go to the beach while we were out in town being awesome. At this point of my summer break, I am about to crawl out of my effing skin from boredom. Being the troopers they are, they agreed.

Then OFF TO THE BEACH!
Wesley drove (for the 4th time ever in his life! lol yea. ran two dangerously-close-to-red yellow lights but no biggie.. we live on the edge). And after 20-30 minutes, we were at the Huntington Beach!

So many memories at that beach. not the cleanest or the most fabulous, but it's the closest and been to it the most! We had our high school senior breakfast there, and during that phase of my life, huntington was the beach to be.

On the way, we stopped by Bevmo for some beer, then quickly settled at the beach.

It was actually quite windy and not as hot as it's been for the last week or so (annoying).

But, we just chilled on our towels and soaked in the sunlight. The water was pretty cold, and no one was in the mood for swimming. The guys threw around football and stuff while I chilled and instagrammed lol.

It was just so nice, relaxing on the beach, getting some color on my pale-ass skin.

I just wish it was a bit warmer since by 5, I had to put a sweatshirt on.

Then, we were all hungry, so we ventured on to the other side of the street and went to 25 degrees.

The guys wanted burgers and beer lol. shocker.

 french fries & sweet potato fries

I'm not a big fan of burgers, but a HUGE fan of hot dogs (hah that's what she said!). And umm especially bacon wrapped anything.. so I was sold. lol I ended up ditching the bread and just finished the sausage and toppings. not a big fan of bread.. lol i know. weird.

Anyways, it was a successful day! (:

A bit tanned,

Hayon

Done #11: Improv Comedy Show

So since I've moved back home, I don't get to see my boyfriend very often. Obviously, it was way more convenient when both of us were in LA.

So, when I do see him, we try to make it worth our while!

He picked me up, and I was craving pasta. And what better place to get my load of carbs than Olive Garden???? haha

And one of my "wish list" was to get a glass of wine with my pasta - so I ordered a wine-ish drink. haha

I wanted something sweeter than just wine lol. whatever! I have no shame.

Anyways, the food I ended up getting was the soup, salad and breadstick combo, but no regrets. They were all freakin delicious.

Then, we decided to watch the avengers (which to me was alright. It was really fun to watch and all, but I wouldn't watch it again and again?) with his cousins, which is A BIG NEWS since I have only met his cousin once and that was the first time "meeting" his family!

I convinced him that it is a great idea for me to meet his two cousins hahaha. And they warmed up to me pretty quickly! I'm a nice person! HAH! win for me!

 I got this for the movie snack. love love love. I love this brand of chocolate!

Then, we dropped them off! And off we went to (my initial wish destination was downtown disney, but it was a Friday which means hell hole) The block of Orange, which turned out to be a TERRIBLE idea since we couldn't even find parking.

So, disappointed we left, and headed for my house.

Then, a brilliant idea came to my head! Let's go to the Maverick Theater to watch their weekly Improv Shmimprove show!

I used to go often in my high school days since it is SO funny and only $5!

Even though it starts at 11 PM, and I suggest that you get there like 15 minutes before just in case it fills up.

Anyways, I wanted to take my brother with us since it feels like he doesn't get out much lol.

While we waited for time to pass, the bf and I walked my dog around the neighborhood and laughed at her unathleticism and the followed adorable-ness(?).

And finally off we went to the show!

SO FREAKIN FUNNY. and so very hipster, the crowd was lol.
I was initially concerned that it wouldn't be funny since I haven't been in a while and my sense of humor... well.. let's just say is not SUPER sophisticated hahahaha. But, of course they were as impressive as ever! and the bf and broho really enjoyed the show!
Basically, the premise is they have two teams consisting of 3 ppl, and they battle it out with different improv games. Hil-A-RIOUS.

And you can actually roll the dice when you pay for the ticket. If you win against the host, you don't pay; if you lose, you pay $10. Being the unadventurous shmuck, I opted out and just paid the flat $5, along with my sensible bf and broho.

But, it was hilarious overall, and I've been meaning to pay the theater a visit anyways! 2 birds w/ 1 stone.
(:

Brought back a lot of high school memories.

But, seriously.. when did EVERYTHING "downtown" get so effing HIPSTER?
hipsters are taking over the world..

concerned,

Hayon

Done #9: Mother's Day Brunch!

So, it was Mother's Day yesterday, and I whipped up a few dishes to celebrate my mom!

I decided on two main dishes:

Curried quinoa stuffed onion

&
Scallops with strawberry salsa

I bought most of the ingredients from Trader Joe's!
The scallop dish was pretty easy to make. But, the onion dish was a biatch to make.
It is HARD to take the inside out of the onion shell, even after you cook it. I ended up with a tube of onion lol. So, I made it into a bowl by adding pieces of onion layer on the bottom.

But, these two dishes didn't seem hardy enough (at least for my fat ass lol), so I made another dish.

Scrambled eggs with onion and ham (I had a lot of freakin onion left over)

Overall, my mom was happy! haha
My dad wasn't.. He would be happier with rice and soup.. not this menu.
well, no matter since it's MOTHER's day.. not FATHER's day.

Success!

Blossoming chef,

Hayon

Fun #5: Mother's Day Brunch Plan

Ideally, I would take my mother to afternoon tea somewhere; but since I didn't make any reservations (and i'm sure it's way too late for anything), I decided to do a surprise brunch at home for her.

I've been on Pinterest (@xhayonx) instead of studying, of course, and found cute seafood recipes for hor d'oeuvres. So, I'm going to plan the brunch and make it (:

I'll post an update of the final menu in a couple days!

Hungry,

Hayon