Shoots

School is definitely catching up to me...it's hard to focus on anything with summer right around the corner, am I right?

If you guys haven't noticed, Netflix has been killing it with their sponsored TV shows lately. House of Cards (which is excellent), Orange is the New Black (eh, not my style but exceedingly popular), and more recently, Marvel's Daredevil. Holy shit, this show is good. Josh and I have sped through the episodes, and with just the season finale left, I'm bummed I'll have to wait for the next season. 

This show is not only for Marvel fans; if you like watching good looking people participating in extremely realistic and BADASS fight scenes, you have got to check it out. 

Trust me, it is nothing like Ben Affleck's unfortunate portrayal that graced the theaters in 2003. This show is worth a watch. Super packed with action, but a forewarning, there is a bit of blood if you're the queasy type. 

Each episode is roughly an hour long, so be prepared to sit through a short movie. But I'm sure you guys won't have a problem with that. The problem you'll encounter is having to wait for Season 2 when you have finished the first season at an alarmingly rapid pace. 

Which is the story of my life, at the moment. 

It Follows

All my horror movie fans, listen up, I'm about to drop some words of wisdom. It Follows is an amazing horror film and you guys have got to go see it. 

If that trailer didn't freak you out than you're probably a big fat liar. Fortunately for you, it's still playing in theaters so you can test out your badass-ary when you go see it. 

I had wanted to see this movie ever since I saw the trailer a couple months ago, and when I did, I was thrillified (thrilled and horrified, cause this shit was scary and I freaking loved it). SO yea, I'm a bit biased when it comes to reviewing this film. 

First of all, THE SCOOOOORE. The music was incredible and intense is not even a worthy enough adjective to describe it. The musical genius behind It Follow's score is Rich Vreeland, AKA Disasterpeace. You will never have heard anything like the music Vreeland composed for this film. It really is the key component that ties the entire movie together.

Of course, we have to give credit to the esteemed director David Robert Mitchell, for creating such an excellently produced film. In my reviews, I try not to give away any spoilers so that you kids can experience the excellence yourself, but I do describe the acting, directing, and yadda yadda what not no spoilers, don't worry you guys are safe. 

David Robert Mitchell not only directed the film, but he WROTE it as well. Little fun fact for ya, he graduated from the same university (FLORIDA STATE, go Noles?) my wonderful baby seester attends. He has also directed the film The Myth of the American Sleepover, which I have yet to see. The concept of It Follows is so simple..but so mind bottling (lol, Blades of Glory reference anyone?) Seriously, I'm pretty sure any other director could have fucked up this plot, but Mitchell had it down. Hearing the plot itself might make for a slow movie, but the way he shot the water scenes, the jump in your chair scenes, and the shit your pants scenes was everything a horror movie geek could ever want (yes please thank you David Robert Mitchell.)

2 Weeks Too Short

I had the best vacation. 

My boyfriend and I went to Washington, Oregon, and Colorado in a span of two marvelous weeks. It was a much needed vacation that consisted of food, booze, and sleeeeeeeep. I'm deeply saddened that it had to come to an end. 

On the plane to Seattle with a grumpy Josh.

Anyway, today I will be reviewing Mignon's Cafe Bellis! It is a little cafe located in Sumner, Washington, right on Main Street. It is considered a breakfast place, as it is only open from 7 am to 2 pm. I had gone there once before with Josh's mother, and had had a delightful experience, so when his father asked where we should go for brunch, I immediately recommended Cafe Bellis. 

When we arrived, it was packed with famished locals looking for a bite to eat after their Sunday congregations. They have a very extensive menu with items ranging from Hobo Hash to specialty sandwiches and burgers. The menu was very descriptive; all the ingredients were included next to the name of the item which made every dish sound delectable and it was incredibly hard to choose only one. The cafe itself has a more antique vibe to it, the tablecloths have pictures of old auction sales dating back to the fifties. All in all, it's a quite quaint family-owned place that appeals to all.

I wasn't in a breakfast-y mood that day so I decided to order the Volcano Burger. The description listed the following ingredients, "Grilled Onions, Tomato, Lettuce, Jalapenos, Habanero Monterey Jack Cheese, American Cheese and Slices of Spicy Kielbasa. (Not for the faint of Heart. It's Hot!)" I was excited because the spicier, the better. With it, I ordered a salad with Caesar dressing, in lieu of fries.

The Volcano Burger

As you can see, the burger also came with fries instead of a salad, which I didn't mind because I'm not one to turn away french fries. It wasn't till I completed my burger that the waitress realized her mistake and came back with the salad, which I also ate. 

The burger itself did not meet expectations; the patty was a little on the dry side and the tomatoes were not yet ripe. I did enjoy the jalapenos and kielbasa, but I found the burger lacking in the spice department. However, I am an avid eater of spicy food so my palette might have enjoyed it more with Tabasco or hot sauce. The cheeses overpowered the burger as a whole, and I could not detect the different ingredients from one another. The buns were soaked with the oil from the cheeses, making the burger almost impossible to devour. Overall, I give this burger a 6.5 out of 10. Cafe Bellis is definitely more of a breakfast joint. 

Farmer's Hobo Hash

Josh ordered the Farmer's Hobo Hash, which is scrambled eggs tossed with grilled potatoes, ham, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, onions, and cheddar cheese. This dish was absolutely delicious, and if I ever return to Cafe Bellis, I intend to order the Chili Hobo Hash, which has all the ingredients above slathered with their homemade chili. The Hash was filled with flavor in each bite, and the cheese brought the entire dish together. It is hard to compare the Hash to dishes I've had in previous experiences, so it was definitely a pleasant first. I would have to give the Farmer's Hobo Hash an 8 out of 10. 
If you're ever in Sumner (a little town south of Seattle), check out Mignon's Cafe Bellis! Here's their website if you wish to peruse their abundance of mouth watering breakfast items. http://www.mignonscafebellis.com/index.php

My time in mainland was short, but filled to the brim with wonderful memories of drinking, drinking, and drinking. I also discovered how many Hefe's it took for me to get reeeeaaaallly good at darts (not that many, apparently). 

Double bullseye, courtesy of Hefeweizen (thank you beer gods)

This picture was overpriced but I had to prove I went snowboarding.

We spent time with Josh's family in Washington as well as in Colorado, and I was delighted to find just how prevalent green chili is in the grand state of CO. The residents of Colorado are indeed fond of many green things, if ya know what I mean. We went snowboarding on Monarch Mountain, which was something I had been looking forward to for a while. Though I fell on my ass the majority of the time, hitting the slopes was still one of the highlights of my trip. 

I'm very grateful that I could avoid work and school for two weeks and only pursue activities that I truly enjoyed (eating, drinking, and sleeping..I know, soooo exciting). Everyone should have a vacation now and then, even if it is only 2 weeks of gaining weight from overeating. And I loved every minute of it. 

Robot & Frank

So I watched the movie Robot & Frank last night...if you haven't seen it, it's on Netflix! You're welcome. 

Frank portrayed by Frank Langella, Robot portrayed by Peter Sarsgaard.

Well, if you're not convinced by the quaint trailer above, I'll try to persuade you to watch it myself. If you didn't watch the trailer, here's the gist of it; Frank is an ex-jewel thief who is a little bit on the senile side. His son visits every weekend, however, the road trip takes away from the little time he has to spend with his own kids. So, he finds an alternative option...he presents Frank with a highly intelligent robot modified to assist and take care of his aging father. At first Frank has a difficult time adjusting to life with the robot, but as time goes on, he sees it's potential as a partner in crime, literally. 

I don't think I gave away any spoilers, and I'll try to avoid doing so in my personal opinion of the movie. As someone extremely interested in artificial intelligence and the effect they might have on our lives in the future, I found this film to be phenomenal. Jake Schreier (the director) and Christopher D. Ford (the writer) both did an excellent job in portraying the near future and the use of robotic helpers in a realistic and believable manner. 

Frank Langella is an an Oscar nominated actor who's starred in such films as Frost/Nixon and The Ninth Gate; he plays the lead role of "Frank" from Robot & Frank. His depiction of an old fashioned crook slowly losing his memory was only outshone by his robot companion itself. Robot was voiced by Peter Sarsgaard, another critically acclaimed actor who has a knack for achieving versatility in his roles. I was sincerely moved by the humorous and heartfelt dynamic created by the two leading roles. 

Jennifer (played by Susan Sarandon), Frank, and Robot.

Out of the three main supporting characters, I felt Susan Sarandon captured my attention the most. Her character was that of "Jennifer", a kindly librarian who Frank can't seem to stay away from. Sarandon played the role effortlessly and really drew me into the storyline. James Marsden and Liv Tyler portrayed Frank's children, and though their acting was believable, they could not compete with Sarandon's hefty experience as a long-time actress. In my opinion, James Marsden did a better job depicting the struggle of a child of an ex-con more realistically than Liv Tyler. But their performances did not subtract from the film itself! 

Frank, Robot, and Frank's daughter, Madison (played by Liv Tyler). 

I thoroughly enjoyed this film, and it left me slightly emotional, contented, and wanting more. If you have not seen it, pleaseeee do! Like I said, it is on Netflix, and is entertaining from start to finish. 

Expectations Vs. Reality

Has this week been rough for everyone, or is it just me? My bike was stolen on Monday, and I just can't shake off this disheartening feeling that's been holding me down. Seriously, that bike took me everywhere, and I'm crushed that I'll probably never see it again.

This is my lovely seester, Alex. She would ride my bike everywhere during her short visit from Florida.

Today I want to talk about my expectations of living in Hawaii versus actually residing here. Films and food will have to steal the spotlight another day. 

I moved here about a year ago with my boyfriend, Josh. He is a Staff Sgt. in the Air Force, and Hickam was his next permanent change of station. When we talked about moving to Hawaii together, all I could think about was sippin' on Pina Coladas as I tanned on the beach. I'm pretty sure this is an image everyone pictures when they think of Hawaii. But the truth is, there is a stark difference between visiting and actually living in Hawaii. 

For one, I did not realize how expensive it would be out here. The cost of living is so high compared to what I'm used to! Establishing residency is a must, especially if you plan on getting your degree at UH. Finding a nice apartment in the city at a reasonable price is nearly impossible. When it comes to rent, you're mostly paying for the location of your place, instead of the actual residence. 

This is my parent's house in Songtan, Korea. They're paying the same amount for rent as we do for an apartment here.

I miss going to the beach. That's not something you would expect someone living in Hawaii to say, but it's true. My time is spent working 30 hours a week and being a full time student. I haven't gone to the beach in about five months; granted, it has been "winter time" here, but I live 10 minutes away from the beach! I've paled out so much, I can actually wear the foundation that my Korean based cosmetics company sells. And for those of you who aren't aware, Korean foundation is extremely light in color; they value pale skin as opposed to tan skin. The point is, I didn't realize how little time I would have to go to the beach, as it was  something I thought I would be doing almost every weekend. 

The Asian influence here is pretty awesome. I didn't expect so many different types of Asian restaurants, bars, and markets. I was so sad when I left Korea, cause I thought I would no longer be able to eat Korean food, speak the language, and see other Koreans. I was so ecstatic when I came here and realized that Asians dominate Oahu. It's like home away from home. 

The weather...I know, Hawaii is supposed to be paradise. I thought I would love every second the sun was shining on my face, but I miss my seasons! I miss the fall, where leaves would trickle off trees and create piles of gold, red, and orange. I miss snowboarding, oh god, you cannot even fathom how much I miss snowboarding. Thankfully, I'll be going to Colorado during spring break, I'll get my snowboarding fix then! 

This was the the last time Josh and I went snowboarding. We stayed overnight at Yongpyong Resort, currently the biggest snowboarding and skiing resort in Korea.

The amount of people that call the streets of Honolulu their home is extremely depressing. All the advertisements, movies, and media that promote Hawaii never show the darker side of this state. The issue of homelessness is not considered prevalent, even though there are over 4,000 people without homes on Oahu. I never expected to encounter so many underprivileged souls right in my backyard. 

So far, Hawaii has been an interesting experience. It's definitely a culture shock from Korea, but I'm looking forward to the next two more years I have left here. I think what truly makes Hawaii different from all the other states isn't something tangible, like the infinite sunshine or the pristine beaches, but is something that has to be experienced for yourself. I believe the hospitality that the residents of Hawaii portray to the many strangers that visit their homeland everyday is something that distinguishes this state from the rest of world. And for that reason, I'm proud to say that I live in Hawaii. 

Calm Morning, more like Calm Down Cause It's So Delicious Morning

Hi guys! So it's Thursday afternoon, and I'm starving. I usually eat linner (lunch/dinner) around four with my classmate Larissa, but right now I'm just suffering in the library. I'm trying to concentrate on finishing my homework, but it's hard when all I can think about is stuffing my face with cheeseburgers and Hot Cheetos (my favorite snack). 

Anyway, I wanted to show you guys one of my favorite recipes for a really quick and eggcellent meal (there are eggs in this recipe so my pun is relevant, don't cringe pls). So this recipe is called Calm Morning, and I actually learned about it in Korea! Korea is "the land of the Morning Calm", so this meal is supposed to signify a relaxing breakfast to start the day. It is technically a breakfast recipe, but I make this for dinner all the time (it's really easy and I'm super lazy). 

So! I usually make this meal for two people, myself and my main dude, so the ingredient list will have enough to serve 2 hungry hippos. The ingredients you will need to make Calm Morning are

-half a green bell pepper
-half a white onion
-four to five cloves of garlic (I have an unhealthy obsession with putting copious amounts of garlic in all my meals, so you can use as much as you prefer!)
-half a can of Spam (I use the can with 25% less sodium cause even though spam is great, it can be super salty)
-one cup of uncooked rice
-one cup of water (for the rice)
-four eggs (two eggs per person)
-half a cup of shredded cheddar cheese
-salt, pepper, garlic salt, garlic pepper, and paprika to season
-a teaspoon of olive oil

First you're going to start with making the rice. I don't have a rice cooker, which is considered blasphemy cause I'm Asian, but you don't need a rice cooker to make rice! So for all you guys who don't have a rice cooker, and you want to make rice without having to purchase one, here's how ya do it.

Pour the cup of water and cup of rice together in a medium sauce pan. I use white rice, cause it's the quickest. Whenever you make white rice, the rice to water ratio should be around the same (1-1 in this case). Turn the heat onto high and wait for it to boil. Once it's boiling, put a lid on it and turn the heat down to low. Let it steam for about 12-15 minutes. 

While the rice is steaming, you can dice the rest of your ingredients! Dice half the onion, cut half of the green pepper into bite sized rectangles, and slice the Spam. I usually cube the Spam cause I feel it's easier, but you can cut it anyway you see fit. Mince the garlic so that the juices will add more flavor to the dish.

Pour the olive oil onto a frying pan and set the heat to medium-high. Pour all the vegetables and the Spam on to the pan, and add salt, pepper, garlic salt, and garlic pepper to season it. I also add paprika cause I like a little bit of zing. Add the minced garlic to the frying pan.

You're going to saute all the ingredients until the Spam is cooked and the onions are a golden brown color. You'll know it's done with the onions start sticking to the bottom of the pan. Usually by the time everything is sauteed, the rice will also be cooked. I check the consistency of the rice by eating a little off the top. It should be relatively soft and not at all grainy.

Next you're going to fry your eggs! Add butter or oil (I prefer butter) to a small frying pan so the eggs don't stick to the bottom. I usually make two eggs per person, but it is all up to you. I make it medium hard and add salt and pepper to taste. You will add the cheddar cheese to the egg once it has been flipped. I love cheese, so I usually drench my egg until it's an orange, goopy mess. 

Everything is finally ready! Usually at this point, I'm licking the trimmings off of my spatula cause I can. I serve the rice first, and spread the vegetables and Spam onto the bed of rice. Than I add the egg on top of everything! The cheese, garlic, and rest of the flavors blend together really well, and the rice fills you up. I made this last night, but I forgot to take pictures..sowwy guys. I'll make sure to add some sort of visuals next time I cook. 

I hope you guys get a chance to make this recipe, cause it's really easy and soooooo freaking gewd. Happy eating! 

P.S, I didn't want my first post to be completely image-less, so I upload my favorite gif on the internet. If I were an animal, I would probably be a sloth.