And so I sit here…

It’s 3:02AM EST time and I’m sitting here watching tv marathons and movies on iTunes and Netflix.  I just finished off a bowl of homemade nachos and guacamole and I’m about to go warm up some more spicy pulled pork I made earlier.  Has this become my life?  This could be the wine talking, or the wandering mind thinking… but this is definitely not where I thought I would be… a year ago, two, three, five, ten? What has happened?

It’s funny how things work. Weight gain made me sad. But I gained weight cuz I’ve been happy. But the weight gain makes me not want to move… so while I eat less, I move less. I’m still not happy with my body. But that could just be my eating disorder talking.  Always in recovery, never fully recovered.

You guys have been with me through so many ups and downs and yet you remain loyal.  So much gratitude.  Love, lust, heartbreaks. Breakdowns and highs. Parties and mournings.

The past year I have been basically mostly living in Taiwan and I’ve forgotten my love for cooking, almost.  I stopped caring a lot about things I used to be so passionate about and I have no real explanation for it… but it’s recently sparked up again.

I cooked duck the other day. And today I had a pulled pork burrito/taco night with pomegranate guacamole, spicy mango pico de gallo with roasted garlic and corn and an extremely spicy salsa verde… along with some yummy gooey blue corn chip nachos.  I started to feel alive again.  I started a cooking idea journal/notebook again…. mainly b/c I was planning to cook for C on his birthday… and while things got in the way, I still got MAD IDEAS to play on.

SO…. I have ideas of doing supper parties.  [And have talked with a chef friend or two about doing pop ups] – I want to, once I move out, host supper/dinner parties, first once a month, and then possibly once a week.  People can BYOB and tell me their diets…. or just leave it up to me.  Hopefully soon after team, up with chefs and cool wine people.

I have so many ambitions and ideas… I want to write, I want to travel, I want to cook, I want to go back to school…. and I want to film it all. I have a secret thing about wanting to be in front of a camera.

So maybe this is how this blog is evolving.  It went from food diary to healthy eating and recipes to eating out and traveling extravagantly …. and then just personal…. me finding my inner peace…. healing and now this.  My lifestyle. Ever evolving.

This blog is now: Finding the real Miss Tiffie.

Please join me in my journey.

Best Vegas Trip Ever… the Day of Britney!!! [Day 2 – Part Day]

WTF we woke up at like 8am!!!!!  Probably the one and only time we did the entire trip. Probably because we slept so much the day before…….. I guess normal for me since it’s 11 on my East Coast.. but Kelly?! I guess for work?!  We got pretty  and decided to go out for some FOOD.

Yeah I’m dressed as a 12 year old in a ballet skirt and sneakers… and BRITNEY tank!!! YAYYYYYYYYY

UM….. Lobsicle sounds gross… I bet it’s delicious… like a lobster corn dog… but the name sounds disgusting…. deep fried happiness. I love lobster.

We decided on La Salsa Cantina… cuz margaritas for breakfast is BOMB.

It was early so we didn’t want breakfast so we had to wait like 20 minutes before they served NON-breakfast menu… I seriously thought it was already noon but it was still 10am so we ordered the margaritas and had to wait til 11 so we could order lunch.  We got our margaritas and I made friends with Zoltar the fortune teller…. who told me to stop talking so much hahahaha…

I got a watermelon, Kelly got a strawberry, both super sweet amd super non-boozey..so I got us more tequila shots. OBVIOUSLY.

Margaritas for breakfast?! It’s how we do!

We wait we wait we wait….. amd them FINALLY WE GOT TO ORDER. STARRRRRRRVED!!!!

FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD

Nachos with extra cheese.. why didn’t get get nix the sour cream? We both don’t like sour cream….

Kelly’s Enchiladas – which she finished later in the night after Britney & Light while I was passed out hahaha…

My “Spicy” Shrimp Taco Salad which was TOTALLY NOT spicy at all.  I even asked the waitress what their spiciest food on the menu was and they said THEY DIDN’T HAVE ANY! WTF?!?!?!… But it was fresh and yummy…

And then I realized we were right next to the Club Tattoo SO OBVIOUSLY… I had to go….

ME: “Do you think they do walk-ins?”
KELLY: “It’s Vegas.. they bank on bad decisions”

Thanks but the butt shot Kelly…

I finally got my champagne heart bubbles tatt I wanted… and it came out EXACTLY the way I wanted it to look YAY.

And was photobombed by the cute tatt artist I wanted to tatt me…… but couldn’t cuz they go by order… but I got the cute asian chick :] YAY And he chatted with me the whole time.

TWICE!!!! He was adorable and told me that this was a horrible tatt to get for when I go to Rehab. THANKS DUDE. Hahaha… Photoooooobombbbbb

And then after…. I found this… HUMP HUMP

And more HUMP… so we got 42oz dildo drinks with extra shots… [ DUH ]

Walking back I saw a guy dressed as Britney Spears… at the Britney Spears place… YEP. A GUY.

NAP TIME

Ok done with Nap. Time to get pretty……. while we order dinner…. burgers and fries for both of us….

I already picked out my Britney and Light Night Club dress…spiked ballerina dress :]

Almost ready….

Time for more bubbles.. not even sure how many bottles I ended up buying this trip…. just bubbles for FOREVER… We went thru at least TWO a day…. at LEAST

Me and my Asian Doll Twinsie

And then after room service… I think we got Burgers… we went to Brit Brit.. ended up pretty much in the front….

Continue to read about Britney Spears: Piece of Me Vegas Show

Fattest Country in the World ISNT the USA

As of July 2013

Apparently the US is no longer the fattest country in the world….. it’s Mexico.  70% of Mexicans are obsese. Absolutely terrifying.

Mexico has surpassed the United States as the world’s fattest nation, with 32.8% of its population now classed as obese.

This worrying figure is higher than the percentage of obese US citizens, who weigh in at 32%.

The information comes from a report by the United Nations charting obesity rates across the world.

It reveals that 70% of Mexicans are overweight and childhood obesity figures have tripled in the last decade. – Source

and I was actually surprised that the UK wasn’t in the top 5.  I have been so obsessed with “Supersize vs Superskinny” and “Secret Eaters” Shows and many more that I really thought the UK was one of the top one. I was super surprised with NZ and Aussie. AND wtf is Finland food???…… OK I’m gonna put my ideas in PINK after each one.

#1 – Mexico: They may be the world’s fattest country with a 32.8% obesity rate, but they may also have the world’s best food. (Source: United Nations)

Fried. Tortillas. Corn. Meats. Cheese. Fat. Delicious. I get it.  What I DON’T get is that I feel like Mexican food CAN be healthy. Guacamole. Fresh salsas…. WTF. Too much fried food, sour cream and margaritas I guess?!… FUCK THAT. I love margaritas. But I guess it’s like the US…. fresh food costs more than convenience food. That and too much cheese.

#2 – United States: We may not be the world’s fattest country anymore, but we may still be the best at being fat. We did turn eating food into a competition, after all. Obesity rate: 31.8%. (Source: United Nations)

Not that hard to realize. Fruit costs more than the 1$ menu at Mcdonalds… which doens’t mean I don’t like my occasional fries and nuggets but you know what I mean. It’s sad. And this makes me sad. Bad food is cheaper than healthy food.

#3 – New Zealand: The United Nations says New Zealand has an obesity rate of 26.5%. That said, it’s really hard to find a picture of anyone in New Zealand eating or looking unhealthy… (Source: United Nations)

So I had to google this.  And this is what I found….  still need a good reason…. I had a good gf who went to school in NZ and she is sexy as hell.

Yeah I have fucking hot gfs… BUT hey it might be our asian genes…. but still.. blaming obsesity on genes or junk food is just LAME.

#4 – Chile: Some of the best seafood and wine around comes from Chile, so we get it. Obesity rate: 25.1%.(Source: United Nations)

 Actually not sure about this. I dated a Chilean guy who said that they weren’t into “bigger” people and it being a South American place I’d figure it wouldn’t be a problem.

#5 – Australia: When most people think of Australia, tanned beach bodies dotting the country’s coastlines come to mind, so it comes as a bit of a shocker that the nation cracks the Top 5 in world’s fattest, with an obesity rate of 24.6%. (Source: United Nations)

NO IDEA.

#6 – Canada: Canada’s 24.2% obesity rate gives North America its third country in the Top 10 in obesity.(Source: United Nations)

One word: Poutine.

#7 – United Kingdom: America’s fat gene may have been passed down from our colonial parents who have a 23% obesity rate. (Source: United Nations)

Srsly, how are they not right after or before US? All they do is eat takeout and curry and fried crap and fry ups and SHIT SHIT SHIT. Sorry.

#8 – Ireland: Slainte! Obesity rate: 23%. (Source: United Nations)

Meat and Potatoes…. and Guinness?!

#9 – Luxembourg: If you were sandwiched between the world class chefs in France, Belgium and Germany, you might be a little pudgy, too. Obesity rate: 22.1%. (Source: United Nations)

Don’t Germans just drink DAS BOOT and eat like brats?…. and Pretzels… and what saukraut? I guess that’s not healthy but I duno I feel like Euros are either starving or eating shitty greasy fatty fried food,

#10. Finland Traditional Finnish food includes fresh fish, cabbage and wild game – all relatively healthy eats. What gives? Obesity rate: 20.2%. (Source: United Nations)

HAHAHAH so wrong but I saw this forum thread about “Why are Finnish women so fat” so now I read ——— OK now all I read about on google is why are Finnish people so ugly… UHHHHHH……. so this remains another MYSTERY!!!!

Sources:
Health Zone
Huffington Post

Strip Club, but wait, first Mexicanoooo in Brooklyn…. Random Dumbo Bar and Strip Club

The night started off……. innocent

We headed to Gran Electrica in Brooklyn to meet up with Jonathan for some yummy mexican… and tequila of course.. and instantly started off with drinks and Guacamole and Chips, SO GOOD.

I also had these leggings on… [not a pic of my legs obviously] But these tights were the talk of the night…

I got some Crab Tostada

Jonathan got plantains.. which came out as an appetizer

My Fish Tacos

J got some Carne Asada which he shared… annnnnnnnd… don’t remember what Jonathan got for a main meal.. tacos?!..

After we headed off to some random Brooklyn bar [in Dumbo] and ended up in one which we were the youngest ones there..  and I was SOOOO over-underdressed….. the one we WANTED to go to was having a private party so WOMP….

A few drinks later… and “faux” 5 hour energy drinks that tasted like grape candy — THEY ARE EVIL, DON’T DO IT, they’re 15 hour energy CRACK – which I shall talk about in my next post. Only me and Jonathan had it, J was smart enough not to. WE WERE UP ALL FUCKING NIGHT… okay back to the story

we ended up at the strip club, FlashDancers….

I feel in love with TWO strippers tonight.. apparently they liked me too… we were inappropriate.. and they asked for me when I left with J ;] To the two blonde, real bobbed girlies that danced with me, if you ever read this. FIND ME. You guys are so hot.  I got free dances, massages and ….. a little more ;] I’m hooked.

Mayahuel, tequila and beers…

My first trip back to NY in over a year and J picked me up from Penn Station the day before Valentine’s Day, I already found my way to a bar, vodka tonic please, we went back to the apt, drank some delicious wine and headed out to Mayahuel, one of his favorite go-to places. WHAT A CUTE LITTLE PLACE.  I adore the decor here.

We started off with the chips with salsa and guacamole.  While I’ll unshamefully flaunt that I make amazing salsa verde and guacamole – which J agrees with me, they’re red smokeyyyyy salsa was SOOOO FREAKING GOOD.  Time to buy some liquid smoke and try making some :]

J ordered a spicy cocktail.. and I definitely ordered something super strong and yummy….

He got chicken and pork tacos… we both agreed the chicken ones were better, the pork was a bit dry… [which isn’t usually the case according to J]

I got the special, a whitefish or some sort of fish ceviche…. there was quinoa, pineapple, sooooo many flavors and textures, sooooo goood….

After a great simple delicious dinner we headed to J’s favorite bar, Proletariat for a few beers :]

<3

Adventures of Serina and Tiffie Ninjas….

She got me this gorgeous Hello Kitty Swarovski Ring <3

I brought her to get her ears pierced a a Birthday present <3

Met Bar

Worst Sole EVER

Cubano

My Athens Burger

I think she got the LA Burger

Brunch at Bullfinchs

I made dinner for everyone

Fugakyu for Girls’ Nite

We wanted a boat

Szechuan Chili Beef a la Mama

I made Breakfast for me and Serina

Sisters <3

Legal Seafoods

Black Friday Shopping

Best Purchase

Love you S <3 Miss youuuuu!!!!

Pre Dinner & Cocktails at Oyamel Cocina Mexicana & Jaleo

Got to hang out with my buddy B and his girlie friends…. K and A, the other day..  W and I headed over to Oyamel after I was done with work and they were already finishing up a pitcher of margaritas – I gladly joined in and quickly catched up.

SOOO much tequila <3

We decided to order one of everything off of the 4$ each bar menu. YUM.  PS their chips were SOO much better than the flimsy ones from Los Cuates

Ceviche verde “El Bajio”
Wild Pacific ono with a creamy avocado, tomatillo, green olives, and jalapeno chiles sauce

W loved it, I thought it needed a bit more crunch or spice to it.  Avocados made me happy though.  Eating it with chips helped.  <3

Taco de barbacoa de res
Beef stewed in a Oaxacan-style guajillo chile sauce with pickled catcus paddle

Beefy, a bit dry but tasty.

Albondigas enchipotladas con queso doble creama
Meatballs in chipotle sauce with crumbled ‘double cream’ cheese and cilantro

Soft small balls of meatballs. I’m a meatball snob but these were good.

Shredded Pork Tacos

Pulled Pork and cabbage. My favorite ones of the night. DELISH!

Taco de cochinita pibil con cebolla en escabeche
Yucatan-style pit-barbecued pork with pickled red onion and Mexican sour orange in a house-made corn tortilla

I thought these were a bit dry too :T Meh.

Bathroom

And then we headed to Jaleo for some tapas and the… DESSERT!!!

I remember ordering a regular bubbly but ended up getting served a rose sparkling wine that cost 4$ more but it WAS tasty. Our waiter was kinda pushy with what we wanted to order. Awkward… but B’s rice pudding was FAB!

My flan <3

BATHROOM!!! Freaky…

But no toilet paper so I left them this HAHA

Meatball Madness

Another day of working… woke up early and headed to the grocery store down the block for Meatball groceries…. all groceries check… time for a quick lunch.

I ordered some beef tacos for W and a beef tongue taco and a pulled chicken Taco salad from Super Tacos.  YUMMMAYYYY – It was HUGE and filling!!!!

An ice cream cone for dessert :D

I love my French Fries shirt ;D Bonjour….

I made my meatballs.. there was no veal at the store so it’s half beef and half pork.  W has no measuring spoons or cups so I eyeballed everything.. woot!  There was also no smoked mozz so I just used a regular fresh mozzarella.. and thanks to a suggestion from W I sauteed  the onions before popping it into the mixture… it also flavored the pot – NOM

I mixed together  tomato/basil sauce with an arrabbiata sauce and then popped everything into the oven for a few hours.

After unhoarding W’s room and socks [haha] we finally settled down to a quick dinner of spaghetti and meatballs a la MEEEE :D

I also popped open a bottle of wine.  French red table wine. YUM.

Happy Cleaning!!!

MixTec… mexican for dinner.. why? Cuz I’m lazy

Stomach still sick from the day before. Although Pho helped…

Quite a story.. it all started with making clam chowder the day before. Or wanting to. So today I said let’s cook. W wanted pizza earlier after batman so I said let’s make it. aking pizza fresh turned into buying frozen pizza.. turned into buying roast chicken and clam chowder to buying Roast chicken from … and then maybe Gyro.. to MEXICAN! Cuz I love soup, and I’m lazy.

Sopa Azteca

tortilla soup made with tortilla strips in tomato base chicken broth with cheese and fresh avocado.

Vegetarian soup with chunks of avocado, melted cheese in a tomato broth with tortillas melted in.  I’m pretty sure the black soft rings were Pasilla peppers. MMM. – which is common ingredient in this soup.  It was delicious but the tortilla and the heavy amounts of oil from the cheese made it a bit greasy and too much for me.  I actually don’t like tortilla and bread softened and melted into my soups so I’ll probably just stick to the yummy Consomme Ranchero – freshly chopped onions, cilantro, shredded chicken and rice in a light chicken broth and ranchero salsa – that I’ve gotten a few times.

My lone Grilled Fish Taco
Came with a light mango salsa… scallions, cilantro, tomatoes.. but the fish itself was bland and a bit too fishy… def not fresh.. and I swear it wasn’t grilled.. def lightly breaded and pan fried… meh – Lime, guac and hot sauce didn’t help it.. good thing W ordered a lot.

Chicken Quesadila

Beef Quesadilla

Both served with Pico De Gallo, Guacamole, And Sour Cream :] BOTH were bigger than the size of my head – just one piece filled us up.  I was a trooper and tried to eat more too… #BURST.

We both got some Jarritos, Mexican Soda.. but they don’t have my favorite, Guava, so I got lime and W got Fruit Punch. YUM

New Met Bar Items…

I’ve blogged about Met Bar + Grill a million times and eaten there triple the amount… but they had a few new items and I got TWO of the NEW ITEMS so I figure I’ll talk about them.

Peach Mojito

Super tasty, what can I say… I love a good mojito!

Burger of the month…

Guacamole and Cheezy Chips

Chili Chicken Gorditas

Really good, I’d prefer a crunch to the tortillas on the bottom though and easier to eat, these just fall apart.  Flavor wise they were great.

Mexican Burger w/ Arugula, Butter Lettuce, Sprouts, Jack Cheese, Jalapenos, Guacamole, Salsa, etc..

Key Lime Tart

It was WAYYYY too sweet. And I like sweet, but SO sweet my tongue went numb and it was almost mealy/pasty from the sugar.  Awkward.  The pineapple on the side was good.. as was toasted coconut over the whipped cream.  Apparently we were the first peoples to try it so the waiter wanted to have our feedback. OOPS.

ANYWAYS.

He was nice neuf to take it off the tab – altho it wasn’t much – but we gave him that and then some for tip since he recognized us! WOOT