Carnival Cruise 2012 - Ensenada

Helloooo blog peoples! We just got back from our Spring Break cruise yesterday.  This Monday-Friday was the most relaxing 5 days I've had in a longgg time.  Feels good to be completely worry-free about school related troubles for an entire week :D Anyways, the last couple days have been filled with a LOT of food, & when I say a lot I actually do mean a lot--I've put on significant weight since we left Long Beach port which you can probably see progressively happening throughout these pictures coming up.  Luckily, I regret nothing & had the time of my life with our 7-meals a day routine

Day 1--Long Beach port, exploring the ship.  Not pictured: Escargot, Smoked Duck Breast, Flatiron Steak, Key Lime Pie (FAVE!) & Melting Chocolate Lava Cake

Day 2--Our first stop at Catalina Island.  Spent the afternoon walking around the little strip of shops along the coast and lounging at a local bar

I <3 CORN DOGS! Right before getting back on the boat. I had to

Yes we did.  Picture of a picture, I'd say it was a great $14.99 saved on each of these pix~ teehe

One of the 4-5 times we ordered room service :D Mozzarella, tomato & portobello panini, Reuben, & grapefruit + apple juice.  The life

Day 2 dinner--Lobster Tail & Grilled Shrimp.   Not pictured: Stuffed Mushrooms, Prime Rib & Black Forest Cake

Day 3--Docking in Ensenada.  We decided on taking the tour to La Bufadora, one of the biggest blowholes that happens to be located in Mexico.  Passing the hour or so on the bus with taking pictures of ourselves & surroundings~

Exactly what it looks like.  A mom holding her two kids by the little strap on their shorts to keep them from falling head first into the blow hole~  Parenting 101 right here.  

Freshly made churros! The BEST we've ever had~ missing it already

Restaurant overlooking the ocean.  Too pretty

Day 3 dinner--Jerked Pork Loin.  Not pictured: Grilled Chicken with Fettucini, Tiramisu, & Cappuccino Ice Cream Cake

One of the little friends we made each night coming back from dinner.  I'm still not completely sure what this is supposed to be.

Day 4--Our "Fun Day At Sea".  Strawberry Pina Colada while lounging around the Casino Deck watching the waves.  Super relaxing

Our pre-dinner sushi x 3 taaha

Day 4 dinner--Assorted Sushi Plate.  Not pictured: Mushroom Cream Soup, Seafood Pasta with Tomato Cream Sauce, Country-Style Meatloaf & Baked Alaska.  Our last day in the dining room!

Last day festivities--caught about 4 shows this night to make up for all the ones we missed due to severe food comas/napping after dinner.  Musical & 3 comedy shows.  Loved it!

First day back on Friday--1st stop, BCD Tofu; 2nd stop, Yen Sushi!!! Oh how I've missed you this past week.  Sashimi Salad & Disco Shrimp Roll.  Not pictured: Yellowtail Collar, Popcorn Lobster Roll & Genki Roll.  I could eat this every day of my life.  Oh & last stop: Cha For Tea.  Boba withdrawals are the scariest, wouldn't you say?

But yes, this is the end of our Spring Break 2012 trip.  I still have today and tomorrow to relax and then it's time to get back into school-mode...  Last quarter @ UCI here I come!

P.S. Special thanks to my boyfriend for the lovely pictures.  How lucky I am to have him to compensate for my lacking camera skills~ 

Lazy days & good weather

Daylight savings (-1 hour) is having adverse effects on me; I've been up since 6:30am! Which would actually be..5:30 am.  And since it would be absurd to use this extra morning time on studies, here I am updating my blog taha

More poolside lounging--this time with Cha chicken & green milk tea.  I believe this day was ~90 degrees, which led to Lillian and I transforming into little black and brown bears.  

Milk + Honey on the same 90 degreeish day.  M+H Special shaved ice & PB&Berries.  Shaved ice on a hot day...tooo good

Bf brought me to Zenko to cheer me up from a bad day.  He obviously knows me too well--sushi cures all problems!  Baked lobster roll & Albacore sushi mmhmm

Wednesday morning (~8:30am) at Diamond Family Spa!  Feels good to start the day early.  Headed over to the spa after a light breakfast @ Garden Cafe~ ended up mostly laying around/napping on the warm main-room floor 'til noontime

Post-spa lunch at Maxim Cafe

& quick stop at Half and Half of course! I mean... since we were already in the area.... we'd might as well.  Jk I LOVE! Iced milk w/ green tea

Thursday morning studying at Starbucks w/ my usual black tea + soy & Reese's Puffs

Tabento with bf after studying.  Yummy poke bowl! Interesting tidbit: Bacon Roll on the menu that we might possibly have to try next time

White mocha shake at Kean Coffee in Newport Beach. SO sweet x.x but who's complaining~

Late night foods from Class 302--Grapefruit green tea = yummm. Why's everything have to taste so much better after-hours?

My ginormous burrito bowl that I had to convert to a bigger bowl just to mix.  My only meal yesterday! Was originally going to split this into two meals but half of this filled me up for the rest of the day.  Two pounds WILL be lost by the end of this week! Yes..

Coco putting on his pretty clothes for company heehe

This Weekend

Lillian's 21st birthday!  Getting the day started at the UCI Anthill Pub & some kind of pear cider with seemingly no alcohol content whatsoever.  You would choose this! ..and not drink it either hahahaha 

Nighttime birthday festivities--@Honda-Ya in Little Tokyo.  More sushi for me = definite plus.  Sank you Lillian for the good choice in restaurant tahaha 

All the above pictures (+more yakitori not pictured) were menu items Jeff & I ordered for ourselves.... And yes, we would order more than what half the table did combined.  Right before clubbing.  But good thing we already have each other & won't scare each other away with our food babies

Wasn't originally gonna post this..but bf looks too cute not to.  I would go & kill a perfectly good picture!

With my newly-adopted brother & sister + bf @ Exchange LA.  VIP Lillian ended up getting us a table + bottle service fo freee. Special thanks to Shirley Hsu

Oh, and I forgot to add in the stop we all made at Beard Papa's during our down-time before the club.  Once again, so glad we have each other. 

Saturday morning--Shy and worried Coco on the way to Lillian's puppy party for Marley's 1st birthday.  It's almost as if he knew he'd be thrown into a crowd of excited, hyper puppies...  He did surprisingly well, however.  The only puppy he bullied was Ninja, a 6-month old German Shepherd--approximately 5x his size  

Spontaneous Sunday brunch with Jenny & Brian at Old Vine Cafe in The Camp.  Super cute little cafe tucked behind the giant Native Foods that I never knew existed.  Pictured: mimosa, porcini? macaroni & cheese, + open-face.  Prettiest presentation ever?!

AND... right outside...MY FAVORITE!  I have an inexplicable love for hammocks.  I do have a history of running and jumping into them & thus flipping us over, but I refrained myself from doing so today because this hammock was situated over a cement/rock bed.  Had lots of fun on it nonetheless & ummmmmm can we please get one in the near future? (hi boyfriend)

Pitstop at Mitsuwa for yummy Japanese snacks & headed over to the pool! Definitely had to take advantage of the amazing 80 degree-ish weather we had today.  +more sushi, of course.  

Concluded the weekend with Jerry's homemade garlic-infused steak, salmon, toast & corn.  The garlic-infused refers to all the aforementioned--garlic on EVERYTHING! But I couldn't imagine it any other way.  Yummy Sunday dinner with bf, Jerry, the bro & sis + Susan