July & August Randoms

July and August were transition months for me. July was my first month and FedEx and August was my last month at American Eagle. Major transition occurred and I'm still getting used to it. I get to have two meals a day with Bryan and I leave work before the sunsets. I have weekends off and don't get yelled at daily. Who am I? This is so unusual, in a great way. 

Here's some of the things that have been going on in July and August.

Giant jar of kimchi (gone in a month)

Happy 4th of July

New shoes :-)

Pizza and wine from Pizza Antica

Cucumber mojito

New hair for new job

Just a relaxing night at home with Goof

Noodle salad from Miga

Pool time, nailed it

Frozen yogurt time

Powering through doubles with peach iced tea

Beer and blue drink

Outdoor happy hour at Houlihan's

Zucchini noodles with tofu and mini portabellas

Just because

Penne with kale, goat cheese, tomatoes and peas

Guava helado and strawberry mango paleta from El Oasis

So official

Grilled swordfish steak with peach and cucumber salad

"Green Machine" from PopShop

Living room picnic

Smiley turkey burger

Loving wearing business casual

Quail egg time

Quail egg stuffed mushrooms

Coconut helado and kiwi paleta from El Oasis, my new obsession

Summer was nice, but fall, my favorite season, is upon us. The air is getting cooler and the pumpkins are getting bigger. I can't wait to head over to the pumpkin patch, drink hot apple cider and make some soup.

-Akemi-chan

Playing Dress Up For Work

Yes, I have a new job. Yes I love it. And yes, one of the reasons I love it is because I don't have to wear a uniform. Dressing up in office attire makes me feel confident, powerful and creative... and it' been years since I've had the opportunity to wear some of these babies. Here's my first week's wardrobe for my new job.

Classic black and white with snake skin sandals

Matching my Stitch phone cover

Floral, stripes and croc, oh my!

Getting more official each day

It's so weird having "normal" hours. I wake up at the same time every day. I eat breakfast during the morning. I drink coffee (yeah, for real). I get off work the same time every day, just in time to go home and cook dinner. I actually eat two meals with my husband each day, who would have thought? The start of a new chapter begins now.

-Akemi-chan

V Picasso

Champaign-Urbana is going through a little bit of a culinary makeover, and I for one am not complaining. Many local restaurants used to boast affordable prices, greasy diner food and homemade cooking. Now, we have gastro-pubs, Asian fusion, tapas and craft beer. A little hipster nation. I joke, but if loving hipster food is wrong, I don't wanna be right. 

One of our new favorite restaurants is V Picasso. Tapas, wine and cocktails. We went three times in one month. Yes, the girl who normally loves off of homemade dinners and fast food, went outdo a fancy restaurant three times in a row. Kaboom! Now you may drool over our meals. 

Drool worthy cocktails here

Charcuterie 

Rabbit and morel pasta with asparagus

Chocolate mousse, shortbread crumbs, raspberries and wasabi whipped cream

Cocktail time

Saffron ice cream

Brunch: Eggs Benedict, Carrot cake pancakes, bacon and Bloody Marys.

Me and my porcelain doll

My favorite part is that the menu changes with the seasons. That means I can come back and the menu will have brand new, seasonal, fresh, innovative options. 

-Akemi-chan