Review: Any Man of Mine by Rachel Gibson.

What happens in Vegas . . . doesn't always stay there.

Autumn Haven's Las Vegas "to-do" list said to catch a show and play the slots—not wake up married to a sexy jerk like Sam LeClaire. The first moment she saw him eyeing her like a luscious piece of the dessert buffet, her usually responsible self told her to run. And she did—right into the wildest fantasy weekend of her life. But Monday morning jolted her back to reality, and before she could say "pass the coffee," Sam was gone.

Now a successful wedding planner, Autumn hasn't clapped eyes on the heartbreaking hockey superstar for over two years . . . until she organizes his teammate's "Special Day," where Sam makes a big play to pick up where he left off! But she has vowed any man of hers plays for keeps. Is Sam the man for her or does she banish him to the sin bin forever?

Another hit from Rachel Gibson. Autumn Haven, red head, green eyed and young and out for fun finds herself a week in Vegas having the time of her life. She stumbles upon hot and gorgeous Sam LeClaire. He instantly finds her attractive at the night club and Autumn can’t believe he’s actually looking at her.

Her time in Vegas was all that she hadn’t imagined or had on her TO-DO LIST. Everything was off her list once she met Sam, a hot hockey player out in Vegas for a wild ride with his buddies. They both had the time of their lives which ended in marriage at the Traditional Wedding Chapel. It was the happiest day of Autumn’s life, but ended quickly when she realized Le Claire was gone the next morning and she was left alone!

I enjoyed this book because to me, it was realistic. Autumn was your ordinary girl who went to Vegas by herself to get away and take a vacation. What she didn’t know was that she was going to fall head over heels for Sam LeClaire. Their love struggle was very real to me. She hated Sam for all the right reasons and then at the same time she couldn’t control herself when he was near her. I can sympathize with women who were dumped by hot hunks, athletes that just left them out high and dry. The heart is a terrible thing to mess around with. If we’re not careful, the heart can take over and cause so much mischief, heart ache and an emptiness that sometimes cannot be filled.

This book helped me understand that there are second chances and getting over the past is crucial to move on to the present and the future. Autumn Haven knew her heart and tried desperately to guard it with every force in her body, but when it came to Sam LeClaire she was like putty in his hands. But, she held her own for years and was a great independent woman on her own, and that’s why I enjoyed this book so much. I know love wins all in the end, but knowing that Autumn did her part and in the end subjected herself to love again and released that “Havens don’t forgive and forget easily theory.” I’m glad she did because it made the story a happily ever after.

Thanks for a great read and I look forward to reading other books by Rachel Gibson!

"Karl Strauss Brewery"

Karl Strauss Brewery in Irvine, CA was a pleasant place where Mike and I found to have dinner last night

(Friday, 7-1-11). Their main attraction is their 10 different types of beers brewed at their restaurant. The lighting was dim, the booth was clean and our waitress was absolutely warm and down to earth. She was very knowledgeable about the foods they served and the different types of beer they served.

We started off with Hummus and Flat Bread for appetizers and that was an absolute delight! The flatbread was freshly baked and the hummus tasted fresh with red onion, crushed olives and tomatos on the side of the dish. Mike and I couldn't stop eating the flat bread one after the other and our waitress told us its baked fresh and the wood they use really adds a great taste to the bread- nice!

I ordered the Chicken Mango salad with a citrus vinegerette and Mike ordered their famous Fish and Chips with Cole Slaw. My salad was plentiful and the vinegerette was just right, not too tangy and not too strong. Mikes had 4 pieces of nice sized fish and his cole slaw was very tastey. We enjoyed our meals and did not feel over stuffed but just content and satisfied with our meal. Our waitress brought us 2 shots of beer for our pallots and being that I'm not a drinker Mike had 2 shots. He said the shots were sweet and bitter and enhanced his meal. We didn't order dessert but the shots of beer were good enough for Mike.

I give Karl Strauss and A for good food and good service with a SMILE! We will definitely be visiting their restaurant again when we find ourselves in Irvine or maybe just to entertain friends. Definitely recommend Karl Strauss!

Hasta la Pasta!!

"BNICE AND MIKE'S RESTAURANT VISITS"

My cousin Mike and I have gone to many restaurants around the South Bay Area just trying out new spots that we haven't tried out before. I think we started last year (2010) and have since continued the journey. I believe Mike has been trying out new restaurants long before last year and thus we have created our nights of adventrues to trying out new restaurants and new sites in the surrounding area.

I have the picture of Georges Greek Cafe (Long Beach) posted up because it is my favorite Greek place for some great halumi. (Pita bread, fried cheese and a slice tomato with oils.) What a treat! I was introduced to this appetizer from Mike, of course.

With each new restaurant we try, I'll be posting up what we think about the restaurant and let you peeps know what the great deal or great meal of the day is. So right now, I'm going to just quickly dot down some of the restaurants, cafes or hole in the wall spots that we've ventured to, none in any order of course.

Restaurant from 2010 to the Present are:

The Salt Creek - El Segundo (Salmon is great!)

The Melt - El Segundo (Crepes with chocolate:0)

Canter's Restaurant - Los Angeles (Coffee Cake yum!) - 24 hrs

The Shorehouse - Belmont Shores (Nachos- delicioso!) - 24 hrs

La Strada - Belmont Shores (Fettucine Alfredo)

La Creperia - Belmont Shores (Crepes with Cream)

The Tofu House - Los Angeles (Kim Chee and Rice good stuff- tofu ok) - 24 hrs

Georges Greek Cafe - Long Beach (HALUMI- LOVE IT

Rockbottom Brewery - Long Beach (Shrimp Tacos- yum)

Alberto's - Long Beach (The best Nachos Ever!)

Picarelli - Long Beach (The Best pasta and fried eggplant!)

NY Upper Crust Pizza - Belmont Shores (Pizza and Tiramasu)

CHA FOR TEA - Long Beach (The Ultimate Tea Joint and chinese food)

Yogurtland - Long Beach, Manhattan Beach (Great Yogurt and cheap too)

Cheesecake Factoy - Pasadena (Great location, great food)

OK, so these are just a few hot spots that I can remember that we've tried. I'll eventually add to the list when I remember the other places we've tried. I enjoy trying out new restaurants and Mike doesn't mind driving, so we're a perfect duo to go and sample and the rich, good food the area has to offer. I guess when we run out of places to try, we will need to expand our ventures and start going to different countriels to try out new places; that would be GREAT!

I didn't get a chance to elaborate on each restaurant we visited, but I'll be more faithful in writing down the places we try out and writing up what good deals, good entrees and so forth to try out. Until then Bon Apetit!

I'M IN PAIN

Last month I'm eating cheese pizza with spinach with my cousin Mike in Westwood and everything is going well. At like 4:00am, I feel this sharp pain in my stomach and I'm thinking oh no here comes the pizza and sure enough the pizza came, for 3 hours straight; not a good feeling.
So I'm thinking maybe I'm Lactose, but then is being lactose that severe in pain. I went to Urgent Care and was told I had food poisoning and thats what I thought as well, but my cousin Mike didn't have any problems with the pizza.

Hmm so a few weeks later I'm eating fried zucchini from my favorite local hamburger joint "FABULOUS" and the same thing happens at 4:00am, sharp pains and that queasy unnerving feeling all day. So its now Fathers Day and we go to eat at "Lucille's BBQ" and it was great, but yet I'm still feeling queasy.

I said enough is enough and set up an appointment on Thursday with the doctor and the whole time I'm not feeling good at all, just trying to make it to Thursday. I get to the doctor take some tests and BAM, she sends me to the Emergency where they took some tests and found out that I had Gall Bladder Stones; so not kool! I'm just glad they found out what was wrong with me.

Pain from the gall bladder is NO JOKE! When i first felt the pain in May, I was bent over with my hands on my stomach just swaying back and forth in hopes that the pain would subdue but no luck. The doctor gave me some pills to ease the nausea and pain but eventually the pain came back because of the greasy foods I was eating..

I went to the Emergency on Thursday and was admitted, I"m like what the heck is going on. So more tests were done and one stone was removed that was not in my gall bladder, it was like moving around doing its own thing and dancing around causing me pain ugh! So I left the hospital on Sunday and was glad to be home.

I will have my gall bladder removed at the end of the month; thank goodness! I have to watch what I eat, no greasy, fatty foods at all, and by golly geez I'm gonna be obedient because the pain I felt was not the business and I don't ever want to feel that pain again! I'll be on a strict diet until the doctor removes my gall bladder and even after the surgery I'm still gonna watch and be careful of what I eat..So all the good foods that I generally love, here's saying Bye Bye!

So gotta be conscious of what we put in our bodies, and try to eat better and healthier. I mean a little endulging is OK, but gotta pump the brakes when its too much! Self control and portion control and no fatty, greasy foods for me!