Sunday, July 5, 2015

July 4th Weekend (Part 1)

July 3rd, 2015- Friday

First Summer here in the States, first 4th of July weekend celebration as well. Being one of the biggest celebrations of the year, and Chicago finally not PMS-ing, fun is definitely multiplied. People of America is definitely having plans lining up- outdoor activities, shopping, parties, bbq, food, drinking and etc....

When Bree invited me for a camping trip weekend, I was so excited! For a person who have always loved outdoor activities, an ex Girl Scout member but do not always have the chance to go camping, I was like  lol.

Knowing that I have to wake up early, I still stayed up late watching "The Longest Ride" and was sobbing like a baby. Was tired the next morning but no regrets, it was my choice 

9am: Journey to Braidwood Recreation Club took about an hour, playing Taylor Swift 1989 album and catching up with Bree in the car. Road trip like this makes me happy. 

10:30am: Here we are at the private outdoor club. Nothing else needs to be done as Bree's mom, Jill has  set up all the tents and gotten us a strategic spot by the beach. I just have to change into bikini and sun tan  stayed under the shades with huge hat, sunglasses, beach towel and a body that smells like sunscreen (which attracts lots of flies & insects). 

It was about noon time after all the time spent applying sunscreen. We all gathered at the picnic table and started feasting! 

Documenting Jill making guacamole. 

eating 1 smileymy new found love, goes so well with salad, bread and chips.


Meet Greg, Tom, Greg's aunt, Amanda, Bree, Jill and Sandy.

Cream cheese with chopped olives, and garlic powder. Another new found love. I'm quite a floozy for food.

Laying down here, with wine. Tried to read, but too hot to concentrate. Definitely an excuse.

eating 2 smileyeat, drink, eat, drink.
That was my activity for the past hours and this is a selfie before I went into dreamland for 2 hours.
ZZZZzzzzzzzzzz

Then I woke up all energized and headed to the cold lake. Water volleyball was fun and it brings back those day when I used to be good at volleyball. Now? LOLOLOLOLOL, can't even serve the ball.

Had some competitions at the basketball court. Another sport that brings back the memory *laugh* I can't even dribble properly.

The water trampoline experience reaffirmed the fact that I am no longer that good old daring and nothing-can-stop-me person. Gave up playing blob because falling into the water and climbing back up is such a pain. It requires lots of arm strength and not to forget that bikini bottom is being pulled down by friction. -.- such 18SX in front of a bunch of kids.

Picture credit to KK.

Cycled back to the camping area from the beach with this old school bicycle. 
Have you seen Bikini on Bicycle? TADAAAAA
Picture credit to Royston.


8pm: Dinner time
Dinner at Polk-a-Dot Drive In because MacD is too mainstream lol.


Going around snapping pics
The interior design reminds us of Johnny Rockets
Dessert first: The vanilla soft-serve coated with chocolate
and it kept dripping......


Royston got conned by this mini jukebox here....Goodbye 50 cents.

or maybe we don't really know how to function that? He tried on this bigger jukebox and it works....

Playing: Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie

Elvis's sculpture at the entrance to the ladies + pictures of Elvis all over the restroom. I went back out to take my camera just to capture all these.
Took about 15 mins for the fried chicken to be ready. Left the place and saw this.
AWWWWWWWWW

other sculptures

With Betty Boop

These get cold so fast but they are still crispy and good!

Oh forgot to mention that Bree and I have gotten our fishing license this morning and here we are trying to get some luck
Bree did catch a baby fish when I was out buying fried chicken lol. She's pretty good at it. As you can see, she is fishing and I'm posing with the fishing rod.
At the lake right in front of our camping site.
camp fire smileywhen the dusk arrived, it was time to start a camp fire.

No camping is complete without s'mores. Roasted marshmallow and Hershey's chocolate in between Graham crackers. First time having s'mores was back in 2012 and wasn't fond of it but now? IT'S ZE BOMB! 
Jill used sandwich iron to make apple pie- it's so good.....the rich butter taste, crispy and toasty sandwich with hot apple filling

All I can remember most was me and food. I really just can't stop eating.....like a goldfish, infinite stomach size.

Went to bed around 11. KK, Royston, Bree and I were in a 6 person tent. The temperature dropped suddenly and it was cold even with a blanket and a sweater on 
. Bree shared her sleeping bag with me in the middle of night and poor thing she could not slept well because of the Malaysians' snoring, our Malaysian gift for her. lol! 

Ok not funny, guilty is me 


[To be continued]

Thursday, July 2, 2015

Korean Dessert

Caffe Bene 

February 14, 2015 - Saturday
Rating: 3.5 on Yelp

Yes, it was Valentine's Day and I was here with my friends at Glenview for some dessert. This is my first time trying bingsu. Heard about Caffe bene in Malaysia, but did not even bother to try it until I'm here in the States.

dreamy eyes smiley

The place was filled with Asians, Koreans mostly. 
Ambience: clean and bright.

Green Tea bingsu- small- $7.56

Heart shape on my lips. 
My friend just went recently and told me that they do not serve size small anymore. So it would be the large one and that could feed 2+ people. 

Bingsu is shaved plain ice with syrup. This is my first time trying out bingsu and I am definitely new to the idea that it is not flavored ice but instead drench with syrup, and I am not a fan of syrup. 
However, the taste was good. Love everything about it but secretly hoping that the ice has more flavor 


Definitely would love to go back.

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Outdoor Cafe

June 20, 2015 - Saturday
Rating: 4  on Yelp & Google review.

I was craving for dessert and if you know me, I don't have a sweet tooth. Chocolates, candies, cakes, pastries- I can "hoard" them in the fridge, waiting for that one day that I would be craving for it. Well, we know before then it would have molds growing all over cloud smiley

So yes, been wanting to try out Outdoor Cafe. Found this place by myself when I was doing research for cafes and dessert shops nearby. It was a business plan for my class. 


Here we are, my roommate and I. A date night after a month of being apart. It was drizzling that night, we took public transportation & walked 5 blocks.

It wasn't that pack for a Saturday.

Outdoor Cafe_Chicago_by black apple
The ambience

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Decorations

Outdoor Cafe_Chicago_by black apple
Simple, clean.While waiting for our bingsu, there are lots of board games for customers to play. Free of charge.
Outdoor Cafe_Chicago_jumbling tower_by black apple
I chose uno stacko, Jenga or Jumbling Tower (as shown in picture).
It was roomie's first time playing this. The moment the tower falls, it was loud (on glass), and everybody stared at us as it was 
relatively quiet that night
Suggestion: try not to play this unless the cafe is noisy and if you would like to have unwanted attention. lol 

Outdoor Cafe_Chicago_red bean bingsu_by black apple
Red bean bingsu
with lots of chopped fruits (strawberries, kiwis, pineapples, peaches, etc), vanilla ice-cream, and mochi (I could have a whole bowl of mochi lol)

I am very satisfied with the amount of fruits they give 

Outdoor Cafe_Chicago_fruit bingsu_by black apple
Fruit bingsu.

If you are craving for dessert and is worrying about extra calories, I think bingsu can be one of the good choices, minus out the syrup and condense milk though.


The total bill came out to be $14.40.
Love the service there- waitress and waiter are very friendly.
Will definitely go back.

Outdoor Cafe_Chicago_by black apple
A picture of us.

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Volunteering Week- Epworth United Methodist Church

Everywhere Fun Fair

It is a vacation bible school event. Volunteered on alternative days and I definitely enjoyed it! In fact, I'm addicted to the theme song. 

Date: June 26, 2015 - Friday
Country: Mexico

Each kids get to plant their own cactus and take it home.

Epworth United Methodist Church_Everywhere Fun Fair_blackapple


Epworth United Methodist Church_Everywhere Fun Fair_blackapple
Art craft: Tin Cross
I made one too

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Twins, still can't differentiate who is Keydy & Dioselyn 

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They have bright future, bunch of intelligent girls. Meet the twins, Fatima, Joy Joy & Treasure

North Park Village Nature Center

Date: June 28, 2015 - Sunday

Instead of checking out Pride Parade , I have other commitment- taking care of kids 
It was a little hectic for me to juggle a few kids at one time, memorized what they want to eat, their allergies, ordering lunch, persuading them to finish their food, bathroom time, making sure they stick with the group....etc. challenging but fun!

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Fatima, Feya, Rheana, Rheeza

Epworth United Methodist Church_North Park Village Nature Center_blackapple
Katie, Jessica, Dezerae
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Another bright kid who wants to go to college, own a car and a house
Marriage is not in her future dictionary as she knows that she can take care of herself. 

Epworth United Methodist Church_North Park Village Nature Center_blackapple
Every picture of my food
Not being an Asian even though I am one, it's just that this is my first MacD meal of the year.
Couldn't help it. 

Epworth United Methodist Church_North Park Village Nature Center_blackapple
S W A G lol
Part of kids' activity nowadays, last time my time was to finish my food and interact with peers 

or too shy and sit at the corner all by myself
It took us some time to board all the kids and make sure everyone has their seatbelts on!

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Jessica and Katie- cutie piesssssss

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Do you know what does the Fox says?
N O T H I N G. 
lol. I don't know why am I so lame today.

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 Bees Buzz Buzz
Imagine lying in a box with bees.....Fear Factor #1

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Caterpillar
Imagine lying in a box with caterpillars.....Fear Factor #2



Epworth United Methodist Church_North Park Village Nature Center_blackapple

Epworth United Methodist Church_North Park Village Nature Center_blackapple

Epworth United Methodist Church_North Park Village Nature Center_blackapple
Frog = Prince or Food

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Lilies, frogs, dragonflies

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goosebumps

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First time seeing a slug
Imagine lying in a box with slugs.....Fear Factor #3

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Imagine lying in a box with earthworms.....Fear Factor #4

Epworth United Methodist Church_North Park Village Nature Center_blackapple
Imperfection is perfection

Epworth United Methodist Church_North Park Village Nature Center_blackapple
<Hand in hand, off we explore>

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Reflection time

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4 years old, my partner of the day. 

Besides getting some love bites from mosquitoes as a souvenir from this outdoor trip, a week of interacting with kids brings back a lot of my childhood memories. How they perceive the world, how they can just pick up earthworms, beetles, slugs, all kinds of insects without any fear, in fact triggered their curiosity and got them excited. Happiness is very simple to them.

How did I end up so timid? When was the last time I put a snail on my palm? How Chucky, and The Eye were my favorite movies and wouldn't scared me at all. And now, just the idea of the woman in black from Insidious got me .

When I was 4, I can't wait to grow up. Now that I'm an adult, I......want to be a kid forever.
不想长大,因为发现以不能保持纯洁的思想,不能像小时候那么善良. 善良变成了个选择.