St. Louis Top Restaurants of the Summer

A trip is not complete without a visit to all of my favorite restaurants, in my opinion. I usually ask for Taco Bell as the first stop from the airport after a long plane ride. This time around, I spent a whole month away in St. Louis, Missouri, so I had plenty of time to visit all of the best restaurants in town. My brother took me to places I've never been before and I experienced things I hadn't tried (one little Korean Mexican place, but I didn't take a picture of my tacos). I hope you don't torture yourself with the images of these mouth-watering delicacies, but here is a sneak peek at the best meals I had during my summer in St. Louis. 

{The Cheesecake Factory: Skinnylicious Pear and Endive Salad. This was mouth-watering and simply amazing. It had a combination of all kinds of flavors, sweet pears, crunchy pecans, and savory blue cheese.} 

{Quintessential: Portobello Mushroom Burger and Sweet Potato Fries. The fries were the best part of this vegetarian meal. They were absolutely delicious. I ended up eating every single thing on my plate.}

{St. Louis Bread Co.: half a Poppyseed Salad and Mediterranean Flat Sandwich.}

{Mcallister's Deli: Pecanberry Salad.}

{Dewey's Pizza: half Killer Veggie with extra mushrooms and no olives, and half Margharita with Prosciutto}

{Olive Garden: Lasagna Primavera}

Shoes, Bags, and Books

When a pair of high heels or a hand bag catches my eye, I can't contain myself. Being the only daughter in my family, people think I should be influenced by the manly environment my brothers give. However, my mom did a pretty good job of raising me into a girly and preppy young lady. Now, don't think I'm a spoiled brat. I'm pretty much the complete opposite. I work and save up money to buy the things I want, and I also search for deals and bargains wherever I go. When you find a sale that's at least 50% or more of the original price, it's so exciting! I bought all of the pieces below on pretty amazing deals. This was my first time purchasing a Kate Spade bag which I am completely enamored with. If you haven't noticed, I am so obsessed with Michael Kors as well. Finally, fashion and accessories are nothing without a little brains, hence the books. 

{The cutest Kate Spade handbag found on sale at the Premium Outlet Chesterfield Mall in St. Louis, Missouri. I can already picture myself wearing this on a night out with friends when I don't want to carry much with me.}  

{A beautiful navy blue Michael Kors handbag I bought at Marshalls in St. Louis, Missouri}

{Being the book worm that I am, most of my baggage consisted of books.}

10,000 Cupcakes Barnes and Noble

If I Stay Wal-Mart

The Alchemist Barnes and Noble

The Book Thief Barnes and Noble

Four (A Divergent Collection) Wal-Mart

{Gorgeous high heel booties in a beige/creamish color. I bought these on 45% sale at ALDO at West County Mall in St. Louis, Missouri.}

{Small gray Michael Kors clutch. I bought this on sale at Marshalls in St. Louis, Missouri. This is perfect to fit credit cars, some money, your phone, and a lip balm on a quick grocery trip or frozen yogurt stop.}

{Last, but not least, my gorgeous pink, beige, and gold pink clutch I bought on sale at ALDO at West County Mall in St. Louis, Missouri.}

Jilly's Cupcake Bar & Cafe

After about more than a month of not posting anything on my blog, I now feel compelled to catch up with you, my dear readers. I apologize for my not so leisure. The reason for me abandoning you is completely valid. I have spent about forty hours a week dancing my heart and soul out. This summer I decided to take a ballet summer intensive for the first time in my life. Let me tell you, dear readers, that I do not regret a single second of this one month long experience. Sweat, blood, and tears have driven me into becoming a more experienced ballerina. 

However, I cannot go on until I write a single blog post about my new obsession. Go figure, I am obsessed with yet another thing. It is my love for sweets and desserts that has started this guilty pleasure. As it just happens that my brother lives about a block away from only the most amazing (and only one, I believe) cupcake shop in the St. Louis, Missouri area where I am residing. So here it goes. Enjoy, sugar lovers. 

{My first weekend in St. Louis, Missouri, my brother, his roommate, my dad, and I visited Jilly's Cupcake Shop (for my dad and I's first time).}

I ate the top left cupcake, Bee Sting

Cake: Vanilla

Filling: Honey Lemon Curd

Topping: Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting, Toasted Almonds, White Chocolate Bark With Crushed Lemon Candies

My dad ate the top right cupcake, Raspberry Lemon Twist

CAKE: Lemon Cake 

FILLING: Raspberry Jam 

TOPPING: Lemon & Raspberry Cream Cheese Icing Swirl, Multi-Colored Sugar, Fresh Raspberry and Candied Lemon Peel

My brother ate the bottom right, Missylicious 

Cake: Vanilla

Filling: Vanilla Whipped Cream

Topping: Pink & Green Vanilla Buttercream

My brother's roommate ate the bottom left, Chocolate Thunder

Cake: Chocolate

Filling: Dark Chocolate Ganache

Topping: Milk Chocolate Buttercream, Vanilla Buttercream, Chocolate Shavings, Chocolate Bark

{The second time around, it was just my brother and I on a little cupcake date.} 

I had the cupcake on the left, Twisted Pink Velvet

Cake: Pink Velvet

Filling: Caramel

Topping: Cream Cheese, Caramel Buttercream & Pecan Praline

My brother had the cupcake on the left, Strawberry Lemonade

CAKE: Strawberry/Lemon Swirl

FILLING: Strawberry & Lemon Whipped Cream

TOPPING: Strawberry & Lemon Buttercream, White Chocolate Straw and Lemon Candy Wedge

{The third time around I went for a simple yet savory classic.}

24-Karat Carrot Cake
Cake: Carrot (made with walnuts)
Filling: Vanilla Whipped Cream
Topping: Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting, Toasted Coconut, White Chocolate Shavings & 24 Karat Gold Dust

To St Louis and Back

Three days are never enough for a weekend, let alone a trip to another country. Last week my family and I packed our bags and hopped on a flight to the beautiful city of St. Louis, Missouri. The reason? My genius brother's graduation from college. The trip was full of delicious indulgences, lots and lots of shopping, and family quality time. Seeing my brother (and my uncle who lives in D.C. popped in the picture too) for three days was not enough. Living thousands of kilometers away is definitely hard. You miss so much of each other's lives, moments like an honors reception at school or a ballet recital where you're the lead role...*sigh*. So when we are finally together, we make the most out of our time. 

{Possibly one of the best restaurants in St. Louis. Mcallister's Sandwiches, Soups, and Salads. I ordered half a berry pecan salad and half a "The Veggie" sandwich and the most amazing strawberry lemonade.}

{Almond milk cappuccino at Picasso's} 

{The most beautiful vintage coffee shop in Main Street. Picasso's (if you've watched The Voice, you'll know that Caroline Glaser began to sing in this place} 

{Walgreen's finds: Yogurt covered pretzels, Yogurt covered raisins, and possibly the best white chocolate ever--Lindt's white chocolate truffles}

{The St. Louis Ballet} 

{Shopping for all of the pretty equipment a ballerina needs}

Spring Break in Paradise

The place to be during Spring Break (or in my case, Semana Santa) is the beach. You only get seven days. To breathe. To get away with sleeping 'till late, eating whatever and whenever you want, wearing your bathing suit instead of actual clothes, and running around barefoot everywhere. That was my Spring Break. My family and I decided to travel to the paradise of Roatan in the Bay Islands of Honduras. Traveling with your 50ish old parents is not always fun, but for my benefit, my 24 year old brother, his 21 year old girlfriend, and my 22 year old cousin came along. We left on Wednesday and spent the rest of the weekend on the island. It was my first time there, and I am resolved that I would definitely go back in a heart beat. We stayed in a condo in a small neighborhood called Key Hole Bay. The house was fully equipped with everything from olive oil and spices to board games and books. It was like I had lived there my entire life. 

I spent most of our time leisurely hanging around the beach, the pool, and the house deck with Allegiant on my hand. My cousin and I even jogged 3 miles on the beach to explore our surroundings. My brother, his girlfriend, and my cousin even took me out to my first night club...I practically sneaked in because I'm not old enough for an ID. I've never enjoyed a beach this much, I think. 

{The view from my room's terrace on the condo}

{I know, I know, I just never stop baking. Classic cheesecake with a side of kiwi (when there are no strawberries to make a syrup, you just have to improvise)}

{Roatan has crystal clear water and a sky with all the shades of blue}

{This was my first time banana boating as well. What a rush!}

{The neighborhood's pool was designed to image an "infinite pool" headed towards the ocean} 

{Nothing better than a cool pina colada with a cherry on top (am I the only one who thinks that looks like a heart?)}

{The view of the Bay Islands from the sky. Honduras has the second biggest coral reef in the WORLD. Heck yeah, I'm proud.One of the most beautiful sights you'll ever see.}

{The mini private beach on the neighborhood. The sound of the waves crashing could make me fall asleep in seconds}

{Fruity, healthy breakfast with a view}

One Day Road Trip

Some of the perks of living in a third world country are the tiny things that contribute to its masked beauty. A typical Sunday day, a group of friends and I headed to the southern outskirts of town just for the sake of hanging out and have a good time. We arrived at my friend's house in Sabana Grande, which may I say, is like flashbacking to colonial American times before all of the historical crap that led to its independence and thus industrialization. It was nice to forget about all of the highly contemporary distractions that make up the bubble that we live in and get a taste of what my country is like.

{Transportation here is basically this. Moto taxis also known as "tuk-tuk" because of the sound they make}

{The entrance to the park: "Never say no to Sabana Grande}

{Heliopower mills in the south}

{We ha a delicious meal of steak, grilled chicken, pico de gallo, fried plantain, refried beans, and grilled veggies} 

Arab Weekend

WARNING: IF YOU'RE HUNGRY PLEASE DON'T LOOK AT THESE PICTURES. 

The pleasures of Christmas: eating, eating, and eating! Whenever we travel to San Pedro Sula to visit my other half of the family, they greet us with banquets of exquisite Arab food. This time was not an exception. The motive for our trip was my cousin's new born baby's beautiful baptism. My godmother or "madrina" organized the whole event for her grandson and whenever you put my madrina's name with "celebration" in the same sentence, you can bet it's gonna be priceless. The moment I saw this baby I fell inlove with him. He was so serene and peaceful. He did not moan about everyone trying to hold him. Instead, he seemed to enjoy all of the attention. His older brother, who is turning three in January, is impossibly adorable too. Sometimes I wish I had a little brother...or maybe even better-a sister. 

Day 1 

 {Hotel Breakfast: Whole-wheat toast with fresh strawberry jam, mini cinnamon-raisin roll, a banana, watermelon, pineapple, cantaloupe, and a cup of coffee}

 {Lunch at the baptism: Jumbo shrimp, Fettuccine Alfredo with salmon, salad with mixed greens, green apple, cucumber, and pomegranate seeds...May I add, my godmother made ALL OF IT}

 {I could not stay away from the dessert table. Why choose one when I can have ALL OF THEM? (muahaha). I had a brownie, a lemon bar, a mini red velvet cupcake (not in the picture), and about a hundred yogurt covered raisins and pretzels (I could not stop. They were amazing)}

{For Dinner at my aunt's house that night we had "marmahon" also known as "couscous" with chicken, "hojas de uva" also known as "dolma", and salad}

Day 2

 {Hotel Breakfast round 2: Whole-wheat toast with fresh strawberry jam, fresh pineapple jam on the side, two cranberry-orange biscuits (one I ate afterwards so it's not in the picture), a small alfajor de dulce de leche, watermelon, pineapple, cantaloupe, and a cup of coffee}

 {Lunch at the "Club Arabe"'s all-you-can-eat Arab buffet: "Marmahon" or "couscous", chicken, "hojas de uva" or "dolmas", hummus with pita bread, and salad}

{Dessert table at the "Club Arabe"'s all-you-can-eat buffet: Pecan bar (I had two), banana bread, and strawberries with whipped cream (not in the picture)}

I'm not even sure my clothes fits anymore. And I know this doesn't end here. Christmas is coming! 

Eat, Pray, Love

{Starbucks: Passionfruit Tea}

What would a summer trip be without-yes- FOOD. I had a craving for dessert pretty much every day, so why the heck not? Trying new delicious foods was one of the best parts of the trip, but I swear I was desperate to come back home to a good and healthy home-cooked meal. I surely have no regrets, though, and I can't wait to try and recreate similar dishes at home.

{Godiva: White Chocolate Covered Strawberry}

{Pax Wholesome Foods: Make-Your-Own Salad} **

{Fogo de Chao: Turtle Cheesecake}**

{Haagen-Dazs: Vanilla Frozen Yogurt with Strawberries and Blueberries}

{Paul: Classic Mini Macarons}

{La Madeleine:  Spinach Salade}**

{The Cheesecake Factory: Skinnylicious Chicken Pasta}**

{The Cheesecake Factory: White Chocolate Caramel Macadamia Nut Cheesecake}**

(**Favorites**)