April Ordonez in San Diego

I'm alive...

Just really busy...

I know all you Eric Elegado lovers are happy to have a forum to rant or rave about him. :)

Will update more soon...

In the meantime, follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/fifty07

Coughing, snotting, blagh

I'm quite the germaphobe. I have antibacterial wipes, antibacterial gel, I'm constantly washing my hands with antibacterial soap and hot water...

I'm also quite the healthy eater, constantly at Whole Foods or Henry's, buying organic food, shampoo, lotion, detergent and dish soap.

I also take a vitamin supplement each day, along with a bottle of Ensure and DanActive.

I also run a lot. And do those machines at the gym.

But I still get colds. Blast them to hell. Just because I gave my sick boyfriend a tiny, tiny peck on the lips. Oh, I also accidentally drank from his water bottle (after I ripped off my label to recognize which was virus-free. Dangit.).

I asked my chiropractor if he had any recommendations to get rid of colds. Besides vitamin C (which I'm on 1,000 mg/day right now), he mentioned Nutribiotic, which I began dropping into my juice.

I feel better, despite running a fever last night. I've been using my nasal rinse, too, and that helps with my post-nasal drip issue.

Lots of rest, napping and my chicken broth, ginger and scallion soup help a lot, too.

Lesson learned? Don't be a ding dong and drink from the wrong water bottle when the wrong water belongs to a person with a cold. Your attempts at healthiness will suddenly seem futile (even though they're not). I just hate being sick. Boo.

Eco-friendly San Diego Spas and Salons

I'm a huge environmentalist and am happy to see a local blog dedicated to exposing the greener side of San Diego. I'm jealous of the fact that LA has eco-salons, such as Recess, that men and women can go to. When is someone going to open one down here?!!

After some research...

I've found some San Diego spots!!

Pamela Nigro Eco Studio Salon uses organic and natural hair products.

Blue Marble is a spa/salon located in the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay. The a la carte facials, massages, body treatments, manicures, pedicures and waxing services are all eco-friendly and deeply rooted in wellness.

Gaia Day Spa in La Jolla and Spa Vella are part of the Green Spa Network.

Del Mar Skin Care uses organic, vegan and paraben-free products.

The Ocean Pearl Spa at the Sheraton Carlsbad offers organic skin care products for men and women.

The Spa at Estancia in La Jolla uses natural nail and skin care products.

Locally, are there any other eco-salon options (besides salons that use Aveda, (which is a brand I love)?)?

SD in NY Times

Good article, but it doesn't even come close to naming the best spots in San Diego. Have you read my Yelp reviews yet?! I know, I haven't reviewed anything lately, but I promise I will...

San Diego featured in Design*Sponge

America's Finest City in America's Finest design blog.

Hello, stranger!

It's been a while since I've blogged, but here I am!
I've been busy with lots of things, like the Iron Girl competition in Del Mar, which I did with my mom, and training for the America's Finest City Half Marathon and 5K (doing the 5K, of course!).

Funny how your goals change as you grow older.

My priorities are still the same, and I'm living by the words of Gandhi, being the change I wish to see in the world.

Sometimes it's hard because  I get tired, physically, mentally, but there are still so many things I want to do in the world.

Here's Batman and me. Drawn on the wall of the La Jolla Athenaeum by Jim Lee.

Not that it has anything to do with me being the change I wish to see in the world, but it's just me, enjoying art in my hometown. Maybe I wish to see more art appreciation? I think there will be lots in San Diego this weekend...

::sigh:: Thank goodness it's Friday!! I'm going to keep listening to The Association and The Guess Who and I'm going to enjoy this time between now and the actual weekend...

xoxo

Project Analogue

San Diego rock band alert........
Here's an interview with Project Analogue's Joey Tan:

How did the band form? Well one day I decided to move the drumset from my parents house to my house and then Patrick came over and we made the song "Blind Skeleton."  Tuan started coming over and then later Rolando came over as well. for a while we a 3 piece with 4 people so there was a lot of switching instruments around for different songs.

Who is the band? Joey (I play guitar and try to sing), Patrick (drums), Rolando (bass) and Tuan (lead guitar)

How do you all know each other? I met Tuan in 6th grade, Rolando in college and Patrick after college. 

Sounds like? Simple, melody driven rock with a heavy 90's influence?

Musical influences? Can't speak for the other fellas but personally, I'm a big fan of Radiohead and the [Smashing} Pumpkins, primarily those are the two biggest. 

Where is the band at right now? Excited? Frustrated? We're currently playing around SD at various venues and are in the midst of recording our first full length studio album.  I'm pretty excited, we've come a long ways from when we first started :)  It's encouraging to see the progress and I'm looking forward to playing more shows!

What do you think of the San Diego music scene? Are you the answer to what it's lacking? The answer to what it's lacking?  Haha by no means.  I think we are a piece in the collective puzzle.  Some people like some pieces more than others and I just hope we're able to connect with those people.  Music is very subjective and I think our goal is more to have fun and to make music that we like.  If other people are into it as well, then that's really cool.

How do you utilize social networking sites to promote your band? How has it helped your fanbase and connection to fans?  Currently we're up on myspace (www.myspace.com/projectanalogue) as well as facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-Analogue/5824739613).  We've put up our demo's on both sites so people can get familiar with our sound and there's also concert information on there. 

Any plans to do shows in other cities other than SD?  Eventually yes, but currently think we're concentrating more on getting ourselves known more in San Diego before playing in other cities.

Sustainable Design - fifty07

Check out my new line of sustainable jewelry.  Each piece is handcrafted and one-of-a-kind, made of materials such as coconut, olive wood, seed, recycled glass and shell.
 

San Diego Restaurant Week!

Yay, it's that time of year again!
I think we're going to try Mille Fleurs.

Anyone else going?

Green is the New Black

Hope to see you at my trunk show:

Random, unusual, visual inspiration

Boyfriend's shirt.  Portable heater.  Water bottle.  Henri Bendel candle.  Buddha.

 

Eric Elegado @ Vons. Riding on the conveyer belt!

Click to enlarge.  There he is!

Ending the year with a molecularly gastronomic belch!

Oh, dear.  I have to admit, I haven't been blogging as much because...

...I've been eating too much (and drinking too much Vietnamese coffee)!  I guess it doesn't help that the BF and I not only eat out often, but we cook and bake at home often, too!  Add all the holiday parties, the Pampered Chef party, the family feasts, and the friend fiestas... that's a load of food.

HAPPY NEW YEAR & HAPPY EATING!

Start your year off with a bang and head over to Nobu in the Gaslamp Quarter.  You won't be disappointed.  Everything from the Toro to the Yuzusicle (white chocolate sake cream enrobed with yuzu gelee and coated with toffee crunch) is absolute heaven.  The Napa Cabbage Steak with Summer Truffles was UNBELIEVABLE and I loved the Tuna Tataki with Tosazu.

 

Here are some images of my nourriture et boisson, end of year '07:

Holiday Shop Shop Shop

My Black Friday was more like Black Friday/Saturday and I tried my best to avoid the malls.  I did end up going to Fashion Valley to buy some pretty gift bags (did anyone see the crazy traffic guard by Bloomingdale's?  She was off her rocker, basically directing traffic into a potential crash!), but most of my shopping was done at local boutiques.

I recommend:
Akia on Kettner for one-of-a-kind vintage rock shirts (and lame-yet-funny shirts that say things like Why Can't I Be Rich Rather than Good-Looking?)
Steady in Little Italy and Unsteady Downtown.  LOVE LOVE LOVE Steady.  My boyfriend bought me the cutest milk & honey dress there.  Awesome Cheap Monday jeans and raw Nudie denim.  Beautiful Sessun sweaters.
I do plan on going to The Assembly to check out their awesome Skunk Funk and Boxfresh threads.
Check out Magpie for awesome clothing and accessories (and my holiday cards!)
And for the sneakerheads, Blends on Market.
Oh yeah, I got my wrapping paper and some cards at Blick on India.

Happy Shopping!!

fifty07 + soixante sept holiday cards are here!

Order them here.
A portion of the sales of your purchase benefits the Scleroderma Foundation.

So much fun at Subtext

I had a good time with my cousin, boyfriend, and sister at the Kokeshi show at Subtext in Little Italy tonight.  Everyone looked happy, the music was good, and the art was AWESOME.  I want EVERYTHING in that store!  I especially liked the $500 Joy Ang doll and the 2008 Jeff Soto calendar.

Subtext

Kokeshi group show at Subtext.
Opening reception : Saturday, Nov. 3rd, 6-10pm

"In celebration of Bunka-no-hi – a Japanese national holiday promoting culture, the arts, and academic endeavour – Subtext and guest curator, Christina Conway, have carefully selected over 75 artists from 13 different countries to customize traditional Japanese Kokeshi dolls. The Kokeshi doll is a traditional folk art form of Japan, dating back to approximately 1830. Originally made by craftsmen during the winter months for sale to tourists, they have come to symbolize Japan to people around the world."