Hot n Sweet Chicken

I love fried chicken and I really love KFC. Nope, not the KFC you might think, but this is definitely fingerlickin good stuff. Not just fingerlickin, but suck the bone good. Ever had chicken like that? 

 I feel so sorry for you if you haven't, but you can lick fingers and suck bones too if you venture out and try some Korean Fried Chicken (KFC).  This type of chicken is different from its American counterpart because it is double fried, and bathed in a sweet glaze of garlicky goodness.  I don't need much help finding delicious foods to get addicted to, but thanks to my colleagues I can now add this local joint to the list. Hot n Sweet Chicken takes traditional wings and pizza and puts a tasty Asian twist on them and the end result is a delectable fusion of Korean and American.

The pizza that this local eatery is known for is Bulgogi, which is a marinated beef.  Bulgogi  pizza  definitely has its own unique flavor.  My son and I frequent lots of pizza joints, but I think his taste buds might need to grow up a little before I can bring him here:-)

  I don't usually eat salad with chopsticks, but this simple slaw tossed with Thousand Island dressing is the house starter salad and it is served with chopsticks rather than a fork

The wings come in delicious flavors such as garlic fried chicken and sweet garlic, which are two of the most popular, but you can be adventurous like me and try all of them:-)

This is definitely a great casual spot to venture out of your pepperoni pizza and buffalo wing comfort zone. Hot N Sweet is located in Arcadia and is a bit of a drive if you are not in the San Gabriel Valley/Arcadia side of town, but worth a visit if you are in the area

 Doesn't this slice of bulgogi pizza look delish? This is the perfect spot to grab some takeout for those Netflix marathon days when we could all use a little KFC and a slice of pepperoni pizza's Korean cousin...Bulgogi.

Hot n Sweet Chicken

48 E. Huntington Drive

Arcadia, CA 91006

626-445-6300

Stripes

Hey loves, hope you are having a good summer. It seems like it is going by so fast. Enjoying the milder weather because it is so much better to have blue skies and warm sunshine without scorching heat. My ensemble includes a mix of stripes bold coral and neutral colored pants. I have always loved stripes, dots and leopard and always find a way to incorporate them into my style.

Blazer: Old Navy, Striped Shirt: F-21, Slacks: specialty boutique, Shoes: BCBG Paris, Clutch: DIY, Photography: Stacey Gutierrez

I love these shoes and it is rare to find a closed toe strappy shoe. 

I have had this blazer for quite some time and of course I snagged it from the sales rack at Old Navy. It looks like a typical blazer in the front, but has some unique gathering in the back of the jacket.

 I am reflecting on what a great weekend I had. I went to a concert and had a great time with a good friend. It reminds me that no matter how busy we get, it is important to take a little time to enjoy ourselves. Don't you agree?

 This clutch was made by a friend and I and it is reversible and can be worn white and black or black and white. Truly a versatile piece. I love it!

It's been a minute since I posted a recipe, but I am really enjoying all the great produce available in the summer months, so I will be sharing some great salad recipes with you

 So much going on this summer, but enjoying every bit of it

 Have an amazing week!

Pay Attention...

I have a heart for people. I give people a lot of passes, even the ones that don't deserve it. Sometimes I see a clear visual of who someone is and I try to paint a new picture. The reality is that even when people aren't talking they are saying something. Sometimes the loudest message comes from what is not spoken.

And then there are those times when what is not spoken parallels with what is spoken and the pain of what you see is like a jagged javelin going straight into your heart. And the pain of your discovery has you in an Anacondas grip.

Swift.

Unmerciful.

And if you are not careful, it will choke the life out of you. I believe that every problem has a solution and sometimes its simple. No matter how subtle, when someone shows you who they are...you better believe it. Deception is subtle and never obvious, otherwise it wouldn't be deception.

Have you ever discovered something about someone that you wish you didn't know?

 

In Living Color

Summer is such a great time of year. I love the warm days, vibrant colors and beautiful flowers blooming everywhere. This has been a great summer so far. I have truly enjoyed  so many great moments, which include celebrating my birthday and spending quality time with my little guy and meeting a new group of friends. I have been meeting some wonderful new people, but still very guarded because there have been people who were not who I thought they were, so I am extra careful these days.

 I am really excited about some projects that fell into my lap that I wasn't looking for. Isn't God amazing? Only God can bring something to you and place it right in your lap.

Dress: Banana Republic (old), Purse: See by Chloe, Shoes: Nine West, Photography: Stacey Gutierrez

There is nothing like spreading a little love around

One of these days I will share my fitness routine. Ever since I started my blog in 2011 I have been  getting emails about what kind of exercises I do for my arms and requests for a post on my fitness routine. My arms are much more defined when I don't go overboard with pigging out, but you all know how much LV likes ta eat:-)

Love the vibrant colors of summer. Orange and pink will always be a color combo I love

So much anticipation for great things ahead

I can't help but smile

 

 What do you love the most about summer?

 Have an amazing day!

The Ivy (LV's LA)

The Ivy restaurant always makes me feel like I am at a garden party and  great for Al Fresco Dining and the perfect spot for people watching. I have always loved the salads and the outstanding desserts here, but one of my favorite things is the visual eye candy of multicolored roses on every table and all over the restaurant. The Ivy has always been a bit of a scene, so expect the paparazzi and celebrities in close proximity when you dine here.

Good service is something I really value and every experience I have had at the Ivy has been stellar. When my friends and I walked in they offered us a flute of bubbly. The welcome glass of champagne  was the perfect touch, especially since I was celebrating my birthday with friends.

 The restaurant is decorated in very cute shabby chic decor

Such a cute and cozy atmosphere

 

This cozy spot by the fireplace was adorable, but we chose to dine

 outside on the gorgeous patio

These vibrant colorful roses adorn every table and are liberally on display all over the restaurant including the bar area

I am quite the bread lover, so the delicious warm bread with butter was the perfect way to start our meal

 So many drinks to choose from

 My Arnold Palmer was refreshing and perfect

 for the warm weather

These goat cheese zucchini blossoms were some kind of wonderful

My friend ordered this delicious vegetable salad with homemade Thousand Island dressing

The Jidori Chicken with homemade stone ground mustard was also a hit at our table

My crab cakes with mixed greens was very filling, fresh and delicious

Red Velvet cake is a favorite of mine and the Red Velvet cake at the Ivy is one of my favorites. I love the pink icing and it makes their version of this southern classic very unique

We also had creme brulee and fresh baked chocolate chip cookies

Everything is coming up roses

Now this is what I call a cup of coffee. This mug was huge and the perfect size to feed my coffee addiction. This coffee was good to the last drop:-)

We were given a delicious parting gift from the bakery

Inside the box were the perfect chocolate chip cookies. I usually like my cookies chewy, but these were crunchy, full of chocolate chips and absolutely delicious

So beautiful

 I highly recommend dining on the patio

All smiles:-)

Isn't this beautiful? The Ivy is a lovely restaurant, but be forewarned that you will pay a lovely price to dine here. The location, clientele and food put this eatery in the pricey range, but life is about enjoying indulgent experiences every once in a while. I think you're worth it:-)

The Ivy

113 North Robertson

Los Angeles, CA 90048 

310-274-8303