Hello, all! I've enjoyed a lovely extended holiday overseas. I'm still battling jet lag, but I have enough energy to highlight some of the spots I visited. Taiwan I launched a sky lantern. There's space on the four sides of the lantern to draw pictures and write well wishes or dreams. I got a treat at breakfast. Look at these cute steamed buns! An amazing sight I visited was the Fire and Water Spring! I learned more about the history of indigenous peoples in … [Read more...]
Catalina Island
December 9, 2019 2 Comments
"Allow disruptions to deepen your concentration." I spent Thanksgiving off the mainland! A short ferry ride away from Los Angeles lies Catalina Island. It was nice to walk around the quaint town and relax by watching the boats bobbing in the water. We even spied a school of Garibaldi (our state fish) swimming below the pier. Due to the off and on rain, though, we spent a lot of time indoors. I loved visiting the Catalina Island Museum and learning about the history of the … [Read more...]
#BookReview: The Satapur Moonstone
November 25, 2019 2 Comments
5 stars Genre: Mystery (historical) https://www.amazon.com/Satapur-Moonstone-Mystery-1920s-India-ebook/dp/B07CWF5BQF Pros: Excellent historical insight and world-building Unique and well-drawn protagonistA solid mystery Cons: Pacing may be slow for some in the first few chapters This is a historical gem of a book. It took me a few chapters to get into the pacing of the novel, but after that, I was sucked into Perveen's world. I really love the idea of her being … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Omakase
November 15, 2019 Leave a Comment
Omakase: chef’s choice in Japanese cuisine I had my first ever omakase experience. Sushi chefs will pick the freshest variety of seafood and present them to you using different methods of cooking. My favorites had to be a tuna sashimi drizzled with homemade ponzu sauce. And although I don’t really like red snapper, the cut I ate was extremely fresh and tender. Buyer beware: you need to tell them to stop serving or else the dishes will keep on coming, each more exotic (and … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Shoyu Peanuts
November 8, 2019 Leave a Comment
Shoyu peanuts: soy sauce flavored nuts with a crunchy edible shell I wasn't quite sure what to think about these treats when a family friend brought them from Hawaii. Looking at the package, I noticed the label of "shoyu peanuts." Shoyu basically equates to soy sauce, so I was hesitant about the flavor choice. However, when I tried them, I really enjoyed these peanuts. They've got a satisfying savory taste. They actually remind me of Boston baked beans (the red sugar-coated … [Read more...]
BookBub USA Deal
October 28, 2019 4 Comments
"Now is a lucky time for you--take a chance." I was so excited to score my first BookBub deal for 99 cents—in the USA! I’ve done some other BookBub promos before (international for Seniors Sleuth). The popular newsletter offering discounted books gets about 300 submissions a day to be featured in their daily emails; they accept only about 10-20% of those requests. Getting selected at the 99 cents price point was a huge win for me. It meant that I actually would receive revenue for … [Read more...]
Magic Castle
October 21, 2019 2 Comments
I've always wanted to visit the Magic Castle. The problem is in getting the invite. (Well, you can stay at the nearby hotel to gain entrance.) The Magic Castle Hotel is right next door. Otherwise, people can only attend if they get a special guest pass from a member of the Academy of Magical Arts, Inc. The Academy is a non-profit organization that devotes itself to the advancement of magic. They decorated the Magic Castle for the month of October. The Magic Castle is basically a … [Read more...]
