11-Layer Dip revisited

Posted: October 24, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: All's Well That Ends Well | 1 Comment

Quite some time ago, I wrote this post about 11 layers of me. I was curious how much my answers have changed since then…aren’t you?

Layer 1 – On the Outside
Name: Mikaroni
Birthday: July 20
Current location: Happy Valley
Eye color: brown
Hair color: blonde. I got highlights a few months ago because my hair has gotten so much darker…I like the lighter color, but it’s definitely growing out and I’m not sure if I should get more highlights (which seems frivolous) or just have that weird two-toned look for a while.
Righty or lefty: righty
Zodiac sign: Cancer

Layer 2 – On the Inside
Your heritage: quite Southern. Before that, Welsh and German, mostly.
Your fears: losing a family member, being disliked, getting in trouble, having people think I’m lazy.
Your weakness: sleeping in.
Goal: survive the few remaining weeks before I can stop being pregnant.

Layer 3 – Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
Your thoughts first waking up: Ow ow ow. Where is the heating pad? jr is shoving her foot into my ribcage.
Your bedtime: I try to go to bed between 11 and 12, but I usually can’t fall asleep until 2 or 3. Just getting practice for those fun nights with a newborn!
Your most missed memory: I wish I could re-live that time the Romgi proposed. It was pretty awesome.

Layer 4 – Your Pick
Pepsi or Coke: I confess to occasionally craving a Diet Coke. It’s Kimberlee’s fault.
McDonald’s or Burger King: Normally I’d say Burger King, but lately I desperately want the cheap hamburger from McDonald’s. The one with pickle. I don’t even like dill pickle!
Single or group dates: Any date would be awesome. Any date with the Romgi, I mean.
Adidas or Nike: sorry, I have never owned either. But the Bwun did have a really adorable Nike onesie and matching hat. They were striped! I love stripes.
Chocolate or Vanilla: chocolate. Obviously. What does vanilla have to offer?

Layer 5 – Do You?
Smoke: nope.
Have a crush: a crush does seem awfully superficial and fleeting. Hmm.
Think you’ve been in love: pretty sure. Oh wait yes. Definitely.
Want to get married: I love being married, but I never want to be engaged again.
Believe in yourself: now and then.
Think you’re a health freak: no chance!

Layer 6 – In the Past Month
Gone to the mall: no, the last time I went was in August to get a fancy new dress.
Eaten sushi: I wish! I was craving it the other night so we went out to dinner at Shabu Shabu House, but they didn’t have anything that sounded good (that I was allowed to eat. Would’ve loved something with raw tuna in it!)
Gone skating: haha. No.
Dyed your hair: no, but like I said, I got highlights a few months ago.

Layer 7 – Have You Ever?
Played a drinking game: …no. Not with anything other than water.
Gotten beaten up: never.
Changed who you were to fit in: all the time.

Layer 8 – Getting Old
Age you’re hoping to be married: if I’d had my way, it would have been at 21. But the Romgi was more patient than I was.

Layer 9 – Perfect Mate
Best eye color: green with a random black dot.
Best hair color: brown.
Short or long hair: short. But not too short.

Layer 10 – What were you doing…
1 minute ago: chatting with sposita.
1 hour ago: eating fresh chocolate chip cookies, graciously made by the Romgi. We tried the recipe from the Guittard bag…tasty!
1 day ago: opening presents at my fabulous donut-themed baby shower.
1 month ago: cleaning up a giant pile of cereal that the Bwun dumped on the floor.
1 year ago: picking new paint colors for our bedroom.

Layer 11 – Finish the Sentence
I LOVE: hot pink baby clothes with ruffles. Yeah, I’m surprised too!
I FEEL: like Hunca Munca.
I HATE: being told to try Tylenol and a hot bath. Been there, done that!
I HIDE: my stamp-making supplies from the Bwun. Trust me, it’s a good idea.
I MISS: having my own body without an invader. I adore jr but I am definitely ready for her to be out!
I NEED: this fabulous copy of The Picture of Dorian Gray. Please?

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Accomplishments, again

Posted: October 24, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Great Expectations | 4 Comments

I’ve decided to try doing (or at least starting) one thing from my Day Zero list every week. This week’s goal is #22, watch Miracle on 34th Street. (Really – I’ve never seen it before. No spoilers!)

I think next week I’ll look for a photo album for our wedding photos (#61). But don’t hold me to it.

Baby steps, right? I read a book this weekend for the first time in months – to be fair, it was a re-read: The Client by John Grisham. Actually much more interesting now that I have minimal secondhand knowledge of the legal world. And after finishing that (thanks to the many, many late-night hot baths I’ve been taking) I started on Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. I have the Kindle edition, so no bathtime reading, but today I’ve spent a lot of time lying in bed trying not to have contractions, and it’s nice to have something to do…even if the “something” is just reading.

What do you hope to accomplish this week?

Orem Shabu Shabu House

Posted: October 24, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: James and the Giant Peach | 2 Comments

Let me begin by saying that I love shabu shabu, and as such, I have high expectations for it.  I was introduced to it while on my mission, and it was one of my favorite dishes in Korea.  I was told at the time that it was a Mongolian dish, but most sources say it originates from Japan.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with shabu shabu, here’s a quick rundown.

You start out with a broth in a large pot, and then order what type of meat you want.  The protein is usually served very thinly sliced and is accompanied by another plate of vegetables. The vegetables can include cabbage, mushrooms, or whatever is in season.  You bring the broth to a boil, and cook the vegetables and meat in the broth.  Because the meat is paper-thin, it cooks very quickly, and by the end you’re left with a very flavorful broth.  You can then add in some noodles and eat it as a soup.

Now for my more specific experiences at the Shabu Shabu House in Orem, UT.

A plateful of napa cabbage plus two carrot sticks, two mushrooms, and a chunk of tofu does not equal “a lot” vegetables. It was definitely not a substantial amount of vegetables and once everything was in the pot it was still mostly broth.  To give you an idea, here was the pot once we added HALF of the vegetables and meat at the last shabu shabu place I went to in Korea.

Our pot looked VERY empty.  Then there was the meat.  While I was impressed with the marbling and tenderness of the kobe beef, there simply was not enough of it.  Paying $21 for the “large” sized portion, you get maybe 15 slices of beef.  Remember, that this beef is very thinly sliced, so 15 slices probably under a half-pound of beef.  Lest you think that the high price for the portion was just because it was kobe beef, even the large portion of the regular beef or chicken was around $19.

Our service was also lackluster.  We went on a Friday night, but the restaurant was not very busy.  Even so, we went 15 to 20 minutes between the waiter visiting our table.  We probably sat at the table for a half hour after having asked for our check.

The experience, however, was not without its impressive points.  The sushi was, for example, quite good.  I ordered the spider roll, which had soft-shelled crab.  The couple we were with ordered the California roll and also said it was above average.  Also, once the vegetables and meat were cooked, the soba noodles and broth made an excellent soup.

All in all, I cannot recommend Shabu Shabu House in Orem.  All ratings are out of 5

Food Quality: 4
Portion Size: 2
Service: 2
Atmosphere: 3.5
Overall Experience: 3

tl;dr: good food, but high prices for the portion size, and mediocre service.

Shabu Shabu House
73 south state st
Orem, UT 84058