Food Network Friday: Labor Day

Yay for Friday!
 And yay for the long weekend!!!

Labor Day usually marks the unofficial end of summer, and because of that, I'm sure the air will be filled with the smell of delicious grilled everything, haha! ;)

My Mom asked me to make a menu for Labor Day, and this is what I came up with:

1. Tomato, Mozzarella, and Basil Salad

Total Time: 5 minutes

Level: Easy

Ina takes a classic salad and seasons it perfectly with good olive oil, salt, and pepper. 
For an eye-catching presentation, purchase tomatoes in yellow, orange, and green hues.

Such beautiful colors!!!

2. Pasta Caprese

Total Time: 45 minutes
Level: Easy

Campanelle pasta is mixed with heirloom tomatoes, basil, lemon juice, and zest... as well as fresh mozzarella cheese for a refreshing side, ideal for a picnic.

Chunks of mozzarella cheese = yum!

3. Grilled Pork Tenderloin With Corn On The Cob


Total Time: 1 hour
Level: Easy

Rub pork tenderloin with paprika, brown sugar, and other spices, then grill the meat to perfection before drizzling it with a brown sugar and ketchup sauce.

Ohmygosh, I want to eat this... RIGHT NOW! :)

4. Dijon Chicken Wings

Total Time: 1 hour
Level: Easy

Make a glaze of Dijon mustard, honey, mustard powder, and garlic to make deliciously sticky wings.

Would a picnic be complete without chicken wings? Nope! ;)

5. Sweet Minted Tea

Total Time: 1 hour
Level: Easy

Make a mint syrup for Sunny's sweet tea that is refreshing with any cookout menu.

Sweet tea is my drink of choice for the summer!

***from www.foodnetwork.com***

Do you guys have any plans for the long weekend?

Are you cooking? Which of these five recipes would you like to try the most?

I wish all of you a wonderful Labor Day weekend!!! :D

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

P.S. I have two giveaways for you guys right now! Please do enter if you haven't already. :)
Mile End Bakery Giveaway: Win a dozen cookies of your choice! Open to U.S. residents only. Ends 9/12.

Spirit Ink Giveaway: Win a set of temporary tattoos! Open internationally. Ends 9/20.

Like What Mimi Writes on Facebook and be friends with Mimi! :)

Twitter? WhatMimiWrites :)

Firmoo.com: Do You Wear Glasses?

Happy Wednesday!!! :D

Do you guys wear glasses?

I've been wearing glasses since I was in the 3rd grade. I have really, really bad eyesight... probably because I didn't listen to my Mom when I was a kid -- I loved reading so much that I still read my books way past "lights out", haha! 

I know, I know, I'm such a cool kid nerd! ;)

The funny thing is only my older sister has perfect vision, the rest of us got stuck with wearing glasses, haha!

I think I've had about 8 eyeglasses in my lifetime... I've had my fair share of really embarrassing glasses, oh gosh, I can't even begin to explain, haha! You don't know how happy I was when eyeglasses started becoming fashionable! 

Right now, I have two eyeglasses. My brother, on the other hand, only has one and it's seriously starting to fall apart. That's why I was really happy when Firmoo.com emailed me about a review! 

As a back-to-school present for my brother, I got him new eyeglasses. :D

First off though, here's a little something about Firmoo:

Firmoo.com is the world's most popular online eyeglasses store. Years of expertise in optical industry enable Firmoo.com to offer varieties of high quality prescription eyewear to the consuming public at extremely affordable prices. The low prices in Firmoo.com never compromise the quality of eyewear, treating the quality and services to consumers as top priority. More importantly, Firmoo.com is aware of the aesthetic functionality of eyeglasses. Though long being an integral part of the fashion industry, eyeglasses are never consumed in the same manner as other fashion items, with the expensive price being the major hurdle. Firmoo.com makes the fashion-conscious consumers’ dream of creating a real eyewear wardrobe a reality.

***from www.firmoo.com***

Their shipping is fast, especially considering these glasses came all the way from China!

They sent me my tracking number on August 13th and I received the package on the 17th = 4 days! :)

The glasses came with two cases:

- a regular case

- a pouch

It also comes with a special cleaning cloth:

My brother and I chose the Unisex Acetate Full Rim Eyeglasses.

At $24.95, this is definitely very affordable! 

And the prescription lenses are already included in the price! :)

You do have to pay for shipping, but if your order adds up to $39 or more, shipping is free!

(Use code FREESHIP)

This is a pair of unisex full rim acetate frames that perfectly blend an amazing mix of retro and modern style. 

The front frame is classic and conservative in its retro look and color. This stunning frame is perfect for fashion conscious youth -- it will make a chic match with different outfits and it can be a way to express your unique style. 

The total weight with lenses is 27g.

The glasses look great and the fit is perfect!

My brother said it's really comfortable.

The sizing/ measurements provided online are really accurate.

The screws were a little bit loose at first, but it is easily fixable especially because they provide a mini screwdriver:

I was able to tighten the glasses right away, yay!

How cool, right?!

They also come with two extra screws -- that is so thoughtful of them!

In all my years of wearing eyeglasses, this is the first time I ever got extra screws and a screwdriver... my Prada glasses from my optometrist didn't even have them. Bonus points for Firmoo! :)

They have a wide selection of glasses to choose from. 

If you don't wear eyeglasses, don't worry, they also have sunglasses -- there's definitely something for everyone! :)

And to add to that, Firmoo is offering free eye wear to first time buyers -- all you have to do is pay for shipping, that's it! Amazing, right?! 

You can learn more about their program here.

You can also keep up to date with Firmoo through Facebook and Twitter.

Do you wear glasses?

Have you ever bought anything from Firmoo before? Would you like to?

I hope your week is going well! :D

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

P.S. I have two giveaways for you guys right now! Please do enter if you haven't already. :)
Mile End Bakery Giveaway: Win a dozen cookies of your choice! Open to U.S. residents only. Ends 9/12.

Spirit Ink Giveaway: Win a set of temporary tattoos! Open internationally. Ends 9/20.

Like What Mimi Writes on Facebook and be friends with Mimi! :)

Twitter? WhatMimiWrites :)

Play Up Your Shape: Look Your Best In A Sundress!

Happy Tuesday!!! :D

Okay, first off, *Spoiler Alert* Pretty Little Liars fans, how crazy was the summer finale???!!!

I can't believe Toby's in on it! I'm still trying to convince myself that he's only trying to protect Spencer... I think I am now going to have some serious trust issues, haha! ;)

Anyways, a lot of you are probably sick of hearing all about Pretty Little Liars (Toby is currently trending on Twitter, haha!). 

So, let's talk fashion. ;)

Play Up Your Shape! Look Your Best in a Sundress!

These summer staples are cute and easy!

Here's how to get the perfect style for your body...

During the summer, if I'm not wearing shorts, I'm wearing a dress. I basically live in shorts and dresses when it's hot, haha! But, even though summer is about to end, it doesn't hurt to figure out the perfect style for our body. :D

FIT & FLARE: Choose a dress that skims -- instead of squeezes -- your waist and upper body. This style can be great for creating an hourglass shape, but if it's too tight, it will make you appear bigger than you really are.

SHIFT: Stick to a style that's above the knee without being too flouncy or supershort -- especially if it's white, it can look like a nightgown.

BANDED-WAIST: Look for a band that hits at the smallest part of your middle. If it's too high, it can throw off your proportions and make you seem thick-waisted.

Here are some dresses from Forever21:

Fit & Flare -

Leaf Print Fit & Flare Dress ($24.80)/ Lace Fit & Flare Dress ($24.80)/ Striped Fit & Flare Dress ($22.80)

Shift -

Pleated Shift Dress ($19.80)/ Color Blocked Shift Dress ($19.80)/ Pleated Shift Dress with Belt ($24.80)

Banded-Waist -

Flounced Floral Print Dress ($19.80)/ Flounced & Lace Trimmed Dress ($22.80)/ Flounced Surplice Dress ($19.80)

I love to wear Fit & Flare and Banded-Waist dresses...

What about you? Which of these three styles is your favorite?

I hope you are all having a lovely week so far! :)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

P.S. I have two giveaways for you guys right now! Please do enter if you haven't already. :)
Mile End Bakery Giveaway: Win a dozen cookies of your choice! Open to U.S. residents only. Ends 9/12.

Spirit Ink Giveaway: Win a set of temporary tattoos! Open internationally. Ends 9/20.

Like What Mimi Writes on Facebook and be friends with Mimi! :)

Twitter? WhatMimiWrites :)

Mile End Bakery Giveaway: Win a dozen cookies of your choice! :) ***CLOSED***

Happy Monday!!!

How was your weekend? Mine has been a long and crazy one!

I originally planned to have this post up yesterday, but things got busy... but now, as promised, we will talk about how one of you can win a dozen cookies of your choice from Mile End Bakery! :)

(First off though, I would like to thank everyone who participated in my recently concluded Madelaine Chocolate Company giveaway! Congratulations to Belle!)

And now, let's get on with our new giveaway! :D

What's up for grabs?

A dozen cookies of your choice!

What are the choices?

 White Chocolate Chip & Macadamia

Nutella Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookies

Snickerdoodles

Ginger Cookies

Cookie Sampler Pack

It's hard to choose, huh?! ;)

To enter:

Mandatory entries -

1. Follow What Mimi Writes via GFC -- let me know you follow in a comment and include your email address. (+1)

2. Follow @WhatMimiWrites on Twitter. (+1)

3. Follow @MileEndBakery on Twitter. (+1)

Extra entries -

4. Visit www.mileendbakery.com and tell me which cookies you would love to receive. (+2)

5. Tweet about the giveaway, mention both @WhatMimiWrites and @MileEndBakery -- let me know/ leave me a link.

You can use this tweet: #Giveaway: #Win a dozen cookies of your choice from @MileEndBakery over @WhatMimiWrites! Ends 9/12! Join: http://tinyurl.com/8byq6g5. :) (+2)

6. Like Mile End Bakery on Facebook -- leave your Facebook name in the comments. (+3)

7. Like What Mimi Writes on Facebook -- leave your Facebook name in the comments. (+3)

8. Say Hello! to Mile End Bakery on Facebook and tell them What Mimi Writes sent you there -- leave me a link to your wall post. (+3)

9. Mention this giveaway on your blog, either on a post or on your sidebar -- let me know/ leave me a link. (+4)

A total of 20 possible entries!

Please leave one comment per entry or if you choose to put them all in one comment, please clearly list how many entries you have -- either way would be easier for me, thanks! :)

This giveaway is open to United States residents only.

It will end on Wednesday, September 12th at 11:59pm PST.

The winner will be chosen via random.org and notified via email.

Good luck!!! :D

***P.S. Want to order cookies now? Use discount code MIMI15 to get 15% off!***

Ready for the weekend! :D

Happy Saturday!!! :D

I went through all my nail polishes the other day -- I've had them for quite some time now and I had to say goodbye to a lot of them. I really find it hard to throw away my stuff, but it feels good at the same time, haha! ;)

Anyway, I just wanted to share with you guys the nail polishes that survived the cut:

China Glaze/ SinfulColors/ Sephora by OPI/ Petites/ Pure ICE/ e.l.f./ Sally Hansen

I am kind of banning myself from buying new nail polishes until I use all of these, and that's why I stopped myself even though I wanted to get some Deborah Lippmann nail polishes from Apothica yesterday. ;)

But, I did get a nail polish from NARS (from way before I threw out my old nail polishes) and I also won two new Zoya polishes from a giveaway... I will definitely review those for you guys sometime in the future.

In the meantime, it's the weekend!!!

I will be gone for most of the day -- just soaking up the sun and enjoying the weekend!

I wish all of you a fantastic one! Have fun and drink a smoothie or two for me! ;)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oh, and just a reminder: 

My Madelaine Chocolate Company giveaway ends tonight at 11:59pm PST... you can win 3 kinds of truffles! 

To enter, please click here. :)

And another giveaway: Win a set of temporary tattoos from Spirit Ink!
It is open internationally and it will end on September 20th at 11:59pm PST.
To enter, please click here.

Happy Weekend! :D

Tasty Thursday: Mile End Bakery

Happy Thursday/ Friday!!! :D

I am very excited to share this post with all of you because today we are talking all about cookies!

Who doesn't like cookies, right?!

A couple of weeks ago, I received cookies from Mile End Bakery to review and share with you guys... but, before we talk about those yummy cookies, here's a little something about Mile End Bakery:

Mile End Bakery was started by two friends who love to bake, Mallory and Anya. Anya has Celiac disease, meaning she can’t eat gluten, which is found in wheat, rye, and barley. It is for this reason that Mile End offers you cookies with regular wheat flour and also gluten free. Whether you want regular cookies, gluten free cookies, or a mixture, our cookies are baked to order especially for you. Choose from six different flavors, plus the occasional monthly special.

Why Mile End?

Anya and Mallory met during college at McGill in Montreal, Canada. Stemming from their love of Montreal, they decided to name their bakery after a popular Montreal neighborhood.

Here are Anya and Mallory, in front of their alma mater:

***from www.mileendbakery.com***

Now, on to the review...

My cookies were shipped on July 30th and I received them on August 1st -- how's that for fast shipping?! :)

They ship orders on Mondays and Wednesdays to ensure that the cookies won't be sitting in the post office for an extra day on Sundays.

Upside down?

It smelled so good! 

Even the mail man commented on how good it smelled, haha! :)

After receiving the package, I immediately took photos (I'm a blogger, of course, haha!).

When I opened the box, the smell of delicious cookies filled the kitchen.

*Sigh* That is one of my most favorite smells in the world! ;)

How cute is this?!

I like the simplicity of the green twine and the Mile End Bakery logo.

And I really, really liked the little note from Mallory and Anya! :)

When they asked me which cookies I would like to receive, I couldn't choose!

Here are the choices: White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies, Nutella Cookies, Ginger Cookies, Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies, Snickerdoodles, Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Peanut Butter Cookies.

How is a girl supposed to choose?! Haha! ;)

I contemplated getting their Cookie Sampler Pack, but in the end it came down to White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies and Nutella Cookies.

Mallory and Anya were so nice and so accommodating -- they sent me half a dozen of each! :D

6 White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies and 6 Nutella Cookies

As you can see above, some of the cookies (mostly the Nutella ones) broke... it's quite inevitable, I think, especially because they traveled all the way from New Jersey to California. And I also think that there was a bit of a problem with how the box of cookies were placed inside the actual box -- either it was accidentally placed upside down or the box was sealed wrong (you can see it on my second photo above)...

But, it's nothing better packaging won't fix. 

Mallory and Anya are constantly looking for ways to improve their packaging and delivery services. :)

Back to the cookies...

White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies ($8) --

Celebrate summer with our July special: the delicious classic combo of white chocolate and chopped macadamia nuts in a perfectly sweet cookie.

They're right, this is a classic combination and you can't go wrong with it! :)

Nutella Cookies ($8) --

If you like chocolate, you will love one dozen of these moist, chewy, and decadent chocolate-hazelnut cookies flecked with semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Nutella + Chocolate Chips = Delicious!

As I mentioned above, most of the Nutella Cookies broke, but nevertheless they were yummy and gooey. 

I also love how there's Nutella/ Chocolate when you bite the center of each cookie. :)

My siblings and I devoured all 12 cookies in about 15 minutes, haha! ;)

Cookies = Love! :D

Soooo, wanna know more about Mile End Bakery?

You can check out their FAQ Page! :)

Keep up to date with Mallory and Anya and Mile End Bakery through Twitter and Facebook.

Visit www.mileendbakery.com and check out their delicious cookies!

By the way, Mallory and Anya are offering What Mimi Writes readers 15% off on all orders: 

Use the discount code MIMI15. :D

To order, please click here.

Have you ever ordered anything from Mile End Bakery before?

What's your favorite kind of cookie?

***There will also be a Mile End Bakery giveaway right here on What Mimi Writes just for you guys, so please stay tuned!***

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

P.S. I have two giveaways going on right now! Please do enter if you haven't already. :)

The Madelaine Chocolate Company Giveaway: Win 3 kinds of truffles! Open to U.S. residents only. Ends 8/25.

Spirit Ink Giveaway: Win a set of temporary tattoos! Open internationally. Ends 9/20.

Like What Mimi Writes on Facebook and be friends with Mimi! :)

Twitter? WhatMimiWrites :)

Great Buys UNDER $100!

Happy Wednesday!

I know a lot of you are looking forward to Fall (I am too, of course), but since it's still extremely hot outside, I still want to dress accordingly, haha! ;) 

Here are some Great Buys UNDER $100! $50! $25!

Stock up on everything you'll want for the season -- from dresses to cutoffs, totes to wedges -- all at amazing prices you'll love!

The good thing about California is that the sun is shining pretty much all-year round, so we can use all these pieces for all four seasons! And even if the sun isn't there, these items can definitely be integrated into your Fall, Winter, or Spring wardrobe. :D

(click each image to enlarge)

8 EASY DRESSES

6 FUN FLIP-FLOPS

7 PLAYFUL WEDGES

2 OPEN-KNIT SWEATERS

1 BOLD BAG

4 TRENDY TEES

9 CUTE CUTOFFS

7 SPORTY WATCHES

4 BREEZY SCARVES

5 FLIRTY TOPS

1 COLORFUL BRACELET SET

11 STATEMENT SANDALS

5 FLAT ESPADRILLES

4 FLIPPY MINIS

6 CASUAL TOTES

***from People StyleWatch***

Are you still dressing for Summer or are you now transitioning fully into Fall?

Did you see anything here that you liked?

I hope you are all having a wonderful week! :)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

P.S. I have two giveaways going on right now! Please enter if you haven't already. :)

The Madelaine Chocolate Company Giveaway: Win 3 kinds of truffles! Open to U.S. residents only. Ends 8/25.

Spirit Ink Giveaway: Win a set of temporary tattoos! Open internationally. Ends 9/20.

Like What Mimi Writes on Facebook and be friends with Mimi! :)

Twitter? WhatMimiWrites :)