Weekend Update

This past weekend was very relaxed. All of my friends were in Vegas celebrating the birthday of my very first friend in Phoenix! Happy Birthday to her! It's actually this weekend but she has to work haha. So they were all off and I was left to explore. I decided to spend my weekend in downtown, watching old movies, working out and eating. Surprise! No 4 hours baking in the sun of spring training baseball games, but I did manage to get a good tanning/ reading session in on Saturday morning. Gotta get that natural Vitamin D, and finish that book finally! I should be done soon and book reviews will be up... not that anyone will really care or read the book reviews (much less the books themselves), but they'll be there for your entertainment.

I watched two classics this weekend, and I must say, Hollywood's über romanticism and cheesiness has not changed one bit over the past few decades. But the fashion back then was gorgeous of course. If I could have all of Audrey or Deborah's wardrobes I don't think I would ever have to shop again in my life.
                

Also, Cary Grant is a stud! Where do we find that kind of actor these days? I kind of wish I could go back to witness classic Hollywood, if only for the style.

Of course I tried out some new food spots this weekend. The Breadfruit is a very cozy little Caribbean restaurant and rum bar tucked into a kind of side street of downtown. I had the red stripe prawns (yes, they are cooked in red stripe beer yummm with some curry) which were very delicious but most of the plate was my red beans with rice, 3 grilled veggies and 2 plantains. I could've made that meal for 4 people with the money I spent. I want my protein people! Don't jip me. Anyways... I also tried a glass of jasmin and hibiscus iced tea, which was very good but a bit too strong. Loved the atmosphere of the place. I would go back but I definitely won't be a regular.

Next morning I wanted to head back out to downtown to check out Matt's Big Breakfast, which is supposed to be one of the nest brunch spots in town, but unfortunately, thanks to my slow yet reliable friend the Metro Rail, I didn't arrive until 11.30am, which is when the line is insane. Had I been with someone else the wait might have been worth it but chilling by myself for an hour + with a hungry stomach did not seem too ideal. (this was also post-workout so calories were needed!) I will head back at a much earlier hour some other weekend, maybe this time with friends too, if I can manage to convince them to get them out of bed before 10. Instead I headed to the Fair Trade Cafe right next to one of the metro stops and enjoyed a breakfast sandwich, along with some almond milk hot chocolate, reading, and quiet time all in a little sofa chair. I kind of fell in love with the spot, it's very hipster of me but I couldn't help it.

Tomato Tamato breakfast sandwich

Luckily on my way to downtown I spotted a festival happening in Phoenix and found out that it was the annual Aloha Festival! So I decided that I had to go check it out in honor of one of my best friends the Hawaiian princess that I miss so much and all of the food in Hawaii, that I also miss. But after my brunch I had to relish some of downtown, and decided to take some side streets back to a metro stop further away (but closer to Tempe) and see if I could find anything of interest. I found street art!! And was pretty excited.

 

Then I finally headed to Tempe to witness all of the Pac Islander keha. It was really nice to see a large group of people that I have not seen since I left California all celebrating their culture and making the most of the beautiful weather. Of course I had to try some food, but I figured I would get something familiar and something new. So I picked up some delicious Musubi! And some curry chicken with Roti bread, traditional of Fiji. I am now convinced that I have to travel to Fiji at some point in the next 5 years (already looked into flights, they are less than 1200 round trip! Savings? Whose in?)

Fili's mom still makes the best Musubi I've ever had, but that was some delicious nostalgia. Also saw a bit of Maori culture, however no actual Maori's were there so that made me sad. But all of the islands were represented! It was awesome. Next year I'll be sure to head out there for the first two days of the festival instead of stumbling through on the final day.

So that was the weekend. Hope to have a bit more of an interesting update for y'all next week.

Off to eat some 85% chocolate and attempt to get some work or reading done. Everyone have a blessed week and be sure to appreciate the weather. Much love from the desert.

-Educated & Employed.