I saw this, and I wanted it.

This is on my wish list. Fondue set from IKEA.

Welfare Food – Top Ramen

The icon of Welfare Food – Top Ramen. Yes, I go for the 24 pack, and it is only $3.98 in Wincos (Oregon/Washington Only), average about 16.5¢ per bag.

I want to say that, you can eat cheap and also health. For example, The cheap vegetable: cabbage, and it goes great with noodle.

Here is my first take on Ramen: with cabbage, turkey ham ($1.98/lb) and an egg.

Welfare Food.

I find myself buying package food under a $1 in grocery store, and my BFF said that they are all welfare food. So I am going to start blogging about my Welfare Food, or just being cheap...

Back Track: XMAS 09 Spending

GAP had some big sell on the 21th of the Dec. I just could not resist the sale – 40% off; and let me tell you, I got some amazing deals. So here is the break down, and that includes post-XMAS sales.

GAP: $$169.30
EXPRESS: $$14.77 (My BFF got my a $30 gift card)
ROSS: $25.97
Game Stop: $43.96 (for 4 used DS games. Great Deal!)

Grand Total: $254.00

XANADU

XANADU came to Portland, and I would not miss this chance to watch one of the gayest play ever.

I thought the Roller Skate, and the 80's short shorts was gay enough. Was there a lot more gay stuff. The best moment: Flying Pegasus, and Kira sang half of the song in the middle air on a Pegasus. When Pegasus was first descending from the sky, the girl sitting next to me (who was a complete stronger) and I said in unison: "Oh My Dear God!"

It was really cute and a lot of fun. (and it also confirm something for me: New Yorkers really hate L.A.)

Spending Report Sept. 21 – 27

09-21: none :)
09-22: Walmart: Car Battery $65 + cords & Fee $9; $3.47 (x2) window wiper = $77.84; Winco Foods $7.04; Gas $6.03
09-23: Winco Food (Watermelon) $3.18
09-27: Happy Hour at Henry's $13.13 + $5 (tip); Whole Foods $4.48

Total: $116.7

*I don't like to shop at Walmart, but they do have the best deal for Car Battery. I would spend twice as much if I went to Sear or some other auto shops.
** I did not really spend that much this week minus the Auto shopping trip in Walmart.
*** Just an observation, Winco Food has way better deal on food than Walmart.

Spending Report Sept.14 – 20

09-14
09-15 Winco Food $22.76; Happy Hour @ Hobo's $10 + $2 for tip; Carl's Jr. $2.99
09-16
09-19 Gas @ Costco $15. Costco (Food) $4.31
09-20 Winco Food $25.18

Total: $82.24

(Yeah! Another week under $100 0o0)

Spending Report Sept. 7 – 13 2009

09-07 Winco Food $13.24
09-08 Safe Way Corns $.99 + Powerball $2
09-11 Haircut at Bishop $25 + 10 Tip + Coffee for Office (Costco) $9.99 + Gas (Costco) $20

Total $81.22

OMG, a week under $100 :)

Spending Report Aug. 31 – Sept. 6 2009

08-31 Parking $1.20
09-01 Winco Foods $28.87, Color Print at OffceMax $7.97
09-02 Parking $0.80, Color Print at OfficeMax $4.24
09-03 Show Submission $35; Parking $1.20 + $1.72
09-04 Gas (Costco) $15
09-05 OfficeMax $44.97 (2 Year Extended Protection Plan $14.99, 2 4GB MicoSD Card $14.99 each)
09-06 Costco $45.86 (all food; saved $13 with coupons)

Downtown Parking: $4.92
Tech: $44.97
Extras: $47.21
Food: $74.73

Total: $186.83

Office Potluck - it is really FUN.

Cannot believe I actually enjoyed a office potluck lunch. It was really fun. Thanks to Laura for the Mac & Cheese, Home-grown tomatoes and the divine brownie. Larry for the meatball. Amanda for the light desert. Maria for bread. I brought a box of Gem Donuts. I don't think anyone notice them.

Spending Report Aug. 24–30 2009

Mon. 08-24-09:

Olympus FE-20 Digital Camera from OfficeMax $59.99
Tue. 08-25-09L

Powerball $2

Oil Change at Jiffy Lube $40 (with coupon)

Contra for Nintendo DS $20 (used)

Downtown Parking $2.40 + $0.50
Wed. 08-26-09:

$15.21 at WinCo Foods $15.21
Thur. 08-27-09:

Mega Million $1
Fri. 08-28-09:

Mega Million $3

Powerball $2

Movie at St. Johns's Theatre (Inglorious Basterds) $4

1GB Olympus xD Card (OfficeMax) $9.99
Sat. 08-29-09:

Lunch at IKEA $10.97

4 IKEA Plates (as is) $4
Sun. 08-30-09:

Starbuks's Breakfast Combo $4

Strawberry Short Cake at Oregon Air Show $4 (free ticket worth $20, thanks to a friend)

Total: $164.06

My New Love – Chipotle Cheese

Discovered Chipotle Cheese in the best grocery store on the west coast – Winco Foods, and absolutely love it. I love pepper jack, so it is no surprise that I would love Chipotle cheese as well. I think this Chipotle is spicier than the pepper jack from the same store.

A taste of Palm Beach

I was in the neighborhood of NE 28th; so I stopped at the well-celebrated PDX stylish restaurant Pambiche for lunch.
(Forget the Cuban names on the Menu, so here is the English name/description)
Drink: Cuban Latte - it was sweet and creamy ($3.25)
Lunch: Stuffed Fried Dumpling with Potato and cheese. Beet Salad and fried banana. ($7.75)

This is how Asian does Dinner - Instant Noodle

Instant Noodle is huge in Asian, and I am not talking about American Ramen (we trick Ramen out, too).
So it is a cool afternoon, and I really want something spicy for dinner. So I pulled out Mr. Kong Instant Noodle Sichuan favor. I been saving it for a long time, but I feel like eating it today :)

I added some Kale and imitation crab meat. It looked like a noodle bowl from a Vietnam Noodle Stand. (see picture: I so need to work on my presentation.) Anyway, it was a good bowl of noodle and it was spicy.

Colorful Berries for Marathon TV party.

Going to a Mad Man Marathon party tomorrow. (The season premier is at 10 pm tomorrow). Got 6 pins of berries. Black, Raspberry, and blue, 2 pins each. The Blackberry looks really delicious. Hope I won't eat them all before tomorrow.
Should we make pie or cocktails out of these berries.

(cost of berries: $18. One pin usually goes for $3 around the farmer's market here in Portland, Oregon)

Mac and Cheese - trick out version

I brought tons of these cheap under ¢50 Mac and Cheese packages. Because of the amazing cook that I am, I put some WOW into the basic Mac and Cheese.

I added some bigger macaroni to mixed it up; then some corn, carrot, bean mix along with some chopped Spinach. Finally, two Kosher sausages (thanks to Costco). For cheese, I add some Pepper Jack - what, I love spicy food. (I actually add some red chilly pepper flakes.)

Oh, I didn't.

Every Sunday is my Store Ad day. I went to almost all of the Electronic shops and view their weekly ads. My recent love - digital camera. This is how I brought my current digital camera.

So with one decent digital camera (Nikon, btw) in possession, and I am still looking. And I found one - GE A950 for $79.99 (9 mega pixel, 5x optical room).
My first reaction was – GE makes digital camera? I got check it out.
It was popular, because it was sold out when I went to the Radio Shack close to my work. The second one I went to, they just got a new shipment.

Well, yes - I will return it. I would say it is not advance enough for me. Okay, I wasn't expecting that much according to the price. The thing is that there were not a lot of options when it comes to manual shooting. As far as the camera goes, the most annoying thing is, the mode dial and the shot button are both on the right' but the mode dial is at the farthest right, and the shot button is inside. So your finger had to cross the mode dial to reach the shot button. Trust me, it bothered the hell out of me. As for the picture quality, it is pretty decent. I guess I should not have taken it when I saw the package. (Please stop with the hard plastic package. It's a pain in the ass to open it.)

Summer Retrace - Cape Meares (Lighthouse), July 25 2009

Cape Meares is a fun place to stop along US highway 101. It has a lighthouse, and cliffs and the Octopus Tree (see picture). Of course, a great view of the ocean and the rocks.

It is a great place to see the ocean and have a little picnic.

Summer Retrace - Hug Point, July 25 2009

Portland had a Phoenix-AR style heat wave during the week of July 24-30. Couple of my friends and I skipped the heat by going to Canon Beach. Unfortunately, so was every else tried to go to the beach. Canon Beach itself was packed. So we drove along US-101, and stopped at Hug Point Beach, where was a smaller beach not far from Canon.

It was really nice. The sun was warm - although I got a nice arm tan and sunburn. The ocean water was really cold. But it was fun. If you surf, the wave was good. Also, there are tons of weird looking rocks.

Summer Retrace - Sunday Market Astoria July 19, 2009

Went to the Astoria Sunday Street Market July 19, 2009. A lot of fresh NW berries, and great market food. There was a screen printer to print your T-shirts. Many great art vendors, but cannot afford any at that time. Also, a vendor with tons of cookies and berry pies.

In picture: how can you say no to a Limenade with an umbrella; it was high on sugar though ($3). and my friend got that big pie with grill vegi from a Mexican food vendor - they have some big plates ($6 - I think).