J. Crew Shirts

I recently discovered the best button up oxford shirts for women and the unlikely source is the boys' department at J. Crew.  If you're a size 2 or 4, a size 14 in the boys' size is a perfect fit.  What's great about it is that it's long enough to look casual with a pair of jeans (and especially booties, if you own any!)   And it was on sale for $29.99 with free shipping.  I went to visit the website today hoping to put a link, but sadly the oxford shirt pictured here is no longer available.  Although they did come out with new colors and the mint oxford shirt didn't look too bad:  J. Crew boys' oxford shirt

Samsonite vintage black label luggage

I've been obsessing over this luggage since 2009 when I first saw it in a travel magazine but it was beyond my reach price wise.  After endless online searches I eventually found them on amazon and ebay but still agonized whether it was worth the splurge.  I must have driven my boyfriend crazy with my indecisiveness because I had the good fortune of receiving them as presents this past Christmas.

Anyways, I'm hoping to use this baby later on in the year, but still haven't decided where to take her.  Although I've been wanting to meet this girl from Ipanema for a very long time...

Kate Spade Westward Adventurer Satchel

Ah, another one of my internet impulse buys during the holidays.  I have mixed feelings about this satchel.
I love it but it would be perfect if only it was the size of a handbag; the word satchel can be a bit misleading.

 This limited edition Emily and Merrit bag is sold out

It's more of a duffle/travel bag than anything but it's got wonderful small touches like a lock and key. It's definitely a classic, sturdy bag but sadly, I may be ebaying this piece since I really have no need for it.  

  

Flying lessons

I had the good fortune to snap up a flying lesson from Fly Bay Area last year on groupon.com.  It definitely goes down as an experience that I'll never forget.

Totally tense while my instructor Gabriel was incredibly laid-back

Memorable eats from 2011

Crawfish beignets at Brenda's French Soul Food on Polk and Eddy
 are out of this world.  Their chocolate beignets aren't bad either  

Hakka Restaurant- possibly SF's best kept secret of authentic 

Chinese food (at least I think so, I've never heard of it until a few months ago). 

More Hakka goodness- located in the Outer Richmond on 45th and Cabrillo

One of my favorite restaurants is Pacific Cafe, also located in the Outer Richmond.  

Pictured here are their crab cakes.  

My fiance and I loved Pacific Cafe so much that we dined here two nights in a row.  

The owner remembered us and coincidentally we were seated in the same table.

Scallop dish from Pacific Cafe.  On my second night I had the ahi-tuna 

with wasabi sauce (not pictured) - I highly recommend it.

Toyose, I was told was converted from a car garage.  I was a little skeptical but this cozy restaurant is perfect for cold, winter nights.  I recommend their kimchi fried rice and casserole (actually a stew in a cauldron-looking bowl and not what your mom bakes in the oven)