Thursday, October 15, 2009

Not so plain.

It's been about 2 months since I relocated upstate to glorious San Francisco, California and have yet to blog. Everything detail that was so thought out and over exceedingly stressed upon is now just a big blur. I initially 'U-Haul'-ed it..I mean how could I not? But a few weeks after becoming fully settled in, I took a trip in the sky down to sunny LA and here are some shots I took while in the aircraft on my 'iphun.'


So this is what Brandy must have been singing about..


Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Palmer, Arnold


Arizona has been spoiling me since I was 8.  I cant remember a summer gone by without an ice cold overly-large-sized can of Rasberry Iced Tea sitting atop my counter.  My best friend, Natalie, and I were and still are suckers for the perfect iced tea, and Arizona has yet to fail.  As I grew older, I moved from Rasberry to Green to Sweet, and now obviously to the world famous 'Arnold Palmer.'  The perfect blend of lemonade and iced tea, with a third of the calories? REFILL PLEASE!  The whole idea of having an image of this golf champ on the can is genius marketing if you ask me.  Just to fill you in on a bit of history with the tea, it happened to be American professional golfer, Arnold Palmer's, fave drink (1/2 lemonade 1/2 tea)!  To add to the all the fun, a play on words was produced (which every ad. rep. jumped on when they heard it.)  The Arnold Palmer Tee.  Get it?  Got it?  Good.  I found this particular can at a CVS in South Pasadena, but with it being a hit now,  about as much as before, they are carried just about anywhere Arizona Brand beverages are sold.

nJOY from nKAY

Monday, June 1, 2009

Vampires Strike Again

Im a sucker for a great branding scheme.  Notice nowhere on the billboard does it mention the title of the HBO series 'True Blood.'  Now thats some serious brand identity they got there.

nJOY from nKAY


Sunday, May 31, 2009

Lovable Latin Ladies

I have mad respect for International music.  If I may dare to say, I even enjoy it better than the crap  that is produced here in the US of A.  One of my top 5 has got to be of LATIN origin.  I care to define it more as ‘art’ than ‘songs.’  Every ballad paints its own picture and its hard not to feel your blood thickening with the addition of each new instrument.  My two Latin ladies of love include Bebe and Julieta Venegas.  I like to characterize the Spanish Bebe as a dark poet and the Mexican Julieta Venegas as a bubbly lover.  Both create their own style significantly and leave an impression that will set your mood for the rest of your day.  I find Bebe to bring me strength and fight for women’s rights, whereas Julieta plasters a permanent smile on my face.  Ch-ch-check em out!


Recommended downloads for Bebe include; Malo, El Golpe, Tu Silencio, Siete Horas
photo credit: www.posidoniafestival.com

Recommended downloads for Julieta Venegas include; Te Voy a Mostrar, Me Voy, Eres Para Mi, Algo Esta Cambiando
photo credit: www.tgusta.es


Ras Tafari Makonnen


Well, well, well...look at who I found at a small MexiCali Taco Shop in downtown San Diego. It's Haile Selassie I, otherwise known as Jah RasTafari himself! Just to add, the best tofu burrito was found here. I wish I knew what the place was called, but I guess they will just have to stick with Anonymous Greatness.

nJOY from nKAY

FishLESS Sushi

Say that three times fast.  

Its vegan sushi and its here to stay. 

Had an awesome dinner (because their lunch hours are hard to catch) at Shojin in LA a few months ago and to be completely honest, it does require a ‘trained’ taste.  Like most vegan food, it takes getting used to, but those who are open to anything, culinary wise, would really appreciate this spot.  Their presentation is impeccable and their friendly staff is more than accommodating to the ‘not so vegan’ crowd.  Their dishes include but are not limited to vegan takes on original sushi recipes and some not so sushi-esque line of dishes as well.  It is located in a predominantly Asian mall that consists of other Asian shops and martial arts centers.  The coolest part of dining at Shojin is being able to take the escalator down to the large market located on the first floor.  The grocery store carries tempeh, seitan, and miso, which are the key ingredients in most of Shojin’s plated meals.  Shojin also has events every so often with music, informative facts on vegan culture and a buffet stocked with their most famous entrees and appetizers on their menu.

Just a portion of all the miso found at the market in the same mall.

Simplicity defines Shojin's brand identity.

Their take on the Bento Box
photo credit: www.quarrygirl.com

Tofu Cheese Tartar
photo credit: www.theshojin.com


IMAGINATION>KNOWLEDGE


I saw this quote twice in the same day and liked it just as much the second time as I did the first.  

nJOY from nKAY.