Blacked Out Zebra

“There are painters who transform the sun to a yellow spot, but there are others who with the help of their art and their intelligence, transform a yellow spot into sun”
- Pablo Picasso

With my new job, I'm not able to do as many 'fun' designs with my nails as I used to. So I wanted to do something different that's still on the subtle side. This is my black on black zebra nails. 

You will need:

- Base coat

- Black nail polish

- Matte nail polish

- Konad nail stamping plate

- Scraper

- Rubber stamper

- Q-tips

- Nail polish remover

Optional: For a faster process. I used quick dry spray by Sephora O.P.I

I used Orly Bonder, "What's a tire jack?" by Sephora O.P.I,
and Matte top coat by Sephora O.P.I. Also pictured is the
quick dry spray by Sephora O.P.I and the stamp plate
I used for the zebra print.

Step by step:

1. Apply base coat
2. Apply black nail polish
3. Spray with quick dry
4. Wait 45 seconds
5. Apply second coat of black polish
6. Spray quick dry again
7. Apply matte top coat
8. Let dry/spray with quick dry
9. Apply black nail polish on zebra pattern on Konad stamper
10. Scrap off any excess polish
11. Transfer pattern onto rubber stamper
12. Stamp zebra print on nail
13. Let dry
14. Clean up any mess around cuticles with a q-tip and nail polish remover
15. Do not apply a top coat. This design is supposed to be shiny on matte. 
16. Enjoy!

Final Result

Inspired by R

Wined & Dined

"It's important to watch what you eat. Otherwise, how would you get it in your mouth?"

- Matt Diamond

We wanted to mix up our happy hour routine so we decided to try a few new places. Here is a recap of our first impressions and experiences.

Amuse Wine Bar

http://www.amusewinebar.com/

We had always wanted to try out the infamous bar in the furniture store. After a long day at work, we rushed over to Amuse before happy hour ended. We quickly decided on a number of appetizers and ordered delicious sounding cocktails.

Food: 4/5

• Steamed edamame: Large portion. Served warm, which was good, but would have been better cold.
• STAGE frittes: BBQ flavored. Perfect amount of flavoring - sweet and tangy goodness :)
• Cheese and crackers: Brie was so-so, Havarti was yummy and the cheddar was a little on the mild side for our taste.
• Grilled cheese sandwich: Tasty but greasy.
• Pesto shrimp pizza: Best dish of the bunch! Equally balanced toppings, perfectly blended flavors. Served on a thin, crunchy crust.

Drink: 3/5

• We ordered the $5 happy hour cocktails. We tried four different drinks and they were all good, but not great. Next time we will try the wine from the electronic wine stations.

Service: 1.5/5

• We sat in the white room instead of the overly crowded main room. It took too long for a waiter come to our table and take our order. The service picked up until we got our first round then we had to hunt down someone to get our check. We realized the servers were more attentive to the customers in the main room.

Ambiance: 3.5/5

• Love the decor in the main room and the glass wall looking into the chilled wine room. The use of electronic wine dispensers was definitely unique. The white room we sat in was dirty and quiet - we couldn't hear the music from the main room. We felt a little isolated.

Overall: 3.5/5

• Despite the lack of service in the area we sat in, we would definitely go back for the food and try the wine.

Brasserie Du Vin

http://brasserieduvin.com/

This cozy wine bar/french bistro was recommended by A's former coworker. After months of discussion, we finally decided to make the trip to Chinatown to try Du Vin.

Food: 3.5/5

• Pommes frites: Fries seasoned with sea salt. Basic but good.
• French onion soup: Decent, not spectacular. VERY cheesy.
• Caprese salad: Perfecto.
• Chef's selection cheese platter: Okay, some of the cheeses were great, others not so much. There was only four pieces of salami - not cool.
• New Zealand Mince meat pie: Served with fries. Heavenly goodness. Could've been served warmer.

Drink: 4/5

• 50% off wine bottles on Tuesdays.... AWESOME!
• Cocktails: not very memorable :(

Service: 4/5

• No complaints until we wanted our bill.... I guess she didn't want us to leave ;)

Ambiance: 4/5

• The outdoor patio area was quaint and adorable. Felt like we were in Europe and had a great vibe. Tables were a little on the smaller side.

Overall: 4/5

• Would definitely come back again specifically for half off bottles! Best deal ever!

Bistro A Un

http://www.bistroaun.com/

One of R's former coworker owns the place. So we decided to check it out.

Food: 4.5/5

• Tuna and Avocado Tarter: Beautiful presentation. Fresh avocado, tasty sauce, and decent ahi. It was good.
• Fried Cheese: Be aware... NOT mozzarella sticks! Absolutely yummy.
• Fried Tofu with Soy Dashi: Soy dashi was delish! Perfect combination with the fried tofu.

Drink: 1.5/5

• Bartender did not know what went in the drinks... A little scary! Cosmopolitans and Fuzzy Navels are pretty much Mixology 101 basics. We definitely got our money's worth of vodka though.

Service: 4/5

• Attentive. Restaurant just opened, so we were among few in the place.

Ambiance: 3.5/5

• Small but comfortable... didn't feel cramped. Clean restrooms (very important!)

Overall: 4/5

• Definitely will be back for the food and to try the other things on the menu. Not so much a cocktail kind of place... more of a beer and sake joint.

Formaggio's Wine Bar

http://formaggio808.com/formaggio-wine-bar-honolulu.htm

Having dined at the Kailua location many times, A wanted to see if this place lived up to it's name.

Food: 3/5

• Pancetta & Pesto Pizza: Pizza crust topped with ceaser salad and shrimp. Not what we expected but still good. A little on the messier side to eat.

Drink: 4/5

• Wine: What else is there to say <3

Service: 3.5/5

• No complaints but nothing special. Mediocre service.

Ambiance: 3.5/5

• Super dark/romantic. Perfect for date night, not so much for happy hour.

Overall: 3.5/5

• Nothing stood out enough for us to want to return. However we will definitely be back to the Kailua location.

 - A & R

We just want to clarify that we do not in any way think we are professional critics and we are not getting paid or reimbursed in any way for these reviews. These are just our thoughts on our personal experiences and preferences. We do not wish to offend anyone :)

DIY Wall Art

"If you have a great idea, it will tell you how to execute it."

- Jack H. Summerford

I'm in the first stages of redecorating a few of the rooms in my house and I thought I would share a few of the DIY tricks and tips I've picked up in the process.

For my first DIY wall art project, I chose a simple, modern design. I will show you step by step how to create one of your own.

First, pick up some lumber at your local hardware/

home improvement store. Measure it into even sections and cut accordingly.

If you don't have a saw, the store will usually cut it for you. All they need is the measurements you want.

Secondly, choose a color scheme. I chose to alternate between white and yellow.

Once the paint has completely dried, use masking or painting tape to create a design. You can do a specific pattern or something random.

Paint over the tape with the second color. Once the paint has dried, remove the tape and you will have a two-toned pattern :)

Purchase a picture hanging kit. They can be found just about anywhere that sells home improvement items. Fasten the hardware to the back of the wood. I reccommending cutting the wire to size, or else it will take forever to fasten and you will end up with a thick and ugly hanging wire.

Now you're ready to display your art! I chose to hang mine on a blue wall, which is yellow's complimentary color, to give it an extra pop.

Enjoy!!

- A