ADRI'S WORLD

The Life in Your Years

This Sunday is my birthday, so I felt that this quote was perfect because that's exactly how I feel. We weren't stamped an expiration date when we were born, therefore we have no idea how long our life will be— nor should it matter to know.

What matters is the quality of your life, not the length.

I like to live my life to the fullest, which sometimes means doing things out of the ordinary. It makes me happy to live with that mentality of freedom and fulfillment. I like to try new things, see new places, meet new people and am always open for a new adventure. I've been lucky to meet a man that lives life the same way and has been my partner in this crazy adventure!

I love life, and now that I'm older I understand its value. I treasure every moment and take the good with much appreciation and the bad as a new lesson that I must learn. 

Life is as simple or complicated as we make it. I choose to live a simple, yet fun, passionate and happy life, and I hope that my son grows up knowing this too.

 

I am a dreamer, a believer and an all around lover. I find beauty in people, animals, flowers and even in a tear or two—because that's how art is created. There is no other life. This is it. I want it to be as beautiful as possible...

 

Have a great weekend everyone! See you back on Tuesday, because Monday I'll still be celebrating.

 

   

 

image by: adri's world

A World of Flavors & French Brunch

On the day of my birthday Brian, Duo, my sister Marybel, our friends Aaron and Mimi and I decided to go to brunch at one of my favorite restaurants, Pastis. It's a French bistro located in the Meatpacking District. I looove the food, the decor and the ambiance. 

Duo was ready for brunch as soon as the crayons and paper arrived. He can spend endless time just coloring!

First on the menu to order were our drinks. I had the La Vie En Rose, a Champagne Cocktail w/Rose Water. Wow, It was amazing! It even has a sugar cube in it as you can see below. Then we ordered some fries just to get started.

I love brunch and it was so hard to decide because everything sounded so good. I ended up choosing the Eggs Florentine (Poached Eggs on English Muffin w/Spinach & Béchamel). Perfect choice, couldn't have been happier!

Aaron had the Eggs Hussard (Poached Eggs w/Ham, Tomatoes, Mushrooms, Bordelaise & Hollandaise) Marybel the Eggs à la Basquaise (Poached Eggs w/Creamy Polenta, Peppers, Onions & Prosciutto).

Mimi had the Omelette aux Fines Herbes w/French Fries and finally Brian and Duo had the Brioche French Toast w/Fresh Fruit & Maple Syrup. Yum!

And of course we had to have dessert, the best part of any meal! I knew exactly what to order—Bread Pudding. Aaron had the Crêpe Suzette and Brian the Crème Brûlée. Oh so good!

Cheers to another amazing Birthday! Great food, great company and the best part is that I feel younger than ever...how old am I? I forget. Oh well, who cares, right?

Thanks for joining us on the last part of my four day birthday adventure! 

 

• My Birthday Part One, Part Two and Part Three.

 

all images by: popstudios

A World of Flavors & Exotic Food

...continued from My Birthday Part One and Part Two.

For the next birthday adventure surprise my sister Marybel, our friend Aaron, Brian, Duo and I headed to Sik Gaek in Flushing, Queens. I had no idea why we were going all the way to Queens when there are so many great restaurants in Manhattan. Ah, but Brian knew exactly what he was doing...

Sik Gaek is a very authentic Korean restaurant. As soon as you walk in you feel like you are transported to another city. I love that! There's graffiti on the walls, dollar bills with messages that other patrons have left taped to the walls and you sit on regular stools in wood tables. So I thought, the BBQ must be really good. 

We got Duo in his high chair and he was ready to eat whatever was to be served. Yeah, suuure!

First we ordered the Korean barbecue and it was delicious so we ordered a second plate of it. We also had the seafood pancake, which is what I'm about to have in the picture below, it was really good too.

But then another plate arrived. The surprise order from Brian—oh no! LIve octopus! It was chopped but was still moving and escaping from the plate! That's when I understood the part where he had mentioned that there would be a bit of Fear Factor going on.

Below are two mini videos (click to enlarge). The one to the left is where I'm trying it. I know a bit scandalous, but the creature was moving in my mouth! Don't ask me how I decided to do this, I guess because it was my birthday. Wow! 

  

After trying the live octopus, which ended up being really good (and fresh), I knew I had to leave my mark. I wrote on a dollar bill and added it to the wall of shame fame.

Last came the complimentary cucumber juice, so we toasted to another fun time. Cheers to new adventures!

Crazy, right!? What do you think, would you have tried the live octopus too? Not sure I would have it again but I would definitely return for the rest of the food.

 

Thanks for joining us on this adventure! Stay tuned for part four of my birthday celebration.

all images by: popstudios

 

 

Here's Anthony Bourdain's No Reservation Special at Sik Gaek:

My {Four Day} Birthday Celebration. Part Two

...continued from My Birthday Part One

I began "following the white rabbit" in Tribeca, then headed to Kat's Deli in the Lower East Side, after to a spa and then to the Central Park's Alice statue, a little playing in the playground and then to the carousel! Sounds like fun so far, right? After our ride in the carousel Brian handed me the next clue...I'm telling you, these white rabbits were everywhere in the city!

The clue read: Find "The Crossroads of the World" and one of the world's busiest pedestrian intersections". Times Sqaure! So off we went...

My next surprise was there! My friends Nicki and Christopher (they live in Conneticut). I was so happy to see them. Look at our huge smiles! Christopher had the next clue...

I was sooo glad that the next place was a restaurant—I was starving! Next was this fun place close by, Jekyll and Hyde Club. We ate, we drank, laughed and then...surprise. My friend Mia arrived! It was so much fun. I opened a few presents and Mia handed me another clue which led us to Union Sqaure. 

I was so excited to get to Union Square that I forgot to take pictures. Waiting there with a big bouquet of white roses was my friend Nachi...so many surprises! She had a clue that said: "What does it say on the last page of the book Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll?" Oh no, my phone was out of battery! Ah, but we were right in front of a bookstore. When we walked in looking for the book I found a white rabbit card sitting on the shelf. Ha!

The last page read: So what did you dream about? You won't believe this! It began when I saw a white rabbit...

Inside the book I found the next clue which took us to a restaurant in Chinatown. My friend Aaron was at the door! Aaron had flown in from Las Vegas but had just returned from Romania the day before. Super surprise! He had my next and last clue, which said: find the chemist. Oh yeah, the Apothéke Bar around the corner. Cheers!

Below is the entire birthday party, with the exception of Brian and Duo. It was passed their bedtime! What an amazing day full of surprises, friends, family and fun, fun, fun! 

PS: Afterwards Brian said that there was still one more place to go to. What?!? So the next day we headed to...

 

To be continued.

 

Stay tuned for part three. Have an amazing Weekend! 

all images by: popstudios except the book image by: Mimi and the last group photo by: Stranger at bar.

My {Four Day} Birthday Celebration. Part One.

This past Saturday was my birthday and it was definitely my best birthday yet! First of all, it was a surprise that lasted four days (AMAZING!). All planned by my amazing fiancé, Brian. It was a mix between the amazing race and fear factor—yes, fear factor!

The day started early when Brian handed me an envelope with a clue. I had to figure out the clue and "follow the white rabbit" where I would end up finding a "surprise". There were 40 "white rabbits" (like the one below) all around the city. So off I went...

First clue led me to our studio in Tribeca. As soon as I walked in I got a skype call from my parents (they live in Oregon). After wishing me a happy birthday they told me to look under my chair where the next clue was.

Next stop was a coffee shop where I found my second surprise...my sister Marybel! (she lives in Oregon too.) I was sooo happy to see her. Yay! I even shed some tears of happiness.

We quickly bought coffee and croissants and she handed me the next clue! We caught a cab and headed to Katz Deli in the Lower East Side. Obviously, I thought we were going to eat there, but no. Waiting there was our friend Robert with another clue...

Head to...a spa! We both got massages. It was just perfect! Look how happy we look when we found out (she didn't know either).

After the ah-maaazing massage, the lady at the front desk handed me my next clue. So crazy!

The clue was to head to Central Park's Alice in Wonderland statue. On our way there we found a plush white rabbit. Just a coincidence, not part of the game. Ha!

As we got to the statue I saw my next surprise! My friend Mimi, she was waiting there with the next clue. We ended up in the nearest playground and had to get on the slides. So much fun! It happened so quick that I couldn't get any good pictures. At the playground was Robert again with my next clue...

Head to the carousel. Once we got there, Duo and Brian were waiting for us! Duo had my next clue. Get on the carousel (his idea, of course).

Duo was still checking out the horses it was his first time on one. Look how happy I look, I love carousels! 

Look at my friend Mimi below looking so fabulous! I guess she thought these pictures were for Vogue magazine! 

To be continued...

 

Stay tuned for part two.

all images by: popstudios