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"No matter where my travels take me, paradise is where I am."
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- 33 Fans
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Rating Distribution
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Review votes:
3428 Useful, 3075 Funny, and 3409 Cool
Modesto, CA
Yelping SinceJuly 2008
Things I Lovemy family & friends, my pets, vacations, travel, Yoga, spa days, the color pink, pasta, pizza, cupcakes, sushi, handbags, reading, Pilates, massages, manis & pedis, music, Maui, shopping, dining out
Find Me Intrigued
My HometownArnold, CA
My Blog Or WebsiteYelp
When I'm Not Yelping...I am shopping, being pampered, dining out, reading or in yoga class. Om!
Why You Should Read My ReviewsI have excellent taste. Trust.
My Second Favorite Website The Last Great Book I ReadPeony in Love
My Favorite MovieThe Godfather (best movie ever), Disney cartoons, & Audrey Hepburn movies
My Last Meal On EarthPasta and cupcakes and bubbly, oh my!
Don't Tell Anyone Else But...I have a serious addiction to handbags!
Most Recent DiscoveryHigh maintenance doesn't even begin to cover it. ;)
Current CrushIndiana Jones ;)
Date
Word to the wise...shop early for the best selection. If you don't, you may be highly disappointed.
1 Previous Review: Hide »
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9/22/2008
I really enjoy browsing around Cost Plus. They have some really cute little gifty items, yummy candy (sour worms!) and a decent wine selection. Plus they have some really cute gift boxes around the holidays (giant Chinese take-out style). They are a perfect presentation for my homemade biscotti that I always make during the holidays. They also carry Cadbury chocolates which remind me of being in England. I was addicted! Scrumptious!
O'Brien's had their Taste Sensation this evening. I felt like I was in Costco with all of the free samples. Cheeses, meats and sweets galore. Crab cakes, pumpkin pie and ice cream. They even sampled a small plate of roasted turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy and sweet potatoes. So delicious! I've been craving Thanksgiving dinner lately so this really hit the spot.
After all of the yummy food I sampled, I was so full that I didn't need to eat dinner! Gotta love that! ;)
2 Previous Reviews: Hide »
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12/28/2008
O'Brien's is the best supermarket in Modesto. I love supporting locally owned businesses and shopping in O'Brien's fits the bill. O'Brien's has the most amazing selection of fresh and even organic produce. Hello, blue potatoes and heirloom tomatoes! The organic pink lady apples are so yummy.
The bakery is also excellent. I've ordered many birthday cakes here and they have all been delicious. The actually use real butter cream frosting rather than that fake Crisco frosting that a lot of supermarkets feature.
I happen to love cheese and they have an amazing selection of cheeses. Joe the cheese guy is so knowledgeable and loves to provide samples of new cheeses to expand your cheese repertoire.
The deli and meat counters are equally superb. Yummy sandwiches, soups and an old fashion butcher counter. The fresh fish counter is also great. I love buying my fish here. They wrap the fish in ice and include a fresh lemon which is a nice touch. You definitely have to check out O'Brien's on Dale Road. In my opinion, it is the best supermarket in Modesto. -
11/21/2008
I went to O'Brien's after work yesterday to pick up something for din din. As soon as we pulled up we noticed a huge banner out front. There was also a Columbus salami truck complete with man on a microphone telling everyone to come on over for some salami sandwiches.
O'Brien's was hosting it's Holiday Taste Sensation. The place was packed! Like Hilary L. mentioned in her review, it was a lot like Costco except the samples were way larger. I sampled so many yummy foods. Cheese from Joe the Cheese Guy and from the cheese maker at Fiscalini; did you know that their cheddar won "Best in the World"? It's true. Yep, we have the number one cheddar in the world right here in Modesto.
I also had a taste of some bread dipped in flavored olive oil. Loved the basil oil. Must be the Italian in me. I feasted on some chicken tortilla soup, a mini ham sandwich with honey glazed ham. Loved the apple pie with vanilla ice cream.
After eating all of these delish treats I was not hungry for dinner anymore. I still purchased some food for dinner the next day. A girl's gotta eat!
Budget-conscious fashionistas have been practically salivating upon learning that H&M was going to be one the newest shopping destinations at Vintage Faire Mall. Well, your wait is over. H&M Modesto has officially opened it's doors and is ready for business!
The store is quite spacious and well laid out. Men's clothing is located on the right, women's on the left. Children's clothing is at the back, along with ladies' undergarments.
I must confess that I've never been a fan of H&M before. Probably because all of the stores I've been in have been uber crowded with merchandise and shoppers. They also were not very pleasing to my eye, ie messy. I must say that I was quite impressed with this store. Everything was neatly arranged and displayed. The more sophisticated garments were in one area of the store and the casual pieces were located elsewhere.
I found several cute tops and skirts that I could see myself wearing to work or out and about. I wish I would have had more time to explore because I'm sure I would have picked up a little something for myself.
Next time...;)
I was in Murphys this past weekend and decided to give it a try. The restaurant is actually more of an eatery. There are a few tables on the patio, perfect for enjoying the lovely weather we've been having. Unfortunately there are no tables inside, but there is a small counter area where customers may choose to enjoy a quick bite to eat.
Since I was on a time constraint, I ordered my meal to go. I selected the veggie burger, which was definitely homemade. It was served on ciabatta bread with chipotle mayo and mixed greens. It undoubtedly had a kick to it, but was very tasty. Of course, I like food that has a little bit of heat to it. Service was uber quick, which was greatly appreciated. The selections include a variety of salads and sandwiches as well as some pretty tasty looking desserts.
The eatery is open Tuesday through Sunday, 11am to 3pm, and open until 8pm on Thursdays. Next time I look forward to trying the grilled portabella sandwich...and maybe one of their yummy looking desserts! ;)
In the mood for Chinese food, I decided to dine at Shangri-La again. Being that this was only my second time here, I was very impressed when the owner, manager and waitstaff remembered me. That means a lot to me.
Service was prompt, friendly and efficient. The food was so tasty. Pot stickers, Singapore Noodles, Coconut Curry Chicken, and Sizzling Shrimp & Prawns...I don't think I could pick a favorite!
I made sure to pay a visit to the lovely Buddha statue and fountain on my way out the door. A full tummy and a moment of tranquility = a perfect start to my weekend. :)
1 Previous Review: Hide »
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9/3/2009 First to Review
Ever since I started Yelping (i.e. became obsessed), I am all about finding new places to yelp. Not necessarily FTRs, but finding places that are new to me.
Shangri-La China Bistro is new, not only to me, but to Modesto. When I saw that it had finally open for business after an extensive remodel, I couldn't wait to try it!
I was surprised by how large the restaurant was. There were several different dining areas/rooms plus a bar area. My favorite touch was the water fountain and Buddha statue. Such a beautiful and peaceful spot!
Service was impeccable and spot-on! All of the servers greeted us and assisted us during our dining experience. They were super friendly and excited about their job.
The food was absolutely delicious. The pot stickers were perfectly crispy and the dipping sauce provided the perfect pairing. The Singapore style noodles were flavored with just a touch of yellow curry, which I love. These were just a few of the selections we sampled. Everything we tried was prepared perfectly and tasted even better. Love it.
I will definitely be back to sample more of the extensive menu's offerings!
Stockton, CA 95207
(209) 477-1230
Dillard's
Categories: Women's Clothing, Department Stores, Accessories
I have been on a quest to find black patent Mary Janes ever since I decided to dress up as Alice in Wonderland for Halloween. You would think that such a classic shoe style would be super easy to find, right? WRONG!!! I have searched for months just to find the perfect Alice-esque sandal. Alas, no luck.
Today was my lucky day. I happened to be in Stockton for a continuing education course. Instead of heading straight home after the course ended, I thought I would check out Dillard's shoe department to see if they just might have the elusive black patent Mary Janes.
I searched oh so carefully at each shoe display, but not a single black patent Mary Jane did I spy. One of the sales clerks asked if I needed assistance. I told her of my plight. She told me to wait one moment as she said she might be able to help me. She returned super quickly with two shoe boxes. I held my breath as she opened the first box. Unfortunately they were not Alice worthy.
My breath stopped yet again as she opened box number 2. Could it be? They would definitely receive the Alice seal of approval. I tried them on with bated breath. PERFECTION! :) I almost hugged the sales clerk, but I contained myself. After all, I am not a proponent of hugging people I do not know.
Now my Halloween costume is complete. I can't wait to channel Alice! Thank you shoe gods for granting my Halloween shoe wish! ;)
Modesto, CA 95350
(209) 576-0934
Liberty Property Management
Category: Property Management
After a looong day at work, I couldn't wait to get home and enjoy a little vino and make a yummy dinner. As soon as I arrived home and walked through the door, I headed to my room to change into my comfy clothes. As I neared the door to my room I heard the sound of water running. I entered my room and immediately heard a squishy sound and my feet felt a little damp. The carpet was soaked. I peeped in the bathroom and the floor was completely flooded. YIKES!
A call was made to LPM ASAP. Mike the maintenance man answered my call on the first ring. I informed him of the emergency situation in my bathroom. He said he would send help right away. Within about a half an hour, a carpet restorer named Michael came over. He turned off the water which was coming from a cracked toilet tank (weird).
Michael proceeded to use a wet vac to get rid of the water in my bathroom, bedroom entry, part of my shoe closet and hallway. Fortunately no shoes were harmed in this flood. Thank goodness! Michael pulled up a corner of the carpet and placed a high velocity fan to help dry the carpet pad. He will return on Friday to put the carpet back in place and make sure everything is ok.
Shortly after Michael left, the plumber stopped by. He checked to make sure the water was completely turned off. He hopes to be back tomorrow to replace the defective toilet.
I am so thankful to LPM's quick response during this very unpleasant event! I'm not sure what I would have done if I didn't have a property management to call for help. It's nice to know if there is an emergency, I can count on them. :)
Modesto, CA 95356
(209) 521-1118
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
Category: Bookstores
I popped into Barnes and Noble this afternoon to do a little investigative work. Before I reveal the nature of said investigation, allow me to provide a little background info. I have been really wanting to get an e-reader, specifically the Kindle from Amazon. I've been holding out a little while longer to wait for the technology to improve.
Several days ago while searching for internet info on the Kindle, I came across a link for a new e-reader device. This new contender to the e-reader market is the Nook from Barnes and Noble. I read a comparison between the Kindle and Nook and was rather intrigued to seek further info on the Nook.
This leads me back to my visit to B&N. A sales clerk approached me as I stood at the center info desk. I shared with her the purpose of my visit. She said the release date is supposed to be November 30, but the manager of the Modesto store is trying to get a demo Nook in store Thanksgiving weekend. I love the idea of being able to "play" with the demo before buying, which is not an option with the Kindle. I also like that there are more books to choose from and the color display at the bottom of the screen.
I can hardly wait to check it out! In the meantime, my nose will be in a book (the paper kind). ;)
Unfortunately, Modesto does not have a plethora of fashion forward shopping hot spots. I don't know about you, but I often head to the Bay Area (SF, Walnut Creek) to really satisfy my fashion cravings.
Now the fashion gods have smiled upon Modesto and answered our prayers for fashionable on-trend attire. Please welcome Apricot Lane! It can be found in the spot once occupied by Illuminations (RIP). While the square footage is not vast, they certainly manage to fill the space with au courrant garments.
Brands such as Velvet, BCBG, Betsey Johnson, and J Brand are available for your shopping pleasure. Lots of shiny, sparkly jewelry and Volcano Capri Blue candles are also evident. The sales staff seemed very friendly and eager to assist in your fashion hunt.
This place could become dangerous to my pocket book...seriously. ;)
6 Lists
I'm really picky when it comes to Hot and Sour Soup. While I am not a vegetarian, I don't like the strange little pieces of meat floating in most Hot and Sour Soups. I have this thing about being able to identify what kind of meat I'm consuming. I know, I'm weird.
Unfortunately I've been fighting a cold and I have lost. Cold 1, Karen G. 0. Hot and Sour Soup is needed STAT! A very kind soul brought me an order of said soup from Ocean Palace.
The soup was piping hot with lots of mushrooms and tofu. It was also quite spicy which is just how I like it. One thing was missing though. Meat! This is the only meat-free Hot and Sour Soup that I've had in Modesto. I'm not saying that there aren't others, but I have not personally found any.
Just a few spoonfuls and my sinuses are opening up and I'm breathing much more clearly. Yay!