Failed 5 Minute cake

I decided to make a 'special' dessert for my significant other, and thought this was a fantastic idea. It looked like fun to try, easy, and quick. This project was beyond deceiving. 

The 5 minute cake in a mug. 

This took me longer to mix than a regular cake would. And although the cook time was much shorter, so was the taste. I will say it looked kind of pretty but the texture wasn't appetizing at all. It was rubbery and the S.O. didn't like it either. (it's not hard to please him, so that's saying a lot) 

I followed those directions step by step but it wasn't as delicious as some of the reviews say it is. Maybe I'm just spoiled by really good cake. 

 

Face lift

I changed the URL of my blog and as you can see my title. 

Dea Loves Life 

...is definitely more suited. 

This change comes from deciding not to be in the Passenger Seat anymore and show who Dea really is. 

So here I am. 

Please change the URL address if you need to: 
dealiving.blogspot.com

Simple Dea-lite #67

Having that moment of feeling like everything around you and the whole world is at peace. 

Even if it's for just a few seconds. 

The right song is playing, the weather is perfect, there's nothing in that moment, as brief as it is, that can bring negativity. 

If I could have them everyday, I would consider myself the luckiest person ever. 

When I had that moment early this morning here's the song I was listening to, to make me feel that way. 

9.02.10 day

I remember when I was a kid and watching the original 90210 and thinking they were cool and stupid at the same time. Mainly I just always wished I had an awesome group of friends like that, sort of how Friends was also. 

In honor of 9.02.10 day (today) here are a few pictures of the ORIGINAL Beverly Hills 90210 cast. 

(I don't care for the new cast)

Oh and who wasn't in love with Dylan??? And hate Brenda???

Fave new book

"I wish I was born Mexican, but it's too late for that now." - Morissey

I just got done reading the book 'Madonnas of Echo Park' by Brando Skyhorse. I love books and movies where characters are somehow connected to each other, especially without realizing it. The book reminds me of the works Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu produced and directed: Amores Perros, 21 Grams, Babel. The characters of the book, telling their stories of growing up in Echo Park and where it has led them. Many in different directions but all sharing one commonality and being indirectly related to each other. I like reading stories where the characters rather than the situation stand out and that's what Skyhorse did in this book. I also enjoyed the different characters who either embraces or more commonly tried to deny their race.


I heard Brando Skyhorse has a memoir he's working on. Excited for what's in store from him.

A girly weekend

This past weekend was definitely a ladies involved one. Saturday I went to see Eat, Pray, Love with Mayra. She arrived late, so that didn't happen, but we made up for it and saw it yesterday. It's an inspiring movie and makes me want to travel even more than I want to already. We still hung out even though the movie was a bust on Friday and she convinced me to get these boots. I love them! Glad she did. 

Saturday I went down to Huntington Beach to have sangria night with Danielle and Kira.  We made a few trips first. Our first stop was Mitsuwa, then to Trader Joes, Chik-Fil-A for dinner (well for me) then to Sonic Burger for some cherry limeade! That night was about food and drinks for sure. 

I made our first batch of sangra. 

We used strawberries, oranges, green apple, and lime wedges. 

 Kira

 Danielle

We finished the night with a PB & J bar from Trader Joes...and it has potato chips in it!!!! 

Go try it! Right now! I swear you'll love it!

Simple Dea-lite #241

One of my many simple delights is putting my ipod on shuffle and hearing songs I haven't heard in ages. Or hearing songs I didn't know I had because they're off compilations I never really listened to. 

Yesterday my ipod decided to play this song and I instantly thought of when I first decided I liked this song. It meant something different to me. It applied to someone I knew at the time. I guess I was more sad that this song somewhat applied to him. But I still love this song, and I love the cover Jesse Lacey would do with Kevin Devine. 

Hola gato

I've had some interesting occurrences the last couple days. Yesterday the neighbors cat was sitting on the stairs outside, in a compromising position. It lifted it's head up when I opened the door, but stayed in the same position. Something like the picture below. I knew dogs licked themselves inappropriately, but really had no idea cats licked themselves "down there" also. I was totally caught off guard, then it meowed at me as I walked past, almost saying "gee, thanks for interrupting me"

via Hero Interactive

I also brought, or thought I brought, a sweater to work yesterday. I was in my car driving, didn't think about it, got to work and started walking in when I realized I brought a sweater. I knew it wasn't in my car. Somewhere between me leaving and getting in my car it must have fallen. All day I thought about how hundreds of cars must be running my sweater over in their road rage angst. When I got home I saw nothing on the ground outside. My next thought went to the stairs. No sweater. Well I guess someone saw it and liked it, so I was resolved and figured it was gone forever. When I opened the door and went to the kitchen THERE IT WAS!! It fell off inside and now I get to enjoy wearing it inside the cold office today. 

 via edwardoneill 

LnC Birthday regalos

Last week was my bestie's birthday, and this year I decided to do something special. She showed me this awesome "secret box" that's available here . I had the brilliant idea to say "That'd be so cool if I could make it for you" thinking I could TOTALLY make that. 

After I started to try, and subsequently failed I told her it can't be done. 

Seeing that I REALLY wanted to make this happen even though I said it wouldn't, I enlisted the help from the super handy, owner of tools, and 'can do anything' uncle, things started looking up. I didn't let him do this by himself, I really wanted to put my own sweat into this project. 

We used a lot of tools and my two favorites are the one shown above, an air compressed nail gun, and this amazing saw! If I had a garage I would definitely invest in one of these bad boys to do all kinds of home improvement stuff. 

 

  

Here's what it looked like before we stained, finished, and put the stencil/freehand work on it. 

I  was trying to get this project finished by Friday when I went to see LnC for her bday, but that just wasn't happening. So I made a trip to see her yesterday before she leaves for Europe. I made sure to catch her reaction as she opened the box. It's blurry, but you can see the excitement on her face. 

 

 

 

She got really excited, didn't know what to say, was beyond herself that I actually was able to do it. I told her my uncle helped me, otherwise it wouldn't have happened. Her dad came out and saw it, and even said I went to work on this one. LnC's exact words were "dude, you just built me a tree house." Or that's what the equivalent is to her. I was ecstatic that she liked it....loved it...I'm not sure, but I know she's got this appreciation for it. 

The following photos are of the final product taken that night. You may not tell from the pictures, and most people wouldn't consider it to be flawed based on general look, but I think I could have done a tad better job finishing it. Anyway, enough self deprecation right now. Here is how it came out. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Her little baby as she called it right before this picture.

I know she loves it and she'll get to enjoy it after she takes her Europe trip.

A little light

I was driving on the 134 the past two nights, and both were pretty clear, in a sense that I could easily see downtown LA, Griffith Observatory, and a few Wilshire buildings. And with all the flaws this city has, Los Angeles can be something beautiful if we open our eyes a little more. 

Via JSFauxtaugraphy 

 Almost everyday my drive to work consists of me driving through Boyle Heights, a pretty run down neighborhood. I always manage to smile when I see this elderly gentleman with his shopping cart, blue crate, and now a broken umbrella to help shade himself while he gardens in this little patch of what I think is public land. It's off of South Boyle Ave and a freeway off ramp. 

The garden happens to be seen from google maps. It's not as lush right now but still the fact that this old man, not sure whether he's homeless or not, tends this garden probably every day makes me think and hope there is more than just the city lights to this place. 

I kind of love that this is my home.