Month: August 2015

San Diego Ramen Scene- Ikura Sushi & Ramen, Scripps Ranch

Ikura Sushi & Ramen just opened up last month in the Poway/Scripps Ranch area of inland San Diego. Do a Yelp search on the restaurant and the top two comments are:

  1. Yea! Now we don’t need to drive all the way to Kearny Mesa and Convoy Street for our ramen fix!
  2. Try the Tonkotsu Ramen, it is fabulous!

With four teens to taste test with me, I knew I’d get a good overview.

  • When the Chinese kid gives it a thumbs up, you know that the restaurant doesn’t stink (this gets tricky, because he says he isn’t picky and will eat anything…).
  • The Girl wasn’t wowed by her Miso Ramen, but…
  • I ordered the same and LOVED mine.
  • The Boy liked his Teriyaki Chicken, and was jazzed that they let him swap out the salad for edamame.
  • The Boyfriend gave his sushi roll high praise, and liked his Miso Ramen just fine.

Props to Ikura Sushi & Ramen for their online coupon offering a free California Roll with over a $12 purchase for an eat in special. They also offer a 10% discount coupon, also available online, for takeout orders. Our California Roll was one of the best I’ve had in a long time- I highly recommend it. Bottom line: I liked Ikura Sushi & Ramen better than the last Ramen joint, Rakiraki Ramen & Tsukemen.

Chicken Teriyaki
Chicken Teriyaki
Miso Ramen
Miso Ramen
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12205 Scripps Poway Parkway Suite 106 Poway, CA, 92064

Paying Forward- Sharing Guitars and the Love of Music

ellie guitar (1)My brother once gave The Girl a guitar for Christmas. He told me that it was a beginner’s model, and that if she really like playing, that she could have one of his nicer ones. With her busy schedule, we never managed to fit in formal lessons. She used You Tube tutorials to begin, and had at least half a dozen friends giving her tips a-plenty.

Capos, tuners, more picks were all requested, but she never asked for the lessons. I’m pretty sure that she understood the impossibility of cramming in one more thing during her waking hours. In two years, I am amazed by what she can do, and she has inspired me to try to learn how to play our piano that sits lonely in our front room.

My brother held true to his promise, but took a slightly different route. It turns out that my kids have another guitar-playing uncle, The Brother-In-Law, and he brought a steel-stringed acoustic Fender for The Girl as a parting gift before she leaves for college this fall! And as for my brother? Last year, he gifted The Boy his own beginner’s guitar for Christmas, too. We managed to cram in lessons for him, and soon The Girl insisted that he needed a better guitar. The Boy received my brother’s latest gift- a lovely, Spanish, steel stringed acoustic guitar.

So what do we do with two beginner model, classical guitars? We do my brother the honor of sharing them with kids at the music store who would appreciate them! That’s what we did. We are grateful for our generous uncles… it was time to share with others.

IMG_7724Meet three-year-old Louis, and his big sister Lilian. He marched into the music shop a couple of weeks ago with his mom in tow. Upon seeing the ukuleles, he exclaimed, “Look, mommy! Little guitars!” He then picked up one, held it properly, and looked like he owned the instrument. After I asked, mom Jessie said that he would be delighted to take my son’s 3/4 sized newbie guitar. One down.

IMG_7723We also met Aaron, a student at our local high school. Although he already had an electric model, Aaron was nearby while I asked my son’s teacher if he knew who might be able to use our 7/8th sized nylon stringed classical guitar. I just asked him outright if he would like it. Aaron is not a 7/8ths sized guy, but, I’m sure he will make do (the guitar is bigger than it looks in this pic). He promised to share the guitar with his school’s music department when he is ready to move on to a different guitar. Two for two!

If I decided to learn to play, I will have to fight with The Husband for playing time on the Epiphone he won at Vidcon this summer… I’m up for that!

Latin Mass with Friends and Family- Worship Old School Style

image1-1I’m questioning my mental faculties… No surprise to many (yeah, yeah, my family can all stop voicing their assent. You all are sooooo funny). Forgetfulness is becoming my ever-present, unwanted pal.

It’s driving me nuts!

My problem is that I see my world in layers, and should really look at the whole: when I work on a job, or layer, I tend to focus on ONLY that one layer. Often, other obligations become mere background noise. This past week we focused on getting school supplies, sports physicals, forms, etc. purchased, met, and completed. The previous week was spent moving kids rooms around and welcoming their friend to our home. It’s been busy, but I had completely forgotten our plans made for Sunday, August 16th.

Guess who remembered to bring veils/scarves? Yep. Samantha.
Guess who remembered to bring veils/scarves? Yep. Samantha.

Three weeks ago, on the drive to Vidcon in Anahiem, I told Friend of The Girl (Samantha) that I wanted to attend a Latin Mass. As soon as I mentioned this to Samantha, also known as our Chief Organizer and Planner, she had her phone out and found each church in our area offering one. The Girl, The Husband and The Boy all were on board. Samantha later went on to research the different kinds of Latin Masses, appropriate dress, times, parishes, AND her own train route to get herself to the church. The only thing she forgot was my forgetfulness… The Girl had to remind me, “Mom, quit planning our morning, we are meeting Samantha, remember?” Of course not, I can’t remember where I park my car half the time!

Saint Anne's Catholic Church, San Diego
Saint Anne’s Catholic Church, San Diego

Needless to say, we all made it. And were early, to boot! Samantha studied the different kinds of churches and different types of Latin Masses offered, and hit on the best one for us, Saint Anne’s Catholic Church in San Diego. It was humbling to experience the Mass in the language of the early church. We all decided that we’d like to visit St. Anne’s again- the parishioners that we met afterwards were so warm and inviting. We felt truly welcome and are thankful for their warmth and geniality!

Inside St. Anne's
Inside St. Anne’s

Thank you for the research, the scarves, and these photos, Samantha! You will take university by storm, and no doubt continue to make everyone proud!

Boba Tea

Teenagers sometimes know the best places to buy inexpensive, delicious, and fast treats. Add an international student with to the mix, and you can get their opinion of some of the The Best Boba In The Area. Tapioca Heaven in Mira Mesa, on Black Mountain Ave. and Mira Mesa Blv. is high on the list, it seems.

IMG_7685Our newest member of the family wanted to treat me to one of his favorite spots to get a boba tea, and he chose well- a honey dew for me and a taro for him. I liked both. There is something about the sweet fruitiness and squishy tapioca pearls that raises this drink to the level of a dessert. I did like this boba better than the first one I had at the Thai place a few weeks earlier. I think the sugary tapioca goodness works better with fruit flavors than the coffee flavors I tried initially.

Thanks for the boba, Willy, it really was delish! And welcome to our home. :o)

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New Family Dynamics -or- Two Boys off to School…

First day of school last year looked very much like many others from years past… one big sister and one little brother-

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They really do love each other. Really.

This year looked much different, with The Girl off to college, The Boy starting high school, and International Guy staying for his senior year-

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The brother each other never knew they wanted, maybe?

Welcome to the family, Will! You might want to invest in headphones. You might also just want to run. Far away and fast. Good luck, boys!