Food Friday

Del Monte Cafe 1901 Santa Barbara Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Huevos Rancheros Special of the Day

2 + 2 + 2 -- Two hearty pancakes, two eggs, and two strips of bacon. Not bad for only eight bucks.

For some reason, entering through the doors of SLO's Del Monte Cafe seemed more like entering through the doors of a time machine.  We stepped inside the cafe for a quick breakfast,  and I seriously thought I accidentally walked into the wrong era. Pleasantville, anyone? I can't exactly explain the reasons why, but if you've ever been there you would know what I'm talking about. Just like its acronym, SLO is generally a slow town. And, I don't mean that in any disrespect, for it's definitely a charming little place to be, but just not my cup of tea. I am far too much of a city girl. Getting back to the food, I had a hard time deciding between pancakes and eggs. Whenever I visit different cities, or notable restaurants, if I am there in time for breakfast, then I always like to sample their pancakes. I heard Del Monte's pancakes were the size of their plates, which made the decision even tougher. More pancake = more tempting. Despite my pancake craving, I went for their Huevos Rancheros Special, because, at the time, it sounded a lot more appetizing. While the dish was tasty, I'd hardly call it anything special. DJ's pancake order looked more my style. Del Monte Cafe is an endearing place to dine, but the next time I stop in SLO, you know where I'd eat first.

In other news, my giveaway ended this past Wednesday, so it's time to announce the winner! Congrats to Mel of Modanista Junkie, you have won some free swag, via The Body Shop! Thanks again to The Body Shop for sponsoring this giveaway, and more importantly, thanks to all of my beautiful readers who entered the contest! I've got more pancakePRIZES in store for you in the future, so make sure you "like" pancakeSTACKER on Facebook to get all the updates first!

Is This The End, or Just The Start of Something Really, Really Beautiful...

Dress: A'gaci; Necklace and rings: Forever 21


Voxtrot - The Start of Something

A couple weeks ago, I saw this dress at A'gaci and heard it calling my name, tempting me to try it on. Unable to resist, I quickly made my way to the dressing room and slipped it on. I fell in love with its soft pink color and the way its sheer fabric draped my body. As soon as I put it on, I knew that it would be a crime not to buy it. I instantly pictured myself wearing it a score of accessories and shoes in my closet, which pretty much sealed the deal.  I always find myself trying on (and consequently purchasing) a dress even though I don't necessarily have an occasion to wear it. I cannot even begin to tell you how many dresses I have hanging in my closet with tags still attached to them. Nonetheless, I still find myself swooning over dresses and adding them to my "I will totally wear this one day" closet collection. *Sigh. Even though I may be $30 poorer, the way I see it, I am definitely one beautiful dress richer. And, the minute that special occasion comes up, I won't be scrambling around like a chicken with its head cut off, because I know just which dress I'll be treating to a night out around town.

P.S. Today is the LAST day to enter my GIVEAWAY with The Body Shop. The contest runs until 12:00 Noon PST, so get those last minute entries in for your chance to win some free swag! Oh, and for those of you wondering, Wisdom Wednesday will be back next week, so start thinking about what you'd like to share with pancakeSTACKER! :) Happy Wednesday, loves!

If you enjoyed this post, don't forget to show some love and "like" pancakeSTACKER on Facebook!

Go, Baby, Go, Go. We're Right Behind You. Go, Baby, Go, Go. Yeah, We're Looking At You.

Dress worn as top and skirt: Forever 21; Necklace: Nordstrom; Shoes: Baker's; Photos by: Tripod


Garbage - Cherry Lips

Slowly, but surely, I have been trying to incorporate more color into my wardrobe. You may remember that for a little while, I went through a navy blue and black phase. While I'm still wearing navy blue here, I thought I'd spice things up with a hot tamale red skirt. This skirt is not only comfortable and figure-flattering, but more than affordable. At $3.80 (yes, you read that right), the price tag only made it that more appealing. The navy blue dress (that I wore as a top) was just as much of a steal, at less than $15; and the fact that I can wear it as either a dress or a top makes it well worth the money. Don't you just love the puff sleeve detail? I sure do! I got the necklace at Nordstrom after passing by it day after day. I finally caved in and decided to buy it. Maybe it's the fact that it reminds me of candy and tickles my inner foodie heart, or maybe the vibrant colors drew me in, either way, I was glad to add it to my growing necklace collection.  I purchased the glittery pumps back in February for my birthday at Bakers. They're very reminiscent of the Steve Madden Caryssa pump, but I am almost sure I got them for half the price. All in all, I think I am well on my way to making my wardrobe much more colorful. 

Don't forget, you have until Wednesday to enter my GIVEAWAY with The Body Shop! Don't miss out on free goodies! And, as usual I'd be ever so grateful if you would show some love and "like" pancakeSTACKER on Facebook!

Little Lucca, Lotta Sandwich

Little Lucca Sandwich Shop and Deli 724 El Camino Real South San Francisco, CA 94080

Last Friday, I had one of the best days off I've had in a long while. I should have known my day was going to be nothing short of awesome, when it started with a little lunch date with my coworker, and friend, Doug. He's a fellow foodie, so we both take pleasure in all things taste bud-worthy. We decided to stop by Little Lucca to fill up on some sandwiches. Little Lucca always has a line that extends out the door. You can bet you'll be waiting for at least 20 minutes, but please know that it is very much worth the wait. I went for my favorite Roasted Turkey and Cranberry combo on dutch crunch, while Doug ordered the Ultimate BLT Club. Let me just clarify that there is absolutely nothing little about Little Lucca's sandwiches; they do not skimp on any of the meat and bones, and one sandwich really is good for at least two meals. For less than $10 you will get a sandwich the size and weight of your forearm. Nope, Little Lucca does not play around. They make your sandwiches so mouth-wateringly delicious, that you want to slowly savor each and every bite, but also devour it as fast as you can because you just want more and more. I made sure to get my Turkey Cranberry with everything (except onions, yuck!), including their signature pesto garlic sauce. Now, I must warn you that no matter how many times you brush your teeth afterwards, or how many Altoids you pop, you will reek of garlic. But, don't let this stop you from having them lather that baby on. Your mouth and your tummy will be smiling for days after getting a taste of that special sauce. So, if you go to Lucca's on a date, I suggest you both order your sandwiches with the sauce, to insure that neither one of you will notice as the garlic seeps through your pores and fills the air.  After finishing half of our sandwiches, Doug and I headed to the movies to watch Fast Five and Bridesmaids. Has anyone seen either of these two movies? Fast Five was amazing and definitely solidified my unfaltering girlhood crush on Paul Walker. Those baby blues will make anyone's heart just melt. Bridesmaids was absolutely hilarious. I laughed so hard that I had tears rolling down my face at one point. All in all, it was a really good day. I am looking forward to many more food and movie combos in the future.

Hi, Dougie!

Dougie's Ultimate BLT Club Sandwich on Dutch Crunch

My Smoked Turkey Cranberry Sandwich on Dutch Crunch

It took every fiber of my being to stop and snap this photo

Have a beautiful weekend, loves! Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

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Come on Dance, Take a Chance on Romance, We Only Get One Shot at Love.

Maxi dress worn as skirt, rings, belt, and top: Forever 21; Shoes: Urban Outfitters: Necklace: H&M; Photos by: Me via my tripod

Sia - Clap Your Hands (Fred Falke Remix)

Fred Falke remixes, maxi dresses, and those Urban Sandals -- told you I couldn't get enough of 'em! I hear this song at work every now and then, and at first I hated it. I really hated it. And then, I listened to it one night on repeat maybe 20 times in a row. Not even joking... It was a late night, I had a venti vanilla soy latte, and I had a lot of cleaning to do. Somehow, listening to this song over and over put me in an extremely jolly mood, and cleaning went a lot faster. I just remember dancing around my room and singing "clap yourrr handdds!" Then I found this Fred Falke remix, and well now, I'm even more in love. I bought this maxi at Forever for $10 a year ago. I wore it twice, and then let it sit in my closet for months and months and months. Recently wore this combo to work, and now I'm on the hunt for more maxi's. Something about wearing a maxi makes me feel a lot more liberated. Anyone else feel that way?  Before I go, I just wanted to take a moment and thank all of you for your super sweet and caring comments on my last post! Feels so good to have such amazing blogger buddies out there :)

Oh, and one more thing... that delicious stack I've been hinting at? Well, it's here! The Body Shop and I have teamed up to offer one special reader a few goodies from their new Honey Bronze Collection. All you have to do is (1) leave a comment on this post with your email address and (2) follow pancakeSTACKER on Google friend connect! That's all!

FOR AN EXTRA ENTRY (Leave a separate comment for each!)

1. Follow pancakeSTACKER on Bloglovin'
2. Like pancakeSTACKER on Facebook (see down below)
3. Follow @pancakeSTACKER on Twitter
4. Tweet about this giveaway -- "Have you entered @pancakeSTACKER's @TheBodyShopUSA giveaway yet? Enter now for your chance to win! http://bit.ly/euQz4Z"
5. Follow @TheBodyShopUSA on Twitter
6. Like The Body Shop on Facebook
7.  Sign The Body Shop's petition to stop child trafficking

With so many chances to win, I don't know why you wouldn't enter! This giveaway is open for one week and closes at 12:00 p.m. PST on Wednesday May 25, 2011. Winners will be notified via email and have 24 hours to respond! Good luck to all :)

"Like" pancakeSTACKER on Facebook for an extra entry!

In Your Eyes I See The Eyes of Somebody I Knew Before, Long Ago

Denim shorts, necklace, and rings: Forever 21; Plaid button up: Ezekiel via Nordstrom (Men's dept); Fedora: Nordstrom; White tee: H&M; Photos by: Me via me new tripod


Miike Snow - Animal (Fred Falke Remix)

Snapped up these photos last week when the sun was still out and about. I rarely wear jeans. Truth be told, I rarely wear pants. The exception to my jean rule: jean shorts. I have been searching for a good pair of distressed denim for some time now. Came close twice, but ended up returning both pairs. Found this pair at Forever 21 and fell in love. When you have a little bit more junk in the trunk, it's nice to find a pair of bottoms that have a nice stretch. I got this plaid button up a long while back in the Men's department at Nordstrom. I'm no stranger when it comes to shopping with the big boys, especially because I find so much of their stuff to be so cute and Chanda-friendly. Funny thing is, my coworker has this exact plaid shirt. It goes without saying (but I'll say it anyways), I wear it ten times better than he does. I'm crossing my fingers that, one day, we both wear it to work at the same time, and then we can be twinsies! I'll be sure to let you know how that one goes.

In other news, I am sad to report that I missed Bay to Breakers...again. This is the first time in five years that I have even been close to being able make it, seeing as how I spent the last four studying away in LA. I had the day off work,  made plans with friends, and I was really looking forward to going, despite the reports of some ominous storm looming, but alas, it looks as though I will have to wait  again until next year to attend. I got in a car accident Saturday afternoon while I was on my way to work, when someone decided to ram into the back of my car, leaving my whole backside smashed. Not only did the car crash ruin my car, my plans to attend B2B, and my whole weekend (and upcoming week(s), I'm sure), but I've had to stay in bed all day because of my sore body. (Speaking of staying in, anyone want to suggest some quality movies on instant play Netflix? I'm running out of movies!) While I was undoubtedly very shaken from the incident, I'm just extremely grateful that I wasn't seriously injured. So, for all of you drivers out there, please, please be careful! One second changes everything.

(Oh and just so I don't end on a depressing note (ha!), I have an extra yummy stack cooking up for you. Make sure you check back in a few, so you don't miss out!) 

Don't forget to "like" pancakeSTACKER on Facebook for all my latest news and updates!

Good good good good vibrations.

Gym Class Heroes -- Good Vibrations (Cover)

Just some shots from last week's Cinco de Mayo celebration. Pretty sure no one else's Cinco de Mayo could even come close to how fun mine was (unless, of course, you were fiesta-ing it up with me). After work, I spent my night under the stars with some tacos, drinks, s'mores, laughs, all surrounding by some pretty great people and an abundance of good vibrations. I do have one confession, however, and this might be shocking to all of you, especially considering what a foodie I am, but this was my first s'more experience... ever. Yeah. I know. My friends were shocked too. Overall, it was such a lovely and relaxing evening. I love simple nights that just come together, don't you?

P.S. -- You all know that Blogger was down alllll day yesterday, which means I lost all the wonderful comments you guys left on my last post. Terrible, Blogger, TERRIBLE. Anyways, I'm cooking up a very delicious giveaway for you all, so make sure you come back soon, and "like" pancakeSTACKER on Facebook! 

Bohemian Rhapsody

Maxi dress worn as a skirt, belt, rings and crop top: Forever 21; Sun hat: Nordstrom; Shoes: Urban Outfitters; Necklace: The Vamoose via Jillian of Cornflake Dreams; Photos by: Me via my new tripod!

Joe Edmonds -- Bohemian Rhapsody (Arranged for four violins)

You got a little sneak peek of this outfit via my Facebook fan page, and Monday's post, and now you have the whole enchilada! Delicious, isn't it? Lately, I have been absolutely obsessed with maxi's. Maxi dresses, maxi skirts, maxi dresses worn as skirts -- I want them all! The whole maxi obsession has been even more exciting, given the fact that I have been able to give a new life to all my old maxi dresses that have just been collecting dust in my closet. Trust me, you will be seeing a LOT of this type of outfit in the future. I have been dying to get a little color into my wardrobe, so when I spotted this dress at Forever 21 for only $10, I was sold. This tribal-inspired maxi features some of my favorite colors: teal, brown, and purple! Since it was such a sunny day, it was the perfect day to pair the dress with my new gold sun hat. I have also recently added three new hats to my once non-existent hat collection. Again, it's safe to say you'll see some new hair accessories soon, too. I received this beautiful Vamoose Amethyst Pendant via a giveaway from Jillian of Cornflake Dreams a little while back, and I am just now getting around to giving it the much needed attention it deserves. I have been in love with The Vamoose, since forever and a day ago, so when I won this giveaway, I was beyond ecstatic. And, for those of you who don't know, Amethyst just so happens to be my birthstone. Lastly, I picked up these sandals on sale for $20 at Urban Outfitters while I was in LA. I can't tell you how comfortable these are. I wear them basically everywhere, and I feel sad every time I have to take them off my feet. But, I guess it'd be kind of weird to wear them to bed.



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