Unofficially Yours, the movie
I hope you’ve heard the good news….
John Lloyd Cruz and Angel Locsin are coming out with a movie soon this year 2012, titled ‘unofficially yours’
To all the fans like me, I know I’m not alone when I say I’m super excited about this. It’s a good way to start out the new year knowing there’s this movie to look forward to.
Stay posted and like the facebook fan page for the much anticipated movie!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Unofficially-Yours-Star-Cinema/295734267134374
The 2 Saddest Looking McRibs I Have Seen…=(
November 12, Saturday around 3:30pm my family and I decide it would be fun to visit our local McDonald’s on 2340 E. Tropicana store number 3168. This is the closest one to our house, it is conveniently a 5 minute drive, only a few blocks away. It’s never been the best McDonald’s I’ve been to, I have yet to experience fresh chicken nuggets from them, but chicken is OK eaten cold anyway right? (sarcasm is seeping)
What truly brought us to McDonald’s today and the past couple of days is the temporary return of the ever so loved McRib sandwich, with its savory sauce, pickles, onions, tasty and convenient to eat meat inside a warm bun……a McRib bun, the nice bun that cushions the meat evenly and creates the ideal look of the McRib sandwich that looks so tasty on TV and on the billboards. When the Mcrib that is served to you looks like this, it makes you want to cry in disappointment, such a shame and what a waste. And to think a little common courtesy would’ve actually avoided the heartache.
Here’s what went wrong. If they knew they were going to serve a customer ordering a McRib sandwich on a cheeseburger/hamburger bun couldn’t they have at least told the customer before selling the sandwich to the customer that they wouldn’t be getting a ‘real’ McRib sandwich per-say, that they would have to substitute the bun. A little forewarning would be appreciated instead of an unappealing mystery surprise in the sandwich box.
the 2 saddest looking McRib sandwiches
Another thing, this McDonald’s restaurant was never the cleanest McDonald’s in the area in fact its one of the dirtiest, from the un-mopped or dirt streaked floors from using a dirty mop at an attempt to clean to old ketchup stains under the tables and chairs, to the outside eating area where no one is sitting but there are empty trays not even stacked together just hanging around randomly. I get it, it’s fast food, maybe it does get dirty as fast as they keep cleaning it. But answering back to a customer is another thing. As my husband and I were waiting for our order an older man went to the counter and spoke to one of the supervisors, his name was Roger. The man complained their bathroom was filthy beyond reason and it was a health hazard and they could be closed down by the health department for it. Now I have no intention in justifying that or taking a peek in the men’s bathroom, but I did out of curiosity look into the female bathroom and it was dirty as well. The sinks were dirty with gunk, the bathroom trash bins were overflowing, there was trash inside the stalls all over the floor and I didn’t even try to look any further than that. Because I knew in my heart if I had to use the bathroom, I’d rather hold it in or drive back home, nor would I ever let my children use that bathroom or even touch the bathroom door, it’s plain gross. But honestly I don’t think I would even be writing about this part if it wasn’t for the way this old man was treated by the supposedly ‘smiling faces’ of McDonald’s. “Just because it’s dirty now doesn’t mean we don’t keep our bathrooms clean.” Is what Roger told him. This, and the poor man could say no more but walk away and take his tray to a table and eat his food. How sad it felt to witness that! And none of the other supervisors stepped up to alleviate the situation.
To put the icing on the cake, I thought about taking the McRibs back and maybe asking for a different sandwich but from listening to what the employees behind the counter were talking about and the attitude that was given to the poor old man, it convinced me, complaining might just get my food spit on. Here’s the scenario that gave me this negative vibe: 2 guys in supervisor shirts and 1 woman in the same type of supervisor shirt huddled in one side of the front counter, by the fry machine talking loud enough for everyone else to hear they were complaining about not caring about having fries out or not and its not his problem, and in the gibberish and slang a couple of profanity words come out. The rest of the white shirt supervisors laughing and agreeing like nothing is wrong, like they didn’t do anything wrong and aren’t doing anything wrong. Profanity in McDonald’s where they sell happy meals for children….everything about this store is unsettling to me. From the stale nuggets (which by the way I did order 2 chicken nugget happy meals and the nuggets were stale as expected every time I come here, but I wasn’t complaining about that, I’m writing this venting about the things that added to a less favorable experience at Mcdonald’s), to the disrespecting of an elderly who had every right to complain, why couldn’t they just apologize, isn’t it your job to keep the customer happy or give him some type of peace of mind instead of attacking him with a negative remark? Being a past employee for McDonald’s the last thing I do want to do is talk bad about this place, but this restaurant needs to get checked. The surprisingly deformed McRib sandwiches to the overall filth of this place……needless to say, I’d rather go to Burger King on Warm Springs and Eastern. I kid you not and I promise if you go to the drive thru, they have an exceptional crew, the food is always fresh and they may not be the most cheerful people in the world to deal with but the lobby and bathroom is always clean. The same goes for the KFC on Tropicana and Mcleod in the Walmart and Goodwill shopping center, yes the employees behind the counter get a little loud but no one is cursing, the chicken is always fresh and the bathrooms and lobby is very clean. I am actually very impressed with this KFC their floors are always very clean and you can call me out on this one if I’m wrong but I know I’m not. Don’t waste your money on McDonald’s for this kind of service when there are alternatives for fast food in the area, or if you must have a McRib there’s another McDonald’s on Eastern and Russel in the McCarrean shopping center, I do eat there often and it’s 100 times better than McDonald’s on 2340 E.Tropicana Las Vegas, NV 89121, telephone number 702-451-6272, store number 3168.
Hidden Images in These Famous Logos?
You ever notice the Northwest logo is the shape of a compass pointing northwest? Clever.
Or how about the arrow in FedEx?
Or the Hershey’s kiss candy in Hershey’s Kisses…..interesting stuff, check it out.
See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/a1byzr
Understanding Eye-Bags
I was recently asked about my take on how to rid of those stubborn under eye-bags. So, here is a crash course so you can think for yourself what treatment you would like to pursue for this issue.
Webmd has a pretty thorough article on eye-bags and dark circles. They explain that eye-bags can be hereditary in which case there isn’t an escape from the inevitable and treatment should be considered. They also mention, “…it’s not just heredity. Lifestyle factors matter too. Do you consistently cheat yourself of sleep? Do you eat a lot of salty food snacks and retain a lot of water? Are you getting enough exercise?” Over consumption of alcoholic beverages, excessive crying, emotional stress and fatigue, certain allergies, sinus problems, genetics, or irritation from contact lenses are contributing factors to this issue. With that being said the obvious preventative fix is to get regular sleep, avoid eating too much salty foods, avoid junk food all together including soda pop, exercise, make sure you’re eating a balanced diet, and take multivitamins. But these are general stay healthy tips, really, what about the eye-bags?
The next step is finding the right nonsurgical or topical method of treatment. The most common of these treatments are cucumber slices, cold tea bags, cold spoon method, eye creams, cotton balls with cold milk or chilled rose water, cold cream moisturizers, hemorrhoid creams (although I can’t bring myself to consider this personally). The cold spoon, tea bag and cucumber treatment gets it effectiveness primarily from the cold, green tea and cucumber slices have anti-inflammatory agents and vitamin C that help reduce puffiness. For pigmentation problems which is common among Asians topical skin whiteners such as creams with hydroquinone, retinol, caffeine, or vitamin C have some effectiveness.
Baggy Eyes
You should consider what you are really dealing with whether it’s ‘puffy’ or ‘baggy’ eyes. For puffy eyes everything mentioned above are what typically applies. There is no need for invasive or surgical measures. And therefore, the best treatment is maintenance and prevention. Once there is a noticeable accumulation of fat under the eyes which is something that develops slowly over the years, only cosmetic surgery can reverse the problem, which in that case I suggest you consult a doctor. And while ‘puffy’ eyes are usually temporary, ‘baggy’ eyes are more permanent, treatments used for puffy eyes can be used for baggy eyes as prevention but will not eliminate it.
Puffy Eyes
In some cases under eye-bags are signs of kidney problems or allergic reactions as mentioned earlier consider your lifestyle and diet.
Personally these are the eye products I currently use:
1. Yes To Carrots Eye Firming Treatment- I love this product because it’s affordable at about $19, it’s petroleum free and paraben free! Does it work? Upon application I do feel tightening around my eye area I haven’t noticed any new lines around my eyes so it’s safe to say for me it does its’ job. I buy my supply at Walgreens. I use this product at night, and a little goes a long way.
yes to carrots eye firming treatment
2. St. Ives Timeless Skin Collagen Elastin Facial Moisturizer-This product works double time for me as an overall face moisturizer including my eye area during the day or before make-up application. It’s very affordable at about $10 for a big tub available at Wal-mart or online at amazon.com. It is also animal cruelty free and non-comengenic.
St. Ives Timeless Skin Collagen Elastin Facial Moisturizer
3. Chanel Correcteur Perfection Long Lasting Concealer-Yes it’s a minor set back but to my defense it’s the only concealer I use for about the past 4 years for any weather or any occasion on any part of my face. Besides the fact that not a single drop gets wasted, it does it’s job very well for me. I don’t need to reapply nor does it irritate my skin even when I have blemishes or sensitivity. It works well alone or with MAC Foundation, Clinique and even Covergirl as I personally have tried and tested myself. It’s priced at about $40 for a stick and can be purchased at fine department stores, online at chanel.com, nordstrom. I buy mine from either Macy’s or Dillards at the mall.
CORRECTEUR PERFECTIONCORRECTEUR PERFECTION LONG LASTING CONCEALER
Other habits I have to maintain my 30 something year old skin around my eyes:
1. The skin around the eye is the most delicate and unforgiving when it’s rubbed or starts to get pigmentation, wrinkles or sun damage, I always apply products sparingly and very gently with my ring finger for less pressure on the skin. Never rub your eyes!
2. I make sure I have the proper eye make up remover, once again so that I am not tugging on the skin around the delicate eye area.
3. When applying eye make up I never tug under my eye to apply eyeliner or eye shadow on my lower lid.
4. I moisturize at night with a clean face. (of course)
5. Moisturize in the morning.
6. Wear sunglasses!
7. It doesn’t hurt to cheat and use proper concealer.
8. Dab dab dab around eyes never rub.
9. Stay hydrated.
10. Smoking and drinking ruins your complexion. =)
Letter From a Friend
I wrote this to represent how some friends can be these days, especially with social media they use it to how off not realizing what character they truly portray of themselves.
See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/a1bb7m
10 Things That Turn Men Off
Female habits drive guys crazy…and not in a good way.
See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/a1bapd
Famous Dave’s Las Vegas Restaurant Review
Loved the food didn’t love the service. Read on for full details…
See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/a1ac1l
Famous Dave’s Las Vegas Restaurant Review 2011
After watching a show on TV and finding ‘Famous Dave’ compete to show the nation he can make the best ribs and barbecue I am convinced this guy knows what he’s doing.
Whenever I think of a man’s meal I think of hearty soul food with lots of meat, fall off the bone ribs, rich food and lots of grilling. So for father’s day this 2011 we decided to eat at Famous Dave’s as a whole family. It was a party of 9 for an early dinner. It was our first time eating at Famous Dave’s. Everything about this place was amazing. The restaurant was super busy as to be expected but the food and the service was impeccable.
That was on Father’s Day but today is a different day. Today the service turned Jekyll and Hyde.
August 6, 2011 my husband and I decide to have lunch at Famous Dave’s. We wanted something hearty, some comfort food with a homey ambiance, and we knew from the last experience this place would deliver.
Well it’s a good thing the food is just as good as the last time. If it weren’t for the food with the service we received today, I would not want to come back or bring anyone to this restaurant.
The name of our server was Norma. But before I go on the details of what happened with the service I want to point out that the table we were given was dirty. The utensils were just sprawled around the table but at least it was the proper amount, we needed 4. The floors were sticky and as I stepped into the booth there was a crunch crunch beneath my feet. I couldn’t even have my kids sit on the chairs right away because it was dirty with crumbs and mysterious fluids or sauce. Not wanting to be a difficult customer I went ahead and just wiped the seats myself.
Before we made our way to Famous Dave’s we decided on this restaurant because of the pleasant experience last time. I, on the other hand, am hooked on their bread pudding. It is the best bread pudding I have ever tasted in my life! So keeping that in mind, I was definitely going to order bread pudding for desert today.
We had a late lunch, it was around 1pm when we were waiting for our order to come out.
Norma greeted us “Welcome to Famous Dave’s I will be your server. Have you been here before?” We told her yes we have. She continued, “Ok, then I don’t need to explain the sauces to you. What can I get you to drink?” My husband ordered 2 child size Pepsi’s for the kids, a root beer for myself, hot tea with lemon and a glass of water without ice for himself.
And the only reason why I knew Norma was the name of our server is because I read it, she did not introduce herself formally. Maybe that’s expecting too much though, after all it’s best to just shrug it off and enjoy a meal with the family on a Saturday afternoon.
When she came back with the drinks we got the 2 child Pepsi’s, a root beer, hot tea, a glass of water no ice and 3 straws. She forgot the lemon and a fourth straw. So she had to go back as we requested for the straw and lemon before asking to take our order. She came back and asked us if we were ready to order, we decided we needed a couple of more minutes to look at the menu. She didn’t give us any time to ask for the straw and lemon as she quickly turned her back and was out of our sight. She came back after 10 minutes to take our order.
We ordered the chicken fingers kid’s meal and the Hungry Que For Two with the hot link.
Now let’s take a look at what a Hungry Que For Two is. Based off of the menu it is: Four(4) St. Louis style ribs, half a chicken, choice of beef brisket, chopped pork or hot link, 2 corn bread muffins, famous fries and your choice of one additional side.
Right after my husband told her “…and we’ll have the Que for Two with the hotlink and coleslaw.”
She replied. “Beef of pork?”
My husband took a second look at the mini menu where Famous Dave’s Value Meals was listed. My husband looked up at her and answered, “no hot link.”
Looking up from her notepad she asked my husband again. “Beef or pork?”
“Hotlink.” My husband repeated the word again. He asked her, “Isn’t that what you get? Beef, pork or hot links? We want the hot links and coleslaw for the side.”
She apologized to my husband stating, “I’m sorry I don’t know the menu.” And without saying anything else turned around once again before we could ask her for the straw and lemon.
About 20 minutes later a food runner came with our order. At this point as she was setting the food on the table we had the chance to request for the lemon and 2 extra plates for the kids. My husband didn’t even bother about the straw for his water because our order already seemed like a struggle.
It just would’ve be nice that if there was 4 cold drinks, there would be 4 straws and not 3.
About 3 minutes later the same food runner came back with the lemons for the hot tea which now has turned tepid and the two plates we requested. At the same time the runner served us these items Norma came back with two plates. At this point we’re thinking maybe Norma is having a bad day, maybe she’s forgetful, maybe she’s just preoccupied with something that’s why she couldn’t get our requests or order right or even know what she’s selling.
From my experience in dining out, when you start making excuses for your waiter or hostess or the food, the overall experience is already ruined. And I have eaten everywhere, I can tell you the best $10 burger I’ve had was in Broadway Burger inside the New York, New York Casino, the best wine pairing experience I’ve had was at the Paris Restaurant, the best Tira-Misu cake for me is at the Top of the World Stratosphere Tower, the best tasting and most natural boba is specifically the boba store inside ChinaTown and so on.
In any case, just to not make things more complicated we went ahead and took the extra two plates Norma brought to our table as well. She asked us this time before she left, “Is there anything else you need?” We said no.
Two minutes later she passed by and asked us again. “Is there anything else you need?” In between mouthfuls we managed to mumble, “No thank you.”
Two minutes later she passed by and asked us again, “Is there anything else you need?” We looked up at her from eating and said, “No.”
And just like kicking a dead horse, she passed by the third time after another two minutes and asked us the same question, “Is there anything else I can get you?”
My husband and I looked at each other in wonder. We asked each other, what answer did she expect asking us every 2 minutes the same question when we just got our food? At this point we’d like to just enjoy the food we paid for and savor the yummy taste it’s known for.
Twenty minutes went by and not a peep from her. Our drinks were almost empty and I wanted to order that bread pudding I’ve been anticipating for since we got here.
When she finally showed up after 20 minutes she looked at my husband and asked, “Did you want a to go box?”
My husband told her, “We’re still eating and we’re running low on our drinks.”
She replied, “I’ll get you a root beer and Pepsi, did you want a to go box?”
My husband told her again that no we don’t want a to go box, we’re still eating.
At this point I’m thinking she wants us to leave, but I want desert!
She came back with the refills, as she was placing the drinks on the table she asked if my husband needed more lemons for his tea. Even though there was still 3 slices of lemons staring back at him on the saucer the runner had brought us earlier. My husband looked at the lemons already on the table and answered her again, “No.”
“I want desert!” I blurted out before Norma could walk away. My husband added, “Do you have a desert menu?”
She said she’d be back with the menu.
Moments later she brought us the same menu and I ordered the Bread Pudding and 4 extra forks so we could all share.
Five minutes later Norma emerged with the bread pudding and 4 spoons.
Another five minutes later she came to our table and asked AGAIN if we wanted a to go box. We told her no, we’re still eating. She asked if she could take the other plates off the table and we allowed her. As she stacked the four plates, and the two other plates that held our entrees they all came crashing on the floor beside my husband. Trying to take things lightly I commented and told my husband, “At least she didn’t drop the plates on you!”
After about another 5 minutes she came back and asked if we needed refills and we said no. She asked us if we wanted a to go box AGAIN and we said no. She asked us if we wanted a to go box for the drinks! And we said no. I had to ask her, “You keep asking that, I feel like you want to get rid of us right away.”
And her answer was this, “No of course I don’t want you to leave. I was just asking if you wanted a to go box because the other table had to go so I assumed you wanted a to go box.”
I’m screaming inside: Instead I looked down and murmured, “You really shouldn’t be assuming things.”
Maybe it’s nothing personal but do I feel categorized? Yes.
Aside from her lack of understanding of the menu, passing us 3 times asking the same question within 2 minute intervals after we just got our order, the dirty table and chairs, plates crashing on the floor a couple of inches near my husbands foot without an apology, her lack of attention to detail with the straws and lemons and spoons, her wrong assumptions about us wanting a to go box, this experience at Famous Dave’s was very disappointing. He’s famous for the ribs and superb food but what about the food service? Were we just categorized by this server and was it just coincidental? Or did we just come on a bad day?
This review is based off of facts that happened during the time me and my family ate at this restaurant. And I always say when I do reviews like this, that just because my experience was horrible doesn’t mean your experience will be horrible too. But it’s also good to get a heads up on who or what to be watchful for based off of actual experiences. In this case, personally if there is a next time I would be careful to avoid having Norma as my server and I would bring hand sanitizer or some type of Clorox disinfectant wipes in case the chairs are dirty again.
