A Wild Tonic print giveaway

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

Lauren from a wild tonic vintage makes some adorable handmade prints with travel quotes using upcycled maps on etsy. I travel a lot, so after entering and winning one myself on her cute little blog, I was excited to have Lauren as a sponsor and couldn't wait to have her host a little giveaway over here!

Giveaway Item: One handmade travel print of your choice



Mandatory Entry:

- Leave a comment on this post specifying your favorite item from a wild tonic vintage

:: please include your email address with each entry ::

Additional Entries:

- Let us know which print you would choose if you win (1 entry)

- Follow a wild tonic blog via GFC or BlogLovin' (1 entry)

- Post a link to this giveaway either on your blog, Twitter and/or Facebook. Please leave additional comment(s) with a link to the blog, tweet and/or status update (up to 3 entries)


That's six ways to win! I will be drawing one winner at random next Tuesday, June 7th at 8pm!

Mama, I'm coming home

BBQs, hair cuts, best friend time, Farmers Market, Evergreen, Sages, Tsunami, the mountains, family time and maybe even a mini vacation within a vacation. Can't wait!

Foodie Friday: Fakin' Bacon BLT

While roaming around Whole Foods the other day I stumbled upon these fakin' bacon strips that I've been eagerly waiting to try since seeing them on Lightlife's website a while back. I'm glad that I did because these were mighty tasty.



You know the drill. Toast up whatever bread strikes your fancy and throw on those toppings! I'm not a big fan of lettuce on my sandwich so I usually make a BATMM (bacon-avocado-tomato-mustard-mayonnaise) sammy. Yum!

Lightlife Giveaway Winner

Congratulations, Coralene on winning the Lightlife giveaway! I will be contacting you shortly to find out which 4 products you would like to try!

Thanks to all of my fellow foodies who entered! Happy eating!

Slacker + instagram photo dump

Sorry I've been slacking on posts lately. Between planning two vacations, working and spending too much time playing words with friends, I've been neglecting my poor blog. However, I have been reading all of yours and I'm getting back my inspiration.

Here are a few instagram photos and I'll be back soon!

















Don't forget to enter the Lightlife giveaway before it ends tomorrow evening!

Saturday Adventures

Saturdays are becoming my new favorite day off. I've already had two this month and next weekend Jon and I will be in Vegas.


shirt: v-generation
pants: forever 21
belt: cotton on
shoes: vans
purse: fred perry
ring: thrifted
polish: charcoal by forever 21

Yesterday we went to the Oceanside Swap Meet on the way to Orange County. We got there a little late so a lot of the vendors were packed up and heading out, but we stumbled upon some rad abandoned kiddie rides.






Then we met my good friend Ashlee in Costa Mesa to have lunch and without question introduce her to Cafe Rio. We spotted a cute little bakery in the same complex to grab dessert. French's Bakery had a french toast cupcake that I was eager to try until I saw a piece of bacon laying on top, but I got the caramel apple cupcake instead and it was deeeee-licious!




We killed some time before heading to Anaheim for Torch Tattoo's one year party and art show. They hired a pianist who had worked at Disneyland for 30 years! It's official, if I ever marry, I want this guy there. The party was a success with a great turn out, not to mention some beautiful art (that I wish I could afford).

Foodie Friday: link love v.8 (food edition)

Strawberry Butter?! Looks incredibly easy to make and even more delicious to eat, I'm sure.



Ooo lovely and intricate pancake art, as well as cute pancake hearts!



Don't mind me, I'm just over here drooling over all of these artichoke recipes on foodgawker.



First strawberry butter, now homemade Nutella?!



How adorable are these springy flower pot desserts?! I loved making "dirt" out of oreos and adding in gummy worms when I was a kid.



And what better way to end this post than with the most amazing smores cookies I've ever seen!

mexican jumping beans

I've had these mexican jumping beans for a year, but figured they were dead because they've been kept in a dark cabinet (after waking me up every night) and they need sun to survive. After being forgotten about, I looked weeks later and they no longer moved and had turned dark brown. The other night I opened the cabinet (like any other day) and one had hatched! Here I was with a moth in a box, it was fascinating. Later Jon and I took them outside and released them into the bushes. I hope the other 4 made it out alive.

iPhone + Macbook

If you would have asked me how I felt about Apple a year ago I would have told you to run in the other direction because their products were pieces of shit. This was after my experience of having gone through 3 iPods (all manufactures problems) and my fear of change. After I moved in with Jon, I was always using his 24" iMac because it was there and convenient. I had my troubles: relearning all the short keys, not having simple programs like Paint or Microsoft Word (which I eventually got MS Word), not being able to rename an entire batch of photos or files at once (I still haven't figured out a way!) and not being able to plug in my BlackBerry, but as time would tell it grew on me. I was suddenly becoming apple savvy, and not just on the iMac. Shortly after I started using photo apps on Jon's iPhone to take and edit photos. I almost completely stopped using my BB because of the quality. It's taken a while for me to completely convert, but here I am, just purchased my first Macbook and iPhone.



So far I've downloaded the basics: Facebook, Instagram, Words With Friends, Tumblr Gear and I'm taking full advantage of the apps that Danielle has mentioned noteworthy.

What are your must have apps for the iPhone?

teal seal

It was no surprise being Emily's first visit to California that a trip to the beach was in order. We strolled Garnet, a little strip of shops and boutiques along Pacific Beach, and to my surprise I found a pair of ankle booties (you know, the ones I've been in search of for months now?) at the first store we stopped in. Even though I have a pair of lace up ankle booties coming from Hong Kong, I couldn't pass these up at a whopping $8!




shirt: some $5 t-shirt store
necklace: c/o blessed bee
shorts: urban outfitters
tights: express
shoes: thrifted
purse: fred perry
sunnies: no names from a shop in old town
rings: tooth ring//necromance & gold ring//cotton on
polish: jade by forever 21


I was baffled when Jon's sister told me she had never had an acai bowl, even while living in Brazil for 3 years; home of this delicious berry. I knew right away that we would have to introduce her to these splendiferous bowls of tastiness so we took her to The Big Squeeze, right on Garnet.



Seal Beach in La Jolla is a must see for all my guests, it's serene and beautiful, not to mention covered in adorable seals! They usually migrate onto the sandy beaches, but this time were laying right out in the ocean.








[via jon + instagram]

Lightlife Giveaway

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

Recently Lightlife generously offered to send me some new products to try. I already use and love a lot of their stuff, so I was pleasantly surprised and more than happy to use it as an excuse to write some reviews and feedback on a few of their awesome products.

Now Lightlife is extending some of their yummy vegetarian and vegan products to YOU with this wonderful and delicious giveaway!

Giveaway item: One lucky winner gets to choose FOUR items of their choice from Lightlife's website.



Mandatory Entry

Follow my blog via GFC or Bloglovin' and leave a comment specifying which Lightlife item you can't wait to try!

:: please include your email address with each entry ::

Additional Entries

- Follow Lightlife on Twitter. (1 entry)

- "Like" Lightlife on Facebook. (1 entry)

- Add this button to your blog or website. (1 entry)


<a href="http://mylittleartichoke.blogspot.com/2011/05/lightlife-giveaway.html"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y26/ainstharad3/giveaway%20stuff/lightlifebag.jpg" width="140"/></a>

- Post a link to this giveaway either on your blog, Twitter and/or Facebook. Please leave additional comment(s) with a link to the blog, tweet and/or status update. (up to 3 entries)

Overall, that's seven ways to win! I will be drawing one winner at random next Thursday, May 26th at 7pm!

S'mores Frozen Sandwiches

I hate to tempt you guys with something that Trader Joe's no longer carries, but Jon brought home three boxes of these s'mores sandwiches (gelatin free!) and I had to document why they most likely discontinued this item...



Since this particular gelato doesn't stay frozen, eating these can turn into a really big mess in a very short time. So Trader Joe's, please find a better way to bring these back with a more freezable inside!

foodgawker

Lately I've been all about foodgawker, a photo gallery research guide to an enormous amount of delectable, eye-pleasing meals and treats! As of yesterday I decided to submit some of my photo/recipe entries, so keep an eye out. Click the photo to be redirected to the website and find any type of recipe you can imagine!

The Soaktree Earrings Giveaway Winner

And the winner is...



Congratulations, Chandler on winning The Soaktree earrings giveaway! Chandler, Jihee will be contacting you shortly.


Thanks to all you lovely ladies who entered, and remember, Jihee is also offering free shipping for the month of May to her shop by entering LoveArtichoke at checkout!

Foodie Friday: Veggie Grill

I think Jon and I are the only people I know that would drive 200 miles just to get Veggie Grill for lunch. Since his sister is visiting, that was reason enough to make the trek to Irvine yesterday. Luckily I received my free Birthday meal postcard in time, which was an added bonus.

VG is an all vegan, healthy option to all of your favorite burgers, salads, sandwiches, wraps and comfort food. Recently VG announced their new buffalo wings (not yet on the menu) and it is was my first time trying them. Hands down my new favorite appetizer. If you have a VG near you, unfortunately only in the LA area for now, be absolutely positive to get these as an appetizer.

Before we left Orange County, it was necessary to stop at a nearby mall that we knew had a Mrs. Fields and carried my favorite cookie, butter toffee. It's nostalgic for me, as my mom used to always buy me a cookie when we would go shopping. Cherry on top to our awesome day.


santa fe crispy chickin' sandwich with tomato, grilled onion, avocado mix and spicy vegan mayo with a side of chili


uptown nachos, (off the menu) buffalo wings and jon's plain santa fe sandwich