It was my dad’s birthday yesterday. I gave him a call on Friday afternoon to let him know that a card was on its way.
Dad: Why? What card?
Me: *roll eyes* Dad, it’s your birthday on Sunday. You totally forgot your own birthday, didn’t you?
Dad: *light bulb flashes* Oh yeah, it is my birthday! I forgot. Thank you, darling. You know I love you the most, right?
Me: Ha! I’ll bet you say the same thing to my brother.
Dad: *chuckle* You’ve heard of a Daddy’s Little Girl, right? Now, have you ever heard of a Daddy’s Little Boy?
Hee, hee, hee. I guess I should keep this from my brother. But my dad’s right. I am a Daddy’s Little Girl, and I feel so freaking blessed to also be the BEST Daddy In The World’s Little Girl. Beside God, the person(s) most important to me are my parents. Why? Well, for one, I’m the most important person to them. And two, no matter what happened and whatever crap I got into, I was always the most important person to them.
Thus last night, as I lay in bed, I knew exactly what my thanksgiving for the day was: my dad. I have so many great memories with him, and as they flashed in my mind one by one, I couldn’t help tearing up:
Thank you, Dad, for always calling me your “pride and joy.” You told me you were proud of me when I came back home with excellent grades. But you also told me you were proud of me when I was lying in the hospital from anorexia.
Thank you, Dad, for believing in me. You listened and trusted me when I begged you to let me out of the hospital. You turned to the doctors and told them firmly that you know me, and that you know I will be able to recover, despite them calling you a crazy, irresponsibile parent.
Thank you, Dad, for still loving me and praying for me, even though I struggled with that same anorexia for several more years after that. I continuously lied and deceived you in order to hold on to my ED, yet you still loved me. You kept on praying, you comforted my mother, and you encouraged me.
Thank you, Dad, for letting me go. You stopped trying to control and regulate my meals and behaviors, but totally entrusted me to God. You let me go to Singapore, and your faith in God’s ability to healed me eventually did lead to my turning point in Singapore.
Thank you, Dad, for everything, including all the love you will continue to shower upon me in the future. And thank you, God, for giving me the best daddy in the world, though I don’t deserve him.
One last thing: HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!! (I’ll keep your age private;-))
Unfortunately, I was not able to celebrate my dad’s birthday in person yesterday, but I certainly did some celebration of my own…with some amazing LA bloggers! Love how my New Year Prayer Topics are being fulfilled within a month!
Lynn and Christy from The Actors Diet invited some beautiful ladies (that’s me, too) to a blogger meet-up at The Veggie Grill on Sunset. 
Altogether, the people who attended were:
Quite a crowd, but Veggie Grill turned out a pretty good place in accommodating large groups. But for some reason, it was decorated in Christmas colors: So I ordered a soup and salad combo with All Hail Kale salad and Bean-Me-Up chili: Bloggers in action: I had a wonderful time, everyone! I hope we get to see each other soon! Perhaps Doughboys Cafe? That would be like the antonym of The Veggie Grill though. Question of the day: What do you think of the concept that the daughter is always Daddy’s Girl, and the son is Mama’s Boy?
The above picture is from Lynn! 
Which also meant lighting was terrible. But who cares, so long as I can still see these lovely ladies’ faces? 
As you already know, I adore blogger meet-ups. I’ve never once had a blogger meet-up in which I left with a negative impression on the blogger, and this one was no exception. 
Every single one of them were incredibly nice and sweet: Lynn is spunky and outgoing, Christy is passionate and witty, Erin is cheerful and funny, Ameena is gentle and sweet, Kate is adorable and charming, Suzanne is warm and amiable. 
Don’t just take my word for it, you gotta meet these people. I can hardly wait to meet them again myself. 
Anyway, back to the food. The Veggie Grill is a vegan restaurant, and a lot of their dishes offered “chickin”. Meaning, imitation meat. Okay, I’m open to vegan cuisine, but I draw the line when it comes to “meat”. If I’m gonna eat vegan, I’d like to stick to real vegetables. 
Marinated kale and red cabbage, roasted corn salsa, agave-roasted walnuts with a ginger-papaya vinaigrette. 
Red & white beans, touch of soy cream, chopped green & red onion.
The kale salad was awesome. I couldn’t believe the kale was raw, because it was incredibly tender, without any of that bitter aftertaste. In fact, it was probably massaged in some kind of marinade, which was slightly sweet, slightly tart. 
The best part was the agave-sweetened walnuts, which was sweet, sticky, and crunchy. Yum. 
I could detect some specks of quinoa, but couldn’t really taste it. Which is a good thing, because I’m not a fan of quinoa (the stuff I make turns out fishy for some reason). 
The chili, however, was blah. I kept thinking it was missing something, and even looked around for Tabasco sauce. But now I realize it was missing one key ingredient which is actually banned from this restaurant: beef. 
I’m sorry, but chili needs some kind of meat for that hearty, flavorful satisfaction. 
The crackers that came with it was amazing though. It was thin and crispy, and sprinkled with white and black sesame seeds. 
I think it was fried, because it was rather greasy, but so, so good! 
Most of the other bloggers ordered pretty much the same stuff. Most ordered salads, like this Baja Fiesta salad: 
Chopped romaine, papaya, avocado, roasted corn salsa, quinoa, cucumber, cilantro with a ginger-papaya vinaigrette. 
Erin was the brave one to try the “meat” dish: 
I think this was the Carne Asada? She got it in a wrap with Sweetheart fries (sweet potato fries). 
Grilled veggie-steak, marinated in Mexican spices, with southwestern spiced vegan mayo, red onion, lettuce, tomato in a wrap. 
Never gets old. Tee hee! 
This is random, but Kate has the CUTEST haircut ever.
And what is your opinion on imitation meat? Any good ones you know? Or horrible ones?
P.S. I believe I am Daddy’s Girl, but obviously I’m Mama’s Girl as well. What can I say? I’ll always be the favorite. Take that, little bro!
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Blogger meet-ups always looks like so much fun! We have to get together the next time I’m back in LA!
And that restaurant looks so yummy! Seriously, my mouth is watering looking at everyone’s food! Way cool!
You describe your dad so sweetly and I’m glad you have an awesome relationship with him!
Amen to this: If I’m gonna eat vegan, I’d like to stick to real vegetables.
Fake meat? No! That’s why I am vegan. I dont like meat, I dont want the imitation version of it, either LOL
Ok your blogger meetup. Not that this is a huge under wraps thing, as i have mentioned it in comments before to others’, but we are hoping to be back in So Cal soon. AZ is not really our thing. AND when I am back, I def def definitely want in on this kind of meetup!!!! Holy dreamdate
Seriously, awesome.
Your father and your love for him and your relationship. It’s beautiful
Hey Doll!
It was so great to meet you and the other girls! Can’t wait to do it again soon!!!
XOXO,
Erin
I am not daddy’s little girl, long story and I won’t even go there. But I hope if we have a little girl she will be! Looks like a great place for a blogger meet up. Wish I could have been there since it looks like you guiys had so much fun.
As for your questions on my blog, I will answer them on there, but as for pollution, yes it is bad in major cities, but in rural areas, not so much. In 3 weeks I never got sick with a cough or anything like they. In fact at the time they were reducing the amount of emmissions and trying to clean up the air because the Olympics were coming in a few years so they were actively addressing this problem. They are just very industrial and have way too many people. If you study abroad there, get a bike…everyone uses them. I never actually went on public transportation, but I know bikes are popular. If you are going to Shaghai I have a friend who lived there for a year teaching at an American school and you can ask her questions if you want.
Nice to meet your friends… daddy’s little girl
The new design for website is fine. Think reconsidering
just kidding
Happy Birthday to your dad! I don’t know about DLG or MB as I was never DLG and I didn’t have a brother hehe!
Blogger meet ups are always so fun. Especially when every one pulls out the camera, lol
Fabulous photos! It looks like you had a good time at the meetup
!
& Happy birthday to your dad! My dad is also one of my closest friends and I think it’s so great to have a supporting and loving family – no matter what.
I am a daddy’s girl too–such a great thing to cherish!
That restaurant looks really hip and neat–I am so jealous of all
the bloggers you get to meet all the time–lucky gal!
I’m totally a daddy’s girl, but as you said, I’m also a mommy’s girl. So I think the concept just has a nice ring to it, really. Nick is a mommy’s boy, but he won’t ever say he was a daddy’s boy, because that just sounds “weird” as guys like to say. But deep down, he knows he was a daddy’s boy too
Your posts are long SOphia, but I skim through what I don’t want to read, if I don’t want to read it. I wasn’t complaining about long posts, I was really complaining about how long it takes ME to write long posts. Many times you will even say, “skip down if you want to get to the food”! haha, but often I don’t want to skip
I love your writing style. And I was laughing about your dad forgetting his b-day. Will that be ME one day?! Yikes!
Glad you had a nice dinner with the foodies!
Happy Birthday to your dad!
The meetup looks like it was fun and delicious.
aww, your dad sounds about as cool as mine:)
I love seeing any group of foodie bloggers get together because seriously, it’s all cameras! haha
That chili looks incredible!
Wow Sophia yr post @ daddy’s girl made me weepy…. That is so sweet.
I am not sure if I am daddy’s girl since he has 5 daughters.
He always put his 2 sons in the front – its some pride thing for an Asian father.
Blogger meet up sounds so fun.
I’m a daddys girl all the way and my mom definitely likes my brother and sister more than me. I’m fine with it.
happy birthday sophias dad! i was feeling some dad love this weekend too when i went bowling with my fam. my dad can be hard to connect to, but when it happens it is so sweet.
i am not a vegetarian, but i really liked seitan as a high protein meat substitute before i went gluten-free. it was really good in stews and in stir fries, as a beef substitute. i just picked up some textured soy chunks (http://www.nowfoods.com/?action=itemdetail&item_id=3661) that i’m interested to try, probably in a soup/chili.
Such a fun and delicious blogger meetup! Happy birthday to your dad!
aw, I’m bummed I couldn’t make it to this meetup! I’ll definitely hit up the next one though!
First of all happy birthday for your dad:) What a touching post Sophia, made me a little emotional because I recognized so much… Have you shown it to your daddy?
And what a great meet-up…Oh boy, I wish I lived in the US now and then!
xxx Julia (Taste of Living)
Happy birthday to your Dad! I’m the same as you – I’m daddy’s and mommy’s little girl lol. I think it’s cause I’m the youngest.
Hello my friend,
Well, I’ve never had a blogger meet up! Maybe I ought to organise one, I think it’s a great way to eat a meal! I need some sweet potato fries now!! x
hey soph! (thats so weird saying that, soph’s are awesome
) happy birthday to your daddy! he seems so nice. and hes right, daddy’s little boy? nuhuh 
the blogger meet up looks so fun- that restaurant has really awesome eats! happy you had a fun time & hope you have a great tuesday xoxo soph
wow looks like you guys had a lot of fun!
a bientot!
the Paris Food Blague
awwwwh Happy Birthday to your Dad!! I have to say I’m a mama’s girl though
I just love my parents, no matter what I know they will always be there.
That looks like sooo much fun!! and the food looks pretty tasty too. so you’re a quinoa hater??? lol Hope you have a nice week! We need to meet-up someday fo so
Great to meet you Sophia! Your pictures are awesome. And happy birthday to your dad!!!
Happy Birthday to your dad!
I believe that it’s entirely possible to be a Mama’s Boy or a Daddy’s Girl, however, those terms definitely do not apply to my family. Daddy’s Girl? Most certainly not – we don’t get along well and my sister doesn’t get along with him either. Both of us are Mama’s Girls. As for my brother, he’s.. well, I’m not sure if he’s really anything. Actually, he’s probably a Mama’s Boy. We all love our mama.
I can’t wait to one day do a blogger meet up! The Veggie Grill sounds like it would be delicious and I would totally be up to trying fake meat. I usually don’t eat it because I have no desire to but on the few occasions when I DID taste some, I liked it.
i love the blogger meetups! i really hope that someday i get to meet some of my bloggy friends! the food looks fantastic!
i definitely consider myself a daddy’s girl, but i’m also very close with my mom. what funny though is i have a son and a daughter and he is definitely a mama’s boy, and she is a daddy’s girl. so i guess it works in our family!
happy birthday to your dad!
I’m pretty sure I switch back and forth between being a daddy’s girl and a momma’s girl. It depends on what mood I’m in. And definitely on what mood THEY are in. And also on the situation. There are some things that I go to my mom to and vice versa for my dad.
This meetup looks awesome! All of the food looks super colorful and delicious. Wish I could have been there.
Happies birthday to yr daddyfrm me!
Its great tht yr parents stood by u thru everything! U r a lucky gal Sophia!
I love veg too! (whc reminds me..i havent blog abt my veg meals be4!)
and as u can see frm my blog, I love organising Blogger meet-ups! Or what I call makan-makan! Hehe..
but i tell ya, the biggest meet-up i’m waitin for is to meet YOU!!
Hey there!! Thanks so much for stoppin by my blog
I’m totally lovin yours!
Wow, your day looked like SOOO much fun. Don’t you just love raw kale salads? I especially love them because kale can stand up to so many other bold ingredients and dressings. Yummmm
Oh gosh I just love both of my parents and I could not imagine life without either of them. I have a closer day to day relationship with my mom, but my dad has done so many tremendous things for me as well.
this post brought tears to my eyes! your parents sound amazing and happy bday to your dad. he sounds like an amazing man!!
Wow, your post was really sweet. Your dad’s a lucky dad! I love blogger meet-ups too! I’ve only been to one, (well, that and the Foodbuzz Festival, biggest blogger mega-meet up!) but it was totally fun and everyone was so sweet, just like you said.
I love how you write about your daddy– so SWEET! I hope he had a wonderful day, and I’m sure you can’t wait to be able to celebrate with him again.
The blogger meet-up looks so fun. Your pictures are so colorful and pretty!
Woot for wonderful dads. Yours sounds amazing.
Aww happy birthday to your dad! He sounds so wonderful, and it’s great that you appreciate him!
And yay for blogger meet-ups, I’m glad you had a lot of fun! The chips (even if greasy..) look soooo good!
I love blogger meet-ups! It looks like everyone had so much fun.
Really nice post about your Dad! Your love shines through, as does his. (and he probably really did forget his birthday. I do it all the time!)
Love your blogger get together too!
What a fun meet-up! I would never thought to marinate kale…
Hey love!! Actually that was a trail mix, it was dry edamame, I would steam the freezer ones, that would be yum!!! xoxo
Aw, happy birthday Papa Burp and Slurp!
I LOVE blogger meet ups. I always leave with a little high.
I am a firm believe in the daddys girl/mamas boy- that is def how it was/IS in my family
everything at veggie grill looks like something i would love. i really wish boston had better vegetarian places!
after 12 years of being a vegetarian i have tried my fair share of fake meats and for the most part i have decided i don’t like them! every now and then i will have them but i try to stick to beans and whole foods instead.
This post is so sweet and heartfelt! I love it (:
That restaurant looks pretty fabulous as well!
Honestly, I’m not too big on the concept of daddy’s girl, mama’s boy because I grew up with a single mom and two sisters. I actually was never a mama’s girl, until I decided I wanted out of anorexia. My mom is my main support system in this journey, and we have grown so much closer as a result of it. My little sister was a mama’s girl, through and through, but she was probably the most affected by a lack of a dad through her childhood since she was way too young to remember how our dad was. My older sister was always the rebellious one. So I can’t answer that question, but I can bore you with a novel (:
As far as imitation meat, I love real meat, but I also like all the imitations I have tried so far.
Have a great day! I hope your dad enjoyed his birthday (:
-Kylee
Hey Sophia!! So happy to be able to read your blog again! I have lots of post to catch up!! I went back home last two weeks and now I am back
That’s an amazing group of girls!! every one of you looks so sweet and sassy!!! seems like LA has lots more bloggers than in DC
the dish looks amazing!! even its vegetarian,that soup and salad are fancy!!!
Happy Birthday to your Daddy, so touched reading your thanks to your Dad – he is really a great Dad!
It’s awesome that you love your parents so much. I love mine too:)
I love the pics of you guys taking food pics!
Feliz Cumpleaño to your dad!
Awww I am so jealous of your blog meetup! it looks like you girls had a blast, I love your “bloggers in action” pics
So many girls would bring Veggie Grill takeout for dinner to the IOP I attended… I was so intrigued by it! So I was very happy to get a little behind the scenes tour. Hopefully I can give their food a try one of these days soon! For some reason the lighting and decor reminds me a little bit of Pinkberry.
While I definitely was “daddy’s little girl” when I was younger there’s been A LOT of water under the bridge, a lot of hurt. But I hope that I can soon reclaim my title and that we can have a strong relationship again.
Happy birthday to your dad! You’re such a good daughter, not including his age.
Rachael*
Very happy for you that you have a good and loving relationship with your dad; I wish the same for my daughter.
That restaurant looks fun and very L.A.; the blogger meet-up too, hey, are all bloggers “young”? I would feel like everybody’s mommy!
I want to do a blogger meet up with you so badly! People look at me funny when I take pictures of my food in public…
As for “daddy’s little girl,” well I’m more of a mama’s girl, myself. I’m really close to my mother and trying to get closer to my father…
You Blogger Meet-up looks like it was SO much fun! Love it!
I wish I had some cool places to eat such as the one you are at.
Jealous!
Happy birthday Burp and Slurp Dad!! heheh I hope he had a good day!
<3 <3
Sounds like a delightful blogger meet up, and that restraunt looks so cool and refreshing, glad you had a good time!
MM whenever the statement is “always” I tend to dissagree, I think its wonderful you have a good relationship with BOTH of your parents!! I have a really good relationship with my dad (not so much my mom =/ ) I look up to him and apppreciate him more than anyone, and he always brings me up, even when I was at my very worst he made sure I new how loved I am and how wonderful he thought I was. So I guess that statement does apply to me!
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