As many of you, I hope, know, I rep the Bay Area hard.

And I rep our food even harder.

I mean…with Mexicans being the OG homies and now Vietnamese taking over, it is only expected that we have the BEST Vietnamese (Vung Tao in Downtown, San Jo) , and the best Mexican. Except…what I’m about to share with you isn’t the best Mexican food joint, but DAYAM their secret sauce “the orange sauce” just has everyone dying to know WTH is in it. The “orange sauce” has this undeniable rich bite of spice and fat that can’t be placed, and the heat just kicks in on you. Definitely NOT a Tobasco or tart taste, but more home cooked, slightly smoky, and creamy without any taste of milk or ranchy-ness. I can’t tell you, but I swear them mexicanos can be as shady as us Viets. Damn the genius who decided to call our “special sauce” that makes every meal “fish sauce”. Good one.

Have you guys had it? What do YOU think is in it??

I just got back from San Jose, CA, my fave place to visit for good Viet food, family, and the Sister to Sister Leadership Conference. For the past 3 years I’ve supported this AARS by hosting this annual Sister to Sister event, and every year I walk out more blessed than when I walked in. This year was no exception. The event is for Asian American young women between ages of 11-18 and they’re all invited from middle and high schools in the Bay Area.  The theme this year was “Make Your Mark”, which means every speaker and performance was all to “em”power these young minds to begin dreaming about what they yearn to do to make their own mark in this world. You guys, I cannot even tell you how ADORABLE, just absolutely heart squishing, it is to stand on a stage and look out onto a room of hope-filled, ambitious little girls. I met aspiring dancers, chefs, pro-skateboarders,  veterinarians, you name it. I was so inspired when Judge Jacqueline Duong, the first Vietnamese American woman ever appointed to bench in Northern, CA, shared her encouraging journey on the memories of escaping her country in a small fisherman’s boat proved she could overcome anything to get to where she dreams. While I was driving home after the event I was so emotional after seeing so many courageous young hearts who could dream as quick as they could speak, and it just made me pray that nothing could discourage them off their path. I hate how that can happen as we grow older. When we’re young it’s so easy to dream, imagine, and even play “pretend” to be anything we desire, until life happens and we take that as a road block instead of a road turn. My prayer to everyone at the event and anyone reading this blog is that you think about what you have a PASSION for in life, and this can be as simple as something you LOVE TO DO whenever the opportunity. Once you’ve defined this, find a way to make that a service to others.

The theme this year was Make Your Mark and to each of you young ladies reading this blog, I pray you Make Your Mark in the most sparkly smashtastic way until I see you next year. This has actually inspired me to find a way I can make my mark for all the “ems” out there around the country by developing an event like this for all schools across the nation. If you are interested to join me to “em” power young ladies in an event like this, please email me at jmail@iheartjeanniemai.com. Thank you!

Why is Thanksgiving only one day? As much as I am thankful every single day for my bombtastic life, can we please consider having more holidays where we bring people, food, and thanks together?? Hallmark would have a field day, and we need pumpkin things in March. Please consider this.

Although I love everything you’ve given me, there are just a few faves I just have to give you props on. Like my mom. You couldn’t have hooked me up with a more perfect woman to raise me. I owe my career to her because she gave me the freaking personality I have to even be anything on tv, and who else would teach me to put fake lashes when I was 6? And these families I have on both coasts. I mean, come on. Who else would ever have thought to give me the most warm, affectionate loving people who celebrate everything no matter how many times it takes for each kid in the family to enjoy on the east coast, and the most rowdy, FoB (fresh off the boat) fantastic fun family on the west coast to rock out with in San Jose?? I can’t even stand it.  Oh, and then there’s my j-o-b. Are you serious with giving me the best career a girl could ever dream for where I play dress up to get onscreen and make some stylish smiles?? My path to empowering people is barely just beginning, and I’m so appreciative of the lil signs you give me to push me along. And omg (pardon the pun) you’re pretty spectacular with these friends you’ve filled in my life. I have such a creative combo of caring people, and can write a book about what makes a good friend. (They get your inappropriate jokes, help you get the ugly cry out, bring you food from fave places when they think of you, yes, TELL YOU when you’re fat, oh and my fave, actually volunteer to help you pack & move.) Then there’s so many fantastic things in my every day too that I hafta squeel over, like mint fro yo when I can find it, gorgeous Runyon canyon romps to the top, the way Nicole Millen fits, the really burnt roasted brussel sprouts, any great sale, Ca Kho (Vietnamese claypot fish), the McQueens in Lady Gaga’s video, toothless kids, Asset spanx, socks from Target, naps, my legs that never gain weight, Modern Family, a hug back, my job as a server way back when. And Lasik.

So if I had to find something to ask for it’d be making Thanksgiving longer, that’s all. And maybe slipping America a chill pill over things like Adam Lambert. Otherwise You’re on it like a bonnet!
Heart ya God- enjoy your leftover turkey.

Love,
Jeannie

Click here to view the embedded video.