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smiles33
About smiles33
smiles33 is an Advisor on Epinions in Kids & Family
smiles33 is a Top Reviewer on Epinions in Kids & Family, Books
Epinions Most Popular Authors - Top 1000
Epinions.com ID: smiles33
Member Since: Mar 10 '00

8.5 years on Epinions and still enjoying it!  more
Activity Summary
Reviews Written: 285
Member Visits: 10,566
Total Visits: 83,866



smiles33's Recent Opinions
Date Written Review Title Product / Topic Product Rating Review Rating
Oct 06 '08 At Last, I Finally Understand Why Stride Rite Has Its Reputation Stride Rite First Mate
in Shoes
  Product Rating: 5.0    Very Helpful
Sep 20 '08 Stiff Inflexible Sandals Are Not a Deal Even When On Sale Stride Rite Monterey
in Shoes
  Product Rating: 2.0    Very Helpful
Aug 27 '08 Toddlers Can Copy Their Older Siblings Heading Off to Kindergarten Finding Nemo Rolling Backpack
in Luggage
  Product Rating: 5.0    Very Helpful
Aug 24 '08 Lazy and/or Nearsighted Painters Will Enjoy This Tool, But Everyone Else? Unlikely Shur-line Premium Ceiling & Trim Paint Edger - 01000
in Tools and Accessories
  Product Rating: 2.0    Very Helpful
Aug 22 '08 Nemo, Dory and Marlin Can Join Your Child At Mealtime Zak Designs Disney Finding Nemo Dinnerware : 3 Pcs Kids Dinnerware
in Toys
  Product Rating: 2.0    Very Helpful
 View more opinions by smiles33

smiles33's Most Popular Reviews
#106 in Education: Understanding the Admissions Process - The View In ...
#637 in Restaurants & Gourmet: Finding Paris in Napa? Keller's Bouchon is soothi ...
#416 in Travel: Hua Ting Rd. - shopping for faux brands in Shangha ...
 View all 7 popular reviews
smiles33's Author Popularity
#980 Overall
#731 in Books
#21 in Education
#933 in Kids & Family
#302 in Restaurants & Gourmet
#107 in Travel

About smiles33
I'm a wife, mother, lawyer/educator/counselor, and I love to sleep--it's challenging balancing it all, but this is my life and I love it. When I can find some free time, I also like to read, try out new restaurants, and write Epinions about them.

My epinions in my original two favorite categories (the reasons why I started writing here)--Restaurant & Gourmet and Education--are directly linked at the very bottom of this page.

My favorite photo, which used to be my profile photo (until I realized you have to have a photo of yourself to be a featured member) is this one of my daughter at about 7 or 8 months old:



As for me and Epinions, I've left and come back a few times now, though at one time I was entirely too addicted to this website. My husband, Brace33, wrote a particularly funny editorial about me and my old addiction to Epinions, titled, "The Trials and Tribulations of Loving an Epinionated Woman." There's a sequel epinion that cracks me up, too, especially when sung to the tune of Roy Orbison's Pretty Woman! It's one of those rare sequels that matches (and possibly surpasses?) the wittiness and charm of the first installment. Let's hope I don't get back to that same level of addiction since my husband, daughter, and dog would all miss me.

I recently wrote an ode to my wonderful husband, My Secret to Being a Supermom? The Love and Support of a Superdad! because I continue to feel so blessed to have the love and support of such an amazing person. We have been together almost 10 years now and I feel he's as close to a perfect soulmate as possible. He helps me to be a better person in all senses, as he encourages my personal and professional growth and development.

Before our daughter was born in 2006, we had plenty of time for personal pursuits, like going houseboating, trying new restaurants, and spoiling Scrappy, our terrier mix that we rescued from the pound (he survived a horrific attack by a pug so he's earned his name!).

This is a photo of him shortly after we adopted him!



We don't eat out nearly as often as we once did, mostly because we are out in the suburbs a good 1/2 hour drive from San Francisco. *sigh* Thus, most of my reviews now are either in Books or Kids and Family.

If you have a question about how I rated your epinion or if you just want to contact me, my email is smilesESQ at yahoo.

---

All My Restaurant Reviews
Organized By Neighborhood

San Francisco
Fringale – French (San Francisco, CA)
Java Indonesian Restaurant – Indonesian (San Francisco, CA)
Szechuan Taste Restaurant – Chinese (San Francisco, CA)
Laghi – Northern Italian (San Francisco, CA) RESTAURANT CLOSED
Umeko Restaurant - Japanese buffet (San Francisco, CA) RESTAURANT CLOSED

Marin County, CA
Boca – Argentinean steakhouse(Novato, CA)
Buckeye Roadhouse – American (Mill Valley, CA)

Napa Valley
Boon Fly Cafe – Californian (Napa, CA)
Bouchon – French bistro (Yountville, CA near Napa)

Berkeley, Emeryville, and Oakland, CA
Skates on the Bay – Seafood (Berkeley, CA)
Hong Kong East Ocean Seafood Restaurant – Chinese Seafood (Emeryville, CA)
Koryo Wooden Charcoal BBQ – Korean (Oakland, CA)
Luka’s Taproom and Lounge – Californian (Oakland, CA)
Genova’s Italian Delicatessan – Italian deli (Oakland, CA)

Fremont, Union City, and Livermore, CA
Zaytoon Kabob – Afghan (Fremont, CA)
Chat Patta Corner – Indian Chaat (Fremont, CA)
Texas Roadhouse – American barbecue/steakhouse (Union City, CA)
Wente Vineyards – Californian (Livermore, CA is east of Oakland, CA)

San Jose and Saratoga, CA
Chinjin Eastern House – Chinese Islamic Cuisine (San Jose, CA)
Zeni Ethiopian Restaurant – Ethiopian (San Jose, CA)
Bella Saratoga - Italian (Saratoga, CA)

Palo Alto and Millbrae, CA
Kan Zeman – Mediterranean (Palo Alto, CA)
St. Michael’s Alley – Californian (Palo Alto, CA)
Hong Kong Flower Lounge – Chinese Seafood (Millbrae, CA which is south of San Francisco)

Monterey Peninsula in CA
Tico’s Breakfast and Lunch – American (Marina, CA)
Max’s Grill – California/French Fusion (Pacific Grove, CA)
Fishwife Seafood Restaurant – Seafood (Pacific Grove, CA)

Other cities
Costa Brava – Spanish Tapas (San Diego, CA)

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All My Education Reviews

My Alma Maters
There are several on UCLA because there were no restrictions on multiple entries for one product in 2000.
Taking Advantage of All UCLA Has to Offer
101 Ways to Walk to Class (A Day in the Life of a UCLA student)
Bruin Life Pulling You 1000 Different Directions? (Extracurriculars at UCLA)
You Decide: Privary vs. Social Life! (Campus Housing at UCLA)
Living a Block from In-N-Out in the Heart of Westwood (Off-campus housing options for UCLA students)
Playing Basketball in THE Pauley Pavilion (Intramural Sports at UCLA)
So Why Should You Major in Communications? (UCLA's Communication Studies Department)

What Being a "Boaltie" Is All About! (UC Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law)
Understanding the Admissions Process - The View Inside Boalt)

College Advice
Considering Race in the Diversity Debate ("Advice on Choosing a College")
Avoiding Apartment Nightmares Other than a Psycho Roommate
Greek Life from the Eyes of a GDI
Injecting some "Aloha" Spirit into your Spring Break
Intern in D.C. (and Ignore Jokes about Monica!)

Law School Advice
Want to Use the Law to Advance Social Justice? Read This First!
Entering the Summer Job Market as a Law Student
Extra-curricular Activities CAN Still be a Part of Your Law/Grad School Life



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