Just Anything.......

Awaiting A New Arrival

2011-05-03T21:41:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy few months in this household. The husband and I are excited to say we are awaiting the arrival of our baby boy in a few weeks. This ultrasound was completed at 29 weeks.
Let's see what's been happening in this household in the past few months. The husband and I went to DC for President's day weekend (our last vacation before becoming parents). Then somewhere along the line - we decided to go ahead and renovate the rest of our house! Talk about nesting! This was a major project with little planning! Imagine being 7 to 8 months pregnant tackling such a project! I must have been crazy! Luckily - we are almost done. The last of the contractor (stair guys) are supposed to be done by the end of this week.

As for cooking and baking - no time to do that. I am still trying to wrap up the decorating for our baby's room!

Ah...parenthood...such an exciting time!

Marshmallow Failure

2011-01-18T22:40:00.000-08:00

Well...I didn't think it was possible but I guess it is. I managed to screw up while making rice krispie treats today. Apparently marshmallows do have a life span. I didn't look at the expiration until after my failure and that was when I realized it's been seven months after the expiration. Seven months doesn't seem so bad but I guess it is. The marshmallows didn't really melt, they just seem to compound together and created this huge gooey icky marshmallow in butter. Needless to say...I ended up tossing the whole thing in the trash.

I plan to buy a fresh bag of marshmallows tomorrow to see if it really was the stale marshmallows or just my terrible skills at the stove!

Note to self: I must go through the posts and rename the the labels!

Stainless Steel Pots & Pans

2011-01-10T21:59:00.001-08:00

A new year, a new set of pots and pans to use. :) I finally got a chance to pull out my new pots and pans. The husband bought this set for me more than six months ago but they were sitting in a corner as I was simply too lazy to open the box. What is included in this set is the 8 inch skillet, 10 inch skillet, 1.5 quart saucepan with cover, 3 quart saucepan with cover, 3.5 quart saute with helper handle and cover, 8 quart stockpot with cover and the steamer with cover. And look at the shiny set! They are heavy too! Now I just need to use them!

2011!

2011-01-01T19:57:00.000-08:00

It's 2011! A whole decade has passed and a new one starts today. There are many exciting events happening this upcoming year. I hope I can blog more this year as well as try to cook and bake more. Of course I hope to exercise more, photograph more and just enjoy life more. We shall see. ;P

Wow...seriously?!

2010-12-16T00:54:00.000-08:00

Seriously has it been eight months since I have last written? And the last few posts were not meaningful as well. Anyway....life continued on...with much going on and of course, the holidays are upon us. Christmas is just around the corner and before you know it we will be stepping into 2011 with old resolutions made new again as well as hopefully a few fresh resolutions.

Extra Weight....

2010-04-02T22:14:00.000-07:00

Argh....I need to lose weight. While visiting my parents today, my mom was inclined to add that it looked like I have put on a few pounds. Sighed.....somehow after I hit the 30's....my metabolism has stood still.

Mrs. Metabolism...where are you? And how do I get you to come back??

The three days at the gym apparently is not enough for me. I will have to add 30 minutes of cardio to the days I go to yoga. And now...I really need to re-evaluate what I eat. I hate the word re-evaluate....

Wished me luck!

Hello Blog

2010-04-01T23:41:00.001-07:00

Hello Blog,

Can you believe that the first quarter of 2010 has come to a close??

Let's see....work is not as stressful....for now. Yahoo!! I've been cooking dinner since Sunday! That may be a record. I have come to a realization that I cannot prepare and cook on the same day. By the time I arrive home from work, I am absolutely famish and the last thing I want to do is chop, cut and mince. All I want to do is EAT! So what I have been doing is preparing the night before. I'll wash, cut and chop what I plan to cook the next day and it's worked wonderfully. I can't wait to see how long I can keep this up.

What else? We are getting ready to go to Europe soon! Can't wait! My energy is back. I am not lethargic like I was in January and February. I actually feel alive whereas before I was sick, stress and miserable.

Gardening - I am attempting to clean up our backyard one weekend at a time. We were able to clear an area about 5 feet by 12 feet about two weeks ago. Since then I have planted some seeds, put down compost and hope that my seeds will grow! Let's see....I planted lettuce, watermelon and cantalope. I am thinking I want to plant some herbs but I am debating whether I want to plant them on the ground or in pots. I also want to plant some tomatoes, green beans and squash. Oh and we have the yard space so I am not worried about the space BUT I am still trying to figure out if I have a green thumb.

Oh...I forgot...in March, the husband and I went to Fresno. You might be thinking, what the heck is there to do in Fresno?! Well...we went for the blossom trail. About a year ago, I came upon this site for blossoms in Fresno and I thought it would be fun to go. Unfortunately when I found out about the blossoms, all the blossoms had bloomed. Luckily I remembered this year and kept an eye for when it was blossom season. Fresno....it's farm county. It's different from Orange County and Los Angeles. It's picturesque and very serene. The husband and I met up with PM's mom and her family while we were up there. That was nice as we were able to hang out.

Here are a few pictures from our Fresno trip. We stopped by Kingsburg which is one of the first cities you pass through on your way to Fresno. Kinsburg is Swedish influence community. There is about one or two blocks that make up Kinsburg. There was a TINY jail cell there that is no longer in service.
I thought this sign was funny. It was right outside the jailhouse.

The town of Sanger host the annual Blossom Festival. There was a local band made up singing a few classic songs such as the Beach Boys.
A Valentine gift from the husband.

A beautiful blossom branch.

Fields of blossoms! 62 miles!

Farm country right here in California!

Bad Blogger

2010-02-17T16:22:00.000-08:00

Yes I know...I've been a bad blogger this year. It's been a strange year to start off. Uneventful but stressful. I've been sick twice already since the new year. I am actually sick right now. My energy level is at a record minimum. I have not gone back to the gym since the end of the year. But other than all that...I am still alive.

The husband and I went to Colorado in January for some skiing and touring Denver. We were supposed to go to Phoenix in February but my paternal grandma passed away so the trip was cancelled. We are looking to take an international trip sometime soon.

Work has been stressful. I love working on something that I am clueless about. You just cannot imagine the stress level on that one....

Oh...I attempted to make bread twice. It did not rise. :( Attempt #3 is in the works. Perhaps I will try to post some pics then. As for cooking - I am inconsistent. Well...hmm.....maybe that is consistent. I've been consistently NOT cooking! :P

Well that is all for now.

Knock, Knock

2009-12-31T00:38:00.000-08:00

Knock, Knock.

Who's There?

No One

No One who?

No One Blogging!

It's been awhile!

Misses: Project 365 = failed! Blogging everyday = failed! Exercising = failed most of the year except the past month.

Pluses: A new year is about to unfold within hours! Ate vetgetarian at least once a month (um...hmm....I think I missed it for December). Read a few books. Finished a few projects. Visited a few new places.

All in all...not too bad of a year. Aside from the economy sucking...life is just peach. I wondered what 2010 will bring. :P

Day 109 - New Ceiling Lights

2009-11-10T23:50:00.001-08:00

Yah! We finally got new ceiling lights. ECA and the husband (mostly ECA) have been working on our tray ceiling for most of October and they finished! One item to cross off on my "things to do" list. :D
It's amazing because the year is almost over. As I sit here and ponder on my accomplishments for this year, I'll have to admit, I am racing against time and time is winning this year. There are a number of items I want to accomplish before the year ends but with only about 7 weekends left before the year ends, I am not sure if I'll have everything completed. Oh well....we will see.

Day 108 - Pretty Bottle

2009-11-03T23:33:00.000-08:00

I went to dinner with a bunch of strangers today. By the end of the night, the concensus was that "RAW" was not the way to go in life.

It was my first time trying out a "RAW" restaurant and probably my last unless someone else can convince me that there is another "RAW" dish out there that is tasty. And..it's going to take a lot of convincing!

What is "RAW" you ask? According to online sources, it is a lifestyle promoting the consumption of un-cooked, un-processed and often organic foods such as vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts and grain. The food cannot be cooked over 115 F degrees. I can't do it. I will gladly raise my little white flag and admit defeat if someone forces this diet on me.

Anyhoo.....I came home and then I thought of processed food. And meat. But I resisted since I ate vegetarian for most of the day. Now with about 30 minutes left before the day ends - I am ready to open up my pretty pink bottle filled with flavored food coloring pink lemonade straight from Trader Joe's. How ironic.

Day 107 - It's a Wonderful Life

2009-11-02T22:46:00.000-08:00

"Everytime a bell rings, an angel gets his wings." It is a classic line from this movie and this movie is one of my all-time favorite holiday flicks. This is a heart-warming story of a man who, basically, made sacrifaces for his family and friends. When he is down on his luck - an angel appears to help him realize how much he has touched the lives of those he's loved and how things would not have been if he did not exist. This movie is a reminder of how special life is.

I enjoy watching a lot of the classics and used to tune to the Turner Classic Movie channel when they had movies from the past on. It was one of my favorite pastimes to be a couch potato and to see how the directing and acting have changed over time. It's been awhile since I have turned to the Turner Classic channel....

Day 106 - Autumn in an Apothecary Jar

2009-11-01T22:25:00.000-08:00

I love apothecary jars in all shapes and sizes. Apothecary jars add a wonderful special accent to any room. They are simple yet so elegant.

Several months ago I bought a bunch of these jars from a newlywed selling hers. These jars sat on my console table waiting to be filled. I've been wanting to fill these with pine cones and thanks to PM's mom - I've gotten a bunch of pine cones for FREE! You see - I thought it was ridiculous to have to pay for pine cones when I could get them from the pine trees in any given park. :D

Now I have a little bit of autumn in our family room!

Day 105 - Shabu Shabu

2009-10-31T22:44:00.001-07:00

This post is for PM's mom. ;P

The husband and I had shabu shabu at home. Shabu is super easy to make at home and is so much cheaper. The only thing is that eating at home means you have to clean up after yourself.

Ingredients (replicating from California Shabu Shabu) - most ingredients can be found at an Asian market:

Garlic (chopped)
Daikon radish (chopped)
Green onions (chopped)
Spinach
Napa cabbage (sliced one inch sized)
Enoki mushroom (found at a Korean or Japanese market)
Carrots (cut in cubes)
Broccoli (cut in smaller pieces)
Soft tofu
Clear noodle
Udon
Beef, chicken, pork or seafood
Ponzu shabu sauce (for dipping, found at a Korean or Japanese market)
Sesame shabu sauce (for dipping, found at a Korean or Japanese market)
Soup base
Chili oil (for water)
Hot water in a pot

The veggies are cheap but the sauces are more expensive. Each bottle is about $ 5 to $ 8 a bottle but can be used several times.

I am picky with the ponzu sauce so we have tried three different brands! Ponzu sauce is a citrus-based sauce used in Japanese cuisine. Each brand is slightly different so my recommendation would be to try out a few to see which one suits the individual. The left bottle - Mitsukan ponzu sauce - more soy than sour. The middle bottle is the husband's favorite and it is some Japanese brand that has no American name - definitely more citrus than soy. The right bottle is Mizkan goma shabu ponzu sauce. I like this bottle although I think it can use a bit more citrus. Really - ponzu sauce is probably pretty easy to make since it's basically just soy sauce, lemon and maybe water. Chili oil to add to the hot water and to add a bit of flavor. I also add some soy sauce to the water to give it more flavor (optional).Noodle soup base for the udon and Mizkan sesame dipping sauce. This one is the best and only one I've seen.Clear noodle to go with the soup base.Udon also to go with the soup base. To prepare:

Wash and cut all the veggies.
Chop the garlic - this can be added to the hot water, ponzu or sesame sauce. I like adding it to the ponzu sauce.
Chop the daikon - this is added to the water or the dipping sauce.
Chop the green onions - this is added to the hot water.
Add water to a pot and place on portable burner or electronic burner.
Wait for water to boil - then add veggies and meat.

Enjoy! :D

Oh - the soup base is used towards the end when you want a bowl of noodle soup. Add all the udon and clear noodle to the water. Add about one or two tablespoon of the soup base to a bowl. After the noodle has cooked - add to the bowl with the soup base and some of the broth.

Day 104 - Crow's Feet

2009-10-26T23:43:00.001-07:00

Hello Blog - I am back. I don't know for how long but I hope for awhile. At least until I finish up Project 365 - that is the current plan. I hope you have not missed me much but I find that one of the most wondeful things about blogging or "journaling" is that it's on MY time.

You see, I've been busy with what is called life. It could be the mundane everyday things, nevertheless, it is still life. Life with its many faces such as the early mornings when you wake up to that fresh cup of Joe or the smile and laughter shared among friends and family. However, life also has the other side...the one that occupies most of our time. The one where most people do not enjoy. Life with its obligations and deadlines. Yes...that is life.

Life that sometimes brings you giggles as well as worries. Giggles that can lead to laugh lines and worries that can lead to crow's feet! This leads me to the topic for today.

Eye cream.

I am not sure if it really works but I am an advocate of eye cream. I believe in preventive measures versus reactive. I am always on the hunt for good eye cream. Sadly - I have not really found one that I can call my own. My latest eye cream try is the Oil of Olay ProX Eye Restoration Complex. At about $ 41.50 a bottle - it is rather steep for a non-department brand but I am a sucker and willing to give it a try. The good thing about eye cream is that it goes a long way!

Day 103 - Pumpkins! Pumpkins! Pumpkins!

2009-10-25T23:39:00.001-07:00

The little girl glanced over to her parents wondering why they left her in the middle of the road. She stands there for a few seconds contemplating her next steps while her parents continue to walk on. Within seconds - Daddy turns around and coaxes her to pick up the little pumpkin. She continues to stand there testing her grounds. Wondering if Daddy or Mommy would come to her rescue. She thinks to herself, "Maybe if I scream or maybe if I shed a tear - they'll come over. Hm...OR MAYBE I'll just pick up the pumpkin. It can't be that bad. The pumpkin looks harmless enough. It's a little dirty but that's o.k. Mommy will wash my hands and if the pumpkin hurts me, Daddy will beat it up. " ;P

And so the little girl shuffles herself over to the little pumpkin. :D

Brunch with My Family

2009-10-01T21:43:00.000-07:00

I am taking a break from Project 365 this week since I have not been consistent with daily postings. Do not worry, I will resume soon.

Anyway - we celebrated my dad's birthday over the weekend by attending Saturday brunch in San Juan Capistrano. I love, love, love the image below with the husband's silhouette in the background.
Ramos House is located on Los Rios Street, which is on the other side of the railroad tracks. It is such a charming little place that is only open for breakfast and lunch. Dining is located in the patio area, overlooking Los Rios Street.

The weekend brunch included a beverage, a starter and the main course. Since there were six of us, we all chose something different. My freshly squeezed orange juice. I love, love that they use mason jars for the drinks! This restaurant was my inspiration when I bought mason jars a few years ago!

Pomegranate and orange mimosas. A little bitter and bubbly!

The husband ordered this starter. I am not sure what the name of this plate was but it was our least favorite out of all our starters.

PJ ordered the fresh baked huckleberry coffee cake. This was yummy! The cake was light, fluffy and had just the right amount of sweetness.

ECA ordered cinnamon apple beignets - always a favorite at this restaurant and rightly so. Everybody loved this starter.

I ordered this starter for my mom. Small plate of smoked salmon lox with herb sauce and toast points. A thin layer of smoked salmon covered the plate. You would lift the smoked salmon and place the layer on your toast points. Very tasty! The salmon was not too salty and tasted quite fresh.

I ordered the sweet corn hush puppies with sweet pepper jam. My favorite starter at this restaurant! Still a favorite! Split the hush puppy in half and spread the pepper jam over the hush puppy to get that sweet and sour taste that tingles your tastebuds. Absolutely yummy!

I ordered this soup for my dad. Not sure what it was but they added popcorn on top. I did not try this starter so I cannot comment.

I ordered the wild mushroom, roasted garlic and sundried tomato scramble for my dad.

PJ ordered the smoked bacon scramble with rocket and caramelized onions.

The husband ordered mac n' cheese with smoked veggies and lemon gremolada.

ECA ordered the crab hash with bacon scrambled eggs and sour cream remoulade.

I ordered the duck hash with wild mushroom eggs and herb sauce for my mom.

My order - BBQ chicken salad with hush puppy croutons. This restaurant used to have another plate that was similar to this one called the country chicken salad with cranberries and pumpkin seed buttermilk dressing. That was my favorite dish at this restaurant. The new dish is good but not the same. :(

Brunch was a flat price of $ 35 per person. After brunch, we roamed Los Rios Street and I took a few pictures of my parents, ECA and PJ. Then my parents, ECA and PJ went home while the husband and I headed down to San Diego for a weekend getaway!

MSC - Banana Walnut Cupcakes

2009-09-30T21:05:00.000-07:00

I love banana bread so when the MSC group had this cupcake for the September bonus challenge, I knew I had to make these cupcakes.

Since I did not have any pecans on hand, walnuts would have to do for my cupcakes. I actually made the first batch two weeks ago. I also made the caramel buttercream frosting and ended up using the frosting on ONE cupcake - the one that I gave to the husband to eat. This was the first time I made caramel and I was pretty impressed with myself as the caramel actually came out, CARAMEL! :P The first round of whisking the egg whites was a no-go. I whisked for a good ten minutes (after dissolving sugar with egg whites over the stove) but my mixture never got fluffy or curdled so I ended up tossing that away. On the second round - I hand whisked over the stove for 15 minutes and that seemed to do the trick. Afterwards - I poured the mixture in my electric mixer and added the caramel. The consistency came out pretty well but I must say - it tasted like butter. The husband did not really care for the caramel buttercream so we opted to eat all the cupcakes without any frosting. Still delicious! :D

Since we were going to celebrate my dad's birthday this past weekend and I had a lot of bananas left, I decided to make another batch for my parents to take home. This time I made whipped cream and added banana chips. Verdict: My parents loved the whipped cream frosting but they thought the cupcakes were a bit sweet. Then again...I think my parents find most American baked goods and desserts more on the sweet side so maybe their comments don't count. :P
A little over a dozen cupcakes for my parents to take home to share with their friends. :)

Day 102 - White Chocolate Cake

2009-09-24T23:17:00.001-07:00

Cake to celebrate the husband's birthday. :D

Day 101 - Chicken Eggroll

2009-09-23T23:19:00.001-07:00

Panda Express for dinner. Chicken eggroll to be specific.

Day 100 - To Decorate or Not?

2009-09-21T23:59:00.001-07:00

Look what I got over the weekend! Now I can learn how to decorate all those cupcakes! :D

Day 99 - Sunday is Leisure Time

2009-09-21T00:00:00.001-07:00

We sipped our iced mochas while the people with the paper bags and shopping carts passed by us. There were a few parents with their kids but the majority were couples spending quality time together on such a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

I caught up on my reading while the husband took a nap. Life. Simply. Uncomplicated.

Day 98 - Reflections

2009-09-19T23:53:00.001-07:00

As I approached the driveway to visit my grandparents, I am brought back to numerous encounters I have had with them throughout my life. The times were quick and stifling. My maternal grandfather was a formidable man where appearance was very important and old-schooled in many of his thoughts. My maternal grandmother was a lioness with a capital "L." But that was the yesteryears.

Today - they lie quietly listening to me as I update them on my parents' lives and ask them to wish my loved ones well, all the while the windchimes chime a lulllaby for them.....

Day 97 - Zzzzz on Zimzala

2009-09-18T23:37:00.001-07:00

The clock strucked 6:15 p.m. It was time to leave the office. I grabbed my purse, searched for my keys and left the office. The weekend officially started. I rushed home, changed to a nice blue summer dress I bought from BCBG and off the husband and I went to start our dinner date.

The evening was beautiful. It was clear and the temperature was a perfect 70 degree or so. Our destination was Huntington Beach.
I made reservations for 7:30 p.m. at Zimzala, a restaurant on OC Restaurant Week's list.

Our dinner started with the server setting down a candle votive. How romantic! ;)

The server brought over a light appetizer that we did not order. That was nice of him. It was chicken salad with yogurt on a crouton. Yummy and refreshing!
And then the salad arrived. Buttercup lettuce (probably my all time favorite lettuce), carmelized pecans, sliced peaches with sherry vinaigrette. The salad was so-so for me. I could have used more dressing. The husband ordered a stone oven flatbread that was equivalent to a pizza. That was so-so too.

For the entree the husband ordered pan-roasted wild salmon. This plate was decent.

My entree was called Morroccan chicken tagine. I have never liked couscous and yet I still wanted to give it a try. OK...confirmed. I still don't like couscous.

At $ 40 a person - I was disappointed with this restaurant. The waiter was friendly and attentive but the bleh food was disappointing. My apologies for the lack of description. I was debating whether to even blog about Zimzala or not...

We left the restaurant and stopped by the grocery store at 10 p.m. at night where I decided to take a few shots of my local grocery store. Fall is just around the corner! Oh beautiful colors of orange, gold, mahogany or maroon - how I love thee!

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. My favorites are Gala and Granny Smith. Do you know your apple?

I don't get the hype with organic food but I guess whatever floats people's boats.

When I first saw this bag - I thought I had scored! Fifty cent bananas! Doh! It was 50 cents off. Blah! Yes, I bought the bag. I needed the bananas.

Yeah to Haagen-Dazs for making green tea ice cream! Score! There was only one left! Mine! Mine! All Mine!

Day 96 - Shabu for Dinner and Dessert Is A Must!

2009-09-17T23:49:00.000-07:00

Tonight I celebrated a belated birthday with some girlfriends. We celebrated by dining at the new California Shabu Shabu in Costa Mesa, CA. There are only a few places I like shabu shabu and this is one of them. It's all in the sauce. For those who've had shabu shabu, I know you're thinking, how can you go wrong with shabu?! Believe me, you can. I disliked shabu the first time I tried it and did not go back for several years. It wasn't until ECA and PJ introduced the husband and I to California Shabu Shabu that I realized there was good and bad shabu. I've been converted. Thank you ECA and PJ!

I did not take pictures of dinner. :( Now that I think about it, I should have. There were a few eye candy around and I don't mean chocolate. ;P OK - two eye candy. One was about 30 something and another was about 20 something (too young but nevertheless still eye candy).

After dinner...we went to cefiore for some yummy yogurt and of course, for "girl time." It was wonderful to catch up on everyone's life. :)

Day 95 - Chess Anyone?

2009-09-16T23:54:00.001-07:00

I have a fascination with oversized objects. Ever seen the oversized spoon and fork in those Pottery Barn catalogs? LOVE THEM! I think oversized items create depth and interest to the everyday items that we take for granted.

Here are my oversized decorations. Chess anyone?

Day 94 - My Jogging Companion

2009-09-15T23:52:00.001-07:00

I admit...I've been bad. I have not jogged for awhile. I've gone to the gym on and off. I've jogged a few times since the half marathon but it has not been consistent. However, when I do jog, the husband is my jogging buddy but I also have a jogging companion called the iPod.

Note to self - must charge the iPod. I took the iPod with me on the camping trip and it never got played. Why not? Because I didn't charge it before I left my place. I know...I am lame like that. :S

MSC - Zucchini-Spice Cupcakes

2009-09-15T01:25:00.001-07:00

I was plesantly surprised about a week ago when I received an email from Betty with Eat My Cupcake that I was admitted into the Martha Stewart Cupcake Club! Yah! Let the baking begin!

My first baking assignment in the Martha Stewart Cupcake Club was zucchini-spice cupcakes (picked out by Tracey from Tracey's Culinary Adventures). As this was my first baking assignment, I had this vision that I would create this awesome cupcake to display and take pictures. Unfortunately - I ran out of time. I never realized how many ingredients are in these recipes!

The recipe asked for freshly grated nutmeg! Where do you find fresh nutmeg and how do you grade nutmeg? I went to Whole Foods and the grocery gal showed me a bottle with whole dried nutmeg. I bought the bottle and ended up grounding the nutmeg. I also cut down the sugar to about 1 and 3/4 cups and was perfect with the cream cheese frosting. If I wasn't using any frosting - I think I would have kept the sugar to 2 cups.

Overall....I really enjoyed this recipe and would use it again! :)
And I promise to do a better job of photographing my cupcakes from now on. :P

Day 93 - Farmville

2009-09-14T22:15:00.001-07:00

I received an invitation to become a farmer on Facebook from PM's mom more than a week ago.

Life. Has. Not. Been. The. Same.

For the past week, I have been busy cultivating and harvesting my farm, nurturing it with love and attention, hoping it will thrive. (Gleefully rubbing hands together) I have plans for my farm. :D

Day 92 - She's Looking for a Recipe

2009-09-13T23:25:00.001-07:00

This was the best picture I could take of #3 while she was sniffing around in my magazine collection. I think she's trying to look for a doggie biscuit recipe.

Day 91 - My Sad Looking Coffee Plant

2009-09-13T01:31:00.003-07:00

Do you ever have those plants where you wished it would just either 1) Kick the bucket or 2) Thrive? Well...I do. I bought this coffee plant more than 2 years ago and I am still trying to figure it out til this day. I see new life on top but it's not exactly thriving but it's also not exactly dying. And I continue to water it every week, holding onto hope that one day it can reach for the light and thrive.

Day 90 - Ben & Jerry's

2009-09-13T01:31:00.001-07:00

Can you guess which one belongs to me and which one belongs to the husband?
Psssss....mine is the smaller one! Lately, the husband has been craving for Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia. I've never been particularly fond of Cherry Garcia. I find it to be too sweet for me but he loves the stuff AND I am the one who has a sweet tooth! Go figures!

Day 89 - Beware! Killer Dachshunds!

2009-09-10T23:23:00.001-07:00

Metea got this for me when she attended the Gilroy garlic festival some time ago. How sweet is she to be thinking about me?!

I haven't had a chance to initiate my vegetable garden but it's in the works and when I do have that garden, this sign shall go there. :D

Day 88 - A Little Sunny D

2009-09-09T23:15:00.001-07:00

A little Sunny D for some tasty Vitamin C. :)

Day 87 - Spacing Out

2009-09-08T23:52:00.001-07:00

I was lying down in one of those yoga moves, had #1 hanging on my legs and th0ught....hm....this is an interesting perspective to shoot her from but she wasn't really having it. I couldn't get a good enough of a clear shot so this will have to do.

Day 86 - Pismo Beach Camping 2009 - Day 3

2009-09-07T22:58:00.005-07:00

Aww....as the saying goes...all good things must come to an end and camping was no exception. The day started out early with breakfast being made by our camping chefs. We gathered around the campfire in the early morning for the final moments of Camping 2009. Then we started to pack and off we went...back to civilization.

Pismo Beach - Thank you for the fun times and I will miss you for your famous sand dunes even though I had a hell of time with my ATV and your racoon families.

Day 85 - Pismo Beach Camping 2009 - Day 2

2009-09-07T22:58:00.003-07:00

Day 2 started with breakfast. Breakfast took forever just because of the number of people in our group and the menu selection. We had so much variety. Note to self - maybe decrease the choice selection down the road?

Because breakfast took longer than we anticipated, we left for the ATV tour later than we wanted to but it was o.k. We were camping and had all the time in the world. I mean, we could be at the campgrounds...eating....

There was a minor problem with getting parental approval for a 17 year old in our party but that was fixed. And then we were on our way to the Sand Dunes. I must back up a bit, there were ten of us who went ATV-ing while the other eight went hiking. So the ten of us paid, sat through 8 minutes of safety training. OH YES! There is safety training for the operation of an ATV. What we learn from that training? Don't break anything or we will pay. There was a charge for everything and anything.

After completion of the training, we loaded up to a truck driven by a 20 or 30 something man with a Southern accent entertaining us with his wild stories. Somewhere along the way - I was a bit fearful of life. All I remembered was him telling us that his wife bought a horse for $ 5K. (Um...I wanted to ask him how he was able to afford a horse but I was concerned that he would take it the wrong way so I kept my mouth shut.)

Then he dropped us off here.
And here is me! ATV-ing on the sand dunes is a bitch!!! We paid for two hours and I was ready to go back after 30 minutes. I've been ATV-ing when we were in Bora Bora but geez...I was not ready for the sand. I. KEPT. ON. GETTING. STUCK! And then I had to deal with the stinkeye from the husband. REAL. FUN. It was not until more than an hour into the tour that I got the hang of riding the ATV.

And then we headed back and of course...started eating.

Day 84 - Pismo Beach Camping 2009 - Day 1

2009-09-07T22:58:00.001-07:00

The trip started at 6:30 a.m. The husband and I woke up to get ready and pack. My friend also came over as we were carpooling over to ECA's place. We arrived at ECA's place at 8:00 a.m.

Oh boy...we were not ready. The party was loading the camping gear and there were A LOT of stuff plus bodies! Somewhere along the way - we realized there was no way we were going to be able to fit 16 people and 2 furkids in three vehicles. Luckily, Metea and Cowman were able to take their car.

At about 1 p.m., we arrived at Pismo Beach. We missed the holiday traffic and we also got pretty decent campgrounds! YAH!! Let the camping party begin!

Part of the fun of camping is the pitching of the tents and, boy, there were a lot of tents in our group! Nine to be exact! :)
And here is our lovely tent! Welcome to our home for this weekend! What's in the tent? An air mattress, two sleeping bags, a comforter, two pillows, clothes to change and our shoes.

Most of the activities for day 1 included pitching the tent, eating, walking around the campground, eating, heading out to the beach, eating, hanging out and of course, EATING! There was a ton of eating involved!!

Day 83 - Treats for Tomorrow

2009-09-04T23:41:00.000-07:00

We are going camping tomorrow and I've made some treats for everyone. Rice krispies! One of my girlfriends asked that I add chocolate chips so I added the chips to a batch. Unfortunately the chocolate chips all melted. Oh well.

Day 82 - What's So Special?

2009-09-03T22:24:00.001-07:00

Yeah I know....there's nothing special about this picture. Other than the fact that the lime is from my BACKYARD!!

Day 81 - Family Dinner at Tasty Garden

2009-09-02T23:51:00.001-07:00

Tasty Garden

9433 Bolsa Ave, #C

Westminster, CA 92683

714-839-8580

There is a new restaurant in town. Their menu? HK (Hong Kong) style. Tasty Garden recently opened and I hadn't been there yet but the parents had. Last night they were talking about the restaurant and we decided to make it a family dinner tonight...at 10 p.m. I usually don't eat this late but the parents do not get out of work until that late and it's been eons since we've had a chance to have dinner together. Don't worry, the restaurant stays open pretty late....until 2 a.m.

Anyhoo, the husband and I met up with ECA, PJ, and the parents this lovely evening for a HK style dining experience. Upon walking into this restaurant, I am taken back to the few HK cafes we visited while we were in Hong Kong. They have an extensvie menu selection for all to choose something from.

I started the late evening with this drink (about $ 3 a drink): red bean and grass jelly with tapicoa milk tea. Refreshing. I should have ordered it without the red bean as it is really not my favorite in a drink other than those Vietnamese (Che) desserts. Oh well but I do love those grass jelly. Yum! Yum!The signature dish that I almost always order at any given Chinese restaurant: sweet and sour pork or Peking pork chops. Anybody who have dined with me at a Chinese restaurant KNOW that I will automatically order this dish...unless I know it's terrible at that place. Tasty Garden called theirs Country Style Sweet and Sour Pork (about $10 a plate). By far - my favorite dish of the night. Crispy battered pork chunks tossed with pineapple, onions and green pepper. The pork was not overly battered and crunchy at just the right places. I am salivating just thinking about this dish again. The sauce, tangy, sweet and colorful. Absolute perfection!
I don't remember the name of this dish but I think it's basically Hainan chicken. My family really liked this dish. I thought it was o.k. but I've never been much of a Hainan chicken person, although, that hasn't stopped me from trying different Hainan places. Also about $ 10 a plate.
This dish was probably the least favorite of the night by everyone. Fried clams with chili pepper flakes. I don't really care if the clams are not fresh but at least not smell or taste like it! :( Unfortunately - the "unfreshness" hits your tongue immediately the second you chew into the clam. Sad. I would not recommend this dish. Also about $ 10 a plate. This vegetable stir-fry has lotus root, snap peas, mushrooms and squid in it. This dish wasn't bad. I liked the lotus root and snap peas. I could have done without the squid. Also $ 10 a plate.
This rice dish was sticky rice fried with eggs and dried shrimp. Then they scattered some peanuts on top. I wanted to try this dish as it sounded interesting on the menu but sadly - this was a disappointment. The rice was quite dry and the dish was just o.k. We also ordered red bean pancakes but I did not get a chance to take a picture. Overall, there were a few hits and misses for the night. I would recommend the sweet and sour pork, Hainan chicken and maybe the vegetable stir-fry. Oh...I believe the husband, et al also liked the red bean pancake (I did not get a chance to try the dish).

Would I come back? Probably. This restaurant makes me nostalgic for Hong Kong. The plates are about $ 10 a plate but it's family style so remember to share. There is always the take-out boxes for the leftovers.

Day 80 - Life Starting Again

2009-09-01T22:12:00.001-07:00

It's only been two months and this tree is showing life again. Amazing! Original post found here.

Day 79 - Apple Tree

2009-08-31T20:32:00.001-07:00

Oh yes, you better believe it, I have an apple tree. What do I do with the apples? Well....nothing really. The husband and I tried a few apples from this tree and they were terrible. (Probably due to lack of fertilizer and care). Nowadays, I will feed some apple slices to my dogs.

Day 78 - Gym Anyone?

2009-08-30T23:45:00.001-07:00

I imagine migraines to me is what is kryptonite to Superman. Maybe not that bad for me but it sure feels like it sometimes. Defeated with a migraine last night - I went to bed hoping that it would be gone by this morning. Lady luck was not on my side so I drove my sorry butt with the throbbing pain in my head to Walgreens to pick up my medicine at 9:38 a.m. Walgreens did not open until 10 a.m.!!!

So I waited and waited. Then I figured while I waited - I would take a random picture. A random picture of the gym. The gym I have not visited for about two weeks. The gym that I pay a monthly fee. The same gym that I drive by almost everyday and I still manage to avoid. Yup...that's the gym.

Day 77 - Bar Hayama

2009-08-29T23:10:00.001-07:00

Bar Hayama

1803 Sawtelle Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90025

310-235-2000

This restaurant is a sushi bar and can easily be overlooked if you are not specifically looking for it as it blends in with the surrounding homes on Sawtelle in Los Angeles. Upon entering the restaurant - you will immediately see an outdoor seating with a bonfire at its center. There are a number of seatings outside as well as inside. The place is quaint, charming and, in my opinion, could come off as a bit pretentious.

On such a warm evening as today - we had a reserved table outside (thank goodness too!) to celebrate a belated birthday. The day was HOT, HOT, HOT!!! And yes, I am a wimp when it comes to heat so anything more than 82 degrees is unbearable for me.

Upon being seated - a friendly and rather cute waiter arrived at our table to take our drink orders. While waiting for the rest of our party to arrive - we soaked in the surroundings of the restaurant. We were rather early as it was about 6 p.m. and hardly anyone was at the restaurant. I recommend coming around 7:30 p.m. if you are looking for a livelier crowd.

The cute waiter came back to take our order after the rest of our party arrived. Quite courteous and friendly, he was able to make several recommendations and a few of his favorites. What I found a bit interesting is that the waiter had a bit of a giggle at the end of his conversation! I am not sure if that is a cute thing or not but I guess I can overlook the giggle for today.

We started off with garlic edamame - sauteed edamame with garlic soy sauce. I rather liked this dish with the hint of garlic and soy sauce to add flavor to the, sometimes, rather flavorless edamame.

I ordered the deep fried calamari salad - (diced tomatoes, possibly blanched or steamed asparagus, fried calamari tossed in a hayama dressing). Hayama dressing is slightly tangy and sweet. Presented beautifully in its plate, the calamari is perfect if eaten immediately. If you wait too long - the batter will soak up the hayama dressing creating a very soggy calamari that leaves little to desire on the tastebuds.
This plate was from their specials of the day and I do not remember the name. It is made up of pork chops and figs. A tasty dish - unfortunately the soggy calamari combined with the beginnings of a migraine, left me with a handicap to my tastebuds and all were slightly uneventful by the end of the night.
The husband ordered the lobster dymamite - shitake, french mushrooms, oyster mushrooms with mayonnaise sauce topped with lobster and scattered with crispy onions. I did managed to try a piece but to be honest - it was a bit uneventful for me.
The husband also ordered this dish. Unfortunately - I have no idea what it was called and what was in it. I did get to try it and again - it was a bit uneventful.
A friend ordered the poke and she thought it was a bit salty. I did not try so I cannot comment.
She also ordered this plate, which I think is the rainbow roll plate.
There were several other dishes that were ordered throughout the course of the night at our table. Unfortunately I did not capture those pictures.

The restaurant is a great place to try out different types of Asian fusion sushi and appetizer plates. Also great for a date and special get togethers. Price-wise - it was definitely on the pricey side. Prices range at about $ 8 to $ 15 a plate for appetizers with each person ordering about two plates. Everything was beautifully presented but how can you go wrong with food presented on white plates? It just screams, "Try Me." Waiter was definitely attentive, friendly and accomodating. Too bad I don't remember his name.

However, if you are looking for something to fill you up, this may not be the restaurant for you. Try the ramen restaurant a few blocks down. ;P

Day 76 - Vietnamese Dessert (Che)

2009-08-28T23:21:00.001-07:00

Thach Che Hien Khanh

9784 Westminster Ave

Garden Grove, CA 92844

714-537-5105

After dinner, the husband and I headed over to Che Hien Khanh for some Vietnamese dessert. Far left to right - Che ba mau (rainbow) drink/dessert (a combination of mung beans, azuki beans, white beans, green jelly, sugar and coconut), Flan, banana with tapioca dessert and another flan.

Day 75 - Spam Musubi

2009-08-27T21:25:00.001-07:00

Look what the husband made for dinner tonight! Shock factor! Other than washing the dishes and getting food from the frig, the husband rarely stays in the kitchen for too long but today - he managed to whip up spam musubi all by himself! Meaning - he purchased the nori (seaweed) and sauce, cooked the rice, fried the spam and wrapped everything up. Not bad huh?

Review - pretty tasty. Could use a bit more sauce but for a first-timer - I am impressed. The thing is - I ate 1.75 musubi. This stuff fills you up real quick! We have leftovers for tomorrow.

Day 74 - Happy Meal Toy?

2009-08-27T00:16:00.001-07:00

Damn! I missed day 74 by 16 minutes!! Argh!! Anyhoo - I think I got this from a Happy Meal toy. I honestly don't remember.

Day 73 - Look What I Got!

2009-08-25T23:19:00.001-07:00

Look what came in the mail today!! I am on the waiting list for the Martha Stewart Cupcake Club. :( I thought it would be nice to join some cooking or baking group but I haven't been able to get onto a group. Maybe they know I am not much of a baker or cooker but, but, but..I can try.

Day 72 - Tomorrow's Lunch

2009-08-24T23:36:00.001-07:00

I made dinner! Well...I kind of made dinner. I stir-fried the on-choy and made the rice. My mom made the meat. There was enough leftover for tomorrow's lunch. :)

Day 71 - Kim Anderson

2009-08-23T22:19:00.001-07:00

At some point in my life - I collected Kim Anderson and Precious Moments. Until I found out that there was a nickname for these figurines, "dust collectors." Boy - were they true to their nicknames. I got lazy of cleaning and stopped collecting. I still have a few display around the house now and then to remind me of my younger days. ;P

Day 70 - Blizzcon 2009

2009-08-22T22:19:00.001-07:00

The husband suckered me into going to Blizzcon 2009. Lucky for me - I had work yesterday so I was able to get out of it. :P Unlucky for me - I had to go with him today. It wasn't so bad but the event just wasn't my thing. Luckily I was able to take pictures and brought a book to read. :)

The day started out with finding a parking space. I am just amazed at how many people attend this event. Blizzcon is a two day event where the company introduces new games. It is a great opportunity for the game enthusiast to try new games, attend panels, etc. It has been awhile since I have been back to the Anaheim Convention Center and I must say - they've done a wonderful job of renovating the place. The architecture is modern and sleek with the many glass panels letting the attendee know that he or she is in the 21st century.
Some people were all decked out in costume. Look at this chick in front of me!Welcome to Blizzcon! May the gamer be with you! :-P

There were rows and rows and rows of monitors for the user to try new games. Look at how every single monitor was taken!! Such game fanatics!!

While the husband was listening to a panel, I ventured off to different areas. This looked fun. I would recommend maybe going on an empty stomach.

And what better way to make your mark then on the wall of Blizzcon!

Graffiti at its finest! These girls are real people!! No they are not cut-outs!

Amazingly. Hello Kitty manages to steal a small place at Blizzcon.

Last but not least - the highlight of the convention. Ozzy Osbourne!!

Conclusion - If you are WOW fan - this convention is perfect for you. For the non-gamer like myself - it was a bit of a bore but overall - interesting AT TIMES. Would I go again? Probably not. Unless the husband goes in costume! :P

Day 69 - Girl Night

2009-08-21T23:26:00.001-07:00

While the husband attended Blizzcon and had dinner with his geek, oops I meant his WOW buddies, I got a chance to call it a girl's night. PM's mom and I went out for Vietnamese Bun Bo Que. And what comes after dinner? Dessert! We headed over to Tous Les Jours where I ordered an iced mocha at 8:30 p.m. and a tiramisu cake.

At $ 4 a slice - that was one expensive piece of cake for so-so taste. I've had better tiramisu. Luckily the company made up for the so-so cake. ;P

Day 68 - Blizzcon 2009

2009-08-20T23:14:00.001-07:00

The husband is going to Blizzcon tomorrow. It is a two day event with activities for the game fanatic. Along with the tickets he picked up today are a few toys to hold him over until tomorrow.

Day 67 - Passion for yogurt?

2009-08-19T23:22:00.000-07:00

The husband's text at 4:51 p.m., "Work out tonight or be lazy?"

Me, "What do you want to do?"

The husband, "Hang out with you."

Me, "But gym or no?"

The husband, "U pick."

Me, "No u pick."

Then the line goes dead. I get no response. Go figures.

We ended up trying a new Vietnamese restaurant that is also a chain. I still like the original. Then we went to dessert! Yum! Yum! It's been awhile since we have had tarty yogurt. I tend to not deviate too much from my normal yogurt flavor and toppings. Today was no exception, although I did add a bit of taro flavor. It's o.k. The husband likes it more than me. My topping choices: almost always mochi and strawberries, mango for the husband, occasionally logan or chocolate chips.

A nice way to end an evening.

Day 66 - Whole Milk

2009-08-18T22:40:00.001-07:00

Before I met the husband, I did not know anyone who drank whole milk. Milk is not my friend. Milk is an acquaintance that sometimes I feel like I can do without but yet I still have to maintain the ties because there are beneficial reasons down the road that are not immediately seen.

The minimal milk I did drink while growing up was good old lowfat 2% milk. When we wanted to eat cereal, that was the milk my parents would buy for us. Hmm...so I guess I can blame my parents for my lack of height. Anyhow...boy was I surprised one day when I saw whole milk at the in-laws eons ago.

I asked the husband, boyfriend at the time, "You guys drink this milk??!"

He was like, "Yeah, why?"

Me, "Because it's whole milk! It's a lot of fat content!"

Then I proceeded to try it. Hm....nope, didn't like it. Not my thing. Too rich for my tastebuds that grew up on 2% lowfat milk.

That brings me to this weekend. When I do buy milk, it's 2% lowfat milk but most of the baking recipes request for whole milk. And then there is Costco. Get two one gallons for $ 4! That is practically the price for one one gallon at the normal grocery store. I look at the husband and asked him if we should get and I mentioned the price. Costco - you got us. We are suckers. Yes we are. Now we have one and a half gallons of milk to down by August 29, 2009.
Milk with chocolate brownie. Not bad. Wished it was 2% lowfat milk.

Day 65 - Jackfruit

2009-08-17T23:09:00.001-07:00

Do you ever wonder how certain fruits got its name? For example - the jackfruit! Did a person by the name of Jack discover this fruit so that's why we call it jackfruit? With Google as my new best friend, I was able to find out that I am not the only person who wonders this.

Wouldn't you know it....I guess I am just not that creative or unique...which leads me onto another topic when a person tells me that he/she thinks he/she is the only person who had to have this/that happen to or his/her child is the smartest, quickest, tallest, yadee, yadee, yadee.

I want to say, "Yes, you are unique just like everyone else" or "Yes, your child is unique just like everyone else's child." How I see it, if you can Google it and you find your answer....more than likely....you are not the only person with the special powers. Now for the children comparison...it must be a parent thing that you only understand once you are a parent. :P

Ahh...back to the jackfruit....our presence was requested at my in-laws today. The in-laws love jackfruit. I, on the other hand, can do without this fruit. Although I must say, the color of the jackfruit is beautiful. Oh, in case you are interested to learn a bit about the jackfruit. Here and here.

Day 64 - Blueberry Cupcake Muffins

2009-08-16T22:29:00.000-07:00

With all the food blogs out there...you'd think that I would be able to find a blueberry cupcake recipe that I like but alas..it is unfortunate I report back that I did not find one that tempted my curiosity. However, lucky for me I had a recipe that I used from the past. The recipe can be found here.

According to the recipe - it serves eight but I used a cupcake pan and yielded ten. It's classic , simple and tasty.

Day 63 - Ego Busted or Not

2009-08-15T21:31:00.001-07:00

We entered the store and approached an Asian man behind the counter who was helping an older gentleman. Most of the customers were males looking for specific items for their hobby. The Asian man curiously looked over at us and then proceeded to ask us if we had a question. I asked him if they carried the 50D. He raised his eyebrows and asked me the type of photo I was planning to take. I was taken a back by the response but I explained to him that I was interested in taking portraits and occasional landscape or action. The Asian fellow asked me if I have seen the T1i while also mentioning that the older gentleman next to me has the 50D (which was placed on the counter) and that he had to special order it. I wanted to reach out to the 50D. It was within my grasp but it was not the store's camera. I did not want to impose on the older gentleman.

The Asian fellow went on to tell me about the T1i. This is where I became timid and felt I should have done my homework before walking into such a store where too much testosterone could do harm to a female's ego. He takes out the T1i to show me. I immediately recognize that it is the younger and more technically savvy brother of the XTI. I did not mention to the gentleman that my XTI was tugged in my bag. I did not feel like I needed to but at the same time...I also felt that he thought I was either 1) One of those people who wanted to buy an expensive camera and did not know how to use it or 2) I was a small woman and the smaller Canon would fit me better. He continues to go on about why the 50D if I don't have the good lens to go with it. I mention to him that I have the 24-70 and the 50 1.4. At the mention of the 24-70, I see that he is slightly impressed and realizes that I must know a little bit about cameras but he is still not convinced. He continues to tell me the good things about the T1i while in my mind...all I wanted to do was feel the 50D and if it was compatible with me. Too bad.

Anyhoo...I thanked the gentleman who managed to stomp on my ego as an amateur photographer and quietly exited the store with the husband by my side. Luckily my ego is not easily crushed or else I wouldn't be where I am today. We went back to his parents where I managed to snap a few shots of their dog, Boba.
Don't let her size fool you. She's lovable and sweet as can be! I love how the sun was setting in this picture but as usual...pets are antsy and can never stay still for you. Oh well.

Day 62 - The Hourglass

2009-08-14T21:37:00.001-07:00

"Like sand through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives." Bet you don't know where that came from. ;P

Don't let the moments slip by without making them count. :)

Day 61 - ECA's Passion

2009-08-13T23:23:00.001-07:00

Similar his sister, ECA has a lot of hobbies but usually ECA likes expensive hobbies. One day ECA decided he wanted to turn one of his expensive hobbies to a career. Some thought ECA was crazy because he was willing to forego a decent 9 to 5 to partake on such an endeavor. For two years, ECA was a corporate slave during the day and pursuited his passion in the evening until one day ECA could not take being a corporate slave anymore and thought to himself, "The hell with it." Now ECA is a slave to his passion. :P
This puffer fish is kind of cool even if he's poisonous. Or is he?

A figurine displayed with the idea to bring prosperity and fortune to one's business. Oh, ECA is in the background probably picking on his hand again.

Day 60 - Tonight's Dinner

2009-08-12T22:13:00.001-07:00

I am pathetic. I said I boycotted McDonald's back here and I lasted for about one month. I just never blogged about the other times I had McDonald's until now. I know I belong on the wall of shame but but but I don't cook that often and MickeyD is sooo convenient! I know, I know, I am making excuses. Oh well. We'll just have to move on and look past my imperfection. I can't be perfect all the time. :P

Tonight's dinner: One hamburger, small fries and a small Coke! I found out that the price for these three items are the same as the Happy Meal! I used to get the Happy Meal but I never had a use for the toy. Oh wait...except when I met Kermie. The difference is that for this order I get an actual small sized Coke whereas the Happy Meal gives me a child sized Coke.

Dinner....so simple.
Note to self: I should try to do a better job at taking indoor night pictures.

Day 59 - Unlikely Souvenir

2009-08-11T23:14:00.001-07:00

Do you know anyone who collects hotel keys from his or her travel? No? Well now you do. Me. Oh wait...I'm kidding!

On our recent trip to Costa Rica, we found ourselves with an unlikely souvenir from that country when the husband forgot to return our room key and the front desk never asked for it. I wondered if they realize they are missing the key to room 204. Let's hope they have a spare.

Day 58 - The 19th Wife

2009-08-10T20:52:00.000-07:00

How do I pick out my reading materials? I read the synopsis and if the story catches my interest, I'll read the book. The current book I am trying to finish is a book I picked up at Costco months ago.

The story is fascinating as it deals with the Mormons and "celestial marriage" also known as polygamy. It is interesting to read about how people can be brainwashed into believing something such as celestial marriage. Thank goodness established practices and beliefs from the past are questioned in modern times, otherwise, we, as women, would be in trouble!

Day 57 - Hello Kitty!

2009-08-09T21:27:00.001-07:00

The year was 1996. I was young and looking for income to support the lifestyle of a teenager. Like most teenagers at the time I hit all the destinations that would lead me to part-time work. The MALL! I hit up all my favorite stores asking and filling out employment applications.

Sanrio was my last destination before I headed home. I walked in the store and handed my application to an associate with a Sanrio tag that had the name Joanne written on it. I assumed that was her name. Joanne took my application and said to me, "Hold on, my manager is here and let me see if she'll look at your application right now." I was young and had no idea what she was talking about but I smiled and said, "OK."

A door in the corner of the store opened and in came a small plump red-haired woman with a nice demeanor. She must be the manager, I thought to myself. She approached me, stucked out her right hand and introduced herself as Lauri. I shooked her hand, smiled and introduced myself. We stepped out of the store and took a seat at one of the benches close by. Let the interview begin. She asked questions and I answered. After what felt like an eternity, the interview concluded and she said she would give me a call in the next few days to let me know if I was hired or not. I thanked her and left.

A few hours later - my phone rang. I picked up the phone.

Me, "Hello."

The caller, "Hi, this is Lauri with Sanrio, may I speak to -----."

Immediately hearing the name Lauri and Sanrio, my hands got clampy and my heart beated quickly but I kept my cool. Me, "This is she."

Lauri, "Hi ----- - if you are still interested in the job, I would like to offer you a sales associate position at Sanrio."

I was stoaked and flaggergasted, thinking to myself, what little girl would not jump at the chance to work for THE HELLO KITTY STORE. It was the cool store where all the Asian girls worked at and where all the Asian boys went to flirt with the girls or buy cute little toys for their girlfriends. Hey...I was a teenager and I had the mentality of a teenage girl. Me, "Yes, I would love to work at Sanrio."

Lauri, "Can you stop by Monday to fill out some paperwork and bring your student permit from school? We can talk about your schedule at that time as well."

Me, "Yes, of course."

The conversation went on for another 10 minutes where we exchanged more information. I thanked her, hung up the phone and wanted to shout to the world that I landed my first part-time job! I felt like I won the lottery!

I worked at Sanrio for a number of years through high school and most of my college days. Eventually, I moved on to what I would like to think bigger things in life but I'll always have my precious Sanrio memories. I'd like to think that working at Sanrio helped to develop my career aspirations as well as enlightened me with the dynamics of human behavior. I am a firm believer that success is part luck and part hard work. I'll always remember Joanne and Lauri. Joanne for her thoughtfulness in getting me an interview on the spot and Lauri for hiring me.

Day 56 - A New Bakery in Town

2009-08-08T23:15:00.001-07:00

Tous Les Jours

9628 Garden Grove Blvd

Garden Grove, CA 92844

My mind already wandered off to the bakery even before I sat down for dinner tonight. The husband thought I was nuts as I mentioned to our friends about the bakery and how I wanted to check it out after dinner.

It didn't matter that we'd just finished dinner and how we would be completely full. It was simple in my mind. The place was new and conveniently close by. We NEEDED to check it out and I felt like I owed it to the place since I spotted it.

The concept is very similar to 85C in Irvine. Is it a copycat of 85C? I would have to say no. In reviewing their websites - TLJ has been around since 1997 whereas 85C opened its first store in 2004. One wonders if it's the other way around where 85C is a copycat of TLJ. Is the battle of the bakery/cafe about to start? Is this the new explosion similar to "PinkBerry" and "Yogurtland? Only time will tell....

I love how their logos are printed even on their tables. Talk about branding! Oh and I know I should post something about the baked goods but please forgive me because I was really full. I ordered a drink but I did buy some baked goods. I'll have to see if I can post that another day...or not.

Day 55 - Vietnamese Sticky Rice

2009-08-07T19:55:00.001-07:00

The husband loves this sweet dessert. I believe it is called "Xoi Gac." It is basically glutinous rice also known as sticky rice. I don't know how to make this dessert. It looks easy enough but I could possibly screw up easy dishes....

Day 54 - Summer's Fruit

2009-08-06T21:48:00.001-07:00

What do you think of when someone asks you what is a summer fruit? The immediate thought is the watermelon with its thirst-quenching filling perfect for a hot summer day.

But......for a summer fruit - the yellow nectarine has a special place in my heart right next to the watermelon. With the crunchy sound echoing in my ears and the tangy juices tingling and shocking my tastebuds, nothing beats taking a bite of this chilled fruit on a warm summer evening. The yellow nectarine has a brother - the yellow fuzzy peach but I'll choose the nectarine over the peach anyday with its uncomplicated skin ready to be devoured by the human mouth. Oh yes...the yellow nectarine also has a sister and another brother - the white nectarine and the white peach. I have never liked the latter siblings even though they are sweeter than this one. The yellow nectarine remains my favorite.

Day 53 - Deadlines, Deadlines, Deadlines

2009-08-05T22:27:00.001-07:00

I have been binded to these two binders for the past two to three weeks. I live and dream about work. Not by choice. I have deadlines upon deadlines upon deadlines. For the most part - I enjoy deadlines as it is a means to an end. It is the finish line or the light at the end of the tunnel. How I see it, without some form of measurement - I would probably go through life still trying to figure myself out. Oh wait...I forgot...there are days I ponder to myself what is the meaning of life but that is another topic....

We are constantly evolving. For the better I hope. Anyhoo....back to work for me.

Day 52 - KFC - Finger Licking Good!

2009-08-04T22:30:00.001-07:00

I have been sooooo busy at work!! What does that mean? Well...I don't cook that much even when I am not busy so when I am BUSY - I don't cook AT ALL.

Today - I picked up KFC for dinner. Let's just say that we have enough chicken for the next two or three days. I got suckered and bought the $ $ 22.99 meal deal and then....you get another bucket for $ 5! Ooooooo....I am in the chicken NOW! I think I will try to make some Asian chicken salad tomorrow. Oh...since I have not tried the "NEW" KFC grilled chicken, I got a bucket full of the grilled and crispy.
Let's do a litte comparison. Look at the size of the grilled drumstick compared to the crispy drumstick. :-(

KFC - you are still not a match for El Pollo Loco and I'm not even much of an El Pollo Loco fan but your grilled chicken is sad in comparison to El Pollo Loco's chicken. Boo!

Day 51 - Orange Tree

2009-08-03T20:20:00.001-07:00

My mom dropped by yesterday bearing gifts of food and an orange tree! :) How wonderful is she?! There are flower buds on the tree but I am not sure if they will full bloom to an actual orange. It's o.k. though...we have all the time and are looking forward to freshly squeezed orange juice next Spring or Summer! :)

Oh and the little guy you see in the picture is Snickers. I think he was looking for some tree bark.

Day 50 - Scrabble

2009-08-02T19:55:00.001-07:00

Do you like Scrabble? I love Scrabble and I'll play with you! :D The only thing is that certain people....ahem....like the husband...need to develop his or their Scrabble vocabulary.

Day 49 - Cotton and Scruffy!

2009-08-01T23:18:00.001-07:00

The husband and I had dinner plans with Metea and her hubby today. It was a lovely evening. We went to Open Sesame in Long Beach, CA. After dinner, the four of us went back to our place and played Scrabble. I kicked their butts! LOL. Just kidding! I didn't kick their butts but I did manage to win. While we were playing Scrabble, I managed to snap a few shots of their furkids falling asleep on our couch.

Meet Cotton - the Morkie. What's a Morkie? It's a Maltese Yorkie mix. Cotton whines...like #4. I think she would get along with my #4.Meet Scruffy. I remembered when Metea first got this little guy. I called him Scrappy. I dunno why I did that. Eventually I remembered his name. :) Maybe when I have my next dog, I will call him Scrappy. ;P Scruffy was a BAD BOY!! He succeeded in marking his territory on one of our plants!! Shame shame shame!

Day 48 - Friday Outing

2009-07-31T23:05:00.000-07:00

For this past week - I was debating whether to go or not to an art event I signed up many weeks ago. I'd been so busy at work that I felt I would be completely pooped by Friday night. After much debating back and forth, I decided to go anyway.

(Sighed) The art event was a disappointment. It was more of a social mixer for singles to meet, drink and socialize and not much to do with art. Oh well. The husband and I attended a total of 10 minutes and left.

Since it was a Friday night - we decided to head over the Guppy's in Irvine. It's been awhile since the husband and I have had shaved ice! Boy was the place crowded so we ended up at 85C to buy some more bread. I was lucky this Friday! There were a lot more choices tonight than last week.

Day 47 - The Runt - #4

2009-07-30T20:01:00.001-07:00

#4 - He's the runt of the pack. He's a brat and a major whiner. He's quite annoying. The good thing about #4 is that he gets along with most dogs.

He doesn't mind being the beta dog. Given that he has to compete with his three sisters for attention, he is an attention whore. He will run to you and look up with those doggie eyes wanting you to pet him or rub his belly. He cries bloody murder if he even thinks he's remotely in trouble! I'm not kidding when I say he cries bloody murder.

He has his moments of cuteness. It's usually when he's sleeping. :P

Day 46 - Snickers

2009-07-29T21:55:00.001-07:00

Date of Birth: October 1, 1999
Personality: Loves balls and squeaky toys. Loves chewing on bark. Stubborn. Loves to bark.

Snickers is the original dog! It was difficult to take a picture of him as each time I pointed my camera at him, he would turn the other way. I was lucky to even get a profile shot of this guy!

Anyhoo - I was looking for a puppy in 1999. I'd been reviewing the newspaper and the Pennysaver and one day called one of those listings. The lady on the phone told me there was only one puppy left and if I was seriously considering, I should come out to take a look at the puppy.

So on that faithful day in December 1999, ECA, PJ and I treaded somewhere east to the boonies where I could smell the manure at 6ish in the evening. It was dark. We arrived at the house where the lady was going to meet us. I don't remember anything about the house.

She brought out the mommy and in waddled the little puppy. He was sooo cute!!!!! He stayed close to his mom. He wasn't really shy but he was nervous. He could smell something was in the air. His siblings were gone. He was the last. I was nervous. She brought him over to me and I petted him. He was friendly but he was still nervous. He continued to glance around for his mommy. He slipped out of my hands and waddled back to his mom.

PJ squealed, "HE'S SOOO CUTE! GET HIM!" That was one of the things that I remembered from that night.

I talked to the owner and turned over my money. She gave me his paperwork (my dog is certified) and some dog food. She left the room and came back with a small cardboard box. He was playing with his mom, licking her and maybe saying his silent farewell. The nice lady picked up the little guy and placed him in the box. In the next hour, we drove home. The little guy was in the back and was preoccupied with ECA and PJ. It wasn't until that night that he realized he was alone. His mom was not around. He could not snuggle up to her like he did only hours ago. He started to whimper in his box. He slept with me that night and for the next few days.

Eventually he forgot about his mom and adjusted to his new life.

Day 45 - Are You a Coke or Pepsi Person?

2009-07-28T22:03:00.001-07:00

I am a Pepsi person but ever since I changed jobs and this new place has the perk of unlimited Pepsi - I find that when I am not at work, I will grab a Coke.

And of course - since I love reflections, here is another one for Project 365. The can almost looks like it is suspended in air. Pretty cool! :D Too bad I didn't clean the table...you can see the smug to the right side of the can.

The Bachelorette

2009-07-28T21:29:00.000-07:00

Every once in awhile I'll turn on the TV and watch whatever show that happens to be on. Today - it happens to be The Bachelorette.

Just. Shoot. Me.

I have to admit - ABC gets pretty innovative as each season ends. This season - they decide to bring back Reid at the finale. Interesting.

Lines that make me want to either roll my eyes or gag.

"I'm crazy about you.....but...."

"This is not easy...at all...."

Day 44 - Succulent Update

2009-07-27T22:11:00.001-07:00

I figured it's time to update the progress on my succulents. The original post can be found here. Wow..I just looked at the date of my original post, July 16, 2008. Pretty much a year. Well....I am sad to report back there has been some casualties. I originally started out with six catus plants. I am now down to three. :**(

Day 43 - Lychees

2009-07-26T20:58:00.001-07:00

My original weekend plans were put on standby due to being overburied by work but there's always room for some yummy Lychees!

Day 42 - What Summer is All About!

2009-07-25T21:17:00.001-07:00

BBQ-ing! Summer is all about firing up the grill, drinking lemonade and staying cool!

Day 41 - Bakeries and Pastries

2009-07-24T23:23:00.001-07:00

If it's new - people will flock to it (myself included). Diamond Jamboree Shopping Center is located on Jamboree (doh) and Alton Parkway in Irvine, CA. This shopping center has little in terms of shopping but tons of food choices. It is a gigantic Asian food court with an attached grocery store.

Pros - It's new. It's happening. It's the place to be at on any given day or night of the week. It's clean. Lots of food choices.

Cons - Parking can be a pain during busy hour. Only one entrance for cars (something that has to do with Irvine zoning so they could not have another entrance on the side of Jamboree). Restaurant prices are a bit more expensive. (I must say - I am pretty impressed with this picture. It was taken with my DSLR while I was in the car. It could be sharper but I was holding the camera versus a tripod. :D)

First destination: Bon Epi - Patisserie Cafe. A good friend of mine mentioned this bakery a few times this week so I figured, what the heck. Granted - it's not freakishly busy like 85C but it's new, clean and nice. :D By the way - making a stop at a bakery at 9:30 p.m. isn't all that great of an idea. The baked goods are limited but I'll take what I can get tonight. I think it's more of a Korean bakery since it's on the corner with all the Korean food BUT I may be wrong.

I picked up this chocolate custard pastry. I haven't tried it yet so no review. Are you salivating yet?

My friend also recommended the croissants. There are at least three or four different choices and I ended up with this chocolate croissant. Again, I haven't tried it so no review. I know, I know but I'd just eaten a meal an hour before I stopped by this shopping center. I was just too full.

After I paid for my two pastries - I walked over to 85C. It was packed and the time was 9:45 p.m. Most of the baked goods were gone so people grabbed whatever were available.

I picked up three pork sung rolls. This roll is pretty good but to be honest - I love pork sung rolls from most bakeries so does 85C's pork sung roll stand out? Not really but I'll take it. Most of other bread items were completely gone and I heard one of the workers say that the pastry chef had gone home for the day. (WHAT? But this place is bustling....don't they have someone manning at all hours? :P) I felt obligated to buy something else since I made the extra effort to drive down here so I bought a loaf of bread but no picture.
I also ordered an iced green milk tea with boba. While I was waiting for my drink, a number of thoughts came to my head.

I wondered to myself if 85C is overrated? I guess this question would depend on who you ask. Some people may not understand why this cafe is packed since they're probably thinking to themselves, it's just baked goods and drinks...like anywhere else. BUT the thing is....it's a busy bakery! A busy bakery means the hustling and bustling of customers coming in and out of its store round the clock. This in turn means that the baked goods you get are FRESH! That's really important! Nothing is worst than eating stale pastry or bread.

Here's another thing - this bakery is new to the United States. From my limited understanding of 85C - this is a popular chain in Taiwan and they've just recently entered the US market with the Irvine location being the first US store. Could this be the next PinkBerry? Only time will tell. :D

Oh yes - if you are a coffee drinker or just like to try new things - the sea salt coffee is popular here. I don't drink coffee and have only taken a sip once when I bought a cup for the husband so my review would be invalid. As for the husband's opinion - he thought it was o.k....whatever that means.

Day 40 - Randomness

2009-07-23T22:59:00.000-07:00

It's July 23, 2009. There are 161 days left before the year ends. That sounds like a lot of days but really...it's not. A little over four months until 2010! Yikes! I have not worked on the items I wanted to accomplish for this year. It's time for me to sit down and figure out how to spend the next four months productively.

And as part of Project 365 - I leave this image. Today's dinner - pork pad thai. No I didn't make it. I met up with a friend for dinner and Thai was today's dinner choice. I've never had pork in my pad thai. It's o.k. I still prefer chicken or shrimp (even though I don't like shrimp) in my pad thai.

Day 39 - What's She Staring At?

2009-07-22T22:06:00.001-07:00

I wanted to snap some shots of the male dogs of the pack but they were not cooperating today. I did manage to snap a shot of #3 staring at something. Probably #1. Aside from reflections, I love strange framing shots. This one was taken at one of those vents that are at the bottom of the walls in my garage. Oh yes...you get to see a peek of my backyard and yes, I was semi-lying on the garage floor to get this shot. ;P

Day 38 - Kumquats

2009-07-21T22:26:00.001-07:00

I stopped by my parents today to pick up dinner and decided to sniff around their backyard to see if there was anything interesting. Looks like they are finally putting their kumquat tree to use. In previous years - the kumquats would just drop to the ground and my dogs would either play or eat the little orange fruits.

I am not much of a kumquat fan but I think the husband likes these in his drinks as well as those soured plums, etc.

Kreativ Blogger Award

2009-07-20T23:29:00.001-07:00

How cool is this??! I was nominated by Karen from Karen's Cookies, Cakes & More for this award! Thanks Karen! My first blogging award and definitely a pleasant surprise! :)
A part of accepting this award is to share 7 interesting things about me, so here goes:

I fear roller coasters.
I eat crunchy fruits but will not eat soft fruits...ie...I will not touch a peach if it's gone even slightly soft.
I am terrible at remembering the details of movies and shows I've watched. Ask me more than a month after I've watched the movie and most likely my answer will be, "I don't remember."
I got a tattoo about 4 months after I turned 18. My parents found out about the tattoo when I was about 23.
I have resided in Orange County, CA since I was 2.5 years old.
I am allergic to sulfa.
I wanted to be in publication or journalism when I was younger.

Now I nominate the following bloggers (blogs I follow regularly but do not comment) for the Kreativ Blogger award:

Sassy @ Sassy Spot
Happy Homebaker @ Happy Home Baking
Kelly Nicole @ The Sunset House
Mary @ alpineberry
WanderingChopsticks
Winnie @ winnietallica
Jill @ homemade by jill

The rules for accepting this award are as follows:

Thank the person who has given you the award
Copy the logo and place it on your blog
Link to the person who has nominated you for the award
Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting
Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers
Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate
Leave a comment on which of the blogs to let them know they have been nominated

Day 37 - Coca Cola Collection

2009-07-20T22:15:00.001-07:00

We collected all four when McDonald's had this glass promotion. The husband and I will collect McDonald's trinkets from time to time. While we were dating - the husband collected all the beanie babies for me. Actually, he collected one set for me and one set for him. We also collected the Hello Kitty ones when those were available. Oh yeah...we also collected the Disney cups.

Day 36 - My New Book

2009-07-19T21:33:00.001-07:00

I picked up this book while visiting Portland's Powell bookstore. By the way - the main bookstore is HUGE!!!!!!!! I can probably spend a whole week in there visiting all the levels and tracing my fingers through the rows of books. It's sooooo cool!!!

Day 35 - Just Chillin' at the Farmer's Market

2009-07-18T21:51:00.001-07:00

The farmer's markets at any given city of state are usually made up of a collection of street vendors selling food from all over the world as well as those who sell the most useless household items but farmer's markets are super neat to attend just to see the various attendees.

While at Portland's farmer's market, I saw a lot of amusing people and scenes. I also saw those who were there to make a few quick bucks by exploiting what is considered man's "best friend" but I guess whatever works. Although...this little guy below doesn't really look like he's being exploited.... The sign reads, "Out of Work Supermodel, Anything Helps." His owner has a sense of humor. ;P

Day 34 - Self Portrait in Portland, Oregon

2009-07-17T20:33:00.001-07:00

There were sooo many images of Portland that I loved and could have chosen from but I decided to choose a semi self-portrait for Project 365.

Day 33 - All Packed & Ready to Go

2009-07-16T17:55:00.000-07:00

Destination: Portland, Oregon

Why? Just because…Should there be a reason to travel? I hope not because I’ve never really had a reason to travel. Wait…I take that back. I have had to travel a few times for weddings as well as work but other than that, my traveling has been mostly leisure.

Til then…Bon Voyage to me. ;P

Day 32 - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

2009-07-15T18:44:00.001-07:00

We went to see Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince today. I was a bit disappointed with this installment. I couldn't feel for the characters like I could in the book. I'll just leave it at that. Anybody know how to shrink this image so that the tickets can be seen clearer? If you click on the image - it will zoom and you'll get a better picture quality but I wondered how I can avoid this....

Day 31 - My Lime Tree

2009-07-14T22:17:00.001-07:00

I have a pathetic looking lime tree in the backyard. I've had the tree for almost 3 years now. It's always at the butt of my in-laws' joke. I think it's at the butt of my parents too. They like to give me grief about the way I take care of my lime tree because....sheepishly admitting...I don't.

About a month ago, I saw the tree spout a fruit. Yes, one lime! I was soo excited as I told the husband about it. He just sniggered at me and thought I was crazy. He quickly reminded me that one lime was pretty pathetic for a tree we've had for several years. I giggled while explaining to him that I didn't care if it was only one fruit...at least my plant survived and is bearing fruits this year.

As I was feeding my dogs today, I decided to look around our backyard and trotted over to my lime tree. I'll be darn, I see at least seven little green balls spouting out. How cool is that! :D

Anyhoo - I am on the look-out for an orange tree so my parents will probably pick one up for me in the next few months. Gotta love the parents for stuff like this although my mom thinks I am crazy because she got rid of hers and now I want one. You see....my parents like to plant the exotic fruits like dragon fruit and logan. Lime, lemon and orange trees are boring to them, however, I am a bit boring and tend to like more of what are considered "American" fruits.

Day 30 - Trinkets from Costa Rica

2009-07-13T23:10:00.001-07:00

The husband and I went to Costa Rica in May 2009. I never really got a chance to blog about our trip. I probably should. Maybe one of these days I will try to blog about Costa Rica....or maybe not.

Anyhoo....I like to collect trinkets from my travels but I usually limit myself to just a few selected items. During our recent trip to Costa Rica, I managed to pick up these two vases and added them to our travel collection. The vase to the right is of a howler monkey - something that is of abundance in Costa Rica. The vase to the left is of a toucan. Although it is not Costa Rica's national bird, this bird does like to hang out in that country.

Day 29 - Bare Yet Full of History

2009-07-12T23:20:00.001-07:00

We have this huge tree in our backyard. At one point, I thought of getting rid of it but I've realized this tree has history. Right now it's completely bare to the bones as we've stripped it of its leaves. Don't worry, by autumn, we'll see new life on those branches.

I don't know the history of this tree, actually, I don't even know what kind of a tree this is, but it whispers to me that it belongs to this house and a part of the land...

Day 28 - Silently Praying

2009-07-11T23:19:00.001-07:00

The day started out warm. As I drove to my morning appointment, I peeked at my car's gasoline gauge. The meter read slightly above the line before the light would go on. I figured I had about another 60 to 80 miles left. Just enough to make it to the place and back. Life is good.

Flash forward, I am done with my appointment and as I took my first step to the outside world, I could feel the instant sun blazing on my head. By now - the gas light is reminding me to go fill up. I contemplate about this for a moment. It's so dang hot and I really do not want to step out of my car in this city. I wanted to wait until I am closer to home, where the temperature is definitely 10 degrees cooler, to fill up. I take another look at my gas gauge and think to myself, I'll make it home. Not wanting to waste the last drops of gasoline, I turned off the A/C. I proceed and hell...I AM STUCK IN TRAFFIC before I even make it to the on ramp! Anyway...I continue onwards....luckily the traffic lightens up until.....what should have been the last ten minutes before I arrived at the victory line (gas station). DAMN!!!! I stare at my gas reading...it reads 0.1 gallon with 8 miles left and the traffic is moving at a snail's pace! I panick. There is no way in hell I am pushing my car! I quickly merged right to make my exit.

There is another 7 or 8 miles to get home. I am sweating and silently praying. Praying for the finish line. I don't want to walk there or call the husband. I can just see him rolling his eyes and chastising me for my laziness in not filling up before I left. One mile more to go and I continue glancing down at my gas reading every few seconds to make sure it doesn't reach zero. Ah...I see the gas station....AND....yes, I am there! My prayer has been answered! I stepped out of my car and felt the summer breeze brushing my face. This was the breeze that I waited for and why I did not want to fill up in that blazing city that is 30 miles from my home....

Apparently there is some fluctuation with the gas reading. By the time I arrived at the gas station, below was the current reading.

Day 27 - Do You Believe in a "Soulmate?"

2009-07-10T18:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I posted a picture of the external hard drive I received but I did not get a chance to open the box since I was addicted to my Asian drama and wanted desperately to finish the series and.....I did. (Now I have that SS501 song, Because I am Stupid, stucked in my head.)

Aside from that song - the drama got me wondering if there is such a thing as a "soulmate." Actually - I have encountered that word a few times this week. Once from the book, Sundays at Tiffany's and then from the K-drama, Boys Before Flowers. I like to believe in the idea of a "soulmate." To me, a soulmate is someone who gets you at a level that is so deep that only the two of you will understand and that there is only one in a lifetime. The person who gets you may not be the person you end up marrying. And although you love the person you married, that person may not be your soulmate. And if you were one of the people I asked the soulmate question, thanks for responding. :)

EDIT: Ahh....this must really be the week for finding soulmates or something. I came upon this word again as I was blog stalking one of my favorite photographers, found here, after just under three hours of this post.

Anyhoo - I finally opened the box today and this item is soooo cool!!! It's a little bigger than the Blackberry and can hold up to 142,000 images! That's a lot of images! I am amazed with modern technology! Unfortunately red is not my color of choice but it's wait 2 more weeks or red and I chose the latter.

Day 26 - Portable Hard Drive

2009-07-09T23:36:00.001-07:00

Look what came in the mail today!! I've been waiting for this item for about 2 weeks now as it was on back-order.

Random Thoughts

2009-07-08T22:55:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I've posted about random thoughts that occur to me on a daily basis so here goes for today...

MJ's albums climbed the charts again to #1. He passed away almost two weeks ago. He was an icon. King of Pop. Wacko Jacko. Talented. Gifted. Amazing. Too bad.
I went jogging with the husband today. HOLY COW! I haven't jogged in more than 6 months and I'll admit...it sucks! ARGH! And this is coming from a gal who has ran two half marathons. I'm starting to wonder if maybe...somehow...I dreamt that I ran those halves.
I got myself a mocha blended today and I was debating with or without whipped cream on my drink. I guess life isn't all that tragic if that's my biggest worry for today.
Our place is a freaking mess. I've been GLUED and I mean GLUED to either the TV or my computer screen watching Hong Kong dramas or Korean dramas for the past seven days.
I don't think I have anymore slacks to wear to work tomorrow since I haven't hemmed any of the new ones I got. Wondered what I will wear...guess I will worry about it tomorrow morning.
This month is going to be hella busy since I have two huge projects due at the end of this month.
I am going away next weekend!! YAHOOOOO!!!!
OH...I think I am going to go back for a haircut and it's only been a week. Argh....
I read a book over the weekend that was an easy read but rather peculiar. Can your imaginery friend become your soulmate? Luckily it was in a book, otherwise, that person might have belonged in the looney bin.
Ah....the next installment of Harry Potter comes out next Wednesday! I can't wait!!!

That's all folks!

Day 25 - Kit-Kat

2009-07-08T22:03:00.003-07:00

I'd like to introduce Kit-Kat. Who is she? Well, she's mommy doggie. Her three girls can be found here. She also has a son who's rather annoying to me. I've tried to get rid of him numerous times but no takers. J/K to the getting rid of him but not the annoying part. Anyhoo...she's eight years old. That's like...56 years old in dog years!

Kit-Kat arrived at our house when she was about 6 months old. Our gardener at the time had a litter of puppies and apparently wanted to unload her. I vaguely remembered her arrival. The gardener did not take very good care of the poor thing. She stunk! I am not even joking! I had to bathe her TWO TIMES in one sitting! The smell was horrid! That was the one thing I remembered about this gal.

What can I tell you about Kit-Kat? Well, she's got four kids and she shares her sleeping quarter with Snickers (daddy doggie who I have not formally introduced). She's kind of her own dog...an independent dog...does her own thing. While the kids play with Snickers - they don't mess with Kit-Kat. They leave her alone. I must say, it's quite amusing. It's almost as if they fear her....like how you would fear your own mom rather than your dad sometimes. :D She's a bit of an old soul. Sometimes while I am in the backyard, watching the kids play with each other, I can see out of the corner of my eyes that she's there..watching. I wondered to myself what is she watching. Oh...she sucks at walks. Out of all my dogs...I think she would rather sit at home than go jogging with us. :( OH...and I LOVE her button nose!