Wednesday, September 24, 2014

HOLD UP


Dear readers,

Gonna take a pause on my blog here and there... Been a rough few weeks, so gonna take a breather :)

Happy Hump Day! I know... I can't believe it's only Wednesday. 

FRIDAY HURRY UP!!!

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

#idowhatiwant


Breaking social norms
  1. I use full snorkeling gear when swimming in our fishless, chlorinated community pool. Why? I don't feel like holding my breath. 
  2. I ate a plate full of lettuce, tomatoes, and balsamic vinaigrette (It really should be spelled vinegarette...I only found out how to spell this when my spell-check kept going off) for breakfast this morning. I had a breakfast taco for lunch.
  3. I always miss #TBT (Throw Back Thursday) opportunities to post old pictures of memories... so I post them on Fridays or Mondays or whenever I feel like it.
  4. I never wash my car...it just gets dirty anyways! But I do like to clean the inside when I have time. Actually, I really want to shampoo my seats. I'll need to make time to do that. 
  5. I never make the bed. Beds are meant to be slept in & hubs and I sleep all crazy. No point making it. 
  6. I sometimes eat dessert first & entree last. I like ending on a salty note. 
  7. I wear white after Labor day.
  8. I really like this socially inappropriate blog... I will refer to it frequently when parenting.


    #idowhatiwant 

Friday, September 19, 2014

Wardrobe Items I love

2 items in the closet that I am currently loving:

I dunno what these are actually called... my friend & I call them our MC Hammer pants. Hahaha... tribal print parachute pants. They are THE BEST. I wear them almost every Friday. I would pretty much wear them every day if I could. 

They are very silky, light & comfortable!!! Perfect for hot Texas summers. And they are stretchy & not restricting AT ALL. I've gotten compliments from both teenagers & 50-year-old ladies while at Costco. Seriously, this lady stopped me for like 10 minutes to talk about my pants. I usually pair it with a black top. Sometimes with navy or red. I wasn't sure about the purchase initially... but now wish I had bought more pairs because I absolutely love them. 

Tips on purchasing MC Hammer pants:
  • Try on different sizes & different brands. A few brands looked horrible on me.... made me look like a teapot. This pair that I bought looked horrible in one size & perfect in the other size. 
  • I find that they look best when worn with sandals... not ballet flats. not sneakers. 
  • Don't be afraid of pattern... that's what makes these fun. 




I love these SHOES!!! I actually found them while shopping at a thrift store... it was love at first sight. I pranced around in them the whole time I was shopping & hubs just rolled his eyes. Anyways, so I'm not sure where the original owners bought them. When I googled the brand "Te Casan" , I found out that the whole brand flopped after a year of launching. Sad because it was actually Natalie Portman's line of shoes & there are some pretty cute shoes from that line & I like her!  I think the line failed because something to do with their $200 price tag for non-leather shoes. HAH. I got them for $25. 

Anyways, they are magenta velvet & work well for all kinds of occasions. I've worn them to work & to outings with friends & to weddings! They're wedges, so pretty easy to walk around in. Peep toes... I have a weakness for peep toed shoes. Since I normally stick to solid colored clothing, these shoes are my "accessory" to add some "oomph" to my outfits. Love them. 

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Beauty Tip #4

As I get older, I notice that more and more of my teeth have become sensitive. Especially near my gum line, there are parts that hurt like crazy when the dentist touches those spots. It's sad & painful & I want to try my best to prevent tooth decay so I can eat with my natural teeth til the day I die.

NERDBOMB time:

  • Foods that are good for your teeth
    • Dairy
      • cheese, milk, yogurt
    • Water
    • Sugar-free gum
    • Non-starchy vegetables 
      • Celery, carrots, etc. 
  • Foods that are bad for your teeth
    • Acidic food
      • Tomato sauce, citrus, apples, orange juice, soda, wine, dressing or pickled foods
    • Sticky, sugary food
      • Think gummy bears, candy
    • Starchy food
      • Bread, pasta, pastries 
Some simple rules for taking care of your teeth:

  1. After eating acidic foods, do NOT brush your teeth straight after. The acid breaks down your enamel & brushing your teeth will only worsen the damage. Rinse your mouth with water or eat some dairy & wait 30 minutes before brushing your teeth. 
  2. Try to limit the number of candy, soda, pastries you eat. When you do eat those things, try to rinse your mouth with water and/or eat a piece of cheese. The cheese will help protect your teeth by potentially coating your teeth with calcium. It also has been shown to increase the pH of your mouth (making it a less acidic environment). Low-fat cheese works just as well as high-fat cheese so choose wisely. 
  3. Ending a meal with sugar-free gum & nonstarchy vegetables are a good way to protect your teeth as well because it stimulates saliva to help break down sugars leftover in your mouth after a meal. 
  4. Of course, you always hear-- brush twice a day & floss once a day. Especially floss on days you eat meat and starchy foods-- they ALWAYS get stuck in the gaps of my teeth.

A Little Bit of Wisdom



It's not everyday that I do... but I try to read the Proverbs of the day. Example, the 16th of every month, read Proverbs 16. It works out really well since there are only 31 chapters in Proverbs. Here's the Proverbs for today (with my highlights).
Repeating themes:


  • Trust the Lord and you will be blessed. 
  • Although we may plan our lives, the Lord is the one that makes plans come into fruition. He is the one that establishes each step and decision along the way. 
  • Do things the right way. 
  • Be humble. 
  • Obey the Lord. 

Proverbs 16 New International Version (NIV)

16 To humans belong the plans of the heart,
    but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.
All a person’s ways seem pure to them,
    but motives are weighed by the Lord.
Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.
The Lord works out everything to its proper end
    even the wicked for a day of disaster.
The Lord detests all the proud of heart.
    Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
    through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided.
When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way,
    he causes their enemies to make peace with them.
Better a little with righteousness
    than much gain with injustice.
In their hearts humans plan their course,
    but the Lord establishes their steps.
10 The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
    and his mouth does not betray justice.
11 Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;
    all the weights in the bag are of his making.
12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
    for a throne is established through righteousness.
13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
    they value the one who speaks what is right.
14 A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
    but the wise will appease it.
15 When a king’s face brightens, it means life;
    his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.
16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,
    to get insight rather than silver!
17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
    those who guard their ways preserve their lives.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
    a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed
    than to share plunder with the proud.
20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,[a]
    and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.
21 The wise in heart are called discerning,
    and gracious words promote instruction.[b]
22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,
    but folly brings punishment to fools.
23 The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,
    and their lips promote instruction.[c]
24 Gracious words are a honeycomb,
    sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
25 There is a way that appears to be right,
    but in the end it leads to death.
26 The appetite of laborers works for them;
    their hunger drives them on.
27 A scoundrel plots evil,
    and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.
28 A perverse person stirs up conflict,
    and a gossip separates close friends.
29 A violent person entices their neighbor
    and leads them down a path that is not good.
30 Whoever winks with their eye is plotting perversity;
    whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.
31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor;
    it is attained in the way of righteousness.
32 Better a patient person than a warrior,
    one with self-control than one who takes a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
    but its every decision is from the Lord.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Essential Office Desk Items

Yep.
This is what my desk looks like right now. 
It's 9:30 in the morning & I've already had 2 Sour Skittles, 1 SweetTart, and 1 Ice Breakers Berry Sours. I think I like the Ice Breakers the best today. 

Swishing mouth with water after to TRY and prevent cavities. 



Little Rascal Doodies

Hahaha... OK, not as funny when hubs and I walked into this sight yesterday.
Well, mainly the smell was not the funny part.

BUT funny now looking back on it :)

Question: What is the best thing to do if you poop in an enclosed space???
Answer: Smear it all around until it covers every inch of your enclosed space & kick it outside as far as you can get it! Of course!

hahaha yes. THAT IS POOP. All the brown stuff smeared inside... and the hundreds of specks outside the cage... and the big chunky one under our TV stand. He can kick surprisingly far.


LOL. Our little granny dog ran out of the house as soon as we opened the door & didn't wanna come back in the house. I think she enjoyed the fresh air.

Hope the little rascal feels better soon...for all our sakes!

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Rooster Sauce Pairings

I know everyone loves Sriracha...




But there are actually only a few things I eat it with

  • Pho vietnamese noodles
  • Banh mi vietnamese sandwiches
  • Fried rice
  • Pizza occasionally
  • Korean food
  • Mixed with mayo-- spicy mayo to top the following:
    • fries or roasted potatoes
    • sushi
    • burritos or tacos
    • rice bowls with bulgolgi, onions, and cilantro
  • Mixed with white vinegar on potstickers- best dipping sauce for dumplings/potstickers. I even converted my husband to eat them this way instead of using a soy sauce mixture. Don't dog on it until you try it. 
AND MY ALL TIME FAVORITE:
  • Mac & cheese!!!! Sriracha with mac & cheese is THE BEST. 

I prefer to use Tabasco on basically anything breakfast-related. I mix it up with ketchup first & then eat it with:
  • eggs
  • hash browns
  • breakfast tacos
  • with lemon juice on raw oysters 

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Roomies!!!

One is a little rascal. He's playful & energetic. He always has a smile on his face. He also likes to sneakily eat my husband's macarons when no one is looking.

The other is an old peaceful granny. Peaceful but can be grouchy too. Loves anything food-related. Does not play with toys...with the one exception of the time she decided to steal my friend's Care Bear.

Can you guess which is which?



They normally don't get too close to each other (mainly b/c little granny doesn't like it), but they actually decided to be friends this day. AND ONLY this day. 






Monday, September 8, 2014

Magical Trio


If I had to pick 3 fresh produce items that are almost always stocked in my fridge, they are the following:

  • Onions (red, white, or yellow)
  • Tomatoes
  • Avocado
Why?
Because this magical trio makes any meal yummy & healthy.
Also, because these things can store pretty well  in the fridge :) Tip: Keep your avocados in the fridge when they're almost at perfection & they'll stop ripening & store pretty well. I've kept mine for up to 2 weeks before without problems. Just make sure you don't bruise them beforehand. 

Very Versatile...Think of all the ways you can use them:
  • Scrambled egg (scramble with tomato & onion); top with avocado + cheese
  • Omelette fillers + cheese
  • Lettuce wraps (see above picture) + steak + lettuce
  • Salad toppings + lettuce + protein + dressing 
  • Sandwich or burger toppings + bread + protein)
  • Tacos/burritos toppings + tortilla + protein + lettuce + cheese
  • Guacamole 
    • mash the avocado + lime + seasoned salt 
  • Salsa + cilantro + lime + salt + pepper + tortilla chips (options: + corn + black beans)
  • Pasta Salad + mozzarella cubes + pasta + balsamic vinegarette or Italian dressing
If I could add 2 more items I like to buy often for the same reasons as above, they would be:
  • Baby spinach
  • Cheese
Hope this motivates you to do some home cooking & cook healthy! :)


Friday, September 5, 2014

Favorite Dishes in Austin


In case you ever come visit... here are the dishes I love in my city!



  • La Patisserie 

  • the inside of a Crobrio


    Sea Salt Caramel Macaron, Crobrio, Almond Crossaint
    • Crobrio- cinnamon sugar 
    • Sea Salt Caramel Macaron
  • Uchi
  • Zero Sen Roll

    Bacon Steakie
    Dessert
    • Zero Sen Roll
    • Bacon Steakie
    • Machi Cure
    • Any dessert
  • Salty Sow

  • Chicken Liver Mousse with Pickled Onions
    • Brussel Sprouts
    • Rosemary Fried Chicken
    • Chicken Liver Mousse
  • Madam Mam's 
    • Pad See Ew
    • Pad Kee Mao 
    • Yellow Curry
  • Sno Beach
    • Almond with cream
    • Sweet Tea with fresh lime juice
  • La Traviata
    • Spaghetti Carbonara
  • Ramen Tatsuya
    • Original Tonkatsu with extra egg
  • Salt Lick

  • Fire Pit at Salt Lick
    • Ribs
  • Franklin's
    • Moist Brisket
    • Sausage
  • Sugar Mama's Bakeshop
    • Strawberry Love
  • Turf N' Surf Poboy
    • Anything with seafood
  • Soto

  • Fire Salmon
    • Fire Salmon
  • Michi Ramen
    • Dipping Tsuekemen ramen
  • Hopdoddy Burger Bar
    • Salted Caramel Shake
    • Truffle Fries
    • Magic Shroom Burger
    • Ahi Tuna Burger
  • East Side King @ Wonderland
    • Karage Chicken
    • Khao Man Gai chicken
  • Torchy's Tacos
    • Queso
  • Rice Bowl Cafe
    • Beef Rolls
  • Hanabi
    • Bento box lunch- multiple ones
  • Ho Ho
    • Walnut Shrimp
    • Crispy pan fried noodles

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Trustworthy Vitamins & Supplements


There is a lot of confusion about buying vitamins & supplements. They are usually placed near the over-the-counter medications & seem to be regulated... but how much? By whom? 

After learning a thing or two, I thought I would share...In reality, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate vitamins and supplements very closely.  It is relatively easy to sell vitamins and supplements in the United States and not get in trouble. 

What do I mean by that? Unlike prescription medications, there is NOT a long series of research and tests that supplement manufacturers have to go through to get approved--- For example, company X could sell a bottle labelled "vitamin D 400 units", but there could actually be only 100 units vitamin D in it...or worse, there could be small amounts of toxins and unwanted chemicals or pesticides.
The only times supplements and vitamins are given a closer look by the FDA & may potentially taken off the market are:
1) if it causes danger/harm to customers
2) if customers report these side effects to the FDA (which many people don't... they just stop taking it on their own and throw it away)
3) if enough complaints are sent, then the FDA will do an investigation. 

Otherwise, anyone can sell anything pretty much and call it a supplement or vitamin and market it as "good for your health"
HOWEVER, there are some brands who allow the United States Pharmacopeia to do voluntary testing of their products. The USP is an outside agency that will test for the following:
  • That the ingredients listed on the label is actually in the product & in the right amount Read More
  • That there are no harmful levels of specified contaminants. Read More
  • That the main ingredients can be broken down & absorbed by the body Read More
  • That the supplement was made under FDA's current Good Manufacturing Practices (quality control + sanitary environments) Read More
Here are the only vitamin/supplement brands I would currently recommend that are readily available to you: 

- Kirkland Signature
- Nature Made
- Or look for the "USP verified label" as seen on the USP website

Of course, this list can change throughout the years, so keep updated by checking the USP website on your own. 

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Wedding Planning Part 1b: Choosing a Photographer



One of my friends was recalling details about her wedding & the one thing she wishes she had been more insistent on was choosing the photographer she wanted. They went with her husband's choice- a fine photographer who has probably won many awards but a very modern, artistic, model-esque style. They paid a pretty penny, but in the end, the pictures weren't what they wanted.

Let me explain, this is a couple that is bright like sunshine! They love to smile and laugh and have fun and be silly. But throughout their wedding, the photographer had them stand at certain angles, and pose a certain way, and to NOT SMILE. NOT SMILE? This is their wedding day & they're happy & they're not models that have practiced their "blue steel" look. Needless to say, the bride felt awkward about this & I probably would have too. In the end, this photographer wasn't able to capture the essence of this couple the way someone else might have.

SO, I know this might sound obvious, but some people need reminding... but pick a photographer with YOUR style. Look through their pictures. Look at the people in it. Can you picture yourself in those pictures? Is this the type of memory you want to capture to show to your future family, future kids? Is this really you?

When I got engaged, I looked through blog after blog to figure out the style of photography I wanted. I wanted bright, happy photos. I didn't care for anything too artsy, but I didn't mind a few artsy shots as well. I wanted a flexible photographer who was OK with my crazy demands (like having a whole group shot of the 200+ people at the wedding) and who had a good temperament. Overall, we worked really well together.



That is probably the most important part of choosing a photographer. Everything else is details.

Other considerations:

  • Photographer personality
    • Are they strong willed? Flexible? Bossy? Meek? Organized? Responsive? Professional? Casual? 
    • If you know people who have previously worked with them, feel free to ask them about their experience. 
    • All of these things will affect your experience the day-of the wedding. Outspoken photographers are good at getting group photos and family photos in a timely fashion while less outspoken photographers may need your help doing so. Strong-willed photographers may be good if you're not sure what you want & you trust the pictures they take. If you have strong opinions that may conflict with the photographer's vision, this arrangement may not work so well. Communicate with them to see what they are like & think about what would work well for you & your fiance. 
  • Is there a second photographer present? 
    • I highly recommend one if your wedding is anything more than 50 people. 
    • Ask to see their work as well.
  • Will you have the rights to the pictures?
    • No, not all photographers automatically give you the rights to their pictures. Sometimes, buying those pictures costs an extra fee. 
    • Ask about this! Make sure you know what is included & what isn't
  • How many edited photos can they guarantee in the end?
    • A photographer may take X number of photos but only edit a certain percentage of them. The edited photos are typically the ones you want, so ask about this. 
  • Hours of photography?
  • Packages
    • Engagement pictures
    • Bridal portraits
    • Trash the dress pictures
  • Costs? Any extra fees? 
    • Fees for traveling between sites 
    • Fees for having pictures given by DVD/CD
    • Fees for extra time in case your wedding goes longer than expected
  • Cancellation policy? In case of emergencies, what is their policy?
  • Other options:
    • Photobook?
    • Prints?
If you have a tight budget, ways to save on wedding photography:
  • Find a local photographer in the city your wedding is located in. Travel fees add up quickly, so it's best to find a local photographer.
  • Look for photographers that are talented but not popular yet. When I was looking for my photographer, I asked friends & just browsed through many pages. I tried my best not to look using wedding websites because I found that the very popular photographers were way out of my budget. This process does take a while. After browsing for weeks, I found my photographer who didn't have a huge name yet but had pictures that I loved. He was exactly the style I was looking for & had enough pictures on his blog to show his skill/talent. His prices were about half of the other popular photographers that some of my friends had used. 
  • Limit the hours of wedding photography needed 
    • I was blessed with a few talented friends & family members who helped take pictures of us in the early morning (getting ready) and late night (family dinner) so we could shave off a few hours of professional photography. 
  • Limit the extra options you pay for: photobook, prints, etc tend to be more expensive going through a professional photographer. True, what you get will likely be higher quality, but you can always buy these things after the wedding & after saving some $. 
    • I printed our wedding album via My Publisher with a promo code & was very happy with the results. Took a few days to put the album together, but it was actually fun for me. 
In the end, your wedding pictures are VERY important. If it means you may need to splurge, maybe that's something that your close family or friends can pitch in to help "gift" it to you for your wedding gift. 

Make sure that you go with someone you trust with a style that you love. Also, make sure that you both sign a contract to guarantee everything that was discussed so there are no surprises the day-of the wedding.  

Sometimes, you just don't feel like cooking

Sometimes, you just don't feel like cooking. But you don't feel like eating out either. I felt this numerous times when I used to travel for 9 months out of the year. Because of this, I probably have more experience cooking in a microwave than most of you.

I tried to still eat relatively healthy, but as always, it has to taste delicious! Sharing some of my favorite meal-time cheats!

Tried & True.