~My Footprints in the States~

My prayers to the Haitian people

2010-01-15T13:14:00.001-08:00

The 7.0 quake striked the Haiti, 10,000, 1/3 populations of the Haiti were gones within a day.

My heart was so painful seeing this little boy.

My tears go together with this lady...

-She received a text message from her 12-year-old son Tuesday afternoon asking, "Where are you?"

Since then, nothing.

-"I went back down through the village again this day and went to so many more homes that are totally destroyed.

-"you don't have to drive to see the damage, where ever you walk there is something out of the ordinary..often the suffering is silent"

-"He wanted to die with his family"

My tears were dropping while reading the news these few days and writing this blog right now. It is really a painful for me. I was crying inside my bed last night thinking of the Haitian people. I asked myself, what if this happened around me, to my family and friends? Would I react like one of the Haitian father who lost his wife and four kids? wanted to die with my family? I'm doubt, and perhaps my answer is yes.

Reflecting myself and people around me. We complaining about life, we thinking life is suck, we wasting foods, we spending money on unnecessary things, we always think it is not enough and wanting more, and we having just too much of fun. Do we really care about what happened to the poor and the unlucky one? Are we really that selfish and only care and love those only have blood relationship with us?

I'm writing this blog, to remind myself and to share with few friends on mine, who used to think and complain about how bad is their live, try to put ourselves into these Haitian's people shoe, lossing the beloved and places to stay, don't know even know what is going to happen in the next second. Is our live really that bad comparing with the Haitians??? We have the healthy physical body, not lack of any meals in a day, with family and friends...I really think I do not have any right to complain, but to appreciate and repent, and do not take anything for granted for we already have.

I really think God has something to say to us this time...by the incident in Haiti.

To the Haitian people, my deepest prayers to you all...God, please bless them...Please...

The Precious White Christmas, 12/25/09

2009-12-25T18:59:00.000-08:00

Wish everyone a peaceful and joyful Merry X'mas! Isn't he is handsome, cute and adorable? ^_<

To be continued... :)

Oh ya...I'm back! I hope everyone has a wonderful X'mas and New Year. Although it was a little late, but I would like to share and update about what had we done during the X'mas holidays. Well, we didn't really do many activities, except friend gathering, cooking together, playing wii for the new game Super Mario Bros (emm....this is the only video game that I enjoyed alot!!!)....we did'nt even have the chance to buy the X'mas gift exchange as it was snowing the few days before the X'mas, on the X'mas eve and X'mas as well...so, we were stucked at our friend's Eunice place, and couldn't go anywhere else, as there was abt 20" snow accumulated! The only thing we can do is with the SNOW! We played snow war, made a little cute snowman (the pic showed above), the snow snow snow!!! :)

One thing we did on the X'mas eve was the one I would like to share with you all. We got the chance to go a church. Thanks to our friend, Kevin, a Indian born M'sian friend who is a sincere christian, he actually inviting us to go with him. I go to church, I guess just few times when I was still a kid...but this time, we really had a wonderful experience counting down the X'mas in a church, which I never done this is my past life! The church just located about 30 mins from the St.Paul city, it was a large, simple but beautiful church. We're able to see how christians passed the X'mas eve. We just followed what everybody was doing...we sang Holly Carol Songs, the father was having the holly speech praising the Jesus, and I see people were praying to the God, to repent and get the forgiveness from God.

Looking back myself, I asked myself if I'm that sincere to my God too. Anyhow, I really felt peaceful in the church. When I was in the church, I looked at the wooden Jesus cross, I prayed to him, for the peace of the world, with no wars, no natural disasters, but harmony and loves. I prayed!

A little something about Kenny G

2009-12-09T11:55:00.001-08:00

...We heart Kenny G...

We had a good, memorable, beautiful experience attending Kenny G's live performance. And, we got to know a little more baout Kenny G's background. Kenny G was born in Seattle, Washington. He was a Jewish, started learning saxophone when he was 11. Kenny G is in the Guinness World Records for holding the longest sustained note on a saxophone: 45 minutes, 47 seconds...this is COOL isn't??? He even showed us how he was able to inhale and blowing the saxophone at the same time, meaning to inhale to exhale at the same second, he called it circular breathing, and he used more than 20 years in practicing this technique...try it, I can't do this! :P

He was just standing less than 5 feets in front of me :) We got a nice seat!

Kenny G and his band, some of the band members were his high school friends, they have been playing music together for more than 27 years!

LKM and I were get to talk to him while getting his signature, we're so proud to tell him that we're from Malaysia :P ....He was kind of gentleman and handsome (or I should say Man :) ), when I asked him if I can shake his hand, he replied with his smiley face: oh yeah, sure...finally, I got a handshake with Kenny G! How good if I don't need to wash my hand! ;)

Kenny G's Live Concert

2009-12-04T12:14:00.000-08:00

LKM is the biggest supporter for classical music, and I personally like saxophone alot, especially to Kenny G. I'm always his no.1 BIG fan! We have almost all his CD records soundtrack and mp3. Everlasting, Forever in Love, Jasmine Flower, The Champion's Theme, The Moment, The Wedding Song...etc are some of my favorites.

This Sunday, I will be seeing him in person, his live concert. I just couldn't believe that I do have the chance to meet this Super STAR, it's so hard to express my , wordless to tell how happy and excited I am!***I'm so TOO excited***, really! I was telling my best friend, SM..."this is Kenny G you now...Kenny G, Kenny G...not play play...I'm seeing Kenny G this Sunday!"...She was joking that I made her feel more exciting now! :P

It's hard to believe that few weeks ago LKM was asking me if I want to go for Kenny G's live concert, as I missed out the Jim Brickman's one he attended. Today, I was writing a post about Kenny's G and only 48 hours later, I will be seeing him in person. Excuse me if I sound overly excited, but it truly was a miracle for me. If I were in M'sia, I don't know if I will be able to go for his concert, nor even meet him in live.

I really appreciate it. I thank LKM for treating me, as one of the B'day gifts of mine... ;)

It would be great if I able to get his signature, or perhaps a handshake. It's overwhelming and very, very touching...isn't???

A very thankful Thanksgiving!

2009-11-30T19:15:00.000-08:00

A very meaningful, thankful, colorful 2009 Thanksgiving celebration with a bunch of friend! This year, we celebrated the Thanksgiving at a friend, Eunice's place. But why is it so meaningful??? This probably will be the last gathering for few friends as they will be graduating and leaving St Cloud to other states, and back to M'sia as well. And very Yippie that we have no turkey for the dinner, everything is vegetarian...we have an American and Indian new friend're joining us this time......lastly, we managed to celebrate Richard's belated B'day as well!

Arrival the night before the Thanksgiving!

Back from grocery on the Thanksgiving morning...

Preparing Tiramisu for Richard!!!

The chef & his new assistant busying wrapping 'yong fu zuk'...the most yummiest dish!

It was really fun & memorable!

hehe...the Cinderella doing the cleaning...

SS cooking her famous TomYam fried mihun...

the colorful & adorable cups...

-Eunice,Calvin & SS-

Alvin & Eunice

me+LKM+our adopted daughter =p

the sweet & cute couple...KY & Max

...ta-da...beside these...we had hotpot on another table...

Last but not least...the girls in balck+blue...we just came out everyone wearing black and blue, amazing!!!

Dear friends, I know I gonna miss you all very much for sure! Good luck to you all for the future undertakings, do keep in touch, and Love you all! :)

My new project...

2009-10-14T13:42:00.000-07:00

It has been a long long time I didn't knit, since 5 years ago- a scarft for my buibui. This year the cold weather visited MN earlier than usual, and I decided to knit one for an aunt here as X'mas gift. She is about 60 years old, instead everyone said she looks like 40 something, which I strongly agreed. Everyone loves her, for her kind, generous, noble-spirited, and beautiful heart. I got her a mixed-colors yarn, with the combination of blue, purple, pink, yellow and green. Just like her colorful and meaningful life! =)

Raspberry Cream Torte

2009-10-13T16:02:00.000-07:00

If I would have a chance, I wish I can take a baking course in the future...

Early snow in the fall...

2009-10-13T15:53:00.001-07:00

This year, we had snow earlier than the regular season, two snows within 3 days. Supposely, Oct is the season for beautiful orange-yellow leaves, but now we see the snow in the fall. As you can see from the picture, the trees are still green and red. A friend of mine said that we don't really have summer but fall, and no fall but winter in MN...which I think it is very true...I think...I'm a strong polar bear XD

Lousy driver with the GPS...

2009-10-05T15:45:00.001-07:00

I do not drive oftenly after I came to St Cloud, it is not because my driving skill not good, but I have a very talented Ahmad-LKM, so I'm the talented passenger too :p I only drive very very short distance to the nearest grocery market and post office.

Today, I wanted to go to Walmart, just located 12-15 mins from our place, yet I can't recognize the way (remember I'm the passenger *wink*). I told LKM that I need to use the GPS...as expected, he stared at me...**speechless**...Guess what happened?Even with the GPS, I got lost...took the double of estimated time to both Walmart and back home...made more than 5 times detour on the GPS, as I missed all the instructions from the GPS...

When I told LKM, he just shaked his head and said..."next time you drive..."

My best friends here laugh at me when they know that I need a GPS for Walmart...

I'm very good at driving & recognizing the way...but I become a lousy driver when this comes with the GPS...my brain, eyes, ears, hands and legs cannot function at the same time =p

A little girl without Mama

2009-09-11T20:08:00.000-07:00

Few days ago, when I was taking bus home from the China Town in Flushing, New York. I over-heard this conversation between 2 grandma in the bus, they just stood in front of me. Grandma A was hugging her grand daughter on her chest (I believe this little girl is at least 3-4 years old), grandma B was the friend of grandma A.

This conversation is translated from mandarin, and I just cut the long story short.

Grandma B: Hey...how you doing, long time no see, you doing good???

Grandma A: Tired, really tired...I really don't feel like taking care these kids...I'm just so tired!!!

Grandma B: Where's the mama?

Grandma A: Ran away already...(then she started to sniff...I can see the tears in her eyes as our distance was very close)...nobody can help her dad if I don't help him, he needs to work to survive the family. Otherwise, I would go back to China already...

Grandma B: I'm so sorry...take it easy..easy...don't be sad...

The little girl: Grandma...are we going home for lunch???

Grandma A: Yeah...

***************************************

I always think kids without mom and dad are the saddest thing in the world. May be I have the same experience, so I know the feeling. When I heard about this conversation, my heart was so painful, my heart was crying too.

The little girl, she looks so innocent and pretty...I really feel so sorry for her; at the same time I'm touching that her grandma is so mercy and mighty, she is still willing to help and take cares this girl and her other siblings.

I hope and pray for them, for the grandma to stay healthily, for the little girl to be a happy and good person in the future. And lastly, for all the mama-will never never never leave their kids behind.

.....Bon Appetit.....

2009-08-23T17:10:00.000-07:00

The measure of achievement is not winning awards. It's doing something that you appreciate, something you believe is worthwhile. I think of my strawberry souffle. I did that at least twenty-eight times before I finally conquered it.
- Julia Child

Synopsis:

Meryl Streep is Julia Child and Amy Adams is Julie Powell in writer-director Nora Ephron’s adaptation of two bestselling memoirs: Powell’s Julie & Julia and My Life in France, by Julia Child with... Meryl Streep is Julia Child and Amy Adams is Julie Powell in writer-director Nora Ephron’s adaptation of two bestselling memoirs: Powell’s Julie & Julia and My Life in France, by Julia Child with Alex Prud’homme.

Based on two true stories, Julie & Julia intertwines the lives of two women who, though separated by time and space, are both at loose ends...until they discover that with the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible.

*********************************************************************

Julie & Julia. I'm just so felt in love with this movie. On Thursday late afternoon, LKM and I decided to watch this movie before his summer holidays end and Fall semester starts this coming Monday. I watched the review of this movie when I had My sister's keepers with my gf couple weeks ago. I would give an A++, 5 stars, incredible, fantastic, awesome, excellent, SUPER...whatever fabulous word that I can describe this movie. This is the Best Movie I had ever watch in my entire life, perhaps it was about the cooking & baking.

It was a inspirational, delightful movie full of humor and life lessons. I personally love Meryl Streep this character, of course her acting. Without questioning, Meryl Streep successfully transformed herself into character. She actually had you believing she was Julia Child. She is lovely, charming, humorous and a happy go lucky woman. Her acting was really good, love her slogan "Bon Appetit" which means good appetite or enjoy your meal in the movie, the way an American trying to speaks in French accent. :)

Julie @ Amy Adams, she is so beautiful in this movie. I must give my salute to her, for her passion and self-discipline to accomplish the project (to finish 524 recipes in 365 days) on time. Although she faces difficulties, but she still managed to cleam them up and keep going. The movie does included her strong, romantic love journey with her hubby. It's funny that Julie mentioned that she loves her hubby so much just like the pigs loves shit. :P

Things that I've learned from this movie-it's never too late or too old to let ours star shine. One seemingly small step can end up changing our life, just like Julia's (Meryl Streep) husband saying in the movie, when he was trying Julia not to give up on her hope to get some one in sponsoring her to publish the cook book. He said: "Your book will changes the whole world". And yes, she did! Do whatever we enjoy or talented at, with what God has gave us, we never know who we might inspire.

There're so much I want to comment about this movie...

Phew....OKOK... I think this is long enough...I wont's spoil this movie for you, go watch it. Hope you enjoy the movie.

"Bon Appetittttttttttttttt...." :)

Vege Tuna Buns

2009-08-18T09:42:00.000-07:00

If you know me very well, I'm a "bread" person, any kind of breads...put anything buns in front of me, my knees start to go weak...hehe...over the years, I've collected various of bread recipes. I particularly prefer the Asean style bread.
.

This reminds me of the Indian uncle who used to ride on his small motorbike and sell 'roti' (bread in Malay) in my neighborhood, when I was still a little kid...my favorite bun..."Apollo", a type of long sweet bun with the creamy filling inside with different flavor, such as vanilla, pandan, coffee and chocolate. It only cost 25 cents (the price back to 10 years ago) for this yummy and delicious long bun. I'm wondering if they still sell this bun in M'sia, I hope they do so that I still have the chance to eat them when I go home next time.

Bread, pastry, cake, pie and cookie. If you ask me to choose which one I like to eat the most, I'll list them in this sequence. There's why I never bake any cookie before ;p Apparently, I do agree that baking bread is much more easier comparing with others that may require special skills or baking method. I'll say baking bread is the most easiest than any other pastry and dessert.

Last Saturday, I suddenly had the very strong "ohm" to make some buns, and I've decided to use the vege tuna as filling as I promised my friends that I wanna make for time since ages year ago. I remember that I read a pasty baking recipe book before, this famous France baker has mentioned that as a purist, he prefers using the artisan approach, working by his own hands instead of using any eletrical mixer if unneccessary. I was joking with LKM that this save some money on my dream Kitchen aid mixer, because I have a pair of "solar hands" =p
.

Can you imagine how powerful is the little yeats, that make the dough size increase in double. I love the dough raising part alot. I love seeing and enjoying each moment, when peeping to see if my little dough is growing or not. ;p It's so exciting!!!

The not-so-good looking before putting into the oven...

...ta-da ta-da...

SUCCESS SUCCESS SUCCESS!!!!guys...these buns really taste very GOOD, they are as soft as those 'chan pau' we eat in M'sia...

.A friend of mine, ate 5 buns at one sitting :) I feel happy I'm able to bake good stuffs for people around me, and they enjoy too. It's really lots of fun in baking, and I'm loving every bit of it.

OK...will post the recipe here later...^^

Go Green-Stopping Global Warming

2009-08-12T06:30:00.000-07:00

It has been a while I didn't update my blog so often as before, a little bit busy with my sticker business these days. I guess it was because the time kids about going back to school, perhaps.

I woke up pretty early today, as I promised LKM to make him breakfast before he goes to work. Just a simple healthy combo breakfast-banana pancake with mable syrup, and soy milk. This is a very simple and nice pancake recipe that I found couple weeks ago, but this time I replaced the milk with soy milk, and the margarine with oil. It turn out to be good too :)

I wasn't feel good these few days. As I talked with a friend here, and my buddy in Melbourne,Australia, I don't feel good that everyday when I read the news, typhoon is hitting TW and mainland China, tsunami is expected in Indian Ocean and Japan again, earthquake happens every where, even airplan crash is now happens more and more frequent...the change of the climate and weather, global warming, make the planet earth sick...sigh...

I just read an article couple minutes ago, global warming is actually causes the increase of temperature, much more rain is anticipated as the ice caps melt. As a result, rising sea levels could cause much more severe flooding especially in low-lying coastal areas...if we go back to the beginning, it's no doubts why is it rain flood and forest fires happens so often in everywhere- human-caused greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane.

One's lifestyle changes can actually reduce and solve the global warming problem by reducing the CO2 that leads to this severe problem, these are pretty knowledgeable information even I didn't know about it:

-NO#1 cause of global warming. According to the United Nations, raising animals for food generates more greenhouse-gas emissions than all the cars, planes, ships, trucks, and trains in the world combined. So, save our planet-GO VEGETARIAN, at least try to take less meats.

-At home,replacing incandescent light bulb with compact fluorescent light bulbs can save 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

-Moving the thermostat down 2 degrees in winter and up 2 degrees in summer can save 2000 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.

-Driving less, carpool to work can reduce annual carbon dioxide output by thousands of pounds annually.

-Buy Local and Organic-chemicals used in modern agriculture pollute the water supply, and require energy to produce.

-Air Dry Your Clothes-Line-dry your clothes in the spring and summer instead of using the dryer. Save 700 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $75 per year.

-Saving energy at home is good for the environment.

-Become a smart water consumer.

-Plant a Tree, protect a forest.

-Reduce! Reuse! Recycle!-producing new paper, glass, and metal products from recycled materials saves 70 to 90 percent of the energy and pollution, including CO2.

-Last but not least, spread the word!!!

For more simple things we can do in our daily live to solve the global warming, here's the link for more details:

http://www.stopglobalwarming.org/sgw_actionitems.asp

As people like you and I get involved, the future will become safer and cleaner for us and the future generations.

A Day Worth of Hope for All of Us !!!!

2009-08-03T20:44:00.000-07:00

Truly inspirational video for everyone....do share this with you friends...

My sister's keeper

2009-07-21T08:25:00.000-07:00

Sara and Brian Fitzgerald's life with their young son and their two-year-old daughter, Kate, is forever altered when they learn that Kate has leukemia. The parents' only hope is to conceive another child, specifically intended to save Kate's life. For some, such genetic engineering would raise both moral and ethical questions; for the Fitzgeralds, Sara in particular, there is no choice but to do whatever it takes to keep Kate alive. And what it takes is Anna. Kate and Anna share a bond closer than most sisters: though Kate is older, she relies on her little sister--in fact, her life depends on Anna. Throughout their young lives, the sisters endure various medical procedures and hospital stays--just another part of their close-knit family's otherwise normal life. Sara, a loving wife and mother who left her career as an attorney to care for her daughter, is sometimes lost inside the single-minded caregiver she has become in her efforts to save Kate. Her strong, supportive husband, Brian, is often rendered powerless and passive by his wife's strength and determination. And their only son, Jesse, drifts, at times all but forgotten as Kate and Anna take center stage. Until Anna, now 11, says "no." Seeking medical emancipation, she hires her own lawyer initiating a court case that divides the family and that could leave Kate's rapidly failing body in the hands of fate. The judgement goes on, and everybody has to take sides one way or another. Later on, the idea about emancipation was not Anna's, in fact it was Kate, the always-sick one, who asked her to put a stop to her endless suffering.

********************************************************************

This is a best, inspirational, touching movie that I would encourage everybody to have a watch. I went for this movie with a girlfriend last night. She read the book before, and we both were so interested on this movie. It made me cried. If you plan to go for this movie, make sure you bring some tissue with you. I can hear everybody sniffing and crying so obviously in the theater.

Here're some sharing.

Watching this movie inspirated me, made me recalling both of my elder sisters, those sweet and sour memories. Time really flies, I still remember vividly when my eldest sis leave to US for her studies in 1998. It seems like just happened yesterday, and now it is about 12 years old. And that time my second sis was doing her studies in the local Uni, we barely meet each other as she came home once or twice every weekend. It is funny that, I spent 6 years together with my second sis without my eldest sis, and now I spent another 6 years with my eldest sis in the States without my second sis, PRETTY FAIR huh??? =p And now, 3 of us are apart from each other and I do miss them most of the time. Especially my second sis, everytime we chat online, she asked me when do I want to go back, if we are going back this Dec as I promised her before. I pray and hope that we will have the chance to re-union soon! I love you two =)

Kate, I really think she is a beautiful and brave girl, the main character in the movie made me cry the most, when I see her suffer from the leukemia. And the strong-tight relationship between her and the whole family, how they supportand love each other. I was thinking that, how fragile of our live as a human being. Kate said in the movie, "She is pain, her entire life is a pain". This really made my heart feel so pain. All in all, I learn from this movie, to appreciate every single person and thing in my life. To always appreciate and be thankful for having a healthy body to do many meaningful things.

This is the link for a short review of the movie,

http://www.mysisterskeepermovie.com/
.

Go watch this movie, experience it by youself...I hope you enjoy the movie!.

Appreciation-no more complaining

2009-07-16T12:13:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, LKM was watching one of his favorite TV series. There's a episode about a group of doctors and people doing the voluntary job in Kenya, Africa- dealing and helping a group of poor africans with epidemic diseases. In this particular episode, an infectious boy died in his dad's arm, nothing much the doctor can do as the kid was already in a very chronic condition. Right before he die, the main female actor managed to took a photo of this father and son, Okana.
.
It was a very touching moment. All in the sudden, something pop out from my mind. I told LKM that, "I wonder how many people in this world will never had the chance to even take just one photo of themselve in their whole life???" My thinking, may be it is an infinity figure!
.
This give me an opportunity to reflect myself. Most the time I told my friends that life is not easy, life is suffer. But, compare with people in Africa, and many other poor countries, I really think I do not have the right to say the word of suffering. No more complaining or questioning such as the food is tasteless, the bed is not soft enough, why loads of work with such low pay,...why me???...why do I need to overcome all these problems...etc...
.
I told myself that-I need to learn again, the true meaning of appreciation, and no more complaining, but sharing! Let's all add oil together!
.

13 days old...

2009-07-15T08:45:00.000-07:00

7/15/09 . Wed . 13 days old . Baby Leaves

Keep Going!

2009-07-08T09:15:00.000-07:00

Keep Going: The Art of Perseverance by Joseph M. Marshall
Product Details
ISBN: 140273607X
ISBN-13: 9781402736070
Format: Hardcover, 144pp
Publisher: Sterling Publishing
Pub. Date: October 2006
Sales Rank: 42,069

Synopsis
From bestselling Native American writer Joseph M. Marshall III (The Lakota Way, The Journey of Crazy Horse) comes an inspirational guide deeply rooted in Lakota spirituality.

Grandfather says this: “In life there is sadness as well as joy, losing as well as winning, falling as well as standing, hunger as well as plenty, bad as well as good. I do not say this to make you despair, but to teach you…that life is a journey sometimes walked in light and sometimes in shadow.”

Grandfather says this: “Keep going.”When a young man’s father dies, he turns to his sagacious grandfather for comfort. Together they sit underneath the family’s cottonwood tree, and the grandfather shares his perspective on life, the perseverance it requires, and the pleasure and pain of the journey. Filled with dialogue, stories, and recollections, each section focuses on a portion of the prose poem “Keep Going” and provides commentary on the text.

****************************************************************

Hey guys, this is another good book! Recently I have a BIG BIG obsession with reading. YES YES YES i Do!!! I found this great book from Barnes & Noble. Saint Cloud, the place we are staying currently is a small beautiful, peaceful Uni campus town. Meaning, nothing much interesting places or things we can go or do. For this reason, hubby and I used to hang out there, a dating spot in our list. ;p

To save money, we usually we go there look for good book, then copy down the ISBN and get a cheaper copy from ebay and amazon. I just bought it from ebay last week and it is still on the way to me, can't wait to read it!

July 4th Long Weekend

2009-07-07T08:06:00.001-07:00

We didn't go anywhere this 7/4 long weekend. But just a gathering with few friends and picnic at a garden in our neighbourhood.

The beautiful water fountain.

The "Yin Yiong"

Me enjoying the book...

Some of these lily can be as big as our face...

LKM's favorite flower!

The purple lavender...

Barely see this

color of lily...

Nasi Lemak as dinner

with friends...

Last but not least, the homemade pizza!

Just a simple and relax long weekend with my buddies!

I made it!!!!

2009-07-06T17:53:00.000-07:00

Given my limited artistic skills, I finally managed to paint the flower pot I mentioned in the previous blog. I spent almost the whole afternoon for the printing. It wasn't the prettiest nor perfect, and my housemate said that combination of the colors seem a bit weird too. But I'm proud of myself that at least I tried, painting doesn't seem to be that hard as I think before. I give myself a B+. ^^

Today, I was chatting with a friend that I know for more than 20 years. We both shared the life experiences that we had gone through in these years. I thank her for the precious sharing and encouragement.

Life isn't always a smooth path, but what God wants us to learn from every single moment is the most important. No doubt, action is always harder than saying. But at least we try, we have no regret. Just like what SuPing told me. Life is about learning and trying. Like my little pottery, I will never knew that I can paint if I don't try, right? Now, the original plain ceramic pot has turned to become a colorful painted pottery.

Can you see those little small leaves. It just took 3 days for these baby leaf to "pop-out". I was so happy when seeing this, this is my first time doing the gardening. They do symbolize and carry the special meaning- life is always filled with energy and hopes!

2 Sweetie Pies

2009-07-02T13:42:00.000-07:00

Time really flies, it is the beginning of the July already. My two nephews have grown up so much. Ethan just celebrated his 3rd birthday last month and he started to go to pre-K about 2 weeks ago. Yet, I haven't get the chance to see him so far... :( hopefully I'll be seeing this sweetie pie soon! He can sings and posts very well...if not mistaken, he has grown up to 1 meter height.

OK...my 2nd sweetie pie...Ivan is turning 2 next month, just like Ethan gor gor...he is a brave boy! He goes to day care too. I called him almost everyday, to make sure he won't forget me...hehe...I call him at least once a day cause I do miss him alot!!! He can now say "I U" meaning I love you since he can't pronounce probably. My sis told me that he can now reads from A-L by himself...and he EATS alot compare to last time...good job, Ivan!!!

The 3rd sweetie pie is coming soon...wohOooo, my eldest sis pregnant and Ivan is going to be gor gor next Jan. Boy or girl? Since I already have 2 nephews, and my sis has Ivan, for sure we both wanted a girl, even my brother-in-law aims for a daughter. Somehow, me and my bil have the feeling that...this is gonna be another 'bird bird' again... =p

Strawberry Picking

2009-06-30T07:09:00.000-07:00

I found an interesting berry orchard when I had a peep at ahhan's blog 2 weeks ago. I love strawbery and of cause picking them. For those who never been to orchard picking here, in the States, especially my friends in M'sia, we just need to pay for the 'box', and you can eat and pick as MUCH as strawberry you can in the orchard for FREE. Some apple farms didn't even ask you to pay for the box or plastic bag, but you just need to pay for whatever you pick and intend to buy them home, meaning FREE eating and pay only if you want to buy....*geek*...I think this is really a fun part of staying in the States which we get to do alot of activities during the various seasons!

Last Sunday, we're able to get to the Grayson's Berryland with a bunch of good friends. The good thing about this berryland is it only take 20 mins drive from our place. Good weather, good companies, sweet & sour strawberry! ^^

The entrance...

Get set...ready...we GOooooooooo!!!!

Try to be funny huh??? =p

Busy picking, chit-chatting, laughing, photo taking...

Keep laughing...

Picking strawberry seriously...

The creations of natural mother...

Strawberry forest

The girls ^^

Just me =)

The macho arm...New Ad. for the Grayson's Berryland? LOL!!!

A customer, A friend

2009-06-25T10:11:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know that I'm running my little tiny name sticker business right now. Back to few months ago, someday in the middle of April, a lady from London, UK has ordered few sets of the Hello Kitty name sticker for her daughter and relatives in M'sia...wohooOo..Malaysia, my home sweet home...since this lady has a Chinese last name and for a million reasons of my curiosity, we got to know a little for each other through emails. I knew that she was a Mauritian born Chinese and currently staying in London, UK.

2 weeks ago, she came back again for another few sets of sticker. We kind of keep in touch again through writing emails...and guess what? We're chatting with each other in google chat an hour ago...we got to know each other more this time...she is a Hakka with a Lee as last name, which is exactly same as LKM...what a match ;p

I feel so glad that my 'customers' do like and appreciate my stickers, and every time their feedbacks mean so much to me. It's not only about the business, but my hard work, effort, and perhaps.... a Friendship....

The Last Lecture

2009-06-24T08:13:00.001-07:00

Synopsis
The author, a computer science professor diagnosed with terminal cancer, explores his life, the lessons that he has learned, how he has worked to achieve his childhood dreams, and the effect of his diagnosis on him and his family.

Size Length: 206 pages
Height: 7.3 in.
Width: 5.5 in.
Thickness: 0.8 in.
Weight: 10.4 oz.
ISBN: 978-1-4013-2325-7

Publisher's Note
A lot of professors give talks titled "The Last Lecture." Professors are asked to consider their demise and to ruminate on what matters most to them. And while they speak, audiences can't help but mull the same question: What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? If we had to vanish tomorrow, what would we want as our legacy? When Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, was asked to give such a lecture, he didn't have to imagine it as his last, since he had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But the lecture he gave "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" wasn't about dying. It was about the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment (because "time is all you have...and you may find one day that you have less than you think"). It was a summation of everything Randy had come to believe. It was about living. In this book, Randy Pausch has combined the humor, inspiration and intelligence that made his lecture such a phenomenon and given it an indelible form. It is a book that will be shared for generations to come.

*************************************************

It has been ages since I last read a book. Recently, I am reading this book that I accidentally found in Barns & Noble. Actually it wasn't accidentally, I purposely looking for book under the Self-Encouragement section. And, I found this!

Although I'm just at the first 20 pages, it make me want to continue to read more. I found this a really inspirational and touching true story book seeing this Professor's optimism and strong wish to share and present his last lecture or speech during his terminal stage of pancreatic cancer. This book reminds me how precious it is to have time, health, and love among people you loved and love you. It is like I am attending the real speech.

Well, if you want to know how the entire story goes, then you will have to get a copy of this book! It is cheaper if you get it from ebay or amazon, I got it 30% off from the Barns & Noble. =)

My first Creme Brulee

2009-06-23T12:26:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in my previous blog, I just got a set of ramekinds. Since I've all the ingredients needed to make Creme Brulee, I baked few yesterday. The recipe I have is a super duper easy, simple one that doesn't need any special skill, even if you do not have any basic baking skill, you can still bake a yummy Creme Brulee. It took me less than 15 mins before putting them into the oven.

Continue for the recipe...

~Creme Brule~

Preparation:
1. 5 ramekins (I used 7 oz ramekins, so this recipe portion only can filled 3 pieces of 7 oz ramekins, so the quantity of ramekin is depends on your size of ramekin)
2. Few sheets of aluminium foil.
3. Preheat Oven to 150 C/300F.

Ingredients:
250 ml whipping cream (in liquid form)

45 grams sugar

20 grams muscovado (Black sugar)

5 Egg yolks
Few drops vanilla essence

Method:
1. Put egg yolks and sugar in a mixing bowl. Whisk until thick and pale.
2. Blend in whipping cream and vanilla essence to #1.
3. Fill ramekins with the custard mixure (#1 + #2 ) to 4/5 full. Cover with aluminium foil.
4. Bake at 150C/300F for 40 minutes in hot water bath.
5. Allow to cool and chill for 2 hours. Sprinkle with muscovado and return to the oven for another 5-8 minutes.
6. Relax and enjoy ! ^.O

A little note of myself:
-Creme Brulee is really a nice and wonderful dessert for party or family gathering!
-I cut the sugar to 40 grams.
-I didn't put the vanilla essence, I usually do not add this to keep the naturality.
-I didn't measure the amout of the muscovado but just sprinkle around the Creme Brulee.

My new "TOYS"

2009-06-22T08:14:00.000-07:00

I like to peep baking or cooking blogs and make a special meal when we have company, or just for my family. This time, when I came back from NY, I brought a cake and dessert book that we bought few years ago when we back to M'sia. I always wanted to try the Creme Brulee and Lemon Souffles. I've compared the price of ramekins ( a small glazed ceramic baking bowl ) and still couldn't make any decision, cause they are NOT CHEAP. For your information, bakewares are expensive! Anyhow, when we went to the Corningware outlet storehere last Saturday, LKM bought me a set of 4 ramekins with a reasonable price, and it was BUY 3 Get 1 FREE! ;) He said I can bake him some good stuffs, but deep in my heart I knew that he gets me the ramekin set so I don't get bored at home and keep myself busy by doing stuff that I like! =p

Yesterday, when we went for grocery, I bought a pack of my lovely flower seed, Gerbera. Also, a self painting pot from Michaels. I never done any planting or gardening nor paiting (I'm not an art person, and I can only draw lidi man ;p ) before, but all in sudden I have the 'feel' to plant flower in our place, as I mentioned before that flowers make my day. Of cause I would like to experience the process of planting a seed, till the day I see the blooming flower. About the pot painting, I just feel like I want to try and learn different thing in my life, to make it more colorful and interesting. =)

Tagged by June June

2009-06-17T09:47:00.000-07:00

A tag from my buddy June June!

Once you've been tagged, you have to write a post with sixteen random things, habits or goals about you.At last, choose five people to be tagged, listing their names and why you chose them.

OK...I'm really going to write 16 random things, habits or goals that you didn't know about me..hehe...

1. Some of my friends think I am too obsessive Organic, but I think I'm just health and environmental concern.

2. I think egg and tofu are the best delicious food in the world, I can eat them with anything, and in the rest of my life.

3. I always wanted to be a teacher, I think I'll be a teacher if I never came to the States.

4. I'm my hubby's first gf, and he is my first bf too! I think married life is great and precious!

5. I'm a chicken, sometimes I dare not to go to bathroom alone in the dark, and I hold LKM's hand or sleeve tightly in sleep.

6. I was a drum major and a volleyball school team in my primary school.

7. I'm proud of myself of my knowledge in Chinese or Mandarin, I love writing Chinese characters and calligraphy.

8. I love and I'm creative at baking and cooking. I can sit in front of the laptop whole day for searching new recipes. Home baking is the funniest hobby for me!!!!

8. I never knew how hard it was to raise a child until I became a yeeyee of my nephew, Ivan; and it's just part time babysitting!

9. I started to love the country I'm living now-The States. If I were have the fate, I'll want to stay at this lovely place.

10. If I'm affordable, I wish to have 3 kids..haha!!! I want to have 2 boys 1 girl. If ONLY we are affordable... =p

11. I can live without a TV, but not my laptop ;P

12. I used to be a very permissive person, I changed much better after knowing the Love from God. Also, I used to afraid of failures, but now I see them as a stepping stone in life.

13. As age grows, I started to love cool colors like black, grey, dark blur, dark brown and etc...especially, I like my blanket, bed, and pillow sheet in these colors cause they make me feel comfortable!

14. I wish LKM and me can have a Home Sweet Home here soon, to do what we want to do, and achive our goals. =)

15. I learn to be appreciative and thankful for what God has given to me. Living meaningful life for me is loving, giving, and sharing with everyone.

16. Writing this note gave me an opportunity to reflect on life on where I am and where I want to be.

Now I'd like to tag 5 people:

1. Bee- Please share anything about u and D, family and life in Melb although I knew many things already =p , share something that I didn't know.

2. YS- Let me know more about you, except those time in Kentucky!

3. PuiHan- Random things I didn't know about yourself and James.

4. Ms.Wong@ Feai Voon-wei, don't diam diam at Elizabeth, please updated about yourself OK!

5. Ken Hong, Jun Hian & TseHui- I miss you guys alot, now you all young adult, and I'm no longer a JieJie, time flies...tell me about life in M'sia Yay!!!

6. KokSuPing-I'm glad that after so many years we still keep in touch with each other, tell me more about you K! ;>

Surprise!!!

2009-06-17T07:27:00.000-07:00

When I was still in NY, LKM told me that he is working on something for me, a gift for me for our 1st anniversary. He said it is something that I can see, play, and eat. HE is the type that not soso romantic (may be just 50-60%), in stead of getting me a luxury jewelry or branded handbag, he will rather buy me useful things that he thinks I need, make me something with his creative brain (such as video clip), draw me pictures, or a fantastic meal, and NO flower from him (he said that is "wasting" those flowers' life @@)....last but not least, he loves to give me SURPRISE...

...Ta-Da...

This is the something that I can see, play and eat...

A lovely scrapbook that jot down our journey...

in the past Springs, Summers, Falls and Winters... (if you notice, he used some recyclable material like box, paper bag, dried leaves & small stem (=

For me, I always think that scrapbook is a girl dish stuff ;p but he did it for me...when I first see this book, I was so shock and touching...he told me he spent few nights working on them! I wonder how did he gets the ideal of making me a scrapbook, he said he has been doing 'research' on scrapbook for long...I even saw a scrapbook pictures folder on his laptop's desktop ;D

Thank You, LKM~~*

ArrGgggggggHHH...

2009-06-05T10:01:00.000-07:00

One more time, when I was preparing his lunch just now....ArGgggggggggHh..

I was curious that i didn't hear his voice, and he wasn't in the living room...and...

I really wanted to bite his back.....

Soft Cotton Japanese Cheesecake

2009-06-02T19:06:00.001-07:00

*wink*A very super duper good Jap. cheesecake, thanks Jenny for the recipe!!! *wink*

Here's the recipe:

Servings: 12

Comments:This cheesecake really lives up to it's name. It is very light and soft. My family and friends like it and I hope you do too.

Ingredients:

140g/5 oz. fine granulated sugar

6 egg whites

6 egg yolks

1/4 tsp. cream of tartar

50g/2 oz. butter

250g/9 oz. cream cheese

100 ml/3 fluid oz. fresh milk

1 tbsp. lemon juice

60g/2 oz. cake flour /superfine flour

20g/1 oz. cornflour (cornstarch)

1/4 tsp. salt

Instructions:

1. Melt cream cheese, butter and milk over a double boiler. Cool the mixture. Fold in the flour, the cornflour, egg yolks, lemon juice and mix well.

2. Whisk egg whites with cream of tartar until foamy. Add in the sugar and whisk until soft peaks form. (I whisked till medium - soft peaks for my 2nd attempt)

3. Add the cheese mixture to the egg white mixture and mix well. Pour into a 8-inch round cake pan (Lightly grease and line the bottom and sides of the pan with greaseproof baking paper or parchment paper). (In my 1st attempt, I used a 9" spring form pan, on the 2nd attempt, I used a 7" spring form & a 6" regular round cake pan)

4. Bake cheesecake in a water bath for 1 hours 10 minutes or until set and golden brown at 160 degrees C or 325 degrees F.

Enjoy!!! =)

Ivan & ah Jek

2009-05-31T16:59:00.000-07:00

Even though LKM was back to MN for a week, I think Ivan still missing his ah jek.

Me: Wei Heng (Ivan's chinese name), where do you want to go?
Ivan: Park!!! (park is his 2nd home, he will either reply you park, or gai gai (hanging out).
Me: Find who?
Ivan: ah jek... =p

While I was feeding him porridge,
Me: Wei Heng, chuk chuk (porridge) nice?
Ivan: [he nods his head twice]
Me: Who cooks the chuk chuk???
Ivan: ah jek ><" (it was his ah yee, me doing the cooking...ARRGGGGggg!!!)

Whenever I ask him where's ah jek,
Ivan: hueiiiiiiiiiii (which is fei in mandarin, in english meaning fly, he just can't pronounce it properly)
He still remember it, that we were sending LKM off, and he saw many aeroplanes all the way to the airport.
.
.
.
.
.
ah jek is still his BIG IDOL ;p

Me enjoying Home Alone

2009-05-30T09:14:00.000-07:00

Today, a beautiful Saturday...and I'm enjoying my home alone...wohoooo!!! The boy was out with my sis and bil. The house is quiet and peaceful. Accompany is good, but sometimes I think having personal space and time are good though. I really feel the FREEDOM right now, feel so relax...hehe!!!

After toddler-ing my nephew Ivan for 1 1/2 months, deep in my heart, I really feel that being a mom or dad is not easy. Parenting is not a easy job, I should not say this is a job, but responsibility. I see my impatient, careless, and mistake. Somehow, on the other hand, it's always joyful when they're behaving as "good boys", and what Ivan did sometimes make my day! No doubt, I appreciate the moment I have with this little monster, and I thank my sis so that I can learned so much about parenting. Good experience!!!

It was silly that, after taking care of Ivan for this short period, I even have the thought that..."OK, I better not to have any kids, this is extremely tiring!!! ;p " I think, at least no kids in these few years! ;p

OK...let me back to ejoy my home alone before they are back, perhaps baking a Japanese cheesecake or vege tuna bun.....CIAO~

...It's Our First...

2009-05-27T22:50:00.001-07:00

Last year, today, 5/28/08 Wed, we both got registered. Time flies, I have been being Mrs. Lee for a year... =p .....Although today is our 1st anniversary, but we're apart from each other. Since we be together 5 years ago, we'd always missed out our birthday, valentine's day or dating anniversary as we're apart from each other most of the time. Again, this is our 1st anniversary.

We didn't buy any anniversary gift, but we both wished each other by sending a sms and phone call. Deep in my heart, I already feel happy that he remembered this BIG DAY, and he said he will replace this day when I get back to St. Cloud! ;D

I always thankful and grateful for having such a good hubby. For me, a wedding anniversary doesn't mean buying any luxury gift to show your love. My personal thought, I would say anniversary is a day for the married couple to thank each other, for what they'd did for each other- the love, sharing, understanding, patient, tolerance, support, encouragement and etc. It is a time of reflection of the time of being joyful or sadness that was experienced, to bond and make the relationship even stronger! I guess these're what I'd learned in this one whole year! :)

He loves to make me video clip, this is the one he did not long ago, enjoy!

Love is not as simple

as candlelight and roses...

...love is day-to-day living,

taking time, making time to be there,

with open arms and a giving heart

...Love is the special life we share.

*~~Happy 1st Anniversary to You and Me~~*

Little Piggie is Chipping

2009-05-27T08:26:00.000-07:00

Is time to do some updating about this little piggie. Yesterday when I was preparing the dinner, this little piggie found the chip that I put aside.

Look at his 'peeping' look =P

Yippie... I found the BIGGEST one... ^^

Yum Yum Yum

想家

2009-05-13T19:53:00.000-07:00

偶尔有时夜深人静好几个星期一次

我会想家想我的故乡

想我的家人朋友

算算日子离开家的时间说长不长说短不短

不知不觉也有五年半的时间了

再算算日子已有四年没回家了

从不习惯到习惯到爱上这个国家偶尔还是会很想念我的老家

感恩上帝让我有机会到国外学习

身边很多朋友都常常会羡慕我有机会到海外去留学

可是曾几何时游子的心情就只有自己才知道

今天透过我在澳洲的死党在网上跟几个数年未见面的阿姨们录像

一个字

两个字

开心

虽然美国跟澳洲一东一西在地球的另一边

虽然隔着电脑平面

可是感觉好像亲眼看到他们像见到失散多年的家人的感觉一样

超棒的非常非常的温馨

言语根本表达不到我的心情

祈求上帝让我们能够很快回家让我能回家过过瘾时间不用很长

已经很足够了

最后还是要

。。。感恩上帝让我学习到感恩。。。

Little Hair Stylist

2009-05-08T11:18:00.000-07:00

Today, this afternoon, an hour ago, I was preparing lunch for Ivan while he is watching Barney and playing his toys at the living room. OK...I thank God that he was willing to play by himself so I get to do the cooking asap before he STICKS to me again. Most the time, I will still keep my eyes on him, to make sure he is doing ok..not putting hands into toilet bowl, playing eletrical supply and etc...

Guess what...while I was doing the cooking, I didn't hear any voice of him, as usual, I went to him again......this was what happened to him....OMG, I almost faint, and don't know if I should get angry, cry, or laugh....

This monster used this Vaseline Moisturizes for skin to gel his hair

...still dare to smile...

You can tell how thick was the gel, it was GLOSSY!!!@@

When I saw it, I was speechless, don't know if I should cry, laugh or mad!!!

He might thinking himself a handsome boy =p

Little Monster, there's still some leftover of the gel on his hair after the shower.

Like my sis said, this is the fun part of taking care kids, that they make you mad, laugh, cry at the same time. Although I really feel like vomitting blood, and beating his backside..hehe..somehow, I think this is a good memory of this little piggie and me =p

Super Elephant Glue

2009-05-05T19:09:00.001-07:00

Please bear with me, I know I'm a little too over for Ivan, but as a nanny of him, he is the biggest part of my life in these few weeks, sorry LKM =p

1/2 way of eating porridge, he zzz on the floor

Pulling my clothe, ask for 'bao bao' (hug hug)

This is what super elephant glue means!!!

haha, when I was in the kitchen...

This is how I keep him busy with the utensils ><"

Corn is his favorite snack!

To keep him BZ again!!! ;)

After I feed him water, he feeds Elmo water..haha!!!

Spring Ivan

2009-04-24T13:04:00.000-07:00

This pic was taken by Ivan, nice huh? ;p

Looks like he has learned from Ethan goh goh to post this look!

yee yee is asking me to smile under BIG HOT SUN! =(

hek ah, yoyo...hik...trying to make post for ah yee to take pic!

TOO HOT!!!

Do I look cute?

Ah yee said this pic is priceless!

He is a big big boy now, isn't? =p

Susan Boyle

2009-04-23T21:03:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk

I didn't know Susan Boyle until my sis showed me the youtube about her performance on the Britains Got Talent. I cried for the first time when I listen to it, and I cry each and everytime when I watch it again. I would say her voice really touch my mind, my heart, and my soul. No word can explain my feeling, but the tears!

Thank God for giving your beautiful voice. Thank you, Susan for showing us that as long as we have a dream, and follow our dream, the dream will come true one day! Thank you for sharing this precious gift!

Susan Boyle, you are just so beautiful. My salute to you! =)

p/s: When I was watching the youtube again this everning, Ivan came to me and pointed at the screen... said " Idol Idol " (he watchs American Idol) ...even Ivan knows she is the IDOL"...smart boy! ;D

=) and =(

2009-04-14T12:03:00.000-07:00

I'm sure all of you had this kind of feeling before, mixture of sadness & happiness. Tomorrow early in the morning I'll be leaving St.Cloud for my another home sweet home in NY. I'm on the cloud nine cause less than 24 hours I'll be seeing Ivan ( I hope he still remember me =p ) ...hugging Ivan , kissing him....wahaha...and of cause having alot of funs seeing my other family members and friends.

Why sad? I cannot see LKM everyday for at least 2-3 wks, not until he finish the final and fly to NY. ><" ...I know if you see this, you will 'ding ngor ng soon'...but I'm gonna miss him alot alot...and also Mr.Yee, SM, GY, Rich, FY, KY...will miss these kaki blow water alot!!!

I still remember a saying from my great teacher before, Bee's dad..."The most eternal possession is appreciation."

Happy Birthday BuiBui

2009-04-13T10:03:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to you BuiBui. Today is my hubby's Big Day. 2 best friends of us, Joanne & KY line up their birthday which is 11st, 12nd, and 13rd, each year they will wish each other within the 48 hours =) Happy Birthday to you J & KY.

Since his birthday falls on Monday, and he has a test today (as usual, he has exams on his bday every year, poor lkm)...anyway, we have a birthday party for him 2 days ago on the Saturday night. It wasn't a secret birthday party since he knew it when he see me bought those grocery stuffs..he is the worm in my stomach =p ....the only thing I can hide was his bday gift!

So a little about the bday party. It wasn't a Big party, but a simple & meaningful one, with just couple of our buddies here. It was kind like a potluck party, which LKM requested each of them to prepare one dish..hehe, and save money on the bday gift...this really save ALOT of my energy! ;)

This year, I had a hard time picking gift for him, he has everything he needs, he told me he doesn't know need anything instead, and I do not have money to get him any luxury stuff, so I ended up copy my sis, which is to get a GPS for him...I really think we need a GPS here, to save our time on copying map everytime we need to go to a new place. THANKS all my best friends here for sharing the gift too!!!!

Happy Birthday Big Boy!

In stead of a big cake, I'd decided to bake him cupcakes, decorating cupcake is really fun, I enjoyed and love it bery bery muchie!!!

Busying around to play his with new toy..lol...

His favorite, now became everyone's favorite ;)

He said this looks like he is kissing me ..@@

I LOVE U ALL~~*

I LOVE U...Thank GOD for bringing us together! =)

Another birthday surprise, it was 12 sth am last night. Somebody was ringing our door bell, we thought someone in might forgot to bring key as this happened very often, but the bell keep ringing. OK...SURPRISE...a bunch of his Indian & Nepal coursemates came with a cake, to celebrate his big day! How touch...Thanks guys!

LKM said he really happy, to have such a memorable bday this year, he appreciates all the things everyone has done to him! =D

Ear Wax or Raisin????

2009-04-08T20:13:00.000-07:00

Just few minutes ago, I was chatting with my 2nd sis (in M'sia) and Big sis (in NY) in MSN as usual. Below was the conversation among us...

p/s: tt is my eldest nephew a.k.a Ethan

Winny says:
wanna tell u smtg
tt ar
last sun i gorek something Weird from his ear
u guess wat
raisin in his right ear
OMG
he put 1 biji raisin in his ear i think 2-3 mths ago
i saw the thing after CNY, tot is "ear shit"
then i go buy those gorek de thing from anakku
then i lengan x 2 for 1 mth
after tat sun i free n suddenly remember the thing then i wanna gorek the shit for him
then only find out is raisin
pengsan
really scare me
i asked him did he put anything in his ear? he said yes
raisin
faint
Winny just sent you a nudge.
~幸福姨姨~ says:
haha
omg
Winny says:
luckily nothign happen to his ear
~ 麥潔盈 ~*unicef says:
omg
this mommy
Winny says:
How i know he so naughty le
tot is ear shit mah

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Busy Week

2009-04-07T08:59:00.000-07:00

This is gonna be a busy week for me, things to do:

planning for someone's secret bday

updating the business stuffs

packing to go back to my home sweet home (yes, i can see my ivan...FINALLY =p )

"Love is the flower you've got to let grow."
John Lennon

Maple Syrup Festival

2009-03-30T21:13:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, LKM, myself and 2 friends went to a Maple Syrup Festival. This festival was actually organized by LKM's Uni, but not so many students signing up, so we ended up driving there by ourselves. The weather was pretty cold (unexpectedly, it was below 0'C again) on that day, somehow we were enjoying and had lots of funs. This were new experience we learned regarding tapping the maple syrup tree:

Native American living in the nothern part of America, were the first people known to have produced maple syrup.
It is harvested by tapping the tree through the bark and into the wood, the sap then will flow into the plastic bag or bucket.
Maple tree can only be tapped during the spring and fall season @ freezing temperature at night and above freezing temperature in the day time. why? due to the pressure factor.
Maple tree doesn't like hot summer. =p
40 gallons of sap collected will only produces 1 gallon of maple syrup. (so, do not waste any syrup when you go to IHOP!)
How do you know if the maple tree is OK to tap? at least 10" of diameter for the tree.
Is vanila ice-cream+hot maple syrup taste good? Absolutely yes!!!!!

This is how the sap is collected, reminds me of the rubber tree in M'sia =p

Another way of collecting sap from the stronger tree, you can see the plastic bucket hanged everywhere.

Bear with my 2.0 megapixel cellphone. This taught us a lesson that, always charge the camera battery if you know you need to go out for any activity. ><"

Someone is enjoying the ice-cream!

Heated iron bar as souvenir for kids!

Last but not least, the vanila ice-cream + hot maple syrup. I am not the big fans for vanilla flavour ice-cream, but this was the BEST one I ever had. BRAVO~

A Lesson from Crayons

2009-03-26T13:47:00.000-07:00

I suddenly recall this in my mind, and I wanted to jot down before I forget. Couple weeks ago I followed LKM for his lion dance performance to an elementary school in our neighborhood. I walked around the school, and I was attracted by a big poster in an art room where they stored the painting tools and student's art work.

It was a big crayon poster with few sentences on it:

There are many colors in a box of crayon, some of them are long, some are short and dull, some are sharp, some are bright, and every crayons has different name. No matter how, these crayons still have to live together.

Did you get the message behind this box of crayon?=)

He has a BIG dream =)

2009-03-25T19:33:00.000-07:00

No doubt, everyone has a dream that she/he wishes to achieve in life. For myself, I always wish and wanted to own a kinder garden since I was young. I don't know if this will becomes reality, but I believe if there's a dream or hope, my dream might comes true one day!

Ok...enough, this blog is not all about me but my LKM. Last night, surprisingly he told me that something was bothering his mind these few days. Guess what, as a Engineering Managment graduate student, he was thinking to run a vegetarian sushi restaurant @@" ...FYI, we both are big fans for sushi, opsss...I should say most of our family members too (including my big sis, bro-in-law, and the little Ivan who loves seaweed).

Back to LKM, he loves eating sushi, and he loves making sushi too (he just sit next to me, and knowing I'm blogging about him..haha, he mentioned he more prefers in making sushi to others). If I'm not mistaken, he started making sushi when were're during our uni life in Kentucky. Gradually, he became more enthusiatic in making sushi. Our friends in New York even called him as Sushi Master. He is really creative at making different type of sushi. ;p

Back to his big dream---> to own a vegetarian sushi restaurant here. LKM, I wish your dream will comes true one day! =)

Here're some pictures from these few years.

Caterpillar Roll

Strawberry, Honeydew, Mango ;P

He learned the tamago from youtube!

* He has couple of sushi albums in his hard disk. =p

HoneyMoon to Europe

2009-03-21T13:56:00.000-07:00

Few days ago, I had a conversation with LKM. Here's our conversation translated in English:

Me: " Baby, can you bring me to Japan for our honeymoon next time?"

LKM: " Huh...why Japan? It's too crowded!!!"

Me: " Cause Japan is beautiful, and I like their culture."

LKM: " emmm....we go Europe lah."

Me: "really???"

LKM: " Yeah...but need to have $$$."

Me: " (^^)"

I told him that I want to jot this down as an evidence that he has once promised me for our Europe Honeymoon. =)

Tag Folder #6 and Picture #6

2009-03-19T10:02:00.000-07:00

***Rules***
1. Go to your Picture Folder on your computer or wherever you store your pictures.
2. Go to the 6th Folder and then pick the 6th Picture.
3. Post it on your bloggy and tell the story that goes with the picture.
4. Tag 5 other glorious peoples to do the same thing and leave a comment on their bloggy tellin’them ’bout it

I have been tagging by my sis to do this, bear with my good memory, she has been asking me for at least 3 times where is my #6 picture....Okay, dear sis...here is my 6th pic in my #6 folder. Lucky me to have the #6 folder since I just have this new laptop not long ago, and I didn't have too many pictures here.

Here's the picture of my Big darling & Small darling-LKM & Ivan. This picture was taken on the X'mas day 2008 by me right before this happy boy is ready to go for napping. We were celebrating at my aunt's house @ Long Island. It was really a memorable Christmas cause all of my family members got the chance to be together!

Let's talk about Ivan with his ah jek. They have the same '2nd birthday date' =p ...I think they must have a very deep good fate in the past. I still remember they zzzZZ with each other when Ivan was a little tiny baby, and LKM helped my sis to babysis Ivan too! And now, Ivan gets happy everytime he see LKM through the webcam, and everytime I ask LKM if he miss Ivan, he does! Can't wait to see this handsome boy in the summer!!!

Tag to:

1. Puihan

2. June

3. Feai

Gerbera @ My Happy Flower

2009-03-18T16:40:00.000-07:00

Among all the flowers, Gerbera is my favorite. I love this flower since I was young and if you ask me why, I do not have any reason but I just have a very deep lovely feeling on it. The only thing I can tell is whenever I see Gerbera, I have the urge of buying them, they just cheer me up and brighten my day. Gerbera is my happy flower!

Gerbera is a genus of ornamental plants from the sunflower family (Asteraceae). It was named in honor of the German naturalist Traugott Gerber. It has approximately 30 species in the wild, including South America, Africa and tropical Asia.

Meanings of gerbera: The fifth most popular flower in the world, gerbera can means innocence, purity, beauty, and cheerfulness.

Oreo Choco Cake

2009-03-17T10:39:00.001-07:00

Last week was the 21st birthday of our best friend here, and I'd promised to bake him an oreo chocolate cake. Dada.....here're the picture of the cake. Thank them for suggesting me to put the oreo powder around the cake made the cake looks more FANCY. This was the 2nd time I made this kind of birthday cake, and I really enjoyed it! Everybody said my cake taste delicious =p...THANK YOU! ^^

Spring's snow???

2009-03-10T10:28:00.001-07:00

2 weeks ago, I was talking with my friend that we are going to build snowman next week, which was last weekend. Somehow, the temperature suddenly raised up above 0'C and we can see melted ice and snow everywhere. The weather was super duper nice and warm, we can just go out with a normal jacket (not winter's one), no glove, no winter hat, and no scarft! And I was thinking that there's no chace to build a snowman this year since there're not much snow left. I am already in the spring mood to wave my BYEBYE to the winter.....and this morning...

Ices sticked on my room's window

about 20 mins before I start writing this blog

10 mins later

all white within another few mins

I think there're still plenty of chances for me to build snowman this Spring...V(^0^)V

New hair cut...;)

2009-03-02T21:22:00.000-08:00

I don't know if anyone has this kind of experience before, for us as a "poor" International student studied in oversea, especially for guys they always wanted to save money on hair cutting. So they rather have their friends to cut for them. When we were in Kentucky, I always did this for LKM. And 3 days ago, I got him a new hair cut again! ;p

Before

...

............. and

After

Big difference huh????

...Juniors Lee...

2009-02-25T10:30:00.000-08:00

2 days ago, a best friend of mine in Australia sent me a link which you put the pics of you & hubby/wife to predict your future baby picture, but that website didn't work. So I found myself another one.

So, here're my little Gloria and the Jr.Lee, I do not have any ideal name for the boy boy yet =p

................

............

......

...dada...

Haha...I think this website is particularly designed for the American people, how could both asian parents can get a caucasian baby???? I showed LKM these 2 pictures, he even said this is not accurate and his is not 'ang mo'...hehe.. Somehow, I think the Jr.Lee does looks abit like LKM, what do you think? ;)

The fun part about doing this matching is...I got excited at the moment while waiting for the process to see how our baby will looks like...thumbs up!!!

今年的情人节@2009 Valentine's Day

2009-02-18T17:02:00.000-08:00

今年的情人节，没有玫瑰花，没有卡片，没有礼物，也没有两个人的烛光晚餐，而是跟一班还是单身的好朋友一起渡过，可是对我而言，却是个平凡，温馨和烂漫的情人节。跟几位好友去看了场电影，然后到Tina阿姨的蛋糕店去吃晚餐。Tina阿姨还特地烤了一个心形的香草蛋糕送给我们吃。

每个朋友都问我今年的情人节要怎么过？嗯。。。这算是我跟他在一起渡过的第五个情人节，可是总是觉得爱一个人，要表现对对方的爱意，并不是只有等到2月14这天才来庆祝或送礼物的，只要心里爱护着你的另一半，在平常的生活起居中的互相包容，尊重和体谅可能比起贵重的礼物还来得可贵。只要心里爱着对方，其实365天里，每一天都是温馨的情人节，不是吗？

2/14号的凌晨，在他准备要入睡时，我偷偷跑到他的耳边，跟他说了声“Happy valentine's Day!"。。嘻嘻，偶看到他那甜蜜的笑容，我想这可能就是世界上最有意义的情人节礼物吧! ;)

This is the english version for my Big darling & friends that cannot read chinese!

This year Valentine's day, we didn't really celebrate with each others. No roses, no card, no Valentine's gift, nor candle light dinner. Yet, we'd celebrated with few good friends together. But for me, I think this is the most special, warm & romantic Valentine's day that I ever had. We went for a humorous movie, followed by a dinner at one of my aunt, Tina's bakery shop. She purposely baked us a heart shape cake, how sweet was she! Thanks Tina ah yee =)

Everybody asked me how am I going to celebrate this Big Day with my Big darling and this was our 6th Valentine's day being together. Somehow, I always feel that loving your bf/gf/wife or husband, to show your love to them is not something that you can do only on 2/14 by giving them luxury gift or a fabulous celebration. Love toward your half is all about true understanding, tolerance and respect through the daily life. I think these are even more valuable compare to an expensive gift. As long as you really love them truthfully, I think 365 days 7/24 is a Happy valentine's Day, don't you think so?

Right before we go on bed on the 2/14 am, I wished him a Happy Valentine's Day and I saw his sweety+smiley face. Heehhehe......I think this mgiht be the most meaningful Valentine's gift on the world! ;)

Sleeping phobia...

2009-02-11T22:40:00.000-08:00

Now is 12.41am in the midnight, and I am still awake here. I went to bed 1 1/2 hours ago because I know sleeping late continuously is bad for health. Somehow, after trying so hard and I still couldn't sleep, so I decided to get online.

These days, I think since 2 weeks ago, I have been having the problem of falling asleep. I slept 2 something last night, and the latest was 4 or 5 in the am. I guess it was because I think too much, and worry too much too...FEAR, STRESS, ANXIETY!!! I can't control or stop my brain from thinking..yet I can't do anything to help myself for a good sleep...Sometimes, I wish that night time is shorter so that I do not need to suffer from falling asleep...

Oh boy....insomnia insomnia... =(

bz...bz..bz..

2009-02-05T11:21:00.001-08:00

I have been busying for these few days...working really hard on my BIG BIG plan, squeezing all my brain juice >.< crossing my fingers and hoping that this plan will works out!!!

加油呗，姨姨！！！！

H@ppy Birthd@y to my har har...

2009-02-02T17:17:00.000-08:00

今天2月3号，是偶的一生中，从念幼儿园到大学先修班的好知己-秀霞姐姐的生日。。哈哈。。我还真的挺想念她，在这里祝福她，生日快乐，最重要是身体健康，心想事成，平平安安。。。嘻嘻，好像有点像拜年似的。。。

秀霞

ILOVEU

你有没有？

2009-01-29T19:47:00.000-08:00

今天早上打电话回马来给两位前辈拜年。已有好长的时间没跟他们通话了，感觉好窝心。。。在跟前辈B谈天说地的当时，突然间她冒出一句：

“你有没有？”

“huh???"

"你有没有？？”

我真变得傻眼了，有什么东东啊？偶不是听不懂中文，只是脑子里真的转不过来，听不明白她在问啥。。。接着她哈哈大笑的，我才明白她所谓有没有是指什么。。。

哇哈哈。。。好可爱的妈妈！

I MISS HOME BADLY

2009-01-27T15:09:00.000-08:00

I am missing my family & friends in Malaysia, I am missing them badly...very very badly =(

Happy Moo Moo Year

2009-01-26T16:05:00.000-08:00

GONG XI FATT CHAI. Today is the first day of Chinese New Year. This is the 6th CNY that I didn't celebrate at home, but here in the States. I miss CNY at home alot alot =( .....I promised myself that I want to be at home for CNY next year..hehe!!!

Anyhow, I had a memorable pre-CNY dinner with my best buddies here,opss...no..I should say they are my family here actually...and I got to eat my favorite dip fried "nian gao"+ sweet potato+ yam...which I didn't eat this for ages, this really made me cried ;)

Yesterday was the CNY eve, LKM & I went to an aunt's house for the reunion gathering. I am glad that we got to know new friends, and we really had a great time.

Ding Ding Ding....

Happy Family ^^ Loh Bak Gou

Vege Hotpot

Everbody's favorite by LKM =p

Sweet & sour vege mutton Fried wantan

Fried tofu+vege ham ball

This made me cried =p -fried "nian gao", by siew may

In this moo moo year, I wish everyone a very 牛年快乐, 身体健康, 万事如意, 大吉大利, 心想事成, 步步高升, 出入平安, 国泰民安, 世界和平, 世界到处有爱, 大同世界!

ah jek..ah jek...

2009-01-23T10:35:00.000-08:00

2 days ago, I told my sis that I wanna see Ivan on msn webcam at night, and LKM wanted to see him too. Ok...when we started webcam-ing with each other, and when Ivan only saw me, he just acted like normal, busy here busy there...I don't know if he calls me yee since their mic were broken and I can see he wasn't paying too much attention to me =(

OK...LKM appeared on the screen. Guess what...Ivan was so so so so super duper happy to see him..he pointed at the screen and called ah jek ah jek with his smiley face. Although the mic didn't work, but I can tell from from his mounth that he was calling ah jek ah jek...he was just too excited to see LKM. Jumping, smiling and smiling.

Ivan just so used to call LKM ah jek ah jek (according to my bro-in-law, Hokkiens call their father's younger brother as ah jek, meaning younger uncle). Nobody teach him this, at first we taught him to call yee zhang...he can only pronounce 'tann"...sometimes 'zhan'..sometimes 'yeeeeee..zhan'.....but recently he called LKM as ah jek ah jek =p

I think Ivan must be missing his ah jek alot, so do we.

We love you too, happy boy!

A yellow sticker on the wall of my room...

2009-01-15T11:29:00.000-08:00

When I moved into this new room, I saw a small tiny yellow sticker with few sentences sticked on the wall...it was actually from the previous tenant, which is also my best buddies here...Here's what she wrote:

"Each task makes us become more mature and leads us to know how to appreciate life. Our responsibility not only to our life but also those people we love and loved us."

Thanks, Siew May =)

New Yorker-Minnesotian

2009-01-14T08:24:00.000-08:00

I am finally in Minnesota. Due to the weather condition, we spent almost 3 days to drive back from New York. We had passed through NJ, PA, OH, IN, IL, WI then MN...cool isn't?It was snowing all the way from PA to Chicago, the road condition wasn't that good, and we saw couple of accidents. Thank GOD that we arrived here safely. It was really a long drive and LKM said he will never ever drive like this in the winter time anymore =p

Although I have been here twice, I think I still have a little cultural shock. Living environment, weather(I see snow everywhere...I see snowing before I go to bed, and snowing again when I wake up, and it was -29C yesterday morning), people..etc.....I've missed my cute nephew,Ivan THE MOST, he used to come to my room and wake me up by calling me yee yee every morning, I really missed this alot alot =( , and of coz my lovely sis's nagging..hehe.., cuttie bro-in-law's humorousness & other good friends!!!

Anyhow, I am happy to meet my buddies here, and I made new friends too! I always believe that everything happens for a reason. Perhaps this is a chance for me to learn and to share. Many people here told me that they don't like snow. No doubt, snowing really brings alot of inconveniences, but I still love snowing very very muchie,I get excited when I see snowing...I just don't know why, perhaps this is the reason I am here. I still need some time to adapt to this new place, but I am sure that I will love MN in one day. =)

Not to forget, thanks to my baby Altima for bringing us here!

I put these beatiful pics of my family in my room, so I can see them anytime!

Life is beautiful~~*

An excellent blogger-to-be

2009-01-13T12:15:00.000-08:00

Ding Ding Ding....Finally, I have my own blogspot after spending and sitting in front of my laptop for more than 3 hours. I like reading people's blog, but for me I always think that writing blog is wasting time(especially when I see my sis stayed up in the midnight to update her blog).

Anyhow, I just decided to start my blogging so that I can share and update my life in the States with my friends and family, and I think blogging is also a good way to express my thoughts and feelings.

I enjoyed the time I spent to figure out the setting of blogspot...hehe,a little proud of myself for having the blog layout in such a short time =p

P/S:Thanks to my sis for helping me to set up this blog...Arigato!

Footprints

2009-01-13T11:28:00.000-08:00

Footprints
One night I had a dream--I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord and across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints, one belonged to me and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of my life flashed before me,I looked back at the footprints in the sand.I noticed that many times along the path of my life,there was only one set of footprints.I also noticed that it happened at the very lowestand saddest times in my life. This really bothered me and I questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,you would walk with me all the way,but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my lifethere is only one set of footprints. "I don't understand why in times when I needed you most,you should leave me." The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child,I love you and I would never, never leave youduring your times of trial and suffering. "When you

saw only one set of footprints,it was then that I carried you."

...Mary Stevenson...

*~My Footprints in the States~*