..:First Adventure to Find the Perfect Wedding Dress For Me:..

Funny how the first thing I do for wedding planning is to go wedding dress shopping. It just so happened, my bridesmaid/MOH, Lia, is in town for the Christmas Holiday. So of course, it was fitting that we went dressing shopping. I went to two places, David's Bridal and The Wedding Chapel. Each place was a completely different experience in itself. 


Briefly, David's bridal was nice and brightly lite, but my consultant was inexperienced and she was juggling between me and another bride. That bride was placed right next to me, which I think is a no-no! That bride found herself comparing her dresses to mine. She was with her mother and grandmother, who was probably paying for her dress, because they are pretty demanding about what she tried on. She seemed pretty unhappy. I went through about 9 dresses for those 2.5 hours we were there while she was sulking in two dresses. I tried on the dresses I liked online.. which I still like, but without the constultant to tell me more about the dresses (or her professional opinion on how I looked), I felt a huge disconnect with her and with the dresses. A plus is they allow you to take pictures, which was nice. This way I can remember how I looked in the dresses!


The second place, the Wedding Chapel, was smaller. I was a overwhelmed from the large sizes I had to try on, but the consultant was great! She had already pulled a few dresses for me to try on based on what I said I liked. She was there to help me with the dresses in and out of the fitting room. Oh, Yes! The fitting room also had a mirror for me to look at myself before stepping out (David's Bridal did NOT). She was there to clip me and talked to me about the dress.  I absolutely loved the selection of dresses there alot more. A downfall is pictures are not allowed, so I only have faint memories of the dresses. I wish the fiance would have went with me to this place too; to give his opinion. 


BTW, I learned at the second shop that the David's Bridal consultant told me all the wrong information about the silhouettes; the empire waist was not what the dress turned out to be!


All in all, I am debating between two+ dresses at both places. I guess it's because it was my first time and I ended up liking alot of them. I can not say I love one yet. This "WOW" and "crying" factor that the show "Say Yes to the Dress" emphasizes did not exist for me. In fact, it's overrated and I guess every bride expects it to happen to them, due to the cultural effects of the show. No wonder some brides take months and have tried over 100+ dresses. Oh, I can believe it. I didn't want to stop trying them on. I wanted to stay forever and try them all on!


The big debate right now that I have is how much am I willing to spend on my dress. We are comfortable spending about $1500, which none of the dresses I tried were even close to that amount. I don't care for designer dresses. I care about the dress and how I look in it more. It's probably because I like all the dresses in about the same range, so it's either spend $500 ish or spend $900 ish. I guess it won't matter so much to me, if the prices were closer in range... but it's almost double! I knew that I wasn't going to buy it on the first day I went shopping, but I didn't think I would be so conflicted! Now, I can see why some brides buy more than one dress... Hmmmmm... :P


Yes,  I am going to sit-on it for a while and go again. Maybe next month! :)


Here are a couple of dresses I liked: 

I like the princess feeling of this dress.

I want LACE on my dress!

This one is modern and chic.

I love the details on this one.

It's true that I ended up liking what I didn't think I would like. I was surprised that I like ruffles, which is at the other shop. I also like the big dress, which I didn't think I would like. Right now it's between the trumpet and the natural wait silhouettes.  I really wish I had pictures from the other place also.. those two were gorgeous! I think I need to try it on with accessories and flowers. 


Big thanks to my Moma, Lia, Matha, Ka and Cindy for bearing with me from 10:30 am - 5pm!!! 


PLEASE LISTEN to this:
http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=138760908&m=139026716

.Count Your Blessings:.

I am done student teaching! It was alot of work, yet I learned so much and had an amazing time at the school. I am truly blessed on so many levels. Thank you, God!

Honey has been in PA for two weeks now. I miss him. At first, I have to admit, it was kinda nice to catch up with friends and family alone... but now I'm feeling extra lonely.  He says "Why don't you go stay at your mom?" Because this is my home now. I like sleeping in my own bed... plus I have lots of writing to get caught up on. This week I will be going to my mom's almost everyday, but I am going to try not to stay too long. Otherwise I won't get anything done.

I am back to my pre-Thanksgiving weight. It feels so good! I will still continue to diet and workout everyday though. It's a life style change. I'll probably diet and workout for the rest of my life. There is nothing wrong with that. The word "diet" has a negative connotation to it, when really it shouldn't be! People, there is nothing wrong with being on a diet! It just means you are aware of your health and want to change it!

My sisters and I get together occasionally to make dinner and catch up on life. We usually try to make something that we have not made before. This way we are all learning! I want to keep it a tradition. My mom feels that my sisters haven't learned much about cooking since they grew up having me cook all the time for them. I try to show my little sister whenever I am over at my mom's. I am definitely going to teach my daughter how to cook!

I can't believe it. My second youngest brother just turned 21 two days ago and my baby sister will be turning 14 this Thursday! Yikes! It's been such a long and concerned road. But it's not over yet. I will probably worry about them for the rest of my life. It's part of my role as the oldest sister!

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This is our Japanese Themed Dinner. 

We made Shrimp Udon Noodle Soup, Chicken & Vegetable Potstickers, Garlic Grilled Salmon, Turkey Fried Rice and Taro Buns. It was absolutely delicious! We were supposed to make Spicy Salmon Sushi Rolls, but I forgot to buy the Rice Vinegar. We didn't miss it at all because everything else was so good already!

Sister's Japanese Themed Dinner

Taro Buns

Fresh Grilled Salmon

.:Thanksgiving Weight:.

An average American gains 9 pounds during the holidays! Yikes!

I gained 5 pounds after the long weekend of eating and drinking. It's been 3 days after the festivities have been over, I am still not satisfied with how much I have not lost yet. Boy! If it's hard already for me, being pretty healthy, eating and exercising, it must be extremely hard for other people.
I need to get back to original weight or even a few pounds less so that it won't be so terrible after the the Christmas and NYE's celebrations.

I am THANKFUL for great friends and family.
I love my family! I am thankful for my wonderful fiance.
He is the sunshine in my life and makes me extremely happy.

‎'For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.'

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My Thankful Dress

My very first turkey. Of course, Asian Style.

Just like my chicken!
Garlic, onion, lemon grass, oyster sauce, fish sauce

Broil to brown, cook 4 hours in 350 degrees

.:Thinking about the Wedding:.

        Since the proposal, I have been thinking about the wedding alot! I have even starting researching even though we decided not to plan yet until after the holidays. I am excited yet I want to know how realistic it is to have a nice affordable wedding. I do not want to have a half-lame wedding (I use "lame" to describe alot of things that I don't like or care for)."  I can already start to see why people say it's overwhelming or why brides transform into "Bride-zillas." There is alot of options, alot of everything out there. The wedding industry is huge! And couples spend ALOT of money on their weddings. Everything adds up!
       I want to be reasonable about it all. In the midst of all this, I need to remember that this is about us. It's about celebrating our love with the most important people in our lives. This is why I want a small intimate wedding; maybe 50 people. One that will be about us. One filled with good food and drinks. One with lots of smiles, laughter and dancing. One that will celebrate who we are and our love. Small intimate weddings are hard to have in the Hmong culture. Hmong parents generally want to invite the whole clan, everyone from church, your cousin's cousin's kids... and so on. I can't have this. I have made it clear to my family that this can't happen for me, especially when thousands of dollars are involved. Plus, he is not Hmong. Simple as that.
      The Date? I have no idea. I know that it will have to be in the summertime because I do not want to start off the school year planning a wedding and using all my vacation days... this just isn't going to work. We have two friends getting married August 5th and August 16th, so July? That will leave us with 7 months to plan. I know this can be done and done well. But the date may change depending upon the venue, so it is open for discussion.

A couple of wants:
-I want the ceremony outside.
-I want Asian Food and Alcohol at the reception.
-I want lots of desserts; cake, cheesecakes, cupcakes and chocolates.
-I think the color scheme is Red and White. Debating about adding Green too.
-I have found a dress! And a Maid of Honor. The flowergirl is my niece.

-My friend is a pastor and can marry us! :)
-My friend's husband can DJ.
-I have a couple of friends who can take nice pictures!
-Two great friends who can share our love story of when we met.
-Probably will hire a friend to help me wedding plan.
-Everyone to have a good time!

**** I wish I can cater my own wedding! I would have all my favorites!!
Appetizers: Springrolls and Wings
Main Dish: Thit Kho over Rice, Curry, Bahn Cuon and Pad Thai
Dessert: the 4 C's = cake, cheesecakes, cupcakes and chocolates

      We have even discussed skipping all the hassle and settling for city hall. But we'll see. Either way, I am excited to spend the rest of my life with the most wonderful man in the world. God has truly blessed me!!

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We love noodles! We would eat if everyday, if we could. If it was zero calories! Here is a simple pho soup dish we made on the fly with whatever ingredients we had in the fridge. That is how you know you can cook, when you make random things and it taste great! This turned out absolutely delicious! He is a pho-snob and he loved it!

Soak the rice noodles in warm water.

Water, pho beef paste & herbs, shrimp, baked chicken drumsticks, chili oil and garlic salt.

Garnish with fried onions and lettuce.

.:I'm Engaged!!:.

October 22, 2011


Duong and I had lunch at Keefer Court, where the best Chinese noodle wonton soup is. After we finished our soup, we also had pastries. I left the table to put more quarters in the meter. While I was out, Duong swapped the fortune cookies the waitress gave us with the ones he ordered online in early October. He had ordered customized fortune cookies online, written "MorChia, Will you marry me." I  came back to the table ready to go home. But he said for us to stay a bit longer for our stomachs to settle down and to open our fortune cookies. I told him that I didn't want to open mine because I still have mine from the day before from having lunch with the girls. I  usually don't eat the cookie so I didn't want to waste it. He insisted that I open it, so we can share our fortunes. "Okay, fine." I opened the cookie and my first thought was, "It has my name on it. OMG! OMG!" I was so surprised and overly excited!!! I looked over at Duong. He turned on the song "Marry Me," by Train on his phone and he got down on one his knee. He said, "I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?" He pulled out a wooden box and opened it. Inside was the most beautiful princess cut ring I have ever seen. It was so gorgeous.... And of course, I said, "Yes!"

I have known for a while now that he is the man I want to spend the rest of my life with. We met in April of 2009 in Philly and we have been inseparable since then. He moved to MN in Jan of 2010 and it has been great living together. Being with Duong, I have learned what real love is. Real love is easy. We (girls) are taught that love is hard and that we always need to be working at it. But Duong and I get along so well. It's easy to love him, to smile everyday and to talk to him. I am a better person now because he helps me to stay positive, to smile more and to simply just be happy. I am healthier on many different levels (physically, mentally and emotionally) as a person; A healthy relationship should help you blossom and find happiness. I cannot wait to retell our love story at our wedding!


His favorite quote:

♫ "Happiness is possible right now. Always remember that. When you push it back until later, it’ll never come. When you learn to be happy now, it’ll always be here."

We decided that we are not going to make any definite plans until after the holidays. The holidays can be so stressful so we want to wait and give this wedding more thought. There are a few questions up for debate... from what I have seen my friends gone through or not gone through, I have alot on my mind.


I want to have a destination wedding... but it's so expensive for the little amount of people that can come. But it's my dream wedding..... I also have to consider my mother's condition and if she is willing to travel that many hours... And it's nerve racking to plan oversea.. What to do? City Hall and travel the world... or buy a house? 

"Marry Me," by Train

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We use FISH SAUCE for marinating!!!


We bake enough chicken to last the whole week. A good way to save time and energy. It's good for dieting because you eat that instead of picking up fast food or snacking while you wait for dinner to be ready.

this along with fish sauce, garlic, lemon grass and sugar.

 Cover it, and refrigerate/marinade for 12+ hours

Mix and rub into the chicken.

Cook for 45-50 mins in 350 degrees.

Skin should be browned and crispy!!

.:I love love to cook:.

Current Mood:   Content  :)
Currently Debating:  Where to spend this year's HOLIDAYS? Here? or in PA?

Two of my favorite Asian dishes that I enjoy making and everyone loves; Thit Kho (Sweet pork) and Banh Cuon (Steamrolls).

Steamrolls are easy to make. Buy the pre-packaged flour mix at the Asian store and follow the instruction in the back of the package to make the mix. For the dip, caramelize sugar and add water to thin out the syrup. Add fish sauce and minced fresh peppers to sugar mix while it's hot. When dip is cooled, squeeze lime to mixture to liking.

Flour mix and spicy sweet dip

Pan fried ground pork mixed with Asian black mushroom, cilantro and green onions

Spoon into pan and spread throughout pan and cover with lid

Flip pan onto the plate, add meat mixture and wrap

The BF is a great helper!!!

Sprinkle fried onions on top to garnish

 I made Thit Kho (Sweet pork) at my mother's over the weekend. We were there to rake leaves in her yard and harvest vegetables. We ended up playing games also!

My version of Thit Kho is a bit different because it's sweeter and the sauce is thick... perfect on top of rice!

1. Marinade pork belly, pork short ribs and pork feet with salt, oyster sauce and fish sauce. Don't add too much pork belly or it'll be too oily. 
2. Heat pot. Pour in sugar to caramelize. Sugar will burn fast so keep stirring. When sugar is melted, pour in about 2 cups of water into pot. Let mixture boil until all sugar is melted. 
3. Add a stalk of lemon grass and sliced ginger.
4. Add pork to pot. Boil eggs (I usually make 6-10 eggs because my siblings love the eggs). Peel eggs. Eggs go in 10-15 minutes before turning off heat. If you put egg in too long, it gets hard and dry. I also like using quail eggs too!
5. Let it cook for 1.5-2 hours on low heat. Check on meat and stir every 15 minutes. Add salt if necessary.
6. Serve over rice and garnish with peppers and cilantro, green onions and mint/basil.

Thit Kho... the BF's favorite!

Details upon request!

Us at the MN Zoo!!! 

Btw, student teaching is going very well. It's alot of work and learning.... which I am happy about!

.:Life as I Know it For the Next 3 Months:.

            My number one focus is student teaching... my life will revolve around it... everything! I have to do good and I know I will. I'm excited and all sooo ready to start my career.    :)  I can't and refuse to make time for nonsense. It's not worth the risk.. not worth the energy when I am the one who suffer. I wish more people can understand.. but like I've heard before; 

"Those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."

 

(watch this.... I was in tears!)

Emmanuel Kelly The X Factor 2011 Auditions

Kokomo's Island Cafe Review

Location:  Mall of America

My rating:  C +

My comments: I thought the food was okay, nothing too special. The most enjoyable item we had was the Beachside Mozzarella Sticks (more like wedges). I had one cooler and it was strong (not a complaint, but unexpected)! I do love the colorful decor of the restaurant... but I can see how it can be overwhelming. There were palm trees, Aztec/Tribal decors, Asian related decors and very vibrant colored patterns. I would probably go back but only during happy hour otherwise it's not worth the money.

Wings, Beachside Mozzarella Sticks & Sweet Thai Pizza

•                             Calypso Cooler

.:I LOVE Baking Cookies.:

Ingredients:
- 1 lb salted butter
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 4 large eggs (5 small eggs)
- 6 cups flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 2 lbs of chocolate chips (mix and match or add according to your liking)
- 1 pack of pudding mix (Secret ingredient!!! Any flavor you want or just vanilla)

*Big batch of cookies!

Throw in all the ingredients into a large mixing bowl

Hand mix or I use the Kitchen-Aid hand mixer

Bake in 350 degrees for a few minutes

I love chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies!!! A mix with Oatmeal is the BEST!

• I like to take them out of the oven right away when they brown just a little on the outside.
• IF they look like they need more time, I keep them on the hot baking tray. I don't put them back because that just overcooks it. The hot tray will firm them up.
• I like to use the brown paper bag to absorb some of the oil from the cookies. This way your cookies are not so oily. I use wax paper on the cookie sheets during baking.
• I use this recipe everytime I make my cookies, so I've become a cookie machine and have made it for several events. 

.:My Spicy Cucumber Salad:.

I love love Spicy Cucumber Salad. The bf and I love it shrimpy, crabby, fishy, limely... you name it.. We like it tasty with lots of flavor!

The idea is to make it and make it according to your liking!

All the ingredients: Salt, Crab pieces, crab paste, shrimp paste, salad seasoning, fish/squid sauce, peppers, garlic, tamarind

Cucumbers: peel, sliced into thin slices. Do not use core.

 -I used 4 small cucumbers (farmer's market, locally grown). I like these better than the ones from the grocery stores. They are young and crisp!

Also need 6 peanuts, l/2 limes, 1/2 mango and 2 tomatoes

Start with peppers and salt first then add peanuts and garlic in the mortar

 -I like mine extra spicy so I used alot of peppers here... adjust to your liking.

Now add your tamarind (spoonful) , shrimp (1 tspn) and crab paste (1 tspn).

  -For best results, put your tamarind, shrimp and crab paste in a small bowl with a spoonful of water and microwave for 20-30 seconds. Mix with a spoon. This way it's all mixed up and not clumpy. No one likes to eat a hunk of crab paste.. :P

Prepare and slice the mango, tomatoes and 1/2 lime this way

 -This mango was more ripe than I would like it, but it was the best I could find at the time. Asian markets usually have very green mangoes!

Add the seasoning onto the sliced cucumbers

Now add the cucumbers in the mortar. Then add the tomatoes, lime, mango, tbsp of fish/squid sauce and crab pieces

Use the pestle to crush and mix the ingredients a couple times.

  -Don't crush them too hard, unless you want it mushy. We like ours a bit crispy so I only do it a few time to get the ingredients to mix around.

Spoon cucumber salad onto bowl/plate

Ready to eat!!

-Easy right? It'll probably take a few tries or several to perfect it.. It's one of those things where you gotta test and taste and add more. If it's too salty or spicy, add more cucumbers or lime/tamarind to your mix.
 -You can make it with papaya, cabbage and or carrots!

.: July is Ending.. Yikes! :.

.:Annual J4 Wkend:.

This is the third year now that our friends from Philly came to MN to visit. We talked this year that perhaps next year we should all meet in a different city; just so we get to experience a new city together. BUT I doubt that is happening since they just find more and more reasons (esp food) to like MN more. This time it was Culver's. Yup, believe it. We went there alot during the weekend. 

Funny how much and bad we eat during our vacations! This time I gained 6 lbs! I went from 113 to 119 lbs. Thank goodness I have been pretty good since then and now I am back to 113 lbs. I feel good about my weight. I won't mind losing a few more pounds since Duong and I are planning to Chicago in mid-August. There are not eating limits when we go on vacation. I won't be surprised if that is where we spend most of our money during vacation. We are definitely having deep dish pizza, chili hot-dogs (even though I am NOT a fan or hot-dogs, yuck!) and chowing down in Chinatown!

Here is the MN - Philly gang J4 2011

We love to flex to show off our muscles! 

Oh, where did the summer go.. It's already almost over and I barely got to enjoy it. This summer has been packed with classes, work and doing things for other people. I really need to do more for myself (no, not just studying!). I didn't even get to post up my Summer Bucket List.

Here it is.

Summer Bucket List:

-Cherry of Spoon

-Hiking then have a Picnic

-State Fair in Stp

-Watch Sunset

-Watch Sunrise

-Spend a day in Downtown

-Spend a day in Uptown then Calhoun

-Visit Laura and her family in Austin, MN

-Road Trip to Chicago

I had to cut down alot since I recently realized that I really couldn't do anything til August (and when classes are over) unless it's on the weekends.

Trip OUT East with My Moma and Sisters

After my mom being hospitalized for 2-3 weeks last spring 2010, I promised myself I would take us GIRLS on a trip.... so here we are June 2011 to celebrate my MOMA's 50th B-day and my 26th B-day!

She's always wanted to see lights, casino and the ocean!!! Philly and AC had it all and I knew the cities well enough. I also choose Philly because I had friends there... It was rather selfish of me but I wanted to show my sisters and mom where I use to live and how life is like there. It was my comfort zone because I knew where I was going and what to do there. It required very little research and it definitely helped lower the stress level!

We had so many great moments and a couple not-so-good moments. But that's life, right. Not everything works out perfectly.. I personally believe that in every action or life decision we make, it comes with a lesson for us to learn. One of the biggest stress was my mom getting on the plane (also our flight getting cancelled 8 hours before take off). Planes are not handicapped friendly, nor are they bigger people friendly. And in my mom's case, it took some time and adjustment to make. She probably will not be flying for a while. Probably the next time she gets on a plane again will be for my destination wedding!
I wish we could have stayed longer but I had to get back for school. I was already missing two classes. Ka, my baby sister, wanted more more day in Atlantic City. It was so fun for her. I spent a great deal of money taking all four of us, but the moments and expressions from them are all PRICELESS! 

My sisters an I on the beach of Atlantic City, NJ

Bassetts Ice Cream 

Maggiano's Little Italy on 12th and Flibert in Philly, PA

We did the classic style family dinner and got so much food. It was delicious! 

This cheesecake was soo good! We also had the best waiter in the house! His service was amazing!

Moma, Matha and Ka @ Liberty Bell Museum in Philly, PA.

Us girls ventures to the LOVE statue.

Moma loved the boardwalk!

We stayed at the Showboat.

Showboat buffet was amazing!

You win a little and lose a little... 

It was soooo fun! I would definitely do it again (IN a HEARTBEAT)!