..:Ending 2013:..

              Christmas is my most favorite holiday!!! I get so excited about putting up the tree, the decorations, the present giving and receiving along with the holiday treats. I had a great Christmas! The food was so good! I made thit kho (sweet pork) and it was so darn delicious. I make it a certain way with a thicker sweeter sauce. I love the sauce with my rice. We had a lot of pork dishes this year. I was so stuffed, I didn't even finish my plate. I did end up saving it and eating again later in the afternoon. Every year for the past 5 or so years, my siblings and I have been doing secret Santa. We draw names during Thanksgiving, set a limit and write down 2-3 things we'd like for Christmas. This was we are getting and giving what we want/need. Everyone is pretty practical and fair about it. We've also started the tradition of The BEST Wrapped Present. My sister won last year. This year my SIL won. She received a $25 gift card. I wasn't even close.... I only got one got one vote. This year I asked my secret Santa for the Game of Thrones book series, bread dough maker and dumbbells. My youngest brother was my secret Santa and he got me the Game of Thrones book series. I am so excited to read them. Perhaps next summer when we are traveling and visiting PA. I wish I can start them earlier but there are a few things I'd like to do before baby comes in Feb.
           Honey and I agreed to not get each other presents since baby was coming, but he surprised me with a stuffed animal, Boo. He really DOES listen when I talk to him... Hehehe.. I have mentioned a couple times about Boo, the world's cutest dog, and how I'd love to have a puppy (and have it stay a puppy forever).
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Maternity PhotoShoot
              We decided that since we just got a new awesome camera, we'd take our own maternity pictures. I had to get them done before the babyshower. I waited til the weekend before the babyshower, so my belly would be bigger at 31 weeks. However, I was disappointed because my belly wasn't as big and round as I had imagined for the pictures. It took over 2 hours to take them! Honey was very patient. I only had two outfit changes. I decided to take bare belly pictures just to have. The pictures turned out very well. I am very happy about them. We did decided that I needed to take some more in 4-5 weeks. Hopefully my belly will be a lot bigger! I've also started looking into newborn pictures for when Emma is born. Most likely we will take them ourselves too. I already have so many great ideas and outfits to put her in!
              Baby and I have been really healthy and sleeping quite. Although I will not miss pregnancy itself, I will miss feeling her move and kick. Her kicks are a lot stronger this week and often take me by surprise! We have been making and taking time everyday to talk to her, feel her kick, read to her or just let her listen to music. I will miss this relaxing small moments that I have had with her.

31 Weeks Maternity Pictures,

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Babyshower
           We recently had Emma's shower over the weekend. It was a beautiful event! It's not so much about the decors, the food nor the gifts; but about the people who came to celebrate her. It's about the people who participated in the laughter, the smiles and the good vibes. For a hours, I felt extra special and happy. I am sure Emma felt all the joy that I felt too. We are very thankful and honored to have great friends and family! She is definitely going to born into a good and positive environment. This is heartwarming to say because it's a cruel world out there. Honey and I have talked about how this is a good time for her to come to us because we are ready. We have done it all; the traveling, the partying, the adventures and are very content in life. Yes, we are truly ready for her to come into our lives. There is this mixed feeling out there about whether you are ready or not, you have 9 months to get ready. True, but there are so many other factors besides the material things to be ready to have a child. It's a lifetime commitment! It is truly giving up the me to become the we!!
         My sisters threw Emma's shower. They worked very hard on it and I am grateful for their efforts. It isn't easy to host such an event. I know from doing my sister's shower. It can be so overwhelming. Like weddings, babyshowers come with so many options and cute little things. We had like a million ideas, but realistically only some can be done.
         Here are some pictures from our shower over the weekend:

Us with my mother. 

My two beautiful sisters.

Some goodies from the shower.

..:31 Weeks and Counting Down:..

Baby Emma is 30 weeks!

        I'm in my third trimester. From everyone and everything that I am talking to and reading about.... this is now the waiting period. Waiting to hit full term, waiting for labor and then waiting to meet our baby. We are already so excited and can't wait to meet Emma. We feel ready! This weekend we are going to put in her carseat. We didn't want to do it too early... However now that we are entering our 31 weeks, it's probably time. Her clothes, diapers, wipes, stroller and even a few headbands are patiently waiting for her arrival.

         I must say I am very fortunate that we are healthy and doing very well. I have NOT gotten sick yet. I have been sleeping quite well despite getting some back and leg pain. Baby has been growing well and moving alot. I am 31 weeks tomorrow and I went to the gym today. I did some bicep workouts and did cardio for 60 minutes. Pregnancy itself if not as enjoyable as I thought it'll be; but we are both healthy, so I shouldn't be complaining.   

        I am on winter break officially. Boy, it feels good! We need this rest time! However, I do have a long list of things to do for work... Why must it be this way! Sigh. Life as a teacher, right. It doesn't end when I drive home. I am forever thinking and dreaming of lesson plans, homeworks, assessments and activities. 

    Happy 31 Weeks Baby Emma!
Updates:
31 weeks, belly button hasn't popped yet, no stretch marks yet, need pregnancy belt at the gym now, rings still fit well!! 25 lbs weight gain already....  eating too much sweets, BUT we're feeling good and baby Emma is healthy and growing! Many things to be thankful for!

..:So Many Things to be Thankful For:..

*Unedited*

It's that time of the year again. This year sure is flying by fast!

There are so many things to be thankful for this year. I am so thankful that my mother is healthier and still with us today. We had a scare at the beginning of this year.... which really put things into perspective for many of my siblings and I. I am thankful to have my siblings. We are all different and are in different parts of our lives, but we always find the time to come together and celebrate life! I am thankful to have such a supportive, caring and strong husband. There's been many times this year, where he's been stronger than me. There's been many times when he's lifted my spirits and helped me to see the brighter side of situations.

Slowly but surely I am still learning to let go and let lose a little bit. I'm still learning to deal with the things I can not change and accept it. I'm still learning to put my energy where it matters. Now that I am preparing to become a mother, I am starting to see the things that my mother use to say to me, now makes alot more sense. This new chapter of our life is going to open soon and we are more than excited! Everyday that goes by, I think about meeting Baby Emma and how she is going to be and look like. We wish she could enter our live sooner, but we know it's also not time.

I am also thankful for the friends that are still in my life. There's been many changes and I understand that things could still change from there. However, I appreciate them all. They've made an impact, big or small. Overall, I am just plain ThankFUL I am alive, breathing, healthy, safe and happy in life. It seems so simple to just appreciate what we have... However, as humans we always want more and are constantly seekings... this is what can lead us astray. So take time this weekend to just simply appreciate what you have at the moment and embrace those things.  Come on... we already spend pretty much our whole life seeking, searching and wanting more.

--Update on my glucose test--
I passed the 3 hour test! I was only there for two hours. I passed 3 readings so I was set free. Thank goodness! I was starting to panic and even started to imagine taking my blood every 2-3 hours are school. When would I find the time to do that when I am teaching all morning without a break!? I had even begun to accept the fact that if I had gestational diabetes then I would follow all the guidelines so Baby Emma would be healthy.

..:Blood Glucose Fail:..

Oh lord! I didn't pass my 1 hour blood glucose test!

I was sure I was going to pass today. I decided to eat low carb today. I didn't have any obvious carbs like bread or rice. The banana I had today has the most amount of carbs today, which was around 37 grams of carbs. I tested at 150! Passing is 135 or below. I asked the nurse if it mattered that I barely ate any carbs today. She replied that I need to need my carbs to offset the sweet drink. It doesn't make sense to me. Wouldn't eating more carbs, make my glucose level alot higher? I'm not sure if she knew what she was talking about. But she did say that I need the carbs!

Anyways, she gave me an info sheet stating that I need to eat 150 grams of carbs for 3 days before my next test. The next test is going to be 3 hours. There will be a blood sample taken at the first, second and then the third hour. How will I survive? I was feeling nausea today 10 minutes after today's dextrose drink. Yuck!

Honey spent a good amount of time looking up if it mattered. I guess it turns out low-carb diets create false positive results. So I'll eat the 150 grams of carbs for 3 days and see what happens this Saturday at my next test. How stressful! I'm definitely calling my Healthy Start Nurse tomorrow and asking her!

I don't want to have gestational diabetes. It'll be more managing my "diet" and monitoring my blood levels everyday.

..:In Our 6th Month:..

One of the first few things we purchased when we found out we were expecting. We bought the Britax jogging stroller and the carseat. We started setting it up right when we got it... took it for a spin with our Vikings bear. It was so fun! I can't wait for our little one to come into this world, so we can meet her and take her on a stroll.

One of my first real and few cravings I have had since being pregnant. My appetite hasn't been all that great! But this 7 layer homemade dip was delicious! Of course, I totally overdid it and made too much. It took 3 days to eat it all even with honey helping me.

 I bought a few dresses for me to wear post-pregnancy. Yikes! I hope it won't be too hard to get back to my pre-preggo body. I am determined though! I plan to do the chicken diet without rice and with fruits and vegetables. I plan on being maternity leave for about 6 weeks. I can't wait to meet my little girl and spend 9 whole weeks with her! :) We are so excited to this new chapter of out life! Oh, how life is going to change. One thing for sure is we will not be able to go to the gym together anymore. We'll have to take turns and most likely I will not be going to the real gym. I will have to go to our apartment gym and workout at home. Lots of changes in a few months, however I know it'll be worth it.

..:Getting Ready For Baby Nguyen..

      I have started couponing back up to get ready for baby. Plus, it's around that time that I replenish some items. I have been on the lookout for diapers, wipes and other baby items. So far, the deals have not been that great, but it is definitely better than if I were to purchase it last minute without a sale and or coupon to stack. So far I have bought 5 boxes of diapers, 4 jumbo packs of wipes, 2 newborn bottle sets and some baby clothes. I love love the baby clothes that I got so far! They are so adorable.

      We went in for our 20 weeks checkup and ultrasound. We saw the baby move and kick! It was so exciting. We also learned baby Nguyen is going to be a GIRL! I am beyond excited! I've always wanted a girl as my first. I have this thing about girls loving and showing their parents more love (especially from what I have experienced in my culture). I am also happy to hear that baby is doing well and looking healthy! 

      So far I have gained a total of 13 pounds. I am not too worried about gaining too much weight. I know I will be fine. My daily workouts really help in keep us healthy and active. Baby has grown alot from the 19th to the 20th week. I can tell from the bump. The past Wednesday was the first time we felt baby kick from the inside. It was such a precious moment! She has been moving alot more since then. I have felt it everyday since then. I can't imagine how it'd be like in a few months when she is bigger and moving around alot more. I hear it can interrupt sleep. I am still sleeping very well! I am taking full advantage of that because I know I will miss it come late February. 

      I have started thinking about her shower. I am such a planner, so I am being quite controlling of it and not letting my sisters do it 100%. It is ALOT of work and I want to be an active participant. I would like a more casual get together. I want my brothers there, so it's going to be co-ed. It most definitely is going to be a pink and white occasion along with lots of flowers and butterflies. Kapoon and sweets must be on the menu! 

      We are so excited to meet our little one. This is the perfect time. God sure has his/her way of letting wonderful things happen at the right time. I FEEL ready. We have lead a life full of wonderful experiences and we're ready to be parents now. We've done the parties, the "Fun" and want this. My co-worker asked me the other day if I missed drinks and going out to have fun. I don't miss it. Maybe I might miss it later on. But I want to enjoy this moment, the now. Those other moments, I have had plenty of. Life has already changed. IT is not about me or just me and honey... but about our little family! 

..:My Pregnancy Eats:..

          Since I am pregnant now, I do not diet. Surprise?? I do still try to eat clean. However, I do make an effort to eat more. My weight gain is not optional, it is a must! I just try to make good choices, so my weight gain is gradual. It is recommended that the weigh gain is gradual so you don't gain too much, get to big and also it's better for you body to handle. I do try to eat at least 3 real meals and then have 3 snacks each day. I haven't had too many cravings yet, which is probably a good thing. I do eat cake, cookies and other sweet things. Yesterday, I had brownies and today I had some M&Ms. 

          Here's an example of one of my summer meals:

• Banana Oatmeal         
• Peach Jello
• Bean Thread Chicken Noodle Soup
• Spicy Pickles
• Chicken and Vegetables
• Fruits!!

6 meals a day keeps baby healthy and happy!

           Since being back to work, I have not gotten into a good eating routine yet. I eat quick breakfast in the morning around 7 AM. Most of the time, it's just a piece of fruit, which I know is not enough nor is it a good breakfast. I don't get another break until 11:30 AM or 12 PM, so I notice my belly is already hungry by then. My lunch is a PB and J sandwich, some carrots and a piece of fruit. There is another break around 1:30 PM, so I usually eat a snack at this time. If I don't get to it then I will have it when I get home before the gym. I do need to do a better job at eating a more nutritious breakfast and lunch. This way I don't eat such a large dinner.
          My doctor told me I am low in Iron. She gave me a list of food rich in Iron that I can eat. Cereal is the easiest and cheapest way to get Iron. However, Honey doesn't like the thought of me eating Cereal since it's processed food and loaded with sweets and carbs! I guess we will just have to eat more beef. He approves of that because it's protein!
          Yes, I do eat good food like Pho, Pizza, Wings and other "not so clean" foods. It is not everyday! I probably will have 1-2 a week. I don't have rice everyday, probably just once in a blue moon (and mostly at my mom's house). I have other forms of obvious carbs like crackers and bread.

Baby at 16 Weeks!

..:the Hardest Secret I Had to Keep: I'm Pregnant:..

     Finally now that I am over my first trimester, I feel comfortable to announce it. It was the hardest secret I had to keep for 3 months! I did start to tell a few close friends and immediate family at about 10 weeks. Now I am at 14 weeks!
     I started to suspect it while we were finishing up our trip in Thailand. The two biggest signs was getting seasick riding the ferry to and from Phi Phi Island. I never get seasick, even riding on a small boat. Let me tell you the feeling was just terrible. I was dizzy, had a headache and of course worst of all, nausea! I ended up complaining, closing my eyes and napping during that 1.5 hour ride to Phi Phi. The second big sign was I was really really tired. I fell asleep easily and wanted to sleep forever! Luckily when we came back to the states, we stayed with the in-laws and I was able to sleep alot.
     We took a test in Thailand. The test was in Thai. The only English words that were on the instructions were Pregnant, Not-Pregnant and Invalid. Well that is all you really need to know right? Anyways the test was PREGNANT! How exciting! We both were very excited and happy!
     When I got back from Thailand to PA, the morning sickness symptoms started. It was not pretty and I did not feel pretty. I was not only sick in the mornings, but threw up a couple times, food smelled terrible and unsatisfying. Not to mention my face broke-out! I hardly ever get pimples and I did for those two weeks! I also had to start being careful about what I ate and drink. I had gained weight from our Asia trip. I wanted to lose it while I was in PA, but I knew I shouldn't be dieting while pregnant so the weight gain continued.
     I'm lucky to have such a loving and caring husband to help me get through morning sickness, so I didn't get all emotional like predicted to most women. We read it's good to sleep alot, have food/breakfast in bed and all sorts of other information that we needed/wanted to learn about being pregnant. He's definitely read alot more about health and nutrition about pregnant women than I have.
     We get to find out the sex of the baby in a few weeks. How exciting! We both decided we just want a healthy baby. We didn't have a preference of the sex. However, we know deep deep down inside women want a little girl to dress up and men want a boy to continue their family name. Boy or Girl, we just want healthy. I have been so nervous the past 3 months about the baby developing well and if things were on track. I even considered buying a Fetal Doppler so I can check for the baby's heartbeat everyday! I was so happy to hear the baby's heartbeat at week 13!
     Already I am 5 pounds heavier than my normal weight. Yes, it's true women's weight fluctuate alot, but I am quite sure these 5 pounds are here to stay. It's tricky because is it weight from pregnancy or some from my Asia vacation. I am nervous about the amount of weight gain that will happen. I read 25-35 pounds is normal or normal weight women. That seems like so much! I want to be careful for health reasons and also for body change reasons too!

I have made several this summer already!

     I have not had many cravings, but certain food does tasted better and sit better in my tummy. There are certain food that I notice I do not enjoy so much anymore. For example, I use to love love chocolate and now chocolate taste bitter and unsatisfying to me. I've probably only had on real craving so far, which was a bowl of simple Chicken Pho. I ended up going to my mom's and making some to eat. It had to be made with farm raised chicken! With hardly any cravings; how did I gain so much weight already? It's because I am eating alot more carbs than normal. I am also eating about 5-7 meals a day. I am eating things like rice, bagels, bread, and pancakes (Yes, normal people food). I am eating them for nutritional value and also when I don't eat every 2-3 hours, I get nausea. I always have to pack a snack or be thinking of my next meal.
     Now that I am in my second trimester, I do feel alot better. Perfect timing because I also started wo
rk. I hope to continue to eat well and gain weight gradually (which is what is recommended). I have yet to experience this "pregnancy glow" that everyone talks about. I have yet to have the BUMP. Right now I just look and feel bloated all the time! It has not been pretty! I also packed away 4 suitcases full of clothes that I know I will not be able to wear. That includes party dresses, skinny jeans, button down work shirts and skirts. Life is already changing!!!

..:Already that time of the year:..

             It's already that time of the year. It's time to go back to work. It's near the end of summer. We're two weeks away from the Great MN State Fair, the real sign that summer is over. For over a month now, I've seen ads and commercials for back to school. Everytime I see one, I get a little bit more depressed. As excited as I am to see the students and be in the classroom again, I have to admit I LOVE spending time with my husband. I just love being around him and being near him. It's a sense of warmth and being home that is secure and enjoyable. I only have a few days left to relax and be in the moment.
             When work starts again next week, it's going to be busy. I know stress is already lined up! This school year is going to be a bit different for me. I will have different responsibilities and life will just be different.
           We're getting ready to move. I am tired of moving, tired of packing and unpacking... But I know we are not ready for a house. It's too soon and I just don't want a mediocre house. If I am going to spend that much money, it needs to meet several criteria. Perhaps in a few years, we will be ready for a house. I just know that being away for 2/3 of the summer gives us little time to look and find a new home. However we did find a lovely community to live in. It's by another lake. For some reason the past places all have been near lakes!

Summer time is the best time to eat cucumber salad!

Since I have been back from Asian, I crave and want spicy cucumber salad almost everyday! I am most definitely making some tonight!

..:Reviews on the Hotels:..

For our three weeks in Asia, we stayed at five different hotels. Here is what I thought about them....

1. Diamond City Hotel, $42 after taxes, stayed for 4 nights, breakfast included
                  The hotel is in a small street off one of the train stations. The street is not lit so there were spots where we were walking in almost darkness. It did feel a bit scary. However, two blocks east of the hotel, there is a small night market with food vendors. This was NICE and we visited the vendors everynight along with the Seven-Eleven 2 blocks down. The hotel staff were very pleasant and very helpful. They told us how much the taxi was to the airport and called a taxi for us. We did not have to negotiate with the taxi man. We paid 350 baht to go to DMK. The breakfast offered a selection of Thai and Western foods. There was different things cooked each morning for the Asian option. We had curry one morning, pan fried noodles the next morning and the next was pan fried chicken breast. We ate both Asian and Western options. We made sure NOT to stuff ourselves because we knew there were so many different kinds of street food to try! The room was clean. It had the typical things that would be in a hotel room. We did not use the balcony because they are all connected to each other. It was small and smelly. I did not like the shower; it did not smell or look very clean... I did not like standing on the wooden plank to shower.

2. Hoang Hai Long Hotel, $37 after taxes, stayed for 6 nights, breakfast included
               The hotel is on a busy street in Saigon. It is also 2-3 blocks from the Ben Thai Market and the night market. We noticed many of the hotels looked very similar to ours and all the staff wore uniforms. Yes, Vietnam's standard of hotels and hotel service is much higher than in Thailand. This hotel was very clean and beautiful on the inside and outside. The hotel staff was very nice, super helpful and a small handful of them spoke English quite well. That didn't matter too much, since Duong could speak Vietnamese to them. Breakfast was awesome. It was like we were in Vietnamese food heaven! The food tasted great! We ate so much every morning because it was so good. Their pho, banh cuon, banh uot, pate, bread and congee was delicious! We particularly enjoyed their fresh squeezed watermelon juice! We checked out their gym on the very top floor. It's nothing special. It's just a room with a few weights and old equipment. It didn't look like many or anyone used it.  There is not a pool. We declined the option to pay to use the pool at the New World Hotel across the street. I would definitely stay there again! Great price, great food and also friendly staff! *Note: Agoda was running a special on this hotel otherwise it's in the $50-$60 per night.

3. The Imperial Adamas Beach Resort, $125 after taxes, stayed for 2 nights, breakfast included
                This resort is architecturally beautiful. The lobby and the landscape screams a tropical vacation! Our poolside entrance room was amazing. It was very spacious. The bathroom was big with a gorgeous blue tiled bathtub. I was a bit disappointed in the beach. The sand was not as soft as I thought it'll be. The beach was not as clean either. There were alot of scraps here and there out at the beach. We did spend dinner the night we checked into the hotel to eat at resort grill restaurant. It was expensive... but we were tired and didn't want to venture elsewhere. The next night we did meet a nice Australian couple who took us North to Nai Yang Beach. There are shops and several restaurants there. We ate at Festa seafood restaurant and it was cheaper and really good. We made the mistake of taking the shuttle to Patong. Urgh, what a WASTE of time. Patong is tourist and aggressive vendors infested. All the prices there are the same or even more than at our resort. We were also told to pay 100 baht to rent a beach chair. Had we known we would have just stayed at our peaceful resort.

4. Baan Suwantawe Phuket, $50 after taxes, stayed for 4 nights, no breakfast
               We were sad to leave the resort and nervous about staying in Phuket town. If it was anything like Patong, I was going to leave to the airport. We weren't sure what to expect. Phuket is an  expensive place to be in. From talking to the front desk, taxi fares are set in Phuket since there's so much confusion and so much over-charging in Phuket. It cost us 600 baht to go from Phuket town to the Phuket airport! Anyways, we took the public transportation bus from Patong to the Phuket town. Thank goodness! When we got to Phuket town and found our hotel, we were greeted by a nice front desk man. We felt so much better after checking in and dipping into the pool at the resort. We stayed in a studio room hotel so there was a refrigerator and microwave. The hotel was nice and clean. It was also very roomy. One thing I did not like was the smell of the water in the shower. The funny thing is my husband thought it smelled fine... but I thought it smelled rusty. The area around the hotel was nice. There was a park next to the hotel, a couple of shops across and down the street.

5. Lebua State Tower, $135 after taxes, stayed for 3 nights, no breakfast
           We decided to spoil ourselves and stay the lasts few nights in Bangkok at this 5-Star hotel. It most definitely was a 5-Star hotel from the appearance, to the room, to the abundance of staff. The lobby was beautiful and clean. The staff were very friendly and spoke English quite well.  We had booked a Superior Suite and were upgraded to a Premium Suite. I am quite sure we were upgraded because I mentioned that we had dinner reservation to their really expensive Sirocco restaurant for our wedding anniversary. Our room was on the 55th floor. Our view was spectacular and we were even higher up than their Sea Breeze Restaurant because we could see it right below us. The room was very spacious. In fact, we didn't even use the living room space. Now that I think about it, I should have slept on the couch instead of on the bed. All their bed in Asia are firm! The bed at the Lebua was the less firm so it didn't feel like I was sleeping on hardwood floor. I totally felt like that in all the other hotels that we stayed at. Our dinner at Sirocco was nice. The food was okay. I think it's more of the atmosphere and the view that we were paying for. We knew it's fine dining and knew of fine dining prices... however we did not expect to pay $13 (390 baht) for a bottle of water (shared among the two of us!). After dinner we had drinks at their SkyBar, which is in the Sirocco Restaurant. It is overly crowed with people who are just there for the free view. I personally thought they should have a separate section for the guest who are staying at or dining in at their Hotel. *Note: They are serious about the no thong sandals. I only had a pair of thong sandals and a pair of sneakers. I wore a long Maxi dress with my thong sandal. I was not allowed to go to dinner! I had to go back to my room and change into my sneakers!

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I will also be posting my reviews and comments on TripAdvisor. Thank goodness for TripAdvisor! We tripadvised everything and for almost every vacation we go to.

..:Back from Asia:..

It's been a couple of days since we have been back from Asia. It was definitely a trip of a lifetime. We had soo much fun. We had many good moments and many tired moments too. Every day was an adventure for us. We did a ton of exploring, eating and absorbing it all in. His best moments were in Vietnam. I have to admit it was pretty fun there. My best moments were the days when we walked too long and he stopped to give me a push, a shoulder massage or insist on carrying my bag. All the little acts of kindness made each day overwhelmingly beautiful.

My cool rental outfit at the Grand Palace in Bangkok

Since we've been back, I still crave noodle soup and  all the delicious food we had there. However, being there does make one  appreciate how good we have it here. We had to be careful of the water and ice there. We brushed our teeth with drinking water only. Let me tell you, it smelled terrible almost everywhere we went in Bangkok. The only place that didn't smell bad were the malls!

Traveling through the Mekong Delta.

What we didn't do much of? We didn't do a lot of tours going out to the city. Why? Because we like city life. We also like to do thing on our own. Another thing I didn't enjoy but it was nearly unavoidable was being ripped off by vendors, taxis and people. As a tourists, it's bound to happen even if you speak the languages! We got ripped off riding the taxis. It was was too expensive! We got ripped off from a pad Thai vendor. He charged me 3x what he charged the lady before me. I tried to haggle for some t-shirts but they didn't care to go any lower. I walked away because I was not going to play 7-10 dollars for kids sized shirts. I am still angry about those shirts and I went to like ten different stalls that night. Urggh! 

Enjoying our last few days in Bangkok.

Enough negativity, what did we enjoy about Asia? The food! It was so fresh, good and inexpensive. The best foods were from the little stalls in the corner or ally. When we found a GOOD place, we went back to the same lady everyday. They serve in small serving and a lot of the times we order one bowl and shared it. We ate multiple times a day but all our sweating and walking must have equaled out because we didn't gain to much weight. We definitely lost some muscle mass though. We also really enjoyed the sky train in Bangkok. It is very easy to use and also very clean! 

Vietnamese coffee and broken rice for dinner.

The hotels we stayed at were pretty much like what we saw online. I am thankful for TripAdvisor. They were on the spot about all the hotels. It's true; all the beds in Asia are all hard! It was like I was sleeping on the floor! Even the Lebua's was quite firm. I have never missed my own bed soo much.

 

Now we're in Lancaster, PA visiting friends and family for two weeks before heading back home. Honey is working but I am free to write and relax.

Later because it's GYM time.

-Mo

..:Three Weeks Til Our Trip:..

Three weeks left to diet... to work.. to plan... until we head to Thailand and Vietnam. We are beyond excited! Flights are booked. Hotels are booked. I already know what I am packing. We are planning to just take a backpack per person. We are traveling super light and plan to purchase many of our needed items once we get there. We will be in Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, Phuket and then back to the Bangkok. Our plan is the stay on the east coast to spend time with family and friends before flying back home.

Here is one of the hotels we picked. There will be some down time and we will be spending that time enjoying the beaches in Thailand. We are booked to stay at The Imperial Adamas Beach Resort. I can't wait for this adventure to begin!

We are also spoiling ourselves by staying at the Lebua State Tower Hotel in Bangkok. It's going to be super sweet staying at this 5 star hotel. We are definitely planning to have a drink on their rooftop for our first wedding anniversary!

This is "our once in a lifetime" trip. We don't know when we would ever get to go back, especially when we have children. 

I'm so excited, I can't hide it! I am sooo thankful and blessed to have such a loving husband who enjoys traveling as much as me. We love love to spend time with each other. I couldn't imagine traveling with anyone else besides him. We can't wait to eat whatever we want and trust me, it will be without GUILT! We are going to consume pad thai, pho, bunbohue, banh mi, coconut everything and try unknown foods everyday. We are going to enjoy the nightlife with locals and sip on local beverages. 

We will take traditional Thai pictures, get clothes made there, buy souvenirs and promise to be positive everyday even though it'll be about 100 degrees there. 

** I promise I will not complain on this trip. I said to myself, POSITIVE THOUGHTS only!**

..:21 Days:..

I only made it 21 days direct-carb-free and alcohol free. Yes, it was hard to do. We went to an open bar wedding... and planned to eat carbs to celebrate our 4th year meeting anniversary. Hoping back on the banwagon can be difficult especially when it's the start of your period too. The first day of it was push day at the gym and it was difficult to stand, lean, push and just be there at the gym. But I "pushed" through it and got it done. The next scheduled cheat day is May 3rd when Lia visits.

Here is one of my recent yummy dishes I made. I looked for recipes and videos, but many of them were all ground beef with tomato and cheese dishes... I wanted healthier and Asian flavored... So I made my own version of stuffed bell peppers!

The veggies I chose carrots, onions, basil and cilantro.

Group pork, 3 eggs, oyster sauce, salt and black pepper.

Mix the veggies in with the pork mix!

Prepare the bell peppers by cutting the top and taking out the seeds.

Stuff them with the pork/veggies mix. Cover with foil. Bake for an hour, 400 degrees. Uncover and bake for another 15-20 to brown them. It was tasty and easy to make! 

..:It's Paying Off:..

Trust in the process. Eat clean. Workout. Lift weights. Drink water. Do it again and again. Everything will fall into place and you'll be one happy girl (like me!!).

      I am so happy about my body right now. I've lost inches where I want to and grown inches in places that I want to too. The progress has been slow... but the progress is making it more enjoyable to be in the gym and to want me to lift heavier! I have to admit doing the same workouts as Duong has really helped out alot too. He pushes me to do that extra rep and encourages me to up my weights.

      Today is Day #10. I have not consumed one direct carb... Not even one pieces of sweets! No money has been paid to Hon. I went out to two restaurants to eat with friends and managed to order clean meals! Of course I paid alot more money.. It's much cheaper to eat the pasta and burgers, but not this time around. I paid extra for that steak and that salmon. I went to a birthday party and didn't have any alcohol, instead I sipped on diet coke. There was no pressure from friends... because we're not in college anymore. My friends respected my decision. Just 30 more days until my schedule cheat meal. It'll be when Lia and Rich are in town. We're going to P.F. Chang's. I'll probably order a noodle dish (that's what I miss the most) and a yummy cocktail to sip on!

      I worked out before I meet Duong.. but it was alot more cardio and I continued to ask myself "Why am I not toned yet?" I was lifting 5lbs because I was afraid to turn into a HULK... Little did I know.. Genetically it can't happen!

      Aside from that, it's Spring Break for me and I'm loving it. I spent the whole day yesterday at my mom's with my sisters cooking and cleaning. Today's schedule is to relax and do some research about Thailand and Vietnam.

      Since getting married, I have been asked by nearly everyone about when I am going to have kids. I simply just want to enjoy married life and want to make more memories with husband for now. I see it all around me how difficult it is to have children and I know I'm not ready for it. Sure, there might not be such a thing as ready for it... but I just want to be able to feel more secure about it. Yes, its pure selfishness if you'd like to call it that. Maybe after this summer! :P

..:10 Weeks Left:..

10 weeks left. Hon is cutting. Thank goodness! It's much easier to eat well when he is cutting. Why? Because there is less temptations around. It's day #5 and I feel great. It's been clean eating of meats, veggies and fruits. I have no cravings right now.

Earlier this morning at our training, there sat a bowlful of Hersey chocolates and colorful Starbursts... I didn't even eat one! I did take 4 dark chocolates and put them in my desk so I can have them to give to the kids. This is NOT like me... I love chocolate and I usually never say "No!"

Yes, I diet and yes, it's become a healthy life style choice too. However, I have to admit I never did it cleanly for weeks. The longest clean consecutive days I have had is probably 14 days. Now I am attempting to go 42 days. I always had cheat days and then back to dieting. It was as if I was dieting and working out so that I could eat the chocolates and the cupcakes! Basically a balance of good and bad food.

Right now, I feel like I'm overcoming it... This whole mind over matter. And I know I am going to win.

My scheduled cheat day is when Lia comes into town. It will just be one cheat meal! I've also swore off alcohol til then too. I feel like my body just needs to be cleansed! I did well. I went to eat with some friends the other day and I made very smart choices. I let go of the thought of "Well I'm out with friends. I'm going to pay for it, why not order something yummy and delicious." or "I'm celebrating, so I could cheat!"  There will be another test this weekend when I go to lunch with the girls. We're going to Old Spaghetti Factory (lots of pasta!). I already looked at their menu online and decided I'd order a chicken salad.

Hon is helping me by measuring my body fat... So I am not concentrating on the weight loss, but the fat loss! I have not weighed myself in 5 days! ---> this is different because I usually weigh myself almost everyday to keep myself in check. Lately I have been more motivated to workout because I notice the changes in my body. I actually have a BUTT now! :)

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

"What are words
If you really don't mean them
When you say them

What are words
If they're only for good times
Then they're done"

..:Snow Day Reflections:..

Having the day off was great! I got to do some research about our summer trip. Catch up on some emails and of course BLOG!!

My mother is feeling better. Thank you so much for your thoughts, prayers and sending her positive vibes! Some of her vision in her "good eye" returned so she is able to see. It's still frightening to know that she will eventually go blind. My siblings and I have been trying to spend extra time with her... We have been talking about taking her somewhere nice and just spending a week together. I know my mother would enjoy that very much! I'd also like to hire a photographer to capture some of these moments while we are on this family vacation too. As much as I'd rather wait til I have a little one to also be a part of this memory, I am unsure if my mom's vision will still be there. I can't think about myself during these times.

Lately, I have been questioning my profession. I'm sure it's just a first-year-teacher's-feelings, but it's been difficult. I have good and bad days... However, lately it's been many more bad days than good days. I've been stressed about assessments, social/ emotional situations and lessons! I do try to stay positive by reminding myself why I took this route. I know why I am here (in my heart), but sometimes in my mind it isn't logical and not going to work. I really wish teachers were more appreciated and valued here in America. Our nation is behind in Education because we don't value education and it doesn't come first!! Seriously sports and entertainment comes first in America!

I have excellent news! My sister had her son almost two weeks ago. He was a beautiful, healthy seven pound baby boy named Austin. I'm so proud of her for going through labor. She is so strong. From the details she told me, I am scared to have a child. My desire to have children or at least the number of children has significantly decreased over the past five years. I went from desiring five children to now satisfied with just one! :)

I can not wait for June to arrive! Honey and I will be spending 3 weeks in Thailand and Vietnam. It's alot of work researching and planning, but it'll all be worth it. I can't wait to eat from the street vendors, shop at the night markets, sip on drinks on the rooftops in Bangkok, visit temples, eat fresh seafood at the beach and devour PHO in honey's homeland!! What else is special about this trip!!? It'll be my 28th birthday and our one-year wedding anniversary... We will definitely be celebrating it!!!

..:If your world suddenly became dark:..

My heart, mind and body has not been normal since last Monday. My mother has been very sick. Her MS is taking over more and more parts of her body. We are having a hard time adjusting... Even though it's been 20 something years... I suppose there is no acceptance or getting use to being sick! It's hard to see someone you love so much be in pain and hurting everyday. I know it's much harder for my dear mother.

This terrible disease has threatened my mother's only one good eye... Now she's blind. I couldn't imagine going to sleep one night and then waking up to darkness the next morning. How devastating!! It hurts... But us kids we need to be strong and be there for her. I know she is hurting much more... even more physical more than ever because she has been at the hospital for a week now.. getting tests done, needles poked and the most hardest of all.... the loneliness!

Dear God,
I know it's not her time yet... So can she just have some peace for a while. She already can't walk, MUST you take her vision too! I am having a hard time keeping the faith...  
Sincerely,
-Mo

I don't know what else to do. We have to think of all the possibilities.. If her vision is not spared, what are our options? My mother is going to need more care. These are the type of conversations my siblings and I will need to have. Who will have to give up their job/career?

I am very thankful that I have such great siblings who all care about my mother just as much as I do. They are so very strong and we all have spent a great number of resources and time with her.

..:Operation V Day 2:...

             Operation V started yesterday, Jan 2, and it will go until Feb 15th, that is roughly about 45 days.
V stands for two things; Vegas and V-shape! 
             Yes, I am normal.. I ate alot during the holidays. Even though I work-out nearly  everyday, that doesn't matter much when you are consuming 1500+ calories a days. They say "What you eat (your diet) is 80%, and your workout is 20% of weight gain/ weight loss."  I love my chocolates, sweets and noodles! My goal is to loose the holiday weight, which is less than 5 lbs... tone up my belly. I can't wait to see my small little 1-2 pack come back in.

             You might think it's ridiculous; but it's self-improvement for my mind, body and soul to know I can accomplish this... So I have set up a reward for myself. If I feel like I met my goal by Feb 12, I am buying myself the most  beautiful dress to wear for Vegas! If I fail, I will be feeling crummy and will have to wear a dress I already have...
             To make things easier... I might have to ban FAST FOOD, even Culver's, for a while. Although I am not a regular at fast food places... I do give in every once and a long while! I will have to limit my intake of desserts, chocolate, sweets and noodles ----> my favorite foods. I will have to indulge in lots of protein and fruits! :)
             What I ate today.... hmmmm.. I personally think I ate alot!! Blah for the second day.
-1 bbq quarter leg  -1 big salad -2 bananas  -1 milk -lots of cherry tomatoes - chicken thigh stirfry  -green beans  -green tea  -2 fried eggs  -tamarind
             The first few days are the hardest... I  say this because I am going from 2000 cals to 1200 ish cals. Our body needs to adjust to the change!