Cheeks to Cheeks

Kittycat really got my arm twisted ‘cos I didn’t do the first tag. *sorry!*

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? I believe it is Vivien Leigh from Gone with the Wind. My mom will have to correct it if I’m wrong.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? I almost did last week when I thought I’d lost my blog’s database.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Used to, not anymore ‘cos nowadays I tend to scribble messily on postit notes.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Don’t have a particular favorite.
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Two girls.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I don’t hate me, so I’ll say YES.
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? LOL! Need you ask? I believe the hubby is bobbing his head in agreement.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? I would if I didn’t have kids.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Post Selects Banana Nut Crunch.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Nope.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? I’m getting stronger each day as the girl grows. Have you ever tried carrying a 30 lbs toddler?
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Vanilla; especially those with vanilla bean specks in ‘em.
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Their smile.
15. RED OR PINK? Red
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF? My mid-drift spare tyre.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My parents and sister. They are equally important in my life.
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? It will be nice.
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Dark blue jeans and brown slip-ons.
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Spicy pork with rice and vermicelli (Korean food).
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Co-workers’ conversation; an ex-colleague is in town visiting us.
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Purple. I really dunno but that’s the first color that popped into my mind.
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? My babies’ hair after a shower/bath.
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My sister.
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Haha! That’s a silly question. Yes, I do like you, Christine.
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Gymnastic (hey, we have something in common, KC!), pretty much everything except baseball, tennis, soccer and wrestling.
27. HAIR COLOR? Black with brown hues (all natural).
28. EYE COLOR? Dark brown.
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Used to, now I’m too lazy to wear ‘em.
30. FAVORITE FOOD? Noodles: Be it Italian pasta, Vietnamese Pho, Prawn Mee, etc.
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings…I’m too chicken to watch Scary Movies. If I do, I need someone to accompany me to watch it.
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? The Spiderwick Chronicles (on TV).
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Cream colored shirt with Beige floral prints.
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer!
35. HUGS OR KISSES? I’m greedy, I want both!
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Cold durian. Anything cold can be dessert, can’t it?
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? “Mom? Mommy?”; in which my response will be, “Yes, baby?”
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? LOL! The husband will know this. I’ll keep this tag PG.
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Nana Star by Elizabeth Sills and Elena Patrice.
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Haven’t used a mouse pad in years!
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? 29th Olympic closing ceremony.
42. FAVORITE SOUND? Belle’s snores. They are the cutest little snores.
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles: Grew up with Beatles ‘cos Dad is a Beatles fan.
44. WHAT IS THE FURTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? It’s either Montreal, Canada or Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Does pumping milk under 15 minutes count? LOL!
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Kuala Lumpur
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? My lunch buddy, Vickie. Do hop over her new cute site.

I can tell we’re so loved by friends and the bloggers we got to know. Another award was given and this time it is this…

I have yet to know the originator of this award, Bella Enchanted, but I know she came up with this to show her appreciation to the bloggers whom she got to know later as friends. This award was given by Immomsdaughter, Shooi, Annie and Dolphine (my old time high school friend). You ladies really made me went, Awwww… *blush*

This award is for ““those that are just nice people, good blog friends, and those that inspire good feelings and inspiration! Those that care about others, that are there to lend support, or those that are just a positive influence in our blogging world!”Again, an award is intended to be pass on to whomever I think has made my world a difference. Here are the seven (7) people whom I think deserves it:

Michelle – Yes, another award ‘cos you’ve helped me so much whenever I’m in a sticky situation.
Mamabok – Thanks for all the help you’ve given and we’re so fortunate to know you, PB and Chloe.
My sis – I hardly say this but it is nice to have a sister like you.
My other sis – It is great to gain another sister through marriage.
Mott – It sure is nice to get to know you especially when reading your blogs made me feel a little more saner.
Maria – Aha, you didn’t expect this, huh?
Alice – I’m sure you received this award already but no harm receiving again, huh?

Mumsgather is the first few blogs I frequented when I found out about blogs. I have learned so much from her blog and that instigated me to keep a web journal for Belle. I’m so flattered to get this award from her and knowing she loves my blog too, makes my head swelled up a little. Haha!

I know I have been way behind on my tags and I promise I will work on it once I have the time for it. This is an award and I just can’t let it sit among the cobwebs. As usual, awards are meant to be passed on and this time, the honorable list goes to:Synnee – My Stories & My Thoughts
Mamabok – A Journey of  the Crazy Chinese Woman in Ang Moh Town
Domestic Rat – Traipsing
Earthtone – Earthtone
Sweetisu – Sweetisu – The blog
Anna – Moments in My Life
Michelle – Gbay

Gosh, I really much catch up on my tags/memes. First of all, thank you, you, you and you for giving me this award. When Belle grows up to be a teen, she will know her mom rocks!

And to pass the baton…

Synnee – A great mom to Rye Li and on rockin’ girl and stay strong for your family ‘cos I know it will be difficult to lose a love one.

Mamakhong – Girl, you’re one rockin’ mama…looking after 2 kids under the age of 2! Really pui fook you!

Jean – Another courageous SAHM and home schooling Grace too! Now, that rocks!

There are plenty of female bloggers who rocks out there! Of course this award goes to all of you too.

Wah! Triple tagged this time. Luckily this tag is another easy peasy one. As some of you might know, Belle is just a short-form of Isabelle. I will only use Isabelle when I mean business with that cheeky girl. It is like a warning for the little missy. I’ll use her full name, Isabelle Yan Yi-Ting when I’m dead serious and really mean business; as in if she doesn’t listen to me, there comes the spanking.

Anyway, back to this tag. Jon has always like the name Isabella and I too like that name a lot. When we found out we were having a girl, it’s a no brainer, that’s the name we want! I then tried to word out Isabella with Jon’s last name. It was a mouthful, so, I opted for the French version, Isabelle.

To give ourselves more options we were debated over Isabelle or Natalie. We gave those 2 names to our friends and hands down, Isabelle, got all the vote. So that was the easy part.

Then came her Chinese name. We gave the honor of naming our child to my in-laws. We told them to start thinking about the name when I was 6-mth preggie. One month passed another and my in-laws still couldn’t come out with the name. First of all, it has to sound good in Shanghaiese, Cantonese and Mandarin. The last name, Yan, isn’t an easy word to pair with. My FIL came up with some names but they were too girly and Cina-like to me. It is like our Msian version, Ah-Moi, Ah Kau & Ah Chu.

So, how did we end up with the name ??, Yi-Ting? We got her name only after Belle’s birth. We took her birth date and time, gave it to the temple my family goes to at Jeram, Perak. They came back with few characters for us to choose and everyone agreed on this name. Most importantly, the character stroke counts mean my child will be independent, a go-getter, smart and will not grow up to be a wimpy woman. *Some of the characters chosen by my in-laws ended up in the wimpy woman section and that’s a big NO-NO for me*

Meaning of Belle’s name:

Isabelle means God is my Oath but Belle in French means Beauty.

Yi means Depend on or Rely

Ting means Courtyard or Court

**Start Copy**

Proposition: What is the meaning of your kid’s name?

Requirements: write about what or how or why you giving the name to your kids.

Quantity: FIVE PEOPLE.

Tag Mode:1st – You leave their blog and post link and add to the list below.
2nd – Let the blogger you want to tag know they been tagged by comment in their blog or etc.

1) Msaufong – Meaning Of SQ & Kiki’s name
2) Miche – My ACB
3) Sweetpea – My Little Fire

4) Yvonne – The Meaning of Ryan’s Name

5) ShoppingMum – Justin & Isabellea

6) Judy – Meaning of the name Terryning of the name TERRY

7) LiL’deviL – Mini Hawke
8 ) Mrs. Wallace Notes – My Daugther Name

9) Raising Belle – Monkey Girl

I’ve consolidated all the names from all 3 taggers’ list. I didn’t go beyond them; otherwise, I will not have time to work. The lucky ones this time are…

Vickie, Elaine, Shu Chuen, Pei Sze & Mott

Last 3 days, the blogsphere been very hot. I think it went up to 213.8°F. Why leh? Cause someone in the blogsphere decided to be a photocopier and go copy post from other ppl, change some text here n there and post it as their own!!! This person really has the nerve! Not only copy tag, but also PPP post. OMG!!! This is really ridiculous. Everyone work so hard, killing their braincell everyday to think of what to write and earn the money (hard earn sweat and blood) and this fella, so easy peasy copy the post and make money. If only she’s in front of me, I think I would have slapped her left n right. So I have to admit that I was kaypoh, wanted to find out what’s the REAL story from the pitiful woman. I went to MSN her lah. First of all, let me clarify to you that I don’t really know her. But just that one day when I login to my MSN Live Messenger, she added me from Yahoo. So I just add lah. And she asked me about scrapbooking stuff, so I pointed her to some links. On and off we do chat, nothing else.

So back to the story, I had a “nice chat” with her yesterday. She didn’t even want to admit that she was at fault at first when I probe her. She kept saying, yah, Mother’s day post everyone oso tok bout flowers, roses, bla bla…hmm..

Read the rest of this entry »

Pho: Ph? is served as a bowl of white rice noodles in clear beef broth, with thin cuts of beef (steak, fatty flank, lean flank, brisket). Variations featuring tendon, tripe, meatballs, chicken leg, chicken breast, or other chicken organs (heart, liver, etc.) are also available. [excerpt from Wikipedia]

Pho, to me, is a comfort food. Since I can’t get my regular lou shu fun or shar hor fun, this is the next best thing to food from home. My hubby introduced Pho to me. Needless to say, Pho is also his favorite comfort food. Pho restaurants can be found everywhere in the Bay Area. We usually go to the one in Santa Clara, called Pho Thanh Long. (Michelle, remember this place?)

When you have Pho, you must not miss out on the Vietnamese iced milk coffee. Grounded coffee beans are placed in a canister. Then hot water is poured into the canister. The lid is then put on top of it. As the lid presses onto the grounded coffee mixture, the water seeps into the cup underneath it,  leaving an aromatic cup of coffee. Where is the milk then? The condensed milk is inside that cup. Once the lid touches the bottom, remove the canister, mix the condensed milk and coffee, pour it into a tall glass filled with ice…Voila! There you have it, a perfect Vietnamese iced milk coffee.

Now I tag:

Jenn Tai – So, what’s good in Seattle?

Greenapple – What’s there in Richmond, VA too?

Anna – Can’t miss out LA…it’s a Food Mecca there!

Irene – Vancouver…another food haven.

Ling – Now, Netherlands…I’m really curious. Any good food there?

Edit: Siwwypig tagged me long time ago on Jalan-Jalan Cari Makan. I guess I can one stone kill 1 & a half birds with this tag. I know, I know, I cheated. Suppose to have 5 makan places. One place can lah!

*********************************************
Michelle started a tag around the world since she has been tagged so often. She wants to see this tag pass around the world to see all kinds of delicious food people enjoy.

**Start Copy**

Proposition: What is your favorite food in your state or country?

Requirements: Find some info about the food and show delicious pictures of it?

Quantity: FIVE PEOPLE.

Tag Mode: You leave their blog and post link and add to the list below.

Mybabybay loves Asam Laksa from Penang, Malaysia

Raising Belle loves Pho & Vietnamese Iced Milk Coffee from Bay Area, California, U.S.A.

Okay, Aunty Michelle tagged me. Mommy is gonna attempt to do this on my behalf.

On the Outside

Name: Isabelle aka Belle aka ???

Date of birth: Nov 4th, year of the rooster.

Current status: Rambunctious-energizer-bunny-toddler

Eye color: Dark brown

Hair color: Black

Righty or Lefty: Unknown but mommy thinks I might be a lefty. Lefty runs in mom’s family.

Zodiac: Scorpio

On the Inside

Heritage: Chinese

Fear: Not getting enough snacks. I would stuff everything into my mouth just to make sure I’ll get another cookie or chocolate or anything I find it to be yummilious.

Weakness: Milk! Got milk??

Your perfect pizza: Cheesy pizza! Especially just fresh out of the oven..yuummm…

Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

Your thoughts first waking up: Hmm, should I kiss mommy or poke my finger into her nostril?

Your bedtime: 9-ish, no later than 10pm.

Your most missed memory: I guess I miss drinking milk from mommy’s nen-nen ‘cos I always like to play with her bras, kiss her nen-nen and sometimes try to suck on her nen-nen.

Your Pick

Pepsi or Coke: Both! Both! Both! Both! Buuuuut, mommy doesn’t let me drink those kinda drinks all the time. Daddy loves to share with me whenever he has some.

McDees or Burger King: Both! Both! Both! Both! Buuuuut again, mommy doesn’t like me eat these kinda food. Daddy loves to share with me (again) whenever he has some.

Single or Group Dates: Mommy & Daddy wouldn’t let me try yet.

Adidas or Nike: None in my shoe collection.

Lipton Tea or Nestea: Chinese tea!

Chocolate or Vanilla: Both! Both! Both! Both! *salivating*

Cappucino or coffee: I especially like to drink from Daddy and Mommy’s coffee cups. Since Mommy like white coffee, I always whine my head off till I get a sip from Mommy’s cup.

Do you…

Smoke: No

Curse: I throw temper tantrums…is that cursing?

In the past month

Drank alcohol: Oooh-yeah! I love to sip daddy’s beer and again (why is it always mommy?) Mommy will say no-no.

Gone to the mall: Yes! With Popo, Gong Gong, Ah Yi and Mommy.

Been on stage: I love the limelight and stood on an empty stage while on a cruise.

Eaten sushi: No, mommy said I’m too young to eat sushi.

Dyed your hair: Why should I?

Have you ever…

Played a stripping game: Mommy will sing my favourite songs and strip me for baths. I will then put my clothes into the basket. Count as stripping game, ar?

Changed who you were to fit in: All the time! Mommy and Daddy will scold me whenever it is a no-no to them! Sigh, it is so difficult to be a toddler.

Marriage

Age you’re hoping to be married: Hehe…*shy*

In a guy/girl

Best eye color: Dark brown like Mommy and Daddy!

Hair color: Black like Mommy and Daddy!

Short or long hair: Long hair like Mommy! Short hair like Daddy!

What were you doing?

1 minute ago: Eating dinner

1 hour ago: Waiting for Ya Ya to pick me up from daycare

4 1/2 hours ago: Taking a nap

1 month ago: Probably taking a nap

1 year ago: At Ya Ya and Nai Nai’s house, probably napping too.

Finish the sentence

I love: to go under the covers and imagine it is a cave and I’ll insist Mommy and Daddy be under the covers too.

I feel: sleepy. I’m still trying to get use to having 1 nap a day.

I hate: to be left alone in the bed. I must have Mommy or Daddy to accompany me to sleep.

I hide: toys under the sofa.

I miss: Mommy & Daddy every time I’m at the daycare.

I need: to play with my masak-masak toys at least once a day.

Sigh, nothing to write, so, I’ll just do a tag given to me by Jenn. 

On the Outside

Name: Vien (my hubby is too lazy to pronounce my entire name)

Date of birth: Last day of April

Current status: Zombied out. I’ve been having weird dreams 2 nites in a roll and it is affecting the quality of my sleep.

Eye color: Dark brown

Hair color: Black

Righty or Lefty: Left rules!

Zodiac: Taurus

On the Inside

Heritage: Chinese

Fear: Deep, deep ocean (yea, it’s funny I still snorkel)

Weakness: Laziness

Your perfect pizza: Deep dish with plenty of meat! I tried the mutton ones from Pizza Hut (Msia) and I’m quite fond of it.

Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

Your thoughts first waking up: Should I pretend to sleep and have the hubby heat up the milk?

Your bedtime: After midnite

Your most missed memory: Being up middle of the night, feeling hungry and could just drive out to get some food from the mamak stalls.

Your Pick

Pepsi or Coke: Diet coke

McDees or Burger King: Neither, prefer In-n-Out

Single or Group Dates: Dates as in the edible kind?

Adidas or Nike: Adidas

Lipton Tea or Nestea: No preference here

Chocolate or Vanilla: Vanilla with vanilla beans

Cappucino or coffee: I’m with Jenn, White Coffee!

Do you…

Smoke: Social smoker when I was in college. Not anymore.

Curse: Heck yea! Every friggin day!

In the past month

Drank alcohol: Yup

Gone to the mall: With my parents around, the word mall was hanging on the corner of my mom’s mouth.

Been on stage: I stood on an empty stage when I was on the cruise (with no audience except Belle and Jon).

Eaten sushi: Nope but this month I had!

Dyed your hair: Nope. Trying to get pregger.

Have you ever…

Played a stripping game: Why must play games to strip? Just go straight to the point.

Changed who you were to fit in: Of course. Gotta change a little for the benefit of harmony.

Marriage

Age you’re hoping to be married: Still can hope?

In a guy/girl

Best eye color: Hazel

Hair color: Brown

Short or long hair: Depends on the facial structure

What were you doing?

1 minute ago: Typing up this tag

1 hour ago: Reading newspaper online. Yea, nothing much to do at work, can goyang-kaki (Malay: shake leg; fig. relax) a bit.

4 1/2 hours ago: Waiting outside the Ramen shop with Vickie.

1 month ago: Huh? You expect me to remember? I’m a sleep deprieved mom, please spare me as I can’t think straight now.

1 year ago: Suffered the I-can’t-leave-my-baby-alone-with-the-in-laws syndrome. Had to get back to the work force after 3-mth of maternity leave.

Finish the sentence

I love: to have another baby.

I feel: tired.

I hate: not getting enough vacation days.

I hide: my tummy by sucking it in..haha..

I miss: my family.

I need: to get pregger just so my folks will come back here again. How selfish, huh?

Now you go…

Shooi – ‘Cos you were dying to get tags/memes.

Jess – a filler post for your blogspot

Michelle – a filler post too. Write more PPP to get your iPhone.

Mott – So long didn’t do tag. You nak?

Mumsgather - Mystery mom…wanna do this?

Sorry, Mexico trip part II will have to wait. I forgot to transfer some of the pix to my thumb drive. I was “forewarned” by Jazz about this tag a few weeks back. This is quite an easy one to do…

1) Who is the 1st blogger you meet?

- Domestic Goddess. Actually I met 2 bloggers on the same day but DG arrived before Michelle (late due to traffic). I met both of them when I was at Penang last year.

2) Who is the ‘Most Wanted to Meet’ blogger for you?

- It will have to be all the bloggers who has been reading and commenting in this blog. It will be some years for me to meet up with all the blogger moms & dads from Sgpore & Msia; so, if any of you gonna be in San Fran, let me know! As for my blogger friends down south like Anna and up north like Irene & Mamabok, we will  just have to find time to visit each other.

3) Who is the ‘I can could meet, want wanted to meet but somehow never got to meet’ blogger? (modified a bit)

- This has gotta be Domestic Rat! We IM’ed each other about my Penang trip but just our luck, it clashed with her pre-wedding plans. She had to be in Sgpore and missed out on pinching Belle’s cheeks.

4) Who are the group of bloggers you most wanted to meet?

- Those who are linked on my sidebar. I haven’t been updating my links but most of them are blogger moms & dads.

5) Do you bloggers/blog readers that you wish to meet right now?

- Eh, all these questions are quite repetitive la. My answer is all of the above.

These are the lucky taggees: Anna, Jean & Syn.