Cheeks to Cheeks

Publisher: Hyperion

ISBN-13: 9781401301613 – ISBN-10: 1401301614

When you see the name Candace Bushnell you will think of Sex in the City TV series and movie or the latest (cancelled) series Jungle Lipstick. The latest book from Candace Bushnell is far from witty Sex in the City or the female sexual power of Jungle Lipstick.

The story plot is centralized on a coveted property landmark, One Fifth Avenue. It talks about the building previous residents’ flamboyant past and its current residents’ cold but true to reality ambitious lifestyles. Bushnell managed to elaborate on her characters by intertwining them with social activities that only audiences in the paparazzi’ed world could relate to. Personally, as a “commoner” it is like an outsider looking into the glass egg. The characters seem to live a lifestyle that “commoners” like us could not imagine be in.

If you try to get a Sex in the City out of One Fifth Avenue, don’t even bother. Bushnell has written a different book and it could be quite refreshing for readers who do not mind getting disgusted with fictitious Paris Hilton like lifestyles.

~Thanks Hyperion and Parent Reviewers for the opportunity~

Just a little post for people who are searching jobs in Austin. I’m sure a lot of people have read about the economy crisis in United States. Companies are retrenching again. Last I heard the big bank Citibank is retrenching. Job market is quite gloomy now and with unemployment rate at its highest since 9/11, I wonder if anyone can get a decent paying job.

Let’s hope the dark clouds dissipate soon. This country really need hope now. *sigh*

Cassie is taking a nap now and I’m multi-tasking on the pc and laptop. I really need to start packing Belle’s clothes. Trying to stuff both the kids clothes and diapers into one luggage bag ain’t easy. I think we will have to get some of Cassie’s diapers when we reach Ireland.

It is easy for adults to re-wear clothes but we can’t do that for kiddy clothes. I think I’ll have to stuff the kids clothes into those space saver bags. Hmm, maybe that will save me some rooms for the diapers and toys. Alright, I better start on my packing. So excited!

I had mentioned my jeans are a little looser now and I don’t need any Slimquick Cleanse. Well, maybe not now. I heard the full Irish breakfast is to die for. Oh, I literally mean it too. Irish breakfast is one hearty meal that consists of bacons, sausages, fried eggs, white pudding, black pudding and toast. It is also accompanied with black tea and milk. Almost every ingredient in a full Irish breakfast is fried. Now, isn’t that something to “die for”?

Would I try a full Irish breakfast? Oh yeah, baby! Like they say, eat what the Romans eat. Can you tell I’m excited about this trip?

Oh man, it is already November 20th and now I’m only posting photos from Halloween. I’ve mentioned that Belle wanted to be a princess and the Snow White outfit I found at Disney’s store was the cheapest. Yea, I’m not ashame to admit I’m a cheap-skate mom. So, this year, Belle was Snowe White. I got her a matching hair band and shoes too! As for Cassie, I got her outfit even before she was born. The Disney store was clearing out Halloween costumes last year and I got her Pooh bear costume for just 5 bucks. Now, that was a steal! Okay, enough talk, here are the long awaited pics of the kids in their Halloween costumes…

Miss Pooh Bear Cassie…

A not so graceful Snow White…

Belle giving Cassie a sloppy smooch…

Here’s me with two crying kids. Belle got jealous and started to cry when I was busy getting Cassie pics taken. During the photo shoot Cassie got cranky ‘cos she was getting too hot wearing the Pooh costume. Oh, the heck with crying kids, at least the Mommy looks nice here.

Photos of the trick-or-treating are in another camera. We have some cute photos of the kids with Aunty Laurie and Uncle Chris. Our friends Laurie, her bf Chris and Jaya came over to experience Halloween in our neighborhood.

Belle was a lot braver this year and got a lot of candies and chocolates. Daddy went with her while Gong Gong carried Cassie. We went to a few houses in our neighborhood and adjourned to our home to hand out candies. There were some Japanese parents who came to our house and decided to take Belle’s pic ‘cos they thought she was a very cute Snow White. I do have to admit, she does look a bit like Snow White…just that, she’s a tanned Snow White.

I can’t for for next year’s Halloween. I wonder what both little missies want to be.

It seems my posts have been short snippets of current events. Friends have been emailing me asking when is our Ireland trip and I have been a slacker at replying email. **I’m so sorry** I have been super duper busy chauffering the kids, folks and aunt. Today we spent few hours looking at a new development area ‘cos my aunt wanna look at the kitchens in the model homes. Luckily for us, Cassie was very willing to take a nap while we did that…and that was due to me carrying her in the carrier. Needless to say, my lower back is sore now.

With so many things going on, I think I’ve lost weight too. How do I know? I find myself kept pulling my jeans up. I guess being physically busy is one fat burners way to lose weight.

I still have many to-do things on my list. Right now, I’m glad the hotel rooms are booked. I’m so thankful my sis did most of the leg work ‘cos she helped me call the hotels and vacation homes for details. The tour guide we have hired is very on top of things and I can tell we will be in very good hands during our trip to Southwest of Ireland. Believe it or not, I AM excited about this trip but the before-trip exhaustion is wearing me out already.

Ba baba baba.

What was Jon’s reaction? He did the victory dance and cackled like a witch. Oh yea, he rubbed it into my face. Belle started to say Baba when she was 7-month old.

We aren’t sure what triggered Cassie’s sudden interest to say Baba but I’m guessing it stemmed from the words Bye-bye. We have been teaching her to wave bye-bye this week and she loves doing that.

I was certain she would say Mama first ‘cos she has been saying mmm for the longest time. Oh well, I’m sure my time will come.

Hi all! Sorry for the lack of posting. I have been super busy (as mentioned in previous post). My folks and aunt will be flying off to Vegas tomorrow. Hopefully, I’ll get some time to start on the Halloween and Birthday posts as promised. I didn’t get the chance to read the blogs I used to frequent. Anyway, some of you know where to find me.

It’s Saturday today and we’re fill to the brim with activities. Belle will be attending Ian’s birthday party in the morning. I’ll drop the folks and aunt off to Target on the way to the birthday venue. Later in the afternoon we will visit my aunt and cousins who are at Pacifica. If time permits we will probably swing by at Elaine’s house to pick up Belle’s birthday gift.

So many things to update, yet so little time.

October was Breast Cancer Awareness month. Unfortunately, there isn’t a month assigned for Colon Cancer. So, this is a friendly health reminder this blog’s older readers. A healthy balanced diet will curb Colon Cancer but to keep your mind at peace, a colonoscopy will be more reliable.

There are also many ways to keep our colons healthy. One way is to through colon cleanse. Another way, is a method highly recommended by one of my blogger friends, Mott. She said psyllium husk helps her maintain a healthy digestive tract. If you like to know more about it, you can hope over to her site (listed on my sidebar) and ask her about it.

We’re gonna have a full house tomorrow onwards ‘cos my 2nd aunt is flying in to SF tomorrow afternoon. We haven’t had a full house since Belle’s birth (if we don’t include the times my sis visited us while our folks were in town). We really had a full house then ‘cos my grandma, grandaunt, 4th aunt and my parents stayed with us right after I gave birth to Belle.

Looks like we will be tour guides again as this is my aunt’s first visit to San Francisco. I guess we will be visiting famous landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, the crookedest street on Lombard, Fisherman Wharf, Chinatown, etc. again.

I’ll be super busy tomorrow ‘cos I have to bring Cassie in for her 9-mth old checkup, drop Belle off to the daycare and pick up my aunt from the airport. I know some of you are waiting for the Halloween and birthday pics (yea, yea…wait until neck is as long as giraffe), I promise to get that done real soon.