Cupid : Update...

Well, my friends.... The blind date didn't happen. One of them cancelled last minute..
But it's okay - we ended up going to downtown and partied together with my BFF and co-workers instead! And I must say I had real fun!!!

By the way, is it just me when I am hangover, I want soda? I usually don't drink soda - maybe once every two months or so. But when I had a lot of alcohol the night before, all I want is Coke or Sprite. Funny, I know. Even today, I had cafeine free Coke and my oldest daughter Ju Ju looked at me and said, "Mama? Soda???" Oh it was so yummy...

How about you - What do you like to have when you're hangover: greesy food or soda???

One Fine Day & Sunday Music Choice..

Last Thursday, we drove down to Naples, FL to see my husband's best friend from high school. JT's best friend D flew down from NJ with his family for his brother's 40th birthday party - D's parents spend winter time in FL and they all decided to spend time together for the wonderful occasion.


It's funny how we hadn't seen each other almost a year and a half, but it didn't feel like it at all once we saw each other's faces.


We spent the whole afternoon - evening by the pool and beach, watching our kids play together. JT & D are good buddies and D's parents and family always welcome us with open arms. There were D and his wife and their two kids, D's parents, D's younger brother and his wife, D's younger sister , her husband and their little baby boy and us family. I've always loved spending time with them because they are genuinely kind, loving and wonderful people - they make us feel part of their family.

D's wife D also has become one of my great friends - she is super super nice and I love her. Actually, me and her walked down the beach together talking about our life and catching up while our husbands watched the kids play.

I took the photos above when our children (age 8 - 3) decided to hop on the wood that was left on the beach. I thought the pictures were beautiful and show how wonderful our time was that day.. I was so grateful and remember saying over and over again how happy I was. The littel things make me feel compelete these days...

After the beach, we headed to D's parents' condo to have dinner and some drink - we really had a blast and I was truly grateful that we're surrounded by the people we love so dearly...


Today's Sunday Music Choice:

"American Suitehearts" by Fall Out Boy. I don't know why, but I love listening to this song while driving in the car, window down, turn the volume Up, Up, Up and sing out loud while feelng the wind blowing to my face on on the way to the beach on sunny days. This song brings me up when I'm feeling blue...






And the song called "Until I Wake Up" by Dishwalla...
This song is totally one of my favorite favorite songs (I couldn't find any clip on Youtube except this one...) - I used to listen to this song late at night looking at the stars. It is truly a beautiful song in my book. It totally makes me wanting to fly to the moon and disappear into the space...




I hope you're having a beautiful weekend!

Watch out, a cute boy is in the house!

Yesterday, I talked about me having a night out with my co-workers last Saturday. I also mentioned about us having a wonderful dinner at the restaurant in the hotel, comped by the casino. And the dinner was one of the hightlights that evening.

I was playing the game nearly three hours, so I asked the pit boss if I could get voucher for dinner. Usually you have to play at least three hours in order to get compted there. Since I was winning, the boss figured, "Let this girl eat and get drunk, so she'll lose some money..", so he okayed and gave me a $170 voucher for dinner. The only place that was open (it was already 11:30pm) was a Steakhouse called COUNCIL OAK. The restaurant was awesome.

It was really beautiful inside and candles were lit all over the place. It would have been a very nice romantic dinner if I was there with JT.

Anyway, we were the very last customer there. We ordered a bottle of California white wine called Conundrum which was recommended by the waitless (She was a good sales person and I'll tell you why later) and enjoyed oyster, shrimp cocktail, filet mignon and lobster. Everything we had was fantasic.

We were chatting away and sipping wine how wonderful the night had been, when this guy who's extremely good looking shows up, holding beer in his hand. We were sitting in the booth and he didn't see us at first and I could see that he was just looking around to see what's so great about the restaurant. Then he realized we were right next to him and he looked kind of surprised.

Somehow he looked at me - so, do you know what came out of my mouth?? I said, "Would you like to join us??" with a huge smile on my face (I was a bit tipsy, but honestly joking). He posed for a second and we all thought he was going to say, "No, thank you" and walks away, but instead, he said, "Well..why not, right?" and sat next to one of my co-workers.

I am telling you, he was really cute and lil drunk, just like us! And I can say this for all my co-workers, their eyes were beaming too!! All of us was kind of excited that he chose to stay. His name is Drew and visiting his friends and family in Florida. We talked about silly stuff, but he was genuinly a nice guy. About 15 minutes into it, his cell rang.

Drew: "Hello... Where am I? Well, I kind of decided to walk around and I am at the restaurant next to the bar... I will be there soon, okay?"

I knew then, it was his girl calling him. He said, "Well, it was pleasure meeting you, ladies. I will be at the bar if you would like to join me," and left our table.

All the girls started screaming as soon as he dissappeared from our sight, "We can't believe you asked him to sit with us!!" They couldn't believe it, but I'm sure they're glad I did! The girls were ranting how handsome that guy was - it was like sitting with Brad Pitt, they said. I think that's an overstatement.

But really, I was just joking when I asked him to join us. I didn't think he would sit with us. Besides, three of us are married and one is in a committed relationship, so I thought what's the big deal?

I am the kind of person who like to meet people and get to know them. We live once and our life is too short. I think it is nice to be able to meet random people and have a conversation even it's just for 5 minutes.

When I went to work today, the other co-worker "C" who couldn't come with us asked me, "So, I heard you asked a guy to sit with you guys and he was really cute? K said it made her night!" C is married, too, but she was like, "Damn, I should have come!!"

During our lunch break, all of us agreed that innocent flirtation is perfectly okay even you're married. And I think so, too. I always believe that as long as you're just window shopping, there is nothing wrong with it. And I believe it's quite healthy human nature. But do you agree or would you totally disagree?

When I told JT about the cute boy, he kind of laughed it off - he knows I love him which I hate to admit, but it is true. LOL. That's what it counts; the trust. Without the trust, nothing works in the relationship. And I love the fact that JT trusts me.


PS. The wine we had at a restaurant was $67. I really liked it, so I went to look for the same wine today and I found it, only to realize it only costs $23 at the store. Ha! The hotel serves it for triple of the amount. Isn't it crime or what?

House always, or at least usually wins

So, I went out with all the female co-workers Saturday night for the first time. Destinaion - Hard Rock in Tampa. It was supposedly pre-Christmas party, but I don't think it was. It was more like a gambling party.

Honestly, I really had a blast. It's been well over five years since I gambled. I love Vegas and I used to love going there pre-baby times, but it's kind of hard these days because I have two little girls.

Anyway, I played Mini Baccarat (which of course is my favorite card game). I had $400 to start with (four of us chipped in $100 each and I played for everybody) and it went pretty good at first, bringing it up to $2400 for playing 2 hours. Okay, here is the thing. If you're a smart person with decent brain would grab that $$$ and go home. Honestly, that's what you should do or would do.

Now, Maki and the other girls with alcohol in their system decide to take a break, go to a fabulous steak house in the hotel comped by casino, go back to table thinking we can win some more $$$.... Ding Dong! A HUGE mistake.

I was debating at first whether to go back to play or not, but I chose to play some more as my co-workers watched from behind. I played for another hour and in the end, $2400 was down to $1200. I was pissed. So I decided to grab that $1200 chips and cashed in.

In the end, me and the girls didn't lose money. Actually we had $300 extra in our wallet than we started. But if I had thought straight and had not being greedy, I would have $500 more in my wallet. That would have been so much better.

If I think about it, I was more a cautious player before. Once I start to lose, I used to be able to pull myself out from the table.

JT told me before I went out, "make sure to leave the table when you are ahead." I should've listen to him!! JT hates to gamble. He doesn't believe in it although I am thinking he doesn't like it because he tends to lose $$$ when he plays. I am sure if he wins, he'd love it!

Anyway, what I always realize while playing at casino - you play for fun. I can totally see why people get addicted, but I think money is too important for me to waste like that. It's nice to be able to go to a casino and play once in a while. Tampa Hard Rock ain't Vegas, but it was kind of close enough. I really enjoyed the night with my co-workers and I feel like it brought us closer than before (may be it wouldn't be so, had I lost their money. Haha).

So, do you guys love gambling? Have you won or lost any significant money? What is your favorite game???

These kids make me smile...

Many of you know that my oldest daughter Ju Ju turned 5 last month (11/15).

Because her mommy was a bit slow in the process of booking the party location, we had to have the party for her and her friends a week after her real birthday (11/22). But many of her classmates and friends had showed up and it was a huge sucess..

We had 20 kids playing in the gym where Ju Ju takes lessons every week, and I can't rememeber if I had that many friends at her age. She is one lucky girl who is surrounded by so many wonderful friends.

These pictures simply make me smile and happy inside!!!

Have a wonderful week, everybody!! And burn those Turkey calories!!!

xoxo

One Fine Day

I thought I should post something happy because several of my previous posts have been a bit sad and downer.

So, today was very busy day at my work. We had 15 girls came in for a Bachelorette party at 5pm (as in having the party at the salon), so we had to close the whole salon for them. They were getting pampered by our people, getting their mani/pedi's done and hair done drinking champaign and wine.

The bride-to-be brought several CD's that her friend had made for her. She asked us to play it - the songs were all love songs that are popular for wedding. I was talking to the bride-to-be. Her face was all glowing and she was so happy although she remained very cool and calm (her friends were more excited and acting like high school students). I was so happy for her. I just kept on looking at her and thinking, "Wow, how exciting is this? She is going to be someone's wife. She is going to say "goodbye" to single life!"

I am always infatuated with the idea of people finding the ONE that she/he wants to spend the rest of their life with. Meeting someone, then being with him/her, then they fall in love. Now they can't seem to stay away and live without each other. So they decide to say "I Do." The whole process just amazes me. Every couple has differnt love story behind it. JT thinks I am weird, but I think it's just fantastic!!!

As I was listening to the bride telling me how she planned the whole wedding and the only thing that stressed her out was having all the friends and family fly in from NY and NJ (apparently she is from NJ). I remember I had to fly many friends from Japan and JT's friends and family from NJ. That was really stressful indeed. That's when the song I love start to play from the bride-to-be's CD. It was my first dance song. "At Last" by Etta James. My whole body became euphoric!!!

I remember how happy and excited I was the day I got married. I felt like I was dreaming. So, I decided to post some photos from my wedding in Hawaii. (The pics below were taken by our friends. The ones taken by pro photographer were in photo negatives, so couldn't post here..)

It looks pretty nice wedding. Yes, it was, but there were few things I want you to know about my groom that day.

I married to a guy who:

1. Buy himself a pair of black pants that he's going to wear for the wedding "4" hours before the ceremony.

2. Forgets to get a haircut, so have his youngest brother who "has no clue what to do" to trim his hair. That's why his hair looks like Elvis.

3. Keeps telling his fiancee he'd ask his friend to be the MC for our reception, and totally forgets about it and never bother to tell his new wife until after the photo session. Good Lord, our pastor (my former English teacher) had agreed to do the honor for us the very last second! Honest to God, he saved our wedding (and it turned out wonderfully and funny!).

So, ladies, if you're going to get married soon, make sure to tell your fiance to do his homework!!! And today's bride-to-be, Congratulations and have a gorgeous wedding Saturday!!


Before the bride's enterance

You may kiss the bride Someone was cracking us up!!!
JT's bud "DL" & my girls in Hawaii

Mr. & Mrs. JT

First Dance (and this trick was solely for entertainment"At Last" By Etta James (why this clip, don't know why.)

If You Drink Them, It Will Come

I used to be a party girl; going out every weekend, drinking all night long like a champ. But those glorious days are in the past now... I have two little girls and a husband. I'm lucky if I get to go out once a month. But that's totally okay with me because when I do, I have so much fun. Maybe too much fun!

That's what happened to me last night. I went out with one of BFF, Miss K and oh boy, did I have a good time or what??? While my husband watched our daughters, I went to bars and danced and had many drinks. Well, maybe too much??? Therefore, I woke up with this pounding headache... I think I asked for it as a token for fun time.

Folks, let's drink responsibly..