3 Weeks' Round-up

It's been a very long time. Scrapping and packing for the "Big Move" are taking up most of my time. This is aside from wedding details that still needs to be ironed out. I'll try to keep this as short and as concise as I can. :)

Last Week of September 2007.
- got to meet so many suppliers: caker, stylist (finally met him in-person), designer, venue/reception, printers, etc.
- hung out with my cutie nephew as I learn more cool things about him like his fear of crossing his house's doorstep (the "threshold") to go outside without holding an adult's hand. So adorable on how he would look at us with his "puppy dog eyes"...kids are always so cute!
- played the "mid-autumn dice game" with old high school friends before I left the next day to head back to HK.
- went house furnishings shopping with Ed to shortlist some choices or options that we shall need at our new place, which is still a work in progress.
- was also able to attend my extended family's weekly Sunday dinners this time around since I left Monday (Oct 01). It was good seeing the relatives but I didn't feel like much socializing. Oh, Ed went with me too. :)
- scrapping like crazy for a contest...5 more challenges to go.

1st week of October 2007.
- good friend, AJ came for a short visit. It was great remeniscing about old times and catching up on what people are doing.
- company bonding night: I played babysitting babies and little girls as I would check out the gambling table on who was up or down :)
- Swong and I hit the town for some fall fashion...nothing interesting...yet :P
- this week's layout came quick and fast, just how I like them to be. 4 more challenges to go.

2nd week of October 2007.
- training a few people at work...
- scrapped a bit for a swap then for the contest. I believe I'm getting the hang of scrapping underpressure. :P My last two entries came a lot faster than I expected. I hope this streak continues.
- will be having hairy crab (HK winter delicacy) on the weekend aside from trying to pack like crazy. I want to get my scrapstuff home first so as to clear up space for more boxes in the coming weeks. Wish me luck!

Big shoutout for my gal pal, TAM ~ Happy Happy Birthday!
I will see you really really soon!

*********
On some other news, I got into the CT that I recently applied for - digitalGinger. :)
I posted a new layout for the kit that I previously worked with. The site's up already. Make sure you come and check out the ever-growing kits available.

*********
Title: Cherish
Supplies: all by digitalGinger (original illustrations & designs by Bevin Dunn)
Kit Name: Marigold - Vintage Notebook
Stamp: Marigold - Vintage Frames
Buttons: Marigold Collection
Font: Simsun
Journaling: To cherish the love you have, cherish the life you live.
Program: PS7.0



Template: Birthdaylicious Mega Kit (Doodleboogs' contribution)
Doodle: Rhonna Farrer's Blue Title from Color My World Kit (2Peas)
Ribbons: Deanna Patterson's Tilly Kit (DigizinesDigitalDen)

Alpha "5" paper: Deanna Patterson's Tilly Kit (DigizinesDigitalDen)

Alpha "5": Jeri Ingall's Monogram with Numbers (Scrapper's Toolbox Kit - SBE's CT Xmas 2006 giveaway)
Font: Gungsuh
Program: PS7.0

Ed's September Visit

Thursday, August 29
A good friend of mine, LS, had a short business trip to HK and we hooked up to have dinner at Ricepaper (CWB).
This resto used to just be located across the island, Kowloon side, but I was happy to have learned that it branched out to CWB's World Trade. At last...
Food is contemporary Vietnamese but doesn't scrimp on taste. Decor is very clean and neat - white furnitures and quite roomy, for a CWB resto.
The resto is a Maxim's Group concept that gave us The Square (Exchange Square) and Lian (IFC), etc. A lot of the good noteable restos in HK are run by this restaurant group.
Recommedables: Softshell Crab Handroll and their Curries! Leave room for their really great desserts. Also, if you like hot apple cider...their version is quite neat!
Better book ahead since this place gets packed up so quickly due to the price, location and the good food. :)

Rice Paper
P413-418 Podium 4
World Trade Centre
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Tel 2890 3975

Ed arriving HK late that evening. We weren't able to hooked up till the following day.

Friday, August 30
I took day-off to fix some gov't paper work and bank stuff with Ed. It was basically "work". :)
We were done (thank goodness) by around lunch time and hooked up with Ed's brother, CW, to grab a bit at Bonheur near CW's workplace...so nice! Those lambchops were well-done and the soup (pumpkin and tomato soup) was just perfect.
Bonheur
6/F, The Pemberton
22 Bonham Strand,
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Tel: 2544.6333

The afternoon was spent hunging out with Ed and checking out his car parts around my area. Who knew that one of the Toyota parts dealership in HK is just behind my condo?!?
We had dinner at MOS Burger, Tai Koo branch...AWESOME!
This was a great highlight to Ed's visit...I'm still dreaming for these burgers!
They have so many kinds - chicken terriyaki, seafood, fish, tofu, etc

L-R: Cheese Burger with their sauce; Seafood Burger on Rice Patty
Mos Burger
Shop A1-A2 G/F
2 Hong On Street
Taikoo Shing, Hong Kong
Tel (852) 2568 1313

Saturday, August 31
CW, Ed and I had lunch at Crystal Jade as per Ed's request.
Ed love their chili dumplings there. :) I had to have only two before saying "no" since it was already numbing my tongue. :P
Around mid-afternoon, Ed and I picked-up the remaining car parts that Ed ordered yesterday from the car parts dealership.
Ed and I had dinner at Whampoa (Maxim's Group resto) with some friends then Hagen Daz around the area before splitting with the gang to hung out at LKF (Lam Kwai Fung), Ed got his Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey while we checked out the Saturday night scene
Our next aim: dinner at La Mer at LKF Hotel
La Mer Brasserie
1/F, LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham Street,
Central, Hong Kong
Tel: 2523 0200

Rare that I need to boycott and announce something not worth your money so here it is....AVOID ATOMIC PATTY at LKF: if you are picky with your burgers and great fries...won't bother giving you the addy.
Just look at the sloppy looking curry fries that I think is made from instant-curries you get from supermarkets. If that's the case, why bother having one outside when you can get it inside?!?


Sunday, September 01
I went with Ed to checked himself in through Airport Express HK.
While waiting for Ed to finish, I was at the Starbucks stall next door and go to try the Blueberry Green Tea Frap...super yummy! (...and to think, I'm not big fan of fraps)
We then went to lunch with CW at Lawry's Prime Rib at Lee Gardens. Quite nice!
Lawry's The Prime Rib
4/F, The Lee Gardens,
33 Hysan Avenue,
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2907 2218

After lunch, all three of us hung out a bit at CWB. Ed and his brother, CW, went to BMW to gawk at more cars before heading to IFC, Central.
It was still fairly early so Ed and I went for some afternoon snack (since we didn't have any more dessert at Lawry's). I had French macaroons at the below.
Le Goûter Bernardaud
Shop 2028-29
International Finance Center
Central, Hong Kong

I was lazy to think about cooking dinner after Ed went in through immigration so I had dinner alone at Spaghetti House, airport branch, as I wait for Ed's plane to fly off and before I head home. This is sort of the tradition that we go through...since we would talk on the phone as he waited to board his plane.

Monday, September 02
I had a craving for burgers...after MOS burger.
Thus, I proposed to my coworkers about Shake 'En Buns. They took the bait!
Food as simple but filling! I got Arizona peach tea...a rare American indulgence over here. :)
All 8 thumbs up from me and my friends who checked it out! :)

Shake 'En Buns
Causeway Bay Shop,
G/F, 5 Hoi Ping Road,
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

********
Kit: Mondays with Dah (available at Digizines Digital Den)
Designer: Deanne Patterson (Shabby Scrap Designs)
Program: PS7.0
Font: Engravers MT, Bernard MT Condensed, Freestyle Script
Journaling: Even though we've changed and we're all finding our own place in the world, we all know that when the tears fall or the smile spreads across our face, we'll come to each other because no matter where this crazy world takes us, nothing will ever change so much to the point where we're not all still friends. (Author:ThinkExist.com Quotations. “Loyalty quotes”. ThinkExist.com)

Kit : Mondays with Dah (available at Digizines Digital Den)
Designer: Deanne Patterson (Shabby Scrap Designs)
Program: PS7.0
Font: CK Becky Higgins
Journaling: Endless Stories of old friends / Yot's visit.05
Notes: an old photo of an old high school gathering from way back.

Real Life (Live) Lotus Flowers/Buds!!!

Mandarin's Burger...

Verdict: SO-SO
Had a craving for good burgers around town and a quiet place for me to catch up on my newspapers and HK Magazines. Mandarin is always a good place for its service and I can stay there for as long as I want and still get quality food and tea. :)
The burger is quite pleasing to the sight but the taste was okay and the beef lack more marinade. I found the fries too salty for me...but then again, I can't take too much salt as it is.
I'm still testing around for some good burgers. I know Big O's is good...there's one called Mos Burger that I'm suppose to give it a go soon. :D

*****************
New Installation at Cafe Causette

These are days that I'm so glad to have my camera with me...
It was a really cool installation indeed - a brass lotus display. Very Indian/Moroccan and yet still very Chinese with the Lotus, stand & bud. I have seen it in the past and always though of it as a fountain...how wrong I was. :P
About the actual installation that day - there was so much color and variety through the spices/ingredients laid out and around...interesting stuff!
Now, it's not only the cakes that I should check out but also this amazing arrangement. :D

*****************
A Real Live LOTUS PLANT!!!!

What a lovely sight indeed! I thought these were fake when I first saw them...but then again, Mandarin wouldn't really bother with fake ones if it was to be in front of their restaurant. I knew it was a real when I saw the water drop on top of one of the buds...and of course, touched it! :P
It was just a lovely sight! I've never seen this in real life and so round and perfect! I normally catch a glimpse of something lotus-like during my golf rounds at Wack Wack but that was a long time ago.
Oh, plus this one had white lotus buds too!! Take a closer look!
I wonder if I can request my florist to have a lotus bouquet! :P Now let's see how much would all that cost me in the end?!? It's going to be one really heavy bouquet, if ever. Hahahahaha!

*****************
High Tea @ Le Goutier Bernardaud

Ali and I had first wanted to try out Crabtree & Evelyn's Tea Room in Wan Chai but upon calling to verify the time and location on Saturday, I found out that they are not open on the weekends - only Monday to Friday 9 to 6pm only! There is totally no way that I can check this place out till I end working at ASM and till I get the free time to just leisurely go! It's so annoying! Oh well...good that I did call to ask since it would surely be a waste of time for us to go to find out that the place is closed. :P
2nd try was to check out China Tea Club but when I tried calling Sunday lunch time, no one seems to be picking up...when it's suppose to be open for lunch then later for high tea. Ali and I met up then checked out the venue...closed!
Hay...strike three's coming and I felt it. I went for the most sure deal - Le Gourtier Bernandaud at IFC, which was also indicated as one to check out for high tea in the last the LIST's Pamper Me issue. :)
<--This is the biggest scone I have ever seen & tasted! I was a bit sad that it was all in one big chunk - which normally comes in two types: plain & raisins, so sharing was a bit harder but managable. Amazingly enough, it wasn't undercooked in the middle or tough, but instead was fluffy and good! This particular scone is cool...can't say that enough. I was just pleasantly surprised that it turned out very well. Too bad that the jam was from a can and that the butter was not whipped. That would have totally "wowed" me. :) ***************** I was fortunate enough to catch Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book 5) last week and it was so cool! It's a freebee given to me at the office - for a sponsorship night. There are tons of freebees - cocktails started at 3:45pm and movie started around 4:30pm. There were tons of food and we got drinks and popcorn (two types - salty & sweet kinds) for the movie. Itwa s great! The house as not as packed as normal free movies that I've been to since they reserved two movie theaters. It was roomy and gotta love the IFC movie house chairs. :)
I enjoyed this 5th installment of the series a lot since I read the book and found it so sad with Harry losing his godfather, his only ties to family. The movie is not as sad as how it was depicted! (I can't wait to see how they do the 6th book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blooded Prince - I got emotionally drained after that long read.) After the movie, I got the urge to see if I can get the upcoming book this weekend. :)
On a Harry Potter note: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7) is coming out!!! Too many poilers and leaks online....I hope it's as good as the series...since it's th last one. One last "horah" if you will! See below for book 7 details.

*****************
2nd round of visitors:
3) Angela Lauchengco of MyScrapWorks
Angela found my blog through her fellow scrappers and mentioned that I posted a link to their site - My Scrapworks - to help promote Filipino scrapping and basically emailed each other from there on end. She is here in HK but I'm sure she knows her way around since she visits HK often and scrapbook shops - she knows a lot more about getting scrapbook materials around HK than me! :) Do hope I get to meet her in-person someday...maybe when I go back to Manila for good.

4) Joshua (my hs pal and groupie), her sister & nephews/nieces
Though they basically know how to get around town and have a very short trip, we did manage to talk on the phone and got a few recommendations out with regards to HK Island highlights.

*****************
Other announcements around town...

club.8
19 YUN PING ROAD
CAUSEWAY BAY
t: 2972 2680
Summer sales in coming, club.8 is working on a final sale up to 60% off original prices. Come and check out your favorite jeans and tops before stocks are running out!!

Mandarin Landmark is having unlimited wine paired with the special Iberico Ham dishes at Amber. This promo runs until the end of July. It's worth trying out. :)
FYI: Iberico Ham (Jamon Iberico) is a specific kind of serrano ham produced in the mountains of Andalucia, southern Spain. It is considered one of the best types of serrano, as it is produced only from Iberico pigs, a breed of small brown animals native to the region. The pigs have black hooves, leading to an alternative name for the ham of pata negra. The pigs' diet consists almost exclusively of acorns, giving the resulting meat a fine, nutty taste, along with the long maturation period of two years or so. Iberico ham is considered by Andalucians to be of such high quality that it is always served raw, finely sliced with bread, and is never cooked - lesser, more fatty variants of serrano ham are used for this.
Information taken from Recipedia.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7), the last of the Harry Potter series is coming out this weekend! For those you have not reserved their copy, good luck to us all! I'm going to try to do a "walk-in" this weekend, in the hopes of getting a copy for myself. Been debating on whether I would want to pre-order the book over here but I see no point since I can wait and just try my luck on the day itself. I hope it works...since HK is own for their favorite past time - "lining up". :)

MTR HK proudly presents - HELLO KITTY, The MTR Hello Kitty Heroes Collection
From 16 July to 2 September 2007, if you ride the MTR 10 times (except the Airport Express) using the same Adult / Concessionary Octopus card any time from Monday to Friday within any of the campaign weeks, you can get a "Hello Kitty" Hero for just $18. A new MTR "Hello Kitty" Hero will be released every week during the promotion so there will be a total of six for you to collect! A Limited Edition "Hello Kitty" MTR Train plus Theme Song* CD will also be available for redemption for just $30 from 27 August to 2 September. The MTR "Hello Kitty" Heroes and Limited Edition "Hello Kitty" MTR Train plus Theme Song* CD are only available while stock lasts. *Music is re-arranged from Hello Kitty's Fantastical Adventure - "Feeling as I Do". You can listen to the theme song and download the ringtone to your phone (for free) at MTR HK. Instructions are indicated. Not a big Hello Kitty fan but just curious on what these are compared to the photos. :P Expect me to take more MTR rides. :D

Another Hello Kitty promo around town (Hello Kitty OWNS Hong Kong) is with McDonalds HK and they have "Hello Kitty & Friends" - which I'm more inclined to get since they have KeroKeroKeroppi! I have bookmarked July 26 (Thursday) as the day I rush to have McDo and get my Keroppi head. :P Check out below!


Digizines Digital Den: Hooplah auction starts this weekend!!!
There are a good few of interesting kits that even I would like to get. :) Of course, I would rather give other bidders a chance at these "special limited edition kits" so go go and get registered!
Please visit Holiday Hoopla Auctions for further details or my previous posting on this.

For those who want to know dimsum, you can check Dimsum Finds.

PS: Still not feeling fully well...hopefully getting well soon!

*****************
Kit: July 2006 TwoPeas - Perfect Pet
Designer: Rhonna Farrer
Alpha: Mikki Livanos' Sunflower Alpha (July 2007 Gift, Scrapbook-Elements.com)
Program: PS7.0
Font: Gill Sans MT
Journaling: woof woof . stars . giggles . laughter . cute . funny
Notes: One of my SIL's requests for my nephew's bday party...I'm cranking out as much layouts as I can for this little guy! SIL recently gave me a photo shoot of little Jeremy with all his doggie giveaways. He was just in doggie heaven!!! Can't wait to start scrapping that one. :D
Template: SOTB's Doodleboog's 12x12 Template #Fourteen - Polaroidization Paper: SBE's Mikki Livanos' Color My Summer Paper Pack
Ribbon Elements: SBE's Jan Hosford Designs' Scrapper's Toolbox Creative Team Gift December 2006 (Scrapbook-Elements.com)
Program: PS7.0
Font: Forte MT
Journaling: Thank you for making my party so doggone fun! July 28, 2007 Jeremy Jason Y. Chan
Notes: As per SIL's request for the last slide for my nephew's upcoming birthday party's AVP presentation. :D
FYI:
1) this is my nephew's photo shoot with his puppy giveaways for his up coming bday;
2) the puppies are to be his giveaways though i wonder if he would be willing to give it away to people since he seems so darn attached to them already (!); and
3) my nephew's experimenting with a new look - chinos and khaki pants attire. :)
Photos: c/o of my brother, Jay

Taking Things a Knotch or Two Down

"I think it would be best if you take things a knotch or two down."

That was what I was told by one of my boss/co-worker a few days ago. I know I've been feeling very burnt out and over-stressed by the littlest of things. Note that this is a very tough thing for someone who was taught to do everything now, not tomorrow or later. My mother trained me to do what was assigned to me the fastest way I can and finish all the work before I leave the office. That's what I did at home and that's what I practice at work. It's great and all as long as the work is correct. The problem comes about if problems and carelessness happens.
I am trying my best to slow things around like take a step back and see what I did before sending anything out. I take more time with my reports...moving around...take a break, chat a bit, scrap a bit then come back to see if what I did is okay and correct. There are times when you do need a change in scenery then come back and see another angle. I hope it makes me less stressed out and off-the-wall with unnecessary request/documentations!
The same goes for scrapping. It's okay if I don't have journaling and more or less can glance what I wrote at an instant but for long journalings, I have to force myself to read what I wrote. I'm not big on reading to be honest...unless it's emails from friends and gossip. :P

Amazing of what Ed did...for once he did what I told him or requested him to do! I'm so happy that I strongly believe that hell just froze over! Can't disclose what he did but I'm glad that there are things he do know matter to me. I'm such a stickler to details. Better safe than sorry. :P As what we both say "soon".

Here's some photos of my nephew that is growing bigger by the day! I think fatter too. :P

@ 6 weeks old~ "laughter"


@ 7 weeks old (close to 2 months) ~ "Sweet Souvenirs"


@ 8 weeks old ~ "Sweetest Smile"

How adorable. I can feel so excited and happy for my brother and his wife. :) With a face like that...whose heart wouldn't melt! These are the moments when parents take photos of newborns by the days or by the weeks. Heehee!
I feel like using the 8 weeks photo again soon. I got so many titles in mind so that would be great to use again. Love love this photo of him aside from my current number #1 photo fav which is the feature photo of the Laugher LO. :)