Pre XMas Dinner

Just as the Christmas season at the malls seems to be happening earlier and earlier each year, so seems the Christmas dinner with the besties..  And this year, it is the earliest yet - with us having our Annual Dinner on the 15th of December...

Scheduling amongst us is always a big factor, of course...  With this year being the worst...  Sue and Cecilia are still pulling overtimes at their respective jobs...  Juliana leaving the 19th to spend the Holidays in the Bay Area...  And sadly, David even had to miss this dinner - as he is on a tour in  the Czech Republic and Austria.

So we made do with the time we had..  3 hours of eating, gabbing, eating, exchanging gifts, and eating some more..  Lol!!!  The venue was Dan Ryan's Grill at the Xinyi District Mitsukoshi Area..  Food was good enough, service OK, but we did get our own quiet area that enable us to relax and enjoy the time together...

With Christmas being a fave time of the year for me, it is always great to be able to spend it with the people I like, I love..  And these girls, being my Best Friends in Taiwan, am always happy I get to spend a Holiday dinner with them, before we all do our own separate Celebrations...  It is a night for us to give Thanks for being in each others' lives...  And to toast the new year to come...  

Thank You Juliana for the "Oh So Cute" Sony Angels...

Thanks Sue & Cecilia for the Yummy Chocolate covered Coffee beans

that comes in this lovely tin from agnes b.

But Most of All, Thank You for the friendship all these years and for many more years to come...

Pre CNY Dinner @ Home

Last nite we had the ladies (Juliana, Sue & Cecilia) over at the house for our Pre Chinese New Year Get Together dinner....   a bit early but with everyone's schedules as busy as it is, this was the only time we can do it or it will be after the Holidays - just like the late XMAS Together....  and needless to say, everyone will be going to their respective families' homes for the Chinese New Year break....  Us included, as we head down to Kaohsiung later this coming week....

It was a nice simple dinner... Soup, Salad, & Sausage Pizza - simple except for the fact that everything was home made... personal chef, David.... For the two of us, it was an all day affair - as we shopped, cleaned, prepared, and cooked before the gals arrived at 6PM.....

Then it was time to feast on the scrumptious food & fun chats...  and to end the feast are treats they brought over - Bread Papa's Cream Puffs and Strawberry flavours.....     it was a little after 10PM when the ladies decided to take off as the following day is Church Day, and Sue has to get up very early for it....

SWEET TREATS to end the night!

MORE PHOTOS HERE!

Looooong Days!!!

Everyday ON THE GO for me this week... Aside from the daily grind- house and work and baby sitting Juju, i was actually able to SQUEEZE a few more things..., Lunches at Gordon Birsch with Juliana... Plus Outback with Juju and family..,, Catch SAVAGES on the big screen... And even took in some oh the Fashion's Night Out Festivities ( see previous post)..... Whew!

Juju practicing her performance art by the Rainbow Bridge - Dajia Riverside...

 

Sept 6th: Lunch with Juliana at Gordon Birsch

Sept. 6th: Treating Juju and Todd for some McDonalds... 

 a Fave of Todd's and Juju's FAVE playground!

 

 

Sept 7th:  Steaks for lunch at the OUTBACK!!!

Then took in the MAYDAY Exhibition once more....

 

and capped off the night riding Miramar's Taipei Eye!

 

Sept 9th: Dinner @ Mitsukoshi with Juju, Todd, and Tori... 

even COLDSTONE Ice Cream

(Peanut Butter and Chocolate for me - YUMMY!!!) for dessert!!!

========================

Next week will be just as Busy as i will be off to Korea with The Wus for a Surprise 4 day trip!!!

Chilling @ Chilli's

An evening hanging out with the Besties: Juliana, Sue, and Cecilia was spent over great food at Chilli's - in the Warner Viewshow Area - Saturday night.,.

Started off with Sue picking me up at the house... then we parked over by Julianan's to meet up with her and Cecilia at Taipei Monster.....  then we drove over to Chilli's as we had a 7PM reservation, and being the weekend, we knew parking would be hell.....

 As always, gabbing galore took place... So much food was devoured, and my Fave Dessert, Molten Chocolate Cake capped the dinner....

Always a Great Pleasure when I get to see them, even more so when I get to see them all at the same time and for an extended meal, too... Not a quickie lunch we have like

Most of the time....

The Feast!!!

Chocolate Molten Cake

Post Birthday!

Monday, the 11th:  Was FINALLY able to get together with Sue and Juliana - after a month of not seeing them..... Nowadays, it is a   TREAT for the 3 of us to be able to have lunch together - with the girls' work schedule really sooooo demanding....   it was even a Double TREAT  as we CELEBRATED my BDay....  

Lunch was at Lulu's....  this was our second time at the place.....  Nice Ambiance....  Good Food....  No One Rushing Us.....  and just the right amount of people - so as one can still people watch but not get annoyed by too much loud noises....

...and the SPECIAL TREAT was getting this Beautiful, COLORFUL, FUN

400% Be@rbrick!!!  Thank You Very Much, Juliana!!!

Lunch with DR Q!!!

well....  let me set things straight right off the bat - we did not actually have lunch together....  we were in the same restaurant, Wood Stone, @ 98 Bistro Building....  separate tables and different companions....  I was with Juliana having our regular get-together.... so Close Enough to having lunch with him, right?  hahahahahahahahaha

DR Q, for those of you not familiar with him, burst into the scene via One Million Star - Taiwan;'s Premiere Singing Contest...   his Season was a few years back...  as far back as 2007 (am not too sure on this...)....   anyway, I have liked him ever since....  he sings pretty well, dances well, and has such a lively personality....  sometimes, you forget the talent as you are just amused by the personality....

Since then, he has been a permanent fixture on Taiwan Television...  variety shows, Idol Soap Operas and of course, he returns to One Million Star frequently....  I know that he has been making the rounds at local Pubs Island-wide....  sadly, I have not been able to catch him in person yet...  due to Timing mostly....   for the most part, I learn about the gig too late, or am out of the country - which you know is once a month....  Now he is making the rounds even more, as his CD will be coming out this month....  and the lead song is already making regular rotations on both MTV and VH1...  Catchy song... and FUN video - just right up his personality...

MV LINK: http://youtu.be/kA0b-c70DZg

So needless to say, I did not miss the chance when I saw him walk past us a couple of times....  the third time - he was actually leaving already - just had to get up, walk over and talk to him...  and of course, snap a shot....  to all these, he graciously accommodated me....   and I must say, I was not disappointed.... he was as charming, lively, outgoing, and friendly as he seems to be on TV....  now am even more of a FAN!!!!

BIG SMILES ALL AROUND!

HP7.2 & the Ladies.....

okay okay, am probably going to get STONED for this but admittedly, am probably one of the few who did not get on the Harry Potter Bandwagon.... did not read a single book.... saw parts 1, 3, and last year's Harry Potter 7 . Part 1...

Though I did enjoy the first one, i just did not get hooked like most... so I skipped 2... but was dragged to 3.... and saw the 7th one just because there was nothing else to see at that time..... but this time, I really opted to go with the girls (Juliana, Sue & Cecilia - now, they are REAL FANS!)) to see what is to be the end - but then again, is there ever an end to something that just keep on making money??? am sure Hollywood will still find a way to bring back the franchise... in one form or another....

The movie delivered.... I actually enjoyed it very much and was entranced by all the things that was going on.... I was glued to the screen all 2 hrs plus of it.... even when that creepy snake was slithering about - and you know I cannot stand snakes... so many characters died - and not just minor ones... and though it is to be expected that GOOD will TRIUMPH OVER EVIL - you actually HOPED for this throughout.... this is nothing like the first kiddie one I saw many years ago.... it is more mature, darker, and much much more emotional... now I wish there would be a follow up....

Seeing was a total experience too.... so many people lined up to get tickets for the early show - under the heat of the beating sun.... still, you see nothing but excitement in their faces.... and in the theatre - you see how they really get into the film.... clapping, agitated and yes, crying.... I have not seen so many audiences get this emotionally involved since ET phoned home... LOL..... NOTE: TWILLIGHT SAGA does not count - another franchise I never got into... LOL....

THANKS FOR TAKING ME, LADIES!!!

Just Like Heaven!!!

...and that's just how it was for me last Thursday, the 7th... It was the 1st day of the Annual Taipei Toy Festival (a 4 Day Event)..... of course, I braved the crowds right away and went.... along with my Partner in Toys Crime, Juliana..... just look at this COLLAGE with all these COOL, FUN, & EXCITING TOYS! okay, okay, not all mine... I WISH!!!
It was a Great Day.... wish I could have brought home all that I wanted - but one MUST have limits, right?? Mind you, I still came home with a lot... and thinking of going back for more later today..... hahahahahahahahahaha

Tons of tpoys to look at from some FAVE designers.... Be@rbricks galore, Stay Real, Hot Toyz, C.I. Boys, etc... and even a bit of STAR GAZING as, Scandal Ridden Hong Kong Star, EDISON CHEN made an appearance debuting his CLOT designed tees and Toys - and some authograph signings and photo taking.... too bad it was waaaaay tooo CROWDED - could not even get close.... so had to take a few shots by ZOOMING the camera - hence, not too sharp...

Treated myself, the iPhone really to a new case, TOFU!!!!

MEET BUBI!!!

For me, this BUBI is the most FAVE one that DEBUTED at this show.... have always wanted a Little Boy Blue type character... and he comes quite close.... Designed by Au Yeung from the Series: "The Bubblegum Adventures of Periwinkle". So far there are three variations issued for "Episode 1: London Raindrops". Well basically it is just one boy but each Blind Box, he could come with an umbrella (Easiest to get.); a back pack (Harder to get..); or this one, with a hat (My most FAVE!)... each one also comes with a blown bubblegum that he can hold or put in his mouth.... FUN!!!

Anyway, have UPLOADED a few photos here if you care to see:
Taipei Toy Festival 2011 on FLICKR
-will be UPLOADING more this weekend... just way too much goodies.... Just Like Heaven, indeed....

be@rbricks updates

The recent trek to Monster Gear with Juliana (June 16th) got me all "googley eyes" again about one of my Obsessions in Life - Be@rbricks... We went and picked up the latest TOKIDOKI be@rbrick release - which brings mine up to 6 total!!!While there, I also got to see the soon to be released SERIES 22 LINE UP, from Japan Medicom Toys this June 2011.... another cool collection with entries from DC Comics' Green Lantern, Pirates of the Carribean (regular version pictured & a Mystery Special one), Disney's Cars 2, UNO the game, and the Japanese anime Black Rock Shooter - to name a few... here's the shot of the line up:

Smile, Just Smile!

"Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love."

- Mother Teresa
============================

A Brand New Week... a Brand New Month.... I suppose am off to a good start already as the last few days, I have had little things catch my attention/come my way that makes me SMILE... take my MIND OFF stressful matters - even for a tad bit...

First of all, I got to end April with two relaxingly FUN days.... On the 29th was a very long lunch with Juliana at Capricciosa - yes, a new resto for us to try and enjoy very much... not forgetting that the main FUN part of the get together is always the looooong chats....

MORE PHOTOS HERE

The on the 30th, I had a great time seeing THOR, even on my own... and spending a bit of time people watching at Warner Viewshow - it was the weekend, so it is always crowded with shoppers, strollers, hawkers, and street performers...

MORE PHOTOS HERE

==============================
and then Sunday, the 1st day of May, was just the usual Sunday for me.... attended MASS... feasted on Filipino food - lots of it, really.... and later in the evening - relaxed and enjoyed the Water Massage area of our local pool...even swam for 40 mins - now that was good, indeed....

Of course, there is always work... so in between I do all that... it does not get any easier... and with the way things are: the economy and the NEED for extra $$$ for MOM's Medical Expenses and Meds, it gets frustrating, scary, and stressful... but as always, I just try to take things one day at a time... praying and hoping that all will always work out just right... never losing hope....

and today was extra SPECIAL for me...as the woman at my neighborhood HI*LIFE shop, gave me not just two stickers (due to me for the coffee that I bought) but 5, yes 5 stickers... enough to redeem for another one.... and so now I have the first 3 of the NEW Jimmy Liao be@rbrick collection!!! This woman/clerk is also the one that makes sure I get to complete the sets of whatever Premium Program they are pushing that am collecting.... so am ALWAYS very much APPRECIATIVE....

and the BEST part, when I asked her why she was giving me 5 stickers, instead of the 2 due to me - she replied with: "...just because I find your smile always sweet and genuine... and I see such joy you get in collecting these little things..." WHOAH!!! I BLUSHED right there and then... even felt my face get hot and turn apple red... I was TRULY touched, and this episode just made the whole collection even more SPECIAL to me.... (Photos of the First 3 in the Collection Here)

Wet Weekend....

Nope, not a Wet & Wild Weekend, as some of you might be heading to on these Summer Months... it was plain and simple, a Wet Weekend.... basically Non-Stop rain that continued on through all day and nite Monday.... so wet that even the buses are drenched inside from all the umbrella carrying passengers - myself included!!! And with the way things had been lately - it almost felt as if it was just not raining outside but inside as well, emotionally speaking.... I do not mind the rain, I actually like the feel of it now and again - but when it is like so - NON STOP - I could go batty... it is hard to get motivated... even to exercise - as the walk to the GYM is quite a cold and puddle challenge one.... getting anywhere, somewhat wet, if not soaking wet, is never a pleasant feeling... and it does not do wonders for one's appearance.... that's for sure... LOL.. Still, I managed to do this and that.... as much as I could muster the energy for anyway... walked to and back from a few places.... Saturday, I went to Juliana's home to return the looong overdue shopping bags full of dolls.... then we waited for Sue N Cecilia - to have lunch and celebrate Juliana's upcoming BDay... it was a FUN time with the Girls - as always.... and we were stuffed from the many food ordered at Chili's and of course, from the fun conversations....

Sunday, still raining non stop, it was a nice time at Church... being reflective and just rejuvenating myself, through the Music and the Peaceful ambiance....Then Monday afternoon - with the rain letting up a bit, I braved the coldness and went to Warner Viewshow to catch the afternoon showing of "SUCKER PUNCH"... been dying to see this movie and am sooooo glad I did... it was PURE ADRENALIN FUN..... Great Escape movie with Glorious cinematography.... Great Texture and Design on the films.... and KICK ASS Girls doing their thing... purely, an entertaining almost 2 hrs long kind of a film... A MUST SEE - TRUST ME!!!!So TRULY, just as the sign above says.... it is as Beautiful As you Make it to be.... come rain or shine....