Anniversary 2010

This year we decided to stay in town to celebrate our 4th Anniversary. Time flies!
On Friday, I took off a bit early and we went to downtown Shangri-la for lunch. Then we shop around a bit, until dinner @ UBC Golf Club, where we got married.

Saturday, we went hiking in Mt Baker, WA, after seeing the gorgeous view from friend's picture. We didn't really "hike" but just took a couple pictures there, since we took off a bit late. When we were in Costco, people just sit on the "ice-box" to watch the World Cup game USA vs Ghana. Just managed to watch the extra time but too bad USA lost. I was hearing positive feedback that USA indeed played well in the World Cup game this time. Btw, US Costco is so generous in giving out food sample. The sample size is often HUGE (I considered 1/3 of the Hagan Daz ice-cream bar to be huge portion for food sampling). Also, lots of varieties. There is no need for "lunch" any more, at least for me. Dinner @ Palisade Waterfront Restaurant. Gorgeous view of the marina. Decent food, great service, all come with a price tag. Around $120 with 2 appetizer, 2 main course and 1 dessert.
Got home around 1am, super tired after the long day.

Sunday, even I set my alarm clock around 8am, I am able get up by myself to watch the World Cup! This is the first game that I tried to get up early to watch. It's England vs Germany. But too disappointing that the England lost 1-4. In the afternoon, we went to Meloty Fine Tea for afternoon tea. I'll talk more about it in the next post. After that I went back to work for 2 hours and then head home. Too stuff that I feel like "do some housework". So I clean up the bathroom. Want to mop the floor as well but seems too late now...

4th Anniversary

Mt Baker

Mt Rainer Scenic Tour in WA

Went to Oregon during the weekend. On the way we stopped by Mt Rainer for a steam engine train ride. We always want to go for a steam train ride as my hubby is fascinated about engine, no matter it's car or train. So we have been researched on steam train tour for quite some time. And we finally did it this time.

It took about 4 hours to get to the train station. The traffic is pretty slow in some areas (when it passes through the small town).

The weather is not that great but at least it doesn't rain hard. We are still able to get a few shots. It's end of June and still chilly. I remembered one year we went to Oregon in May or June and it's so hot that I have to buy new clothes and get changed right away. Anyway, the ride is a bit rough in some area. But it's exactly "as seen on movie/TV" that in the old days that's how the steam engine train sounds like. Feeling of "back to the old days".

After about 40 minutes ride, the train will stop in a picnic area for 20 minutes or so then ride back to the depot.

Mt Rainer scenic train tour

After the ride we head to Oregon for dinner. Meet up with P and his wife (yeah my hubby drag him to the track for the first time). Next day (Sunday) they head off to the track while I join the other 2 wives to go shopping in Washington Square. I spent record low amount...only spent $50. After lunch in Cheesecake factory we head back to the track. I'm sure the guys didn't have a great time since it rains pretty hard at times. No one dare to drive fast, but still there were two accidents I heard, including one roll over...oh well.

We started heading back to Van at around 5:30pm. Then to Cheesecake Factory (again) for dinner. This time in Bellevue though. Then back home at about 11:30pm.

Nespresso

It first draws my attention with these commercials featuring George Clooney. You just can't underestimate the power of advertising.




















I finally got mine: C185 Le Cube. This helps a lot since I am able to be more awake as I'm lack of sleep these days...

A review on how to make use of the machine...

Diet - Day 7

Went to the Keg last night. Had the daily special of sirloin steak with lobster and shrimp. The sauce is a bit fatty. My appetite is so small now I can only fish half of the 8 oz steak. And I love the bun ...it's so crisp outside and soft inside, and it's hot too! I had 2 bites only.

As of this morning...I'm down 6.2lb! yeah!

Looking forward to what I can eat today...rice + veggie! Haven't had RICE for a week now!

Diet - Day 5

I still don't feel dizzy at all. But I'm just ultra hungry in the lunch hour that I "broke" the rule, just had a pack of veggie soup mix...But...I'm still happy that it's finally the "meat" day! I am going to have chicken with tomato tonight. :) Haven't eaten any meat since last Sunday...

Got another diet plan from coworker. She loses quite a lot of weight after her pregnancy, now she's even slimmer than before she had baby. According to her the diet meal is 800 calories each day. There are tons of recipes to choose from as well. Hm...should I go with the Chinese recipe or the Western one...hm....

Chinese one: easier/quicker to prepare, but 1000 calories
Western one: more varieties dishes to choose from, only 800 calories, but would take much longer to prepare. Which one to choose...hm....

This morning, down about 5lb as of today.

My new card blog

I decided to have a dedicate blog for my card design. This one would be straightly for "my state of mind". From now on all the card related post will be here.

Diet - Day 4

So far I am feeling ok. I was afraid that I will feel dizzy like last time. But I'm feeling alright, with the only problem that I don't seem to sleep very well. These 2 nights I just wake up in the middle of nights and can't fall asleep, which makes me quite tired today. But I do try to sleep earlier than usual, maybe it just takes some time to adjust an earlier sleeping schedule.

Down about 4lb as of today.

Diet

I want to resume my diet plan.

Goal is down 6-10lb by the end of this month.

1st week: soup diet
2nd week: light exercise
3rd week: soup diet+light exercise
4th week: intense exercise

Sunday

I was hoping to have more rest but in the end I just woke up by myself at 10:30. It's after all 10 hour sleep but I was thinking a little more be better. Anyway, I decided to head out for early dim sum lunch. Dim sum is great as usual. After that me and my hubby went to visit father in law and brought him some cherries. Since there is about 1.5 hour left before meeting my friend, I ask my hubby to drop me off at downtown Sears to get my nail polish base coat. Mine was dry out after a few months :( I also need to shop father's day gift. As there is still 20 minutes left, I was thinking to get the gift in downtown as well before taking skytrain to the meeting place. I was a bit surprised that my friend is already there 20 minutes before. Anyway, I told her that I am on the way and will be there in 10 minutes. As I get off skytrain and take a look at the time...and it's still 20 minutes before the meeting time. At this point I sense the trouble...how could the time stays the same before I get on skytrain and after I get off skytrain? And there must be something wrong with my watch. I quickly take out my cell phone and check the time...I was actually 15 minutes late!!! Oh well..

I went with my friend to check out wedding gown and pre wedding photo package. It's so good to be slim. :) She looks so pretty in most of the gowns! Anyway, I try my very best to bargain a better price for her. I think her package is quite decent.
Since my friend is hurrying back for second visit of the open house, I ask her to just drop me off in a near by supermarket and ask my hubby to give me a ride home instead. And that kinda take my hubby away in the middle of his weekend project - replacing his car trim with carbon fiber vinyl paper. Anyway, he finally finished everything around 8 and we had dinner at home.

Was hoping to finish making my father's day card but no...my mind is empty...

So tired

Went to 2nd card making gathering. We were supposed to make some fathers' day card but I can't come up with the design. So I didn't bring enough material to her place. In the end we chit chat a bit and share some technique.

I bought a Swiss roll and I just had a slice for lunch. I kinda want another piece but seeing the other girl (who is a bit bigger size than me) also had one piece only...I sort of feel bad if I eat more than her. So I was just starving when I got home around 4. Had a cup noodle and a yogurt. Then I go browse the web for a bit while my hubby is working on the car. Don't know why I feel so tired that I just have to take a nap. I almost never have the need to take a nap since 5...Last night I sleep for about 7 hours but that shouldn't be too bad. I just took a nap on the couch until 8pm then we head off to dinner.

Still tired after dinner and time to off to bed...