Do people still wear cufflinks?

Hmm. I'm not sure if these are very popular even for weddings nowadays, but I thought these were the cutest ones around - shaped like little bow ties.

Yahoo Answers

I was browsing around the web and stumbled upon Yahoo Answers. Though there are some interesting questions and answers, I do wonder how valid or factual is the information being provided. I guess you can't always rely on one source to get your answers. This is probably why Yahoo has Ask Yahoo! for those questions that need reliable answers. I also like Yahooligans, which is something Google doesn't offer.

Fondant - Oui Oui

Fondant. Sounds like fondue, but sure doesn't taste the same. I didn't know what it was till I tried during cake tasting trip at a local bakery. One of the sample cakes was a small butter cream mocha icing with fondant. My first taste of it seemed like I was taking a spoonful of sugar. It was so sweet that the cake itself didn't even need the butter cream icing. While the fineness of the icing appeared like a pretty porcelain finish, the looks can be deceiving if you're not a fan of ultra sweet stuff. Though it's not my wedding, if given a choice, I'd rather choose buttercream as cake icing instead of fondant simply because I want to taste the cake without getting a sugar slap at the icing.

Google Notebook - nifty idea

I have decided to be a bit helpful for the coming wedding. In an effort to help them plan out the details, we've set up a Google Notebook. It's accessible from virtually anywhere and it allows you to achieve a virtually paperless desk. Okay, maybe not so paperless, but still worthy of saving a couple of trees and precious time. Since finding anything on the web using places like Google or yahoo has become a "needle in the haystack" activity, we decided to collect our findings and share them with the world. It's a work in progress so it may be in dire need of some organzation. Check the wedding notebook we started out!

Oh June!

June is right around the corner and so is it high time to go on a diet. If I want to make it the upcoming wedding without looking like a Krispy Kreme donut. For the most part, juggling work and excercise is a massive undertaking that requires a lifestyle change. I mean shift to be more exact. Likewise, I think the first place where I can start is by eating right. So, I'm now searching for better ways to manage my diet. That red strap dress might be a distance dream unless I seriously attack this problem.



Incidentally, a friend of mine said that people nowadays are giving out donuts as favors or as an alternative wedding cake for their wedding. Now, call me old-fashioned, or queer if you want to, but honestly, do you want your wedding to be remembered with a donut? Hmm. Oh yeah, I remember the rainbow sprinkled donut with chocolate - they were really special? Ok., I am not donut bashing. Heck, donuts are great with cofee, but at a wedding party?

Sew Away

This weekend will be spent learning how to sew. My first attempt at sewing will be attaching a button to my favorite shirt. Okay. It is act of desperation, but sooner or later we gotta learn how to sew. There is a great site that I came across, which covers all sorts of sewing projects. Whether you plan to make your own veil or sew a stuffed animal for a baby, it has lots of fun stuff to follow!

A Princess for Every Bride

While not every bride can be as glamorously dressed as Grace Kelly when she married Prince Rainier of Monaco, I think every now and then it is nice to be inspired by her grace and beauty. It is sure a far cry from where she was born in Philly!

Really amazing commerical

My Mom recently sent me an email that was forwarded to her by a cousin of hers. This is quite an amazing movie clip of a Honda commerical in the UK. Here is the clip uRL:

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/honda.php

Enjoy!

Probate gone awry

When an ex-stripper marries an old Texas oil billionaire, you'd think that the Supreme Court would have better sense, but times have certainly changed. It appears that the court may rule in her favor, thus allowing her a piece of the pie of her late husband's fortune. What a crazy world!

A Cool Wedding Blog

I came across this blog while searching the web for wedding blogs - like a typical Friday breakfast session - I'm just surfing the web! ANyways, I think these guys are doing something really unique by raising money for their honeymoon in Hawaii. You can also find a neat journal of how their wedding planning is going so far.

Flasks and Money Clips

A friend of mine was recently shopping around for some groomsmen gifts. She was wondering if item such as money clips and flasks are still appropriate gifts for men her age - around 25. They do come in some stylish forms and designs, but a money clip is a money clip, and a flask is a flask.

While I don't think these products are without practical purpose, I do wonder if men especially young men like to carry around a flask? It just had me seeing visions of DOMs or alcoholics. And what about money clips? Well, I can see the practical side if you carry around large wads of cash that can't fit your wallet, but most guys nowadays use the card unless you're a casino-going Sin city high roller.

Paradise

In my usual Sunday fashion, I generally spend it by preparing for the coming week (e.g., laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping) or I sit around home doing nothing. However, yesterday I decided to just do the latter and join the ranks of mouse potatoes – munching on chips and surfing the web. Ain’t good for my thighs, but what the heck. Anyways, I came across this really awesome looking hotel in Morocco called the Kasbah Tamadot – now owned by Sir Richard Branson. While the place is located on the outskirts of Morocco and if you are willing to brave the countryside, perhaps it might be worth it, but for me, I just choose to oogle at its beauty. Sure looks like an exciting and romantic place for a honeymoon.

My First Invitation to a Wedding in 06'

Yes. This summer I finally got invited to my future sister in law's wedding. While I won't be a member of the wedding party, attending a wedding is always a perfect opportunity to people watch. Probably one of the best parts of a wedding is finding out more about other people and trying not to let other people know about you. It's as if you have to play a sort of masquerade at events like this because inevitably gossips and rumors start to linger long after the wedding. You'd think people would remember how beautiful the wedding was, of course, but somehow, gossip just seems to stay around much much longer. For example, who married whom, so and so gained 10 pounds, or did you see her new boyfriend? Yeah, these are typical psot-wedding tidbits you normally pick up in our family! Certainly give a new name to wedding gossip!

A Pocketbook? From huh to duh...

I had an interesting conversation today with an elderly lady in the elevator. It all started when I got into the elevator and pressed the button for my floor. With the usual polite smile you give people in the elevator that don’t look threatening or like a stalker, I smiled to her casually. She then made a very puzzling comment and said that you have a very unique pocketbook. Okay, I don’t quite know what she means, but when I was in school, a pocketbook was a small book, right? Well, I guess I must have missed out on the third definition of the word: a purse!

Who would’ve known a pocketbook is also called a purse? Was the lingo they used back in the 50s or 60s? Anyways, I didn’t want to offend her or question what she was referring to so I just smiled and said “thank you” – while scratching my head and wondering what the heck she meant. Now I know better! I guess it’s kind of like saying “pop” when you’re in Michigan, and soda when you’re in San Diego!

Beautiful Web

Have you met a rude person today, while at the mall, restaurant, or even just standing in the hallway waiting for the elevator? Rudeness. It's all around, and this weekend I realized why the Internet is so beautiful. Mainly, it allows you to cut through the crap of impolite people you meet while browsing at the video store. One of the first things I will be trying out is the service from Netflix, which allows you to rent DVDs through mail instead of going to the video store.

Let's Cook Italian!

To add excitement to my life, I've decided to learn how to cook Italian food. Perhaps I won't end up as a chef, but I am now cooking Italian at home. For inspiration, I have looked to the show "Every Italian" with Giada De Laurentiis. The recipes look so good and they don't look difficult.

Make a Wish

There are many things in life that we all wish for. Some wish for wealth and others wish for peace. while we all know that wishes are just wishes, making them a reality is also a wish within itself. Now, your're asking: what's the point, right? Well, when you don't wish for something at all, life just seems as if there is nothing hopeful to wish for. So,if one day you should bump into Aladdin's Lamp, what would you wish for?

T-minus 4 hours till...

I'm web gazing at the moment when I stumbled on Froogle - the comparison shopping site from Google. Being that Easter is coming up soon, I was searching for chocolate bunny mold pans. It's actually a nifty tool and if you're a lazy web surfer like me, it give you lots of pictures and I like pictures!

The Immigrants - the Legal Ones who waited

The debate on regulating immigration has certainly sparked criticism and protest from many minority groups. While I feel for the many poor people that have entered the US illegally, I am deeply divided over the issue largely because I have many friends who have been separated from their loved ones. These are the people who have stuck to the rules - often waiting for years to be with a father or sister who has sponsored them to be able to come to the US. It is these people who are unheard because they have tried to do things the right way in gaining a green card and thus acquiring citizenship in the country. One of my friends had a brother who had to stay in his home country of India, while his parents filed their paper to sponsor him as a family member. Why aren't these same people coming out and protesting when they are the ones who have stood in line the longest - not cut across?

Going Nuts

This Sunday I:

- Ate a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup - a pair in one pack so that makes 2

- Had Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream - Dublin Mudslide - sinfully delicious ice cream with bits of chocolate chip cookies, Irish liqueur, and swirls of fudge with a hint of coffee - OMG - this stuff rocks!

- Ate a salad for lunch - to offset it all:)

It was nuts...but it was good! Since tomorrow is Monday again, I'm back to my diet:)

My Friday Post

On a typical Friday like today, I am just elated with joy that the weekend is finally here. I don't know why I feel this way as there is a Friday every day of the week. Could it be that it has finally stopped raining here in LA and the afternoons just seem to exhibit sunlight drawing me to spend a weekend biking around the pier at Long Beach? Or, is it because this week I just met more idiots at work than normal? Nah, it's probably more because I just want to forget work - even just for 1.5 days because by Sunday afternoon, the weekend is already over. Your mind is preparing for Monday as you set the table for dinner, put the laundry away, or plan the agenda for the week. Maybe I should prefer Thursday instead of Fridays because most of us already shutdown for the weekend by noon on Friday anyways!

Honey and Moon

Do all people take honeymoons nowadays? I mean is it something that every newly married couple has the luxury of spending time away from work? Admittedly, I didn't go on a honeymoon b/c we were just too darn busy in our careers. So, when I see couples go to places like Hawaii or Cancun, I would consider them very lucky. I can't say much, though, for the guys that go on a cruise ship for their honeymoon considering how many mishaps have happened at sea. Also, I heard that when you are on a cruise ship, dinner is made on an assigned seating basis - sounds a bit like pre-school.

So, did I go on a honeymoon? In the end, we eventually went on a week long trip to Sedona, which was very nice.

Kiddie Plate, Pls.

Yesterday, I ran for 10 minutes. Not from excercise, but from rushing to the post office. Then I realized that were parts of my body that were bouncing, which did not bounce before I got married. Scary thought...So, for dinner, I decided that the era of super-sizing is over - at least for me. It's now kiddie-sizing. That is, I now order the kiddie meal whenever available. For starters, I had the Kid's Meal plate for dinner at Panda Express. They give you just the right portions. When you compare the adult with the kiddie plate, you'll be utterly shocked to realize the amount of carbs that you load up when ordering the regular/adult plate. This makes a great "pre-wedding diet" or even "post-baby" diet, I guess...

Wishing all bloggers!

Error correction - there's supposed to be an apostrophe above between "k" and "s". Oops...

For St. Patrick's Day, I thought I'd educate myself about this special day beyond just associating it with wearing green at work. Okay. Here it is:

Famour Irish Beer - Guinness - strong, but good

Irish Liqueur - Bailey's goes great with coffee and ice cream

Ireland is a beautiful country with a spectacular countryside - great for biking and picnics!

University of Notre Dame - Home of the Fighting Irish - great football team - perhaps one day they'll make it to the Rose Bowl again

Irish wedding traditions are marked by their own distinct customs and practices. There is an interesting book available by Bridget Haggerty.

Oh Ryan's Potato Candy - tasty treats made of coconut and cinnamon to remember the potato famine.

Have a Heart

Since last Christmas, I have known at least 3 people who have had heart attacks. All of whom range in age from 45 to 55. While I am still young, news like this makes me realize that everyday our hearts are subjected to all kinds of stress. While we certainly don't go through traumatic experiences on a daily basis, it turns out that a broken heart or ""stress cardiomyopathy" can result from stress and trauma due to great emotional pain caused by a loved one. I also read recently, that spouses who fight a lot can result in suffering from hardened arteries!

When is it too late for the clock?

Okay, I recently had this big argument with my sister in law about when is it the "right" age to have a baby. She, having just gotten married at the age of 28, got pregnant. She said that she was really afraid of having a baby well into her 30s because most women have their children well before they hit 35. I argued that it's pretty common for many women especially those concentrating on their careers to delay having a baby at all. While it is still very common for women to have their first child before 35, I told her why should those who plan to have a kid later in life, be looked upon strangely. Or, put it more bluntly, have some "problem" with fertility. Granted, we all have a finite amount of eggs in our basket, but isn't 34 still a viable age to have a child, or is it too late? When is the right age, then? 28, 32, or 34?

Yummy Easter Treat?

Alas, it is finally March, the beginning of Lent and a prelude to Easter. Now, I'm no cheery Easter bunny, but when I started looking at what goodies to have for my Easter lunch, I found one particular product that caught my attention. Recently, many chocolate manufacturers have started making chocolate crosses or crucifixes. Companies like Russel Stover Chocolates say that these are very popular among the Hispanic markets. While I do know that Hispanics love chocolate, I also do know that many Hispanics are also Catholics, and I don't think they would be lovin' it. I myself, while not religious by any standard, would think that it would be a sacrilege to be eating a chocolate cross even it is made with the finest cocoa. I would just find it deeply strange to be eating a cross-shaped piece of chocolate.

Married at 6?

There are some stories that you hear about on the news, which don't get your attention because it's the same old story - murder, politics, war, etc. But, when I heard about this funny story today, I just had to tune in to this the news clip about a couple that had gotten married when they were 6 during a play, and then really got married at the age of 22. I think it's a cute story!

Olympics - Closing Ceremony

I watching the closing ceremonies on Sunday night and for the most part, it had the usual fanfare and glitz. Bocelli, fireworks, and dancing were beautiful, but what was up with the scene when women of all ages dressed in what appeared to be wedding gowns, started walking on stage with a calla lily-looking torch light? I found this a bit weird. Was I watching the 2006 closing ceremony or a scene out of Logan's run or a moonies mass wedding?

Wondering if, why, how

So my quest to overcoming shyness. For one, I've made an attempt at least to smile back when somebody enters the elevator. I even think this is easier than I thought. What I do wonder is how do some people manage to be so open and outspoken without even trying? It's tough being introvert in an extrovert world.

Be Loved!

Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.

- Aristotle

Trends trends trends

Trends - they are everywhere. You hear about them all the time whether they are wedding trends, fashion trends, or diet trends. Today I realized that what makes people follow them is the mere fact that they are trends. Besides, a trend would not be a trend unless there is a following. More importantly, though, I ask myself, why should I follow a trend. I mean when a magazine for example like Brides' magazine says that the latest trend in weddings is for brides to have this and that at their wedding. I just don't find these things compelling enough for me to want to follow them. When I go shopping, I don't necessarily look out for what's trendy, but rather what is practical fo me and my wallet!

Check out these so-called wedding trends and see if you agreee!

Top 10 Wedding Trends for 2006

The Wedding Channel 2004 Wedding Trends

Wedding Trends from FoxNews

Just Thinking

Lately, I've been wondering a lot. Reflecting on what I can do better this year so that I can be a better person. So, I've decided to take small steps towards overcoming certain things. One of which is being more assertive. I don't know whether this was a way of being brought up or whether it's just my personality, but I believe it's time that I became a bit more assertive. While I don't consider myself a door mat, I do hope to change this aspect of myself. We'll see how it goes this week. I also took the liberty of finding some help on the web - from the BBC website.

System broke?

I was at the ob/gyn's office in LA with my sister-in-law who recently got pregnant. One of the key questions and concerns of my s.i.l was that if her doctor was going to be one at the delivery room. Why'd she ask? Well, she heard stories that it is common for women's ob/gyn's not to be the one who are actually deliverying your baby unless there is ample reason for them to be there. Typically, her doctor said that you will be delivered by whoever is on duty at the time you enter the hospital and go into labor. Her doctor also said that "doctors have lives, too, so we cannot guarantee that we will always be there." I left the doctor's offic wondering if this is really how the "system" works or are women just accepting this answer without demanding what they want. I wouldn't want some stranger deliverying my baby especially if something goes wrong. What are we to do?

Rudeness - nature or nurture?

I was "people watching" at the mall the other day when I noticed a mother say "shut up" to her son. My first reaction was to think what could be so bad that would warrant her to say that. Then I realized that perhaps her own mother or father probably talked to her in that same manner. It really disgusts me because when you look at the whole thing, there are just some people who don't deserve to have children when there are so many misguided kids in this world. When parents are too busy with their social life, too involved in their career, or too busy shopping at the mall, that taking care of their kids becomes somewhat of a burden. Kids only emulate what they see in this world. It is no wonder that kids these days are so rude and impolite - blame it on their parents! If you want to have good kids, it's starts by people looking at themselves and changing for the better.

New Day - A New Year?

On the last day of the year, most people are thinking of their New Year's resolutions and the year ahead. But, how many choose to reflect on this year without an unrealistic expectation of what's in store next year. Naturally, a new year brings about the opportunity for change, however, shouldn't it be something you try to do everyday not just at the change of the year? There are people who say that in the new year, they will start to work out, be organized, go do something good for the community, which is perfectly fine, but we should be reminded to do these things everyday not next year or tomorrow, but today. That's why I choose to say "Happy New Day" - may every day be as good as the one before and next...

Regifting Ideas for 2005

We all give and receive gifts. There are some though that you know you can do without. But, nobody will know that you gift is a regift. Just be sure to repack it in some nice wrapping.

1) A Bag of Pistachios

2) Can of Caramel Popcorn

3) Fruitcake

4) A can of chocolate pretzels

5) Box of guest hand soaps

6) A trivet

7) Napkin rings

8) Silver bottle stoppers - they are terrible things to use on a good bottle of wine

9) Glass candy bowls

10) Napkin holders

Gift Ideas for Bloggers from Dahlia

This Christmas Season, I've decided to share a little something with my fellow bloggers. While giving presents would certainly be great, I think this would be even better. 5 gift ideas and stocking stuffers for bloggers:

1) Herman Miller Aeron Chairs

I call these the Grand Piano of Chairs. These are just about the most comfortable chairs around. If you are petite, they have a size just for us dwarflings. I can sit in this chair for 8 hours straight. Okay, maybe not 'cuz I'd have to eat and go to the bathroom. If you can afford one or find one at a discount, this is the chair to buy. Prices vary anywhere from $200 and upwards of $2000.

2) Pillowstep MicroTerry Clog from Isotoner

I don't have a foot fetish. Honestly, I don't, but this slipper is so comfortable - your feet or your wife's feet will be very happy. Price $18

3) Terra Frites
Every blogger has to have some munchies and this is the one I crave all the time. They may not be available at all groceries, but you may be able to find them at places similar to Whole Foods or Wild Oats. IF you're looking for low sodium and "healthier" snacks, this may not be to your liking; however, Terra Chips also offers other snacks made with olive oil.

4) Phone Head Sets

When I blog, sometimes I get a call. Avoid a stiff neck and get a head set! Price vary, but if you're looking for something comfortable, try the one from Plantronics.

5) Watch a good movie or get gift certificates to a movie

Okay. I know blogging is fun, but a good movie is also a great way to get out and spend time with family and friends. This December I hope to watch the movie: Syriana. Before you head out, I suggest going to the movie review site of "Rotten Tomatoes".

It's Friday!

I know I'm goofing off right now, but head is on Friday mode already.

Your Blog Should Be Yellow

You're a cheerful, upbeat blogger who tends to make everyone laugh. You are a great storyteller, and the first to post the latest funny link. You're also friendly and welcoming to everyone who comments on your blog.

What Color Should Your Blog or Journal Be?

Perflebrity - Holiday Gift #1?

A celebrity in a bottle? Lately, more and more celebrities are rushing to come up with their own brand of parfum as wear a celebrity scent is the latest trend. Whether its a Britney Spears fragrance called "Curios", Spirit from Antonio Banderas, or "Lovely" from Sarah Jessica Parker, "Still" by Jennifer Lopez. The list goes on and on and the "perflebrity" race continues. Many people wear perfume for various reasons ranging from its allure to its magical ability to make one feel like a star. But, do consumers really want to "wear" a perfume that embodies the image of a successful icon or celebrity? And with the holiday/Christmas season upon us, do you really want to have a celebrity perfume bottle as a gift?

What season do you call it?

I was at the mall the other day and stumbled into a Hallmark shop to browse for cards. Like most people, I have come to associate December with the word "Christmas", but this year, it seems like I don't know what to say to people when you have so many varied forms of greeting people. You have probably heard of it all, but is it about finding the most politically correct phrase to use or do you just say what comes to the mind naturally. Quite frankly, I used to think "Merry Christmas" was fine, however, nowadays, you hear "Happy Holidays", "Season's Greetings", and other greetings which really don't give much definition and meaning. What do you think? What kind of "card" can encompass all of that? Would it be so offensive if you used the word "Christmas"?

Holiday Breakups

Lately, I've been hearing news stories of countless celebrity breakups from the divorce of Christina Applegate to the calling off the wedding of Nicole Ritchie. For what may seem like a trend is just normal by all standards for just as many people breakup, the same might be said as to the number of people who get engaged during the holidays. Is it the allure and romance associated with the holidays that gets people all crazy? Perhaps it is the romantic sentiment, the snow, and the spirit of giving that might explain things.

When you love someone - set them free?

When you love someone, you do anything to make sure that they are safe and protected. Whether your are mother, father, husband, or wife, there will always be somebody that you would want to ensure is safe. But, when do you draw the line in sheltering a person from the harsh realities of the world. For instance, as a mother, how do you raise your kids so that they learn to defend themselves from the insulting officemate or class bully? While we all want to protect the people we love, I find that one of the challenges to raising kids is knowing when to let go. We all want to raise children that are polite and courteous, however, do parents come short when teaching kids how to be assertive? Is assertiveness something that you just learn from everyday life? Do you assert yourself all the time or do you have to pick when to be assertive?

Split up - official

This Thanksgiving I heard that Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey are separating. While I know that they are really young and just got married less than 2 years ago, this is another example of how many people rush into marriage. It is really indicative of our times. If only people would learn.

What it means to be unique?

In less than 2 days, Thanksgiving will be here, which only signals the coming of the holiday season. This means hitting the retail pavement in search of presents for friends and relatives, etc. Like many people, I want to find gifts that are unique - whether it is handmade or not just as long as it has some unique quality that shows some careful thought was placed into its purchase. Yes, it is idealistic, but this is where the problem lies. Now more than ever, the word "unique" has been so overused by retailers alike that the consumer is often left with so-called "unique" choices that are really much the same. Isn't unique defined by being one of a kind? Because "unique" is no longer "unique" - the word itself has become trite. With this mind, this coming holiday season, I've decided to gather your ideas on what defines a unique gift, especially if it is for a special person in one's life like a parent or spouse. Your ideas are welcomed!

Got me thinking

Is there really such a thing as soul mate? There are some people who marry; believing that the person they are with is their soul mate. This is the individual they have been waiting for their whole life. One that seems to be yin in the yang. But, is it really possible?

Kidnapped, Shot, and Getting Hitched

We usually hear of victims, that have have been kidnapped and shot, who forgive their captors, but rarely do we find one that has decided to marry their captors. Bizarre, but true. In what appears to be an odd mix between forgiveness, love, and a dose of Stockholm Syndrome. Tina Marie Stebbins has decided to marry her longtime boyfried - Christian Leroy Lindblad who had previously shot her and threatened her kids. While little is revealed in the news about the exact circumstances about why he shot her in the first place, don't you think love has its limits particularly in these kind of situations? Isn't there some form of resentment that comes about?

From Princess to Miss - A Royal to Commoner Wedding

Every once in a while, you hear a story of a commoner marrying into royalty. We look to England for the tumultuous marriage of Princess Di and Princess Charles, and then we hop on down to Spain for the not to distant and extravagant wedding of Prince Felipe and Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano, and then up to Denmark where Prince Frederik nearly two years ago married Australian-born Mary Elizabeth Donaldson. We all know that commoners marrying into royalty gain significant rewards. One of them obviously is the attainment or assignment of an official title - that being “princess” most of the time. But, how often do we hear of a member of the royalty marrying a commoner and losing their title? Not very often. The last time I read about such stories was when King Edward VIII married American, Wallis Simpson back in 1937 – giving up his title and duties as king. Today we find a similar story, but not one as drastic as King Edward VIII who left his title of King. Princess Sayako of Japan marries a commoner and will be joining the rank of the commoner soon. Besides giving up her title, she will have to "adjust" to a new way of life. Maybe even some cultural shock? Hmm. I guess this means she will to do ordinary things like grocery shopping and driving a car. Yet, with a $1.2M dowry from the state, that ain't too shabby, either! Yeah, it sounds romantic when a prince or princess marries a commoner for love, but c'mon how bad could it be marrying into royalty and having all of those responsibilities like attending charity teas and soirees. I wonder what it would be like? Can you imagine that?

From BBC website:



Technorati tags: Wedding - Marriage - Royalty


** I learned about these nifty Technorati Tags from Bill's blog at Code, Code World.

Wedding Fete

In ancient China, foot binding used to be customary for women of wealth and nobility – many years before getting married. It is a painful process of binding the feet in order to stop it from growing. The typical age for foot binding began as early as 4 or 5. Popular during the Tang Dynasty, the practice was believed to have been inspired by the beauty and glamour associated with concubines that performed for the emperor. Large footed women were considered ugly and often poor because only the rich could afford foot binding. Being petite footed allowed women to wear dainty narrow shoes – not for walking, but entirely for aesthetic reasons, since these women often could not walk on their own anymore. Many of these women’s feet only grew to about 4 inches at the most. If you take a look at some examples of these shoes, it’s quite uncanny at how their “pointedness” resembles many wedding shoes and even ordinary fashion footwear in modern times. See what I mean:



These pointy tipped shoes are typically so thin on the front of the shoe that it takes an extraordinary individual with super narrow and thin feet to be able to fit into these shoes. While pointy shoes have certainly passed that of having to bind one’s feet, they still remain entirely impractical for most women.

Ancient China – an example from Frank H. McClung Museum · University of Tennessee - exhibit on foot binding

Big Bird wouldn't be Happy

I was watching the Discovery Channel's documentary on Bird Flu. Boy, that freaked me out. While I don't want to be an alarmist, this disease is really really serious.

If you watched the show, what was most bothersome was seeing street vendors slaughter live chickens in an open market. When you live in the US, you never see things like that because when we buy chicken they come in nicely packaged containers. The only thing we have to worry about is cooking the damn thing thoroughly and cleaning up afterwards, which is hardly difficult except when wiping the counter with lysol to prevent salmonella. Since it is only a matter of time when the disease hits the US, I'm a bit disturbed that there is no massive effort to prevent the disease from hitting pandemic levels. I can't imagine how families will deal with this disease if one had to choose between saving a spouse, child, or parent, since drugs and vaccines are in such short supply. All in all, this has really made me question whether I'd still eat chicken! I would certainly have second thoughts about eating it at a party or wedding, or any other gathering.



Get the facts on bird flu at:

CDC information

If you want to watch the program on Discovery Channel, here are the showtimes:

TP

I had a great conversation with my doctor the other day. Nope. It wasn't about my health - ironically. But, it was about the tackiest products currently available on the wedding market. Since my doctor recently got engaged, she told me that while looking around the web for some reception items, the funniest and tackiest item she came across was wedding guest toilet paper. Who would've thought that they would be a hit, but somebody out there is laughing all the way to the bank?

Campaign for Happiness

Somewhere on a daily basis, there is a campaign always going on. Whether it is a campaign for peace, a campaign against AIDS, a campaign for war, a campaign against war, or a campaign to fight breast cancer. While every campaign focuses on fighting for something, why not have a campaign purely for happiness. After all, there is always something to be happy about! So today, I, me, myself. I am starting the campaign for happiness with my new little graphic. Feel free to grab it and spread happiness - just for the sake of it!

Awkard times

When couples decide to split up, separate, or divorce, there is usually a friend or relative to turn to when things go wrong. This is only natural, of course. But, as a friend or relative, how is one to feel if you find out one day that your closest friend, sister, or cousin has decided to split up, but only for them to get back together again? At first, you'd think that the split would be a positive thing for them, but how are you supposed to feel if you find out that they have decided NOT to split up anymore. I believe it becomes a personal experience for oneself when you support a person through an emotionally difficult experience whether negative or positive. Just as you'd be happy for somebody just about to get married at their wedding, the same can probably be said in a divorce. You'd feel worried for them as you help a friend or relative cope through a tough time. Nevertheless, I still don't know what to say to one of my friends who recently said they were divorcing and are now getting back together. What do you say when you get together for Thanksgiving? It will surely be an awkward feeling...What are you supposed to say?

Rude or just normal?

Every culture has its own idiosyncrasies from the way people converse to the manner by which people communicate. During my two-week hiatus, one of the interesting events that I had attended was that of my former schoolmate who was to get married in a Cantonese/American style wedding in Hong Kong. The wedding was obviously beautiful, but I was struck at the unique way the Cantonese communicated and interacted. From the point of view of an outsider such as an American, the Cantonese may appear to be rude while talking, but in reality, this is the normal way of conversing with each other. While I clearly don’t understand their culture let alone language, I just found it equally amusing to see a commercial – a government sponsored one that encourages their people on how to be courteous and polite in certain situations such as how to best communicate to the driver when getting off a bus. Nevertheless, the city of Hong Kong is a great place for eating and of course, shopping. You get the best deals on clothes and restaurants are open until late at night! Hong Kong is really a great eating and shopping destination.

I'm back - where was I?

Okay. Why the two week hiatus? A much needed vacation. A break from the insanity. A good time spent with close friends. Meanwhile, trying to get over jet lag.

Return to sender

If you were to get divorced or separated, would you return an heirloom given to you by your ex-husband's mother,that she had given to you during your enagagement?

Too important not to pass

Death or a near death experience has a strange way of really waking you up to realizing what's important in life - even if it's a pet. My bestfriend's dog (i.e., her Dalmatian) almost died this Sunday because of a condition known as bloating. We didn't know that a bad case of gas can cause a dog to die. Her dog was lucky that the vet arrived in time to bring the dog to the hospital to have the stomach decompressed. For anyone with a dog, this condition is considered one of the worst emergencies because a dog can die within minutes. It is a painful way for anyone to die. While I usually talk about weddings and marriage, I can't ignor this incident because it was just so painful to see my bestfriend lose her dog.

Blooming and Pregnant

I was watching Oprah the other day and Sarah Jessica Parker was their guest. Most notable about the interview were two things:

1) She has banned the word "fat" at home and

2) She misses the "birthing" experience.

While using the word "fat" is certainly wrong and there are other words that can be substituted, I found the latter part of missing the "birthing" experience as being quite odd. I mean we all know, I mean women for that matter know that having a baby (literally) is not something you want to miss. We can miss the experience of being a "beautiful bride" or that of "blooming woman (i.e., pregnant), but I don't think that missing labor pains comes up on my list. Then again, every woman is different, and we each have our unique experiences.

Meet the Parents

If you have ever watched the movie "Meet the Parents", then anyone faced with in-laws knows exactly how funny this movie is. For the most part, I've been busy lately meeting up with my husband family. While my current life may not be a real-life version of the movie, this movie certainly brings a lot of laughs and I just never get tired of the movie.

Off to Paris

Okay, the wedding has been called off. Paris is no longer getting married to the Greek son of a shipping magnate. For whatever reasons they may have for cancelling their wedding, you can bet that Paris will continue to surprise us.

Anna Nicole

The US judicial system has reached new heights as the US Supreme Court agrees to hear the case of Anna Nicole's inheritance disupute. As the widower of a former 90 year old oil tycoon, her ongoing legal dispute with the son of her now deceased husband certainly brings new meaning to the phrase "legally blonde". It would be really interesting to see how the case is eventually handled - that is from a legal perspective.

A little tidbit: at the age of 26, after she had married J. Howard Marshall in an equally fast wedding, Anna ran off with her bodyguard and honeymooed in Greece with him (i.e., bodyguard - Pierre de Jean).


On a side note:

It's been a crappy week. When buying tickets from a travel agent you found on the web, always be sure to ask about cancellation policies. Some will charge you a cancellation fee even without authorizing a credit card charge yet.

Sealed with a Kiss

When traveling in a foreign country, you never know what can happen with a simple “public display of affection.” Take an Israeli couple that got married in Pushkar, India. The unknowing couple was fined for kissing and hugging during the ceremony. Perhaps they should have gotten married in Paris.

Empire Strikes Back

Whoever designed the empire cut gown must have been obsessed with the “maternity look.” Popular during the Jane Austen’s time (i.e., Regency Era), the empire cut gown fitted what was considered as being beautiful (i.e., plump). These high-waisted gowns often had very low necklines, so low that a woman’s bosoms would be bursting out like tulips. From party dresses to wedding gowns, these supposedly “natural-fitting” dresses had to be designed by men – no doubt. If you’ve seen any Jane Austen movie, you know what I’m talking about, but if not, this great site has a lot of good pictures and historical information.

I'd rather be...

Browsing at an electronics store with husband = boring. This is especially true when we're at the computer store. With so many coffee stands propping up in bookstores, why don't they have them in computer stores like Comp USA wherein you can get a latte, read a magazine, watch TV, surf the web, or blog. It would be a much better use of my time rather than just following my husband around as he oogles over routers and modems.

My Alternative Life

Seating in traffic leads to some daydreaming. Specifically, what would my alternative life be?

Living in Paris, studying art history, cooking, and pastry-making. I'd be working part-time as an assistant pastry chef and living with my best friend who just so happens to be teaching French at an all boys college. She's loaded so money would not be a problem for us. We would obviously be 10 years younger - in our early 20s instead of mid-30s. We'd also find ourselves exploring the French countryside during weekends as we meet young French guys named Herve. In a nutshell, we would be free to do whatever we wanted without the familiar pressures we face from parents and relatives to settle down, get married, have kids, buy a house, and etc.

Okay, back to reality.

These alternative life scenarios sure provides some temporary (i.e., really short) escape from life's monotony.

Bride and Prejudice

As a fan of romantic comedies, I must say that the movie "Bride and Prejudice" was one of the funniest ones I have ever seen. If you're a fan of Jane Austen novels and movies, this one is a modern twist (i.e., Bollywood style) to the classic one. The actor playing Darcy in the movie looks almost like Luke Wilson - his name is Martin Henderson from New Zealand - playing opposite to an actress named Aishwarya Rai. If you enjoyed the movie called "Monsoon Wedding", this one is just as good! I really enjoyed it and got a good laugh.

Continued from Yes or No?

Given another chance at getting married, if my fiancé were to ask me to sign a pre-nup, I would be extremely worried as to how sincere or solid his feelings are towards me. And, I’d really wonder at how much he really knows me to want to live with me for the rest of his life. I'd most likely have second thoughts about our relationship as a result. I gather that a pre-nup becomes necessary when you want to be sure that your spouse is not going to run after your entire assets should you get a divorce, but then it certainly goes back to the first question, which is why do you need a pre-nup? On the other side, I can also understand why others may view it as a safety button in a marriage because nowadays people seem to rush to the wedding altar too soon. Case in point, the 4 month marriage of Jerry Maguire’s leading lady or “you had me at hello.” Both men and women that choose to marry later in life in order to pursue their careers face this problem because you never know what people are like when they get divorced – things can get ugly as in the case of Liza Minelli and David Guest whose star studded wedding celebration became a distance memory soon after the couple decided to call it quits amid allegations that Liza was a husband-beater. There are just so many examples out there that seem to indicate how important it is to know who you are marrying before taking the plunge.

Yes or No?

You are planning to marry the best guy in the world. You've got the ring to prove it, too. He's nice like Clark Kent kind of nice. You get along with all of his friends and family. Even his grandmother loves you. Everything just seems to be peachy, but suddenly, he pops the question: will you please sign the pre-nup? An article from money magazine made me think twice about this. Although for me, it's too late already 'cuz I've been hitched.

A Vegas Wedding?

The scenario is you and your long time boyfriend have been living together for more than 3 years that it already feels like your married already. Boyfriend says that it's better to just elope or have a simple civil wedding, so that you can save money for a real grand wedding down the line.

I have two main issues with this proposal:

1) How is it guaranteed that an actual wedding will happen?

2) How important is it for a woman to have a nice wedding as opposed to an elopement in Vegas or a civil wedding?

Personally, I would not want such an option because a wedding should be a special event, not one that you can postpone down the line. And, you can still have a simple yet memorable and elegant wedding with enough help from friends and family. There are many ways to creatively budget and plan for a wedding without going broke like getting married during the winter instead of summer, baking your own wedding cake, or making your own flower arrangements, favors, and wedding invitations. On the flip side, there are some people who would definitely prefer a small intimate ceremony like on a beach for their wedding - just two of you and the officiant.

Male PMS?

Ever wonder if men also suffer what we women go through every month? Here it is, it's called "Irritable Male Syndrome."

Wedding Photographs

If you were separated or divorced and were moving out, would you leave behind a life-sized photo of you and your ex? Nope. I certainly wouldn't leave it knowing that my ex didn't want it. I'd probably tear the photo in half and take my part of the photo with me. But, I guess for some very well known celebrities (i.e., Pitt and Aniston split), it is just too painful to take such a photo with them. One thing is for sure, somebody is going to make a lot of money putting this photo up for sale.

Up and down we go

I go up and down everyday on our building’s elevator. While this may seem as a mundane task, it has given me the unique opportunity to observe urban high-rise behavior. Whether you call it common courtesy or elevator etiquette, as I would like to call it, there are some people who just don’t get it. Like crossing a street and looking both ways. Take the process of entering an elevator; most people know that you are supposed to wait for the people inside to get out first before entering. But, what really irks me is when you do actually wait and then the people inside decide to get out! You end up feeling like an idiot because the guy inside moves so slowly. I call these guys the “delayed responders.” On another note, there are also those whom I’d like to call the “door shutters.” Blame it on being shy or having a ”Paxil” moment, these people purposely press on the “close door” button - knowing full well that somebody is approaching the elevator. This has happened to me so many times, but I always cherish the moment when I see their facial expression whenever I manage to catch the elevator before the doors close. Next, we have the “dumb fingers.” These people accidentally press on the wrong button, but don’t tell you that they have pressed up instead of down. Here, you end up just waiting for someone to enter without any kind of courteous response. Lastly, we have the “dead trees” – these people are the biggest idiots of elevator etiquette. You walk into the elevator and they don’t move aside so all of you can fit inside the elevator without breathing into each other’s faces!

Laughter - the best medicine

Hectic week. For some much needed amusement and laughter, I've found Atom Films - featuring short films and animation.

Opportunistic

Spent most of the Labor Day weekend doing basically everything contrary to labor. In other words, nothing. What I did find interesting on the web is the sudden proliferation of businesses announcing that a portion of your purchase will be donated to the victims of Hurricane Katrina, while there are others who just completely donate all of their sales to the victims. Lastly, there are also businesses that just make a donation without making any grand announcements to their customers. The issue, here, that bothers me a bit is that some businesses have used this tragedy to promote their sales and even making their company appear somewhat righteous in their efforts. I personally find it very distasteful to find a business that has to post a message on their website stating they are donating a portion of the sales. Why do they have to announce it? Will it really make us (i.e., consumers) into buying customers? I don’t think so. We are smarter and more cynical! Such a practice would most likely make me never want to buy from them. I think most people who are compassionate in light of this terrible event will make a donation whether it is in the form of money, clothes, etc., out of the kindness of their own heart.

Hope within tragedy

The catastrophic effects of Hurricane Katrina has caused unimaginable pain and suffering for many. Images of grief and anger from TV, newspapers, magazines, and virtually all over the web cannot fully grasp the real harshness of what the victims of the hurricane have suffered and continue to suffer. But, somwhere within the cries of help and despair, I heard about this story and realized that one has to have hope when all else has been destroyed. Even a little ounce of hope can help people through this awfully tragic time. The story of the wedding of Trenise Williams and Joseph Kirsh and how one small group of individuals banded together to help them out says it all. A little help goes a long way and should be an example for others to do the same. In the end, I hope that the kindness and generosity of humanity will prevail.

Handicap

Looking for parking space is obviously a challenge especially when you live in a metropolitan city like LA. While looking for a space at the Glendale Galleria mall today, parking was a bit of a challenge in light of the Labor Day weekend Sales. As I continue to look for a space, a couple in a silver Lexus drives up ahead of me to catch a space. Okay, what’s the catch? Well, as they were driving up to a handicapped parking spot, they placed a blue handicap sign on their dashboard, and rushed out of their car. Who was the handicapped person in the car? I’m still wondering about that to myself.

Kansas!

In most states, the legal marrying age is 18. I thought that this was applicable to all states, but as it turns out the Kansas and a few other states, including allow individuals or should I say, kids as young as 12. With such antediluvian laws still existing in America, what is most disturbing about these laws is that they pretty much fail to protect minors when an adult chooses to marry a minor as in the case of a couple from Nebraska got married in Kansas. When I say couple, the groom was 22, while the bride (pregnant at that) was only 13! What era are these legislators stuck in?

Sixteen Candles

Lazy Sunday afternoons - they are the best. Wish everyday was like that. While channel surfing yesterday, I stumbled upon the movie "Sixteen Candles" on amctv. A bit weird that I found myself watching it again considering that I've seen it so many times, but somehow I never get tired of watching it. It's like spending one afternoon as a 80s obsessed teenager stuck in the year 2005 when hip hop is all the rage, while I still prefer music from bands like Thompson Twins, Tears for Fears, or Duran Duran. Or, it must be that cute guy that Molly Ringwald ("Samantha" in the movie) had a big crush on in the movie. What was the name of that actor who played "Jake"? Hmm. Let me check right now...Okay, his name is Michael Schoeffling. I don't really know what happened to this actor. He was kind of cute!Did he have any other movies after this one?

Anyways, I particularly found the wedding scene at the church quite hilarious as Samantha's older sister (i.e., the bride) overdoses on muscle relaxant pills. Overall, my favorite scene is when Samantha walks out from the church only to find Jake waiting outside for her. What I most enjoy about this movie is the simplicity of how things appeared to be at that time wherein a crush back then was just a crush. Nothing else. I can't say much about many of the teenage movies nowadays that seem to focus more on sex like American Pie, which is still very funny, but the humor just seems to lack that innocence that most movies back then had. Times have truly changed, indeed.

Color blind

Saturday was clean up day. Isn't funny how cleaning up sometimes turns into an extended exercise where you find yourself sifting through magazines and cutting out articles, or opening up old books and reading a page or two. Among the things that were gathering dust and a whole lot of allergens were my wedding photos. I realized that my colors were uncoordinated. I never though much of it back then, but nowadays color coordination and matching is so important. Okay, what happened? Why did I have an ivory gown and yet chose periwinkle and white as my colors? It hit me that my table's linens were periwinkle, but the table overlay was white. Or, why was the cake ivory, while the invitations were white and periwinkle? I think I must have gotten so caught up in the details that nobody asked if everything matched with periwinkle! I must have been color blind, which is probably why blue jeans and a white tee are my staple weekend wear.

Ironies

A week filled with twists:

Monday
I get stuck in traffic only to get to work for a meeting that was cancelled

Tuesday
Waiter forgets my order of grilled chicken pasta. I complain. I get it at half-price.

Wednesday
The auto insurance sends me a check for the rear end. See previous post.

Thursday
I usually buy Coffeemate flavored cream in Caramel, but inadvertently get Hazelnut. Must be colorblind because the Caramel comes in an orange bottle and the Hazelnut comes in yellow. Hazenut’s not bad at all.

Friday
I am just glad that the week is over.

Whenever days like these happen, I'm thinking if the next week will be the same. While I do have a stupid dinner party to go to, I just want to stay home. My husband says that maybe it just seems worse because of PMS. PMS! No, events like these happen with or without it. They happen whether for a good reason or nothing at all.

Should I stay or should I go?

We all attend parties whether by formal or informal invitation as long as the host personally extends an invitation, which is usually several weeks or days ahead of the party. But, what happens if the invitation was made at the last minute? This is my dilemma. A phone message was left by one of my former officemates inviting me to her husband’s birthday – supposedly a surprise event for him that she’s been planning for a while. The main issue here is why are you inviting me on the Thursday before the party that is a Saturday dinner at a restaurant. I’m thinking that since it is at a fancy place that she would have sent out invitations, right? I feel like an understudy right now considering that perhaps not enough guests sent in their RSVPs and they are now short on guests. Hmm. I know I may sound like a prima dona, but I really feel the consolation prize at a raffle. Yes, it was nice of her to invite me, but she should have contacted me at least sooner, since calling me at the last minute seems a bit desperate.

Runaway runaway...

What did I say about "runaway grooms?" They're happening more often. See my previous posts about other runaways.

It would be an honor if...

An invitation to a wedding is always an honor unless you’re invited to a covert wedding op - turned drug bust. Yes, the bride and groom were undercover agents. From illegal drugs to counterfeit cigarettes, over 80 wedding “guests” were charged with smuggling such goods into the US from countries such as Thailand and China through ports in Jersey and LA. Even the FBI took extra care in planning the wedding by letting guests know that transportation would be provided to the ceremony, which was to be held on a yacht. A yacht wedding - how fancy! I wonder what kind of favors they had planned to give out? Hmm. Personalized handcuffs!

Weekends that end too soon

Fridays come too slowly; Sundays end too quickly. Right around 7pm, that blue sinking feeling creeps up - beckoning that Monday doom is back. Although the weekend was filled with a bit of fun and excitement, it really just ends too soon. The fun and excitement I'm talking about was a small Japanese tea party at my bestfriend's birthday dinner. She had lived in Japan for a while and gave us some pretty neat party favors by putting together a small bunch of Japanese tea cookies paired with green tea packets, and placed everything in a box tied in a product called an organza wrap from Bellenza.com, which offers some pretty unique wedding favors. Shelly is pretty creative and I must say that the wrap idea was quite a cool thing. Sigh, this is one weekend that I wished lasted longer.



- You can get them at Mitsuwa - a great Japanese grocery with branches also on the East Coast.



- You can get them online at Bellenza.

Bow tie vs. neck tie

Bow tie vs. neck tie. The odds of seeing a man wearing a bow tie are probably 1 in every 50, or maybe more. While ties are certainly more common than bow ties, whenever I see a man wearing a bow tie, there are several thoughts that come to mind, but namely, square, uptight, and square. Most of the guy friends I’ve asked say that they would never wear a bow tie to work because it makes them look pretentious. Someone even said that it looks too “school boyish” for them. Others indicate that it's too hard to tie a bowtie or it feels too tight on their neck. Or, is it visions of seeing DOMs in bowties with fat cigars that really makes them so unappealing.

Perhaps most men don’t like wearing a bow tie except when they have to wear a tuxedo. It might not be the fashionable thing to wear, but it may be cool and trendy if:

- the latest fashion runways start showing models in bowties
- rappers ike Snoop Dogg started wearing them in their videos
- or if Brad Pitt was caught wearing one

I’m sure bowties will be less notorious for being odd or square. Imagine that!

Eyes, ears, and nose

Fall is definitely coming. My itchy eyes, runny nose, clogged nose, and incessant sneezing have made me well aware of that. Sinus headaches – you win! Every time summer begins to end and the weather starts getting a bit cooler, I can’t explain it, but my body just knows that it does not like the change in the season. This physical response was actually worse when I used to live in the Midwest. Spring was my enemy back then, but now that I live in LA, fall is the new foe. My only true form of relief comes in the summer when the weather is hot. A strange phenomenon, but one that is short lived. That’s probably why I had chosen to have my wedding back then early in June. For three months, just as most summer vacation hits, my allergies seem to do that same thing. I just wonder at how come some people can go through life without such allergies. But, coming from a family of allergy sufferers, there’s nothing much I can do except stock up on Flonase, Claritin, and populate my home with HEPA filters. Just about the only time that I felt “normal” was during a two-week vacation in Kauai. My nose could not have been happier.

Huff puff and I'll blow your lungs away

That little stick of death. More than twenty years ago, I used to think nothing of it when the people around me used to puff from this white little stick – not more than 3-4 inches long. On Sunday gatherings as the kids (i.e., my cousins and I) played around the pool, dad and the rest of my uncles would chat over barbecue, each with their white stick – puffing away circles of white smoke. Funny how naïve one can be as a child. Little did I know that I was not only being exposed to second hand smoke, but also my mom and brothers were equal victims to this insidious object – smaller than pencil, but potent like a sword. I remained ignorant until one day I learned that smoking causes cancer and cancer kills. Yes, that day was more than 10 – 15 years, since I first remember my dad smoking. From that day forward, everyone in my immediate family tried to convince my dad to stop smoking. It was a persistent battle cry from all of my siblings. Dad, please stop smoking. To his credit, he even tried hypnosis and stop for a while. Of course, he relapsed, but he eventually decided to stop “cold turkey” by the time he was in his late 30s. Perhaps at that time, we didn’t really understand why he would smoke. Why would someone who is married with kids, would want to take something that will eventually kill him? We just didn’t understand the power of being addicted to nicotine. Every now and then when I window shop at our outdoor mall, I am puzzled at how some couples choose to smoke together. Is it because they want to die together? Okay, a bit extreme, but I often wonder if one partner started smoking first, and got the other partner addicted. Is it that misery loves company or that it’s more fun when two puff together? Perhaps it’s the latter when I consider that one of my aunts who married my dad’s brother never smoked when she was single, and only began to smoke after getting married and taking care of two kids. Nevertheless, despite having more cynicism in tow and knowledge of smoking’s harmful consequences, I ask myself: is it a question of if or when my dad gets lung cancer? I do hope that I don’t have to face that question, but understand that I must be realistic in finding the answer.

Burger, fries, and a Coke

Before married life, deciding on what to eat was a fairly simple and straightforward activity. There was virtually no need to plan on what to cook for dinner, since dinner often meant eating whatever was left over from yesterday, or just ordering a personal pan pizza. On many lazy winter days, dinner was just a plain grilled cheese sandwich and a bowl of tomato soup. But, since leaving singlehood and becoming a wife, dinner has transformed into worrying about what to feed two people without cooking the same damn thing over and over again. Cooking for one was easy – small portions! For two, it becomes a bit tricky because most food items at the supermarket are packaged for families not two people. When buying a 2 lb. Container of ground beef for spaghetti, you can only cook so much of it with spaghetti or hamburgers that I end up without an appetite by the time it’s time to eat. Moreover, when one comes home from work, cooking is the last thing on your mind, but nowadays, it is the first thing I think about when kicking off my shoes. Shortly after arriving home, the words: “what’s for dinner?”, inevitably comes up. On PMS days, it’s even worse. I’m left wondering whether to just call out for Chinese food, or brave the kitchen and cook up something that will keep us from starving. I’m still quite amazed at how my mom managed to cook for a family of five everyday considering that she had to wake up for work at around 5:30am. Every time I think about her, I find myself thinking how the hell am I going to do that when we start to have kids of our own. On certain occasions, a flash of inspiration comes by probably from watching Rachel Ray on the Foodtv Channel, and I cook up something that my husband actually LIKES. Comments like “everything tastes the same” become nonexistent and a simple doze of praise makes me want to cook up something special the next time unless of course, I'm too damn tired to cook and clean up after dinner!

Rear end

Who gets hit while standing still in street traffic? Street traffic! Not even freeway bumper to bumper traffic. Only in LA. After getting our bumper hit by another car on Saturday, you'd think that would be the end of our rear end woes. Nope. Our registration sticker got stolen over the night.

Our gas

Living in LA, one must have a car. Forget taking the bus because:

A) There are too many weirdos and

B) Good luck, if the bus arrives on time

Therefore, with the rising prices of gas, it's just plain ridiculous! I've had to adjust my car lifestyle a bit like conserving on the use of my air conditioning, driving out only when I really need to like going to work or shopping, and walking more. But, by far, the most uncomfortable adjustment is driving up to the pump and seeing the cash go bye-bye. Boy, it's getting to be really expensive to commute by car over here.

To add some humour to this, my husband says that maybe we should go back to using horse carriages like they do when couples want to be romantic for a wedding.

Bow wow and Meow meow

Pets. Dogs, Cats, Fish, or Birds. We all love our pets. We even choose dogs and cats to be a part of the wedding entourage. They are so much a part of our lives that to many, they are like children. Just as marriage brings pets and owners together, divorce rips a marriage with pets with a little bit more complexity, since many states treat pets as legal possesions. Often couples must decide on their own as to how to split things/pets up. As many pets take on the role of being regarded as children to many childless couples, why should a custody battle be any different if the best interests of the children should be put first? In others words, joint custody of the pets may be the best option for pooches and felines alike.

An American in Paris

Perhaps the only true things about Paris Hilton is that one, Paris is a city in France, and two, that Hilton is a chain of American hotels. As it turns out, talk of wedding plans and marriage might not be true after all. Not even the groom's father knew of the nuptial plans!

Mother mother...

When we marry, we not only marry our fiancé, but for the most part, the rest of the family. And when it comes to the one family member that seems to receive more attention than others, it is the mother-in-law, also known as MIL. Most MILs receive much notoriety especially as being a “mama’s boy.” Also, they have been known to be overbearing or nosey wherein you know they are calling up just by the fateful caller ID blinking at 8am on Saturday. But, are they really as evil and overbearing as the movies portray them. Take the movie called “Monster-in-law,” which grossly exaggerated the future mother in law of the bride. While they are viewed in such a way, some fail to recognize that they to win one’s heart is to win their family as well. Some people may argue that you’re not marrying the whole family, you’re just marrying one member of the family, but when the family is a close-knit kind, one cannot avoid having peaceful relations without being fully accepted. An MIL need not be a foe. In fact, she can be a true friend particularly when you can’t find anyone else for babysitting. While some MILs have been found to be quite generous with cooking and cleaning, they are probably the most knowledgeable person about one’ own son or daughter. With this in mind, I think they’re not all that bad. I'm sure that not everyone shares this sentiment, and may actually have nightmare stories, that continue on in their daily lives.

Where's the remote?

Traditionally, dogs have long been considered as man’s best friend. But, lately, I beg to differ for sooner or later dogs will be displaced by an electronic device commonly known as the TV remote control. While there are also other remote control devices that man uses such as the garage door opener or the air conditioner control, the TV remote control tops the list for home essentials. And with satellite TV, the remote control will undoubtedly supersede most household electronic gadgets. Available in different designs from sleek black to silver bookmark-sized “remotes”, the remote as it is popularly called is often the most misplaced item in the house. However, most women know that they typically wind up in any of these places: underneath the sofa, between sofa cushions, or under the coffee table. Ironically, one of the most common places to lose a remote is on top of the TV unit itself. Perhaps honing devices should be attached to them considering how often they get lost at home. I’m sure every wife, mother, or sister has sometime in their lives been asked: "have you seen the remote - I was just using it?"

Peace and love

PDAs. Most people have at least one or have owned one. While most people view the PDA as a pocket-sized gadget that we rely on for our appointments and tasks, there is another type of PDA that has been around far longer than this technological device. This PDA, commonly known as “public display of affection,” exists in every culture in every country. It has many forms – just in different degrees. In some countries, it is also punishable by law to show too much PDA. Admittedly, I’ve never been the “affectionate displaying” type. In high school, it was both amusing and annoying to see couples girls attached like magnets to their boyfriends, while holding hands and kissing in the hallway. Normal, yes, but I roll my eyes up thinking about that time in my life. College was a little bit better as most of the people around me where a bit more discreet in their “ways.” While some people do not mind PDA as the French do, there are some people who find it offensive, uncomfortable, or plain awkward. From a more liberal mindset, I really don’t mind, but I certainly think couples should know what is appropriate behavior in public. In the end, there’s a simple saying that sums things up: at least “it’s better to make love not war”.

The shot below taken by the famous French photographer, Robert Doisneau, is one of my fav pics of a couple kissing in public.

Ruffles and lace

When I was younger, my mother was always said that I hated wearing dresses with little ruffles on the sleeve. To this day, I still do, but it has graduated on to dresses with flowers or rosette-like accents. I'm the plain type of dress girl. NO frills, no ruffles, no lace! As you can see, I'm not a girly-girl type. If there is lace, it better be subtle and simple. You can imagine what it was like finding a bridal gown. Moreover, when it came to selecting bridesmaid dresses, the same held true. Nothng fancy nor too revealing as you normally see today. So, to celebrate my taste in fashion. I bring you the "ugly dress find" of the month. It might transform to a weekly basis, if I'm successful and diligent enough:)

A real life wedding planner

To take the stress out of wedding planning, many brides and grooms choose to hire a wedding planner. But you never expect them to be the ones walking down the aisle - unless one should fall in love with the bride or groom, while planning the wedding of their dreams. Perhaps it's best to find a planner who's too old for both the bride and groom, or maybe one who is already married. I wonder to myself. Do these things really happen like in the movie - The Wedding Planner? I was sure amused when I read this story.

Helpful tip of the day:

A word of caution to all brides and grooms planning to hire a coodinator. Be very wary of whom you choose to hire. They could be ones you say, "I do" to instead.

Husbands and Wives

And they lived happily ever after…Not! As most movie and cartoons would like you to think, weddings appear to be easier than the marriage itself. This delusional depiction often comes in the form of a prince charming coming to take a helpless damsel, and they head off to the sunset. But, when you look at the whole thing it just doesn’t happen in real life. Take for instance, the number of blogs on the web dedicated to my idiot husband or bitchy wife. A search will yield you some interesting results from happy to gloomy writers posting whatever is their mind: http://neurotic-iraqi-wife.blogspot.com/; http://goodhusband.blogspot.com/; http://a-better-wife.com/; http://silly-husband.blogspot.com/; http://husband.blogspot.com/; http://www.imarriedanidiot.com/. As I was conducting this search, the most striking aspect of this search yielded that more women post their thoughts about husband on the web than men; probably because women find the web as a major outlet for letting off steam. I also found it quite amusing that when you search for in quotes for the following in Google:

“my idiot husband”, several search results pop up - showing 1,010 results for "my idiot husband".;

however, for “my idiot wife”, surprising results show only about 49 for "my idiot wife";

lastly, for "my bitchy wife" you get , some of these results are written by women themselves, so it might not really mean anything, but it's just interesting to see what appears - only 822 for "bitchy wife".

Not in front of the kids

Quarrels, arguments, disagreements – call it whatever you like. They never quite start or end the same and certainly don’t end with a kiss and make up ending like in the movies. There are many self-help books like Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus; all aiming to provide help for understanding the opposite sex. However, little do these authors realize that men and women are from earth! Each man and woman is a different and complex creature that can only be understood on an individual basis. You don’t know a man or a woman until you have lived with them. Also, many of these counseling programs on TV like Dr. Phil only perpetuate the image that men are the problem, but sometimes, women are also to blame, which is not always depicted as such. Equally more saddening is when a couple fights in public. A scene at a restaurant says it all with the wife complaining that the husband spends too much time at work. This scenario may seem like a sad story, but it happens in a lot of marriages. What could be worse is fighting around the children. I find it truly disturbing when parents quarrel in front of kids, which includes babies. Children may not comprehend the problem, but to them it can be traumatizing.

In a nutshell, parents – don’t fight in front of the kids, find a way to work things out, and communicate when something is not right.

Find help:

The Family & Marriage Counseling Directory

True Listening Can be a Challenge

How to Resolve Conflicts -- Without Offending Anyone

Dress me up

When it comes to figuring out what to wear to a party, black is the common choice for many women wanting to appear slimmer and taller than our usual size. In the fashion world, a black dress can work wonders on a figure in more ways than we know. But, is it appropriate to wear black to a wedding or similar type of event? The vast majority of people I asked said that it would be a bad judgment in etiquette, since you’d most likely wear black to a funeral or wake, or are in mourning. I gather that it would be entirely conspicuous to be wearing a black dress at a daytime summer wedding when everyone else is wearing a lightweight summer dress or dress shirt. I suppose it may be different if the wedding was an evening event with more formality and using a wrap or a shawl to complete the outfit would be okay. Beyond this scenario, if you’re still torn about wanting to wear a dark outfit, there’s always blue or brown, but in the summer, I don’t think these colors would fly. Personally, if somebody wore black to my wedding, birthday, or other similar celebration, I wouldn't be to apt to invite them again as a guest.