amanda – Page 7 – KEEP CALM AND READ ON

May 14, 2013May 16, 2013

Qdoba House Party!

It’s amazing that I got selected as a House Party host once again! Thank you Houseparty!

This time round, I am blessed to be selected f0r Qdoba House Party!

Party pack arrived on 26 April via Fedex. Look at the goodies!

Party pack includes

(1) Qdoba certificate good for a 20-person Catering Bar
(1) Bamboo spoon
(1) Bamboo tong
(1) Tote bag
(1) Apron
(12) Plastic margarita glasses for each of your guests for drinks or as a unique serving dish for salsa and guacamole
(4) Molcajetes to make and serve guacamole
(12) Qdoba rewards cards for each of your guests loaded with one free entrée

Much better than my previous party pack 😀 Thank you Qdoba!

Party was held on May 10 at Dave and Jo’s place. Thank you DJ for the venue!

3 days before the party, I called my nearest Qdoba (Redmond branch) to place order. At first, the person who answered the phone didn’t know what I was talking about. I had no choice but to email the Qdoba house party contact person. Within 3 hrs, a Qdoba rep contacted me and told me that she spoke to the manger at Redmond branch – ordering should be no problem! Love such great customer service! I called the Qdoba branch again and placed my order smoothly! Great start to a perfect party!

On party day, BH and I collected our food at 6.30pm. Sure enough, the food was prepared and waiting for us!

Setting up the catering bar was easy! Qdoba provided the stands to place the food,matches,heating elements, utensils and paper bowls, tongs, napkins etc.

I ordered the Naked Burrito Bar. The food looked and smell good! However, the amount of food was probably enough for 12-15 people. It’s too little for 20 :/

What’s a party w/o drinks right!?

and.. what’s a party w/o the pretty bebes? fun and furry friends?!

Finally…. most of people arrived!

Fantastic food… great company.. successful party! Thank you! 🙂

Do try out Qdoba catering if u have a party in future.. fuss free and easy to order!

May 13, 2013

Kirkland on a Sunday

Recently, BH and I had been feeling kinda bitter that we didn’t move to Kirkland 🙁 well.. maybe if we moved to Kirkland, we won’t be faced with such a irritating pest problem

For the past week, the weather had been superb. I’m just so glad that we get to spend time together… just chilling out.. I feel so blessed 🙂 I really thank God for such simple pleasures..

It was a relaxing weekend.. BH and I decided to swing by Carillon Point for a walk + happy hour/Dinner

BH brought me here when I just arrived in the US.. hahaha.. here’s a pic of us in 2008.. how do we look?! haha

Anyway, it’s nice to visit this place after so long 🙂

Walked around and decided to enjoy Happy Hour at Bin on the lake

We had a lot of food while chatting and enjoying the view.. so romantic! Love such days!

Guess.. u eat more when u r happy? haha

Last but not least..a reminder to all of us..

May 4, 2013May 5, 2013

Las Vegas 2013

Bing and I will make it a point to go to Vegas yearly ( I didn’t go last year) Well.. we usually go to Vegas because we have a good deal. We started planning for this trip late last year and was looking forward to it. It’s such a bummer that I was ill half the time 🙁 I was also worried about the disgusting silverfish problem we have at home.

It ought be be such an enjoyable trip.. since we managed to get everything ( flight, hotel, food, show) for FREE!!! I just did not have as much fun as I thought I would 🙁

28-30 April

Mirage is a so-so hotel. The rooms are very nice and looks updated. However, the walls are very thin. You can hear people talking/yelling along the corridor.

The weather was really good when we were there. Vegas is beautiful. It’s warm ( not hot) but I was cold most of the time 🙁

Our first complimentary meal worth $150 was at a rather posh restaurant, Steakhouse At Camelot – Excalibur

The food was not bad considering that it’s FREE! Would love some alcohol but I was not feeling well 🙁

Had my best steak ever. This cut, Filet Mignon is indeed the King of steaks.. so tender and flavorful! Totally forgot about taking pics of BH’s steak as it came later .. haha

After dinner.. I felt sooo bad that I went back to the hotel room to sleep. Of course, BH went to the casinos!

The next day.. I felt a little better… we went to Bellagio for brunch buffet! Food was good BUT buffet isn’t good for me because I don’t eat THAT much..

Walked around Vegas.. and spotted this really interesting chapel, Pop Up wedding Chapel at Cosmopolitan – Can consider this in future! Vows renewal maybe?

Walked to Aria and ate the most delightful cakes at Jean Philippe.. omg.. the best so far… I want more!!

Now… the highlight of the trip…..

Before we watched Terry Fator , which is amazing by the way.. we decided to play some slots… and….

I didn’t have a CLUE … don’t even know what I was playing for… I only had $6 left… and I suddenly won the progressive jackpot of $221 for solving the mystery!! wah!!! 😀 BH lost all our winnings at Blackjack later though 🙁

Talking about slot machines, I also saw a Corgi! How cute!

dinner was at Nine Fine Irishmen at NYNY Their Chicken pot pie is super HUGE and delicious!

The next morning… we had more food again… It was Delights @ MGM grand The food was really good! Love such breakfast. The $50 voucher was so worth it. we even had enough for us to takeaway sandwiches for our flight home 🙂

As you can see… this trip…we ate MORE than we should.. I was soooo full…. Wish I was feeling better then :/ Vegas.. till we meet again… Hope it’s soon!!

May 3, 2013May 3, 2013

where do I begin?

I had been feeling very upset for the past few weeks. That’s why I haven’t been blogging.

#1: I regret moving

we moved because of some reasons that can’t be revealed here. At first, we were quite contented that we found a suitable place. However, I recently noticed some disgusting insects in the house. I had been telling BH that I tried cleaning the place over and over but it didn’t feel clean. BH brushed it off and said “You are just being OCD” well.. I thought he was right.. until I took a closer look at what exactly these dirt was… oh my gosh.. they are actually insects!

I don’t like insects. we always try to stay in new apartments and on a higher level. this time round, we didn’t. We decided to try staying in a very old community and on the lowest level. Guess what?! That’s when the insect problem arise.

This is a silverfish. No. They don’t fly or bite but it’s just gross to see them crawling on the floor. I am very disturbed. We found them in the toilet… and now they are going to the kitchen. yes.. we already sprayed pesticide but it does not get to the root of the problem. I really do not know how am I going to stay here for 2 yrs!

Anyhow, I freaked out after I found one on the stove (big fat one some more).. we informed our landlord. He is the nicest person ever. The pest control will be coming on monday to take a look at it. Pray that this issue will be resolved soon 🙁

#2 I caught a cold

This is also related to #1. No, I am not pregnant. We realised that the electricity bills here are very high 🙁 We don’t really have a choice.. old places are not exactly energy efficient 🙁 Decided to turn down the heat… and I caught a cold. This cold lasted for 1.5 weeks.. and I’m still not feeling that well… sucks. I used to really love my life here… now.. what i really want to do is to go home..

#3 There’s no where to go

This also related to #1. I can’t really go anywhere here. I used to be able to walk to the supermarkets, library, go to the gym.. and now… there’s NOTHING. Hope MY car comes soon…

FML

April 16, 2013April 16, 2013

Re-exploring West Seattle

We have been to West Seattle previously BUT it was always raining… Finally managed to visit this place on a beautiful sunny day. Yes.. it was extremely sunny.. so sunny that my headache started in the morning and lasted till late in the evening :/

Anyway, Seattle’s really pretty.. If I ever need to leave this place, it is going to be so hard to do

We had breakfast at the highly raved Bakery Nouveau. This place is Amanda’s paradise! There’s cakes, tarts, macarons, pastries, bread..every sweet thing that I like! Why didn’t I know about this place earlier?! The downside is it’s very crowded :/Seating is limited. BH and I bought coffee, their famous Twice Baked Almond Croissant & Chocolate Croissant. It was sinfully delicious! I personally thought that $4 for a Croissant is quite expensive. However, the pastries were so tasty that it’s worth every single cent. What do I really like about the pastry? I like it that it’s crispy, buttery and not too sweet! I would fall head over heels in LOVE with it IF it’s served warm. On the other hand, I find the powdered sugar on the croissant disturbing. haha.. it’s just me.. I just find it messy to eat with the powdered sugar, so 1/2 the time, I was trying to scrape off the sugar. Would I go back again? Yes, only if i’m around that area 🙂

West Seattle feels like a small town to me. There’s a all-year round farmer’s market… lots of dogs… and small cafe & restaurants. There are also vintage shops which sells cool furniture! I was quite shocked that we actually spent a good amount of time walking around and just enjoying this place. It’s been a while since we did this. ahh… lovely weekend!

Drove down to Alki Beach and took these pictures..

Ended the day with dinner with friends. Happy Sunday!

Last but not least… this is Monday’s dinner… looks good? Still not my mum’s standard yet.. :/

April 5, 2013April 5, 2013

Getting older

I recently celebrated my birthday – which falls on a Saturday! My favorite birthday day. I know, it’s weird to have a favorite birthday day but that’s Amanda..quirky like that! nah… I didn’t have any celebration or demanded anything out of extraordinary (though a car would be nice.. haha) . I was really contented to spend my day with BH.. we watched Oz the great and powerful for the last weekend at IMAX. I love that movie.. well.. let’s put it this way.. I love movies that enables normal people to do great things! “It’s not about the GREATness but the GOODness”

I had a teary birthday. Somehow, I was sad that I’m older and I have not really got what I thought I would have by X age. No… kids are not in the question… BUT I always wanted to have a home.. nice kitchen.. nice furniture.. The only thing I achieved was… being a homemaker… I know, how different people have different dreams and i may sound like a weak woman for saying this BUT i just want to have a nice place to settle in and have a loving family. this was the sole reason why I thought I saved so hard for (and y i chose the teaching profession in the first place). Now.. it’s just useless…

Well, the thing about me is.. I know what I want so it just feels miserable that I just didn’t achieve it. Now.. another year had passed.. so i was just sad…and teary… boooo…. to top it up… the cake BH bought me tasted stale – I am sad when I didn’t get good cake – so disappointed by the bakery.. it WAS my favorite!!!!

My Corgi, Bamboo eyeing the cake 🙂

Next entry…. updates on new place!

March 21, 2013April 5, 2013

Moving for the 4th time

It’s a bz week. BH and I had moved to another apartment. This time our apartment is in a very old community but the interior had been recently renovated. Well… Just when u thought that everything is new and good… The kitchen and toilet sink is leaking! Thank God that the owners are responsible and are doing their best to solve the issues.

I think we moved the most times among our friends. Moving is super tiring. Things just pile up over the years, regardless of how u clear them.

First move (SG to Seattle) : Very easy
2nd move (within Seattle) : easy
3rd move (Seattle to Redmond) : it was ok
4th move (Redmond to Bellevue) : just kill me

So…. A lot of our items are ruined because of our moves. Our ikea chest of drawers are coming apart. Our sofa bed became 3 legged. I was super stressed and upset. BH was delighted – ” yay! Let’s buy new ones!” anyhow, we managed to get rid of these big damaged items – phew.. 1 man’s trash is another’s treasure!

We are still clearing our stuff from the old place :/ to blog more soon…

March 13, 2013March 10, 2013

Living in a painting: Gas Works Park

March 9

Prior to my Gas Works Park painting.. we have NEVER visited this place before!

Beautiful isn’t it? Though it’s pretty sunny.. it’s still chilly

Really regretted not knowing about this place earlier.. as it’s a great place to bring visiting friends.

People walk their dogs here too and there were also a couple of people flying kites! Feels like a Marina Bay

I was hoping to meet a corgi and I did!

Riley the corgi is soooo adorable… But really camera shy 🙁 This is when BH and I felt that we want a dog to enjoy the day with..

Last but not least… let’s do a comparison of the real place and my painting… haha

Seee…. not 3 sausages hugging each other right? hehehe..

A Saturday well spent 🙂

March 11, 2013March 10, 2013

Painting-Gas works Park

17 Feb

My friends and I had a girls’ paint day at Palettes and Pairings again 🙂 It’s always fun to do such activities together.

The class started at 12 noon and we only left the place at about 4.30pm! This painting is intense – advanced level I would say!

Of course, while the girls paint.. the guys had their own ‘boring’ activity. haha..

Here’s the final result

My painting is full of flaws.. you just don’t see it on the photos. Anyway, I showed this to my sister and she was like “what is this? 3 sausages hugging each other?” hahahaha…. NOoooooo

This place is real! Shall blog about it in another post 🙂

Here’s a group picture of the class…. now… you can see everybody’s painting is different! 😀

March 10, 2013March 8, 2013

Won’t go home without you Part 4

Last day in LA!

We had brunch at The Kitchen We actually had a hard time looking for this place – our GPS kept bring us round and round. At last, we found it!

Maybe we were early – it was very quiet for brunch at a supposedly high rated restaurant. I like restaurant with a rustic feeling, artsy deco – feels very unique.

I had the highly raved Pear Pancakes.. and it was superb indeed… yumyum!! I think IF I go back to LA – I am so going to dine here again 🙂

The day was sunny and nice ( as usual). After brunch, with no time to waste…. we headed to……. *make a guess?!!*

Griffin Observatory again! yes.. no surprise! hehe.. this place looks beautiful in the day too!

oh…. As BH was dealing with his camera.. I met a super cute doggie! It’s a Corgi-mix, Ally!!!

Tell me.. how adorable Ally is! hahaha.. and she’s a rescue!! wish I could bring her home!

Daytime at GO had a different charm. You can see the “Hollywood” sign pretty close here too!

We did walked around and check out the exhibits. It is certainly a nice place to hang out on a lazy sunday afternoon 🙂

With all these beautiful sights and pictures, we headed to the airport for our flight back to Seattle! Great vacation!!!

Where’s next?!