Shu mai Saturday - Celebrate Chinese New Year

Gung Hay Fat Choy!  Or Wishing you great happiness and prosperity.  Since one of our friends won't be available for dinner on this date, we moved it a few days earlier so we can have all have Chinese dinner at our home.  When I was trying to figure out what I would serve for our celebration, I started with a bit of a longer list as I wanted to try and make a whole bunch of stuff.  When the day came, I change the menu to the following dishes. We started with crab and corn soup, then Shu mai (favorite dim sum item), for main course, I made a vegetable chow mien with tofu, BBQ chicken thighs, Kung Pao Shrimp and steamed rice. Since our friends are not into desserts, I did not make anything special.  We just served some cookies that I had previously made.  Our guests were very pleased with the meal and were very satisfied with the amount of dishes on the table.  Unfortunately, I only remembered to take a photo of the Shu Mai which I made from scratch.  Have a great Chinese New Year, celebrate with friends over Dim Sum.  

Woozy Wednesday - Trial and error

How long do you put up with not feeling right before you see your doctor?  Well, for me I usually give a couple of weeks just to make sure that it's nothing instead of something.  But since I had already a scheduled appoint to see my doctor, I would just bring up all the issues

that has been bothering me lately.  After my appointment, the doctor wanted to see me again after four weeks.  We are trying a couple of things to rule out some of the issues.  It would be nice if the blood pressure medication can just be omitted, but I have a feeling that he might

just find another one that would help to lower BP as well as protect my kidneys.  I am sure if you are taking any type of prescription medications, we all know that each and everyone of them have numerous side effects.  This what I think is all about trial and error.  Yes, it will help with whatever issue you might have but sometimes the side effects are way too much that if affects you day to day normal life.  So, this is when you start questioning as to whether

is it really helping or is it just covering it up or just a temporary relief.  So what am I trying for the next 4 weeks, I am suppose to stop taking this particular pill and record any unusual event as well as take my BP measurement once a day, taken at different time of the day.  My doctor will find some other type of prescription that would best serve my BP control and kidney.  I would be dreaming if I think that I could just get off this particular prescription but unfortunately elevate blood pressure is in our genes.  In the meantime I try to do a little of my own researching/reading of the different BP pills available, their side effects as well as cost and reviews.  Now a days, with all the information online, it's easy to get sucked in to what you read, but I know that I do these, just so I am informed and can ask the correct question.  I am still woozy every now and again, so it's still a trial and error each day but I know that there's that light at the end of the tunnel and I just need to be patient.  

Freezing Friday - OMG it's so cold

Of course it is cold, it's winter, right.  So actually everyone that we spoke to prior to our move here in Vernon, were lying.  What they kept saying to us was that winters are very mild here, like it might snow one day and then after a few days it will melt.  No one ever said that it will be get down to -23C.  Although I have had much more severe freezing weather when I lived in Yellowknife and Whitehorse, that was many moons ago.  Prior to moving to Vernon, I was living in San Jose, California.  Now you are going to say "what were you thinking".  So everyday my hubby goes out to shovel once, twice maybe even three time per day.  The snow bank on the side of the driveway is so high, you can't see the oncoming cars from the street.  This morning a truck from the city public works stopped by in front of our house to shovel a path to the fire hydrant and also brushed all the snow on top of it.  I had to check online to see what the bylaw is regarding this.  So apparently we have to make sure there's a clear path for fire fighters to get to the hydrant in case of real fire.  At first I thought that we will get a citation because we didn't clear it.  Actually my hubby was going to do it but the guy beat him to it. Oh bother.  Anyway, I thought I would share some photos of our winter wonderland in our area.

Wholesome Wednesday - Yummy for my tummy

When it's snowing heavily and there's no need to go out of the house, then I will always find something to cook, bake or make or do something productive.  Lately there has been three consecutive days that the snow decided not to stop, it just kept coming.  After getting all my chores done, I started checking Pinterest and other sites for things to make. Today is just all about yummy for our tummy.  

I bought a plain croissant and made it an almond chocolate croissant.

This is my hubby's version of quick cinnamon roll (pillsbury)

Banana roll aka Turon

Chocolate Swiss Roll with vanilla creamy filling top with chocolate ganache with nuts.

Bannock aka fried bread

One slice of the roll with whipping cream topping

Tiring Thursday - I lost my bounce

Since I stopped taking my blood pressure medication for a few days (as per my doctor's instruction), I have not been feeling my normal self.  Sometimes I get up feeling really dizzy or woozy and I am tired for the rest of the day.  Other days I start OK and then slide down to the couch feeling less energetic.  Each and every day I try different things as well as still completing the chores at hand.  I hope this is just the adjustment of the medication whether to take it or not or to find a replacement.  Anyway, like Tigger of Winnie the Pooh, I lost my bounce.  I don't like the feeling when I am not as energetic as I usually am.  So that's why I am doing this post about getting back to normal. How long does it take to get your bounce back? I ask Tigger and this is what I got.

1. Pounce on every opportunity
2. Focus on the wonderful things that make you an individual
3. Let your friends support you
4. Try new things
5. Figure out what you do best
6. Start by living the "TTFN" instead of "GOODBYE"
7. Celebrate all stripes and sizes

I hope that I can get my bounce back sooner than later.  

Sadness Saturday - Sorry NEP Fans

How can a team who won most of their games in the regular season gets knock out during the wild card game.  That's NFL, right.  I was so sad for my team and decided not to have a Superbowl party because the New England Patriots is not in it.  My daughter suggested to have a party anyway and just eat and drink.  It's an idea but who will I cheer for.  I guess it really depends on which teams will be still alive.  My hubby is cheering for the 49ers so he might want to have a party.  My own tradition is that we only have a party if the Patriots are in.  But maybe we should just have a party as an excuse to get together and have a little contest of picking numbers and winning the football pool.  It just gives a little excitement to the party while watching the game.  Anyway, there's a few more games before Superbowl LIV, so I will just wait after the NFC and AFC championship before we decide.  I'm still sad.

Wonderful Wednesday - Happy New Year

It's another year, a new beginning, the year of the rat, a different set of resolutions, and so on.  We said goodbye to 2019 last night.  Is it a year that we want to put in a box and never to be opened again.  Too many disasters, so many lives lost, too much hatred, just too much of everything.  OK that's too negative, right.  I want to do my own year 2019 review on a good note. In no particular order:

• Bianca Andreescu won the US Open beating Serena.
• Toronto Raptors won the NBA Championship
• New England Patriots won Superbowl 53
• I got my very first HOLE in ONE on August 28
• Washington Nationals won the World Series
• St. Louis Blues won the Stanley Cup after 52 years wait.
• It all comes out in the wash - favorite country hit
• Kombucha and plant based diet - None for me, thank you
• Avengers: Endgame - Not pleased with Thor's new look
• Our California and Ontario trip visiting family and friends
• Wine bottling/labels for our own collection (3 types of red and 2 types of white)
• Reuniting with friends who visited our CPBB

And the review cannot be complete unless I share my favorite photos of 2019.