Simly Saturday - Gamble is back

It was two weeks ago when Gamble had a sleepover and he was back last night and it seems like forever.  That's what he would usually say - that it has been such a long time since he was here. Here are some of the photos we took the last time he was here.

Gamble wearing his Dad's hat.

Gamble wearing his new outfits - all Nike brand.

Gamble after shower and his Mr. Muscle PJ's.

There are only 3 days left before he turns 5.  We will probably took him to mini putt last night and then play Wii until late in the evening.  He likes going to the park, sometimes he likes to just hit tennis ball, but his favorite since we got the Wii, is playing it with his Grampa and Ola.
BTW - We just receive in the mail the birthday invitation for his 5th birthday. 

First Friday - Firsts of my life

When you are sitting in front of your TV that keeps blacking out or freezing, you ended up just turning it off and start blogging.  Just then I thought of what I would post today.  THE FIRSTS.

• First time on an Air Balloon - May 1996, Ottawa, Ontario - my boyfriend then gave me a gift certificate for a Champagne Air Balloon Ride as a gift for my 40th birthday.
• First time on a gondola - June 2002, Beijing, China - My co worker and I went to see the GREAT WALL of China.  It was a surprise when we got there because I did not realize that we would be taking the Gondola to get to it, but I am so glad I went and saw one of the wonders of the world.
• First time parasailing - June 2006 - Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.  No one in my family believed that I would do it, but I did.  Jeff and I went parasailing on a beautiful day and although a little scary, I can take it off my bucket list.
• First time in Paris - January 2000 - While on a business trip, the transit point was Paris and we had a very long lay over.  We all took the train and went into the city and toured the Eiffel towel and walk some of the popular bridges.
• First time on a horse drawn carriage - December 2004 - San Antonio, Texas.  Jeff and I met in Houston and drove to San Antonio.  One evening we took the horse drawn carriage that toured part of the downtown.  It was a very romantic thing to do.
• First time on a cruise - September 2009 - Carnival Cruise - Mexican Riviera.  It was a great experience and we met some very nice couples.
• First time on a plane - February 1974 - NWA Manila/Tokyo/Vancouver/Edmonton/Yellowknife with layover in Tokyo and a few days in Vancouver.  This was the time I left my home town to emigrate to Canada.  Left Manila at 98F and arrive Yellowknife at -28C.
• First time on a small boat - July 1985 - Atlin, BC.  We went away for a weekend with 2 other family and stayed at a cottage.  One early morning,  I went fishing with the guys and this was my first time on a small aluminum boat and at the same time the first time I caught a fish - Lake Trout.
• First time on a cross country skis - January 1992 - Gatineau, Quebec.  Some friends of mine thought it might be good to try skiing, I did, I fell, I got up, I fell again, got up, I fell again and this this time everyone had to help me get up.  Skiing is not for me.

I am sure there are other FIRSTS but for now this should make you go WOW!!!  How about you?  Do you have a lot of very interesting FIRSTS? 

Truthful Thursday - Doing my happy dance

Oh no, I missed Wednesday post and today I am late.  Oh bother.  So why am I doing my happy dance?  Here's a few reasons:

LG - 55" Class / LED /1080p / 120Hz / 3D / HDTV

My girlfriend from Ottawa is coming for a visit in October

Our friends Jean and Gil gave these awesome tomatoes from their garden. I can't hardly wait to use them.

I found these cute canisters at Target.  I will use it for my baking supplies.

 As you can see, it does not take much to make me happy.  Not really sure what is happening with this bold letters.  I am hoping that I can be back to normal tomorrow.  Happy 1st of September.  Does this mean Fall is around the corner.  For my Canadian followers, please send me some of your beautiful fall colors.

Timely Tuesday - Prize for the winner of my blog contest

Finally got a chance do a bit of sewing last night.  I made another bib for one of the ladies at the senior center.  After seeing what I made for Rosemary and Alice, another lady wanted to order and offered to buy it.  Since it is not a business for me, I just told her that I will make her one.  I took a photo but my phone and connection started acting up, so maybe next time.

As there was still time and I could multi tasks (sewing and watching the first round of the US Open Tennis 2011), I started making the apron for Pat from Edmonton, winner of my blog contest.  This is only one of the first item.  I plan to do at least a couple more items as her prize.

One side of the reversible apron.

The reverse side of the above apron.

Second day of the US open and I was going to make a comment about the Williams sisters but I think I will let it go for now and comment in a couple of days.

Maybe Monday - A new nail polish

It was a little sad last night when my niece left to return to her home in SFO.  We had a great weekend including calling my daughter so that the two of them can chat for a bit about all the shopping we did.  So what things did you do, you might ask.  Well, here's some of the photos of what I bought and what I made for her.  I am still not sure which new nail polish I will try on my nails.

My new collection of nail brushes for my nail art.

My new Katie Perry Shatter (only a few left as they have discontinued this collection) and China Glaze Crackle.

Finisher and Shiner Square, buffer (6 for a $1)  and ORLY Chip preventing primer

Two sets of false lashes with a Black Glue that looks like an eyeliner.

I made 4 shoe bags with lining for my niece.

 There are so many more sewing projects that I have to get to.  Here's my list:

• San Francisco Giants pajama bottoms for my niece.  She is a SFG fanatic.
• My MIL's lady bug apron
• A few shoe bags with lining for my daughter
• An apron for my sister in law who lives in Indiana
• An apron and a kitchen towel for the blog count contest winner - Pat from Edmonton
• A simple shift dress for my sister 
• 2 aprons for the cupcake girls that I met almost 6 months ago.

Soulful Sunday - Really Cool App - Sound Hound

Until last night, I did not know that my humming talent would be that good.  Well, actually it is not my humming talent but it is the brain behind SOUND HOUND.  While we were having dessert, my cousin asked what song was being played on the radio.  The station I was listening to is 96.3 Easy Rock - a station from Manila - through internet radio.  Anyway, my niece said, wait a minute and she turned on her Sound Hound.  But since the song was unfamiliar, probably because it was a filipino singer singing an english song but written by filipino artist.  So what is really cool about this APP is that you can actually hum the song and it would still recognize that song.  Here's the proof.

I hummed the song Open Arms by JOURNEY and also Soul Sister by TRAIN

And I thought SHAZAM was really great. But I love this SOUND HOUND because it recognizes my humming skills. 
What is funny is that the second song I hummed was Open Arms and the results came is as Journey and then a Korean Kareoke singer.

Simply Saturday - Sugar and Spice and all things nice

This is the weekend I have been waiting for.  My niece from SFO is visiting me for the weekend. We don't have any big plans but we have a lot of tiny tiny plans. She arrived shortly after 430 pm and we did our little catching up then all of a sudden we got hungry.  We have decided long before she got here that we will be going for SUSHI.  Jeff does not like sushi so whenever I am with someone that loves them, then that's going to be my first choice.  We were so hungry when we got to the restaurant, so we started eating and forgot about taking photos of the meal. Oh bother.  The plan was to go to Victoria Secret afterwards to check out a couple of items for my daughter.  When we arrive at the mall, we got side tracked and stopped by different stores and bought a few items.  I ended up splurging on an item.  I cannot believe how this mascara made my eyelashes 3x thicker.

DIORSHOW - Azure Blue

Then I ended up buying at least 6 items for my daughter.  But the deals were so great that I ended up buying a couple of tops.

Zebra top

Salmon and gray stripes