rave: shopping coupons

well, it is that time of year...we are only 25 days away from christmas. so for everyone wanting to get their shopping done, here are some great deals...

World Market - 40% off coupon (good only till dec. 2)
Best Buy - $25 off instantly with $175 purchase
bestbuy.com - BestBuy.com has this Westinghouse 32-inch flat-panel lcd hdtv with built-in hdtv tuner for $539.99 with free in-store pickup. Plus use one of the following to save even more, $20 off $175 Coupon or try this 12% off Coupon
overstock.com - 12% off coupon (expires nov.30...TONIGHT!)
ebags.com - eBags carries luggage, travel accessories, laptop cases, handbags and much more. Use this ebags coupon code at checkout to save 20% off your entire order. Use Google checkout to get an extra $20 off $50! eBags Coupon: EMTHANKU - Expires: 12/3/2006
target.com - Use this Target coupon code at checkout to save 10% off your purchase. No minimum purchase required and discount will automatically be deducted at checkout. Look for the free shipping icon. Target Coupon: TCRCPTAA - Expires: 11/30/2006
diamond.com - Click through to use this Diamond.com coupon with free shipping on your order. Coupon not valid with any other offers, sale items, certified diamonds, or Create Your Own orders. Expires: 12/31/2006
costco - Kitchenaid 5 quart pro lift stand mixer for $279.99. This is the cheapest i have seen it EVER! and if anything goes wrong with it, costco will take it back as long as you hold on to your receipt. you also receive a set of measuring spoons and a silicone spatula. Don't delay...when there is a good deal at costco, the supply runs out fast!
but if you like the artisan mixer, there is a great deal on...
kitchenaid.com - You can get their artisan series stand mixer in one of 6 colors, the ice cream maker attachment or the 2 piece pasta maker attachments, 5 piece culinary gift set and cookbook for $299.99! Offer valid through December 31, 2006.
There is also a couple mail-in rebate for:
other small kitchen appliances if you purchased any between July 1, 2006 - December 31, 2006 (stand mixers are not included.)
25% on selected stand mixer attachment purchased between Nov. 19 - Dec. 31 2006
$20 rebate on selected stand mixers purchased between Nov. 19 - Dec. 3, 2006 (restrictions apply, see rebate form for details)
$50 rebate on select 600 professional stand mixers purchased between Nov. 19 - Dec. 31, 2006 (restrictions apply, see rebate form for details)

Remember, all deals were located by me personally on the web while doing my own shopping, so please read all deals and coupons carefully for the fine print and restrictions. if you are a deal hunter like me, check out dealcatcher.com.

okay...i'm all shopped out. till the next time i need a little pick-me-up...

rant: crate & barrel's fight against breast cancer rave: nephews


Crate & Barrel is joining in the fight against breast cancer. On December 2 from 6pm to 9pm, they will be hosting an event to benefit Breast Cancer Resource Center of Austin at their north austin store (in the gateway shopping center). C&B will donate 20% of their sales from that night to them. So come out and start your Christmas shopping and support a wonderful cause! There will be prizes, wine bar & appetizers too :)

On a different note: i went to corpus over the second half of my thanksgiving break to see my two nephews. it was so much fun being able to play with nicholas and see little noah. they are so darn cute that i just had to share some more photos of them...enjoy!



noah thinking if he should go back to sleep

making kissy lips...

big brother nicholas with his blue leap frog

rant: happy thanksgiving!


happy thanksgiving everyone!
there is much to be thankful for...more than i can list.
i am most thankful for my family, friends, and loved ones.
you are the spice of life.
much love and gratitude to you...
on a side note...as i sit in my parent's house by myself, it is weird celebrating thanksgiving this year. this morning i don't wake up to the smell of a turkey in the oven, no bustling around in the kitchen. this is the first time i have EVER spent thanksgiving without my family. and i'm not talking about just my mom, dad and sister. i'm talking all of them, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandma. this year, my dad is in asia, my mom is in corpus with my sister and the new baby, and i will be spending my first thanksgiving with my in-laws. and to top it all off, we won't behaving turkey, green bean casserole, yams or corn bread. it just doesn't feel like thanksgiving even though i'm watching the macy's thanksgiving parade. but still, i'm very thankful...i miss everyone. this just makes christmas that much more precious.

rave: wedding photos...

FINALLY! the official ones are ready! i'll be picking them up on thursday while i'm in houston for turkey day. i was going over the photos from some people's cameras and i think this may have to be my favorite so far :)

rave: happy birthday kiara! and a fun filled weekend!

first things first...

(sorry for the 2005 birthday picture...i'll replace with updated one soon!)
happy birthday Kiara!
hope you had a wild, fun, wonderful, great time this weekend.
may all your gifts bring you much joy :)

This entire weekend was quite fun-filled...friday evening b and i had dinner with our friend's teddy and lie an (also newlyweds...congrats!) and james, sue and baby rylie. we went to 1st chinese bbq at the new austin chinatown. we had a great time catching up, enjoying some great food and watching baby rylie paint her face with food! we'll have to do it again soon :)
saturday, we had a pretty laid back morning...he then ventured off to play off and i went to get a mani to get ready to go to the governor's gala. i apparently had the TOTALLY wrong idea of what this event was. i was going as a +1 to promote my friend's company...smoochzing as it is called in the industry...and had very little info to go on. so my first impression was that this was an event for the the governor of texas...as in rick perry. well to my surprise, i show up and we walk in to the event and person speaking keeps saying "governor" and rick perry is no where in site. we sit down at our table and i look at the program and it kept saying governor royce west?!!??! yeah, exactly my point...anyhoo...to make the point...one day a year, the governor and lt. governor leave the state so the state senator can be governor for the day...hence this event. yes...my same reaction..."ahhhh....now i see..." either way it was fun. i got to put on my pretty sue wong ballgown and get all dolled up. and right after that, i went to the wild birthday party for kiara. i was way behind on the festivities, but had tons of fun dancing and drinking and just girl bonding.
i have to admit by sunday morning, i was paying for it...way too much alcohol. so i started off a little slow, but the day picked up. we took b's bmw to the shop, then went to dimsum at t&s seafood resturant. then b wanted to go to the round rock outlet mall (yea baby!) i was happy and suprised he wanted to go shopping...no objections here! so off we went...we both did a little damage...he got some nice shoes from bostonian, a couple sweaters, shirt and belt from banana, i got a work shirt from ck, 2 dresses from bcbg, and some baby clothes at gymboree for olivia grace. we then headed over to the new ikea next door and took a stroll around to see all the cool stuff. saw some great kitchens and closets! after all that shopping and walking around we were starving...so off to gattiland we went to satisfy b's pizza craving...i have to admit, it was gooood :) after my fill of pizza, salad, pasta and dessert pizza...food coma hit me hard...i almost dozed off there!

so here's to another work week...thank goodness it is a short one. i have a feeling from this point on, our weekends are going to be packed...

rave: sweets & memories

the weather has turned here in Austin, Texas and i love to bake ginger cookies for the holidays. so i thought i would share the recipe i love to use.

Ginger Spice Cookies

Ingredients
2 cups all purpose flour
4 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped crystallized ginger
1 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 large egg
1/4 cup mild-flavored (light) molasses
Sugar for rolling

Preparations
Combine first 6 ingredients in medium bowl; whisk to blend. Mix in crystallized ginger. Using electric mixer, beat brown sugar, and butter in large bowl until fluffy. Add egg and molasses and beat until blended. Add flour mixture and mix just until blended. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly butter 2 baking sheets. Spoon sugar in thick layer onto small plate. Using wet hands, form dough into 1 inch balls; roll in sugar to coat completely. Place balls on prepared sheets, spacing 1.5 inches apart.

Bake cookies until cracked on top but still soft to touch, about 10 minutes. Cool on sheets 1 minute. Carefully transfer to racks and cool. (Can be made 5 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.)

Makes about 40.
adapted from Epicurious.com recipie


the holidays also make me think of photographs. my family has this tradition where we all get dressed up and take photos in front of my parent's christmas tree. and when i say family, i don't mean just my grandma, mom and dad and my sister and her fam...no i mean all the aunts and uncles, cousins, their families and of course the four-legged members who are around. photos also somehow make the past real. i love photos because they capture that moment in time...with all it's emotions too. and with digital photography, things have gotten easier. we point and shot without a second thought...we can always delete!

So for the christmas, i wanted to photo books made for my family. I found this wonderful site that can help me do it for cheap! it it called viovio. (i will forewarn that the UI for the site isn't grand...it actually is just...eh. but hey, it does the job.) they offer a wide variety of sizes, hard or soft covers, matte or glossy print, book or sprial bound. the possiblities are endless! so if you are a digital scrapbooker, or just want to have a proofbook of all your digital photos...this is probably your cheapest bet! so to you shutter happy people out there and sentamentalist or the digital scrapbook junkie...this is for you :)




rave: happy birthday to the a fellow "wong"

from l to r: rebecca, phil, me, & jasmine - all wongs!
there are more of us...just not photographed together :)




well, i may not be a "wong" anymore...but for now i still am...my business cards say so :)
any how...
just want to wish phil a wonderful birthday and many more to come!
long live the wong's!

rave: if you build it...


The Center for Child Protection broke ground today for their new building (yah!)

IT'S ABOUT TIME! :) this new building has long been called, while i worked there and even after i left, never never land. the reality of it is, this is a long awaited, much needed, new home for the Center. this new place has been the hopes and dreams of everyone who have come in contact with the Center for Child Protection. it was really great to be out there apart of the groundbreaking. To see all the supporters and partners of this wonderful organization working together to make a place better, safer, and more child friendly to child victims of crime is truely a blessing. The battle has not ended, but just begun. This just gives the good people of Austin more and better ways to help the children of austin. For more information on the center for child protection and how to help the littlest victims of abuse, please visit their website.
PS...if you're in austin, check out the great thing they are doing this winter...they are raffling off a Lexus RX 400H and other prizes and having a wonderful food-centered event, A Taste of the Season, where this winners will be drawn. and trust me...the food is divine! hope to see you there!

rave: happy be-lated birthday katty

okay...pretend the date says 11.13.06...


happy birthday katty!
you've had an exciting couple days :)
hope we'll get to celebrate your birthday soon.
(sorry...i pushed save instead of publish)

rave: happy birthday luca


six years old...

about six weeks old...

happy birthday to my pup.
can't believe he's already 6...
that makes him about 48 in dog years!
here's to many more years of fetching, eating, snuggling,
stealing toilet paper, and being the best dog ever!

he even made it onto one of my fav websites...www.smalldog.com
no, it is not about small dogs...they sell apple computer products.
they just really love dogs :) and yes, buy apple products from them...they rock!
when you visit their website, they feature their customer's dogs
when it is their birthday...hit refresh and you'll see luca there today.

on aside note...luca has obviously not lost the pep in his step. i let him out in the back yard this morning to take care of his business. i left the door open since it was cool and house still smelled like last night's dinner. so as i turn around to go get a banana, i see luca sprinting across the yard full speed to the fence on the left. and what i see out of the corner of my eye is a litte white-ish furry thing duck quickly under the fence. now my first assumtion is, that thing was the little rabbit that b saw while mowing the lawn or at least one of his furry friends. what i'm hoping it is not is a r-a-t. so that said...he's been very intent on sniffing the little hole the creature has created under the fence. The question is...what am i going to do if he catches the thing and tries to bring it inside...

rave: welcome noah!


Noah Phan
november tenth, two-thousand six
three fifty-one in the morning
six pounds something ounces
congrats katty, thinh and nicholas!
can't wait to meet you noah!

rave: wedding photos - round one

okay...round one...these are from my cousins' cameras and b's cousin's boyfriend's camera.
offical photos are edited and on their way to me via postman as i type this. stay tuned for links.
on with the photos...

My Bouquet

The Wong's :) - heehee...really the Wong's, Liau's and Phan's!

Me and My Bridal Party

Our Flowers

My Flowergirls with their mommy, Kirsten

My House Party

The Ushers

Brides Extended Family - missing Cousin Winnie :(

Reception table with our parent's wedding photos and our baby photos

Flowergirl Maddie & Ring Bearer Nicholas

My daddy walking me down the aisle
The Ceremony

Exchanging of Vows

Unity Sand Ceremony
(took forever to pour sand!!!)

The Kiss!
Father Daughter Dance

Cake Cutting - yum!
Toast from the Matron of Honor - my sister
That's all for now folks...check back later :)

rant: end of kfed and brit...are we suprised?

i'm more suprised by the new bod so quick. good to see history doesn't repeat itself...no more moomoos and denim overalls. we can all breath a sigh of relief...


rave: the masai tribe & apple computers

"Among the most accomplished and fabled tribes of Africa, no tribe was considered to have warriors more fearsome or more intelligent than the mighty Masai. It is perhaps surprising, then, to learn the traditional greeting that passed between Masai warriors:"Kasserian Ingera," one would always say to another. It means, "And how are the children?"


It is still the traditional greeting among the Masai, acknowledging the high value that the Masai always place on their children's well-being. Even warriors with no children of their own would always give the traditional answer, "All the children are well." Meaning, of course, that peace and safety prevail, that the priorities of protecting the young, the powerless, are in place. That Masai society has not forgotten its reason for being, its proper functions and responsibilities. "All the children are well" means that life is good. It means that the daily struggles for existence do not preclude proper caring for their young.

I wonder how it might affect our consciousness of our own children's welfare if in our culture we took to greeting each other with this daily question: "And how are the children?" I wonder if we heard that question and passed it along to each other a dozen times a day, if it would begin to make a difference in the reality of how children are thought of or cared about in our own country.

I wonder if every adult among us, parent and non-parent alike, felt an equal weight for the daily care and protection of all the children in our community, in our town, in our state, in our country. . . . I wonder if we could truly say without any hesitation, "The children are well, yes, all the children are well." And if we asked: "How are the children? Are they all well?" Wouldn't it be interesting to hear the answers? What would it be like? I wonder . . . "

- Adapted by Pat Hoertdoerfer from an excerpt of a speech by Rev. Dr. Patrick T. O'Neill

this speach is something that i found while working at The Center for Child Protection a couple years ago. and it has stuck with me. while reading up on what's been going on with apple computers, i ran across an article about what a retired tech exce and a team of ex-apple employees are doing for the Masai children and building schools in africa...it's good to see that people do care how the children are.

rant: obesity in china

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061106/ap_on_he_me/china_obese_3

does this mean that when I go shopping in china in the future, i can buy a medium instead of an extra-large?

But seriously...with more and more of china becoming more westernized and wealthy, they are going to face new social and health issues. they are already suffering a huge backlash from the 1 child rule. Will the westernization of the east cause permanent and irreversible damage to the country and it's people?

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