tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65044132409015962232024-02-07T13:01:48.840-06:00The Optimistic HousewifeMichelle Lokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805810848179996104noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413240901596223.post-24785691940148924582014-08-09T01:43:00.001-05:002014-08-09T01:50:09.109-05:00Our all-time favorite!<p dir="ltr">Paul and I love beef and while we have somehow cut down on red meat since we came back from the Us, a really good cut and marbling makes all the healthy eating most days worth the while..</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxt5ei8FvU1uptezKZ_4aqkQJuYTxUnwA7g1oc2Kn36g3NanS7JSNgToQMMNzBCKHBju7SCpK1QUvrEtXL4N2KmEo5fBfDR7QuBVzIJ_Jfj_B2kADBD6JgbZUCZ5KMKGX9DDZM6ejbJof/s1600/20140726_181946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxt5ei8FvU1uptezKZ_4aqkQJuYTxUnwA7g1oc2Kn36g3NanS7JSNgToQMMNzBCKHBju7SCpK1QUvrEtXL4N2KmEo5fBfDR7QuBVzIJ_Jfj_B2kADBD6JgbZUCZ5KMKGX9DDZM6ejbJof/s640/20140726_181946.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdav4SteP-NgYmmiG_ShI0bXjfCvcZHSIVDWG_FqrGyb-iXWvLLvH_ecgSv6pgET3-GUnAZDUwmSd3gluy4VGak9SpzLQm1EknsxfCmc9u7CqPxurqXlZYe9-PR0KivpDSaXp55aSoUJN/s1600/20140726_182008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdav4SteP-NgYmmiG_ShI0bXjfCvcZHSIVDWG_FqrGyb-iXWvLLvH_ecgSv6pgET3-GUnAZDUwmSd3gluy4VGak9SpzLQm1EknsxfCmc9u7CqPxurqXlZYe9-PR0KivpDSaXp55aSoUJN/s640/20140726_182008.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6WYzeEqmIQn74yCyY2uT8nu-g8y5VTTKNWvrHjyfjEAFCwl9Xh_0k-C15zzncUTe-_9ycL_YYDQAYrENnE9fmfh1fXyaYiInCNaO5MZDv40GRDdkieOxB9psgt3J2qfJGaXRBGt3Z03Wb/s1600/20140726_191924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6WYzeEqmIQn74yCyY2uT8nu-g8y5VTTKNWvrHjyfjEAFCwl9Xh_0k-C15zzncUTe-_9ycL_YYDQAYrENnE9fmfh1fXyaYiInCNaO5MZDv40GRDdkieOxB9psgt3J2qfJGaXRBGt3Z03Wb/s640/20140726_191924.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94WgoqeWQZXo2xCO84V1mp2-g1rE0kkXmrJCxUrtl-3c9uKF5fqT2OGGkKaknR5zglohkoKwe8Wy45J_DCnhdFSuY_mQa_bDiCBOGHLDLJgLRYpZM30shyphenhyphenov3EYQXmIR-9-NQXlZOU0s1/s1600/20140726_194620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94WgoqeWQZXo2xCO84V1mp2-g1rE0kkXmrJCxUrtl-3c9uKF5fqT2OGGkKaknR5zglohkoKwe8Wy45J_DCnhdFSuY_mQa_bDiCBOGHLDLJgLRYpZM30shyphenhyphenov3EYQXmIR-9-NQXlZOU0s1/s640/20140726_194620.jpg"> </a> </div>Michelle Lokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805810848179996104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413240901596223.post-89869343539861520032014-07-06T08:21:00.001-05:002014-07-06T08:22:18.999-05:00Sibling love when Tyan is just 8mths old<p dir="ltr">I really enjoyed the moments when the kids played together... thought I should upload them for fun! </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUSWNMCjlawG0z4z_qYB14SpVaZA27BgzzjIjpetMD3P_Vyq-76a460rENRlW4PPD4cYhG5JXDuH9J8EM6bR6BA5E9xj5Q8q0Wf0RVTgCzD9G1FrWWfeprGjgbklwBxDUKYdjRB3n8QS3/s1600/IMG-20111009-WA0000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUSWNMCjlawG0z4z_qYB14SpVaZA27BgzzjIjpetMD3P_Vyq-76a460rENRlW4PPD4cYhG5JXDuH9J8EM6bR6BA5E9xj5Q8q0Wf0RVTgCzD9G1FrWWfeprGjgbklwBxDUKYdjRB3n8QS3/s640/IMG-20111009-WA0000.jpg"> </a> </div>Michelle Lokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805810848179996104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413240901596223.post-18492650556150828442013-10-20T10:13:00.001-05:002013-10-20T10:13:42.626-05:00Tyan shenanigans<p dir="ltr">Little Tyan at 2.5 years trying her hand on the ipad...<br>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkbjznTWBNEoNmTm8JG0XX-kxWnY4B-sEW_hKiy1Zet72_aqZCpVuhfuj_TS9ij5xT5ieZ76AsPIZeKIXioWXgWtQfEBzaPzN2RmfNlPJv8yN5iCFbwVzsQCbR1ZoGy-NbFaiMBlTM64a/s1600/20131020_220100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkbjznTWBNEoNmTm8JG0XX-kxWnY4B-sEW_hKiy1Zet72_aqZCpVuhfuj_TS9ij5xT5ieZ76AsPIZeKIXioWXgWtQfEBzaPzN2RmfNlPJv8yN5iCFbwVzsQCbR1ZoGy-NbFaiMBlTM64a/s640/20131020_220100.jpg"> </a> </div>Michelle Lokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805810848179996104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413240901596223.post-46579952037355603292011-12-20T09:03:00.001-06:002011-12-20T09:03:56.536-06:00the lil t is almost 8 mths!<p><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9X8HaMSsZk9TaKvIilmX80KOn35qLPRgEpLE6wUPOJPNJ1tXpmIwNF8dTTQNtYGx-FpXXFZxxpaUg8047akXF2VdKaMEc-OErHv6bZyS0HY4azecB5M8KIxXjxU4creDys6qO3wNaWc_8/s0/2011-12-07%25252016.43.41.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9X8HaMSsZk9TaKvIilmX80KOn35qLPRgEpLE6wUPOJPNJ1tXpmIwNF8dTTQNtYGx-FpXXFZxxpaUg8047akXF2VdKaMEc-OErHv6bZyS0HY4azecB5M8KIxXjxU4creDys6qO3wNaWc_8/s400/2011-12-07%25252016.43.41.jpg' /></a></p><div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.2</div>Michelle Lokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805810848179996104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413240901596223.post-91165402305149927162011-11-20T04:02:00.001-06:002011-11-20T04:02:01.380-06:00back in singas!<p><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CSTMENSmzi-otYdTzRKCdajm5WUWuNPF_Yc2sbiY6DXIVtfnaW-LvjwinRQf5EkzRH3V5TydLtZR2NM2BTDsig1tmk_Xdz8p-mq-5qaFJq_K7SDPTnkbWLeM_mBDV7IM6pbl-uHS8W9Y/'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CSTMENSmzi-otYdTzRKCdajm5WUWuNPF_Yc2sbiY6DXIVtfnaW-LvjwinRQf5EkzRH3V5TydLtZR2NM2BTDsig1tmk_Xdz8p-mq-5qaFJq_K7SDPTnkbWLeM_mBDV7IM6pbl-uHS8W9Y/s400/2011-08-25%25252021.58.43.jpg' /></a></p><p>testing my new blogger app on android!!!</p> <br/> <div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.1</div>Michelle Lokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805810848179996104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413240901596223.post-41529525411164220012011-10-02T11:08:00.001-05:002011-10-02T11:18:35.666-05:00celebrations in september<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXZwrV5hD3NOs2E7UVV_7gO5GbSSsQ4FwGsZgAt-zeEL50w1chAcQVbOjLHGoR7lRgf_JVEpmx1alO2xvuFpNcjBuMkkDHFy_pNblWhm-vRBlm0oMm4k2DHbrHPIiI8yh9W5z85QitXJb/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXZwrV5hD3NOs2E7UVV_7gO5GbSSsQ4FwGsZgAt-zeEL50w1chAcQVbOjLHGoR7lRgf_JVEpmx1alO2xvuFpNcjBuMkkDHFy_pNblWhm-vRBlm0oMm4k2DHbrHPIiI8yh9W5z85QitXJb/" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left cursor: pointer;" height="150px" width="200px" /></a><br><br><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYlJCMEVY84euJMoqdAQk5YBLp1CaD9ylVSYVMxyg7GN7AOrXtSVqfWtPngzSYghwWCmTto-7cX4kqf-OM_0AzG5GT1VrmLdGPEJPmiTHJvuCPMMmEoI_mxgQXLLoux_S1ctQH41cWXjq/"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYlJCMEVY84euJMoqdAQk5YBLp1CaD9ylVSYVMxyg7GN7AOrXtSVqfWtPngzSYghwWCmTto-7cX4kqf-OM_0AzG5GT1VrmLdGPEJPmiTHJvuCPMMmEoI_mxgQXLLoux_S1ctQH41cWXjq/"></a><br /><br>celebrations are fun.. because u get to show the celebrants why they are precisely so special!!! <br />Michelle Lokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805810848179996104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413240901596223.post-86730924956780559872011-10-02T10:17:00.001-05:002011-10-02T10:41:55.383-05:00back in singapore!<br><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvteyyVp_zrtyTHlqzX-ClTak5FrQ2rVQDDwfsXpqfU7g-UZFjRJ-gxbF56OQQ6GxFU89b_sre1xeuPa9fsy9OPd5-MapFMNIg0-dbOvic9RnHY2XRwja-tDDYquRbr41ixDe7lhR93Ew/"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvteyyVp_zrtyTHlqzX-ClTak5FrQ2rVQDDwfsXpqfU7g-UZFjRJ-gxbF56OQQ6GxFU89b_sre1xeuPa9fsy9OPd5-MapFMNIg0-dbOvic9RnHY2XRwja-tDDYquRbr41ixDe7lhR93Ew/"></a><br /><br>so we are back in sunny singapura.. mixed bag of feelings.. to be honest i had not missed work at all during my time there. i guess it was because i knew the expiration date of that sabbatical. <br /><br>what i remembered relishing often was having not to worry about the repercussions of having late nights.. no need to rush anywhere but of course lil K had to go to school. during the start to the end of winter was most trying.. the blistering cold and the late sunrise created havoc on the bodyclock. no one could get out of bed. ok plus the fact that i was preggie during that period didnt help to..<br /><br>i remember keeping my mind busy with many tasks and mini projects.and keeping a pretty social calendar so no, i dont think i have been idle all this time in the US.. i love not having to be stressed about anything much.. and dutifully keeping checklists of things i need to do.<br /><br>i lost count of the number of self-improvement, parenting, educational books i have read during this time. nor can i count the number of times i have laughed, sang and danced unabashedly with my child/ren. <br /><br>what i never want to do again? having to fold clothes and vacuuming a long flight of carpeted stairs with a design fail upright vacuum cleaner.<br /><br>do i enjoy coming bk to work? a little bittersweet to be honest. the company is fab and the new role has so far been rather invigorating. my threshold of not seeing my hubby is 3 weeks so it has been spot-on - heartstrings got tugged esp since realising lil K has the same.threshold as me. She suddenly remarked upon leaving the bank today. 'Mummy , i want to give daddy money.' 'Because then he can come back to me.' I think at that point, a speck of dust came into my eye and probably that persistent sticky bubble from my gongcha drink got lodged momentarily in my throat.<br /><br>2 more months before we are reunited.as a family again!<br />Michelle Lokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805810848179996104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413240901596223.post-69496007590567446072011-08-10T10:18:00.001-05:002011-08-10T10:18:25.179-05:00Tyan. 16 weeks!I am relishing the pure pleasure of playing with my newborn!!!!! Such unadulterated joy in her every action.... <br/><br/><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lek16OQGxaK_bgrlNE1skVxAO3__Dkz7xWwbefS97P0pAw8dHn8aC4n9PlcKwumlrFFsJI4MvD2KXnPNbqmJrGdgbOn-D_OCKu3nWNCnnaPkStl-EobC3_Iz7W_1CT2N5Qn_Rir_YILv/s288/My%252520Uploaded%252520Photos.jpg" border="2" alt="" /><br/><br/><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6XrsioWwldV9tLnhyPg_Cdp4yLLYJqL8-kjXRHrSSubXTXu96sIbixV268jT_8Me8Zl4gxaz-XN0fR0VN3XnPVB46BOVWvGepQtEvySaLvZSRCLLlLAgbGmnqv2osTzEL_FPviYRBNkj/s288/My%252520Uploaded%252520Photos.jpg" border="2" alt="" /><br/><br/><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTgm01pGXiue_dN_d9e7LEMo00qb03vfvRpvduYls4-NfMWc1t4QHXzu7FLBdkzxyjzwNjq9JX-YwkbiJW6Bfq-S8cc_Do5uILwok2rGcb4cWzvtbDAwCoT75Jn_kh6pM_oqLxxuo5d0H/s288/My%252520Uploaded%252520Photos.jpg" border="2" alt="" /><br/><br/><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_wkB_0tsj6hshMSQ27QtR9WFDzcu-phwClixb4HSFYZSZjj28_g5gzQHOfpMxP7yR_xnA0LVBijrXqiMW23xhhIvmsOX_UxYRih_KSiPWsDcSMBuv9PmYWN84pK-lhVfrQR1NT9RnkCf/s288/My%252520Uploaded%252520Photos.jpg" border="2" alt="" /><br/><br/><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjv6z-oJ4X7M1yHaJ2iVVfVqRfmLxzeo29WRb4aF3Ck9xqsm_SLosNdv6ebLZ6Q9zI0q64kl17fCwl0T8GuhRsRPjHtVR2fKlMI_2G0dB-zrshxGrn6aVwQbRMoPlxONy7rFI177F5Rd-5/s288/My%252520Uploaded%252520Photos.jpg" border="2" alt="" /><br/><br/><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3zUA-QsaSt_ICtmxLu2Dr2EhuoFMiwEMQrrBOdhSeM6hyphenhyphenB5eqsvibDa71b7qjLCTgxgFOZO_OU7QmU0YdXuDzAcCkFTedpN78wvUnY3dkVsLcurAjy59QKReJPQffqq7lhNkmPVl5cyT/s288/My%252520Uploaded%252520Photos.jpg" border="2" alt="" /><br/><br/><img style="float:left; 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margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBt1bbSQVzvRlOy442L7lHE26_T81PbIAymQ9xcId0KFnu6Vwf3NMwqGoZt_ZIDfzlJNXUtLdLI5izQJPabiRDq9gwG_cyME2WvlmUFWEMkZBiWDyK4fyXIm24bkH3z91pTvrs9NXr-tKO/s288/My%252520Uploaded%252520Photos.jpg" border="2" alt="" /><br/><br/><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNISUsaVNTEy9dhAyvDGahInM1BqiD0r0ZNwGt4ACc9NruTWv0LaA9P_1uLasn-x7D9tq7Vz-_7M7TauI9PxbWvOl9TdbA0AFWLjNaQmgLPKwXGSfrh21si5JO2xWrzulK8lLJ3yfKVyZc/s288/My%252520Uploaded%252520Photos.jpg" border="2" alt="" /><br/><br/><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyoMEiBWu0H24Ligo7OWEVyFLY5SVl34XwfLKX_EMkY-XnrJlrR-n9zFidtMTgfltzohZ9EVx5YWx1VCsJWGMNlgbdTgyltTVeVPJkEjEkY-9zS6odlGBN9p43tRZYApztzUhevh34H2f/s288/My%252520Uploaded%252520Photos.jpg" border="2" alt="" />Michelle Lokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805810848179996104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413240901596223.post-16148759383858605412011-06-24T17:41:00.001-05:002011-06-24T18:07:39.838-05:00Holidaying with pals! 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margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAekgFgZMyYYS5S46a389hlAZ3_d3mUW4ryodRokZv84H7YGe40qj9A0p9rspn5z1rNIOMIer9zEvuPVxl3ixDLiwUPJWvwf7reIr_m0SxQv531FEupgbkJU4iAsKksKEQME_Lv2Ld8uZy/s288/My%252520Uploaded%252520Photos.jpg" border="2" alt="" /><br/><br/><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTRf6Fn8EssbNOHusCiMOqsYGp9axFfNNT9Cl7sTo_4a_RVhECuCTQ4gf2_SNtvsA8rqACZJpGI-Gg81uaBDOi66mzu0GLrhyphenhyphenuiiPtIT3ZxGWheNlnf9SWDDJ79W4oud7_cMq-VQZ7P2f/s288/My%252520Uploaded%252520Photos.jpg" border="2" alt="" /><br/><br/><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfShNEq7xRZtt8Y9ekq4jP-gwpTSsAyVv-KeqyzQwy0Y_TfZJrAtctn5GejnwwOu2LCMHciUHjTaQRp9-737nBdesMwNwS-PIlXM8SA3wJy6Sl6RBfLzoYKa5ZDEv2-rXWLm8RsYt1mrTS/s288/My%252520Uploaded%252520Photos.jpg" border="2" alt="" /><br/><br/><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSmrQErxXR3JymMsqUwl75L9-JHy6sQgvdzJk9Of8AEmdLBkbf8K5aInAfQlrinP7UAXo5j7bkeW5BonVIr5XEjE-SMdUa-_Dipk0rK38yKI3ME2b0zUsn1Cm3g1_pDkRzL5I7KH1WNEC/s288/My%252520Uploaded%252520Photos.jpg" border="2" alt="" /><br/><br/><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24EathfoMF3YS-_rMS89YB1zMhylNobauCea_Q_IGHkl9Mo7ZlQ9DiZQOWTGZHEVl1A7TlWHE5rszltEdqnbCbzv5DsL7vdngltPX5LVpmZ2shkR3MEJ4Wg0rYEO8iPLIu5xjQFS-dStp/s288/My%252520Uploaded%252520Photos.jpg" border="2" alt="" /><br/><br/><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzz0WHSfnOzZJmoHE71isGeWAmAtSOu5qnyctkye2jE1EItSY64XBsiItLOfRD5-WmutfEqreUpl9cFQ0uNE-OcEeU5LW4CVXRiBQt_adspAX0lk_WMfJLExblKX76xazS68b3Bj4eO0sR/s288/My%252520Uploaded%252520Photos.jpg" border="2" alt="" />Michelle Lokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805810848179996104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413240901596223.post-33499530684559150782011-06-24T16:57:00.001-05:002011-06-24T18:17:21.902-05:00Happy Spring Fever...Been abt 5 days since we got home from our holidays and the kids are all active!!!!<br/><br/>Here are what we have been up to staying home hiding from the hot hot temperature...<br/><br/><br/><br/><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfRzfGrwJkWlwTwWvucYXvQ3RwOlfFshUZ2sMR2P5IEBbm4ZZW-6Gz2DtjWckj1ACU8ytyjCX_YByzk1YvNbL75OKC5v3lem5GJwG7qP4ZpA02kKd4ilfwN6Z63FE6uonmAKMtPGcJmXM/s288/My%252520Uploaded%252520Photos.jpg" border="2" alt="" /><br/><br/><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vErr1TROtwLJMMAU1cOSOZtV3yZ8kKyaYiT8a8POFychroOJJ2L5ciHR31ij1d5OM83pfZHWGR3PaSEzMj-_p9B7-ca4khMfa5bF_kJ-3k4hyT-QctCEhecVMCtZMhMRvKrw-pBOnT5-/s288/My%252520Uploaded%252520Photos.jpg" border="2" alt="" /><br/><br/><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdeftspdZJuljNYpXUPxUwWPa7o_E27JAIuyvtHoHbU8bRWDP2ck_zl1GIViILsqgKLlB27tgwE5eQQdH8QuywYnCGCMxTN9yEr4jE6XeTEiJkrkNgGUzBWTtIfOvu5VVxnA-nE5TQcBr/s288/My%252520Uploaded%252520Photos.jpg" border="2" alt="" /><br/><br/><img style="float:left; 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margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSO27-RqESXvzSslVllbEGKvoJkO7MatNVkRcFkEQSnLkB8wQcF5mquT_hxq_N0wPmEDf7jBuTRLNv7G3VSlzirbkkbO0q1LyDTQrXz217j87MZlkWDhdCvjHMIaTfiejvqCXrAvekpnmu/s288/My%252520Uploaded%252520Photos.jpg" border="2" alt="" /><br/><br/><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXGMeW_5o_8qGJegiK-mEHC4yulwUteOlOW2qRXv-CntwuQLOT9vWJEqPqIALcwSPq9TnaNdE9yVBxmlx50mxjKN510fjX7-f1sGUmPdsnOLkCEzJWOVGlQpNBMPiTSP_tQDabXguE93t/s288/My%252520Uploaded%252520Photos.jpg" border="2" alt="" /><br/><br/><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmw6eOPSbvfAoUfnBr0IcV450nqAgdV5ivb2ELQtyW1_oUX0bivwxxeCEPodUuJO1_GdwIjLyhgL9mdnMlgsIi9_qOIrsysayOans3vga4RbJsQHg9912HsMhkSfzAGv77QVFEaf265om/s288/My%252520Uploaded%252520Photos.jpg" border="2" alt="" /><br/><br/><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaUWkDBMc3xfxHrMMLWj8c092-SbBLfww9rNivcIjYI-aJg0iaQXyzY_TD4yoa9ExOAzfsw9pFCgeP1yWH1YMGqphF7EGZE3KWofbqLhCBJszlJ5Le8ezcraQN35JeX-4EOgOEeZ6b27r/s288/My%252520Uploaded%252520Photos.jpg" border="2" alt="" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6504413240901596223-3349953068455915078?l=theoptimistichousewife.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div><br/><br/><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMUx0AFMeYAUSSQaPYHQij4Nk8ysSyDQnkycMYT-okMjbPWftv78C2f-WHMy_Bx82nFw6nyFh2eIYS7SrHVDukiMDD0_15WmC1dYmDbfweL4wNgYszE2QljGQDhN4VcXM2bzRvlIkOn6Z/s288/My%252520Uploaded%252520Photos.jpg" border="2" alt="" />Michelle Lokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805810848179996104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413240901596223.post-57582317882029996262011-06-21T19:51:00.001-05:002013-06-16T07:06:41.459-05:00Tyan turns 8 weeks today!We had plenty of help looking after Kaylen when she was born so I was a lil worried how I would be able to cope all by myself after my parents and in-laws left...<br/><br/>It is not easy truly because I forgot how heart-wrenching and ear-piercing newborns ' cries can be... Other than the cries, there are also the endless laundry, 2-hourly feeds, burping and of course the general housekeeping and cooking for all weekday meals for all of us..<br/><br/>And Kaylen has truly been angelic by my standards... New house rules have been made.. No crying or whining when baby is crying. Mummy cannot fulfil any requests while attending to baby. No loud sounds from her when baby is sleeping. So far she has only flouted the rules a few times but have been quick to comply when reminded..<br/><br/>Oh yes she also provides nuggets of useful information to her daddy when baby is crying.."baby is hungry and wants milk milk" or when Paul carries Michelle Lokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805810848179996104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413240901596223.post-17324596755829668022011-06-03T03:45:00.003-05:002011-06-03T11:06:17.778-05:00The full month celebration of life for our newest!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">14 May 2011</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Adding to our little brood was relatively easy but keeping the little newborn alive is altogether another thing. And so of course we celebrate the baby's seemingly fragile survival with a befitting celebration.<br />
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And so a tea party was what we had, a relaxing afternoon tea with cupcakes and strawberries and nothing to do with the tea party movement - though we incidentally did come to the same objectives, i.e. reduce spending and in so doing, keep an eye on a possible future household spending deficit that comes with 2 kids, exorbitant car COEs, a typical 6Cs Singaporean mainstream lifestyle of expensive tastes and hobbies.<br />
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I realised the only picture I missed out were of the children playing in the playroom/study. I think I didn't dare step in there so no evidence will remain of the havoc wrecked. This is what happens when you have kitchen sets and building blocks with teeny weeny parts and of course, a couple of children in a very small room. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUZuXNehAJg9JiYQIqaSLznK38DVen-iCjP7pf1RgVl_Rs7W3Fa5Ai8TFeNfzXR52C7A_wBKhyoFzjNsMfU-9XIjdVXsJ6OPcVuwZL4htGlCUo4uNkCqK_AqaBbw_lY34KBUEjzAwzR9D/s1600/IMG_6003.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUZuXNehAJg9JiYQIqaSLznK38DVen-iCjP7pf1RgVl_Rs7W3Fa5Ai8TFeNfzXR52C7A_wBKhyoFzjNsMfU-9XIjdVXsJ6OPcVuwZL4htGlCUo4uNkCqK_AqaBbw_lY34KBUEjzAwzR9D/s320/IMG_6003.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Finally another occasion to bring out the fine china with the last being K's 2nd birthday!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7IuoiaLoNPUMzZspDjHaGG8xslvrZBRxr3fiGv7vNTijy5sum2dAv5CTZCU3fVarC4cOOH_pC_Sgce1E0d7UlRYBvQl0Izwj2osoOQKui5TUHPM9cSCVUfH1Ou1a7nTekp4y75TiE1YY/s1600/IMG_6011.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7IuoiaLoNPUMzZspDjHaGG8xslvrZBRxr3fiGv7vNTijy5sum2dAv5CTZCU3fVarC4cOOH_pC_Sgce1E0d7UlRYBvQl0Izwj2osoOQKui5TUHPM9cSCVUfH1Ou1a7nTekp4y75TiE1YY/s320/IMG_6011.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marshmallows and strawberries for the truly sweet-toothed</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6WXMwtMolCyOLzBXhh64msdWTzS89tupBkc5M1UwBg_XabIwS-8kzNYb8obBUmpbr76iGh-IZgQfsezBljk0fRgtX1aIPojoG11mts-wppT3h1ScHI1uMCIia8MrCjfrLS_dgjG69DIK/s1600/IMG_5998.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6WXMwtMolCyOLzBXhh64msdWTzS89tupBkc5M1UwBg_XabIwS-8kzNYb8obBUmpbr76iGh-IZgQfsezBljk0fRgtX1aIPojoG11mts-wppT3h1ScHI1uMCIia8MrCjfrLS_dgjG69DIK/s320/IMG_5998.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Customised cupcakes from my favorite bakery Sprinkles - supposedly the originator of gourmet cupcakes! ;p</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyE9m6xEJiDKEyh6JfBeGc_4UEPshZ_x8hKl9GJZ2ZJxEG_l2MaQkNLcN2m2jftcwZvuw3UB8otDyebwz3ziriWUhpjTMCcltmRj2N9qhGD-65ankQTU4fTmhCbVwe7hVz67lHou9RFyR9/s1600/IMG_6007.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyE9m6xEJiDKEyh6JfBeGc_4UEPshZ_x8hKl9GJZ2ZJxEG_l2MaQkNLcN2m2jftcwZvuw3UB8otDyebwz3ziriWUhpjTMCcltmRj2N9qhGD-65ankQTU4fTmhCbVwe7hVz67lHou9RFyR9/s320/IMG_6007.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tea party display with beeeeutiful roses that really made me so happy! Of course, the manual labour that had gone into the Ang Ku Kuehs cannot be discounted of course. Kudos to mummy Loke & team Jo-Ann-Na for their unwavering support for this ambitious endeavour.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EYjP-CygNWjmpthjEAylsvuvsO9CYVxihol8TJUEz1EF_Fxtp6yIL2x5SZg85kxQbyyuqg_FaLtXunTYNrwVoqQaXp28dxn3iLqh_G1RTFP054RAbnNaCUEd4HgYSqKpHdEQPSwvDZyy/s1600/IMG_6014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EYjP-CygNWjmpthjEAylsvuvsO9CYVxihol8TJUEz1EF_Fxtp6yIL2x5SZg85kxQbyyuqg_FaLtXunTYNrwVoqQaXp28dxn3iLqh_G1RTFP054RAbnNaCUEd4HgYSqKpHdEQPSwvDZyy/s320/IMG_6014.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cupcakes nicely arranged by pcube (papa paul) and birth announcement cards!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUyTExOQiXWqfxEeaN69PxJhsqEGtB3L0Em56LIgJ_QBye8M32aQB7EcDyAU8QldQLav6f-D4uud7FdAbVLUjZV9sVpPsL7Jor3U89KgU_gDTa9KpGdua_fTtk10CerjG1L7qJa9IeGdP/s1600/IMG_6016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUyTExOQiXWqfxEeaN69PxJhsqEGtB3L0Em56LIgJ_QBye8M32aQB7EcDyAU8QldQLav6f-D4uud7FdAbVLUjZV9sVpPsL7Jor3U89KgU_gDTa9KpGdua_fTtk10CerjG1L7qJa9IeGdP/s320/IMG_6016.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lovely green bean and peanut ang ku kuehs! And of course, red eggs for the occasion!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgulKPxcTf_3qXXlEQDgATsiSW9gexfI8MB3yBnOeujmyVupBrAzvFQz9Cc2gM6TWNT4EskCMVxAV70IUv6gsXEsOGjEpKArcjC88Ahp2XUHcXPrCq-wW7vEPz5JVA2xPyExXzjf8tu32tJ/s1600/IMG_6039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgulKPxcTf_3qXXlEQDgATsiSW9gexfI8MB3yBnOeujmyVupBrAzvFQz9Cc2gM6TWNT4EskCMVxAV70IUv6gsXEsOGjEpKArcjC88Ahp2XUHcXPrCq-wW7vEPz5JVA2xPyExXzjf8tu32tJ/s320/IMG_6039.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cutie pie showing angry face!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqznnrBq-vz28S948fXg48yUsr1TykboC-Gkh6z2Nfy7rt72ECamfbpXY2-Z3BkcXrzgrOPNcjN8ujnsunksfvCqaIwR-1bBMZEHmq6ZoqDBEa6qxXaoOgNcD9i-rR83dLZ6Hn5bu52WqV/s1600/IMG_6041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqznnrBq-vz28S948fXg48yUsr1TykboC-Gkh6z2Nfy7rt72ECamfbpXY2-Z3BkcXrzgrOPNcjN8ujnsunksfvCqaIwR-1bBMZEHmq6ZoqDBEa6qxXaoOgNcD9i-rR83dLZ6Hn5bu52WqV/s320/IMG_6041.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yup, my V fingers right there!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3vQjxt87Vhnmn19cT9O_VtIrzyCSWfPB_a-NoBs1uosQd9WHpKd5WP_FMzOuO30ExGXqkk3Hi_qGyPwLVMKry3Lx8YaczCA3o7j1nYdfbNbpWapUr0UR7gJLqNW3kls0UhTttZ4wIGE4/s1600/IMG_6045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3vQjxt87Vhnmn19cT9O_VtIrzyCSWfPB_a-NoBs1uosQd9WHpKd5WP_FMzOuO30ExGXqkk3Hi_qGyPwLVMKry3Lx8YaczCA3o7j1nYdfbNbpWapUr0UR7gJLqNW3kls0UhTttZ4wIGE4/s320/IMG_6045.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The reason why we decided to pose with the red eggs as a feature escapes me.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDQZUGSFO7FIfi7qJgY6XDFlWc5XyRwwLg-Ddw-SwMB4vVhVy1AO8N-YXnsci3_vV1TE7ue8Okg7RxlptQN_YN03vOosVgbrYDWNv6FdgIBWm4Ke2jQYsoOexuTU-SyumsIChGVasm5bi/s1600/IMG_6047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDQZUGSFO7FIfi7qJgY6XDFlWc5XyRwwLg-Ddw-SwMB4vVhVy1AO8N-YXnsci3_vV1TE7ue8Okg7RxlptQN_YN03vOosVgbrYDWNv6FdgIBWm4Ke2jQYsoOexuTU-SyumsIChGVasm5bi/s320/IMG_6047.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkEOIgTtVTZV9ir3HhxssRIG2bdP6MX9xGfdJrOgFleSqviTaI6pvvIASfJlxQ5oPaipwv3RLsIKp9lBZ7tOvpM2GxFJOS0f5aKpOt2QSvOxEgVKqGmuESJDKJHGXqgJ29ebvPO4qagxBZ/s1600/IMG_6049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkEOIgTtVTZV9ir3HhxssRIG2bdP6MX9xGfdJrOgFleSqviTaI6pvvIASfJlxQ5oPaipwv3RLsIKp9lBZ7tOvpM2GxFJOS0f5aKpOt2QSvOxEgVKqGmuESJDKJHGXqgJ29ebvPO4qagxBZ/s320/IMG_6049.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A child for every adult! I think I must have gone for a feeding session here!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF04Z_F8VWUCrS0Zg2mXE1M6DwJedtjITgLk3_EiP5M4fP55bRLMH1MjoqIJ95fb_Jkw2NY-p2K1BSLAPGXjAXjGpnfZCv7TWR8x2I6YyLqfgWU35TqGTe05JV8xJdahLIM5yb6VJAaACd/s1600/IMG_6051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF04Z_F8VWUCrS0Zg2mXE1M6DwJedtjITgLk3_EiP5M4fP55bRLMH1MjoqIJ95fb_Jkw2NY-p2K1BSLAPGXjAXjGpnfZCv7TWR8x2I6YyLqfgWU35TqGTe05JV8xJdahLIM5yb6VJAaACd/s320/IMG_6051.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awww... Kaylen saying goodbye to her favourite guy pal. She doesnt like boys (yet) but she sure like this Lucien very very much!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOXyFFDQvTgVl26KdGbNejiCxXl4DDse1bt7dqSjaDMd2rJvYbgzy1Yy__xgTBNN_O5To0iJsWvZeI0D6XY2Y2T9YoUsugdXhwed3oHrw5lgwwTMOMK0qQBhZlPEIr3DDCdnCbXP1oHa8/s1600/IMG_6054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOXyFFDQvTgVl26KdGbNejiCxXl4DDse1bt7dqSjaDMd2rJvYbgzy1Yy__xgTBNN_O5To0iJsWvZeI0D6XY2Y2T9YoUsugdXhwed3oHrw5lgwwTMOMK0qQBhZlPEIr3DDCdnCbXP1oHa8/s320/IMG_6054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWiXVd5zrOr2hOt6VBwDd8u_9o0zr4LtztgRpjV506ZBGTeMZVuFcnRUImK2Y_153CwNUAFPmYZwl4OAE-IOauYS68EfCp3gIMC0wRUM8fiKFjoF1GNQ9gd2EZtbr5W6ibeNvgYsHSZ2P/s1600/IMG_6060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWiXVd5zrOr2hOt6VBwDd8u_9o0zr4LtztgRpjV506ZBGTeMZVuFcnRUImK2Y_153CwNUAFPmYZwl4OAE-IOauYS68EfCp3gIMC0wRUM8fiKFjoF1GNQ9gd2EZtbr5W6ibeNvgYsHSZ2P/s320/IMG_6060.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then the guys also try it out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/bpxU2awhTN4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span id="goog_1263131370"></span><span id="goog_1263131371"></span> Here's a vid of them trying to repair a tank with them inside!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz1-BqMYTIBeLq7RKFKieAuQVCR-jeMcuaSPtV8SkkYv96D7NvqNvbAZrHDxqPST9fbmgeyAFyGsLObxJJemINOq5Yq7yd6TKJrN6v4rh7n8HVJEfBZ9YGzFcqx_SW4xvcoExyHLqsGb2k/s1600/IMG_6062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz1-BqMYTIBeLq7RKFKieAuQVCR-jeMcuaSPtV8SkkYv96D7NvqNvbAZrHDxqPST9fbmgeyAFyGsLObxJJemINOq5Yq7yd6TKJrN6v4rh7n8HVJEfBZ9YGzFcqx_SW4xvcoExyHLqsGb2k/s320/IMG_6062.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aww..the sweet couple..</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFsN4ky-l2rIWSR4aKquOzz1R7kjwFEV407-HKui0xV4F82qRYhmBbF2WB1SCpUAcrXwWKJ-DwpEdc5qV3Nr1WiurmC9ck_92aLjaEloLhol93jzUaug-iYUlaIlRqchkU5pv92A3-nIi/s1600/IMG_6064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFsN4ky-l2rIWSR4aKquOzz1R7kjwFEV407-HKui0xV4F82qRYhmBbF2WB1SCpUAcrXwWKJ-DwpEdc5qV3Nr1WiurmC9ck_92aLjaEloLhol93jzUaug-iYUlaIlRqchkU5pv92A3-nIi/s320/IMG_6064.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So as the apartment empties out, we finally have the space to try out our new Xbox Kinect! Kiddos go first!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you Jo, Ann & Nana for the wonderful efforts towards the ang ku kuehs and red eggs and perhaps in general, the support of the pregnancy with your kind tupperwares of food up to the birth of lil T and all other aspects of giving help to the then-pregger me... and basically being such regular faces to K! We adore you all!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks for the pressies and all the well wishes everyone! Even for those who were not able to attend (you know who you are!)!</td></tr>
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div>Michelle Lokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805810848179996104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413240901596223.post-85686623012194225292011-06-02T00:53:00.001-05:002011-06-02T00:57:39.482-05:00Just a reminder why I wanted a blogI wanted the blog to be an update of my daily ongoings in Dallas during this temporary stint of 'Being a housewife' but life isn't exactly like the reality tv shows of 'The Real Housewives of New York City' or 'Pregnant in Heels' where we dress up all pretty and have nannies take care of children while the mummies took the time to run politicking with their 'pals'. Hilarious if it is so. There is simply no time. But that is just me. Okay, maybe dress up pretty is like a daily personal preference...but rally, none of the rest applies.<br />
<br />
I remember having conversations with friends and family on my decision to start a blog and they were all naysayers...all said that while it is so easy to get started, maintaining it is can be such a bitch.<br />
<br />
And so I started out asking myself with just 2 key questions: Would this be a show and tell or simply a way of letting me and my family remind ourselves of what we did and do? AND How do I differentiate what I have on my blog versus what's on facebook? <br />
<br />
I decided to go ahead as the blog is definitely narcissistic and is all about me, my thoughts, my family and pals. No noise.<br />
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Perhaps then again, life has a funny way of allowing you to prioritise. I would rather spend time reading a book or chalking up play time with Kaylen and Paul... and recently, started digital photobooking. OMG, the end result is fabulous but the amount of time that goes into one is absolutely ginormous! I am still recovering from the last one I did on our Europe trip.<br />
<br />
And before you know it, it is time to vacuum the house again.<br />
<br />
I didn't realise how slow I am at putting up pictures and hoarding all these memories that of late, a friend wants to hijack my hard drive for pictures of our time together.<br />
<br />
So much time has passed since last June so hopefully, slowly but surely, I will start uploading those pics that I have dutifully saved in my hard drive onto the blog!<br />
<br />
Maybe I should start exploring one of those voice recognition software-that-helps-you-type programmes. Or maybe spend S$500 a month for a secretary/PA from one of India's service centres to help put my life together. <br />
<br />
Like apply for Kaylen's 2012 kindergarten, restaurant recommendations, check out prices of houses, read car reviews and other miscellaneous and random thoughts that usually run up loads of running time when I fancy a want or want a fancy time. ;p<br />
<br />
Let's see.Michelle Lokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805810848179996104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413240901596223.post-6374065216352064862011-05-16T01:08:00.004-05:002011-05-16T10:42:18.771-05:00Lil Tyan - her first vid! And some thanks..It has been sheer madness since the baby arrived - I still haven't found the time to catch up on ANY drama serials as I had done with Kaylen except for my weekly indulgences - The Real Housewives of New York City, Glee & American Idol - and that is even with help from my lovely parents for the past couple of weeks... I shudder to think how disconnected I'll be to the world once they leave. hahah..<br />
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So anyhow, so here is a video of the lil bugger.<br />
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Introducing Tyan - pronounced 'Tee-yearn' without the 'r' sound....... 19 April 2011! <br />
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</div>She is doing very well now and is gaining weight slowly but surely. At birth, she had a great apgar aka 'how loud you can shriek on a scale of 1 to 10' score of 9 & 10 upon delivery and I think she pretty much maintained that. <br />
<br />
I am doing okay so far with the weird sleeping hours so my daily clock is pretty much turned upside down. I am still trying to figure out how to work my usual daily routine with the additional family member. To be honest, the books I'd read about having a newborn in the house isn't far from the truth - the laundry did double, the lack of sleep does take its toll so truly every moment I get to sleep, I should so I don't rack up any sleep debt. And, a potty-trained 3-year-old and a newborn together, in theory, should work out fine but put into practical, it can be a little daunting to cook, do housework or even shower. Let's see how I will be able to work this out in time to come!<br />
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The hubby has upped the ante in my perception of him as a daddy & a hubby, be it spending time with Kaylen, doing almost all the time-consuming household chores and even doing the ferrying around even as he went back to work. By the way, I have graded the topmost time-consuming household chore to be folding clothes. In the final weeks of pregnancy, I had sworn off all folding of clothes. I think I have folded enough for a lifetime and then some.<br />
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Respect! But sorry pal, you don't get to be mentioned as Superdaddy like you were in the Motherhood magazine after Kaylen's birth!<br />
<br />
And a massive thank you note to my parents. Just the thought of them having to endure the arduous >24 hours journey again despite having missed 2 flights out of LA (and therefore 2 days), hanging around the airport hotel during their last trip to visit us in Oct 2010!<br />
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And what's even more touching is that their 5 weeks here was purely to see their grandchildren, do my confinement and to ease our transition with the family addition. So save for some neighborhood shopping spots and some online shopping, I applaud them for coming all this way to help us cook every single meal, cleaning up after us, having evening walks with Kaylen so we could take a breather and even bringing the garbage out thrice a week. And every time I walk out of my bedroom door, be it at 5am or 3pm, I see my mum in the kitchen preparing my confinement food. By golly, the hubby had packed food to eat at work too every day!<br />
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Thanks mum, for using up hell alot of leave to come here to work so very hard. I really appreciate it!<br />
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But the love doesn't stop here. My in-laws, who have graciously waited till after my parents leave, will be here the following day!!! Thank you for being so understanding!! Till the next update!Michelle Lokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805810848179996104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413240901596223.post-79410370351619830442011-05-01T14:10:00.006-05:002011-05-16T23:04:17.957-05:00Kaylen's First Dance Recital!I knew my lil one had some dancing moves in her... watch this video!<br />
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</div>And so, we supported her for her dance adventure as an extracurricular activity after school to prepare the children for the annual dance recital. It was a bit of a tough decision because I knew then back in January that her dance classes were not good but then there was the recital which may give her the opportunity that she always liked - being on stage. So Paul and I decided to let her carry on so that she can a chance to perform before an audience and build her confidence. <br />
*Yes, I'd added an extract of her 15 min of fame on video and it can be found near the end of this blog entry!<br />
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It was definitely an expensive decision because in addition to the monthly dance fees from January up to the recital in March, her dance costume, mandatory concert registration including tickets for guests @ USD80 plus the requirement to get her ballet shoes and tights - the whole exercise cost us a hefty sum of almost USD300!<br />
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Just like the ladybug costume we got for her last October, I will probably have to milk this costume for all it is worth! How many parties can you go to in a ballerina tutu without having any negative implications on the young one?!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOYhYghyEhfGlPa1Q4EdrHZl4Ve9hZLfMDRfJ7MBELu_Yrw_fM7sLjXOuG4UEcn2lZTpnJUUVgzNjl-hwF0Hg4ZQ5cT_7jXJSBqzOCFgqcfhtu7Emr6n8NZlOGpyWyp-gkLxSL9WZVag7/s1600/IMG_5588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOYhYghyEhfGlPa1Q4EdrHZl4Ve9hZLfMDRfJ7MBELu_Yrw_fM7sLjXOuG4UEcn2lZTpnJUUVgzNjl-hwF0Hg4ZQ5cT_7jXJSBqzOCFgqcfhtu7Emr6n8NZlOGpyWyp-gkLxSL9WZVag7/s320/IMG_5588.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> She was really shy once she came out of makeup and hair...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhwTBZColvc5s1EzPB8NTn1bBOoEq53jckz1v96h9xE79a7ofHZQhTnxC_OiSy7jTlTniyzX2S9-y75KCmwBJbHQpoHhf1PtrDEC2X3buaHW0NPfcReHB07_so7KLz2t3kNr-qf5b97t4/s1600/IMG_5589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhwTBZColvc5s1EzPB8NTn1bBOoEq53jckz1v96h9xE79a7ofHZQhTnxC_OiSy7jTlTniyzX2S9-y75KCmwBJbHQpoHhf1PtrDEC2X3buaHW0NPfcReHB07_so7KLz2t3kNr-qf5b97t4/s320/IMG_5589.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Ahh... a ballerina moment... LOL!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnFu5xK19gFO_hD3MtO418-pp1M-fh4aQDy6ntw1uZn-VLwsLtjpK6Y-ZpzihCeLnxXucQmGWnsP2e1TJbzLcBIvWPZt1Zu1ccTt9DM3zFi3nDrOOLpWLMotM9aqSEBQ9VV1rfLc0c2zl/s1600/IMG_5606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnFu5xK19gFO_hD3MtO418-pp1M-fh4aQDy6ntw1uZn-VLwsLtjpK6Y-ZpzihCeLnxXucQmGWnsP2e1TJbzLcBIvWPZt1Zu1ccTt9DM3zFi3nDrOOLpWLMotM9aqSEBQ9VV1rfLc0c2zl/s320/IMG_5606.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The ardent supporters came out in full force with congratulatory blooms and even a balloon. NB: Kroger helium balloon is MAD... it has been more than a month since we got the balloon and it is STILL floating in our living room!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkri67n1l9bMk2QXslD092aPSc2hFpjAlnUpPUNS7SO8m4HwXIC0XHSxtG-XHOs-ZtNTjmNn3EK8ioNxbhgC5VivUuWuqTzKJhpnwtg1j35LwAbM1QavD15swLAUtMK1Y5gKKcHnaA9SG/s1600/IMG_5609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkri67n1l9bMk2QXslD092aPSc2hFpjAlnUpPUNS7SO8m4HwXIC0XHSxtG-XHOs-ZtNTjmNn3EK8ioNxbhgC5VivUuWuqTzKJhpnwtg1j35LwAbM1QavD15swLAUtMK1Y5gKKcHnaA9SG/s320/IMG_5609.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Some other acts</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYli4fNyW_qiJJpmEbE9o9dAzymnXwgzB-CObdoMg0Wk3p9fbXjOWykhs0u_3pDK6_-9PJYN4ITDWQDHP0Ps_gECWQLxM-KhAI9CIS4_H-eG8gZ_mfVc-0JJ97KpvRVPWaRdwr1iD3and/s1600/IMG_5612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYli4fNyW_qiJJpmEbE9o9dAzymnXwgzB-CObdoMg0Wk3p9fbXjOWykhs0u_3pDK6_-9PJYN4ITDWQDHP0Ps_gECWQLxM-KhAI9CIS4_H-eG8gZ_mfVc-0JJ97KpvRVPWaRdwr1iD3and/s320/IMG_5612.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Her performance was short and sweet and actually hilarious because of the range of ages in her montessori class (2.5 years up to 5 years old)...<br />
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<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/unehQqG8wgE?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/unehQqG8wgE?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />
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Act Two!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-nkSnUXPGMp9t0koNNvz_0rk6bUzBQbG_9HU0qk9S1yNti3zMvfXh9ORRNnUwjsmemX764pfy64hHhsC_jDOdLzSf-kFSKZpPZj8fOX9uBwJx-Otgdj3qkXWFj5B26GQICC3o42tX3dL/s1600/IMG_5631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-nkSnUXPGMp9t0koNNvz_0rk6bUzBQbG_9HU0qk9S1yNti3zMvfXh9ORRNnUwjsmemX764pfy64hHhsC_jDOdLzSf-kFSKZpPZj8fOX9uBwJx-Otgdj3qkXWFj5B26GQICC3o42tX3dL/s320/IMG_5631.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The bored groupie waiting for the lil star to arrive... ;p</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgaZVbMKZxzD4cLFxLvjCQaAEaB6pz7Lqix2LRu_PDXgaPiXJmfKXcv8xp5sZubv-NhyGrXu-Bt3F37wSMfaAWvIpZsBBbMUsWvaJnbUPzIZcJnkG6fH9D96u0Q_LTw3SJvvIULJa72E2F/s1600/IMG_5632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgaZVbMKZxzD4cLFxLvjCQaAEaB6pz7Lqix2LRu_PDXgaPiXJmfKXcv8xp5sZubv-NhyGrXu-Bt3F37wSMfaAWvIpZsBBbMUsWvaJnbUPzIZcJnkG6fH9D96u0Q_LTw3SJvvIULJa72E2F/s320/IMG_5632.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zSFwMWzEa63J3yjMGw00HF75agx0lnjOBJ8anLUTY4YdIqx5WhsDbTPoats2cJMqUMztiwmyGeSW0hua7nLVYDg8798rGY941wqHOFpoZSwe9JE4Ien-_HiEnYemm9O2tKCtZgXr_kL-/s1600/IMG_5643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zSFwMWzEa63J3yjMGw00HF75agx0lnjOBJ8anLUTY4YdIqx5WhsDbTPoats2cJMqUMztiwmyGeSW0hua7nLVYDg8798rGY941wqHOFpoZSwe9JE4Ien-_HiEnYemm9O2tKCtZgXr_kL-/s320/IMG_5643.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family pic!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEi9vB9NQSzmyj3jklJ2wZQowg-Zupxbz5r4DyLa3xkjJMEXdA6xrnEP61NnAir0jFygdZ79gQK35VcdEaweaxxA6vrprwmcQfJ-xf6Wfb0FepByCddQPVJFPmNMgDsySETP2ECnYOCW7F/s1600/IMG_5645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEi9vB9NQSzmyj3jklJ2wZQowg-Zupxbz5r4DyLa3xkjJMEXdA6xrnEP61NnAir0jFygdZ79gQK35VcdEaweaxxA6vrprwmcQfJ-xf6Wfb0FepByCddQPVJFPmNMgDsySETP2ECnYOCW7F/s320/IMG_5645.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alrighty, all together now!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJHSumH4F-7crRltbW6ltH7eHemgw473BfZunErd4J5Fd5QfCScals4Rn5rY9xnu7rT5tFSN_F_0mupsqMSrlu3uvTIfsQPbJm7zed9WAQJIzZUVhG7sV1BM5751a80dlgo9zKGcJOOEC/s1600/dance+recital+smiling+K.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJHSumH4F-7crRltbW6ltH7eHemgw473BfZunErd4J5Fd5QfCScals4Rn5rY9xnu7rT5tFSN_F_0mupsqMSrlu3uvTIfsQPbJm7zed9WAQJIzZUVhG7sV1BM5751a80dlgo9zKGcJOOEC/s320/dance+recital+smiling+K.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqAxDJ_0lHTGufqAa1gAAYoKVDpxH7I1MhDvNOTM2TG66cUXo4egJ3rMpSu4RQBf6fYpph7LSrgpf9App8Vzp0qadjOsjKWf5Cp3bZJF58-2v5nAzVt5Wr8rE7R75l6Qp2hyphenhyphenOHB_vxkQvi/s1600/IMG_5647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqAxDJ_0lHTGufqAa1gAAYoKVDpxH7I1MhDvNOTM2TG66cUXo4egJ3rMpSu4RQBf6fYpph7LSrgpf9App8Vzp0qadjOsjKWf5Cp3bZJF58-2v5nAzVt5Wr8rE7R75l6Qp2hyphenhyphenOHB_vxkQvi/s320/IMG_5647.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> The day's activities really wore her out and she was totally conked out before we even reached the coffee place just a short 5 minutes' drive away!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbWVC3kZL4AvnUjctM02jBdWeaTUTy7Kv2tqfrVoZv3oh4-oUCBOKQ0i6THnON2nayO_cpcxlJ57NVkpdr4dtw3CAWFMpxNGIonu9VU2GkPZYxlwqZueRPTt2_esttkAsQU4UEiVaZE4u/s1600/IMG_5648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbWVC3kZL4AvnUjctM02jBdWeaTUTy7Kv2tqfrVoZv3oh4-oUCBOKQ0i6THnON2nayO_cpcxlJ57NVkpdr4dtw3CAWFMpxNGIonu9VU2GkPZYxlwqZueRPTt2_esttkAsQU4UEiVaZE4u/s320/IMG_5648.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> After that, we had dinner at Kirin's and here, the group's all super amused by Hard Gay's vids!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavfCMa_5aiK0Zp-lobkk8W5raftfXJEElLMc6GRnJ0lzErqKP33DT0_LK67AbeqlWQNsGIv-pzUVNZajcU1AocG_I7y_PYNEzXktDu47wbM-Imlj8drYsQwIMOmv0uYhC-YLS0Zf96QAf/s1600/IMG_5649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavfCMa_5aiK0Zp-lobkk8W5raftfXJEElLMc6GRnJ0lzErqKP33DT0_LK67AbeqlWQNsGIv-pzUVNZajcU1AocG_I7y_PYNEzXktDu47wbM-Imlj8drYsQwIMOmv0uYhC-YLS0Zf96QAf/s320/IMG_5649.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytEWvR2wMWrLIcGFwDcVrYZfU9SYue1q7vpCYOIy8tEsn3mRhF5ca5fsMU7aAiQG-IVzSXXUWsuy_ZnaeM1P8k1NjUiIHVMZRxw1P0hp9pl5qYd8_IorUVIB-ql9-nwEm0LNAqVIzqmIY/s1600/IMG_5650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytEWvR2wMWrLIcGFwDcVrYZfU9SYue1q7vpCYOIy8tEsn3mRhF5ca5fsMU7aAiQG-IVzSXXUWsuy_ZnaeM1P8k1NjUiIHVMZRxw1P0hp9pl5qYd8_IorUVIB-ql9-nwEm0LNAqVIzqmIY/s320/IMG_5650.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A not very professional presentation of the stripping of the Peking Duck's skin.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76St34QczU3gBawqkFrXI1zHiOQywHTQ7rEe2FyhqSCpJ3GsQVRDIxDf8inGZOIzAhVhOb2AHoqm44eJ1E2U_NpMamie7z3u-7aj_7dGesDG5HIfYWb8cgB7J3RELUdM45spdn8S1glqy/s1600/IMG_5652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76St34QczU3gBawqkFrXI1zHiOQywHTQ7rEe2FyhqSCpJ3GsQVRDIxDf8inGZOIzAhVhOb2AHoqm44eJ1E2U_NpMamie7z3u-7aj_7dGesDG5HIfYWb8cgB7J3RELUdM45spdn8S1glqy/s320/IMG_5652.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Group shot again! Thanks for coming to support K's first dance recital!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhaiM34MqCRBrb2-r5S5dfMGBGSD9leZDZN9g_l2DuiraxIAcyTcxqYtFX8DRrOwKciZtdhz4kcD-KWM0ljwENBd7DsHaCBTIzdDL_gCUb91sj6Cc0j5W5GNjW7Q7i43RDauXKeeFFrhs/s1600/IMG_5653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhaiM34MqCRBrb2-r5S5dfMGBGSD9leZDZN9g_l2DuiraxIAcyTcxqYtFX8DRrOwKciZtdhz4kcD-KWM0ljwENBd7DsHaCBTIzdDL_gCUb91sj6Cc0j5W5GNjW7Q7i43RDauXKeeFFrhs/s320/IMG_5653.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Ending off with a shot of the spread. The dungess deep fried batter crab was really yummy! We contemplated packing the deep fried crumbs so that the guys can have them with rice for lunch the following day! ;p<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdt7hz5yY5pkdcIhxz7lZ-rAdTV6SOYBgSTcGWcAlRMME_tCswZhS5FTD_cV17KKRHJ8dNyMh4e9DtNvVnHRNdntcSBKDCRnNGJlU1hO_GW1ksKAePu1bPGCUfjW7lJkgpZyFc14BobbD1/s1600/IMG_5654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdt7hz5yY5pkdcIhxz7lZ-rAdTV6SOYBgSTcGWcAlRMME_tCswZhS5FTD_cV17KKRHJ8dNyMh4e9DtNvVnHRNdntcSBKDCRnNGJlU1hO_GW1ksKAePu1bPGCUfjW7lJkgpZyFc14BobbD1/s320/IMG_5654.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Michelle Lokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805810848179996104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413240901596223.post-14520481853046778882011-04-30T15:01:00.000-05:002011-04-30T15:01:14.081-05:00Day 3 - Fun around the city<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>How could we not take a picture of this iconic installation that was first introduced to us in our teens (Remember the now-defunct TGIF @ The Glass House opposite Plaza Singapura)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDC_V0NN0HI4JRrQ_ekpU05EmoeJ7LFJKG2M5xPtOzsWT1he-5SqT6S6H3VCXWdVBF-mcDnQ_ZLiKUyVUOOj-aMfSkLMAQIutARqJyyvXl1QRkc99BNGzCYek9f_u8kTTBRJmniSY-ExyK/s1600/IMG_2534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDC_V0NN0HI4JRrQ_ekpU05EmoeJ7LFJKG2M5xPtOzsWT1he-5SqT6S6H3VCXWdVBF-mcDnQ_ZLiKUyVUOOj-aMfSkLMAQIutARqJyyvXl1QRkc99BNGzCYek9f_u8kTTBRJmniSY-ExyK/s320/IMG_2534.jpg" width="240" /><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh well it was in the vicinity of MoMa so why not?!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lithographs by Picasso - earlier works.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxK43mjYXrYi6NOMmRyCL7EzT7LNFQh7vjno9XeQt7FaFGVXv-xPdx1kCKe5w-z_p6vnpGASSErEkwCOHUt0R67IwdJTSBqSvOJt9JSFhmThhjSzCmXHo9r4kDRw3VX5E1a3Q2o23Yzjc/s320/IMG_2535.jpg" width="320" /></div><br />
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</a></div> One of my favourites - Kaylen has a book titled 'When Pigasso met Mootisse' which describes their love-hate relationship between Picasso & Matisse with illustrations similar to the artists' signature styles. <br />
<a href="http://www.moma.org/collection/object.php?object_id=63024"><i>Françoise with a Bow in Her Hair </i>(<i>Françoise au Noeud dans les Cheveux</i>)</a><br />
In 1943 Picasso met Françoise Gilot, a young aspiring painter; she moved in with him in 1946. This was an optimistic time of renewal in France, after the end of World War II, and the couple's early years together, spent mostly in the South of France, seem to have been idyllic. The couple separated in 1953. Gilot returned to Paris with their two children, who were born in 1947 and 1948.<br />
Here Picasso employs some of Henri Matisse's signature devices, composing simply in lines and flat shapes. Picasso and Matisse renewed their friendship around this time, as both were in the South of France. Françoise Gilot and Matisse were also fond of each other.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> Paul's favourite Jackson Pollock picture - No. 31 - for obvious reasons to those in the know. The epitome of abstract art, this artwork was first introduced to Kaylen at the Dallas Museum of Art where we chanced upon a story book of how a little girl met Mr Pollack and had a hand in making this piece of art with random splashes of paint.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7kns0tsHV4e2d3h_1ybBeGzkV8Tj3gycoIYePIi7O2t-MLyiwWi5t69UFhqQ8dZuPK6Vt5vo2NXY34kdFpJjIYqWSV1reScnXGprzwED9vy_mjTgiUPFeRARU2m18eBZurOycpA-4Oie/s1600/IMG_2543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7kns0tsHV4e2d3h_1ybBeGzkV8Tj3gycoIYePIi7O2t-MLyiwWi5t69UFhqQ8dZuPK6Vt5vo2NXY34kdFpJjIYqWSV1reScnXGprzwED9vy_mjTgiUPFeRARU2m18eBZurOycpA-4Oie/s320/IMG_2543.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOjJpeq9GdRRwpwxV0oFi1YJ-l2WvJWjcZrB7DtruoKMbS1iUVEOweKG27hV5Pr4-OujwynrP-GY67xb0sxyLS5M9DqHQjqFXZoU7dJ9kPKmi8IAodVXqwhSrm1dwsmowLoJIWgquioZ8/s1600/IMG_2544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOjJpeq9GdRRwpwxV0oFi1YJ-l2WvJWjcZrB7DtruoKMbS1iUVEOweKG27hV5Pr4-OujwynrP-GY67xb0sxyLS5M9DqHQjqFXZoU7dJ9kPKmi8IAodVXqwhSrm1dwsmowLoJIWgquioZ8/s320/IMG_2544.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A very intriguing piece of acrylic paint use.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMPbNOalPA_9tr8NlDtFT1_2aH6Sa5FxSlWrZbQqnVBFNLLs0GtV__SaspLYeyCv8yRTUSpXlRzIgkwWPNrGt8g_feIR_o555aBWFrC6Ep8cVNiv3T9ysCj5ly7V1P8rRyWvIkX-VqkQU/s1600/IMG_2545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMPbNOalPA_9tr8NlDtFT1_2aH6Sa5FxSlWrZbQqnVBFNLLs0GtV__SaspLYeyCv8yRTUSpXlRzIgkwWPNrGt8g_feIR_o555aBWFrC6Ep8cVNiv3T9ysCj5ly7V1P8rRyWvIkX-VqkQU/s320/IMG_2545.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ZZF_ZxnZgakM4vizmfw6n1VCrzvaQBgkDhfoT85TZOeNLKp144SJ4azeTMHoZcoWLBuOlgmdjGgKlftn40cwQgKBs_FJym_UX2_e2LpFu2D1MWIHyV6FcdbzP4B17oob6jkwHaUdyBEs/s1600/IMG_2546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ZZF_ZxnZgakM4vizmfw6n1VCrzvaQBgkDhfoT85TZOeNLKp144SJ4azeTMHoZcoWLBuOlgmdjGgKlftn40cwQgKBs_FJym_UX2_e2LpFu2D1MWIHyV6FcdbzP4B17oob6jkwHaUdyBEs/s320/IMG_2546.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A painting that represents the different states of USA. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbgjuGHvY0DY9cXkQKragaMW65c6Yd3MY79yFJmR21stbBpyWjj9NpMO950NwBHLSxPz5Kpvnj4GICFnHBDPq2SlZHZeAq7KOaG9Ke1nTEHYNSBYwrODdUXyOv5XJlKrvp9-o_ERyTEdn/s1600/IMG_2548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbgjuGHvY0DY9cXkQKragaMW65c6Yd3MY79yFJmR21stbBpyWjj9NpMO950NwBHLSxPz5Kpvnj4GICFnHBDPq2SlZHZeAq7KOaG9Ke1nTEHYNSBYwrODdUXyOv5XJlKrvp9-o_ERyTEdn/s320/IMG_2548.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cat and Bird by Paul Klee. I could so picture this painting in my home! It is so amazing that a painting from the 1920s can still be so relevant and modern.<br />
A perspective of how this picture was conceived. <br />
In the Cat and Bird, 1928, in this allegory, the prey appears trapped within the hunter's mind. Using a simple two-dimensional method of distinguishing inside from outside that had been used for millennia in many types of primitive drawing, Klee went beyond the depiction of physical phenomena - the internal organs of an animal or a beast with its swallowed prey - and created the visual equivalent of mental states. Klee places a moon to balance the cat's eyes and nose and placed the bird on the forehead of the cat; with this he has lent an air of oriental mystery to the composition. The cat was Klee's favorite animal; he did not consciously intend to portray a cat. He merely painted lines, circles and shades of color and found the cat had entered the picture. <span id="goog_758160652"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/">On MoMA<span id="goog_758160653"></span></a> - The cat is watchful, frighteningly so, but it is also calm, and Klee's palette too is calm, in a narrow range from tawny to rose with zones of bluish green. This and the suggestion of a child's drawing lighten the air. Believing that children were close to the sources of creativity, Klee was fascinated by their art, and evokes it here through simple lines and shapes: ovals for the cat's eyes and pupils (and, more loosely, for the bird's body), triangles for its ears and nose. And the tip of that nose is a red heart, a sign of the cat's desire. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHgG-dKFs2bqnm8VTKYdXzU83nwQnKc7fPKcUYtnCzLwGvk0TnKLIHVRHcIcfN7aRsnQSUl1H18LdHGrYeygYuk_c3ta2JTBTvwP9PUTG45Fu98jioLamitPoQExI3bDG7gyBvw_xeMbB/s1600/IMG_2549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHgG-dKFs2bqnm8VTKYdXzU83nwQnKc7fPKcUYtnCzLwGvk0TnKLIHVRHcIcfN7aRsnQSUl1H18LdHGrYeygYuk_c3ta2JTBTvwP9PUTG45Fu98jioLamitPoQExI3bDG7gyBvw_xeMbB/s320/IMG_2549.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Henri Matisse's La Danse (I)....K said 'shame, shame' when she saw the image..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTOmsX-ul6fJvyPjfTzn5RYSax6IMFQLQ31tOBa5ofooni-eQuOjx_6fSZ4chNOhR0R1oIssnq3NOvQTM7hPIt920wyikBeYN8tPzHuDR26D-ToRpwwZJYPyUOp1Bx4qyBstS6q-FhBoHE/s1600/IMG_2551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTOmsX-ul6fJvyPjfTzn5RYSax6IMFQLQ31tOBa5ofooni-eQuOjx_6fSZ4chNOhR0R1oIssnq3NOvQTM7hPIt920wyikBeYN8tPzHuDR26D-ToRpwwZJYPyUOp1Bx4qyBstS6q-FhBoHE/s320/IMG_2551.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Van Gogh's Starry Night - his magnus opus..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigrJOJwsMFMi-sWRpbpA0HxLBH38Jh7IaFo6eZdAmBGWFpv6uI9CElGJjGERPfWfUd3X2p1U47httw9Hyd_xF_ROoF-XMFxv4-ebFGmDpdnqyntg6QoWGSimZ5YavkTlLtO09vGDeN2WHt/s1600/IMG_2552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigrJOJwsMFMi-sWRpbpA0HxLBH38Jh7IaFo6eZdAmBGWFpv6uI9CElGJjGERPfWfUd3X2p1U47httw9Hyd_xF_ROoF-XMFxv4-ebFGmDpdnqyntg6QoWGSimZ5YavkTlLtO09vGDeN2WHt/s320/IMG_2552.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Les Demoiselles d'Avignon by Pablo Picasso...<i><b><br />
</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5nVgBjZBnvHeQxQVNP21Rz1NUx_WYER52m6dku1TIX4mFXVhLvPYjo64cp3yZHL2LoUeosnnJ7oIoZK9GPzGrF9JlcXUrEMcmtPihllaDTfWEKTkA6O7kCL1qVRtxk1IT3ZT-EP8DTie/s1600/IMG_2553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5nVgBjZBnvHeQxQVNP21Rz1NUx_WYER52m6dku1TIX4mFXVhLvPYjo64cp3yZHL2LoUeosnnJ7oIoZK9GPzGrF9JlcXUrEMcmtPihllaDTfWEKTkA6O7kCL1qVRtxk1IT3ZT-EP8DTie/s320/IMG_2553.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>After a lovely day at the museum, we headed down to the West Village for dinner with a friend of Paul's. Beautiful day, K was carefree and happily posed for us..<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Finally, a group shot!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBcukspnOFBv2pHvM0Zy_7_C34mhlNGeBT-MWOC27yyD6ugpiNC-BiwME3QT8Sq3aNamdTFfhZAGuL5jh_xr2BZWt1udeXxkYwCKw_KfPzHJ40bYAJwp72iX_XHVhIfsGlCz4AsjOHTEwd/s1600/IMG_2586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBcukspnOFBv2pHvM0Zy_7_C34mhlNGeBT-MWOC27yyD6ugpiNC-BiwME3QT8Sq3aNamdTFfhZAGuL5jh_xr2BZWt1udeXxkYwCKw_KfPzHJ40bYAJwp72iX_XHVhIfsGlCz4AsjOHTEwd/s320/IMG_2586.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>After that heavy dinner, we strolled home back to Gramercy Park, a half-hour walk away. Last night in New York City but we know we will come back again!!!!!! For the entire duration we were here, we had not once taken the subway and instead walked EVERYWHERE, with help from the trusty iphone, printouts from google maps and the quintessential tourist maps from tourist stops... We will be back!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="goog_1336798257"></span><span id="goog_1336798258"></span></div>Michelle Lokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805810848179996104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413240901596223.post-15998328603890131902011-03-18T18:30:00.000-05:002011-03-18T18:30:53.181-05:00Day 2 in NYC - Woodsbury Common<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Jun 2010 - Ha! More than 6 months have passed but I still feel that thrill from this holiday!<br />
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Day 2 and we were all ready for some outlet mall shopping! ;) We rented another car; this time we got a PT Cruiser in silver and headed off to the Woodsbury Premium Outlet. Some pics... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZc2l3aHdPiu_rf3biY6HrumwkMReSqQh-Mvw0wKmkS-XKwxYL_dW2Jkj2RFuf4O4FCxtDmU_hyObDp6X-_sGeZ_dOySo_IjF7JeHX_GKnKbEailzL4p0mPxM0kJsXiNRtehoUeRDO27B/s1600/IMG_2517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZc2l3aHdPiu_rf3biY6HrumwkMReSqQh-Mvw0wKmkS-XKwxYL_dW2Jkj2RFuf4O4FCxtDmU_hyObDp6X-_sGeZ_dOySo_IjF7JeHX_GKnKbEailzL4p0mPxM0kJsXiNRtehoUeRDO27B/s320/IMG_2517.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjD8puLE6Kx-0aYFbk9VkA8eGwh8537lQ3V57ebv75iwhk9vCmhA2TVYrduB31rGlkgUoSOAPASMZWeBNjgqTeDws5XvBBJrUbjfA1pG_G4_sPlXuxIwVcyY2gP8BWW7PksMXaCo4Tmpy/s1600/IMG_2519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjD8puLE6Kx-0aYFbk9VkA8eGwh8537lQ3V57ebv75iwhk9vCmhA2TVYrduB31rGlkgUoSOAPASMZWeBNjgqTeDws5XvBBJrUbjfA1pG_G4_sPlXuxIwVcyY2gP8BWW7PksMXaCo4Tmpy/s320/IMG_2519.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Still not satisfied with her full day at Sesame Place obviously...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7xgg6T4ZjK4tMimYr0E-MRCKRurHc8u4jykkVpPuVmfoigvZ-UZiRFys90pNjmcfmpgZoDdjZ3Wet_jHAwyTXC7NRTmWCAWb8z0NpPNxmA51o5HMpP_aj02tza6iwhdpHuMQ9VZq4QMm8/s1600/IMG_2522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7xgg6T4ZjK4tMimYr0E-MRCKRurHc8u4jykkVpPuVmfoigvZ-UZiRFys90pNjmcfmpgZoDdjZ3Wet_jHAwyTXC7NRTmWCAWb8z0NpPNxmA51o5HMpP_aj02tza6iwhdpHuMQ9VZq4QMm8/s320/IMG_2522.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The only shot of our spoils from the trip... quite fulfilling considering the slightly wet weather... So how great was this outlet mall? Well I haven't been a fan of outlet malls considering the ones we have been to in Dallas but then again, I'm quite a noob at outlet mall shopping. This one definitely has brands that would be popular with most Asians such as Gucci, Marni, Chanel, Bottega, YSL for bigger ticket buys and then definitive everyday brands such as Rock & Republic, Banana Republic, DKNY & MaxMara. Surprisingly if you have been to the crazily discounted Club 21 Bazaar or seasonal sale for brands such as AX, Calvin Klein then don't even bother visiting the stores in here. <br />
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We considered signing up for those daily bus tours to the outlet but really, nothing beats having the comfort of your own transport, convenience of having your own sanctuary to kick your shoes off after going through a 7-hour keep-fit, walk-and-shop marathon!<br />
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The shopping you see in the picture below are mostly the hubs' save for just one bag! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj450IjO1nKTH3vyPKsFRO9abiPFauvI3VddeuQ4YQ_KaT2AWIPDnaZAOZXvJ3KshL6gS9WiiXPVTkaIuzeUOeXe6qytEY_6JZfLNyDtc8hlkL4DReTyldKaMzMwJmww97P5cG0qwNZFTDf/s1600/IMG_2524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj450IjO1nKTH3vyPKsFRO9abiPFauvI3VddeuQ4YQ_KaT2AWIPDnaZAOZXvJ3KshL6gS9WiiXPVTkaIuzeUOeXe6qytEY_6JZfLNyDtc8hlkL4DReTyldKaMzMwJmww97P5cG0qwNZFTDf/s320/IMG_2524.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>As promised, more pics of our lovely Gramercy apartment which we found through Roomorama! Vacation accommodation has never been the same ever since!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUpp5yKNgGqoLKVG4uHP7vjg3eyChaO_Sjaug6vpdjFEnrnV8PgTF2NWkDPY97uA7e2NcmHM3o7CqVAbI2SXajfcUZfLXefCR152xtwgJl4ctBf69dQa9QkZtyTR8HhrKmkUsL_xAbZ9E/s1600/IMG_2528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUpp5yKNgGqoLKVG4uHP7vjg3eyChaO_Sjaug6vpdjFEnrnV8PgTF2NWkDPY97uA7e2NcmHM3o7CqVAbI2SXajfcUZfLXefCR152xtwgJl4ctBf69dQa9QkZtyTR8HhrKmkUsL_xAbZ9E/s320/IMG_2528.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>A lovely nursing chair that gently rocks back and forth as Kaylen and I wind down after a long day of exploration.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvs5gIyxwdFVSfwxsgh0p6rL-259iq-jL6fjsHYr4YOYPoTY1z9s2vdQXtJ73nWOg2JGXL_FQ3XPGG6OQeIsKTxAgnoJxWAL4fxjjnf6HLGe9YC5wvTJMgZWQ5APxoOLZ-zwgYFgdjGY8/s1600/IMG_2531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvs5gIyxwdFVSfwxsgh0p6rL-259iq-jL6fjsHYr4YOYPoTY1z9s2vdQXtJ73nWOg2JGXL_FQ3XPGG6OQeIsKTxAgnoJxWAL4fxjjnf6HLGe9YC5wvTJMgZWQ5APxoOLZ-zwgYFgdjGY8/s320/IMG_2531.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBz43Zrs121GkX0jkWBE5SiNUssLSxL1woVFrlwkwAStJ26LcDVoeqbQvl38CbCatKu-9XYziIp0EJOoVD74sWweSLJ6CfCHKjExvMRz9RtzHro9J4SD_yUm2csFFDdYmKDEWnZqhIitsf/s1600/IMG_2533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBz43Zrs121GkX0jkWBE5SiNUssLSxL1woVFrlwkwAStJ26LcDVoeqbQvl38CbCatKu-9XYziIp0EJOoVD74sWweSLJ6CfCHKjExvMRz9RtzHro9J4SD_yUm2csFFDdYmKDEWnZqhIitsf/s320/IMG_2533.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Last we checked, the rates for this particular apartment has gone up nearly 20%. But rates become cheaper with longer stays of course so you might still get a good deal. The above walkway is rather unique in the sense that whenever we have to go through this walkway, we have to tread very gently as the 'floorboards are weak' - we think rotten really because the squeaking is really very loud! Nonetheless, it makes for a fun adventure for the lil one everytime we need to use the toilet and the kitchen!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Michelle Lokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805810848179996104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413240901596223.post-33213240336644025712011-01-02T13:48:00.000-06:002011-01-02T13:48:44.227-06:00Four seasons' past and another 4 more to go<u> </u><br />
<u>Reminiscing</u><br />
The last day of 2010 was a day well spent indeed.. after a trip to Highland Park Village to indulge in my favorite past-time, this time with hubby and lil K to savor the yummilicious kobe burger from Who's Who Gourmet Burger Joint. Then home again to plan a new layout for 2011. An impromptu trip to the Sleep Experts came into place to enjoy the end of year clearance sale but we ended up getting the price-fixed tempur bed with its 20-year guarantee and ache-free, allergy-free promises.<br />
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But oh well, it came with a free pillow of our choice so we chose a tempur neck pillow and bought another side pillow for the pregger-me. Of course, the over-zealous salesman threw in another pillow for lil K when the over-zealous us succumbed to stain-free, allergy-free mattress protectors for 2 beds with 10-year guaranteea. Gosh.. our USD299 affair turned up many more times more expensive but hey, sleep is key!<br />
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We celebrated our last day reminiscing about what we had accomplished in 2010 over dinner and decided that other than the terrible failure on the Mister's part on golf, we had done pretty okay!<br />
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<u>Accomplishments </u><br />
Here is a recap of some of the general resolutions for 2010 :<br />
1. Acclimatising myself to becoming a full-time homemaker (my multi-tasking and planning abilities are in tiptop condition I dare say!)<br />
2. Maintain my happy habit once a month (sometimes twice!) Reading that is!<br />
3. A blog post a month<br />
4. Spending an inane amount of quality time with K (she minds her Ps and Qs)<br />
5. Being able to churn up dishes that didnt cause stomachaches (hey, the whole family is still alive!)<br />
6. Breaking 36 for golf (I broke 30 on one ocassion)<br />
7. Keeping fit and healthy with regular exercise with walks/ runs around the lake or to the gym (I supposed I was confident about being fit enough to do a 3km run with my suspected pregnancy back in Aug!)<br />
8. Finally, successful family planning! We were planning for a 2nd child to debut early 2011 just so that I get to spend some time with him/her! So yes, we are definitely on track!<br />
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Sure, there are some other items that are private to our family and of course, items on my checklist that are still not fulfilled but nonetheless, I have another year to go so still time to work it! <br />
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<u>Relationships </u><br />
The start of 2011 officially marks a decade of friendship for my DH and me and I have to say, it has been and is still a blast knowing him. I particularly remember one year when we drew up resolutions for the new year (when we were friends) and he put it under the bed for safekeeping. Thank you for the magical but tiring trip to Europe for my final babymoon (yes, this baby-making machine will no longer be in service thank you very much)...<br />
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I still find it amazing how in new situations that arise throughout our friendship and marriage, during times when I see him in the most surprising or undesirable situations, his character and beliefs have remained a constant. Even in times where adaptability is required, he has done so with gusto and conviction, and yet, distinctly Paul. Yes, I am still in love. :)<br />
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So goodbye to 2010 and welcome, 2011! I am so thankful for this time for self-discovery and calibration without the noise of obligations and stress that sometimes come with being near to family, friends and being employed.<br />
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Thank you my dear friends, for all the long distance messages and chat sessions.. while I may not see you here in the US during this period, you will not be forgotten!<br />
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And lastly, my loved ones. You are misssssed so badly, if not for the hearty meals and conversations to the very companionable times of just watching television together! <br />
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See you all soon!<br />
<span id="goog_1695633433"></span><span id="goog_1695633434"></span>Michelle Lokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805810848179996104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413240901596223.post-46523039401810019162010-12-07T02:36:00.002-06:002010-12-08T09:51:19.887-06:00'Empire State of Mind'<i>[Chorus: Alicia Keys]</i><br />
New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of<br />
There's nothin' you can't do<br />
Now you're in New York<br />
These streets will make you feel brand new<br />
Big lights will inspire you<br />
Let's hear it for New York, New York, New York<br />
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Well the song's got a nice ring to it and it was exactly how I felt once the NYC skyline from our boltbus rambled into sight - I love it after being in 'quieter' Dallas and even historic Philadelphia.. I miss the bright lights, the hustle and bustle of city life, sidewalks swarmed with people having coffee at all times of the day (Orchard Road coffeehouses and void-deck kopitiams alike) and of course, being able to grab groceries and snacks just minutes away from where we stay.. <br />
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While I was expecting women dressed up in designer garb similar to what I saw in Gossip Girl and Sex and the city, I was swooning to see alot more bag ladies in NY than I have experienced in the months in Dallas, even in more upmarket areas of Highland Park & Preston. Just seeing the multitude of yellow cab and hearing the sounds of police sirens at all times of the day in NYC gave me a lil buzz.. I love it!<br />
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Kaylen was a dream as we hammered the pavements of NYC together for more than 6 hours each day - from lower east side, Soho, to the iconic Times Square and enjoying an ice-cream at Madison Square Gardens. Our revived Peg Perego Pliko P3 was also extremely handy as K happily sits and sleeps in it at all times of the day. We were happy to even grab on to the railings of the doggie run in the Gardens as the dogs roam free and smell each other out. At nearly 3 years of age, travelling with her didn't require a luggage full of diapers, snacks and milk powder. What we needed, we bought from Walgreens and the likes.<br />
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Here are some pictures of the lovely city! First off, with K with her handy backpack (from a lovely Aunt Marian), containing snacks and water bottle.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNdgNfKbfBsYuGwVFB5zeRZ1aeaCKfgiPgLpBA6bQvfPWHoD6H-j8ADCwCINBcinmq6CWNDLADmBXuhIDtXuM1SQnb3DjsAPwS_4qG3sgZt28qtRZZRCAGyqMMAOisTrpU2yQ7dRUVhHy/s1600/IMG_2483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNdgNfKbfBsYuGwVFB5zeRZ1aeaCKfgiPgLpBA6bQvfPWHoD6H-j8ADCwCINBcinmq6CWNDLADmBXuhIDtXuM1SQnb3DjsAPwS_4qG3sgZt28qtRZZRCAGyqMMAOisTrpU2yQ7dRUVhHy/s320/IMG_2483.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> Off to the apartment in Gramercy Park. A classic stairs on the facade, with potted plants, butterflies and birds chirping from the nearby entry-by-key-only Gramercy Park.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXe3qQFSpUbCCUmmEe1-QvhW8IXDMNFvuei6WXmKNIx-mCQGUur99z0eO-qsTk8fp0lbrSisQXxxovKYSlloicGlx8lAt94VoDNliovMXXQ6lfgmGhLnB2z4vO1SvurA4-1bDZXl1wo_mT/s1600/IMG_2484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXe3qQFSpUbCCUmmEe1-QvhW8IXDMNFvuei6WXmKNIx-mCQGUur99z0eO-qsTk8fp0lbrSisQXxxovKYSlloicGlx8lAt94VoDNliovMXXQ6lfgmGhLnB2z4vO1SvurA4-1bDZXl1wo_mT/s320/IMG_2484.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> Once we had met the host and finished all the arrangements with checking in and out & directions to the nearest grocer's and laundromat, we got ready to walk out the city.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVREu45IhLY6F22GXktw7iPeHkYRIsA1dvTnJcB8082L5VeFKT1e_YClHXmbqOtwxwxHA41fnGurzdGa1mHwaMnoV1PN5wohyphenhyphen171_bhhJEYEZKG1ezXUSk_Y6OXdIyVUMaBtZ96TDHUyC/s1600/IMG_2485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVREu45IhLY6F22GXktw7iPeHkYRIsA1dvTnJcB8082L5VeFKT1e_YClHXmbqOtwxwxHA41fnGurzdGa1mHwaMnoV1PN5wohyphenhyphen171_bhhJEYEZKG1ezXUSk_Y6OXdIyVUMaBtZ96TDHUyC/s320/IMG_2485.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>How to resist taking this huge poster of Carrie Bradshaw? Paul couldn't and didn't as he knew that I really liked her. And I bet he did too. Her shades were a tad too MIB for my taste but who else can pull that off? ;) <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJlrK7SLXYaTeZ7DT31SLtXvaZox3mbmDG7CMUUxU1jJm49FkLI7qCKCv2VwK2INiQFw0O0MZmCrQv4u8Ue0F2JuQvxtA-tPS8PYAVNaqs6eRx_tnpjOZ09Fq-YWPbz69K0Y8JKBeFKr0-/s1600/IMG_2486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJlrK7SLXYaTeZ7DT31SLtXvaZox3mbmDG7CMUUxU1jJm49FkLI7qCKCv2VwK2INiQFw0O0MZmCrQv4u8Ue0F2JuQvxtA-tPS8PYAVNaqs6eRx_tnpjOZ09Fq-YWPbz69K0Y8JKBeFKr0-/s320/IMG_2486.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Leave it to K to spot a window display of little duckies in a beautiful concoction in the sea of pingpong balls. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoirV1B2c9quYdT-F0_UjvOWL9CclqJrn1-Jg4uzKe-PfuyryQAHaJxDzNYVO6DjmoCpQQCMLkupXWdId3zRK9vOdVhAG7xoQp9EqY9ZhcQoRS0hZ5mxefr9d71Nu2zQQB1GjV4cWoEiP8/s1600/IMG_2487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoirV1B2c9quYdT-F0_UjvOWL9CclqJrn1-Jg4uzKe-PfuyryQAHaJxDzNYVO6DjmoCpQQCMLkupXWdId3zRK9vOdVhAG7xoQp9EqY9ZhcQoRS0hZ5mxefr9d71Nu2zQQB1GjV4cWoEiP8/s320/IMG_2487.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> We strolled by Madison Central Park to check out the resident squirrels. Did u know squirrels are considered pests to young shrubs and trees as they gnaw on them for food esp in the early spring when their acorns have sprouted and new food sources are still not available? As a last resort, they will even eat birds' eggs. Interesting snippet as I can no longer look at them as the impersonators to Alvin & the Chipmunks! ;p<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKtTZSGIfk6V6u0RIK6XAxfrj8kpt1uM1nTthJ2cgIR4-rhxLByeTwn27pRBXzKzBP74PqoDiWByZkqRjcKTHeY9EebWIHxuABL15jvFudvwjNTNmrq2vpGnPtBsQXhM_AxD6FlCN9rMf/s1600/IMG_2488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKtTZSGIfk6V6u0RIK6XAxfrj8kpt1uM1nTthJ2cgIR4-rhxLByeTwn27pRBXzKzBP74PqoDiWByZkqRjcKTHeY9EebWIHxuABL15jvFudvwjNTNmrq2vpGnPtBsQXhM_AxD6FlCN9rMf/s320/IMG_2488.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Then we chanced upon a quirky Gershwin hotel a street away from the throbbing pulse of the Theatre district. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlvv5YDNAVD6u-Gg3dvnR5SJb-BcGuq1elMfomsfyRk64DaGpM3JiN1NxIxvVxbaFm4Q6XLX_r7ZCWR8oaiUJn3N-gAKwJXdogu8ZTeJTEyv5y4rcRH0NPRzc0fkBYreFsxcLK48HxVfRt/s1600/IMG_2489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlvv5YDNAVD6u-Gg3dvnR5SJb-BcGuq1elMfomsfyRk64DaGpM3JiN1NxIxvVxbaFm4Q6XLX_r7ZCWR8oaiUJn3N-gAKwJXdogu8ZTeJTEyv5y4rcRH0NPRzc0fkBYreFsxcLK48HxVfRt/s320/IMG_2489.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluNdSglKAD7PDUdSZiOyzJPkuDTB3Q2FNNpUEbSNSDWDTAMseEkprv3jAjgudT4TmZfUWQoXRq9iKYExdrAu-Q_H2AIKOkqeD2BHigFJtQd-Ilx8nXD6-WqHpnl2NH8Aag35_Jk67Xxd_/s1600/IMG_2490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluNdSglKAD7PDUdSZiOyzJPkuDTB3Q2FNNpUEbSNSDWDTAMseEkprv3jAjgudT4TmZfUWQoXRq9iKYExdrAu-Q_H2AIKOkqeD2BHigFJtQd-Ilx8nXD6-WqHpnl2NH8Aag35_Jk67Xxd_/s320/IMG_2490.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And finally I see a milliner!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8l742tR2nXud_HbwERbAPpUGTrSXZRTLad212fbXlfHoFMyblhzvgHjs2kC1W_FUZoRTT8o64AI4Dfig-ZdLnOptX-olSmVBBrzbkX4dOI4UnYP40Jf4IhK1R3XMWlKV-IS6pkcFd1rO/s1600/IMG_2491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8l742tR2nXud_HbwERbAPpUGTrSXZRTLad212fbXlfHoFMyblhzvgHjs2kC1W_FUZoRTT8o64AI4Dfig-ZdLnOptX-olSmVBBrzbkX4dOI4UnYP40Jf4IhK1R3XMWlKV-IS6pkcFd1rO/s320/IMG_2491.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6lWEzlQc4fJwyBh1tKsOBvmmAL8kp5XqkSrdNbVZQBkeJOY-xWJs3TJSIA_sDejFZuinW9cT570LeTbP39MgJsoKYwaJ7s640Lj3LKUiayhhFQsENBYgkUtP2EwvSxajxVxBtibzTaOo/s1600/IMG_2492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6lWEzlQc4fJwyBh1tKsOBvmmAL8kp5XqkSrdNbVZQBkeJOY-xWJs3TJSIA_sDejFZuinW9cT570LeTbP39MgJsoKYwaJ7s640Lj3LKUiayhhFQsENBYgkUtP2EwvSxajxVxBtibzTaOo/s320/IMG_2492.jpg" width="240" /> </a></div>Music in the city. Seemed like they had plonked a colorful piano within every couple hundred of meters. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oGKtQP-fOqa19PD18fpuangU3ZamJpBKpnmsmyZfPJsoo7WmZ29A6WJvDuKryMplho-IeEBZ84i3w-dpUpU5rLaa09S02yl2w6yEOCxgHiFnk2kJfS1qEHy8WFFGhPAisQFXm4U_Mvnv/s1600/IMG_2493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oGKtQP-fOqa19PD18fpuangU3ZamJpBKpnmsmyZfPJsoo7WmZ29A6WJvDuKryMplho-IeEBZ84i3w-dpUpU5rLaa09S02yl2w6yEOCxgHiFnk2kJfS1qEHy8WFFGhPAisQFXm4U_Mvnv/s320/IMG_2493.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Such randomness. Seats plonked between 2 busy streets just outside Macy's.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWipSCQfPiTgQj542e559tkowa66GTV4IFAkwpB6EJKMAE1Gjle7MEU_PBccjAYR-L614XuWY3wU84d_CsuqmSp_vmPbdnJ_qwVaPU5FTQtNY1oVyq-GD5UqWCaQs812whImrSDz41ANl7/s1600/IMG_2494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWipSCQfPiTgQj542e559tkowa66GTV4IFAkwpB6EJKMAE1Gjle7MEU_PBccjAYR-L614XuWY3wU84d_CsuqmSp_vmPbdnJ_qwVaPU5FTQtNY1oVyq-GD5UqWCaQs812whImrSDz41ANl7/s320/IMG_2494.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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We stopped to sample every single cupcake shop wherever we went. I remembered it to be mildly exorbitant with prices ranging from USD5 -9 for a single one, but we are on holiday and they were heavenly.A great pick-me-up for all the walking we were doing.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8qD9y6YWI85TYsoSsDYkQeSYc3b5vCo1wzF4s0lRcl2Yrl-9BzKNsAMF-Ox9PZqTNZvEvfrsiKJsgRId-cqvKzicNCwci17mfq9LnOeWFuZdB-3PpJT_pUDvb63_xFzxnIYAtajDIKeb/s1600/IMG_2501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8qD9y6YWI85TYsoSsDYkQeSYc3b5vCo1wzF4s0lRcl2Yrl-9BzKNsAMF-Ox9PZqTNZvEvfrsiKJsgRId-cqvKzicNCwci17mfq9LnOeWFuZdB-3PpJT_pUDvb63_xFzxnIYAtajDIKeb/s320/IMG_2501.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_i88FZBQJRCGWtr07bnU1ws_92NbYqSWNmf7yD14CIpNi37Q8gnQR_FsXcHf7CaHXf3TWlMM9Er2Rzv_DJA3vKFih88ov-bVXUEWVme46kNC6ElGf7aUpPffyMU-qyvBJoDKRce-wOtp-/s1600/IMG_2502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_i88FZBQJRCGWtr07bnU1ws_92NbYqSWNmf7yD14CIpNi37Q8gnQR_FsXcHf7CaHXf3TWlMM9Er2Rzv_DJA3vKFih88ov-bVXUEWVme46kNC6ElGf7aUpPffyMU-qyvBJoDKRce-wOtp-/s320/IMG_2502.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Dinner at a family restaurant a few streets from our apartment - Friend of a Farmer' - the place had a great vibe, lovely candlelit audience plus it was starting to drizzle so we weren't too particular. It had great reviews but perhaps we didn't order quite the right thing (oh yes, my iphone went flat before I could source for food recommendations) but a hearty meal nonetheless. A gin tonic for me to end the dinner. It was heaven enough for me.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxrKUYj7QLpa_PG0vdPqck95a_BvIitTfjTd3Zl-lCjmhHykkly0ETopXtY_uusUvQ-pM_WRjOd6u6ZXPcAGue7UzXnlPt5CBtEcE_ecTrzYQNIam3HQPVtHvRA2tnyUznb7XpbJ08vkj/s1600/IMG_2503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxrKUYj7QLpa_PG0vdPqck95a_BvIitTfjTd3Zl-lCjmhHykkly0ETopXtY_uusUvQ-pM_WRjOd6u6ZXPcAGue7UzXnlPt5CBtEcE_ecTrzYQNIam3HQPVtHvRA2tnyUznb7XpbJ08vkj/s320/IMG_2503.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Back to the apartment where we got once again, impressed by how homely it felt, complete with a fresh vase of my favourite hydrangeas. More pictures once I have finished sorting out the huge album from the trip.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YcedAwdqdcItxbWse3-NhP5V45k1j8cbJgJaIUWVXUa0ju37HWSnOq3W0-lqR90hRAYdQ_iWkKERrlUQg3Jgd_eyuYWZfYzfy2dKWM2IqLJ2xt3g6e206zZpO12N-zbxPvsh1yNCRnuc/s1600/IMG_2504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YcedAwdqdcItxbWse3-NhP5V45k1j8cbJgJaIUWVXUa0ju37HWSnOq3W0-lqR90hRAYdQ_iWkKERrlUQg3Jgd_eyuYWZfYzfy2dKWM2IqLJ2xt3g6e206zZpO12N-zbxPvsh1yNCRnuc/s320/IMG_2504.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>A fantastic place to wind down after the long road travelled thus far. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVWo1NpNvrxtUfrfmPyemPDqoEkb1MKb5pvZxqwuzps5ZM0DIdUlO_-74b7b-ZRMIcmqfR79UScHQ36SC_H-xahG7f3a-BL3MAr5i_q6iGh2MoCNWJsPeq01R4IXu9kOdS52WGgBMCINL/s1600/IMG_2506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVWo1NpNvrxtUfrfmPyemPDqoEkb1MKb5pvZxqwuzps5ZM0DIdUlO_-74b7b-ZRMIcmqfR79UScHQ36SC_H-xahG7f3a-BL3MAr5i_q6iGh2MoCNWJsPeq01R4IXu9kOdS52WGgBMCINL/s320/IMG_2506.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">An after-dinner snack from yet another cupcake bakery. ;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Jsow4mJCfqv39XCyFxuaIrXOl8A-nncP9rivfNWBFQOdUprhl2RPzk_X_7yM-4vNQ_NbpyefSAic1m0gd7ysc-uHjd7NXGQO1WwYnEuMaDQmGUitn4hO_OkyuNKU9ZAAGVk0ZkXaleTk/s1600/IMG_2507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Jsow4mJCfqv39XCyFxuaIrXOl8A-nncP9rivfNWBFQOdUprhl2RPzk_X_7yM-4vNQ_NbpyefSAic1m0gd7ysc-uHjd7NXGQO1WwYnEuMaDQmGUitn4hO_OkyuNKU9ZAAGVk0ZkXaleTk/s320/IMG_2507.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Michelle Lokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805810848179996104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413240901596223.post-89496493004051196032010-11-20T02:47:00.003-06:002010-12-13T11:55:38.262-06:00Philly walkaboutAfter a well-rested night and a very lazy morning, we got ready for brunch at the famed 9th street Italian Market.<br />
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First stop was Sabrina's, a well reviewed establishment located on 910 Christian Street... it was madness.. it was about 10am when we arrived and there was a huge crowd of at least 20+ people in line! Just the thing for foodies so we decided that it could be well worth the wait. Of course, we had a good look at the food being served and oh my, they were very hearty and indeed delectable!! We left our names at the registry and got a card. The wait should be about an hour or so they say. So we decided to explore a little to while away the time. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvogsO6jfI4pODUgMdhQ9cK37uTrPNAUZa1061WbKfxcAEAEC6EbfZSMZKbSLjJEL2PibkLoqRMDflSLjBalPKM-lUbVOP6rIumSXPN4RO_ooko8sDyRurjsvfVMwWakuEcFKS2sCdVwjV/s1600/IMG_3454.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvogsO6jfI4pODUgMdhQ9cK37uTrPNAUZa1061WbKfxcAEAEC6EbfZSMZKbSLjJEL2PibkLoqRMDflSLjBalPKM-lUbVOP6rIumSXPN4RO_ooko8sDyRurjsvfVMwWakuEcFKS2sCdVwjV/s320/IMG_3454.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
At the start of 9th street, we saw this sign. The whole street was flanked by streets of definite Italian spellings and really, indefinite meanings.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnY3mP85hvprY_C27YHSVDmb051NpCW4PzGI2cyWbxn_BiAhwSI3N7_HwphAE6onX2RD9QrsULEmhOV4RketNXsxz6ka4yLrUDZcoZr5RQh6Gd2ZWuV4SxibiIzCXXj4EXJBXDSp2BJhsz/s1600/IMG_3455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnY3mP85hvprY_C27YHSVDmb051NpCW4PzGI2cyWbxn_BiAhwSI3N7_HwphAE6onX2RD9QrsULEmhOV4RketNXsxz6ka4yLrUDZcoZr5RQh6Gd2ZWuV4SxibiIzCXXj4EXJBXDSp2BJhsz/s320/IMG_3455.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Di Bruno Brothers was really packed but I had to go in for a peek. It was an eye-opener indeed.. with loads of handmade pasta in shapes and sizes that I had never seen before. (ok so I had seen some in Culina's back in Singapore)...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOzPkYelkCN-Vsr7omjipiFqK34IKSVC3Ok8pVNEpSRAyKWL0fi9ju1RwdtHgrpOwdQP7VKIfpisjzsbVvr66U4KAa6AXXYuOOjAPMN2_kt27F3CnOe8PRJsScU4MyJZxO8aKBrSwUv7Y/s1600/IMG_3459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOzPkYelkCN-Vsr7omjipiFqK34IKSVC3Ok8pVNEpSRAyKWL0fi9ju1RwdtHgrpOwdQP7VKIfpisjzsbVvr66U4KAa6AXXYuOOjAPMN2_kt27F3CnOe8PRJsScU4MyJZxO8aKBrSwUv7Y/s320/IMG_3459.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The below, I believe, was huge slabs of cheese.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jSWevUrrn4gqIOEG7HVzfskR9XuZT1hFSt5fihMJR4pYVudtvvIrDfQbk3_O81nqeJgt0L2C5D_mXUrZa5481Qm3ZmZs-56kPluzP9tkj9XBEu_oIOLvu21RjbBYE-o5A2_SlziH-mTs/s1600/IMG_3457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jSWevUrrn4gqIOEG7HVzfskR9XuZT1hFSt5fihMJR4pYVudtvvIrDfQbk3_O81nqeJgt0L2C5D_mXUrZa5481Qm3ZmZs-56kPluzP9tkj9XBEu_oIOLvu21RjbBYE-o5A2_SlziH-mTs/s320/IMG_3457.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Jars and jars of capers and pickles and peppers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJILCdowCMD9x6NXD-xSpUnQLU4Jtoi_Uo3lDZEetQ1SGZxTF3jH9uaj8d3Dj7yHM3dBc9oD9AtwEH5O9wxmJHPEamAT1c9yebIdesByA3500nzN3Ihe1ZDJfIlIz24UDiIHMLA2Q5lZnR/s1600/IMG_3458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJILCdowCMD9x6NXD-xSpUnQLU4Jtoi_Uo3lDZEetQ1SGZxTF3jH9uaj8d3Dj7yHM3dBc9oD9AtwEH5O9wxmJHPEamAT1c9yebIdesByA3500nzN3Ihe1ZDJfIlIz24UDiIHMLA2Q5lZnR/s320/IMG_3458.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And then we decided to take a morning coffee break and chanced upon this little nondescript cafe. Which had the most amazing chocolate croissant. Thin crusts of crumbling pastry that is crisp yet suitably moistened with choc filling that wasn't too overtly caramelized. It was heavenly. Literally 'eyes-lit-up-after-first-bite' kinda reaction from the both of us.<br />
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Never to spoil an excellent first impression, we were disciplined not to order extras...<br />
<span id="goog_281427871"></span><span id="goog_281427872"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1co0fLTHwCEcAj83ve7FwKVKY6OX7eS1XK6NyzfynoaecXKSDHFSAmuULBGnT9w3cO9v8pj19qbPToRYf3auWXggfDJXgbUf4qtPCS6goqQ1VkkpJoMmVllfIZ98S6-L59E2gbQEmN1S/s1600/IMG_3464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1co0fLTHwCEcAj83ve7FwKVKY6OX7eS1XK6NyzfynoaecXKSDHFSAmuULBGnT9w3cO9v8pj19qbPToRYf3auWXggfDJXgbUf4qtPCS6goqQ1VkkpJoMmVllfIZ98S6-L59E2gbQEmN1S/s320/IMG_3464.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sharing gelato.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48XSo4dP7ADi96_y3G8I02s3ecAfzY9Kqo8_UPTnPbGfETw2y1Yv1mVjBrLIhaJLeyeAEELDXghTBie33tEKVcmH8K3O81FqCiiMG73t_lrY2rb3hOhf2BaHwDUuxhhmv6hrfSkiKskRu/s1600/IMG_3461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48XSo4dP7ADi96_y3G8I02s3ecAfzY9Kqo8_UPTnPbGfETw2y1Yv1mVjBrLIhaJLeyeAEELDXghTBie33tEKVcmH8K3O81FqCiiMG73t_lrY2rb3hOhf2BaHwDUuxhhmv6hrfSkiKskRu/s320/IMG_3461.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3tLNLsQXyoxmyb5m8NVapqSNaQRh6Xuh0J6yfxwlhYRZgz3pfBDje15-M7ZLZ6LR1qRDo2mQDJvwFkTQVZ-qrg9lggbrI8G8zAGYcM7qQlEph0CBevIZGYfsfkKFgLIsfiXtMU7ycNAX/s320/IMG_3463.jpg" width="320" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8dczrUyH5Nhjn2inL5D-MWz4FWmQxV9ChqAx_KzaxF4kSYKmWUonZGyhtluvtcLgO2AJQKf9o832Y6YKXZelUnYQkmUt5tRf74nWrtYvrbOntAg-SMJOwdPWeoinYBCMYrqCosiljL4j/s1600/IMG_3465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8dczrUyH5Nhjn2inL5D-MWz4FWmQxV9ChqAx_KzaxF4kSYKmWUonZGyhtluvtcLgO2AJQKf9o832Y6YKXZelUnYQkmUt5tRf74nWrtYvrbOntAg-SMJOwdPWeoinYBCMYrqCosiljL4j/s320/IMG_3465.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Finally! Found a pic of that marvelous cafe...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFcq1GxbltuEewaJqvRreVlvr1vBl8L3owENgt-1KiKxYVcgZcxczB6EDhbR2PARhl-XHvqqGTJEVeYmC5WJ_58JYyo4W5bXb92GrltnxTG53-iGDLlwhpkvt-rn2IQxqMqSzP50eNkjF/s1600/IMG_3466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFcq1GxbltuEewaJqvRreVlvr1vBl8L3owENgt-1KiKxYVcgZcxczB6EDhbR2PARhl-XHvqqGTJEVeYmC5WJ_58JYyo4W5bXb92GrltnxTG53-iGDLlwhpkvt-rn2IQxqMqSzP50eNkjF/s320/IMG_3466.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
And so, the young one was captivated by the flurry of waitstaff fussing around a leaking aircon unit that was right above the doorway. It was as fascinating watching her so enthralled with something so simple and mundane. The daddy just looked bored and of course, I bet he was thinking why a simple task required more than 1 person to execute - as always lovingly in character.<br />
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And so we headed back to Sabrina's. I'm obviously not a good photographer but like all things nicely vintage-d. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kMrIbJiWK9KRrnXHLyuofA8a_DzLXMl5D0SFqSYkmxuOf3QCDglwvE9aKY2Eks4CU68xzJqLCu1KhnoOfNmJXPOAW66TPZtF4idI_2YEyc5lvscbkErb1XYCr-rd7lQTydgfw0NfHCFz/s1600/IMG_3470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kMrIbJiWK9KRrnXHLyuofA8a_DzLXMl5D0SFqSYkmxuOf3QCDglwvE9aKY2Eks4CU68xzJqLCu1KhnoOfNmJXPOAW66TPZtF4idI_2YEyc5lvscbkErb1XYCr-rd7lQTydgfw0NfHCFz/s320/IMG_3470.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmwT9yLXqoMXoI03WV678jK7Hf9r4lSSv4xglfzFNtUGU9tucsnd4oDFO064uLR9oLFLDCZmbCtIIog3YJF5RFqqsm2DZoi357fsZPMDjU8HtWjyeJhqkVWMP_EeskLbOfRvNIQ_WWfRlK/s1600/IMG_3472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmwT9yLXqoMXoI03WV678jK7Hf9r4lSSv4xglfzFNtUGU9tucsnd4oDFO064uLR9oLFLDCZmbCtIIog3YJF5RFqqsm2DZoi357fsZPMDjU8HtWjyeJhqkVWMP_EeskLbOfRvNIQ_WWfRlK/s320/IMG_3472.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Best-tasting salad I'd tried since coming to the USA!<br />
We cabbed it to the Museum of Art - here we were admiring the view from the top of the hill where it housed the Phladephia Museum of Art. K checked out a wedding reception at one of the foot hills.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXc6K4pa0dHxeLMPrp4El9Z5MRVar-P-OAaCVJKBGlhYyCz-GTrKwqZq8bnuF78TjHVYyzM9AJBcP-GpnsVgmJlptwcC3GNDBjvNUXFlzrBXw7FeLXPnPZ8q7R6oNDykV610e2YgmeYtfy/s1600/IMG_3478.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXc6K4pa0dHxeLMPrp4El9Z5MRVar-P-OAaCVJKBGlhYyCz-GTrKwqZq8bnuF78TjHVYyzM9AJBcP-GpnsVgmJlptwcC3GNDBjvNUXFlzrBXw7FeLXPnPZ8q7R6oNDykV610e2YgmeYtfy/s320/IMG_3478.jpg" width="320" /></a> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltfBGuJDyHETGoeRummyQheFMVMvjjnHvOBkfKf7q8BT1OG3FtMMaGXn-X9YQProQ_2NzhWh0tmaycWr788oINhyL-O80Ijxf-_rJs9XejqjOB7aDWBYsKZ_AC8QtHAvrex0UV8iWcUIG/s1600/IMG_3477.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltfBGuJDyHETGoeRummyQheFMVMvjjnHvOBkfKf7q8BT1OG3FtMMaGXn-X9YQProQ_2NzhWh0tmaycWr788oINhyL-O80Ijxf-_rJs9XejqjOB7aDWBYsKZ_AC8QtHAvrex0UV8iWcUIG/s320/IMG_3477.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div>And we moved on to the Philadelphia Museum of the Art, there was a Renoir exhibition which we were tempted. However entrance fees were madness, I would prefer seeing a collection of Impressionists paintings versus a particular artist and the day was beautiful so we skipped it, choosing instead to gallivant on the steps of the museum, ala Rocky Plus, I haven't done much reading on Renoir so the visit may not stick in my head. <br />
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Here, lil K attempted to climb up the infamous Rocky steps.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8raeFUcTSF82JlZG2YKrcGNyNLpFemE27jrIGMAqh6odHs4bRYjT0S0Pz2n-H8AIUk8m0WZ_7deBm8H7h2QcEbtcbgiL9EJmew8m_PARLt1bv9pBz2bkYqbjseIi1560ip4ZKgwlLBFo/s1600/IMG_3482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8raeFUcTSF82JlZG2YKrcGNyNLpFemE27jrIGMAqh6odHs4bRYjT0S0Pz2n-H8AIUk8m0WZ_7deBm8H7h2QcEbtcbgiL9EJmew8m_PARLt1bv9pBz2bkYqbjseIi1560ip4ZKgwlLBFo/s320/IMG_3482.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22_h60ycR2OuBvbbpJclnVJu9lv5tGoS5qX1GQG5LGtF-iJicAInfMnQoedTHSKNw2PQAQJxEdPi1UbEryJTCsTZn-UaqL3n2nrcXSKyMXY0KtkKld-k-cBB-1Xby8cFyCZTgiNKtz0F4/s1600/IMG_3483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22_h60ycR2OuBvbbpJclnVJu9lv5tGoS5qX1GQG5LGtF-iJicAInfMnQoedTHSKNw2PQAQJxEdPi1UbEryJTCsTZn-UaqL3n2nrcXSKyMXY0KtkKld-k-cBB-1Xby8cFyCZTgiNKtz0F4/s320/IMG_3483.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Spent but satisfied.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-JxULql6d5YHdom-ccJ9KO6TH7McGJQC2gRr9hithiqH0HOI10_pLhkxzV5T5IdLHmBOo3rE2Ko6We18qucnl1DXDA5OuUsu6PEgQf0AHcFfTcaypbayDtbCnQjNnzbxgrujx4LatpWj/s1600/IMG_3484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-JxULql6d5YHdom-ccJ9KO6TH7McGJQC2gRr9hithiqH0HOI10_pLhkxzV5T5IdLHmBOo3rE2Ko6We18qucnl1DXDA5OuUsu6PEgQf0AHcFfTcaypbayDtbCnQjNnzbxgrujx4LatpWj/s320/IMG_3484.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6caR7wTuRBtSUympiuxORd5obMHjhmAB4NWvOP2Goh9vUnxc_2xI75CUCf1ay-l5Bq_ICZBkJScZsyURDN1B6WJrqmz5b3tSv1x-aHgiba8QfMOH1nyLhAZ4N9jcRW6NbtVJxEmyE0Gp/s1600/IMG_3485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6caR7wTuRBtSUympiuxORd5obMHjhmAB4NWvOP2Goh9vUnxc_2xI75CUCf1ay-l5Bq_ICZBkJScZsyURDN1B6WJrqmz5b3tSv1x-aHgiba8QfMOH1nyLhAZ4N9jcRW6NbtVJxEmyE0Gp/s320/IMG_3485.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Little children soaked wet from jumping into the fountains across the road - running rampant up the rocky steps screaming and laughing.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlwtD0J96xPS6k_ScNt2ZtMkCwCPm9xrCGu9AbDKMSIIo1u4u041EiDnTb0MWmcaFkO8K2DVp_Xa-ZTfptGv27CRIC5zxZBVIFwxTnU_1yVEHOJNGrh_g8jSYejlcztED0nC74I6FcjFZ/s1600/IMG_3486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlwtD0J96xPS6k_ScNt2ZtMkCwCPm9xrCGu9AbDKMSIIo1u4u041EiDnTb0MWmcaFkO8K2DVp_Xa-ZTfptGv27CRIC5zxZBVIFwxTnU_1yVEHOJNGrh_g8jSYejlcztED0nC74I6FcjFZ/s320/IMG_3486.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Here we took a picture together with the sculpture of Sylvester Stallone in his portrayal of Rocky. But Kaylen at 2 months 8 months got really scared and started clinging to me like clingwrap.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8SeK6iZ_LyocOpSEchNOH_xJttlbNAj9ra4fJiHNU9Yupf4lVRymSCbRMdHpj71dkUp-q11zSXKjUFf4WOvRO9U3cno9QMKpbutPW3nihYvnxw_6v3ll-Hfy4jHLgBK1OSmsKqd0SfEq9/s1600/IMG_3487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8SeK6iZ_LyocOpSEchNOH_xJttlbNAj9ra4fJiHNU9Yupf4lVRymSCbRMdHpj71dkUp-q11zSXKjUFf4WOvRO9U3cno9QMKpbutPW3nihYvnxw_6v3ll-Hfy4jHLgBK1OSmsKqd0SfEq9/s320/IMG_3487.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2BJUJ3QBE7hvcUxC4QqlKHdZJUenh4FQtLpmDK35te_iuLajqgEJQy1FALrpyoNCrFE2C5tI3YKCaKW6KKn6C7fwJAgx0KQL2zdYe7u2wTXz9F9JPUuiMWNqY3lNDxLeOKwhqEfzWlxAe/s1600/IMG_3488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2BJUJ3QBE7hvcUxC4QqlKHdZJUenh4FQtLpmDK35te_iuLajqgEJQy1FALrpyoNCrFE2C5tI3YKCaKW6KKn6C7fwJAgx0KQL2zdYe7u2wTXz9F9JPUuiMWNqY3lNDxLeOKwhqEfzWlxAe/s320/IMG_3488.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Just Paul taking a break....And then lil K joins the daddy on the steps. See her cheeky expression!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7cBorMcbhAg3ebU6DiE-bGfI0xF0BIDqU73867E8MBsF4hlMWXn0fsmkz0BMCz5ED62fArN4oTpUHGrM7m-HO1v8yY8GYnjReiJhL70O7KvqwL-dlhCcpgDvUXFzfw6iYJTOclj0sjnN/s1600/IMG_3489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7cBorMcbhAg3ebU6DiE-bGfI0xF0BIDqU73867E8MBsF4hlMWXn0fsmkz0BMCz5ED62fArN4oTpUHGrM7m-HO1v8yY8GYnjReiJhL70O7KvqwL-dlhCcpgDvUXFzfw6iYJTOclj0sjnN/s320/IMG_3489.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We moved on to a notable restaurant in Chinatown since Philalphia's was supposed to be pretty decent. Well, more decent that what we had tried in Dallas really.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3NQO2OsIDC7A2HBYTFlP4p-tWiuXYiXAoztYinqSYNP7jpCyUtJDbSH-7ZwJwnEIMCFSAnAzp5g01ePcYFzUvkn3P7_nnDF9GEqHX91HlsRDijc6mZwGt5BZhWkQ2VR1gf7LObqIehBH/s1600/IMG_3490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3NQO2OsIDC7A2HBYTFlP4p-tWiuXYiXAoztYinqSYNP7jpCyUtJDbSH-7ZwJwnEIMCFSAnAzp5g01ePcYFzUvkn3P7_nnDF9GEqHX91HlsRDijc6mZwGt5BZhWkQ2VR1gf7LObqIehBH/s320/IMG_3490.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Accolades adorned the entrance. Oh well, to their credit, most of them were recent ones from the '00s.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFU8EeyChW5XAmommWuDWu8_mdi7htjDfCF1pyY_WeT0eX4BoPSxS7Dh0X1e0aH6e0DCaMvL2zsqPgDHshFSbLULzR_3FGbs2cwHm3LvfeZydtAJAmljWykA4rAXn1033xR3R-uD8d3RH/s1600/IMG_3491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFU8EeyChW5XAmommWuDWu8_mdi7htjDfCF1pyY_WeT0eX4BoPSxS7Dh0X1e0aH6e0DCaMvL2zsqPgDHshFSbLULzR_3FGbs2cwHm3LvfeZydtAJAmljWykA4rAXn1033xR3R-uD8d3RH/s320/IMG_3491.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Lil K still munching on her fortune cookie after dinner. Dinner was alright - dingy interior, cheesy fittings like red lanterns, dynastic paintings and old wooden carved partitions. The crowd is a mixture of cushy folks of various races. Food and price-wise I would say, equivalent to Singapore's Crystal Jade fare at double the price? ;) <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpmXj-OaNBuSaA5BqIT5U170X519ccLZLmcS0HyVfzOpXQGePffb_MBPKhPxdhyujpsTJV6fsv8MpOPQ4Gi3RU1c159vjws8w03rLTNmMzBn8fLUkaXKFq2c0bJE0tzIG-n6qE6dU2y02B/s1600/IMG_3492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpmXj-OaNBuSaA5BqIT5U170X519ccLZLmcS0HyVfzOpXQGePffb_MBPKhPxdhyujpsTJV6fsv8MpOPQ4Gi3RU1c159vjws8w03rLTNmMzBn8fLUkaXKFq2c0bJE0tzIG-n6qE6dU2y02B/s320/IMG_3492.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am glad that in many ways while Paul and I are so different, we do share the same beliefs on how our holidays should be like - i.e. free and easy, taking our time in taking in the sights, ensuring a good mix of good restaurant and street fare alike, skipping touristy attractions that just take too much time away from enjoying the vibe of the places we visit. Oh yes, we do believe in reading up a little about the history of the place as well just so we can impress each other with little useless snippets of information now and then! </div><span id="goog_1601449816"></span><span id="goog_1601449817"></span><br />
<span id="goog_375474840"></span><span id="goog_375474841"></span>Michelle Lokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805810848179996104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413240901596223.post-45930522016528617432010-10-01T04:23:00.000-05:002010-10-01T04:23:20.858-05:00Sesame Place = so fake, I loved it!We started off bright and early... in our happening Nissan Cube in lovely chocolate... small & niffy.. it was fun and plastic-ky!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ynSE0NpeiXtcj0kt2iIoy7s7W57xNs7f1Fm-oNy9m2T_7uQxyBNg-gtWHDm3w9KWgoe5IBvKz8oBSQc5g2sG9iQcnsadwr6QZ-q4sAYAPhyphenhyphenPZ7X3Z5o5hWKJWRDc5JPHeWE9yCCkGG5G/s1600/IMG_3493.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ynSE0NpeiXtcj0kt2iIoy7s7W57xNs7f1Fm-oNy9m2T_7uQxyBNg-gtWHDm3w9KWgoe5IBvKz8oBSQc5g2sG9iQcnsadwr6QZ-q4sAYAPhyphenhyphenPZ7X3Z5o5hWKJWRDc5JPHeWE9yCCkGG5G/s320/IMG_3493.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Sesame Place at Langhorne, just 30 minutes north of Philadelphia. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVEsYh1mo9yLcjkki5phMFyYfsgZwUyq3Z1EifAqrT8f2571jfGrUrrDjEjPoYSCvGPLaHHlk7JDjJRFSIqcU55TTe4dJViTL8tR7M_VAHVpQFhHS_JD8NerNWmrjls8aD-5nchaGsx4L/s1600/IMG_2425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVEsYh1mo9yLcjkki5phMFyYfsgZwUyq3Z1EifAqrT8f2571jfGrUrrDjEjPoYSCvGPLaHHlk7JDjJRFSIqcU55TTe4dJViTL8tR7M_VAHVpQFhHS_JD8NerNWmrjls8aD-5nchaGsx4L/s320/IMG_2425.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> I got excited looking at the Elmo flowerbeds... Paul just rolled his eyes... It seems this is MY childhood place, more so than both Kaylen & Paul combined. Entry to the park was amazing. It was bright and cheery and everything looked like on set (minus the hot and sunny weather)...<br />
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We started off with the Elmo Fish ride... she was a little apprehensive at first but got a hang of it... this is Kaylen's first time at an amusement park (not counting carousel rides @ resorts and shopping centres).. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPypLYMokhzT2cTBOaakreMMxGsxijDnLwYDqrnvTRDk5WPSDDvhoI8AZF8_cvTV77HOcMH9iuAQM3iLwUQsUETjNFmtvp0NoFWPy5yErx4sH2rB8gUZ4bNJvLj9fQLjA5RsVOYPVumGaK/s1600/IMG_2426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPypLYMokhzT2cTBOaakreMMxGsxijDnLwYDqrnvTRDk5WPSDDvhoI8AZF8_cvTV77HOcMH9iuAQM3iLwUQsUETjNFmtvp0NoFWPy5yErx4sH2rB8gUZ4bNJvLj9fQLjA5RsVOYPVumGaK/s320/IMG_2426.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Then took a ride on Grover's World Twirl in the colorful themed teacups!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5985E6FCmvS4p9WFYgBFqpkfROXI_x6suUxGC_JHCLkCE8T0xPhoIvNuHrrPJwpBRiLRcQxomVt5zVvCeLdjQlaamDgaC-_7v0BZyyfX8oaGsxzBz2xamBslc0ssPpW_1Biv33lULOVYT/s1600/IMG_2430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5985E6FCmvS4p9WFYgBFqpkfROXI_x6suUxGC_JHCLkCE8T0xPhoIvNuHrrPJwpBRiLRcQxomVt5zVvCeLdjQlaamDgaC-_7v0BZyyfX8oaGsxzBz2xamBslc0ssPpW_1Biv33lULOVYT/s320/IMG_2430.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> We quickly went for the timed Elmo's World Live showtimes... where we were introduced to Mr. Noodle and Dorothy proper. She also tried the imaginery piano and was really amused.. that it didn't work.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgql5L2ZB5moPRINSrQc8LSoITWcXKuaZd82SYEGZNJqy-7KuqEeoJW1PvuB3Cf5qnozECGWOykTPINbrjxGcDr3a5AdxCmOe4qYUR6zJy7zaRVr_HOJV4EiQknkOwyDhx8TAQBkmOyTNpy/s1600/IMG_2431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgql5L2ZB5moPRINSrQc8LSoITWcXKuaZd82SYEGZNJqy-7KuqEeoJW1PvuB3Cf5qnozECGWOykTPINbrjxGcDr3a5AdxCmOe4qYUR6zJy7zaRVr_HOJV4EiQknkOwyDhx8TAQBkmOyTNpy/s320/IMG_2431.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVNkI2KedzX9GrOvcoJlh8hXeUwENpxoIho_ByVC_J0V3Qx3wG6DJrGL2BWEs2jJb_fWv3JWIBh6Kb_kGJxM6yvsEft8ZRIQKP2K9aTbF_B2_73ecuwjFzkE52mE7ZQ15VoU1pBE_oPAk/s1600/IMG_3515.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVNkI2KedzX9GrOvcoJlh8hXeUwENpxoIho_ByVC_J0V3Qx3wG6DJrGL2BWEs2jJb_fWv3JWIBh6Kb_kGJxM6yvsEft8ZRIQKP2K9aTbF_B2_73ecuwjFzkE52mE7ZQ15VoU1pBE_oPAk/s320/IMG_3515.jpg" width="240" /></a> </div> Then it was time for Rock Around the Block Parade! According to the Sesame Plc website, this parade debuted in 1997 and will officially retire on 31 Oct, 2010. Luckily we caught it then because we really thought it was joyous and fun for the little children with its loud music and colorful, bigger than ever imagined characters!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJVx8us54ULLeVwgGaPGctu4ciDCPaGTR_XPQg31TEBvVq5yCsMexUY3DxyQG8pf2rF0TWpL8fM2fb0ahoefSy0S87YD447V-5vjUKNaBigJGCXXuRc6FSwKjh09ZO3l1k5Mxr8lO7qvW/s1600/IMG_2432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJVx8us54ULLeVwgGaPGctu4ciDCPaGTR_XPQg31TEBvVq5yCsMexUY3DxyQG8pf2rF0TWpL8fM2fb0ahoefSy0S87YD447V-5vjUKNaBigJGCXXuRc6FSwKjh09ZO3l1k5Mxr8lO7qvW/s320/IMG_2432.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguW8wWG6nRi41PvSMaEpo_kM3ND0SkRhGDE2kvxKOZPMlKfC4H6zWPA1GsUiDkZqGwu4Bbt8imyT_JqSC6F0GgjRPlHr43zs3L01-LYNg6j4JCfnxhUdwO7hTVinARwlEO29YwZ81vAkpd/s1600/IMG_2455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguW8wWG6nRi41PvSMaEpo_kM3ND0SkRhGDE2kvxKOZPMlKfC4H6zWPA1GsUiDkZqGwu4Bbt8imyT_JqSC6F0GgjRPlHr43zs3L01-LYNg6j4JCfnxhUdwO7hTVinARwlEO29YwZ81vAkpd/s320/IMG_2455.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihG8AB8d5Sm-XddfEa0_yDliasI3vPvsALVMTB0OgBWt5uESAeFVOV8-MCi91GUe8uNZXueozvM0IcZN6hNlPtcEWKV0xh9QtIHgHzilA52X4jjhgQYgQlff6QFmq1MoxOXOO3irsk3oVQ/s1600/IMG_2440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihG8AB8d5Sm-XddfEa0_yDliasI3vPvsALVMTB0OgBWt5uESAeFVOV8-MCi91GUe8uNZXueozvM0IcZN6hNlPtcEWKV0xh9QtIHgHzilA52X4jjhgQYgQlff6QFmq1MoxOXOO3irsk3oVQ/s320/IMG_2440.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> 'Oh boy, oh boy! It's Telly Monster!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdULFCMaasbvS0Lj5-Id8FLnPViSpRPLtPXq7QX0W06oJHZn6ceA1gJTonfPEl69YNJn47jPZi1nQuDF_o1W6Sa9LFLFhBDEvYpLd55fFA5E-YrSXvjGEHxp_NOxkketvG5ze9oR3tmXah/s1600/IMG_2447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdULFCMaasbvS0Lj5-Id8FLnPViSpRPLtPXq7QX0W06oJHZn6ceA1gJTonfPEl69YNJn47jPZi1nQuDF_o1W6Sa9LFLFhBDEvYpLd55fFA5E-YrSXvjGEHxp_NOxkketvG5ze9oR3tmXah/s320/IMG_2447.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Big Bird - obviously.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kzLeG61Jqn3P40RnJKxwdWXe8U5AO__dbyHMjh7lBzcg6Lo-Vwr35CQtKyVfc8l4rGMRh_ZGJuykU3_f79U557nVAc1p716npLsHqa4sm4AT557sND9I-JNvJ9uMkFa9wqYM3L6WkBVp/s1600/IMG_2449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kzLeG61Jqn3P40RnJKxwdWXe8U5AO__dbyHMjh7lBzcg6Lo-Vwr35CQtKyVfc8l4rGMRh_ZGJuykU3_f79U557nVAc1p716npLsHqa4sm4AT557sND9I-JNvJ9uMkFa9wqYM3L6WkBVp/s320/IMG_2449.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-h2qNkBZ4v_fFWkDOSeDXNp2SoItwOADJ_hK2861M53509iwts4XGYhM_gSljKNU14QIxJ41I2cI8X6RRvVNIUCJgqMUEO-viZF0jLHcR3wldASE_p-AhyphenhyphenTwqke3-iycv8CYXOnKGpAUL/s1600/IMG_2451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-h2qNkBZ4v_fFWkDOSeDXNp2SoItwOADJ_hK2861M53509iwts4XGYhM_gSljKNU14QIxJ41I2cI8X6RRvVNIUCJgqMUEO-viZF0jLHcR3wldASE_p-AhyphenhyphenTwqke3-iycv8CYXOnKGpAUL/s320/IMG_2451.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2au04MzPigj7FrLNXHs2e_blZlT2nrwRFduB0aF_2rCbDtmf1WbOOUtIMLzyg6KHa4fz4MmLTZbjEwsKiJm5YG2gjpxzfbj8oLsK7fPhHaBC49GyePNGvnMdQidecFJVD50-Kbm-PybvL/s1600/IMG_2456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2au04MzPigj7FrLNXHs2e_blZlT2nrwRFduB0aF_2rCbDtmf1WbOOUtIMLzyg6KHa4fz4MmLTZbjEwsKiJm5YG2gjpxzfbj8oLsK7fPhHaBC49GyePNGvnMdQidecFJVD50-Kbm-PybvL/s320/IMG_2456.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> And then we took a break for lunch. I probably got the order all wrong (haha, since this happened in June and my update is in Sept.. ) We got a keepsake for her - the Elmo plate. Food was alright and wasn't as exorbitant as we had expected. Just USD9 or twice the usual price of kid's meal you find at one of those chain restaurants (eg. TGIFs, Chilli's, Chick-A-Fils) outside the park.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglcpHwU2zQmA6HVNLtNSGVIczmbGX1gBEXd29cLQEZexwctyEfznjVvD1nShj8e3BOsCrICUQj7YqJ-axn-R4aEUA54sX5iEqxs0fyV_ka0WHy9qDCjka6avocgtYznShO8T5nHQPAqrmN/s1600/IMG_2457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglcpHwU2zQmA6HVNLtNSGVIczmbGX1gBEXd29cLQEZexwctyEfznjVvD1nShj8e3BOsCrICUQj7YqJ-axn-R4aEUA54sX5iEqxs0fyV_ka0WHy9qDCjka6avocgtYznShO8T5nHQPAqrmN/s320/IMG_2457.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Tummy tums tums all filled up and ready to go...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzuz2vZkS5rqpmluowkwlsDyXP2d55vQDRxDY9IDhsZiGbi1A67yCruROHop_Av_rvwBkrT4Lz9XxN8bGxP13rYIhhq7Ig36j0WudQjkRQZ1kYP4dQT90GQaJSeDBKwVozUkA5Ddsv1TD/s1600/IMG_2458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzuz2vZkS5rqpmluowkwlsDyXP2d55vQDRxDY9IDhsZiGbi1A67yCruROHop_Av_rvwBkrT4Lz9XxN8bGxP13rYIhhq7Ig36j0WudQjkRQZ1kYP4dQT90GQaJSeDBKwVozUkA5Ddsv1TD/s320/IMG_2458.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Queuing up for a photo opportunity..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Hm795z7w1CvCABSrEWwHAt__C8RXC2Zr7jZyOgiQja8dOGXZy28CaZY3TLlCg70EqE8664wzA0TYuxw5gR1Rgakym-1D8wtTkVOBEjOGO1hucoIvWMLTz2RdZ2VkqzyQ_yyIoPurhmZ8/s1600/IMG_2461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Hm795z7w1CvCABSrEWwHAt__C8RXC2Zr7jZyOgiQja8dOGXZy28CaZY3TLlCg70EqE8664wzA0TYuxw5gR1Rgakym-1D8wtTkVOBEjOGO1hucoIvWMLTz2RdZ2VkqzyQ_yyIoPurhmZ8/s320/IMG_2461.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> With our favourite Cookie Monster 'Om nom nom nom nom'!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3K8xSusrDRCRWgyNktqBzfBdMYv_fYJbkGs5j0JgRZguWv-8kFv7Kf58fw2kgVnDEdWdHBbE-LFeYHDIrodcYYMaDjJ8CMa3J-roHXHkZ63CDx_pNvJGU8ksZvEm4SixfCRyugFsadDwo/s1600/IMG_2463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3K8xSusrDRCRWgyNktqBzfBdMYv_fYJbkGs5j0JgRZguWv-8kFv7Kf58fw2kgVnDEdWdHBbE-LFeYHDIrodcYYMaDjJ8CMa3J-roHXHkZ63CDx_pNvJGU8ksZvEm4SixfCRyugFsadDwo/s320/IMG_2463.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZ-TWDhgSTeiL-UZma1GtTaPlsBu0GRzJqbw0r9zso3WejVXY7Ht2kMmNxaqzS0I-xo88ENpqt1xoGkOWUATWPgR48zaItdZAMOpfDSEFxfcg4ZmoYlrNV9I4Z9__-h4s8xo0ktq7cg27/s1600/IMG_2465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZ-TWDhgSTeiL-UZma1GtTaPlsBu0GRzJqbw0r9zso3WejVXY7Ht2kMmNxaqzS0I-xo88ENpqt1xoGkOWUATWPgR48zaItdZAMOpfDSEFxfcg4ZmoYlrNV9I4Z9__-h4s8xo0ktq7cg27/s320/IMG_2465.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> At the grocer's.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdBxqBqcAUYqi4s1Rdmq264w8ztLOiekbz4KHhzuEhpMYovaIwt-yhWu_N3f_VMA04RrzHM1x25yWJTWFUcN_1GVXxuXQni0orEakQb_dKHyW8rACsCfoVBR_apXxpSSHC7NXj6XflFYa/s1600/IMG_2469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdBxqBqcAUYqi4s1Rdmq264w8ztLOiekbz4KHhzuEhpMYovaIwt-yhWu_N3f_VMA04RrzHM1x25yWJTWFUcN_1GVXxuXQni0orEakQb_dKHyW8rACsCfoVBR_apXxpSSHC7NXj6XflFYa/s320/IMG_2469.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXH8XgKwYqxAGhrjszB1SLqvtlosR96bdBbdtE38hQujhgakroWEHBdK1OYlqG-YrcRT30kPdliK6mxzO_-8tkxbJ7Kby_BPpZ-l5f31-ayVNTRa87eEXPe_-JMA3JLCneVdIUCdn_0NhP/s1600/IMG_3498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXH8XgKwYqxAGhrjszB1SLqvtlosR96bdBbdtE38hQujhgakroWEHBdK1OYlqG-YrcRT30kPdliK6mxzO_-8tkxbJ7Kby_BPpZ-l5f31-ayVNTRa87eEXPe_-JMA3JLCneVdIUCdn_0NhP/s320/IMG_3498.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmnxLQqH73pkbsNxc3-SB8q16KgQkrCu5iIG9Ve2jZ3C1M9n7-nBRT4q6LjMlMxZcb9Ic499CPGkO_n_FgWQL39FrFLwqGchF8-S_oHunhNgoPRnL0VtyyRF_7ntAKQvhGyZRdowLCKVl/s1600/IMG_3506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmnxLQqH73pkbsNxc3-SB8q16KgQkrCu5iIG9Ve2jZ3C1M9n7-nBRT4q6LjMlMxZcb9Ic499CPGkO_n_FgWQL39FrFLwqGchF8-S_oHunhNgoPRnL0VtyyRF_7ntAKQvhGyZRdowLCKVl/s320/IMG_3506.jpg" width="240" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Check out her balancing act upon entry to the bouncy inflatable! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4IZ4oX7jUnL94YA0TdpNV44I5y67zB5P_q7ybfD-W34NuCJvPTZDzjwT7Ql1TFkuwlwqMVnXmTcqxk5Q248igVL26v0jkYeEJb_StegSrk7amaravMbCjGwx8ayYnJGpCwRpDhEPHwvf/s1600/IMG_3507.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4IZ4oX7jUnL94YA0TdpNV44I5y67zB5P_q7ybfD-W34NuCJvPTZDzjwT7Ql1TFkuwlwqMVnXmTcqxk5Q248igVL26v0jkYeEJb_StegSrk7amaravMbCjGwx8ayYnJGpCwRpDhEPHwvf/s320/IMG_3507.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The happy fall.. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Nd9pPMV3HYdU1gFcZKFRohqVZDcbXSqwPsnm5hn8HGwq5Pmga4gIXrYtk3hyf4XOFDw1MBmsJPPpg-KogmBOmPDC8tkBdhT0amweVUBNKkjtjH6zIU-bkI1-bX5wRX_lPsNLw-ngGUNb/s1600/IMG_3508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Nd9pPMV3HYdU1gFcZKFRohqVZDcbXSqwPsnm5hn8HGwq5Pmga4gIXrYtk3hyf4XOFDw1MBmsJPPpg-KogmBOmPDC8tkBdhT0amweVUBNKkjtjH6zIU-bkI1-bX5wRX_lPsNLw-ngGUNb/s320/IMG_3508.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Spent but satisfied.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-VkSHN0KbxhPw0hyxMkwH9-QbOs-AwCXybhTjDsoAilMG52WBU7V7f_SZk1OtLvD95AiEl7s-R6wz5kI_9G1e5_daIoascQqBBk1fjS4uYbUrtuN9rm-bxUaVK0uq28vbzbfe8A51Zqt/s1600/IMG_3509.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-VkSHN0KbxhPw0hyxMkwH9-QbOs-AwCXybhTjDsoAilMG52WBU7V7f_SZk1OtLvD95AiEl7s-R6wz5kI_9G1e5_daIoascQqBBk1fjS4uYbUrtuN9rm-bxUaVK0uq28vbzbfe8A51Zqt/s320/IMG_3509.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtjSDsmkbH6Er9QLxfK19urLONMFOI_lRhdfj2si6INnooBkpRAmP0e_2aQxMXzmouEi4duNvRweWk3l-PdVEODzpb7OD6vyXX5ahkS2W27Lpj_39sOGYzxjleHIMDh9lm-nW4qJRMeoe/s1600/IMG_3519.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtjSDsmkbH6Er9QLxfK19urLONMFOI_lRhdfj2si6INnooBkpRAmP0e_2aQxMXzmouEi4duNvRweWk3l-PdVEODzpb7OD6vyXX5ahkS2W27Lpj_39sOGYzxjleHIMDh9lm-nW4qJRMeoe/s320/IMG_3519.jpg" width="240" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzke0iTl0vIMGgqljesSFCAuVilPuC8oApcAKwcdsM0S-NcwtTTGieYJvDgp2oarvD3NJiGdiYkVcUESThfLJG3C7EC2g-OfoovVne9M_1TIeBsnqvYuRTwylTJ92sth2DYIh_C0P3CKd/s1600/IMG_3513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzke0iTl0vIMGgqljesSFCAuVilPuC8oApcAKwcdsM0S-NcwtTTGieYJvDgp2oarvD3NJiGdiYkVcUESThfLJG3C7EC2g-OfoovVne9M_1TIeBsnqvYuRTwylTJ92sth2DYIh_C0P3CKd/s320/IMG_3513.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> At the gift shop.. haha but she was a good girl - we already had a big bird soft toy at home (still unpacked in one of the many boxes in the garage) so we got some lil souvenirs and headed out... Am rather proud of her that she didn't bug us to get her things. Perhaps not at her age @ 2yo 8 mths and hopefully in the near future? *cross fingers*<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsly4Bb3J4U6KiZgKdjxIXqv3EDXq_Zu2JYaPWHHSfxWC0gj-VbTVHarzXsQDcy6k_Xz06HhV6acqzpsXmM-WidjOh80M5crww3nKnunAFfL-WMTy2J3i-A8fWQmxpcEcLczu3uio8ZM6G/s1600/IMG_3517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsly4Bb3J4U6KiZgKdjxIXqv3EDXq_Zu2JYaPWHHSfxWC0gj-VbTVHarzXsQDcy6k_Xz06HhV6acqzpsXmM-WidjOh80M5crww3nKnunAFfL-WMTy2J3i-A8fWQmxpcEcLczu3uio8ZM6G/s320/IMG_3517.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Finally, a family pic!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniFeHdzmNHq6om18q5HmCmtRg2dxQx0oJsMosnm0AedTZomAMSpd31XbiYfQSkTyedMCO2Z2hMML8GsQjy0fDu15fJeq2LJXJtP9L0X03UGkgrgpaAenSBYz2G0GV9pxcCRyWikM5Cp18/s1600/IMG_3494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniFeHdzmNHq6om18q5HmCmtRg2dxQx0oJsMosnm0AedTZomAMSpd31XbiYfQSkTyedMCO2Z2hMML8GsQjy0fDu15fJeq2LJXJtP9L0X03UGkgrgpaAenSBYz2G0GV9pxcCRyWikM5Cp18/s320/IMG_3494.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">With Abby Caddaby! Not my most favourite characters but oh yeah, might as well </div><div style="text-align: center;">since she was in our way out.. ;p<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9F8VLNDRySef-_h_XURKD5iRLJuALROZl4sLQbiZ7ysVC28SvXxf5a2SY1fsgYICk-DhHEW5_ykG-Z7FoSVBotn-7OfHc5CpRZsqeuB6d-ZxToY4OaPXmqMNspWTdly92378B0xOA8JT/s1600/IMG_2474.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9F8VLNDRySef-_h_XURKD5iRLJuALROZl4sLQbiZ7ysVC28SvXxf5a2SY1fsgYICk-DhHEW5_ykG-Z7FoSVBotn-7OfHc5CpRZsqeuB6d-ZxToY4OaPXmqMNspWTdly92378B0xOA8JT/s320/IMG_2474.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXB3-a9EDk3eqXIhFHSt6_5xXpW7mEkZW-gnPk9KefJfPjEbZRA644OWWK_QxHa57JJljkyW7LxB4rHafUEXs7bjjtPKYS7kDQ09HTDTR223HxUowl0aX9CbFxuvc_nmuc1GuY0b_G2zB/s1600/IMG_2475.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXB3-a9EDk3eqXIhFHSt6_5xXpW7mEkZW-gnPk9KefJfPjEbZRA644OWWK_QxHa57JJljkyW7LxB4rHafUEXs7bjjtPKYS7kDQ09HTDTR223HxUowl0aX9CbFxuvc_nmuc1GuY0b_G2zB/s320/IMG_2475.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Just a quick overview of the place... Doesn't look big but we didn't even get to cover the wet park!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFljQL38x-B4dA1DYZ-1At65C7ZJYstzkRE88aujE5mQGriunsSj5-ota1zRNUwItLYe5YCl4LnsdhlVgrcJVbsChJNrSX8GRebNTWqUdy_pvHZw-xZW8xrXkRY9zpvZo0Vk4KvVujZO9H/s1600/Sesame+Place+map.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFljQL38x-B4dA1DYZ-1At65C7ZJYstzkRE88aujE5mQGriunsSj5-ota1zRNUwItLYe5YCl4LnsdhlVgrcJVbsChJNrSX8GRebNTWqUdy_pvHZw-xZW8xrXkRY9zpvZo0Vk4KvVujZO9H/s320/Sesame+Place+map.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Tiring day indeed.. Kaylen slept all the way back to the hotel and I think I did too... too much excitement for one day.. We headed back to the hotel, had a long bath and went to Chilli's - just a stone's throw away - for dinner. Shortly after we returned to the room - I think just about then, I realised I didn't bring my camera charger, spare camera battery NOR a travel adapter for my iphone. Paul rolls his eyes at me and went out to the convenience store yet again to get the latter since it serves dual purpose of making me contactable & getting the photos taken.<br />
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I think times like these - these occasional mental lapses - (which is rare) allows him the chance to be able to rescue the damsel in distress, which of course, makes him pretty happy. LOL *my blog, my opinions - so there!*Michelle Lokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805810848179996104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413240901596223.post-79376622235033151322010-09-26T00:33:00.001-05:002010-09-26T00:47:24.903-05:00My pride and joyAs I put my lil one to bed after the usual hoolabooha of nighttime shower, milkfeed, storytime, brushing of teeth and final pee-run, I kissed her goodnight and said "I love you, Kaylen".<br/><br/>She replied with such maturity and absolute sure-rity (is there such a word?) in her still childish, girly voice, "I lurb u too, mummy". With that, she hugged her doggy softtoy and snuggled up in her blanket.<br/><br/>I laid down next to her and felt my heart swelling up and absolutely brimming with happiness. I thought about our trip today to the halfprice bookstore after making the decision to remove all stories about princesses falling in love with princes and awaiting salvation or marriage. She made a new friend and shared a book with her. Suddenly she tapped her friend and pointed at me. "That's MY mummy." She grinned her toothy smile and went back to her book. <br/><br/>This is the first time I am having such a strong feeling of pride for this little one. For sure, I had experienced more moments of realization of the lil one's burgeoning capacity to experience life and connecting with her as a mother and playmate since spending nearly all of my waking hours with her since our move to Dallas. I have never laughed nor danced nor made so much funny faces in my life compared to this period of being a full-time mummy. <br/><br/>Seven months later and the culmination of love and sacrifice has come to this milestone for me as a mother. <br/><br/>Of course who is to say that if I were still working full-time and may not hv spent such time with her but she will most definitely say these words to me?<br/><br/>But for me, I'm happy to have taken this step and even if I were to lament about my lack of opportunities or the "could have", "would have" after I head back to work, I would like to come back to this post and remind myself that nothing in life could have, would have, been as happy as this feeling I felt today.<br/><br/><br/><br/><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVidh5EXwS4v2b8GKP9mHZaxTkPdXqirGCiRifFK8r3VNvJ8IFPwGU5bkwZTv_TU8IdMn2YWGC_sYCTVcM8F99UeZ6xZ7cFauI7575tr_sKJxwjuE-IlG5l1bDsu0-tzqvehMVKPG4-tk1/s288/My%20Uploaded%20Photos.jpg" border="2" alt="" />Michelle Lokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805810848179996104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413240901596223.post-12933834674876777782010-08-31T02:38:00.004-05:002010-08-31T03:12:36.846-05:00Sunday mornings of yore brought me to Philadelphia<script type="text/javascript">
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Oh yes, first trip outside of Dallas/Fortworth in the US of A and the first place I wanted to go was the Sesame Place in Philadelphia. The Sesame Street characters reminded me of wonderful Sunday mornings with the family tucking into homemade pancakes (my papa made them) with honey and blueberry peanut butter/jello but I never really was too crazy about them (nopes, no Sesame St shrine at home). But the ivory key strains of Rainbow Connection, Elmo's song and that inane 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 song with the pinballs never got out of my head after all these years.<br />
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The sweet memories of those days got me wanting to share this fabulous tv programme with my lil one. One of the first songs she can sing along to is Elmo's song. So we've got 3 days in Philadelphia with a day just for Sesame Place and then we trudge on to New York (any city girl's mecca in the face of mass media consumerism and popular culture) after watching reruns of Devil Wears Prada, Sex and the City, Friends (even though it was never filmed on location) and oh yeah, Gossip Girls. Woohoo!<br />
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In any case, here are some pics of our first journey together as a little family unit - believe it or not - as the hubs' working hours never bode well for long family holidays with the kiddo.<br />
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Here are the pics of our first day of travel. Daddy's first holiday with K and it was nothing like the last time with me 6 mths back where she screamed and kicked for 10 mins before takeoff. This time, it was all toothy grins and goofy faces. The man got it easy I say, too easy.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVPRVhIOFMyZZzs7RelBRvc91gc1xGGYvbJM9BloIy7irafrwqQ6168KeurF8V7uKhx7HfhyphenhyphenORTPC_iMON85-wzy8HpJC9SNLMJo86D8L0WAOqRKUemS3IuJ2tFqcRr6GXmn069BOj7F4/s1600/IMG_3382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVPRVhIOFMyZZzs7RelBRvc91gc1xGGYvbJM9BloIy7irafrwqQ6168KeurF8V7uKhx7HfhyphenhyphenORTPC_iMON85-wzy8HpJC9SNLMJo86D8L0WAOqRKUemS3IuJ2tFqcRr6GXmn069BOj7F4/s320/IMG_3382.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">'We’re going on a trip in our favorite rocket ship<br />
Zooming through the sky, Little Einsteins<br />
Climb aboard, get ready to explore<br />
There’s so much to find, Little Einsteins<br />
We’re going on a mission, start the countdown<br />
5, 4, 321<br />
Everyone to rocket, rev it up now<br />
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdrquf04uxFoE9CZD9Uhuydo8XE8bB9ohtmeqpBd8BFoBW2EABvoxJMPMzF7a1IOh7z5dZI8TWkTYwY8l-T06jeOYsbP126HnQCeNmzOqqb75SRnQSC9QUd2Dh0JF5O5CvVzbwyC9Vx9R/s1600/IMG_3384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdrquf04uxFoE9CZD9Uhuydo8XE8bB9ohtmeqpBd8BFoBW2EABvoxJMPMzF7a1IOh7z5dZI8TWkTYwY8l-T06jeOYsbP126HnQCeNmzOqqb75SRnQSC9QUd2Dh0JF5O5CvVzbwyC9Vx9R/s320/IMG_3384.jpg" /></a></div> Wrong airport - hahah - thanks to mummy moi. And off we got on a train to Philadelphia! Small booboo - more sightseeing opportunities! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFNJ4KsgosKlkjIj-RJadgRTHhuYVTdfiYGSVDIDZS2lrpOO3hBZES75iev3x5TJnyq9IAXu8xie7Fypr400ZnXV9-xV1v_aABeEYqP4UvY6FIMn2J_2B7u1RNzu4wM9ckb2BANbl-tUJ/s1600/IMG_3393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFNJ4KsgosKlkjIj-RJadgRTHhuYVTdfiYGSVDIDZS2lrpOO3hBZES75iev3x5TJnyq9IAXu8xie7Fypr400ZnXV9-xV1v_aABeEYqP4UvY6FIMn2J_2B7u1RNzu4wM9ckb2BANbl-tUJ/s320/IMG_3393.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg387IwRd2gQh9wgxmViMdYDk8CceF6o3rO1AC8ak_8008zv3dDRbBCEtLkIEALbepbiP1_lM_GZvNJbVmlbv0McsFzDL_nquxfigOpidCpNLT8AiKvxqzJXwWgPVgTWJ619SdFzr41Q5u/s1600/IMG_3390.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg387IwRd2gQh9wgxmViMdYDk8CceF6o3rO1AC8ak_8008zv3dDRbBCEtLkIEALbepbiP1_lM_GZvNJbVmlbv0McsFzDL_nquxfigOpidCpNLT8AiKvxqzJXwWgPVgTWJ619SdFzr41Q5u/s320/IMG_3390.jpg" /></a></div> K was great - colouring away with her Crayola mess-free ColorWonder crayons. This was a godsend for us as it was pretty much her favourite in-stroller activity plus it makes her sleepy. ;)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixX3WJz9EBGLxhMGE594aWaKSUt4H2IqUJOpUdMcwzc2jUMBOCZkjsNakBWsMeuFCVJtqtZ8wGtYi4D-GoCHxe_ca5kXoK_rE1URiwwyjz7J-EcVZ0WvYmwu2XFq-DLxIM7K6KnZI_Uemw/s1600/IMG_3396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixX3WJz9EBGLxhMGE594aWaKSUt4H2IqUJOpUdMcwzc2jUMBOCZkjsNakBWsMeuFCVJtqtZ8wGtYi4D-GoCHxe_ca5kXoK_rE1URiwwyjz7J-EcVZ0WvYmwu2XFq-DLxIM7K6KnZI_Uemw/s320/IMG_3396.jpg" /></a></div>While the kiddos slept, I met a kindly, old lady of African-American descent, dressed in her Sunday best, who just attended the graduation of her grandson in New York. She said she is 75 years old and has been living in Philadelphia all her life. She started naming her grandchildren's names and where they live in the USA and around the globe. That conversation lasted for nearly an hour.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZx4PTpXBrWM0oXiFQVvLcwTzMx3uxZANLxU6QjJo3SNckXrqUroC4NHZW89hAF0vZj7deG6dgjKCpoN3_PYU7s9xc5atsgF2Ox3fGKtO6VBVN3Jl5PB1SYPES5L54Hkik-x47568DbmhS/s1600/IMG_3402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZx4PTpXBrWM0oXiFQVvLcwTzMx3uxZANLxU6QjJo3SNckXrqUroC4NHZW89hAF0vZj7deG6dgjKCpoN3_PYU7s9xc5atsgF2Ox3fGKtO6VBVN3Jl5PB1SYPES5L54Hkik-x47568DbmhS/s320/IMG_3402.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Finally we reached Philadelphia's iconic 34th street Station. It was huge and cavenous but it was a welcoming sight after having to circumvent a new route here with a delay of almost 3 hours!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzalrlPtaxMo0pP90hT8_fdPFyBPCANE1KoBi1uI2hqS7934QpCbbRquyKYQvddpL6L0S5cCnl8UDMl7-tcpOJqQoMvvaWsHgnU5XJOLnSTCko8RKJ31cSdYhSyf74ZFjHVYXPbwIaT7Hi/s1600/IMG_3404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzalrlPtaxMo0pP90hT8_fdPFyBPCANE1KoBi1uI2hqS7934QpCbbRquyKYQvddpL6L0S5cCnl8UDMl7-tcpOJqQoMvvaWsHgnU5XJOLnSTCko8RKJ31cSdYhSyf74ZFjHVYXPbwIaT7Hi/s320/IMG_3404.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The skyline. I see alot of new buildings - nothing of the old historic ones in sight from here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGH4j6uJXIbtWyUxLEniNHtYM4GZEx5OiOrmR67ariR8wOhvXJIc7zZaYLVk0w3jQf2iIRyRob2Y1hV1oFm2zBpgo1IUjUuCVoWP-onlNhsGDSR3ls1fIKf-wCzrFW-Qt6u9cQNKcpDvJ/s1600/IMG_3405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGH4j6uJXIbtWyUxLEniNHtYM4GZEx5OiOrmR67ariR8wOhvXJIc7zZaYLVk0w3jQf2iIRyRob2Y1hV1oFm2zBpgo1IUjUuCVoWP-onlNhsGDSR3ls1fIKf-wCzrFW-Qt6u9cQNKcpDvJ/s320/IMG_3405.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>We got a hotel just besides the Reading Terminal Market (RTM)- best location really because it is central and walking distance to almost everywhere and of course, child-friendly and near the convenience store for milk top-ups, fresh fruits, snacks. Being Singapore-trained foodies, we simultaneously agreed to grab some notable grub from the market. High on our list of famous Philly eats was Dinic's. But, we were too late as at 4pm, they were sold out on roast beef. All they had left was some pulled pork - which we had. Not too bad but it was nothing like we expected.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimMpclc3n7NZxsnMCA6uvkHODuCQVSm8oJRcXE3EBBo2QyeMZHr4-8xS4RKFnlLsytzUOoW0RyqNmcstH17xzRpd8AoooKqCkc-DYPkzA3-Kts9uBAZNKDx_DhPA4VuKkM1Ax0q5Ccm6K/s1600/IMG_3406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimMpclc3n7NZxsnMCA6uvkHODuCQVSm8oJRcXE3EBBo2QyeMZHr4-8xS4RKFnlLsytzUOoW0RyqNmcstH17xzRpd8AoooKqCkc-DYPkzA3-Kts9uBAZNKDx_DhPA4VuKkM1Ax0q5Ccm6K/s320/IMG_3406.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Passed by a random guy playing some boogie woogie.jazz riffs and breaking into a song. Nice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYmeyYeQZrNvkU0ZKzpGV-P-VaAE2sTg6KSz-3sgIXX6eDEKVnqGrdXfpwde2BB5St75zZ9L5qIIgw6Pcpiheq2bP2ybpOKShHNKy0ZgAYD1vRlvhF3MollTV4Ec_DQvcxOxLJ_mZcZE3/s1600/IMG_3410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYmeyYeQZrNvkU0ZKzpGV-P-VaAE2sTg6KSz-3sgIXX6eDEKVnqGrdXfpwde2BB5St75zZ9L5qIIgw6Pcpiheq2bP2ybpOKShHNKy0ZgAYD1vRlvhF3MollTV4Ec_DQvcxOxLJ_mZcZE3/s320/IMG_3410.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Just to get a feel of what I heard ... except this boy is kinda exceptional.</div><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/llz-n9MDhwM?fs=1&hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/llz-n9MDhwM?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMA1HkdZdFZDtTGoeMUS03oxeJTC0Wu4EhJt-9My9RRXjVrVCMidpZ_clmch4WCMDiGi2lzJ_1WMqU7lR6x4hBFg0YMuHZU9QCph6MgOy4zGp0oEaHwsc5mvcHRO6Qy3wjJdtFI7MQE3m/s1600/IMG_3415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMA1HkdZdFZDtTGoeMUS03oxeJTC0Wu4EhJt-9My9RRXjVrVCMidpZ_clmch4WCMDiGi2lzJ_1WMqU7lR6x4hBFg0YMuHZU9QCph6MgOy4zGp0oEaHwsc5mvcHRO6Qy3wjJdtFI7MQE3m/s320/IMG_3415.jpg" /></a></div>And we moved to a quiet nook of the RTM where we found a really really old rare book store. We found books on black magic, alegbra and plays. I discovered an early 1900s edition of the 1894 play 'Salome' by Oscar Wilde, with illustrations by Aubrey Beardsley. Amazing. There was even a few cubbyholes for children.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1894" title="1894"></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJWLqz_kUL7a-fkw21UzIHoqx0Vuflu_Kuwtuy-q6HEHk1qa2t1DBzMmJKT6Sv7Y8JIRFWcSr3cxNdm-y_AiYn0mBDyJTmmFYdXjpSGlnBj2nNqrCQ7Ijgbuk89lpDuigVTZahuU914U_/s1600/IMG_3420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJWLqz_kUL7a-fkw21UzIHoqx0Vuflu_Kuwtuy-q6HEHk1qa2t1DBzMmJKT6Sv7Y8JIRFWcSr3cxNdm-y_AiYn0mBDyJTmmFYdXjpSGlnBj2nNqrCQ7Ijgbuk89lpDuigVTZahuU914U_/s320/IMG_3420.jpg" /></a></div>With a couple hours of sunlight left, we took a stroll down the historial area of Philadelphia, starting with the Independence Hall. Oh man, birth place of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution from the 1800s.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8oIKpHN8AU-w1tMP39iVqtjbL7nN8MQOWm3u7cGTQ0aB6ttYcc0Ah7G0YCb3idDIwXDAiYd8YmvEYQ28OCBATHeAzfZnuIHO0uk1R1kwxJ3vxANyktkBCCQ3M_tKsxvqQaEYJW2z4EOp/s1600/Independence+Hall+Wiki2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8oIKpHN8AU-w1tMP39iVqtjbL7nN8MQOWm3u7cGTQ0aB6ttYcc0Ah7G0YCb3idDIwXDAiYd8YmvEYQ28OCBATHeAzfZnuIHO0uk1R1kwxJ3vxANyktkBCCQ3M_tKsxvqQaEYJW2z4EOp/s320/Independence+Hall+Wiki2.bmp" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">In real life. Not that much different to my untrained eye. Ok the 1800s visual is covered by trees but at least the clock tower looks similar.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_m74SjwSRKxk4jAG5mrOL0eH1OF4FoJEehc0LCvJiNY2S9wCVY8gvT1-G_tiqLrr10i3pE54sIXeGRPTJGqvBinNeBL36gVQPC65g0OjeH3fQHw8VrJnUPRfAyInR1miSZ0EDjQcFa-gR/s1600/IMG_3421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_m74SjwSRKxk4jAG5mrOL0eH1OF4FoJEehc0LCvJiNY2S9wCVY8gvT1-G_tiqLrr10i3pE54sIXeGRPTJGqvBinNeBL36gVQPC65g0OjeH3fQHw8VrJnUPRfAyInR1miSZ0EDjQcFa-gR/s320/IMG_3421.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSZwHFh9el6pBYbE_1qyu-w7kqLmWWngNfkHlvjDg5AqqI0BlaU2RjynBHR93QEUnSIGhMj56WPmCXng0V-DEfA5457LdTeSYz9RrNFG6y_HyToGP0bJ2piuURhdJSdCnBvQxk1HZ6Kvo/s1600/map+of+philly.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSZwHFh9el6pBYbE_1qyu-w7kqLmWWngNfkHlvjDg5AqqI0BlaU2RjynBHR93QEUnSIGhMj56WPmCXng0V-DEfA5457LdTeSYz9RrNFG6y_HyToGP0bJ2piuURhdJSdCnBvQxk1HZ6Kvo/s320/map+of+philly.bmp" /></a></div>We walked through the historic district and managed to visit the Liberty Bell just before closing. A not-so-heavily guarded cracked bell and a few murals on the side. I would recommend giving this a miss. We were in and out in 3 mins. It was easy to take in the sights of the historic district as the area wasn't as big as we had expected it to. With still more sunlight, a light breeze and a map ripped out from our hotel's magazine, we made our way to Penn's Landing where it is supposedly where one of the first settlers, William Penn, made his name in Philly. Of course, history states that it was a busy port for a century in the 1700s and by the 1900s, it looked gross and they decided to revitalize it to make it somewhat more presentable and of course marketable.. Kinda same story as our Boat Quay and more recently Vivocity. So big scale events are to be the focus and unfortunately, none were what we saw. There was a fair of sorts but it was so out of sorts that we were again, in and out in 5mins. We knew that there was a navy museum nearby but we weren't so keen on that kind of history and decided to roam around a little more.<br />
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Dinner plans were to be this well-reviewed establishment which serves the best philly cheesesteak and with my helpful iphone, we located it just 10mins' walk from Penn's. It was packed indeed. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJeJI69qYujv1ekJ44mdNuZANf391VuEb6BiVnlMSjVAvCE0GapQbsrc5l6yYgWYzq95-knUlA3hxdJlhnn2EBATr6e5qIeXYGq4CWC6aSzdEtMsed9iHSv9Uz72dYwguPtEJNfwS_Bhf/s1600/IMG_3438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJeJI69qYujv1ekJ44mdNuZANf391VuEb6BiVnlMSjVAvCE0GapQbsrc5l6yYgWYzq95-knUlA3hxdJlhnn2EBATr6e5qIeXYGq4CWC6aSzdEtMsed9iHSv9Uz72dYwguPtEJNfwS_Bhf/s320/IMG_3438.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">What best way to match the favours of the cheesesteak but with beer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xdUsYeI6Rx42ETIJuTONFCYBTX4xF1OpCZ2DqKI1kzkwB8wAmB1PG4InjHzVqyJLtq9wCe9sc9RgpyHxNxHGk3PrGKqOxyOyoz2IdvggwQdJUzGtcaL-CB6IZd_ZJBn4nOeuIAW0ak6a/s1600/IMG_3440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xdUsYeI6Rx42ETIJuTONFCYBTX4xF1OpCZ2DqKI1kzkwB8wAmB1PG4InjHzVqyJLtq9wCe9sc9RgpyHxNxHGk3PrGKqOxyOyoz2IdvggwQdJUzGtcaL-CB6IZd_ZJBn4nOeuIAW0ak6a/s320/IMG_3440.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Even K thinks so.. while she don't enjoy the drink like we do - she cools down too by touching the cold cold bottle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMqatbqmtKPe6_cnJCju08i555P5Ec0kPjcn-cMvzgMg0dLjxFFh5qa9LgSCyC-O211gpiKu6mjaoj6DE70AEBbmVvggJz14t-4gfC4HYMO7kCmTM0TjZeNZgjWO5v7FcM0ChmZ6OTfYG/s1600/IMG_3444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMqatbqmtKPe6_cnJCju08i555P5Ec0kPjcn-cMvzgMg0dLjxFFh5qa9LgSCyC-O211gpiKu6mjaoj6DE70AEBbmVvggJz14t-4gfC4HYMO7kCmTM0TjZeNZgjWO5v7FcM0ChmZ6OTfYG/s320/IMG_3444.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlrAvKoxVf3uPML2PPfm81riXBiamVOwn7uJcg7NX-Cqci6w3jpD7kb79iCqZ6S11-LzMEu6dTjzEdjhoPcjtBRHy30NHBBEiDPiCVBCtuvFQeypwDloXT3sXMnR6JLPsPpPsfKQ2BLQHp/s1600/IMG_3446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlrAvKoxVf3uPML2PPfm81riXBiamVOwn7uJcg7NX-Cqci6w3jpD7kb79iCqZ6S11-LzMEu6dTjzEdjhoPcjtBRHy30NHBBEiDPiCVBCtuvFQeypwDloXT3sXMnR6JLPsPpPsfKQ2BLQHp/s320/IMG_3446.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQ_AENmX9mhSf-JzZEzbJ5Ctbs6V30xsvBQtwZc45QTJLzexZo_B0WL2be4iwn0OcFmrT7SUyCA1M-G9zs3rz3di2v8et5AcSiafbW7dKEGW3KQjEvvhAznrDU7NrNgzM8Tzb_UlGlGJo/s1600/IMG_3445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQ_AENmX9mhSf-JzZEzbJ5Ctbs6V30xsvBQtwZc45QTJLzexZo_B0WL2be4iwn0OcFmrT7SUyCA1M-G9zs3rz3di2v8et5AcSiafbW7dKEGW3KQjEvvhAznrDU7NrNgzM8Tzb_UlGlGJo/s320/IMG_3445.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was also yummz. <br />
Some random moments of mummy & daughter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1REsAQRLMzu-d2MyGKIS6QlqgLU-tMXBDsjt8aSfG-KU9CopbWrMQM2Phwvdz5VZVsag23ihP88YY4_8GaFkM44odU4pS9DSfHgV1Sc56GINQjA1rW9bGgDHqDkCL1zQNQTQjy23MIsm/s1600/IMG_3447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1REsAQRLMzu-d2MyGKIS6QlqgLU-tMXBDsjt8aSfG-KU9CopbWrMQM2Phwvdz5VZVsag23ihP88YY4_8GaFkM44odU4pS9DSfHgV1Sc56GINQjA1rW9bGgDHqDkCL1zQNQTQjy23MIsm/s320/IMG_3447.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7pOXaS9SxgJWCNi5kEroYvUW4FcC-tTyAwkJ8BnSEbt1z0XRFZSor_5Dp8Bvs4VL1DUdnZrK2yDCMlJ4IENgyzI7PUW3hH24yoj7QFHCQXaWYK4X75dSf__CN2iZfrg4G-Q_X0D-u8XeN/s1600/IMG_3448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7pOXaS9SxgJWCNi5kEroYvUW4FcC-tTyAwkJ8BnSEbt1z0XRFZSor_5Dp8Bvs4VL1DUdnZrK2yDCMlJ4IENgyzI7PUW3hH24yoj7QFHCQXaWYK4X75dSf__CN2iZfrg4G-Q_X0D-u8XeN/s320/IMG_3448.jpg" /></a></div> With more than 6 hours in transit and 4 hours of sightseeing, we decided to call it a day and end the day with a nice hot bath and trips to the convenience store to stock up on water, juices and snacks and get enough sleep to ready ourselves for Sesame Place the following day.<br />
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Oh yes, at bedtime, the ever-zealous mummy moi took out a can of milk powder (fortified with loads of Omega-3 DHA, iron and etc etc.) and upon opening it, found out it was brown in color. No it has not gone bad but that I had bought chocolate milk powder. Not sure how I managed this feat - from buying it from a store, packing the can into the luggage and all the while, not realising it was chocolate. The tyrant resisted it even though Paul and I valiantly took a few swigs of it and declared it drinkable! <br />
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So yet another trip to the convenience store to buy a bottle of milk. Very eventful first day.<br />
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<span id="goog_1088255087"></span><span id="goog_1088255088"></span>Michelle Lokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805810848179996104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413240901596223.post-52936234739651446222010-07-20T17:17:00.001-05:002010-07-20T18:47:48.039-05:00Congrats yo! Serene & Casey!As of 11 July 2010, we have an addition to the Loke family! A beautiful lil angel called Nicole, brought to this world by my sis & BIL. Congrats to the newly minted parents!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrF409woSrdVe74Y7fuYJyfzPHFahTEg_nwcRprZfcGEjQwEivYHMRa5NuZjaviIBRJVEHbKDuzAMtkmgo5w9FXiQzCYTt28qqXK5dbRnDM3YucAkzXlDtzJ3vQRt2DjpfimjaLuRv9oie/s1600/CaseySerene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrF409woSrdVe74Y7fuYJyfzPHFahTEg_nwcRprZfcGEjQwEivYHMRa5NuZjaviIBRJVEHbKDuzAMtkmgo5w9FXiQzCYTt28qqXK5dbRnDM3YucAkzXlDtzJ3vQRt2DjpfimjaLuRv9oie/s320/CaseySerene.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The new parents</div>I remember much of my childhood being the 2nd eldest grandchild on my mum's side of the family, and since I was the first to have a lil one, I am mighty glad that lil K now has a lil cousin to play with when she goes back to sunny Singapore!<br />
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Good on ya', sis!<br />
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Here are some pics that I'd nabbed from their baby blog!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHRkW6AgG5k_Asm-F0bojtG6PTo9OET1cieUSSQK-d3QdytOW3l2jKim7GmUeTYeigueezujV_N0V4uotBHiefTv6pe_otv_EgSumaqzbkgEaPwb3pS4B5wWmk_EF175nO8UICyj6V9ts/s1600/Nicole1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHRkW6AgG5k_Asm-F0bojtG6PTo9OET1cieUSSQK-d3QdytOW3l2jKim7GmUeTYeigueezujV_N0V4uotBHiefTv6pe_otv_EgSumaqzbkgEaPwb3pS4B5wWmk_EF175nO8UICyj6V9ts/s320/Nicole1.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOFD6vdqS9FsT8_Ydrc7cn88vXfPxJskkaaRe4flfIYECVRBknkHwNTL8exollgmDOI_WqrOo0JMgrG5YoKOe5WX1rhsosizCP6ik-U_Tb7hqiHrXhgF6ogoO_USWsQ8RHV4CJAThIaI9/s1600/Nicole2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOFD6vdqS9FsT8_Ydrc7cn88vXfPxJskkaaRe4flfIYECVRBknkHwNTL8exollgmDOI_WqrOo0JMgrG5YoKOe5WX1rhsosizCP6ik-U_Tb7hqiHrXhgF6ogoO_USWsQ8RHV4CJAThIaI9/s320/Nicole2.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I absolutely adore this pic with her lil tongue sticking out!</div><br />
Of course, to inaugurate this wonderful occasion, I've selected beautiful items from my latest and 'favoritest' online shop which carries wonderful brands from Helmut Lang, Marc Jacobs, Rebecca Minkoff amongst others. I have bought Bodum double-walled french press, Clu pants, Elephantino Infants, Little Marc Jacobs, Seda France L'Argent candles amongst others at hugely discounted prices. Quality and return policy however, are fantabulous. <br />
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I've seen Herve Leger, Christian Lacroix RTW being sold as well as luxurious stays similar to those featured in Relais & Chateaux and lifestyle/furniture items from Lladro and Ligne Roset! I have been a loyal follower since I came to the USA from Day 1 and words cannot describe how much I lurrve them! Much control is needed to NOT click. <br />
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Drop me an email at mlokie@yahoo.com so I can refer you. Please! Let me refer you so I can get some referral credits to fuel my shopping habit here. ;pMichelle Lokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805810848179996104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504413240901596223.post-49305870833945596962010-07-16T02:49:00.007-05:002010-07-16T03:13:51.771-05:00Writing her alphabets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><script type="text/javascript">
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKf6e58abUH-AhoHaHcYzBJ9rXNNTaESAo9rF3P49AZzVHStRREBUcpzFveU3zkC85iFVreucTFgJYuuE53ZKw-Ydc1dgKjSK3tvkWn-OHss46NpnZ__01Zkg00iHepH_Xc0sguLiuRMA/s1600/WritingAB+blog+image.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKf6e58abUH-AhoHaHcYzBJ9rXNNTaESAo9rF3P49AZzVHStRREBUcpzFveU3zkC85iFVreucTFgJYuuE53ZKw-Ydc1dgKjSK3tvkWn-OHss46NpnZ__01Zkg00iHepH_Xc0sguLiuRMA/s320/WritingAB+blog+image.bmp" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Since K only goes for her 3-hr school on 3 days and goes for gym & art class on another, the remaining morning we have together just mummy and her, I will try to stay at home and play. I find it rather amusing when she asked to write or colour.<br />
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Since she started school the Montessori (Singapore) way at 20-month-old, she has been good with her motor skills as she often come home with sheets of coloring and creative artwork. The reason why I had specified 'Singapore' was because this was obviously not what is being encouraged here in many of the Montessori schools I had visited because they leave the kids to 'explore' and 'decide what they want to do'. Which is pretty what montessori's decree BUT... oh yes.. BUT not if the teachers decide to sit in the playground TWICE in the 3 hours they are in school. Oh. I have much to say about the education here but this will take a post by itself.<br />
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Paul and I had decided from a long time ago that our parenting style is to have our kid/s (future tense) enjoy their early childhoods for as long as they can with loads of play and to never traumatise them for something that will eventually come naturally and when they want to do it for themselves.However this doesn't mean that we can't equip them with the tools for exploration.<br />
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Here is a short video of lil K doing a spot of writing. ;)<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pqgBYwLorkU&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pqgBYwLorkU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And then she writes B.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8kSD1Op1L6k&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8kSD1Op1L6k&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div>Michelle Lokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10805810848179996104noreply@blogger.com0