#128 Remodeling Stage 1- the Garage

We just got approved for our new house in Orlando! I'm STOKED. It's a cute 2 story blue house that has a lot of personality in it. I can't wait to move my stuff into it- it'll sort of be like a vacation/business home! Once we move lots of our big furniture in it, we will have room at the Little House in Molino to remodel it. We'll finally have a place called home home once it's all remodeled and everything :)

#127 Remodeling Stage! The Nest!

So before you get married, the site to go to is http://www.theknot.com/. Now that we're married, the next site to go to is http://www.thenest.com/. Once there's one in the oven, the last site to hit is http://www.thebump.com/. How cute is that? Right now, I'm on TheNest!

Speaking of the Nest:

Our plans for remodeling!

#126 en*twined hair pieces

# 125 Bleu-y Cheesy Ravioli

Another creative masterpiece. What I like to do is take a basic formula and add my variables to it. About 2 years ago, I was lacking motivation to cook. I went to the pantry to try to find some inspiration- there I found a box of Giant Shells and a recipe on the back. The recipe was something like a stuffed shell with ricotta cheese.
Shell = (spinach + ground beef + ricotta + raw egg) + spaghetti sauce

My Recipe:
Shell = (spinach + grilled chicken and sauteed onions + bleu cheese + raw egg) + spaghetti sauce

Delicioso!!

# 124 V-Day, and cooking

V-day, Joe Cain, and Chinese New Year was this past Sunday, 2/14. Whew. Thomas and I decided not to go out to the Melting Pot due to the weather on Thursday(Winter Storm warning). It did snow on Friday though for about 15 minutes! It was GORGEOUS! Of course, I was "snowed-out" from the honeymoon but it was great to see it nonetheless. Wish there was more now. Dang. Anyway, we didn't get to go to the Melting Pot so I was kind of sad seeing that now I was craving their amazing cheese fondue mixed with wine. I remember the 2 best parts of that restaurant- the dessert and the cheese. Thomas hand-dipped strawberries in chocolate perfectly and stuck them upsidedown with their sticks in styrofoam so that there would be no squish parts from setting it down. Instead, they were even and beautifully presented. He also popped open a bottle of champagne and gave me a sweet little double-heart necklace made of white gold and tiny diamonds. Part of the proceeds go to helping autistic children which I adore.

On to the delish part. So I am still craving cheese/wine fondue mixture but starting tomorrow for Lent, I'm giving up restaurants. Therefore, I went nuts and made this fantastic pasta dish completely from my head.

Crystal's Woodbridge Chardonnay Portobello Pasta

- Woodbridge Chardonnay

- Extra sharp cheddar cheese

- diced mushrooms

- Italian seasoned ground turkey(more lean)

- creamed corn

- EVOO

- thin spaghetti

Setting a saucepan on medium heat, I threw in the cheddar cheese and wine, both about equal parts. You can add more wine since it'll reduce to a nice, thicker consistency by the time you're done cooking everything else. Boil your pasta and set it aside. While sauce is simmering, start cooking diced onions first, then throw in the ground turkey. Once the turkey reaches medium, push it aside to make room for the mushrooms. Add about a teaspoon and a half of EVOO and the mushrooms. You can add the creamed corn after the mushrooms are cooked halfway. Add garlic salt and pepper. I added a little bit of Kikkoman's soy sauce to the mushrooms to burn it a little. Stir the entire mixture- slowly add the cooked pasta to the pan. Once evenly heated, add the now-reduced wine/cheese sauce and toss again. Turn off the heat. You are ready to eat.

OPTIONS: Due to the lack of color, I would suggest next time cooking thin strips of red and green bell peppers to your dish when you start cooking the mushrooms.

Voila! delicioso!

# 123 Hair Pieces from the Wedding!

Imagine, or remember, as a curious young girl rifling through yout mom's vanity. You discover beautiful and vintage head pieces that are uniquely reminiscent of her time. Duong and Crystal's whimsical collaboration includes a modern take on custom headpieces. It's as if you danced through the magical forest and came out with beautiful ornaments in your hair.
With a direct response and incorporation of nature, Duong and Crystal's hair pieces are sure to make heads turn and wonder if you were born with it.

# 122 Some Wedding pics

# 121 First Stop: New York for the 1st week

SAT- hopped on a train to NY
SUN- arrived in NY around 2!
MON- went to the Cooper Hewitt Museum! It sort of sucked- I only liked 1 or 2 pieces in the entire museum. Plus I hate their DON'T TOUCH stickers and their guards. So mean! They have regular magazines on their casual display and I got yelled at for trying to thumb through the pages. lame. Bought $10 tickets to a comedy show at Comic Strip, the famous venue where Jerry Seinfield opens up his show every time. That $20 for 2 budget exploded to $80 spending money that night. They get you with, "Buy a $10 ticket!" and then require you to purchase $20 minimum of drink orders or 2 drinks. Well, the average drink there was $12, + tax + tip. You get the picture. Although it was really funny. After one strawberry margarita, the host asked "who's drunk?!" and I yelled from the back, "TOASTED!!!" Oh lord, tequila.
TUES- My 23rd Bday! Went to ChinaTown and searched for Prosperity Dumpling, home of the famous $1 for 5 huge, juicy dumplings. AMAZINNNNG!!! Thomas and I literally got full off of 5.50. It was so cheap I threw some more money at the guy because I felt like I was robbing him. Saw The Lion King on Broadway at night! It was fantastic- an 8 out of 10. Made me cry. A few steps from our hotel.
WED- Went to the Met. Got a picture with Mao.
THUR- 7am Feng Wah bus to Boston. Arrive at 11. There my aunt, her friend, Thomas, and I went to a Chinese teahouse. Thomas facebooked "at Boston having tea party." Ha. Went to Copley Center, the campus of MIT(very cool), and had a very traditional Chinese dinner at New Jumbo. The first time I got to stare at the fish I was going to eat before it was killed(they had an aquarium full of lobsters and fish). Arrived back to Chinatown around 11:30 at night. A bit spooky but hey, it's my country-town.
FRI- uhm, right now is Friday. Still deciding.
SAT- Fly to Vegas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! for part II

# 120 Newlyweds!!!

First post as a newlywed! We're currently on a train to NY. How freaking cool is that?! The train far exceeded my expectations. We have a little sleeper cell/room with a bunk bed. We even have our very own toilet and sink. A little weird to say the least but the dining room is awesome. The food's not bad- the steak was good though. I'm stoked. Love the train.

The wedding was sooooooooo beautiful!!

# 118 Last Post for awhile? 1 More DAY!!

ONE MORE DAY!!!!!!!!!!
Last night was the Chinese Reception. WOW! I didn't think my restaurant could look that sick but it was AWESOME!! Of course, picture time was the worst. Can't handle it. My eyes hurt. BUT! The food was great, it was slightly different from Happy China's banquet meals but still awesome! My family went all out for that party. End of the night- Stress level shot up to 11 out of 10. haha. Then, all morning and afternoon today, I had a huge bridal workshop and we knocked out the best things ever.
:::DONE:::
PINE TREE FAVORS (54) 4 per table
DETHORNING ROSES
MOSS COLLECTION
CENTERPIECES READY
TABLECLOTHS IRONED
CAKE ICED
CAKE ACORNS MADE

:::NEED TO DO TOMORROW:::
- Playlist at Thom's
- pick up & wash silverware at Thom's
- wrap silverware w/hemp and ivy
- pack for Honeymoon(ish) and Night before
- tell Mom to bring my dress, veil, jewelry, and gloves
- tell Mom to bring the Chafing Dishes from home
- tell Mom to bring coffee creamer/sugar/sweeteners
- set up tables and chairs
- deposit checks, pick up presc
- setup guest book table and decorate!
.... Please Sign In!!! Draw yourself and write a fortune for the newly married couple and drop it in the fortune box! Or, a message to the couple! Thank you once again!


:::DAY OF:::
- set up the tablecloths
- centerpieces, candles with rocks, water. Add flowers. I have so many flowers at this point I don't know what to do with myself.
- set up CAKE
- Have BEN and ALEX as ushers. Ben escorts my mom down the aisle to her LEFT spot, Alex escorts Laura to the Right spot with Thom following behind.

Helen: bring all of your old clear vases NBD!
in charge of:
- Handing sealed envelope pay for Adam, (2), and Beethoven
- Have checkbook ready

# 117 Bachy Party

I went to my first bachelorette party- my own! I've been to others but they only involved food since I missed part of theirs. Stayed at Chairman Mao's sick Suite- PIMPTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!

Now it's off for the chinese dinner tomorrow. Ouch!
I burned part of my forehead yesterday with my new curling iron. Makeup won't cover it up well so I readjusted my hair part so that it'll cover it naturally LOL. I'm such a dunce.

# 116 Still Need to Do...

Still Need to Do... 
- Devise Music Playlist (halfway done- now I need the uptempo dance songs)
- Recipes for Kay
- Addresses of all the guests to send a NY postcard (buy extra stamps)
- Ceremony Programs, design and send PDF to Helen. Half sheet, double sided, give paper to her as well. Buy paper cutter at Big Lots?
- call Patricia and Adam about the day
-  REVISE and Send Ceremony Outline and Wedding Day itinerary to wedding party.
- Take pics of centerpieces and send them to Kay, Kat, and bridesmaids
- take pics of wedding cheesecake.
- Bake wedding cheesecake on Thursday. Then Sunday evening!
- Pick up seafood at Joe Patti's on Monday at 10am. Go shopping with Kay at Sam's!
- make seating chart and assign people seating.

List  to Buy at Sam's:
- dinner napkins(Target? 7th generation natural napkins)
- 2 sets forks and knives
- plastic plates for desserts
- candies  (swedish fish,  M&Ms, apple rings, chocolates)
- boxes for takeaway candies
- wash white plates
- iron out tablecloths

Mom:
- hot water heater at Mobile Fixture
- heat lamps for roast pig

Wan Fu:
- forks and knives
- sugar caddies
- chaffing dishes and stuff
- more buffet pans (4 deep ones, 12 shallow ones)
-------give some to Laura and Thom
- salt and pepper shakers (14? or just 2?)
- coffee cups
- tea pots and cups(same as coffee cups)
- all of the little scoops and tongs she doesn't really use
- all of the white Xmas lights
- all of the light pink tablecloths

//wash white plates

Asian Market
Random Candies:
- Lychee Jellies
- coffee candy
- the rabbit candy

# 115 10 Days Left!!!

I sent in the ceremony outline to Robin last Wednesday. I had some of my girls come out to help me. I am not even close to donezo. I'm kind of retreating within myself I'm so nervous.

Property Signs to Walk:
There once was a squirrel named Jack. He followed these birds along a dirt path.
He took a wrong turn, and then he returned, to a lit area that was packed.

Rabbits and chipmunks and frogs, there were even dancing groundhogs,
the forest was full of the chilly winter cool, as they gathered around burning logs.

A ceremony of love was to take place, with a smile on everyone's face.
a robin was there and a cat helped prepare
the celebration of love that was based.

A pathway created was made, so the guests would not have to evade.
A rabbit dressed in white with a groom in her sight,
will dance down the path that was laid.

They want their beloved guests to know, how much this means to them so.
They've come all this way, to witness the day
of where the commitment and love will go.

Wedding Day "Program"


Welcome Message 
Thomas and Crystal want to thank you for sharing their special day with them at their forest wedding :)

Velveteen Rabbit excerpt
 Weeks passed, and the little Rabbit grew very old and shabby, but the Boy loved him just as much. He loved him so hard that he loved all his whiskers off, and the pink lining to his ears turned grey, and his brown spots faded. He even began to lose his shape, and he scarcely looked like a rabbit any more, except to the Boy.
To him he was always beautiful, and that was all that the little Rabbit cared about. He didn't mind how he looked to other people, because the nursery magic had made him Real, and when you are Real shabbiness doesn't matter. 
Wedding Party
Officiant/Robin Davis
Maid of Honor/Helen Cheung, bridesmaids/Terry Lin/Duong Hoang/Melissa Dorsey/Hanh Le/India Owens
Best Man/Scott Dickens, groomsmen/Kevin Cooper/Billy Riggins/Eric Eligio/Wilson Yu/Linda Nguyen
Parents of the Bride: Lai Ka and Nai Chin Yu
Parents of the Groom: Laura Cooper/ Thomas Barrineau III

Please enjoy refreshments during cocktail hour 3:00-4:30
Make a birdseed covered pinecone with your kid!
Go canoing in the lake!  Roast marshmallows at the fire.

Anytime you need a ride back to your car, do not hesitate to ask a groomsman to escort you back via golfcart.

Bathrooms are located at the Little House and the Big House.

# 114 Rings, License, Dent., donezo!

Thomas and I finally visted the courthouse the same day my friend was getting hitched and applied for our license. That same day, we visited the local jeweler he went to get my engagement ring at. I tell you, I loved the place. Places like Zales and Kay's were too bling and money focused. This place was so chill, I didn't mind going double budget on the bands(that also has to do partly with the fact that gold prices have literally doubled this year from last). Bob knew exactly who we were even though I got engaged 3 years ago and was no pressure. He's going to do some custom work on our bands so that it matches my engagement ring. I pick them up soon. He's had his shop for the past 35 years which I find phenomenal. Stoked!

# 113 Bridal Showers! Dos..

Today was my second bridal shower! The party was hosted by Kat, a close family friend. She went all out Kat-styled: silver coffee urns, glass cups and plates, polished silver, and fantastic hor d'eurvs. The setting was definitely more formal and I got way too many gifts once again! I swear, it's honestly so awkward for me to get this kind of attention and care, but as many have said(albeit not follow as much), "You only get married once!" The one Melissa and Helen threw for me 2 weeks prior was very chill and laidback since it was a potluck feast. Anyway, I am so thankful and happy that my friends and family care so much. This is only the beginning too.