Simple Life...Simple Pleasure...Simple Happiness

Pressure Cooker

2011-11-02T16:15:00.000-07:00

I have always wanted to try using a pressure cooker, but I wasn't ready to spend a hundred dollar just to see if I like it. I was at Macy's few weeks ago and came across this casa pressure cooker for $19.99, I just couldn't talk myself out of buying it. =)

Looking at the instruction, it can pretty much pressure cook anything from veggies to meat or seafood, but when I searched for recipes on the internet, there is not much out there that I like.I guess I just have to come up with my own pressure cooker recipes.
I made curry brisket (咖哩炆牛腩) in my pressure cooker the night before Halloween, actually I was preparing it for halloween night. I knew with the kids going trick or treating and trick or treaters coming to my house, I would have no time for making a meal. It just worked out perfectly! After a night, the favor were even better, it was a big hit with my family!

Curry Brisket 咖哩炆牛腩
2lbs Beef Brisket (I got mine at a Chinese market, I don't know if the regular brisket would work the same.)
1/2 bag baby carrot
1 large onion (big chunk)
3 small shallots
3tbsp curry powder
1/4 c coconut milk
1/4c evaporated milk
3/4c water
2tbsp soy sauce
2tbsp sugar
salt and pepper to taste

Bring a pot of water to boil (enough to cover the brisket), put in the brisket and let it boil for about 5-10 mins, wash brisket under cold water then cut into big chunks.
Heat up pressure cooker on high heat, put in 2tbsp oil to heat up then add curry powder and shallots. Put in the carrot, onion and meat chunks after you can smell the curry. Cook for couple mins then put in the liquid and seasonings. Put pressure cooker lid on and wait for the steam to raise, lower heat to low and cook for 30-45 mins.
For the best result, cook it the day before you plan to eat and let the favor marry together. Reheat on stove and add more seasoning if need.

Let me know if you have your favorite pressure cooker recipe, I would love to try it.

A Sudden Interest

2011-09-20T22:59:00.000-07:00

I was at the library last week with the kids for story time, and saw a book that caught my eye. I usually don't read books but since Jathan is in school now and we have been encouraging him to read, I thought I should be a good example as well.

I'm sure some of you have read it or at least heard of it. I'm almost half way through now, and amazed with what those FLDS women put up with in that culture. I knew they have been brain wash since they are young, but seriously! who in their right mind would think what they are doing is right, it's god's will.
I just so very grateful to have the true gospel in my life. I know my Heavenly Father loves me and wants me to be happy; he wants me to experience love, and have the freedom to choose what I want. In coming May, Jeff and I will be married for 10 years. I can't tell you everything is fine in our marriage but at least we both have the same goal, and willing to work on our differences. I'm lucky to have a husband who loves and respects me and the children, also try really hard to make us happy.
For the women or girls are still in the cult, I want to say "GET OUT! There are better lives for you!"

You say GROSS, I say YUM!!

2011-08-19T17:11:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of things that I eat that most American thinks it's nauseating, like chicken feet, tripe, stuffs like that. Maybe this is not as gross as some of the others.

It's just an egg, all the chinese love them(at least the chinese I know). It's a perserved duck egg. I know it's black and you might think it's gross looking, but it's very yummy to me! =)
My friend Lydia, showed me a dish recently that I can't get enough of. It have two ingredients that most American dislike. 1.) Perserved duck egg; 2) Tofu. Haha!! I'm going to share the recipe and I dare you to try it!

Preserved Duck Eggs with Tofu
1 14 oz. box of silken tofu
2 preserved duck eggs
1 tbsp chili soy paste
1 tsp. sesame oil
1tbsp chopped green onion
shredded dry pork (optional)

Drain tofu and cut into small cubes, place it on a serving plate. Cube eggs and place on top, add soy sauce and sesame oil, last but not least chopped green onions and shredded dry pork on top.
Enjoy!

Life never go the way we planned!

2011-06-15T22:38:00.000-07:00

After a year of student life with two kids, we thought life will get better with a more stable career, who knew that it wasn't what Heavenly Father has in stored for us. Now Jeff is too old for being an air traffic controller, he decided he is going to get his BS in aviation administration at UVU starting this fall.
Not only we are going to we are going to be dirt poor for the next two years, we also have to feed one more little person. =) Yup, we are expecting baby no.3. Even though life is not going the way we planned, we are still very grateful for the blessing that came our way.

ultrasound taken@ week 7

Spam musubi

2011-06-09T23:11:00.000-07:00

Unlike most people, I like spam. I don't eat them a lot but I always have couple cans in my pantry. I remember whenever my mom needed a quick, easy meal; spam was always on the menu. I know some people think Spam is such a disgusting food. Why is that??? Here people eat hot dog, bologna and think that spam is gross, I don't get that at all, What is the different between them? They are all processed meat! So if you eat hot dog or bologna, I will ask you to give spam a try.

I made some spam musubis for lunch, the kid loved it and I was very satisfied. It is very easy to make and so yummy. Give it a try! You might like it.

Ingredients

2 cups uncooked short-grain white rice
2 cups water
4 tbsp rice vinegar
3 tbsp soy sauce
3 tbsp oyster sauce
2 tbsp white sugar
1 (12 ounce) container fully cooked luncheon meat (e.g. Spam)
5 sheets sushi nori (dry seaweed)
1 tbsp vegetable oil

Directions

Soak uncooked rice for half an hours; drain and rinse, then cook it in the rice cooker.
When the rice is done, let it rest and cool down for 15 mins, then stir in rice vinegar, soy sauce, oyster sauce and sugar until mix well.
Slice spam lengthwise into 10 slices, or to desired thickness, and pan fry them about 2 mins per side or lightly browned. Cut nori sheets in half and lay on a flat work surface. Place a rice press in the center of the sheet, and press rice tightly inside. Top with a slice of luncheon meat, and remove press. Wrap nori around rice mold, sealing edges with a small amount of water. (Rice may also be formed by hand in the shape of the meat slices, 1 inch thick.)
Musubi may be served warm or chilled.

New Favorite Hair Do For ME!!

2011-05-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

I love trying new hair do's on my little girl, and she looks cute with everything of course, on the other hand, I have hard time finding hair do's that look good on me. I watched these video few days ago and thought it might look cute on me.
Today, it was 9th wedding anniversary for me and my hubby. I decided to try this DO and LOVE IT!!!

Here is the final product.

Close up on the braid.

Trying to look HOT! Ha!Ha!

What do you think?

Pasta Anyone?!

2011-03-28T22:09:00.000-07:00

Last week I got 25 boxes of pasta for free by couponing. I haven't try this brand yet, hopefully they are good. Guess what we are having for dinner?! =)

Do you have a favorite pasta dish that you would like to share with me? Please!

No More Store Bought!!

2011-03-08T23:02:00.000-08:00

There are only few desserts I really enjoy, ice-cream cakes are one of them. If you get them from an ice-cream place like cold stone or baskin robbin, they are good but very expensive; and the ones from grocery store aren't very good.
Since my daughter (who turned 3 today) didn't tell me what cake she wanted, I decided to make an ice-cream cake. There are few things I will do differently next time but it was very easy and tasty, not to mention the price was GREAT! I think it totally costed me about 2-3 dollar, well....... it wouldn't be that cheap if I didn't get the ice-cream for free.

If you consider making an ice-cream cake, you should watch some youtube clips about it, get the basic idea then be creative and make it your own. It really not that hard! Enjoy!

1st couponing experience in Utah. "LIKE"

2010-12-31T00:43:00.000-08:00

I liked couponing in my area when we were in PA. I was just used to the stores, and I had my routine, I was very afaid that I would have a hard time couponing here in Utah.Today, I went to two stores and both were success, I am very happy.

Here is my shopping (saving) trip:
6 cool whip $.24 each
6 philadelphia cream cheese $.49 each
2 Haagen daz ice cream $.54 each
2 planters nuts $.75each
8 athenos hummus FREE
5 trial size Tide FREE
6 coast bar soap FREE
2 olay bodywash FREE
2 olay body lotion FREE
3 vaseline lotion FREE
3 suave shampoo FREE

I paid $6.96 for all these good stuff!! I would have to pay $63.27 without coupons. Yes, Coupon Rocks!!!

Shopping = Spending money?? Not Always!

2010-11-27T22:41:00.000-08:00

Yes, I'm a Black Friday shopper! Not the extreme kind would wait in line outside of a store, but I don't mind staying up or waking up earlier for shopping. Since we are moving in a few weeks, I didn't want to have extra stuff to haul, and we don't have money for it either. The shopping I did this year was the kind that would make me money. Do you want to see what I got?

I paid $23.72 for all these stuff which worth $271.52, and I have $75 worth of mail-in rebate which I will get cash in about 6 weeks. Yes! I'm getting pay shopping!!

I know buying beauty and household products are not as exciting as buying clothes or shoes, but hey, they make me money.

Christmas Workshop

2010-11-20T21:43:00.000-08:00

I was asked to share some Chinese holiday traditions at the Christmas Workshop today, it was quite challenging for me with the limited resource here, I also what to share some recipes that my class will be able to make at home and enjoy. The class went very well, here is one of the food I made and everyone loves it. It is so easy to make, you all should try it.

I can't wait to make these for my father-in-law, he loves cashew nut.

Cashew Cookies (腰果酥)

1½ stick Butter (soften)
¾ cup Sugar
2 cup Flour
250g Cashew Nuts
1 egg and 1 egg yolk

Soak cashew nuts in water for 5 mins, then bake in 350F Oven for 10 mins. Let it cool then grind it.
Mix butter and sugar, add egg, then add flour and cashew grind.
Make cookie dough into a long round stick, wrap it in plastic wrap then place in the fridge for about 2 hours.
Cut cookies into 1/2” thick, Brush on egg wash, place a little piece of cashew on each cookie.
Bake at 375 for 15 min or until it’s golden.

p.s I almost double the amount of sugar from the original recipe, for those of you like little sweet, you may want to adjust to your own taste.

I also had a chance to make this cute Family Home Evening sign for only $7.50, what a deal! I bet it will cost me close to $30 for a sign like this at a store, and I have tons of fun making it. Nothing better than making crafts with whole bunch of lovely ladies and tons and tons of good food. Seriously, our R.S. is the bomb!!!

Score!!!

2010-11-16T22:43:00.000-08:00

Couple months ago, I saw a book at the library about how couponing works and how to cut down grocery bills by75%. I didn't think it would happen to me cuz I was a really good bargain hunter already, I got curious how other mom find bargains, so I took the book home and started reading it.
Wow, it was a eye opener! I didn't know I could get grocery for FREE, and I never thought stores would basically give away free merchandises. Well, it does require some math skills or a calculator. I just wish that I know the trick earlier, so i didn't have to spend money on things that are free.

Here is the Beauty and the Beast Diamond Edition which I got for free, plus I will make couple bucks after the mail-in rebate. Haha! I know, it's cool, isn't it?

If you are interested how it works, you can just simply google "couponing", there are plenty of websites out there to teach you how.

In love with Photography

2010-08-21T20:27:00.000-07:00

After owning a SLR digital camera for seven years, I finally invest the time to try the manual mode and now I'm hooked. I'm not very good at it but I WILL.

Here is some of my favorites from the our recent trip.

Niagara Falls

Palmyra Temple

Sacred Grove

Is this bad??? Maybe.....

2010-07-24T14:34:00.000-07:00

My name is Carmen, I have an addiction......., Lately, I can't get enough of salads, what would you call this addiction?? "saladholic"
Anyway, here is a recipe which I'm always craving.

Yum Woon Sen (Thai Spicy Glass Noodle Salad)
Ingredients:
2 oz cellophane noodles
4 or 5 medium raw prawns, shelled, deveined
1/2 C pork, minced, cooked
Romaine lettuce, washed and drained
hand full of fried shallot (this is my secret ingredient, it will work if you don't have it, but it tastes a lot better)
few slice of tomatoes and cucumbers (if desired)

dressing:
1 clove garlic, minced
3 tablespoons sugar
2/3 cup warm water
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
5 tablespoons fish sauce
3 Thai bird chilies or 1 Serrano chili, or to taste (if you don't want like spicy, exclude it)

Directions:
Slightly marinade shrimps with salt and pepper for few minutes, then cook them.
Soak cellophane noodles in hot water until it soften,dip them in cold water to stop cooking, drain well then chill it in the fridge.
Make the dressing- just combine all the dressing ingredients, fix well then chill it in the fridge.
Mix cellophane noodles, minced pork, tomatoes, cucumber and shrimp together, arrange the salad on a bed of lettuce.sprinkle fried shallot on top then serve immediately.

Chinese Food Rookies

2010-06-07T22:45:00.000-07:00

Last week, I had the privilege to help couple high school kids for their school fair, they asked me to teach them some authentic Chinese dishes. I love teaching people about making Chinese food, especially young people. Being very honestly, I had my doubt when I first met "my apprentices". They didn't know what shallot was, and couple of them are vegetarian who didn't even try most of the dish I made for them. Really, I didn't think they could pull it off.
When I was helping them yesterday, I got to know them a little better, I'm impressed by their dedication and the decision to do the best they can. At that moment, I knew they will be just fine.
After going to the fair today, I'm so proud of my apprentices, they really came a long way.
Here is their final products:

There are: Potato Chicken, Satay chicken, pot stickers, Chow Fun with Veggie. Everything tastes great, even my kids ate some. (That meant a lot!)

Good Job David, Katie and Andrea!!! A++++ for you all!

Our CopyKat recipe - Cedar Roasted Salmon

2010-06-02T09:47:00.000-07:00

Doesn't it look yummy? If you like salmon and a lot of veggies, you would love this recipe. After Jeff tried this dish at Mitchell's fish market, he was determined to make it himself. I found him the recipe from the website, then he tried to make it, now he calls it his dish.

For those who wants to try out the dish, click Here for the recipe. Let me know how you like it. If cooking is not your thing, you just have to bug Jeff a lot so he will make it for you.

Meal Plan

2010-05-07T21:10:00.000-07:00

For the past couple days, I have been working on a meal plan, hoping that might help us to budget better. I started writing menu which we usually eat at home, and some new recipes I want to try. Here is want I came up with so far.

Grilled Steak and Shrimp, Corn Bread, Green Salad
Bulgogi (Korean BBQ Beef),Spicy Pickle Cucumber and Rice
Hamburger, Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad, Grilled Veggies (Jeff wants to try some gourmet burger recipes)
Wingers' wings, Potato Skins, Blue Cheese Pear Salad
Lemon Caper Chicken, Sun Dried Tomato Risotto, Green Salad
Cedar Plank Salmon (Jeff's dish)
Taco with Cafe Rio Sweet Pork, Garlic Lime Rice
Manicotti, Garlic Bread, Green Salad
L& L Grilled Chicken, Poke, Stir Fry Veggie and Rice
Lasagna, Olive Oil Bread Rubbed with Garlic and Tomato, Oven Roasted Veggies
Grilled Chicken, Potato Salad, Strawberry Pretzel Jello Salad
Honey-Citrus Glazed Cod with Grapefruit-Orange Relish, Grilled Potatoes with Spicy Tomato Mayo (New dish I'm going to try; got the recipe from Bobby Flay's Grill it Cookbook)
Pineapple Green Curry, Chicken Satay and Rice
Lamb Burgers, Oven Bake Fries, Apple Snicker Salad
Creamy Tomato Penne, Garlic Bread, Grilled Asparagus
Sweet and Sour Chicken Patties, Stir Fry Veggie, Pot sticker and Rice
Artichoke Chicken, Garlic Noodles (new dish), Green Salad
Buffalo Wings, Corn Bread, Green Salad
Potato Chicken, Cream Cheese Wantons, Stir Fry Veggies and Rice
Crane Asada Taco with Spanish Rice, Green Salad
BBQ Ribs, Oven Roasted Veggies, Mashed Potatoes
Scramble Egg with Shrimp, Char Sui Pork Chop, Stir Fry Veggies and Rice
Roasted Chicken with Root Vegetables, Mashed Potato
Chipotle-Honey Glazed Chicken, Evelyn's Favorite Pasta (New dishes)
Chicken Quesadilla, Corn, Green Salad
Lettuce Wraps, Asian Roasted Chicken, Stir Fry Veggies and Rice
Grilled Steak, Pasta Salad, Blue Cheese Stuffed Mushroom
Parmesan Chicken with pasta, Blue Cheese Pear Salad, Toasted Olive Oil Bread
Tomato Beef, Eggplant with Garlic Sauce and Rice
Shrimp Alfredo, Blueberry Jello Salad, Greed Salad
Artichoke Spinach Penne Bake, Garlic Bread, Stir Fry Veggies
Mango Chicken Salad, Homemade Rolls
Braised Lamb Shank with veggies, Mashed Potato, Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Soy Sauce Chicken, Pot stickers, Stir Fry Veggies and Rice
Beef Stroganoff, Greed Salad
Kulua Pork, Poke, Grilled Veggies, Macaroni Salad
Spam Fried Rice, Pot Stickers and Stir Fry Veggies
Cream of Broccoli Soup, Homemade Rolls
Award Winning Chili (Jeff's recipe which he won 1st place in our ward's chili cook off) with Corn Bread
Yum Woon Sen, Pad Ka Prow, Red Curry with Rice (Google it if you want to know what they are)

I often wonder what people eat for dinner, and once awhile have hard time to figure out what to cook. I hope I will give you (whoever is reading my blog) some new ideas for your meal plan. I usually don't make things that are complicated or expensive, so if you see something you like, I would love to share with you my recipes, so let me know.

Frist Attempt

2010-04-17T08:05:00.000-07:00

When we were living in Utah, Jeff always went to his parents house when we needed strawberry jam. My mother-in-law always has homemade strawberry jam in stock. Now we are 1800 miles away, I have to do things myself.

I never thought Jam making is such a easy task. From now on, I don't think I can buy jam from the store anymore. I tried a recipe from a blog called our best bites, it turned out pretty good, I just thought it was a little too sweet for me, I'm going to go easy on the sugar next time.

Everyone should try to make their jam, unless you have a mother or mother-in-law who does it for you. "Homemade is much better!" as my husband always says.

Jamba Juice BOGO

2010-04-12T22:16:00.000-07:00

Yeah for Spring Time! Let's have a jamba juice to celebrate the warm weather and all the fun we can have outdoor.

Here is a buy one get one free printable coupon for Jamba Juice.

http://www.jambajuice.com/20thcoupon/index.html

Enjoy your JJ!

Cherry Blossom 2010

2010-04-05T22:04:00.000-07:00

We have been out there in Pennsylvania for about three months, we have already be to Washington D.C. 3 times already. Jeff and I were debating if we should go to cherry blossom since my sister wasn't in town, but we figured that we most likely won't be this close to D.C., we should just take an advantage of it. So we did, it was great!

For Girls Only!

2010-03-28T23:10:00.000-07:00

When I was a little girl, my mom always kept my hair short and I envied all the girl with long pretty braided hair, I wished I could look like them. Now I have a little girl of mine, I'm trying to learn all different ways to do her hair. Recently I came across a blog about how fun it is doing little girl's hair, I found a few hair-dos that I love, here is one of them.

Isn't she adorable? I love it. It's not hard to do at all, as long as your little girl would sit good for you and leave her hair alone after you make it all pretty.

Long Time No Blog!

2010-03-23T11:56:00.000-07:00

I can't believe my last entry was in July 2009! Well, we had a lot of thing going on around that time with the Trip to HK, selling the house, Jeff's school schedule...etc. Now, we are in PA for about two months, things are starting to settle. Let's hope that I will have more time for crafting and blogging.

Even though I don't have much time for crafts but I can still use my creativity on dinner every night. I made crab cakes and mushroom risotto for my daughter's birthday, she didn't care for it too much (well, she is 2), but everyone else liked it. It was definitely a recipe to keep, it was very good. Here is my latest creation:

New Project

2009-07-23T11:42:00.000-07:00

Just found a pattern for this dress, and kinda like it. Should I do it?? Too many things to do and too little time, I don't know if I can handle a new project.

Yeah for Jamba Juice.

2009-07-03T19:45:00.000-07:00

Since the weather is so hot this week, I have been to Jamba jucice twice already, and I'm planning on going there again tomorrow. I think my favorite is Strawberry surf rider. They are just so yummy!

Here is a link for buy one get one free jamba juice coupon (it expires on 7/12), I just have to share with everyone. Enjoy!

http://www.summerblissisback.com/eb3/sbbg.html

No Time for craft

2009-06-15T23:29:00.000-07:00

We have been so busy getting the house for sale, there is no time for me to do any craft project. Hopefully we will put the house on the market this weekend, so we will have our lives back.

Here is a little project i did while I was cleaning mybedroom. Doesn't it look great? I love it!

New Stroller

2009-04-30T22:31:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to get a sit N' stand stroller for awhile, I even went to Baby"R"us to test drive couple weeks ago. It was on sale for $130 there, but I found a better deal online for $119. Yes, it was only $11 cheaper, but I also saved on sale tax and got free shipping, and got the color Jathan wanted.

Jathan and Brianne love it so much, they wouldn't get off the stroller.

International Art Competition Exhibit

2009-03-22T21:14:00.000-07:00

Couple days ago, we went to the 8th LDS international art competition exhibit, I was amazed by so many master pieces. People are SO talented! Everyone who lives in Utah should make time to go check it out.

Here are some of my favorites:

It's my friend, Kisslan's art piece. I really like it.

This is my very favorite from this competition.

It's amazed me how real this printing is, you can't really see from this photo.

To my beloved little girl

2009-03-08T00:57:00.000-08:00

Finally I finished this dress! Just in time for Brianne's 1st Birthday. She is going to look so cute on her Birthday!

Latest Creations

2009-02-27T22:03:00.000-08:00

Here are what I have been working on lately:

Yes! Hair Clip! I found that's really fun to make and I thought they turned out really good. Let me know if you are interested in purchasing them, I made too many of them, Brianne will not be able to use them all.

I have been tagged!

2009-01-30T07:17:00.001-08:00

My friend Jennifer tagged me for this fun little thing a week ago, life has been so crazy that I just barely knew I have been tagged, so here I go.

8 Favorite TV Shows:

Ghost Whisperer
Sex and the City
Law and Order: SVU
John and Kate Plus 8
Iron Chef America
Desperate Housewives
Any show on HDTV
My Chinese shows from TVB

8 Things I did Yesterday:

Gave Jathan and Brianne baths
Took a shower
Wrote 25 random thing about me and posted on Facebook.
Cleaned up the basement and get ready for carpet.
Watched Jeff doing all the touch-ups in the basement.
Picked out decorations for the basement.
Put my kids to bed.
Found out our new TV is not working.

8 Favorite Restaurants:

Benihana
Ho Ho Gourmet (1300 state st. in Salt Lake, not the one in Bountiful)
L & L Hawaiian BBQ
Olive Garden
Noodles & Co.
Famous Daves
Ruby River
Blue Iguana

8 Things on my Wish List:

Get a big FAT check from selling our house.
Go back to Hong Kong with my family this year.
A new job for Jeff being a air traffic controller.
Move by the Ocean.
Go to College.
A new middle finger for Jeff.
Vacation to Hawaii, or italy.
Sewing Lesson

You are tagged, if you have read mine and haven't done yours. Just do it, it's kinda fun!

New Purchase.

2009-01-10T00:01:00.000-08:00

We have been wanting a dinning set for a very long time. We went to the store for carpet but came out with a brand new dinning set. (it happened everytime we went in RC Willey) We were just looking around at the dinner set area to see if we could agree on the same style, then we walked by this one and notice the price was marked down from $1399 to $399. We just couldn't past the deal.

We love it! What do you think?

Love myself!

2009-01-06T00:46:00.000-08:00

I just got done with watching Oprah, and very inspired. It was the first show of the oprah's best life series, I'm planning on watching the rest of the shows this whole week, I think you should too. If you have seen the show today, they were just talking about how Oprah 's weight struggles, yes ,I can relate to that, (not a lot of women are happy with their weight anyway, espeically after two kids!) but that wasn't what drew my attention. After hearing Oprah said, "When you love yourself enough, you take care of yourself." " we give ourselves as much love and support as we give to others." It really got me thinking, "Yes! I should take care of myself better."

As a mother, I feel that it is my responsibility to care for my children's needs before my needs. As a wife, I feel that I should also take care of my husband's need as much as I could before giving myself a break. I often found myself having the first bite of food around 2 or 3 in the afternoon, I don't remember when was the last time I have a break from the children or having my "alone" time, and I noticed that I have been very short of patience with my family. Believe or not, I threatened my three year old son I was going to kick him out of my house because he bit his little sister! With all the stress in our lives right now (remodeling, job changing, dealing with my green card status), I feel like I'm going to lose it!

After the show, I asked myself "what do I really want for myself?" Happiness was the first thing came to my mind. I want to be a better mom, a loving mom who doesn't yell at her kids; I want to learn a better way to deal with stress. Yes! Those are the main things I want for myself, and now I really need to think hard to come up with a game plan, any suggestions??

New Start.....

2009-01-01T23:34:00.000-08:00

I don't know what happened to my old blog on blogspot, it disappeared! So here we are, I'm going to try it one more time, I hope it will work out for me this time. Unlike my family blog on Xanga, this is my blog, it is a place for me to post MY stuffs: my crafts, bargains I find, and whatever I feel like posting, so you should go to my other blog www.xanga.com/kamancarlson if you want to see pictures of my kids or update on the family, and you can be my friend on facebook, I usually upload my photos on facebook before I have a change to update my blog.

Falling in love with Amazon

If you love shopping as much as I do, you must agree that online shopping is just not as exciting as real shopping, and I don't like pay shipping. I usually don't do online shopping unless it's free shipping.

I did a lot of online shoppings for this Christmas, because taking my two kids to stores and malls and keep them entertained is not an easy task. Shopping while they are sleeping worked a lot better for me. Few months ago, I came across a bargain hunting website called dealigg.com, I found tons of good deals and coupons on the site , and most of the deals were posted were from Azamon.com. For Example: I got some new released Blu-ray DVDs for $15 each, although I had to pay shipping on that order, it's still a great bargain and there is no slae tax which I love.

My dear husband bought me a kitchenaid mixer (KSN 150 Artisan stand mixer) for Christmas, I was so surprised and excited. (Isn't he nice?) Jeff told me that he got a great deal on the mixer and I should be pround of him and blah, blah, blah....., because of what he said, I was determined to find a better deal. (well...... I'm the bargain hunter of this family, I can't let him steal my glory) After I did some research, I decided that I want the Professional 600 series one, I guess the word porfessional got me attention and I gotta have it.

Okay, here is how I did on this Bargain:

Jeff paid $270 plus tax, but he got a $20 mail-in-rebate for the Artisan. (normal listing pirce $360)

Carmen piad $270 with no tax, free shipping, and a $50 mail-in-rebate for the Profressional 600 series. (normal listing price $500)

Yes! I know, I'm amazing!