What do you call your MIL?

Hopefully you don't call her Monster-in-Law like JLo's character did! The above question might be an odd question but people's answers to this question has always fascinated me. I've observed women and men call their mother-in-laws by their first name, by their last name (i.e. Mrs. Last Name) and just plain ol' Mom.

Out of those three monikers, plain ol' Mom is the most intimate. In my mind, my Mom is my mom. So I can't picture calling another woman Mom. However, I know in many cultures, calling one's mother-in-law "Mom" is tradition and to not address your MIL as Mom is a serious insult to the woman who birthed your partner. I often wonder how the 'real' mothers feel when they hear their children call another mom, Mom. Are they hurt? Is it OK because their children-in-law in turn call them Mom too?

So what about calling your MIL by her first name? I call the BF's mom by her first name as calling her "Mrs." seems way too formal. My own mother would probably express her disappointment if she heard me call the BF's mom by her first name since in our culture, calling an elder by their first name is a serious no-no. However, the BF's mom is fine with me calling her by her first name and if/when the BF get married, I'll likely keep calling her by her name.

Finally, the "Mrs. Lastname" option. This seems awfully formal to me. It seems to infer a distant relationship. With that being said, there is a certain respect that goes with addressing someone by their last name. If you called your MIL "Mrs." before marraige and then switched, what did you switch to and how long did it take you to switch?

See? I told you this topic fascinates me!

What do you call your MIL? Was this something you and the finance discussed before getting hitched?

*This question can also be "What do you call your FIL?" but for simplicity's sake, I'll stick to discussing MILs.

September 11th

Tomorrow my dear friend C. is getting married! It’s going to be a wonderful and joyous day for C. her soon-to-be husband, and their family and friends. However, for many people, tomorrow will mark a day of mourning and reflection. Especially if one has a personal connection to the September 11th attacks. When I mention to my American friends and family that I am attending a wedding tomorrow, they raise an eyebrow. My response is that for many Canadians and nationals outside of the U.S., September 11th holds no personal significance. While they acknowledge the tragedy that occurred on that day and sympathize with those who lost loved ones, the day is no different than any other day of remembrance, e.g. Memorial Day, Remembrance Day.

Some would argue that the attacks were an attack on the Western world not just the U.S. A lot of people stated when I asked whether they would marry on September 11 or any other day of memorial stated they just wouldn’t want the “bad karma” or “bad joo joo.” However, some people responded that if you took out every day of remembrance or bad event anniversary in the calendar, there would be very few days left to commemorate a marriage. Also, as time goes on, such bad event anniversaries tend to lose their taboo – e.g. I’m pretty sure couples have no issue with December 7, the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbour.

September 11 is significant to me as I remember the frantic hours I spent trying to find my relatives in NYC and praying for their safety. Combined this with the BF being American, it’s highly doubtful we would pick September 11 as a wedding date if it landed on a weekend.

For those of you who were personally affected by the September 11 attacks, my thoughts are with you.

Still Here....

but still on blogger hiatus. Work owns me lately. Sigh. Something I'm looking forward to...the BF coming to Toronto for 3 months. The ultimate test as the longest we've spent together in the same city is one month. Wish us luck. ;)

Very Married posted a link to an article about one female law firm partner advising recent woman law grads to not focus on having it all and "get real about balance." The article itself isn't that interesting, however, the comments in response to the article (and on Very Married's blog) are. Go read and tell me what you think.

Thanks for still checking in.

xo

A Week in Pictures

I'm back! And unfortunately, back to reality. Hope you all had a wonderful Easter. I spent mine at the BF's parents' eating way too many schnitzels. Yummy. Here are a few photos that sum up my week in LA and Vegas.

View of LA from Yamashiro

The food at Yamashiro is so delicious. And you can't beat the view. The restaurant itself is a beautiful Pagoda-like mansion which houses a lovely Japanese garden. Good news for you potential brides out there who want an Asian flair to your nuptials - Yamashiro is available for weddings.

Ready to hit Vegas!

How oddly fascinating is this flower vending machine at the Vegas airport?
(It was right beside the restrooms.)

The view from our Caesar Palace's hotel room.

Me getting ready for some poolside fun while the BF works.

Me tanning at Garden of Gods Pool complex

Hello Vegas!

I won $45 at the Sex & the City slot machine!

Me peering into Jimmy Choo, looking at the goodies longingly.

Date night at Mario Batali's Carnevino

The best filet mignon EVER.

One of the best things in life - Room Service!

Back in LA, shopping on my favourite street. (3rd street promenade)

Picked up some Easter goodies from the best cupcake place in LA.

Trying the new mango froyo at Pinkberry.

L.A. Bound.

I know I owe you "Being a Bridesmaid Part II - What a Bridesmaid Needs to Know." Forgive me, it's just been such a crazy week! I've been trying to get everything done before I leave on vacation next week. Yep, I'm off to the west coast home with a little jaunt to Sin City! I'm so excited. I will try to post Part II this weekend. Have fabulous weekend!

Olympic Withdrawal

Ryan Remiorz/Canadian Press via CBC.ca

Me 1, BF 0.

Did you watch the game of all games? 16.6 million Canadians did! The BF and I, along with some friends, congregated around my beautiful flat screen TV to cheer Canada (and the U.S. on). For us Canadians, we HAD to win. After all, it's our game, our home ice, and our ladies had already taken gold two days earlier. Most of all, it was redemption for that shocking loss last Sunday (when I outed the BF as an American at a pub full of angry Canadians). The first goal was brilliant and I totally take credit for it because it was at the exact moment that I had asked the BF to get more lime juice for the guac. Needless to say, the BF did not get lime juice for me again. The second goal made me jump up with glee while the BF huffed and puffed. As the last minute started to tick away on the clock, I prematurely, in my head, started celebrating. Bad idea. Very bad. With 24.4 seconds left, the gold just within our reach, Parise scored. The BF jumped up, and I swore, over and over again at the TV. WTF. Overtime. Sudden death. Crap. Time to start pacing. Honestly, those were THE most stressful minutes of my life. Luckily, Sid the Kid put me out of my misery and scored the winning goal. Thank you Team Canada!

AP Photo/Francois Mori via CBC.ca

For the last two weeks, I've been a skilled coach potato, moguls-speed skating(both long and short track)-figure skating-snow boarding-judge. I cried when Joannie Rochette won her bronze medal, four days after her mother died. I cringed when Lindsey Vonn fell. I marveled at Shaun White's performance. The closing ceremonies started off a bit like High School Musical but ended with some great performances by Neil Young, Nickelback and Alanis Morisette (how great did she look!!) I especially loved the tongue-in-cheek, Vegas style number with Michael Buble. Every Canadian stereotype was paraded into the BC Place, from gigantic inflatable beavers to dozens of dancing Mounties. See world, we can poke fun of ourselves and still be proud to be Canadian!!! Hope you enjoyed the Vancouver Games. Come back soon, eh. :)

Robert Skinner/Canadian Press via CBC.ca

Did you have a favourite Olympic moment?

Year of the Tiger

Happy New Year to those welcoming in the Year of the Tiger! The tiger is the king of the animals in Chinese culture, and is the move revered amongst the 12 animals in Chinese zodiac. This year is to be a year of "grand beginnings and new directions." The BF and I will be having an epic feast with my family and I'm ready to collect my "lucky money" (in red envelopes). Note that only single people can collect "lucky money." Once you're married, you start passing out the "lucky money" - a fact I remind my married younger sister all the time. ;)

And of course, Happy Valentine's Day to all! Especially to the BF.

Who's Got Olympic Spirit?

I do! I love the Olympics. I'm not sporty in any kind of way (unless you consider napping a sport, in which case I would be the gold medalist) but I love watching the Games. This year, us Canadians, are hosting! Kasia Fink (aka Mrs. Sea Breeze) a fellow Canadian blogger and proprietress of Kasia Fink Veils will be participating in tonight's opening ceremonies and she's been blogging about the rehearsal over the last few months - go check out her blog.

So the big question remains - who's going to light cauldron? Some say it will be "The Great One." Some say it might be a hologram of the late Terry Fox. I love the fact that we won't know until tonight!

The BF is on his way to Toronto as we speak so I'm doubly excited! He has no idea that for the next 2 weeks I'll be glued to the TV cheering on Canadian competing in sports that I would never dare to try!!

Will you be watching the opening ceremonies?

Do You Drink Your Milk Out of A Bag?

I do. Well, I used to when I lived with my family. You see, in some parts of Canada, including my province of Ontario, milk comes in bags, not jugs. We have cartons of milk but if you want to go 'family size', you'll have to resort to buying 'bags' of milk. Check out this article in the Toronto Star and the below video if you don't believe me. As noted in the Toronto Star article, bags take up less space, are easier to transport, use less plastic than jugs, and on average, milk in a bag actually costs less than the comparable amount of milk in a carton. Milk in a Bag - weird? Perhaps. Environmentally friendly and economically economically conscious? Totally, eh?! Happy Friday.


So we drink milk out of bags. Does that make us weird? - thestar.com

Help! Which one?

Bonjour! I desperately need a new wallet, and I've been shopping for months. Help me decide between the two!

1) Cole Haan Felicity Slim Zip Wallet


2) MICHAEL Michael Kors Continental Wallet

Right now, I'm leaning towards the Cole Haan.

Am I the only one who agonizes over a wallet purchase?

Best Dressed at the Grammys

The Grammys is touted as 'the biggest event' in the industry I work in. Unfortunately, the last few years, it's been a bit lackluster. Every year I say I'm not going to watch but every year I tune in, just so I'm lost during the water cooler conversations at work the next day. I tuned in Sunday night, on breaks from Brothers & Sisters (love that show). Here's a quick summary of my thoughts:

-Lady GaGa rocks - she can sing, she can write, she can design, and she can truly ENTERTAIN
-Pink sang upside down, twirling from a piece of fabric, all in a wet, nude body suit. Need I say more?
- Beyonce covering Alanis. Awesome.
- Oh Taylor Swift. Yes, she's America's sweetheart. And yes she can song write (which many top selling artists can't do), but she can't sing. Well, she can sing, but off-key.
- Didn't understand Jamie Foxx's performance though it was cool to see Slash.
-Taylor Swift won over GaGa? WTF.

The one thing I do love about the Grammys is the fashion. It's less about elegance and old Hollywood, and more about funky, outrageous and avant garde.

My favourite of the evening - Rihanna. Fun, flirty and feathery. Love it.


Who's outfit was your favourite?

All about the Flu...

See what happens when I leave the West Coast? I get hit by the flu. Not fun. I seriously felt like I got hit by a truck. I came back to work from vacation for 2 days and then preceded to take 2 sick days. Ughhh. I felt so ill that I actually went home to my parents. Sometimes all you need is your mommy, even when you're in your thirties. hehehe. I did manage to watch the Golden Globes last night. My favourite dress from the night is that of Emily Blunt. Soft, frilly and feminine. Love it!

via Popsugar

Which dress did you covet?

Brekkie in the O.C. with Pink Argyle

Greetings from La La land! While most of you have already headed back to work or school, I'm luckily enough to be in week 2 of my vacay. Sigh. Life is good. Did I mention it's been sunny and warm?! The BF and I have been pretty busy seeing friends, family and not to mention throwing a New Year's Eve party! This past weekend, the BF, being the good BF he is, drove me to Laguna Hills to meet Mo from Pink Argyle. Mo and I had pondered where exactly to meet since she's in San Deigo, and I'm in LA. Luckily, someone on Chowhound had already posed the question and in response, the Break of Dawn was recommended. Now this was the second time I had met someone through my blog, the first being Jess from JessReads whom I met at the Sash & Bustle opening. With Jess, neither of us knew what we looked like, we just knew each other's names and we both live in Toronto - akin to a 'blind friend date.' With Mo, it was a bit different since we've gotten to know each other through our blogs and have even exchanged emails. In other words, I really feel like I know Mo.....even though we had never met. Oh how technology brings us all together! Mo and I (and the BF aka my chauffeur) had a great time chatting. It was really like seeing an old friend I hadn't seen in awhile. Mo and I discovered we had a lot in common....we are both of Asian descent, we both have 2 sisters, we are both wedding bloggers and we both have ex-boyfriends who became 'mystics' in exotic countries (long stories).

In addition to the great conversation, we chowed down on some delicious breakfast. I had the Potato Skillet.


And the BF had the yummy omelet.

In you live in the O.C., I highly recommend Break of Dawn. Thanks Mo for a great time!

Have you met your 'blogger friends'? What was it like?

Some Things Never Change.

I recently asked my friend's 3 year old daughter what she wanted for Christmas and she said, "A purse." My friend C. remarked, "Interesting how what you want at 3 and at 33 isn't all that different." So true. What do you want for Christmas?

(t) Who can resist a Hello Kitty purse? (b) Treesje Soleil Cross-Body Bag

Don't forget to enter the DIY Bride: The Crafty Countdown Book Giveaway!

Multitasking....

is not my strong suit. Actually, I'm absolute crap at it. Hence, why I've been a bad blogger. This time of year is probably the busiest time for me at work, not to mention the countless number of holiday get-togethers. Don't you hate it when your paying job gets in the way of your non-paying job?!!

Sigh. Anyway, just wanted to say hi and hope you're all keeping well. I have been reading your blogs and honestly, I am in awe of all you who not only post on a regular basis but managed to participate in NaBlogPoMo! C'mon, what's your secret? How do you find time? (Don't tell me you trade in sleep hours because that's one thing I cannot compromise on - I'm a serial napper.)

Publish Post

Project Condo - The Big Reveal

It occurred to me that I never shared photos of le condo with you. Bad blogger. Without further adieu, let me take you on a tour.

1) Living Room

BEFORE

AFTER

Both the BEFORE and AFTER photos are taken from our bedroom on the 2nd floor (we have a 16 foot tall ceiling).

AFTER

As you may recall, the coffee table and rug are from West Elm. We found the Barcelona chair on Craigslist. The lamp is from Urban Barn.

AFTER

Here's my baby - my 40 inch Sony Bravia. And yes, size does matter.

2) Balcony

BEFORE

AFTER

No drastic changes to the balcony. We added in our own patio furniture plus bought a barbecue.

3) Kitchen/Dining Area

Unfortunately, I do not have any good photos of the kitchen before we moved in. We didn't change the area too much. We did buy a new dining set from Ikea, hang new drapes and who can forget the drama that accompanied those cabinet handles?

AFTER

AFTER

AFTER

There you have it. Le Condo! (Well I didn't show you the upstairs b/c frankly it will never be tidy enough to photograph.) It's still a work in progress. Many people have told me that I'll never be done with Project Condo. Is it true? Does one ever really finish home improvement?

P.S. Don't forget to enter the Stamp Yourself Happy Giveaway sponsored by Barbara Kua Calligraphy.

FREE RINGTONE for Rogers Customers

Blogger Block.....

....is what I'm suffering. I'm sure you've noticed the lack of 'stimulating and thought provoking' content on my blog as of late. Okay, I hear the snickering, maybe more like just a lack of original content. ;) Please forgive me. I'm going to go on a little blogger vacay and see if I can rejuvenate the creative writing juices. Don't worry, I'll still be blog stalking you (tee hee) and I'll still post up upcoming events, deals & steals when I can.

See you in a couple of weeks.

p.s. Feel free to leave me tips on how to get ride of blogger block.

Today Only!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope my fellow Canadians are enjoying Thanksgiving Monday. As Robin on How I Met Your Mother has said, it's the real Thanksgiving. :) The BF and I are cooking are first Thanksgiving dinner together and having a few friends over (in fact, the same friends who introduced us to each other!).

For those of you enjoying Columbus Day off, hope you score some great shopping deals.

Check out the BF's sweet potato pie....can't wait to dig into it