Nite Nite

I've been trying to train Stanley to go into his crate willingly. Every time when I give him his afternoon snack/treat I'll tell him to go nite nite and when he does he'll get his snack in his crate. I do that too because I don't want him to be eating his treats everywhere and leaving the crumbs on the floor or where ever he is. Now he is more willing to go when we have to go out. He used to walk really slowly to his crate or run away when we are about to leave the house and sometimes when we are in a hurry it is a pain to catch him. So now before we leave I'll tell him to go nite nite and when he goes in without a struggle I'll give him a treat before we leave. Lately he's been really good; he'll see hubby and I change and he assumes that we are going out (which is normally true) and he'll sit in there quietly waiting for us to give him his treat and latch the crate.
Yesterday I was complaining to hubby that I wanted to return the jeans I bought the other day because I don't feel comfortable in it. I think it's the time of the month and I feel bloated and not happy with my body so I wanted to return it instead. Hubby said that he forgot how I looked in it and to try it on for him to see so after I took my shower (which was really last night because I was trying to bake his cake) I put on my PJ's and wore the jeans for hubby to see. Stanley saw me doing that and ran out of the room. I was wondering where he was going but I thought he might have just gone out to have a drink of water. After showing it to hubby and taking it out Stanley still didn't come into the bed room. So I went out looking for him just in case he has to go to the bathroom or anything and saw him sitting in his crate. I told him to come out and go into the bedroom and he don't even twitch!
So before going to bed I told hubby that Stanley is still out in his crate because he thought that I was getting dress to go out that's why he quickly ran in his crate. I told hubby to get him in the bedroom because I've gotten used to having Stanley sleep with us at night and I feel uncomfortable if Stanley wasn't there which my mom already told us not to make it a habit to let Stanley sleep with us but it has become a habit anyway. I went out to his crate which is in the dining room and saw him asleep.
I told him to come out and go into the bedroom but he would not move. I had to pull him out of his crate before he would run into the bedroom. Hubby said that we should just leave him and eventually he'll come in but I didn't want him running around the house while we were sleeping. I guess he now associate with being good by going in his crate he will get a reward but I also notice that he don't mind his crate as much as he used to maybe because I'm not working now and he's not always in his crate.

Mexican Food

Last Friday hubby and I decided to go out and have dinner. He's been having craving for Mexican food the past few days and since we are new here we decided to Google on some Mexican restaurants around here and read their reviews. Initially we were suppose to go to another one but hubby forgot to take the directions so we drove passed this restaurant and we decided to just give it a try. The restaurant was full of people and they even have a guy playing some musical instruments and singing.

Menu

Unlimited chips and salsa.
My fajitas and the sides that comes with it.

Hubby's taco

Hubby's tamales

I would say that the service, food and price was not too bad but it would not be a place to host a dinner party.

Birthday

It's hubby's birthday next Friday and I've been thinking of doing something really fun because it's 8-8-8. Last Year 7-7-7 we had out wedding reception up North and therefore I thought 8-8-8 would be an auspicious date to do something fun too. I asked hubby yesterday if we should have a small party to celebrate his Birthday and obviously being him he said no. He's not someone that cares to celebrate his birthday.
Anyway ever since I've been with him I've always baked him a birthday cake every year without fail even when we went on a vacation one year. This year is no exception but I want to make something more "special" with the baking tools that he bought for me last year like with cute decorations etc but since I've not been practicing or used any of these tools I'm not sure if I'm even able to do it. Last year I made a carrot cake for his birthday and I'm thinking of doing the same thing or maybe chocolate cake because that's what every body likes but I feel like branching out and trying another kind but in doubt because I'm not sure what other kind to make. I plan to make something yummy yet healthy which healthy food is not always yummy.
I've also not thought about any presents for him yet. He wants so many thing some more than I can afford now but some I think that it's of no use to him because I'm practical I like to get practical gift. I know at one point he was looking at some messenger bags from LV and Coach maybe I'll get him one. When I bought my coach bag weeks ago we saw a nice briefcase and messenger bags too but I think the messenger bag would be more of use to him than the briefcase if he uses it.
It's so difficult to shop for me. They can be picky yet they said that they are simple. I know he won't be asking for any tools because he mentioned to me the other day that he has way too many tools and needs to get ride of some so tools can be out of the questions temporary. Maybe...I'll just take him with to the mall and let him choose himself just like what he normally does to me..;)

Seafood Cook Off

Everyone knows that I love to cook and bake but I love to eat more! I love to go to different restaurant and try different kinds of food. In America I might come across someone that’s really gutsy to try different kind of food that may seem foreign to them for example chicken feet or even fish (with skin)..Americans normally only eat fish fillet and when I bought and made the whole fish everyone was grossed out. They were surprise I eat almost every part of the fish including the head which is the yummiest part of the body.
I love fresh sea food. When I was living up North I rarely had the opportunity to eat seafood because their seafood are all frozen and I don’t care for frozen seafood now that I’m living down South I’ve had the opportunity again to eat fresh seafood!
Y was telling me about the Great American Seafood Cook Off which would be held in New Orleans, Louisiana. I’m thinking of suggesting to hubby to go there for the cook off because I think it’ll an eye opener for us. There would be different chefs competing and cooking all sorts of seafood. The cook off will begin Aug 2-3 at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center within the Louisiana Foodservice EXPO and the Gulf Coast Seafood Pavilion. The admission fee is only $10 so it’s not like its super expensive. Does anyone care to join us?
Since I’m not joining the cook off let me share with you one of my seafood recipe. One of my favorite and simplest seafood recipes is seafood tom yam. It’s so easy to make and it taste so yummy especially on a cold cold winter night (hopefully I don’t have to worry about that anymore). I just pour some chicken stock in a pot and put some tom yam paste together with it to boil. When it comes to a boil I’ll put in any seafood I have available, some tofu, tomatoes and onions and bring it a boil again. And there is my seafood tom yam. Pour over cooked noodles or rice. Quick, easy, simple and yummy!

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Time to Ponder....

I was talking to hubby on our way back from the Asian grocery store and I realize something that never occurred to me although its really obvious! When I was in Malaysia, we would purposely go to the more expensive hypermarket so that we can buy imported food ie cereal, chips etc. Now that I'm in the States I still do buy them because they are sold every where but I have to purposely look for Asian grocery store so that I can buy food from back home. I was just wondering whether was I too ignorant to care about our local items or it is more important to me to eat local food more because I'm far away from home that I feel the need to indulge in them so that I feel closer to home. I remember going to get bubble tea with pearl almost every time I visit the mall with my friends and at that time it cost RM3.00 or a little more/less don't remember but I'm sure the price has gone up since the price of everything else has gone up anyway. When I was still living up North I had to pay almost 5USD for a glass of bubble tea with pearl. Am I crazy yes but I still do it because I love the taste and it's like a treat for me once in a while. I found some places here in Houston that actually sell them and taste pretty good and it's only 4USD depending on how much is it back home I think it's a deal compared to up North!
I'm just thinking how ungrateful I can be when I was living back home to not appreciate all this things or this is just because I'm a human and everyone is the same. Do we not know what's precious until we don't have it? Do we not know how good we have it until we don't have it? How can we learn to appreciate the things/surroundings we have before we lose them one day?

Houston Farmers Market

The Farmer's Market up North only opens in the Summer for several months. I would go to the market ever two weeks to try and stock up on some fresh vegetables grown by the local farmers. Over here in Houston I was told that the farmer's market open year round seven days a week selling seasonal items. I find that most items sold here are mainly from Mexico. This is my second time at the Houston Farmer's Market. It reminds me of going to Pasar Tani, or the wet market in Malaysia. The only thing is they don't sell meat or sea food at the farmer's market.

Some of the stuff apart from Fruits and vegetables that was sold there. I think it's Mexican stuff.

The vegetables

More vegetables

Watermelon galore..Mangoes is in season too.

This is a very popular farmer's market. Apparently it has been here for many years now. SIL's husband use to go there with his mom when he was a little boy so when he went there with us the first time he said that it brought a lot of memories to him. When I go back to Malaysia and my parents took me to the local pasar tani/wet market it also did bring back a ton of memories to me..sob sob..I do miss the stinky icky market there..weird huh?

Oudoor Tactical Gear

Everyone has been talking about the Iraq war since it began. There are a lot of people that is in the army that’s drafted to join the war. These people are going to have to prepare themselves for the journey. LA Police gear is a website that features outdoor clothing for a great deal and if you are in the military you get an even greater discount. Going into the war zone is going to be dangerous they should prepare themselves with under amour, boots and many more different kind of clothing to keep them safe.
I think even if you are not going to the war zone you can buy some of the nice looking and cool stuff there have there. Maybe hubby would like something from LA Police gear.

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