My oldest son moved into his very first own apartment with his childhood friend tonight.
Their faces were glowing with excitement and big smiles. Looked taller with great pride.
They were just playing T-ball... like yesterday.  But now, independent fine young men.

It's a really really nice place. Everything is new. Love the color of walls and wood floors.
They even got the view and the hot jacuzzi (I am SO coming over! Lol).
AND it's 10 min away from home :)
Honestly, I was surprised how nice it was. I was expecting the typical "FIRST" apartment.
No refrigerator or any furniture yet, but it's a wonderful start on their own.
My son goes to college and works at night. His friend is working two jobs.
Still a lot ahead of them, but they already came a long long way...

Storm. Perfect word to describe. 4 years ago. He was 15 years old struggling to survive.

To be continued...

Creamy Cheesecake Cup :)

1 package Cream Cheese
1/2 cup Sour Cream
1 cup Vanilla Bean Cane Sugar
1 Egg Yolk
1 cup Plain Yogurt
1 tablespoon Lemon Juice
1 cup Heavy Cream
1 teaspoon Vanilla Essence

Mix cream cheese, sour cream, vanilla bean cane sugar until smooth. Add egg yolk, yogurt, lemon juice one at a time mixing well.
In a different bowl, make whip cream.
Add the whipped cream & vanilla essence to the cream cheese mix.
Pour the mixture into individual cups.
Refrigerate over night.
Garnish with berries before serve.

Most everything, I do well and effortlessly. But, CLEANING? Not my thing... at all... i HATE it!
I have to make a point of how good it is for my soul and convince me physically & emotionally.

These are homemade all NATURAL, SAFE, Smell PRETTY Products to put me in the mood ♥

Mild Multi Purpose Cleanser - Water, Lemon Essential Oil, Tea Tree Oil

Kitchen Powder Cleanser - Pick 2 Essential Oils (Lemon, Orange, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Peppermint) Put Baking Soda 50g in a container with lid. Add the first Essential Oil 10 drops. Mix. Add Baking Soda 50g & the Second Essential Oil 10 drops. Mix. Sprinkle and clean with wet sponge. Spray Floral Water for finishing touch.

Toilet Cleanser - Add 1 oz boiling water to 20g baking soda. Wait few seconds, add 7 drops Lemon Essential Oil,
3 drops Clove Bud Essential Oil, 7 drops Rosewood Essential Oil, 3 drops Peppermint Essential Oil. Mix well. Brush toilet bowl with the powder. Spray Floral Water for finishing touch.

Bath / Shower Cleanser - Mix 4 oz Neroli Water & 1 oz Lemon Juice and add 45 drops Rosewood Essential Oil, 30 drops Lemon Essential Oil, 30 drops Geranium Essential Oil, 15 drops Clove Bud Essential Oil. Spray & Clean.

REFRESH & ENJOY!

Miso Kimchee Shabu Shabu, Takana Gohan (Rice mixed with mustard greens), and Dessert - Dreyer's Fun Flavor Mint Brownie Ice Cream :)

Shabu Shabu Recipe:

Heat the soup stock and boil. Place slices of meat, tofu, sprouts, nappa cabbage, nira (garlic chives), daikon radish, etc and cook. Eat with dipping sauce of your choice (Ponzu or Sesame sauces are standard, but try different ones too).

Tonight, I added Miso and Kimchee to the soup stock. And eat without any dipping sauce. This flavor is perfect for slices of pork. You can shabu shabu any meat or seafood.

Also after you finish, cook noodles (ramen, harusame, udon) with the remaining soup or add rice & egg to make a risotto. YUM! Enjoy ;)

"Shoes make a lot of women happy. In fact, we love them. They are our faithful friends that travel life's many winding roads with us each day. Just to be able to glance down and marvel at their sheer beauty lifts our spirits, irrespective of the many obstacles in our way." ~ Emma Bowd

Do I here AMEN?!!

Send me your favorite shoes pic and the story ^-^*

Dream Shoe Closet (Ms. Mariah Carey's) Someday... ;)

Lastly, Chocolate Shoes... ♥
These are sold at Gayles Chocolates. How cute are they??
(Photo by Eric Smith, courtesy of GaylesChocolates.com)

YAY to Being a Girl ♫

Dill Lemon Grilled Salmon, Gnocchi in Marinara Sauce with Fresh Mozzarella & Basil, and Green Salad with Sweet Raspberry Dressing :)

Recipe: Dill Lemon Marinade for Fish

Garlic flavored olive oil (you can make your own flavored oil by just adding garlic, red chili, lemongrass, etc to the bottle), fresh lemon juice, sea salt, and lots of dill and parsley. Great with any fish.
I browned a bit of butter and grilled the marinated salmon tonight.

Instead of the garlic rice I was going to cook originally, we had chewy gnocchi. If anyone has Italian Grandma's Homemade Gnocchi recipe, please send it to my way! Buon Appetito ♥

I read all kinds of genre; I love to read and get lost in the book...
I laugh, cry, fall in love, I live those same moments with the characters. I can travel the world and even through time. INSPIRING
Those black & white text takes my imagination to places I've never imagined or dreamed of. ENCHANTING

"Table Manners" is a Chick Lit book.
This genre is usually written by women for women in a confiding and personal tone. Address the lives of us, women, face lightheartedly and humorously. Easy to read and charming companion at a cafe or in bed.

Mia King hit my spot with this one - a delightful indulgence and DELICIOUS read.
After many unexpected bumps and difficult journeys, the heroine, Deidre McIntosh realizes she does what she does because she loves it. Her success is built on seeing things a bit differently and doing things a bit differently. The story follows her and  her perfect boyfriend, Kevin Johnson, one of the most eligible bachelors in all of Seattle, Kevin’s sexy seductive ex-fiancé, Deidre’s best friend who is gay and soon to get married to his partner, Lindsey who suffered a heart attack and lost any positive outlook on life, and Kevin's snaky sister Marsha who makes sure Deidre is out of the picture. Sweet treats and wonderful dishes add colorful charm to the story.
And the bonus ;) There are recipes from William & Alain's wedding at the end of the book.

Yakiniku with Veggies, Kimchee Natto Beans, Koshihikari Rice,
Mini Cream Puffs, and Cucumber Lemon Water :)

Recipe: Yakiniku

Marinate thin sliced beef with sesame oil, soy sauce, sake, garlic, ginger, onion, maple syrup, brown sugar, sesame seeds, black pepper, Korean kochu-chang or red pepper.

Tonite, I cooked with colorful vegetables (red/yellow/green bell peppers, carrots, onions, mushroom, broccoli). But we also love to make Lettuce Wrap with this Yakiniku beef. Goes yummy with seaweed soup :)

Make a lot of them and freeze some for later. ENJOY!

I just had a birthday this past weekend :)

( HEY! Stop counting the candles!! Lol )

Well, I think I look good for being Forty-One and have given 5 births...

WELL..... as a matter of fact, I look ReeAallyee good; I'm a F・A・B・U・L・O・U・S 41 ♪
Yes it's true that I never go to gym, love pizza & ice cream, and I'm a chocoholic.
Mostly, it's my attitude, I think. I work very hard how I carry myself.
I accept me, study me, and try to bring best out of me.
Also I'm woman all the way, fully loaded with womanness, all girly & feminine ;)
I like being soft, always smile on my face, warming up those who are around me like sunshine...
I know my TPO and play my cards well in a good way...
I love the words like Elegant, Classy, Graceful but also love Fun,  Mischievous and Playful.
I have many drawers full of surprises; never show everything - little mystery is always more intriguing.
I prefer Sensual vs Sexy ♥

So I think it's more of my pretty mind & heart that makes people drawn to me ;)

What?
But you wanna know my beauty secrets that I do physically?
OK, I'll share that next time.

P.S. For the record, I envy those who are fit but curvy & full figured girls. I don't promote "My Look"
Beauty comes in all sizes & shapes. My vessel is just small and I can't be Marilyn...
My hope is to promote "Love the Way You Are" and share how to keep yourself fit & beautiful from inside out ♥

Keep Shining!*

Tofu Balls with Veggies, Red Basil Onigiri, Baby Clam Miso Soup :)

Recipe: Tofu-Futo Balls

Mix firm tofu (mashed) with agar powder, ginger, sesame seeds, olive oil, potato starch, sea salt and pepper. Make balls.

You can play around by adding / substituting bread crumbs, finely chopped various veggies, garlic, soy sauce, egg, almond milk, etc.

Tonite, I sauteed them in teriyaki sauce and add steamed vegetables.
But you can put them in any soup, add to salad or pasta. Be creative ;)

Make a lot of them and freeze some for later. ENJOY!