Smile #70 - Best Roommate Roulette Result

Two unlikely people randomly selected for roommates.  Five years later, here we are chatting, laughing, thanking the mysterious housing staff for putting us together.  :)

Before miss future doctor fly out of the country to pursue her dream, we have to grab our last dinner and chatted up on life.  Even greater surprise, C joined us as well!  :)

We decided to meet up for Party in the Park at Romare Bearden Park Uptown.  This quaint little area gives a very nice view of Charlotte.  Sometimes I forget Charlotte got its beauty too!  :)

How could we resist snapping a photo or two!?

The park was rather crowded.  For this evening, Rick Strickland Band was playing.  The slow melody encouraged couples to show their moves.  It is super sweet to see older ladies dancing in their partners' arm even after all these years.  :)

It is a great place to be on a random Wednesday evening.  Congrats to my roomie on going to Med School!!  Until next time, good luck with everything :)

Smile #69 - Girls Night Out

Now that my ego thinks I am the new Van Gogh, I decided to spend the evening painting with JB and my sister.  Girls Night Out.  :)

Our class conveniently took place at Mellow Mushroom.  Of course, sis and I took this opportunity to order our favorite pizza - Holyshitake Pie.  It is the best pizza on the menu for mushroom lovers like us.  :)  

Three brushes, a cup of water, a large canvas, and a paint pallet, let's get started!  This time we will be painting the night skyline view of Charlotte.  :) 

Starting with the big round moon in the center of the canvas.  Molly, our instructor, joked that drawing a perfect circle is like trimming your bangs.  It only gets shorter and shorter. LOL!  

The reminding white canvas is painted with black and a hint of blue.  Enhanced with a few stars and the night sky is completed.  

I got a bit too creative by painting my horoscope star sign.  Wasn't the best attempt, but it was worth a try!  

The toughest part comes with painting the buildings and outlining each building.  Famous Charlotte skyscrapers - Duke Energy Building and the Bank of America Corporate Building proudly stood at the center of my canvas followed by smaller buildings.  

Our masterpieces are finished! :)  

Smile #68 - Annual Adult Dress Up

Twice a year, a number of fancy restaurants open their door and welcome the masses with an economical pre-fixed menu.  It is a great way for all to experience the food.  Bubble and I always have a great time dressing up and pretending to be adults.  :)  I even had my heels on!

This time, we decided to look for a French restaurant to refresh and challenge our previous French food experience.  We were thrilled to know Lumiere is participating in restaurant week. 

Located in a strip mall, Lumiere blended in with the uniform white exterior.  Don't be fooled.  The compact interior is modern, paired with chic decors and open kitchen setup.  

Started the night with fresh-baked gougeres, an airy cheese puffs.  

Although the menu has been reduced to cater to restaurant week, we had a tough time picking.  With the exception of the main course, it was a no brainer for me to pick the one option that is not a salad.  Jumbo Shrimp "Bouillabasisse" - with brunoise vegetables, red pepper rouille, toasted country bread and saffron-tomato broth.  

Bubble opted for a unique plate - Grilled Watermelon Salade - with roasted Magalista porta belly, creamy Feta cheese compressed cantaloupe, watercress, Belgium endive Banyuls vinaigrette.  The man loved it so much, he would have licked the plate clean!  :)

For the main dish, Bubble chose Beef Short Rib "Bourgouignon" with grass-fed beef, pomes puree, carrots, pearl onions, trumpet mushrooms and black truffle beef jus.  It is just so colorful!  :) The rib was sooo very tender, it just melts in your mouth.  :)

I toyed with two options, finally decided to go with the morning catch.  The waiter explained the dish in details, but I forgot most the details.  It was a fish dish with lima beans and scallops.  First chef to get me to eat lima beans. :)  

Dessert, AKA the best part of any meal, was the hardest choice to make.  All the options sound très bien.  I opted for the Classic Profierole (That's a big word, I couldn't pronounce this word even if I tried) - with French vanilla ice cream and chocolate ganache.  It looks amazing and has just the right balance of sweetness.  :)  

Bubble's Roasted Peach - with lemon thyme, vanilla bean, white peach sorbet and poppy seed cake is certainly one of a kind.  The peach was still steamy when it came out.  

Lumiere is certainly the venue for special occasion.  Each plate is exquisite.  The food was delicately crafted.  We had a delightful time at our special date night.  :)  

Smile #67 - There Would Be A Riot

Due to unforeseen circumstances, I was offered a ticket to the Rascal Flatts Riot Tour.  I was exposed to Rascal Flatts some years ago.  The lyrics tell stories and embed great lessons.

Give it a listen - What Hurts the Most - one of their most iconic songs (and one of my favorite songs). :)

Although country music is not my 'jam', I decided to attend with an open mind.  We waited patiently for Rascal Flatts' arrival.

Shortly after 9am, all lights shut down.  The pitch dark surrounding was interrupted by stage lights and the trio took the stage.  The night kicked off with two upbeat songs, "Stand" and "Me and My Gang."  The crowd roared in excitement.

The concert played a mix of both new songs and old classics.  Aside from Riot, the main tour theme song, both of my favorite songs, What Hurts the Most and My Wish were played.  :)  How could they not?!  :)  They surprised the audience with a short cover of Hozier's Take Me to Church.

I was surprised at the lead singer, Gary LeVox's voice.  His ability to hit high notes truly impressed me.

Between songs, LeVox joked how the band loves coming to our city each summer because girls' clothes gets shorter each year, so more boobs and butts.  LOL!  Looking around, I couldn't agree more.

With a country concert, clearly a cowboy boots are a must.  Girls with cowboy boots kept throwing their shoes on stage for autographs.  It was all over the stage.  During the last song, LeVox was balancing both singing and signing shoes.   Haha, guess you can really autograph anything.

The backdrop is gorgeous 

The night carried on with plenty of sing-a-longs.  Despite my voice got a bit raspy after the concert, it was totally worth it.  :)  It was a good choice to come to the concert.  :)

Smile #66 - Transatlantic Reunion in the Desert

An exciting news arrived while I was walking my laps at the gym.  :)

Surprise surprise, I went to the gym on a Saturday!  :)  Woke up ahead of schedule, I figured simply circulating the track beats spending endless hours on my laptop.

Time seems to slip by quickly when I am at the gym, next time I looked up, an hour has passed.

As I checked my pedometer on my phone, a message from my travel buddy popped up.  He has booked his ticket and will be joining me in my trip to Dubai!!!  We will be reunited and travel some more!!  YAY! :)

Smile #65 - My Rocky Relationship with the Gym

My relationship with the gym has been rocky lately.  Zumba days has been exchanged for time surfing the internet and being a couch potato.  (On the upside of that is I found plenty all sort of events going on in my town!)

It is time to force myself out of this unhealthy cycle and head to the gym!  

Seeing familiar faces and the enthusiastic instructor, my attraction for Zumba was revitalized.  A couple new dances mixed with the classic moves, it took me a moment to refresh and catch up.  

The best aspect about Zumba is the freedom to divert from the set moves.  Dance your heart out or not.  :)  

After the class, I felt sweaty...but refreshed.  :)

Bring on the next class, I am ready to be back!  :)  Who wants to join me!? 

Smile #64 - Nice to Meet You, Romantic City of the South - Savannah, GA! [Part III]

Nice to Meet You, Romantic City of the South - Savannah, GA!  [Part III]

A trip to Savannah wouldn't be completed without a visit to the well-known Forsyth Park.  :)  The charming and welcoming atmosphere earned its title - Central Park of the South.

Shaded walkways lined by Spanish moss and live oaks providing the perfect shades during a steaming day. Wide open fields, playground and an amphitheater, the park is suitable for all occasions.  Monuments, such as the Confederate memorial, are spread throughout the park.  Perfect opportunity to take in a history lesson during our stroll.

Situated at the end of Forsyth Park is the iconic white water fountain.  Although the center piece was ordered from a catalog (fact from our tour guide!), it still cast off its majestic vibe.

I noticed the people share a strong sense of community.  Everyone seems to know everyone else.  Strangers are just simply friends to be made.  It truly exemplifies the charm and beauty of this southern city.

We concluded our trip with our last meal in Savannah.   Tucked away in the corner is Toucan Cafe.  I love the bright green interior adorably decorated with toucans paintings.

We were pleased with our food selection.  :) 

Yum!!  

The town is beautifully landscaped.  Strolling through historical square with large oak trees, cobblestone streets and quaint little shops paints just the perfect romantic vibe.  :)

We loved this little getaway!  Thank you for hosting us Savannah, we will return (next time, temperature/humidity will be considered)!  :)

Smile #63 - Nice to Meet You, Romantic City of the South - Savannah, GA + Tybee Island! [Part II]

Nice to Meet You, Romantic City of the South - Savannah, GA + Tybee Island!  [Part II]

After a day of driving and exploring, we definitely slept in.  Readied with our swimwear and we are off to Tybee Island!  :)

The secluded island located right outside of Savannah.  Miles stretches with green marshes and palm beaches making the drive very serene.  :)

In the far distance we spotted the picturesque lighthouse.  First time climbing a light house! Both of us were sweating before the first step and there are total of 178 steps to the top.  1 step, 2 step....177, 178, we are finally here!  At the top, it offers a gorgeous view of the island.

We lingered a bit taking in the scenery.  

 Coming down the stairs was so much easier.  Oh gravity!

Our admission tickets also included access to the restored cottage houses that portray life back in the days and to Fort Screven museum.  Artifacts and exhibits covering centuries of history.   We were even allowed to walk the walls of Berry Garland.

All this walking made us hungry, it is time to replenish our stomachs. :)

We finally made it to the beach.  Only a minimal crowd around keeping it pleasantly quiet.  

The gusty wind made it challenging to set up the beach umbrella.  Luckily a guy with a sand drill offered to help us.  Did you know you need a sand drill to make the hole for the umbrella?  Did you know there is a job specifically for setting up umbrellas?  He works as an umbrella set-upper.  His deep red sunburned back proofed his credential.

We stayed in the water for a while.  It was the perfect combat against the blazing sun. :)

When I laid down to tan, mother-nature decided to take a turn for the worst.  The dark clouds shifted quickly.  Lifeguards blew whistles to call everyone in.  The wind exhaled and lifted the sands up and blinded those without sunglasses AKA me.  Shielding my eyes with my phone, I walked as fast as I could to our car.

We have never seen a storm taken so seriously.  Being so close to the storm, I almost felt like a storm chaser.  :)

Although the rain put a damper on our beach plans, we returned to Savannah with more time to explore city market. :)

We wandered in art galleries, souvenir shops and candy shops.  I picked up more smarties lollipops. Who can resist this wall of candy!

At Ah-Hun Gallery, art pieces covered all the walls and shelf.  The creativity behind each piece is impressive.  I really like Steve Schuman's style.  Using multi-color paint to construct this unusual energy behind his work.  I particular loved this little pup.

We made reservations for Bubble's birthday at Olde Pink House. This coral pink colored building is Savannah's only 18th century mansion.  It is also ranked as top restaurant in Savannah.  This building composed of different rooms, dinning rooms, pub area, bar area open to wandering.  Each section possesses its own atmosphere.

A must try is the signature drink, Pink Lady, lemonade with raspberry vodka.  It is light and refreshing!  :)


Do I want pan seared salmon or crispy half duck?  Ahhh, choices!  Following a hard internal debate, I finally decided on the duck.  :)  Bubble decided on the Bourbon Molasses Grilled Pork Tenderloin.

We took advantage of pedicab since we parked across town.  Even though we could totally use the walk, why not try a new experience instead.  Our pedicab biker was very friendly.  He is a New Yorker who moved down south some years ago.  He started this job merely three weeks ago and had already lost 25 lbs.  What a good way to get your exercise while getting paid!  A few short conversations and we arrived at our parking lot.  :)  It was neat being driven around by bike. :)

Keep up with my adventure yesterday, read Smile #62 or what I did on the last day of vacay - Smile #64

Smile #62 - Nice to Meet You, Romantic City of the South - Savannah, GA! [Part I]

Nice to Meet You, Romantic City of the South - Savannah, GA!  [Part I]

It's Bubble's birthday!!  The man has turned a quarter-century old!  (Sooo old, I know! hehe)  What is a better way to celebrate this significant milestone than a weekend getaway!  :)  Savannah has been advocated as the hidden gems of the south by several travel journals.  So let's book it! :)

We anticipated high temperature, but we forgot to consider the humidity.  Nothing says welcome to Savannah better than 95% humidity plus 97 degree Fahrenheit.  A test of our tolerance for heat.  No worries, that didn't stop us from exploring. :)  

Old Savannah Tour gave us a great overview of the town.  The significance of each historical building and monument and war history associated with each square, great refresher all the history classes.  

During my planning, I found Leopoid's Ice Cream.  It is listed as one of the top ice cream spots in the world by the Toronto Sun.  It is TOP priority we find this ice cream shop pronto!  :)   When we arrived, the line extended beyond the shop.  It did not disappoint; Leopoid earned its throne.  PS. Try the honey almond flavor!  

The heart of Savannah's historical district is River Street.  Souvenir shops, restaurants, pubs  and galleries bordered the street.  The vibrant street is crowded with tourists.  We went from store to store.  The best is Candy Kitchen where I found smarties lollipop!  Of course, I couldn't resist to try!  Outside of the Cinnamon Bear Shop stood two bears about the same height as me!  

The River Street waterfront is splendid during both day and night.  We couldn't help but snapping a selfie (Don't judge!).

With a great deal of food options, it was hard to narrow down a dinner spot.  We finally settled on Spanky's.  Our burgers were delicious!  Sidenote:  Spud is not a full potato, but thin layers of potatoes.  Must order again, it was that tasty! :)

Belly full of food, we wobbled to our car and called it a night.  :)  

Keep up with our adventure - See Smile #63 & Smile #64.  :)

Smile #61 - Updating Ourselves

The idea of hosting Microsoft training has been in the discussion for a few years.  Upon hearing process improvement opportunities, we were finally advised to proceed.  :)

I was nominated to organize the training for our company.  From reserving a conference room (and trading room timeslot like pokemon cards) to finding caterers, it was definitely a learning experience.  Good thing my manager was around to help with some of the logistics. :)

P.S. I am very familiar with Panera Bread's catering site now!  :)

After weeks of planning, the day has finally come.  If I say I was excited for these three days, does that make me nerdy/geeky?  :)

The selected few colleagues and I met our instructor from Ohio.  We spent the next three days learning all the fundamentals in Access.   Beginning with building tables, then running queries to creating macros.  We learned how to merge data and how to generate reports from our data.

Three days ago, Access was a very intimidating application.  Now, I can fully say I am starting to have a better understanding.  MySQL is quite a simple language to understand.

The wheels in my brain is still running.  I am ready to test out some data with this new knowledge.  :)  

Smile #60 - Spotted Potential Vin Gogh

Canvas, pumps of paint, brushes and cup of water set up for each seat.  Everyone is dressed in lime green Paint Nite aprons.  Paint Nite is ready for kick off!

Bubble and I bought tickets a few months ago, but we didn't find a painting we would like to learn until recently.  Under the Red Tree caught our eyes.  So unique date on a random Thursday night.  :)

Free hand painting is a daunting task.  No lines to guide, no specific image planned out.  Additionally, both of us haven't painted since elementary school.  This should get very interesting.  :)

The instructor began the class with an oath.  With our hand on the canvas, we repeated after her, "I will not use the following word, my painting sucks, I can't paint, my painting looks horrible."  It gave us a laugh.  :)

We mixed red and blue with our "papa" brush, a thicker brush to paint the sky.  We proceeded down the canvas with section of red, orange, yellow, light blue, coral and finished the ground with teal green.  I felt rather liberated revealing my inner artist self.  :)

Perfect quote to describe our night :)

Class resumed after a moment to replenish our drinks.  This time, we will be using our "mama" brush, a smaller, flatter brush to draw tree stems.  My tree stood staight and high with smaller branches reaching out across the canvas.  I added a few personal touches.  A pair of love birds stood on a branch. At the root blossomed a little dandelion, the perfect companion to the tree. :)

A tall, strong-rooted tree with few short branches rest on Bubble's colorful background.  A cloud of white dashes symbolized a party of birds flying through.  His distinctive 'beer' signature at the corner earned him a few laughs. :)

Looking around the room, all the blank canvases is now multi-colored.  Every painting is slightly different and unique to the painter.

I now present original paintings by Bubble and me.  I'd say our paintings turned out pretty well.  :)  Maybe we are undercover Vin Gogh.  :)

Smile #59 - Fitness of a Teenager?

Apparently there is a difference between our age and our fitness age.  Researcher at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology created an online calculator that tells your 'fitness age.'  I got curious and gave it a try.  You can try it the calculator here.

The result definitely surprised me.  In a good way.  :)

I am delighted to inform you, according to the calculator, I am 23 but I have the fitness of an under 20 year old.  :)  Back to my early college days...or pre college days? Either ways, I am totally young.  :)

Smile #58 - Retail Therapy Time

It is only fair to arrange a little retail therapy to repent for mother-nature's uncooperative behavior.  :)  And by little, I mean, I might be in the reds for the month.  But the bright side is I did grab some great deals!  :)  (Get the pun!)

Although heat and humidity are still features of our daily life, summer fashion trends are on their way out.  With all retailers posting up sales, it is the perfect opportunity to revamp my closet!  :)

Smile #57 - Nice to Meet You, Tiger World!

Nice to Meet You, Tiger World!  

55 miles away from town, amidst residential community is Tiger World. :) Like the name suggested, plenty of tigers roaming through the habitat. But there are more inhabitants, including baboons, monkeys, wolves, bear, cougars, leopards, kangaroos, and lions. The population is certainly diverse.

All the animals were pacing in their cages. Roaring for food, food, food! Let's begin the Carnivore Feeding Safari Tour. :)

The zookeepers arrived in a truck with each animals' diets lay out. Each meal is carefully designed to provide the right amount of nutrients. Whole chickens, chicken wings, logs of pork, and steak stacked up in each tray ready to serve these hungry animals.

To avoid unequal food distribution, a door in the den is shut to separate the animals. Some tigers were taught to retreat to their respective corners. The zookeeper either push the food through the tray area or throw it over the high fence. Throwing a 10 lbs chicken over the fence is no easy task!

Calvin the tiger is certainly the loudest eater of all. He created quite a range of sound effects with his chews, chicken bones crunches, growls and snarls.

It was sad to learn Lil Wayne the liger has a limited life span due to a rare genetic disorder. His body will continue to grow beyond the size his organ can support.

The baboon put on quite a show for all of us. He kept jumping up and down and ran around with his toys. His energy and excitement made me laugh.

The baboon took my laughs at flirts and I got myself a baboon crush. When I stood close to Bubble, the baboon would stare at us intensively, like a jealous ex. He followed as I walked around and got feisty when I am out of reach. I was advised to walk away from the cage because the baboon is stressing himself out. First time getting kicked out. :)

Each animals has its own story. Some are rescued from abusive homes, some were abandoned by other zoos. I am glad they found a new, secure home and the staffs are all so welcoming to each of them.