We wanted to renovate our seventies’ PINK kitchen ever since we moved in. To save money, we tried to do the majority of the work ourselves (except the quartz countertop of course). We started around Memorial Day weekend. After 3 months, our kitchen renovation is finally finished. Check out the pictures here.

July 4th was fairly eventful. We walked around the Sugarhouse festival on Highland for a bit, which is only 4 blocks from our house. Days like this reminded us our neighborhood has great potentials to be great! Went to Jesse & Opie’s place for July 4th BBQ. They prepared awesome hamburger, super yummy ribs, quesadilla, margarita, etc.
End the July 4th celebration in the sugarhouse park, watching the fireworks. What a nice day! Happy July 4th, everyone!

Poor Yorick, it’s not a gallery, but a working art studio with bi-annual studio showcases. Dave Laub, Adam’s friend/coworker has a studio there. So we always try to stop by and say hi. This year, not only Dave has a studio, but also our friend, Jenny Lemonade. So of course we will not miss the event.
Maybe one of these days, I could persuade Adam to show off some of his arts?

Tony and Michelle hosted a New Year’s Eve Masquerade this year. It was so much fun and I love any opportunity that I get to play dress up. Click the photo below to check out the pictures.

We didn’t go anywhere this Xmas. But that’s not necessary a bad thing. We get to save money and hang out with friends this Xmas. Click the photo below to check out the pictures from various Xmas parties this year.

As you might know, I got into a little car accident. While my car is in the shop, I will be driving this cute little thing, 2009 Pontiac Vibe. It’s very new with only 2,800 miles. Here is a picture of it. ;)

Halloween is not just children’s favorite holiday because they get to dress up, knock on stranger’s doors, and ask for yummy candies. I believe it is also some adults’ favorite holiday because….. once a year, women are “permitted” to dress as slutty as they would like; and men are also “allowed” to dress as obscene as they would like. Every one comes out from their shells and party. Don’t you just love Halloween!!!

One of my favorite desserts is Siroopwafelen, also called Stroopwafel. They are thin waffles with syrup filling, first made in Gouda in the Netherlands, in 1784. I brought back few boxes want to give away to friends. Before I do so, I need to resist opening another box and indulge myself. I wonder whether it’s possible to buy them in Salt Lake City. Here is the picture of the yummy Siroopwafelen.

Peter and Margreet got married on Oct. 11th in the Netherlands. I know the US dollars are weak against Euro. But I haven’t seen some of my I-House friends for over 8 years. I missed few weddings in the past few years, Raquel & Pedro’s, Jessica & Aaron’s, and Andrea & Carlotta weddings. I wanted to go, but just didn’t make it. This time, 7 of the I-House crew are flying there, plus some of their significant others. So I decided to join them.

This is a very unique group of friends. Maybe because we all met at the Philly I-House, where resides 400 residents from 80 different countries, a home away from home for everyone. Friends met there have a very unique bond.

Even after years, only exchanged few e-mails occasionally…. We felt close to each other again instantly. It’s like the time just stand still and our time together in Philly were just yesterday.

We spent majority of the time in a town up north, called Groningen, in the Netherlands. The wedding was on one of the Frisian Islands, Schiermonnikoog. (ha… I can never pronounce it properly.) Just a little recap. No car allowed on the island and we have to take the ferry to get there. We stayed on the island for 3 days 2 nights. Rehearsal dinner the day before the wedding with 40 of their closer friends/families. The wedding with around 80 people. Beach reception, buffet in the close by restaurant, open tab all night long. Even with jet lag, all of us dancing from 9pm-1am, almost none stop. We all had a great time.

Here is a group picture of everyone from I-House crew at the wedding. From right to left. Yelena from Russia, Christo from Bulgaria, Andrika & Martin from the Netherlands, Raquel and Pedro from Spain, Peter and Margreet (groom & bride, from the Netherlands), Sake from the Netherlands, Jessica from Germany, Aaron from Australia, me, Fabio and Bea from Switzerland.
I had such a good time. Everyone, good to see you again! *hugs*kisses*

For more pictures, click the picture below.

Remember our flower tree? Now, it is full of some types of beans. I did some googling and realize it is Catalpa tree. That tree has so many names, Catalpa, Catawba, Indian Bean Tree, Cigar Tree, etc.
Some said the Indians smoked the bean pods for a hallucinogenic effect, so the tree became known as the "Indian Cigar Tree", the Indian bean, and smoking bean.

According to a plant database, http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Catalpa+bignonioides
A tea made from the bark has been used as an antiseptic, antidote to snake bites, laxative, sedative and vermifuge. As well as having a sedative effect, the plant also has a mild narcotic action, though it never causes a dazed condition. It has therefore been used with advantage in preparations with other herbs for the treatment of whooping cough in children, it is also used to treat asthma and spasmodic coughs in children. The bark has been used as a substitute for quinine in treating malaria.
The leaves are used as a poultice on wounds and abrasions.
A tea made from the seeds is used in the treatment of asthma and bronchitis and is applied externally to wounds.
The pods are sedative and are thought to have cardioactive properties. Distilled water made from the pods, mixed with eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis) and rue (Ruta graveolens) is a valuable eye lotion in the treatment of trachoma and conjunctivitis.

Check out the bean tree now.


It is full of beans.....

We got a “flower” tree in our backyard. Here is the flower all over our deck everyday.



Check out how tall is that “flower” tree.

We went to the shooting range on Sunday.  It was my first shooting range experience.  Special Agent Love, Peter and Amanda’s neighbor, was very nice and taught us everything we need to know about gun safety.  He also went with us to the shooting range and make sure we don’t hurt each other...  ;)

I was really surprised that I could hold the gun steady and shoot the target not far from where I was aiming at.   I dare to say 90% of my bullets hit within 2 inches radius of my aimed spot.  Hehehe...

We bought a Revolver for me.  But I realized I don’t like it at all.  I can’t even pull the trigger because it’s so stiff... maybe it needs to be worn in a bit first... I like Special Agent Love’s 45.  I guess bigger guns are more pleasant to shot.

Here is me.



Here is my souvenir from my first shooting range experience.

If you are reading my blog, you know my iPhone was stolen on May 5th.  Currently, I am using Adam's old Motorola SLVR.  It WAS an awesome phone at it's time.... But I guess I am spoiled.  I realized "once I tried iPhone, I can never go back".  I MISS my iPhone.  I used my iPhone to check both work e-mail and few personal e-mail accounts.  I used my iPhone to check weather every morning so I know what to wear.  I could listen to music, watch YouTube, watch movies, and play games on it when I am bored. I read news, I googled map, I took pictures.  I checked products review in store when I have any impulsive buying urge.  I text message like using IM.  I set up reminders for ANY events, including parties, friends' birthday, bill pay, etc.  I have my family & friends' contact information with me all the time so I could keep in touch.  I guess it's more than just a phone, as any other smart phone.  HA... I tried to use "touch screen" on Motorola SLVR few times unconsciously.  I didn't even want to set up contacts on Motorola SLVR because by comparison, it so hard to navigate and type on it.... To sum up, I don't care I am spoiled. I MISS MY IPHONE!  
I truly hope Apple will release the 2nd generation iPhone on Monday next week with decent pricing.  Then, I could justify buying a new one.
Let's hope!

Our house was burglarized last week. I “MAY” have left our door unlocked. I honest do not remember if I locked it. Adam also doesn’t remember if he double checked the door that night…… Whoever came in took my purse, wallet, camera, my “precious” iPhone, and the iPhone charger. Ha… I guess even the burglar is thinking ahead.

I’ve always thought our neighborhood is fairly safe, but I guess nowhere is completely safe. Since then, we have installed ADT security system, few motion sensor lights, etc. I have promised Adam that I will NOT leave the door unlock …. And both of us will do a better job checking the premises. The burglar came in between Sunday night and Monday morning (5/4 or 5/5). But I guess there are worse things that could happen than few missing items…… The weird part is both Adam and I are light sleepers. I can’t believe someone was in the house, and we didn’t even know. But on the other hand, I am also wondering it may be a good thing that we didn’t wake up. I am not sure what we should (or would) have done if we woke up in the middle of night and found the burglar(s) in our house…. Scare them away? That’s only a maybe….

So… until we decided to spend money and get another camera….. you may not see pictures posted here for a while…. *sigh* my precious iPhone and my precious camera…..

There are a lot of flower bulbs popping out in our front yard starts. The spring is really coming. It’s a shame I don’t know much about flowers. The only one I recognized is the tulip. Yesterday, I realized something amazing. I saw the tulip wide opened in the morning. I thought, “is tulip lifespan that short?” since they just barely bloom. Then, I realized they closed up at night. Here is what I found on www.learner.org.
“Tulip flowers open and close in response to heat and light. When tulip petals fold in at night, or on a rainy day, the pollen stays dry and reproductive parts are protected. When they open the next morning, the pollen is ready to attach to the bodies of hungry insects.?”
I learn something everyday!

Look! They really close at night!



Here are some more pictures of our front yard.