kai won xiao

You know what's awesome/kind of infuriating about China and Hong Kong and a good portion of the rest of the world? The haggling for goods in the open-air markets. It's awesome when you get a really good deal on something that is actually of pretty high quality but it is annoying when you overpay for a piece of junk.

My parents just got back from a fabulous trip to Hong Kong to see their best friends, Brad and Katie, who live there. Now, my sister and I were able to see Brad and Katie in Hong Kong about 2 years ago as well. Let me tell you a little something about Katie's sweet skills at the market - she is a champion haggler. The Michael Phelps of wheeling and dealing. It's truly a thing to behold. And you can bet my parents came home with some pretty sweet stuff (read: not junk) under her tutelage.

There isn't a whole lot of haggling to be done in America. We deal and discount and we offer and counter offer but it's nothing like China. We generally pay the price on the price tag or go the more polite, non-confrontational route of coupons! and sales! And you can get some pretty good deals that way too.

Pour example: I got a high quality unmentionable last week for $4.52 (orginally $32.99). I also got a highlight and cut for $10.00 (orginally $110.00). But the deal I am most excited about is this house:


We came in a good deal under the asking price. AND I JUST LOVE A GOOD DEAL.



p.s. my year of pictures has been drastically interrupted by a certain BABY who has gone through a ridiculous GROWTH SPURT and was able to reach the strap of my camera (where, just days before it would have been okay) and pull the whole thing off the table and onto the ground. yeah. that's an expensive fix so....maybe next year?

p.p.s. i am pretty sure that the title of this post is spelled correctly but I may be comically WAY OFF on that. if this offends you than you need to stop getting offended so easily.

Housekeeping.....you want me fluff pillow?

1 - I know most of you don't care but I'm just going to update my flickr photostream with pictures of this year. So. Instead of me posting my "pictures of the day" every few days, I'll just point you toward the link underneath my profile. K? K.

2 - I'm only going to post crafts and recipes I think everyone will enjoy.

Just some items to keep the blog a fun place to be. I don't want to become one of those mommy bloggers who blogs.about.ev.er.y.thing. even if it really isn't that interesting. I feel like that's kiiiind of what I've been doing this month. So no more. My apologies.

Love.

Pictures with a sidebar rant.....because I aim to please

1/10/11 - where did she even get chocolate???

(Sidebar rant: I understand that living life in sweatpants is a little bit too lazy. However, I see no problem with living that way 2-3 days a week. By the time I see my husband every night I'm in my pjs anyway so don't glare-judge me when you see me "dressed down" at the grocery. They're not even "sweats" really, they're nice clothes - comfy and cute that are specifically not frumpy - and I'm wearing makeup and my hair is done. And I'm glad I wasn't wearing real clothes when Ava did this. End of rant.

1/11/11 - bathtime



1/12/11 - after the snow storm

more explanation to follow....

1/6/2011 - snowy day


1/7/2011 - rubies for breakfast


1/8/2011 - THE GREAT HAIR DEBACLE OF 2011.....I'll explain it later...maybe...when the shame ebbs.


1/9/2011 - static cling hair


And another. Because she's so cute.

January 1-5

1/1/11 - red-haired me


1/3/11 - she literally has to be everywhere I am most of the time. Including when I cook.


1/4/11 - hard to screw up a meal with these ingredients.


1/5/11 - potato pancakes with my canned applesauce and sour cream. Nom nom.



5 days in, 4 photos. I only thought to do this on January 3rd, hence the missing picture.

Not an ought, not yet a teen.

Yes. I am aware that it is January 6th and I am just now posting my new year's resolutions. It's because I didn't want to break my resolutions right out of the gate so blogging about them was low on the priority list. K?K. Also, I hate using the term "new year's resolutions" because it makes me feel like a poser (I think 7th grade was the last time I used that word) who will break all those resolutions within the month of Janvier. I will not be one of those people who pack themselves into the gym everyday at the start of the new year only to stop going by the end of January. You know how I know? Because I was already going before 2011 hit.Boom. Roasted.

So without further ado, here is what I want to accomplish in two thousand eleven (in no particular order).

1. Flirt more with my husband. Be a better wife and let the small stuff go and concentrate on the positive.

2. Be a stay-at-home-mom. But Tiffany, you already are. Eh. Yeah. Technically. But I want to really be a stay-at-home mom instead of a stay-at-home-maid or a stay-at-home-get-annoyed-easily-by-the-baby or a stay-at-home-forgets-how-lucky-she-is-to-spend-so-much-time-with-my-little-one.

3. Improve my relationship with Christ. Scripture study, prayer, all those things that make me worthy of His Spirit and guidance. I need it now more than ever.

4. Pray with my husband more. I think this is the best way for us to have an intimate and infinite relationship and the best way to tell what's really on each other's minds.

5. Workout 4 days a week. At least.

6. Craft once every week. I love crafting. I love creating beautiful things. I love making my home beautiful with things I made that hundreds of other people can't buy at bed bath & beyond that don't cost me a ridiculous amount of money.

7. Waste.Less.Time. Doing who knows what? I swear I'm Fox Mulder and there are portions of time for which I cannot account. Tired of that.

8. Only spend one day a week cleaning. I have this problem with laundry that I don't finish it all in one day..... or two days..... or three.... and by the time I finish it I have to do it all over again. This may take the whole year to accomplish.

9. Take a picture everyday. A year of pictures. Maybe this will make me a better photog? We shall see.

10. Laugh more.

11. Try a new recipe every week.

12. Be a better budgeter.

Numbers 6, 9, and 11 I will share with you all.
I have a feeling that this is what my list is going to look like for years to come...