Trying to Figure Things Out

So, I've spent the last hour trying to figure out how to make a button for my blog.  I'm not sure wht I need one yet, I just know that all of the cute blogs I read have them.  I'm such a sheep sometimes!  This is my design:

Stay tuned.....

Rah - Here Comes Bridezilla!

Watching other people get married - whether they were people i knew or just various reality tv brides - i never really understood how a woman could turn from a normal, sweet girl into a " Bridezilla ". I couldnt wrap my head around what could possibly be important enough to bring out that inner monster, and make women turn so visciously against their loved ones, who seemed most frequently to be:
a) their hapless fiance
b) their meddling mother or
c) one of their bumbling bridesmaids.

Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

I was adamant i wasnt going to be that woman, the one who went from blushing bride-to-be to Superbitch Bridezilla.... and thankfully, so far, i havent been. I've been stressed about finding the perfect jewellery ( which i ended up getting at Macys online.. thankgod for international shipping! ), the perfect shoes ( which i'm hoping to get in when i'm in Sydney in two weeks time ) and the perfect flowers ( which are now coming from Artificial Wedding Bouquets ) but i havent cracked it with anyone yet. Except a few days ago when i kind of cracked it at my Mum for calling me at 8:30am on a workday. And i would have cracked it at her for that even if i wasnt getting married...

So back to the Bridezillas - its only 3 and half months til my wedding, but i am crossing my fingers that i dont cross over into " Bridezilla " territory before then. I can pretty much guarantee that i'll have at least one big, emotional meltdown before then ( probably over some tiny little detail which will seem insignificant by my first wedding anniversary ) but i am going on record as saying " I will NOT become a Bridezilla! ". Even if something goes wrong with my dress/flowers/shoes/cake/reception.. i will find away around it without turning all crazy deranged dragon lady.

I will NOT become a Bridezilla, i will NOT become a Bridezilla, i will NOT become a Bridezilla...

Maxabella Interviews Me!

Ok, not quite - no, Ms Maxabella from MaxabellaLoves actually interviewed herself today, but she encouraged us to play along and interview ourselves too. And me being the meme whore that i am decided to give it a shot!

My earliest memory is... catching the XPT from Dubbo to Sydney with my dad. Actually, i'm not sure if its a memory of the event or i'm remembering the stories my Dad tells about the trip. I was 3 yrs old and apparently the water fountain on the train kept me amused for hours...

Image from here

My school report usually said... " Amy is a very diligent student, and a pleasure to teach ". Ha! ( Nevermind that sometimes it was followed by " She can, however, be a little too opinionated at times... ")

My first relationship... was in primary school with a boy named Kenny. We kissed behind the girls toilets, sat next to each other in the playground, and held hands when we walked home from school. I think it lasted about two weeks. Brief, yet very intense...

I don't like talking about... whats bothering me, deep down. Oh yea, sure, i'm fine to blab about it to the world on my blog, but when it comes to revealing deep dark secrets to my loved ones, i go mute.

My most treasured possession is... my engagement ring. I had to have it re-sized a few weeks ago ( yay for losing weight! ) and i felt a little naked without it. Ask me again in 4 months and my answer will probably be my wedding ring..

My father always told me... " stop picking on your brother/sister! " Yep - i was a bit of a shit-stirrer as a kid, and my brother and sister were easy to rile up ( can you tell i'm the oldest ? ) Other than that, i think my father impressed on me that every choice we make has a consequence, and we need to own that choice, whether we're happy with the result or not.

There's me, being gorgeous... no, wait. Thats Anne Hathaway...

In the movie of my life, I'd be played by... somebody goooooooorgeous dahling. Like me, you know? I'm going to go with Anne Hathaway, even though she is taller, thinner and more beautiful than i'll ever be.

I wish I had... enough money, or enough equity, to build a home for my family. A place we can make our own and raise children. With an amazing kitchen and a big backyard. And a dog. Named Buster.

I wish I hadn't... wasted so many years as a teenager/young adult living entirely within my own mind and worrying about would happen if i stepped outside my little box. What a great way to miss out on so, so much stuff...

My most humiliating moment was... falling off a dance platform ( or " the top box " at the 'Mersh as its known - Polly may know what i'm on about ) at a local club, and landing on my arse amongst the other dancers. My crazy, drunk-dancing friend " accidentally " danced a little too far to her right and booty-bumped me right off the edge. Shame, Amy, shame.

My guiltiest pleasure is... bad reality television. Though i dont stray as far as " Jersey Shore " ( and hey, thats only because i dont have pay tv... ) i will admit to being a fan of such fare as " Big Brother ", " Pimp My Ride " and " MTV's Next! "...

My last meal would be... eaten.very.slowly. Relished even. I'm thinking something wholesome and comforting if i'm about to go to my grave - roast chicken, potatos and the most awesome baked pumpkin ever. Steamed green beans. And garlic bread. And then a decadent chocolate cheesecake for dessert. Mmm....cheesecake ( cue Homer Simpson style drooling... )

Fish Mart Sakuraya Parkway Parade

It was moving day into the new Shoebox (affectionate name for my new apartment) and I was tired out from packing, moving, unpacking, and unpacking some more. To reward myself, I met up with fellow Katong Kia Kaisan for a nice celebratory dinner at Fish Mart Sakuraya Parkway Parade. "My treat", he said, “Order whatever you want”.

Uh oh. Those are dangerous words to tell me in a restaurant.

When we got there, I realised that Fish Mart Sakuraya had moved from a retail shop with just 3-4 seating tables, into a much bigger space with a proper seating area. They now have proper wait staff and a full menu comprising not just sushi and sashimi items, but also grilled and other cooked items – impressive! There was a queue on a Sunday night, but luckily, it moved pretty fast. Excellent, I was starved.

After we ordered some cooked items – cold salad tofu, edamame, inari sushi and grilled mentai salmon, we left our seats to pick out the sashimi at the counter. I’m not kidding when I say I went berserk over-ordering. Thick slab of kanpachi (yellowtail) please. Oh, and two thick slabs of maguro (tuna) and mekajiki (swordfish) too. Oh oh, and let’s not forget a generous serving of our favourite ohtoro (fattiest tuna)!

They weren’t big on presentation but I love how fresh, thickly sliced and creamy the sashimi was. Paired with a smooth bottle of junmai daiginjo, it was a hearty (I braved took responsibility for finishing up the copious amount of sashimi we ordered) and thoroughly enjoyable meal with a newly-discovered-old-time friend. Damage for all that food with a 750ml bottle of sake came up to $140 for the two of us, not the cheapest but it’s respectable, given the generous servings we had and how fresh they were.

Easties, lucky us, we know where to head for our sashimi fix *burp* Shiok to the max!