PREGGO IN A PONCHO

At 26 weeks' pregnant, my belly would no longer fit into my old winter jackets and coats.  I tried each one of them on but was unsuccessful in buttoning or zipping them all the way down - only the top button would close. It's not cheap to buy winter apparels especially a warm and fashionable jacket or coat, not to mention that I have more than enough of them, so it wasn't really my plan at all to buy one anytime soon - pregnant or not.  When I told Vince about it, he said we can just buy a new jacket for me, but the idea of spending money on a winter jacket that will fit me through pregnancy didn't sound too appealing to me, because I was thinking that I'm not going to be able to use it anymore post pregnancy.  Thanks however to my friend, Tin, who brilliantly suggested that I buy a poncho instead of a jacket, that way I can still wear it even after I give birth.  Since we're now living down South where winter is not as bad as when we were up North, a poncho is sufficient to keep me and my belly warm!  So, when we went Black Friday shopping last week, I didn't hesitate on buying the first poncho I laid my eyes upon.

Gray cotton/polyester/acrylic knitted poncho by Calvin Klein

It was a good thing that Calvin Klein had pretty sweet deals last Black Friday.  This poncho was originally priced at about $100 at the outlet store, but I got it at a discounted price of about $40.  I also bought a wool coat which was originally tagged at $260 but when the cashier rang it, it came down to only about $118.  I'm really happy with my Calvin Klein Black Friday purchases... if only every day could be a Black Friday.  Hehe!

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For a sneak peek of what's inside my closet, please visit:

WEDNESDAY APPAREL

And nope, they're not for sale ☺

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PLANNING YOUR TRIP ON THE P&O ORIANA

If you have your sights set firmly on a quality cruise getaway in the coming months then there are plenty of options out there for you but a trip on the P&O Oriana has to be up there with the very best. One point worth noting from the outset though is that the remarkably sleek and luxurious vessel only admits adults and so families with children will need to look elsewhere for their next adventure. The good news though if you're planning to travel perhaps as a couple or as a group of friends is that there are some excellent offers being made on tours aboard the Oriana in the coming months.

Prices on even the most amazing packages like those covering several weeks during December are less expensive than you might imagine and there surely can't be many finer ways to spend Christmas than to be cruising around the Eastern Mediterranean. But if you have other plans for the festive period then what better way to start the new year than with a trip on the Oriana that sets off from Southampton and takes in a string of awesome locations in the Eastern Atlantic from the Canaries to Casablanca before heading back to the UK.

There are tours of the Caribbean available as well in the early part of 2013 if you are committed to landing yourself a real once-in-a lifetime cruise holiday experience. It can be wonderful to plan a cruise well in advance and to give yourself something really special to look forward to but the best way to grab yourself a heavily discounted package offer is to book at virtually the last minute. There are last minute cruises on the likes of the Oriana being made available on a weekly basis and by taking advantage of them you could end up saving some really worthwhile sums.

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY 2012

When Vince and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary last year, well... we almost never got to celebrate it.  There was a heavy snow storm in Pennsylvania (first of that year), so the last minute, we cancelled our hotel reservation in Maryland.  Our plan was to drive early that day to Baltimore, which apparently was not affected by the snow storm then.  We waited for the snow storm to subside and when it did around 6:00 in the evening, we thought driving conditions would be better by then and so we went ahead with our plans.  Two hours and a half or so, we got there in Baltimore, and good for us, the hotel we booked and cancelled still had rooms available to accommodate us.  We had a late night dinner at the most popular Spanish restaurant in the area, and did a Segway tour around Baltimore the following day.

So, last week, we yet again celebrated our wedding anniversary.  This time, it was frankenstorm Sandy who created some sort of a havoc over the east coast.  If we were still living in Pennsylvania, I'm pretty sure, our second anniversary would have been a lot similar to the first one -- we either were rained in or snowed in stuck at home, but thank God since we had already moved here down south in Georgia, we were spared of Sandy's whips and twists.

Anyway, we had a wonderful anniversary celebration this year.  Our place here in Georgia is so close to Florida, we're just three hours away from Disney World -- yes, where the magic begins! ;)  We went to Disney in early 2010, but since then, we never had the chance to visit again, not until last week.  It brought us back sweet, fun and romantic memories of our first trip there ♥  Disney was actually Vince and mine's first major getaway together when we were still sweethearts trying the long distance shot, so I really couldn't help but feel a flutter in my heart to once again see those familiar roads and places (ehem, outlet malls, hehe!) we've been to before ♥

Moving forward...  at the hotel, I encountered problems with very slow Internet connection, which made me really stressed out (I was working remotely during our stay), but I'm glad that it didn't totally ruin our three-night four-day celebration in Orlando.  The first in our reservations was Oscar's Restaurant at Waldorf Astoria, but unfortunately, we were both sleepy and too tired to wake up early to make it on time for a 7:30 breakfast, hence we didn't go.  We tried to do it on the third day of our stay but the jurassickly slow Internet was really getting into my nerves (I was pulling my hair at my wits end!), we decided to just do the breakfast when we visit again in the future.

Despite the Internet fiasco, like I said, our celebration was immensely wonderful.  On our second night, we had a delightful and filling dinner at an Indian restaurant.  I was so full from all the naan, biryani and lamb rogan josh I ate that I suffered a tummy ache afterwards and I passed out in bed that night.  Haha!  On the day of our anniversary, we also received a great news from our lawyer regarding our status here in the States.  We finally received the much awaited approval of Vince's working visa, and that means he could start work ASAP!  Such a lovely anniversary gift to us ♥ The third night, we went to this very popular, fancy African restaurant located in Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge, and is called, JIKO.  Vince and I indulged on sumptuous meals (which made me feel like I was a judge on a Food Network show like Iron Chef or Chopped) including duck confit flatbread, seared duck and guinea hen.

The highlight of our celebration was when we watched La Nouba - Cirque du Soleil.  After dinner at JIKO, we drove to Downtown Disney where the Cirque du Soleil tent was located.  We had front and center tickets which made it more exciting and interesting.  We were seated so close to the stage!  All the performers were great -- from the clowns to the singers, to the dancers, to the tight rope walkers, to the jugglers, to the cyclists, to the trapeze flyers, to the trampoline artists -- all of them!  I thought I'd go into premature labor when the trapeze artists went flying on air.  LOL.  What else can I say?  It was simply a spectacular show worth watching ☻

Taking photos/videos is strictly prohibited during the show, so the only pictures we have were taken outside.

Clown Alley

Diabolos, Power Track/Trampoline, Clowns

"La Nouba is a spectacle more visceral than intellectual.  An 11-year-old boy in the audience seemed to sense as much.  As the crowd filed out of the auditorium at the end of the show, his father asked him how he liekd it.  'My throat hurts,' he answered.  'Why?' asked the father.  'I think, I forgot to breath,' said the boy." -- The Orlando Sentinel

I'd like to take this chance to thank God for allowing Vince and I to celebrate another year of our marriage.  I pray that our love for each other as husband and wife continue to grow each day, and may we remain forever faithful to God and with each other.  Cheers to more wedding anniversaries, Vince!  I love you very much ♥

DISCOUNT CLOTHING ONLINE AT 599 FASHION

A penny saved is a penny earned so they say.  For us who cannot resist shopping but are frugal or at least trying to be one, lucky us, 599 Fashion online store offers a variety of discount clothing and other items including jewelry, shoes, beauty products, and bags -- everything for $5.99 or less!

Yes, you read that right, $5.99 or less.  Fashion 599 sells cheap clothing that are fashionable, attractive, boutique-style, and of good quality.  They even carry plus sizes, men's clothes, and kids and junior apparels -- again for only $5.99 or less.  Wouldn't you be glad to be able to afford great looking clothes at such affordable price?  Considering that everything is $5.99 or less at Fashion 599, you could just imagine how easy it would be to fill your wardrobe with lovely tops, pretty dresses, trendy skirts, and other apparels.  Now, that's what I call shopping galore!

Visit Fashion 599's website and subscribe by email to receive coupons and discounts on top of their very cheap $5.99 or less prices.  Like them on Facebook to get updates whenever new items are added.  Merchandise is limited and sells out fast, so hurry, check out Fashion 599 now, and if you find something you fancy, wait no more, grab 'em before someone else does ;)

Round neck open shoulder striped top - $5.99

Strapless short striped dress with decorative lace front tie - $5.99

Strapless flower patch decorative short layered dress - $5.99

Thanks Fashion 599 for the opportunity to review your merchandise!   I love all the items I bought and received from your store, and I can't wait to wear them all!  You can definitely add me to your regular customers from now on ☻

PS:  By the way, I'm 23 weeks' pregnant when photos above were taken ;)

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For a sneak peek of what's inside my closet, please visit:

WEDNESDAY APPAREL

And nope, they're not for sale ☺

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