MamaTamTam

Baby Ronin is 1 Year Old!

MamaTamTam — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 04:09:23 +0000

It’s so hard for me to believe that a year has passed since my baby Ronin was born! I remember feeling such a strange mix of emotions when I was expecting him. I had once heard from my older sister and another mother that there is this slight fear that you will never love another child as much as you love your first child. I was not a mother yet at the time and I remember thinking that it was a little bit of an unusual comment. But then when I was pregnant for the second time, I could suddenly relate. It seemed as my heart was filled with this massive love for my first born son Aiden, and I wondered would there really be enough for another baby? Well I can say firsthand that YES, your heart does amazing things. It grows and expands – I honestly never knew it could be so big.

Here is a little list of my favorite little milestones & memories of the past year:

Says “Da-deh” for Daddy, “Kiiii” for Kiwi, “Shh” for Shoes

Will hold up a phone to his ear and have a baby babble conversation with it

Detests Earths Best Green Peas & Brown Rice Baby Food but looooves Mommy’s Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes from Thanksgiving

Is such a loving & affectionate baby and frequently leans his little face and body into mine for kisses and hugs

My little defender! He’ll put up a LOUD protest if someone tries to take away a toy from him or move him away from something he is not supposed to be doing

Loves to squeal and scream, when either happy or sad. Labor & Delivery Nurse told me that he was one of the loudest babies she had ever encountered while I was recovering in the hospital. Never forgot that one!

Tried 3 different types of baby bottles in order to find the one he would finally drink out of. Hated formula with a passion and therefore was a breastfed baby for a full year. Never thought I would be able to accomplish that!

Adores his Let’s Rock Elmo from Santa. Sways his arms to the beat of the music & rocks out with him every day

Ronin, (aka Roro, Roro-Potato, Rock n’ Ronin, Pepper-ronin) I love you very much and I can’t wait to celebrate more birthdays with you. Just don’t grow up too fast, okay?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RORO!!!

The Terrific Threes

MamaTamTam — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 03:52:08 +0000

Happy Birthday to my dear sweet Aiden, who turned 3 years old recently! These days he talks off my ear while I do my best to patiently listen to all of his excited ramblings about trains & cars, desire to go outside and ride his tricycle, demands to know where Daddy is, and wanting to know if he can eat his Halloween candy for breakfast. Even though he is going through his stuck on Daddy phase, I take pride in that I understand him the best and am still his main language interpreter to the world. I make him his favorite wheel pasta and egg sandwiches with cheese. I am his Mama and I love him so!!!

A few of my favorite & funny things about him:

1. He gives hundreds of kisses to his baby brother everyday
2. His eyelashes are so thick and lush! Definitely not inherited from this sparse-lashed mama.
3. When I fall (yup big klutz here!), he comes running around, asking “you okay?” and kisses my boo-boo
4. He sings and hums in the car to his favorite music until he gets sleepy and can’t open his eyes anymore
5. A couple weeks ago, while I was enjoying some yummy collard greens, he asked me if I was eating turtle
6. Once he asked me to go to the grocery store to buy Daddy some more hair
7. When Daddy ate all his tapioca pudding, he was very displeased and asked to go inside Daddy’s tummy to get it back

You’re a terrific little kid Aiden! I love you!

Post Wedding Weigh-In!

MamaTamTam — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:41:46 +0000

The wedding was this past Saturday and it was absolutely beautiful. I am so happy for my friend! And yes, the bridesmaid dress zipped up! I was also equipped with my celebrity secret – the Spanx Slim Cognito Mid-Thigh Shaper which helped smooth out and suck in 6 month post baby body even a little bit further and I was very happy with the results. I seriously probably lost 1 lb just putting the Spanx on but the compression fabric is amazing. Plus it gives you some Kim Kardashian lift which is always nice when you are on the dance floor for some booty-shaking a la TamTam, circa 1999. It’s definitely worth the $$$ to give you that extra boost of confidence if you need it!

Weigh in the next morning following a filet mignon, crabcake and risotto meal, 4 bacon-wrapped scallops and a quarter pound cheeseburger with a few fries for dinner? 139.8 lbs! This was the weight I was hoping to be for the wedding and I did it! It was hard work and I have had to change my eating habits which everyone knows is so hard to do but I never succumbed to any drastic diet measures (the South Beach stint lasted for only 3 days) and I will probably never be able to eat very much dessert or drink soda in the future, but I have been adjusting to these diet modifications. My official goal weight is 136 lbs. Let’s see if we can make it!

38,500 calories lost later…

MamaTamTam — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:36:56 +0000

I’m 9 lbs away from my first goal weight! I am thrilled! It’s been harder than I thought to lose the weight, but it always is, isn’t it? Basically I have been trying to eat more salads and fish when I dine out and have cut out a lot of sweets. I am not perfect, I will still munch on that ever-delicious Great American Restaurants Ozzie roll or have a handful of M&Ms in the late afternoon, but for the most part I have been trying really hard to watch portion size and make better decisions about what goes into my mouth. Now the only bad news is that I thought that losing 10 lbs would allow me to fit into my J.Crew petite bridesmaid dress, but sadly it still does NOT fit. I have exactly 1 month and 1 day to lose probably another 10 lbs!!! It’s the smallest bridesmaid dress EVER CREATED in my size in the HISTORY OF MANKIND! Thanks ALOT J.CREW!!! I’m wearing practically two sizes smaller in all of your other regular clothes, but for some reason you are torturing me with this bridesmaid sizing nonsense.

And now because it is down to the wire, the South Beach diet will probably have to come into play. It means that I will cut out carbs and refined sugars the first two weeks and then slowly introduce them back in the form of whole grains and selected veggies and fruit the following two weeks. It works, but boy is it hard! WISH ME LUCK!

Mama’s Green Thumb?

MamaTamTam — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 01:15:17 +0000

My mom has always been a plant lover… her thumb is seriously truly green! When I was younger, I used to joke and even slightly resent the fact that she spent hours every night tending to her plants and garden but sometimes barely had any patience to deal with me and my two sisters. (Yup, in case you were wondering, I did grow up with that Joy Luck Club syndrome.) And now with two very young children of my own, I can understand how stressed and exhausted she must have been after commuting to and from DC, working a full day, dealing with deadlines, managers, and crazy staff members, then coming home and cooking a hot Chinese dinner for the family every night… it’s indeed a LOT of work. Her plant care-taking was probably a way to unwind and have some “me ” time. And I can certainly appreciate that now. It’s funny how things come full circle when you have kids…

Over the years, my mom has given me a few different plants. There was the plant that had pom pom shaped flowers she gave me when I lived with my best friend in Maryland. These flowers were supposed to fall eventually and help me find a husband. Yeah, I don’t think it really helped me find a husband. Then there was the Jasmine plant, the African Violet, and this beautiful Tropical Orange flower plant. And I have not inherited this green thumb gene from my mom because they never bloomed. Year after year, they just sat in the pot… boring green leaves and refusing to bud. Until this month!!! Finally, one of my plants flowered! This one is for you Mama! Sorry I was such a pain in the you-know-what when I was a teenager. You were doing your best and I appreciate everything you have done for me. Hope my children understand and know how much I love them one day.

135 Days To Go

MamaTamTam — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 03:11:41 +0000

In keeping up with my reality show TV addiction, I watched the entire first season of “I Used to Be Fat” on MTV. That’s right: I’m 33 years old and still watch MTV occasionally. My super guilty pleasure is Jersey Shore. GTL, baby! Hubby always wants to know why I am watching. I guess because it’s an escape and it’s so radically different from my suburban mom existence? It’s not because I identify with them or Snooki is my role model. And, there is certainly no G(ym) or T(an) going on in my life. There is however, much L(aundry) happening and required.

Anyway, I Used to Be Fat was a pretty inspiring show about teens that were getting ready to leave for college and that had for the most part been overweight and obese their entire life. They were assigned a tough-as-nails trainer and dedicated their summer to working out 4-6 hours a day and eating a very healthy diet of non-processed food and lots of water. They were held accountable by a huge pad of paper nailed into their bedroom walls with a daily countdown of how many days left they had to lose down to their goal weight. Despite overcoming barriers and challenges, the results were truly astounding and inspiring. The best part was that during the reunion show, it looked like all of them were maintaining their weight loss. It had me questioning my own struggle with my weight loss. If these teens could lose 80 pounds in one summer, then what excuse did I have? True, I do not have a personal trainer and obviously do not have 4 hours to exercise at the gym every day, but certainly I could start making healthier food choices every day and squeeze in some exercise a few times a week.

One of my good friends is getting married on July 23rd. And no, the bridesmaid dress does not zip up right now. And yes, I am slightly panicking. And yes, I need to lose the weight, not just for the wedding but for myself and so I can be a healthy Mom to my two boys. So I am drawing upon the inspiration of I Used to Be Fat and counting down the days to my weight loss goal. My official weight loss goal is 20 pounds by July 23rd. I have 135 days to do this. My bridesmaid dress should probably fit if I lose 10 pounds, but my goal is 20 pounds. This week I made my first healthy change. I gave up drinking soda (a very unhealthy habit I acquired while pregnant with Baby #2) for Lent (and beyond). I am Day 2 into it and so far with only a slight craving of some Coke while having some pizza yesterday, I have fared pretty well. I really recommend Deer Park Sparkling Water with Berry Lime Essence. It is very delicious has no sugar or artificial sweeteners and really helps with the fizziness that one might miss with the soda. So, come join me on my journey to losing 20 lbs. It won’t be easy, but I am ready to make the change!

It’s Raining Hats!!!

MamaTamTam — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 20:54:52 +0000

While perusing one of my favorite fashion magazines, People Stylewatch, I came upon a spread for the new Eugenia Kim for Target line of hats. I immediately made a mental note to check out this line the next time I was in Target, which would easily be every day if it was possible. Her line caught my attention for 3 reasons:

1. Her hats are Havana-inspired & pretty darn cute… there is something for everyone and every occasion. Most exciting is that the budget-friendly line ranges from $14.99 to $19.99.

2. Must give props to fellow Asian sister who has a successful fashion career (breaking out of the old Asian stereotype that you must be a doctor, lawyer or engineer to have made it in this world). Plus, a surefire way you know you have succeeded is when you design a line especially for Target!

3. In general I don’t find myself having a flattering head shape for hats and can probably count the times I have worn them on one hand, but I see 3 hats from her collection that I love and would buy in a heartbeat.

Check out New York-based Eugenia Kim, she won the CFDA Perry Ellis Award in 2004 for Accessories Design:

I’m picturing Key West… sipping margaritas, a white flowy skirt & flip flops:

Perfect complement to this season’s romantic embellished tees and those hot J Brand Houlihan skinny cargos:

Versatile day-to-evening hat, casual with jeans & a tee or with a dressier outfit too:

Would wear this on a rare lazy Saturday, brunching at my fave cafe and then shopping afterwards:

All photos above are courtesy of Target. As you can see, the fedora shapes are my favorites, but check out her entire collection at Target from April 18th through June 28th. I leave you with a pic of Hilary Duff wearing her cute Eugenia Kim straw fedora from her regular line during a recent trip to Hawaii. Her regular line is available at many retailers, including Saks Fifth Avenue. Oh the life these celebs lead!

Rain Boots! A Childhood Dream realized…

MamaTamTam — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:29:03 +0000

Having grown up with very pragmatic, budget-conscious parents, I never had a pair of galoshes or rain boots as a kid. Hey, got your shoes wet? Well give it some time… then guess what, DRY!

But much like some of the things we may have missed out on during our childhood, I made a mental note and tucked it away somewhere that “WHEN I GROW UP, I WILL HAVE GALOSHES!” A couple weeks ago, the mental note unlocked itself and at the tender age of 32 years, I suddenly and desparately pined for some rain boots. I saw them first at Nordstroms… hello Hunter Wellington Boots!

They even sell little wellie sock liners in solids and cute patterns to coordinate with the boots! My younger 20-something sister informed me that yes, in Chicago where it snows 1,000 feet every winter, EVERYONE wears these Hunter Boots. The price tag of $115? It’s okay… it’s an investment, right?

Here is Nicole Richie with the Green boots:

Annalynne McCord rockin the Silver boots:

The Orange ones on Kelly Osbourne are cute:

Even a Jimmy Choo collaboration in an awesome croc interpretation at $395 that is sold out everywhere:

I’ll let you in on a little secret. You can find an eBay outlet which sells Hunter Boots for MUCH less. They are categorized as 2nds and 3rds based on the “blooming” or “scuffing” evident on the boots. What is “blooming”? Since the boots are made from 100% natural ingredients, small amounts of wax included in the rubber compound during the vulcanisation process can “bloom” to the surface and appear as white or blue marks when exposed to certain environmental factors. It is not a defect in the boots and it is considered completely natural. I bought a pair of 3rds and honestly after cleaning and conditioning them they look as good as new. And I got them for $36! Go get a pair today!

Handbag Tuesday – Love for Coach

MamaTamTam — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:37:58 +0000

My obsession with Coach handbags began about 10 years ago. I was finishing up college and getting ready to enter the exciting workforce as a fresh faced, wide eyed, bushy tailed Staff Accountant in Corporate America. I needed something… more sophisticated, more refined, more sleek… translation more $$$. And true to Coach I was… I have been a very faithful Coach Customer. I can say that almost every handbag in my collection is from Coach, all of them stored in their own personal dustbag and stored away, for what reason? Well perhaps they would become *vintage* one day. Or maybe if I had a daughter one day, she might thank her lucky stars for such a *cool* mom that saved all her gently used Coach handbags. After I had my son by C-section last year, I informed the Husband that he need not purchase any jewelry for my well-deserved push present. I would take the Black Large Madison Sabrina Satchel with the awesome purple satin lining, please. Yes, my Coach store had already called me personally to tell me about the Sabrina collection a couple of months ago. And for being a loyal customer, I had my quarterly 25% off coupon. I knew that with being a new stay at home mom, it would be awhile before I could indulge again in my love for handbags. Here’s to you Coach!