Happy Holidaze 2015

This holiday season has truly been a daze!

I spent Thanksgiving in Seoul, after exploring Hong Kong for a week, and am so thankful to have the financial stability to travel as well as the great company to travel with. Our Asia group was mostly awesome, especially because we got to piggy back on Nan's food research/plans in HK. The most intense night of eating of my life was probably our dinner food tour with Nan's cousin. GEEZ! They sure do know how to eat! And catching up with Greta was fantastic, as she took us to some of our favorite Chinese meals. In Hong Kong we stayed on Park Island, and I really loved the area. Life on the BEACH but near the city - a dream for me. We rode the MTR a lot, and even though I don't like public transportation... I have to admit that it was very clean and convenient. One of my fave destinations in HK was the Wong Tai Sin temple where I got my fortune read!  I mean, we even went to Macau and karoke'ed in HK... it was really my ideal trip. 

Korea was much colder, but we ALWAYS had grapefruit soju to warm us up. The food in Seoul was also really delicious, and the shopping was overwhelming at times. Most of our meals were KBBQ, but all of the KBBQ was really tasty so I didn't mind at all. The street food was such a treat, especially because we stayed at a hotel in Myeong-Dong within walking distance to the vendor strip. We also had ginseng chicken and black sesame honey tea (both of which I've never had before) with Charles' cousins, and they were so nice! Can't wait to see them again in Spring for the wedding. I brought back a few Korean beauty products that I really like, and wish I had purchased more! 

Since coming back from Asia, we hosted an Ugly Christmas Sweater/White Elephant party, as well as a Holiday Turn-up at Tia Lou. We also saw Beauty and the Beast at the Paramount with Vic and Christina! 

On Christmas Eve, I attended mass with Matt's family, and then enjoyed a delightful family dinner at Matt's sister house. I made frosted donut holes for dessert, with the cake pop maker secret santa gift from Alom. They took forever but were pretty good, if I may say so myself. =) We even brought Forrest, and he had so much fun with the nephews! 

When we got home, we opened our gifts and I got a MAGIC MIC FOR CHRISTMAS!!! I stayed up until 4 AM singing, and now I am having a very, very lazy Christmas Day. WHEW! 

Wicked the musical, at the Paramount!

I've wanted to see Wicked for years, but every time I checked showtimes it was either sold out or no one was interested in joining me (because they'd already seen it). This week, somehow the stars aligned, and Christina ended up with extra tickets to see Wicked at the Paramount!

And they weren't just any tickets. They were VIP entrance, with access to the private lounge, and balcony seats that were front and center. Christina's brother had been on a waiting list for a year to get those tickets, and I was ECSTATIC that they thought to ask us!

We met up near the VIP entrance and took a few photos with the Wicked truck. And then we headed into the private lounge where we enjoyed hors d'oeuvres and a round of drinks. When we arrived at our seats, I was so impressed by the view. I don't think seats get any better than that at the Paramount.

The first act was phenomenal, enthralling, and captivating from beginning to end. I was almost in tears by the end of the defying gravity scene! I loved the jokes, and I really loved Galinda's character. It was very Mean Girls at first, and then became a bit Hunger Games (the Emerald City reminded me of the Capitol), and throughout the musical I was reminded of Legally Blonde. At intermission, I was a ball of adrenaline and I even thought to myself... I'd LOVE to be in a musical! The singing, the dancing, the costumes, and energy. The perfect timing and props!

We got another round of drinks, this time in sippy cups, so that we could enjoy them at our seats. Luckily, we had access to the private bathrooms, because the line at the general restroom was horrendous. The second act was almost as amazing as the first, and I was at the edge of my seat for every minute. Prior to seeing Wicked, I had only a very vague idea of the plot. I really appreciated the angle that it took on the traditional Wizard of Oz events, and I think the musical was REALLY well done.

I am so happy we got to go. I love Wicked! I had goosebumps because it was THAT good. <3