Brasserie La Classe

This restaurant is the most recently opened one in Landmark Tower.

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Wanting some variety, I tried this resto several weeks ago, not having any idea what kind of resto it is. Upon sitting down however, I realised that it’s a fine dining restaurant. With a set dinner price that’s fit only for special occasions. Since I was already seated, I decided to just give it a try. Problem at that time was that I wasn’t really hungry. And looking at the set course already made me feel full and feeling some heartburn.

Thankfully, they have a selection of omelettes and soups as well so I ordered those ala carte. The amount was just perfect for my appetite at that time.

The following week, I was back at the resto. In the same exact table that I sat at the week before. During the second visit, I tried their Quiche de la saison (spinach and salmon quiche) and their soup for the day which usually is a healthy thick soup of something nutritious (my favourite so far is broccoli soup).

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The soup above is red bean soup.

With the salmon, spinach, fresh greens and healthy soup, it’s definitely a great meal for preggers. And it’s so filling at that!

And so since then I’ve been to the restaurant every week, once a week; always at the same table, ordering the same set. Everyone from the crew gives me a smile already and greets me warmly whenever I enter. The maitre d’ also always makes it a point to drop by my table and thank me profusely, with elegant bows and a big smile, for coming again. And even when I just order water (I gag now just thinking about orange juice and apple juice – I think I’ve had too much already) together with my set, they still set my table and treat me as if I’ve ordered the most expensive course they have along with the finest champagne in the house.

Truly exemplary Japanese customer service through and through.

Baby diaries: a family visit and our 4d experience

Hi Baby! We had our checkup again yesterday, a bit more thorough than the last couple of visits had been and longer time with the ultrasound machine since your measurements had to be taken, after a month when it was taken last. Yes, we have more photos of you this time and also quite a number with you captured on 4d! There’s no doubt this time, after the 4d; you’re definitely a girl. 🙂

But it was pretty interesting because the moment the nurse changed from 2d to 4d, it was at that time that you started crying. Haha. So your face was all contorted and such. But thankfully after a while, you settled down and went back to a peaceful slumber so you got quite a lot of decent photos as well. Your Ojichan and Aunt Mayumi (yes they’re here to visit dad and mom and you!) saw your photo already and I can’t wait to show it to your Obachan and Mama and Papa and Uncles.

Ob said your measurements are fine (thankful!), and not big at all like what everyone has been expecting. But Mommy has put on so much weight and fat than is necessary (the nurse had to push on my tummy at some point during the ultrasound because my “layers” we’re too thick. Ouch) hence Ob strictly told me to lower my calorie intake. And I guess I have to follow him and learn to curb my cravings because last Thursday and Friday, the terrible pain that strikes me whenever I stand up from sitting down/lying in bed was really too much. So, no more ice cream (your dad seem to be also craving for this quite a lot recently) and cake for us for the next two months.

And as I said, your Ojichan and Aunt are here! We’ll pick them up in their hotel later this morning for a bit of sightseeing. Ojichan advised though that it’s best to buy your stuff now while it’s still not so hot and I’m smaller and your Aunt also want to go see baby stuff in malls so we’d probably go shopping around for your goods.

Ja, have to prepare now baby lest we’ll be late for the meet up. 🙂

Holes by Louis Sachar

This book was lent to me by the same colleague who lent me The Boy in Striped Pyjamas.

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Finished this one even faster than the first one lent to me. There’s good reason why this book’s a Newbery Medal awardee. And yes, this is again a book written for kids. Unlike the other two children’s book I’ve recently read however, this Holes book I’m definitely gonna share with my baby.

A very nice read.

Goodreads stars: 5 of 5

how to gear your baby against bullying

I use “gear” and not “protect”. I have to face the fact that I can’t always be around my baby to be able to protect her against bullying and any abuse from her peers. And the mere fact as well that she has to run to us to be safe from bullying wouldn’t help her in the long run and would probably be even one of the reason why she’d be bullied.

I say “gear” because we want her to be equipped emotionally, physically and intellectually against any type of bullying. Of course it goes without saying that part of that “gearing up” is for her to be not the bully herself.

Why am I jumping to the bullying topic this early? This morning, Hubs told me about a junior high school student near Kyoto who committed suicide by jumping from the 11th floor of a building because he was being bullied by his schoolmates. The news insinuated as well that he tried to ask help from his teachers but the teachers even participated in the bullying albeit this is yet to be proven as the teachers, of course, are denying the allegations.

Hearing this news reminded us of this very pressing problem regarding bullying. All the way to Church, we had our brows furrowed with worry.

But no, we don’t have any concrete idea yet how to go about gearing up our baby. But this definitely will be one of our “main projects” from now on.

pregnancy photography

I’m not really comfortable enough to flaunt my big belly now and have a maternity photography session with a professional photographer. It goes to say as well that all the “progress photos” of my belly that I’ve been asking Hubs to take will remain private.

I would love to have one though, if only…

My favorite so far was a series of photos done by a photography enthusiast herself. Too bad I wasn’t able to get a copy of it when I saw it in Facebook. This one which I saw in Facebook as well came in a veeeery close second favorite.

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Hmmm…maybe I can have one same as this….