Will I be able to fly home?

Yikes! My parents have expressed concern I may not be able to fly back to Shanghai due to the snow... My mother thinks I should postpone my flight back. I said, "What?! Are you kidding? It's Chinese New Year.. I'll never get a flight back around that time and even if I could it would cost a fortune." So I don't know what's going to happen but I hope I get back OK. I fly to Hong Kong on the 4th, and am going to check out the city for a few hours before flying back to Shanghai later that evening.

China snow storms cancel 3,250 flights - Jan 31

China steeled for worse weather as holidays loom - Feb 1

National Wear Red Day - February 1st, 2008 (22 red dresses)

I'm a bit slow but as I'm typing this it is still the 1st in the States.

February 1st was "National Wear Red Day" for Valentine's and for heart research.

Just like the pink ribbon supports Breast Cancer research, the "Wear Red Day" supports women with heart disease research.

Well since the day has already passed and I don't live in the States I can't really participate, but if I were... I went through Polyvore and picked my favourite red dresses. Not many long-sleeved ones to choose from (there should've been more given that it's freezing in the northern hemisphere now) but I've put in two that I thought were OK.

Looking for a bra...

I absolutely despise bra shopping. Nothing ever fits. If the cups fit the back doesn't close up, and if the size is right the cups are too big. Another problem is that I want a padded bra but I absolutely hate - no - despise underwire. I don't need it and it just digs into my stupidly bony breastbone.

I went to a lingerie store today. I saw a big sign saying 50% off everything so I went in. I should have known it would be a waste of time. There were hundreds of gorgeous designs in different colours, patterns, and prints but only ONE of their bras had no underwire. A plain beigey peach coloured one. Like the many I already own.

Am I the only female who wants a padded bra without underwire that comes in funky designs, colours, and prints? ARGH!

I just went to victoriassecret.com and there are a whopping 4 types of bras that come in small sizes, are padded and don't have underwire.

1. VS Cotton™ Padded wireless bra
It comes in 15 designs, 2 of which are printed

2. Victoria's Secret Pink® Wireless padded bra
Comes in 1 design - a pink and white pattern

3. Very Sexy® NEW! Infinity Edge™ wireless push-up bra
Comes in 7 designs, one of which is a leopard print

4. Victoria's Secret Pink® Wireless padded bra
Comes in four 'exciting' colours - black, white, nude and light pink

So I should just go and buy one of these right? No... I already know they won't fit. I have a problem with bras designed for Western women. The straps are always too far apart and dig into my armpits. On the other hand Chinese bras fit me fine across the front and shoulders, but never do up on the back! Plus, their models' cup size is about 300 times bigger than mine so how am I supposed to know what it looks like on me?!

ARGH - where is that despair smiley when I need one?! I should start my own business but I am guessing I am the only person looking for stuff that does not exist. I think I should just wear a bikini top. They quite often come in padded, un-wired varieties and lovely colours and prints!! Haha.

ShanghaiExpatWife's travel tips part I

One of the things about travelling overseas is that you might need a visa. Some are easy and you just get them at the airport as you go through, others you have to apply for in advance.

It is always a bit confusing because the rules change so often.
Example - it used to be you could only stay in Taiwan for 14 days and if you wanted to stay longer you had to extend your visa. Now it's 30 days (and I just scraped in staying 27 days!)

It's fairly easy to assume you won't have any troubles with an EU, US, UK, Australian, New Zealand or Japanese passport but you can never be too sure. I know that Russia has certain requirements...

Anyway I stumbled across this great website which tells you at a glance what visa you need based on your nationality/passport and where you are travelling to.

Taiwan is actually listed as "Chinese Taipei", the name they also go by in the Olympics as certain countries don't recognise is as a 'separate country' to China.

SkyTeam Visa, Passport and Health information

On another note - everybody in my immediate family, as well as my husband has dual nationality and two passports. But I have never heard of or met anyone who has three. I wonder if it is possible to have three or four different countries' passports?

Mii and You chocolate

It's coming up to that time of year and no I don't mean Chinese New Year although that is coming up too.... Valentine's day. What will you give your loved one?

The funniest and cutest and coolest thing I've seen in a while... Chocolate Mii / Wii (Nintendo) figures. HERE.

Made from 2.1 ounces of gourmet chocolate, each Mii character pair is presented in a console-shaped box. It's perfect for your Wii-obsessed partner! :D