A good hair cut!

Hey Ya'll! 

Wanted to share with you today about where I get my hair cut. I tried many different "local" type places when I first got here, but they didn't work well with my type of hair. I have a ton of hair so it needs to be thinned out and layered just right. The first time I got my hair cut at a local place down the road from where we lived, I cried the whole way home. It was way too short and way too thin with a very straight type cut.

 I HATED it. 

So I took my dear friend from Singapore with me the next time to try again, it was better but still not great. After a few times of just being disappointed, I finally decided it was worth paying more to try and get a better cut. 

Tony Studio!!!! 

Ken Bao, my FAVORITE stylist! 

This salon is in Ba Bai Ban (downtown Wuxi) has been a life (well really "hair saver") saver for me! It is an extremely nice salon with very professional guys working there. They don't speak a lot of english, but between the little bit of mandarin that I know, the touch of English they know, and the wonderful translation apps on the iPhone, we make it work. 

Ken Bao is my personal favorite stylist. He has cut my hair the last 4 times I have been and it has always been wonderful!!! I have taken quite a few friends with me and they have used other stylists and we have all been very pleased.  

Carina discussing with they stylists how she wants her hair done. 

When you go you can expect to spend at minimum 180 rmb. That is the price I pay each time I go and that is the lowest price they have. You can choose different levels of service, but I think this level is wonderful. I have not gotten my hair colored there so I don't know how that would work yet, but I do know they offer that service as well. 

Carina getting her hair cut. 

They are open from 10am to 10pm each day. Also in Ba Bai Ban there are some great restaurants on the same floor as Tony Studio. Go have lunch or dinner and enjoy a fabulous haircut. 

Our final product. We love our hair cuts! 

Can't wait to hear what you think about this fabulous salon! 

Thanks ya'll, 

Belle

Play Time! Indoor playgrounds are fabulous!

Hey Ya'll!

***This post is being updated and rewritten since the last indoor playground has closed.***

I was bummed to learn that our playground we had been going to was closing, but within a few months a new one has opened in a brand new mall! This mall, Suning Plaza, is amazing.


Suning Plaza 无锡苏宁广场

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Renmin Rd and Xinsheng Rd
无锡市人民中路和新生路

Pickle and I love to go to the playground, especially in the winter when it is super cold outside. It gives us a morning out of the house and time for him to run around and wear himself out. Its even better when friends go along. For the Mommy's and friends Suning has a Starbucks (and other coffee shops) and the playground lets you take your drink in with you. Sweet!!!! 

When you arrive at Suning, the playground is on the 3rd floor. It is called "Cheer" and costs 50rmb per kid to get in to the different parts of the playground, but it is totally worth it. You can buy a 10 times pass for 380rmb which is what I have purchased for these last few weeks, making it only 38rmb per visit.

There is three different sections to this playground. There is the main part for older kids, which is where we spent most of our time, a sand pit that is filled with sand toys, and an specific area for younger children. You have buy individual passes to each area per visit, but we tend to stick with just the one. They all look amazing though.

Below are some pictures of what the place looks like. One of the things you will notice is how clean it is. For China this is extra wonderful. The staff does a great job of keeping it clean and making sure the kids are not sick (have a fever) going in and that all kids have on a diaper (meaning no split pants...score!).

Enjoy!

A cool side. 

Tunnels all around. 

Climbing areas. 

You have to have a ball pit. 

They have an amazing area filled with soft balls that you can shoot, make float and more. 

The staff at the place is part of the reason I love it. They are super friendly, not over bearing and always willing to help out. 

Pickle loves going, especially when friends go along. 

So come on over to Wuxi and join us in the fun! You know you want to.

Thanks ya'll, 

Belle

Culture Shock- The peddler

LG and I took a quick walk over to our local produce market this afternoon, and as always, he scored some free food. Today's bounty of "free-because-I'm-so-good-looking" food included a cucumber (peeled..such service!) and banana. Our vegetable seller LOVES Xiǎodìdi (shao-tee-tee) "little brother", which is what LG gets called by pretty much anyone who stops to say hello.

On our way out of the produce market, we passed a man on a loud speaker. If there is one thing I can say --Chinese have NO volume control. Louder is better. He who speaks louder wins. It's sensory overload at times. Drawn to the man on his loud speaker, I took a little detour towards him, but stopped dead in my tracks when I saw what he was pedaling.

Here's a hint....

If I had anything ailing me, this man could fix it with his magic potions!

More specifically... snake potions.

Complete with live snakes.

He started to walk towards me with a snake and that's where I drew the line.

Uh uh. No way.

Maaaaaaaaajor bu Yao!

-Elle Lay

Auchan Grocery Store

Hey Ya'll! 

Lets get down to the stuff that I know you are really wanting to know before moving to Wuxi. 

Grocery Shopping! 

Where do you go to get the stuff we all know and love? Are things from home even possible to find?? 

In this section of our blog, we will share some of what we have learned in shopping and where to go to get all the things that are must haves. The main thing we have learned in China is that it is not very possible to get everything you need in one store. So by these posts, we hope to help you know where to go to buy different items as need be. 

Lets begin with Auchan. 

Auchan (Jinhai Rd) 欧尚（金海里店）

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0510-89087097
288 Changjiang Rd
无锡市新区长江北路288号

Our local store here in New District has gone through many changes since I have been here, but it keeps getting better. Right now they are under construction around the store to make the surrounding area into a shopping center, where I have been told a new Starbucks will arrive! Yea!!! 

Just some of the goodies you can find in the international food section. 

They have a small international food section that seems to be growing. At our last visit there, Elle Lay and I found Ole El Paso refried beans, taco seasoning and salsa. Until now you could only find this at Metro (our store in town like a Sam's Club or Costco). Other items in this section are chips, olives, pasta, beans and so much more. 

Elle Lay loving the cheese section. 

The cheese section here is WONDERFUL! They have a wonderful selection of different types of cheese, butter, yogurt and milk. Other than Metro, this is where we go for cheese. 

The checkout lines are always an interesting adventure. Most days its a long line with lots of people, but if you time your shopping trip right you can get through pretty quick. My suggestion would be to go shopping between the hours of 10am and 3pm. Before that you get the morning crowd of grandparents doing their family's shopping for the day. After that would be the rush of the evening crowd after work. 

LG & Pickle chilling as we get ready to lift their chariots over the barriers. 

As always, if you have kids don't take a stroller to the store unless you have a friend to help you lift them up and over the barriers. 

In conclusion, we love Auchan. Living in the new district section of Wuxi, it is an easy walk from our apartment. If I'm going shopping here are a few of the items I'm planning to get. 

baby wipes - 19 rmb

cheese - 32 rmb 

Pickle's favorite yogurt pouches - 4 rmb

Tractor Man's yogurt - 4 rmb

peanut butter - 12 rmb