good morning

True that

2011-02-01T18:06:00.000-08:00

it wasn't that new york brought something out of me that didn't exist before but rather that i feel more alive and more compelled than ever when i moved to this city.

- va$htie

i couldn't have said it any better.

Days According to New Yorkers

2010-04-13T08:06:00.000-07:00

recently had a convo with a couple of my NY friends (born and raised) on how the week is broken down for true new yorkers:

monday is just a continuation of the weekend.

tuesday is actually monday.

wednesday is humpday, so gotta celebrate that.

thursday is almost friday.

friday is friday.

saturday is bridge & tunnel day.

sunday is the real saturday.

um so the only real day of rest is tuesday?? crazy.

Happy

2010-04-08T20:24:00.000-07:00

isn't it funny how sometimes the smallest things in life make you so very happy?

mine is coming home from work, stripping down to my undies, and sitting on the floor while eating peanut butter out of the tub.

perfection.

Old school

2010-03-06T23:21:00.000-08:00

i decided to stay home tonight, so jamiel came over and we youtubed music videos from our middle school/high school years. brought back a lot of memories :)

remember when you thought that baby blue track suit was fly?

Cravings

2010-02-24T22:29:00.000-08:00

no, i'm not preggers!

just a couple things i'm looking to change.. or purchase..

get my hair did.

vintage glasses. so i can look extra intellectual. SMRT

fujifilm instax mini 7. instant film yum

crazy neon nail polish. sporting limelight yellow at the moment

40 days & 40 nights

2010-02-17T22:58:00.000-08:00

today is the beginning of Lent, the time of self-examination that prepares us for Easter :)

Lent is traditionally observed by giving up something good, like coffee or chocolate.

i've decided to give up rice and noodles.. which is really hard for me because well, i'm asian. and that's what asian people eat. rice and noodles. all the live long day.

i'm pretty sure i will look like this once Lent is over and done with..

just replace that burrito with a bowl of rice.. or pho.. or ramen.. or pasta.. jja jjang myun.. jap chae.. kimchee fried rice.. bah

wish me luck!

2010 Handbook

2010-02-16T10:12:00.000-08:00

my friend forwarded me the below list that she got from her parents :) thought it was super cute and reminded me of something my parents would say/do. plus, totally wise words to live by!

Health

Drink plenty of water.
Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..
Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
Make time to pray.
Play more games.
Read more books than you did in 2009.
Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
Sleep for 7 hours.
Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality
Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
Don't overdo. Keep your limits.
Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
Dream more while you are awake.
Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
Smile and laugh more.
You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree..
Society
Call your family often.
Each day give something good to others.
Forgive everyone for everything.
Spend time w/people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
Try to make at least three people smile each day.
What other people think of you is none of your business.
Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
Life

Do the right thing!
Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
The best is yet to come..
Your inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Happy Valentines Day!

2010-02-14T18:15:00.000-08:00

hope you all are spending this day of love by loving others.. whether it be a bf/gf, friend, family, neighbor, etc.

it's nice having that one day where you put all things aside and appreciate the people in your life (although you should be doing this on a daily basis!).

for me, i have been blessed by God in so many ways that i decided it was time to give back to those who haven't been as fortunate. i volunteered for a community project that gave valentines day makeovers to abused women/sex slaves so they could feel beautiful on this very special day. it was an amazing experience.

i hope everyone had as special of a valentines day as i did! love (in all forms) is a wonderful thing.

Some NY madness

2010-02-10T15:15:00.000-08:00

in chronological order.

photoshoot

my good friend evan is an amazing up and coming photographer. so when he asked me to help him style a photoshoot i jumped at the chance. it was really exciting to see him in action. i know he's going to do big things. peep his photos: http://www.evan-browning.com/

jeffrey & friends

jefferson came to visit me! we ate, drank, and enjoyed NY to our hearts content. oh & went to the museum - for some reason, those are the only pictures i have from his trip. it was really nice having him just 2 blocks away.

leo & unnie's engagement

my sis came to visit me a couple weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised by her bf showing up and proposing to her on bow bridge in central park. it was the most perfect day ever. i am so so so happy for them! i couldn't ask for a better brother :)

revel for brunch
NY'ers really like to eat and drink at all hours of the day. therefore a club brunch seems like the perfect combination for NY. it's something most NY'ers have tried at least once in their life. to break it down for you, super pretentious clubs in the meatpacking district serve brunch and alcohol while a dj spins house music in the background. the waiters prance out with massive bottles of wine adorned with sparklers and encourage their patrons to eat and get drunk.

we were there from 2-8PM. dancing on top of chairs. it was an awesomely euro-trashtic time.

my birthday with the homies :) love em to pieces

i feel extremely lucky to have met all these fools and to have them in my life. i would be lost without them :)

even when they do extremely crude things..

sushi uo

live sushi. i was hoping it would be all wriggling and squirming when served.. but sadly, it was more dead than alive. however, it was one of the freshest sushi experiences ever. the chef used to be morimotos apprentice!

blizzard!

my first snowstorm. it was sooo beautiful. it was my first time ever seeing the streets of NY empty. it was really strange. but also very nice.

you can't truly appreciate (and also hate) the winter until you have lived through one.

here's a shot of my street.

first home cooked meal

made dinner for a couple of my close friends and finally broke in my kitchen!

on the menu:

bbq chicken wings, garlic mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, zucchini, corn, biscuits, nutella dumplings & fruit syrup ice cream. all made from scratch (well minus the biscuits. those were store bought haha)

we talked about how one day when we're rich (notice how i said "when" instead of "if"!!!) - we're going to bring up that one night when we were all poor and had to eat dinner on the floor of eileen's teeny tiny studio. i took the picture of brenzo and jamiel below to commemorate our time as broke (but fabulous) NY'ers.

well this sums up my life for the past month or so. it's been a little hectic yet oh so much fun.

also, thanks everyone for your prayers! because of ya'll, my dad is a-okay :) he went to eat buffet straight out of the hospital (and might i add, 2 nights in a row!). crazy haha

Fam

2010-02-07T15:35:00.000-08:00

miss them to pieces.

side note, i'm so excited to have a brother! finally.

Aggies

2010-02-02T20:45:00.001-08:00

i reconnected with an old college friend today and we chatted for a longgg time. it was so so great catching up with her. she used to work at hot dog on a stick (haha) and would bring me pink lemonade and cheese sticks after her shift :)

made me super nostalgic.

i have so many happy memories of college! ah to be young and stupid again.

oh also i was majorly chubs in college. used to eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, late night, del taco, etc. day in and day out. i was homies with the mcdonalds late night drive-thru workers.. no joke. probably having a friend who worked at hot dog on a stick didn't help much either.

reminiscing led me to look up some old pictures from my college hay days <3. and now i'm homesick.

Gotta have you

2010-01-31T10:24:00.000-08:00

No amount of coffee, no amount of crying
No amount of whiskey, no amount of wine
No no no no no, nothing else will do
I’ve gotta have you, I’ve gotta have you.

- the weepies

No words

2010-01-27T23:49:00.000-08:00

so images will have to do. well some of these images have words. oh well. what i'm thinking/feeling at the moment.

NY!

2010-01-24T21:14:00.000-08:00

aside from all the amazing food, fashion savvy folks, easy accessibility to all things, and the crazy nightlife..

what i love most about NY is the diversity - or better yet, racial integration.

with friends, bf/gfs, and families. it seems that NY is open to all. i have never seen so many desegregated friendships, interracial relationships, and multiracial families.

and that's what life is all about. exposing yourself to different backgrounds and expanding or sometimes even challenging your beliefs.

NY, i love you!

Twenty-six!

2010-01-23T08:16:00.000-08:00

2010 has been really really awesome so far :) albeit we're only 23 days in haha

i have a great feeling about the 26th year of my life. big things are going to happen. just you wait and see!

- new job/s (yay!)
- side project
- 2 weddings (maid of honor and bridesmaid eek).. which equals 2 bachelorette parties..
- family restaurant expanding. pg is taking over the world booyah
- coachellaaa
- hobbies galore
- travel - who wants to go to south america with me?

i miss you fam & friends! i feel so lucky to have you all in my life <3

Hi Jesus

2009-12-14T13:37:00.000-08:00

first time back to church in a loonggg time. too long.

the pastor spoke about being sucked up in the hectic life of nyc. of losing yourself to temptations.. temptations that aren't necessarily the blatantly obvious "sins" (sex, drugs, rock & roll - my faves btw).

more of the little things. of the daily irritations.

it was a good sermon.

i'm glad i went. must go more often.

Excuse me

2009-11-30T19:44:00.000-08:00

for the previous post.

a close friend of mine decided it would be best if we were no longer friends. as you can imagine, i was extremely hurt. that hurt turned into anger. and then that anger turned into blogging.

however, as my friends know.. i can't hold a grudge. it's my one downfall (aside from my stunning beauty har har).

and so, wherever you are my friend - i wish you the best. ill miss you.

It's been a while..

2009-10-19T22:55:00.000-07:00

haven't been blogging too much lately. not even sure if anyone actually reads this so might not make too much of a difference anyways.

life has been.. good & bad.

good=new friends, food, music, books, art, late nights

bad=unnecessary girl stuff, working like a mofo, being homesick

but what can i say. that's life. good & bad.

but all in all.. things will never go the way you expect it to go. and once you try to force it down one path - it's more than not to go the opposite direction. i say go with the flow :) which is what i've been doing.

love yourself & others.

Reminds me of Harry Potter

2009-09-11T18:18:00.000-07:00

Rows & rows of books. 18 miles to be exact.

I come here when I'm feeling sad, lonely, panicky, emo. I can roam the aisles for hours. Has reignited my love affair for books. Thank you Strand Book Store

Sunday in the park

2009-09-10T20:10:00.000-07:00

Washington Square Park.

Kids playing in the fountain. Wish I had the balls to jump in

Isn't she a Golden Girl?

2009-09-09T16:27:00.000-07:00

US Open.

Felt like Disneyland. A classy Disneyland

Enough said

2009-09-08T16:23:00.000-07:00

Zach Deputy.

Chubbiest, hairiest, beat-boxing, guitar playing Jewish man

Hello NY

2009-09-07T20:00:00.000-07:00

Rooftop drinking.

Life just can't get any better :)

Land of the hipsters

2009-09-06T23:15:00.000-07:00

Girl Talk @ the Williamsburg pool party.

Never seen so many guys in v-neck shirts and cut-off shorts. Turned on and off at the same time. Actually, more off than on. Think I'm over the hipster phase

BLAH

2009-09-03T20:22:00.000-07:00

panic

attacks

please.

pretty please.

DJ AM

2009-08-28T16:51:00.000-07:00

Goodbye.

Your set with Travis Barker definitely made my night @ Coachella. Sad that I won't ever hear you play again

Thunder from down under

2009-08-24T15:05:00.000-07:00

K-town.

Started pouring like a mutha. This photo was taken mid-lightening, so it looks like it's daytime but was actually around 11pm

It's getting hot in herre

2009-08-23T16:04:00.000-07:00

Above Allen.

So quintessentially NY. Gay male models & old skanks

Touchdown!

2009-08-22T10:03:00.000-07:00

Chelsea Piers.

As you can see by the title, I know jack about golf. At least it was a beautiful day

Gummy bear love

2009-08-21T21:01:00.000-07:00

@ work on a Friday.

Jealous of those gummy bears

Hova

2009-08-21T15:02:00.000-07:00

All Points West.

I miss Michael

Tango

2009-08-20T11:12:00.000-07:00

Central Park.
Dancing like they were the only two people in the world

I miss SF

2009-08-19T20:38:00.000-07:00

Sunset.

Photographer shooting SF skyline

Future blogs

2009-08-19T20:15:00.000-07:00

Have decided to update via iPhone photos. One per day.

Stay tuned..

It's a new year b*tches!

2009-03-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

I know it’s a bit late to make 2009 resolutions.. but better late than never right?

Goals for 2009.

1. Be independent.

2. Travel.

3. Spend ridiculous amounts of money on bullshit. My credit card bills are proof.

4. Become a savvier media agent and rule the fucking digital world! Not quite there yet.

5. Pick up where I left off with the guitar and learn to strum like this genius kid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xRARmrorGU&feature=related
BTW, I love this song. Totally makes me emo. But good emo. Still needs work. A lot of work.

6. Play, eat, drink, sleep, read, run, and love to the max. You only live once.

7. Stop smoking. Or smoke less. Eek.

For me, 2009 has been all about change. There have been so many alterations (good and bad) to my life this year that I thought it would be a great time to reflect on these experiences and determine the various facets of my being that call for change. Hence the list of goals. Hopefully, writing down these actionable items will make me liable for them. It’s easy to make a private resolution and not follow through, but to put it out there for everyone (meaning the 2 people who actually read this blog... hi cpak :)!) will force me to be accountable. Folks, please do me a favor and put me in check if I ever deviate.

Happy 2009!