Pleasantly Plump

bom-sha-clack-clack

2012-01-22T21:17:00.000-08:00

a peacefully brilliant song.

anticipating avicii.

2012-01-17T21:26:00.000-08:00

Translated from Sanskrit/Pali to English, Avicii means “without waves.” A mixture of upbeat, anthem-driven trance and fist-pumping, melodic Swedish house, uniting electronic music ascetics of all kinds, that remedies a forced rift within the Buddhist paradigm in a prior existence. Avicii also known as Tim Berg is my highly anticipated concert to start out this amazing year. Avicii’s music seems to have been made for big groups of jumping people. Glad I have my homies to join me in this amazing DJ experience on Thursday. 2012 is a new year, and it will hopefully bring new beats and even more concerts with around-the-block lines for Avicii. Until then, seeing this DJ anywhere is definitely a hot ticket for any house music fan, and being in such an animated atmosphere of thousands of psyched up dancing people is a pretty great feeling.

let go.

2012-01-15T19:11:00.000-08:00

Heres a piece of advice: let go when youre hurting too much, give up when love isn't enough, and move on when things aren't like before. Surely there is someone out there who will love you more.

the beauty and importance of traveling.

2011-12-31T11:25:00.000-08:00

I have never been able to understand people who don’t see the point in traveling. The common reason is that traveling is a waste of time and money. I’ve heard some are scared to travel too far away. I can’t help but feel sorry particularly for those who perceive the experience of seeing a new place as a 100 % negative one. Telling them stories about unusual encounters doesn’t result in the expected curiosity but a ‘Why would you wanna go there!?’ It makes me lose faith in humanity. Experience is the best teacher and knowledge is power. The things traveling can teach you are beautiful because you learn to trust in what you see rather than what you are told. And you learn that possibilities for yourself are endless.
Simply believing what others say has formed many problematic situations in the past. And yes I am talking about historical events involving prejudice due to what we are told about what we don’t know. In some cases xenophobia-causing stories are passed on from generation to generation. With all these factors bumping into each other, it’s almost understandable why some people fear traveling.

It was Mark Twain who said, ‘Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness,’ which in my mind goes down as the closest to the truth about traveling. Too bad there aren’t enough people with the means to travel actually doing it. It could be fear, it could be a lack of interest and curiosity. Somehow, I believe, our grandparents’ stories and the negative portrayal of many countries in the media is still more dominating than it should be. But a country and its people shouldn’t be judged by a couple of devils among them. You should be the one to spread the word about your positive travel experiences, no matter how unusual they might be. If you have the means to go abroad, you should do it despite going out of your comfort zone. You might only realise why you loved it once you’re back home but you are more than likely to want to do it again.

This is exactly what leads to another reason why traveling is like therapy. I think it’s the best thing you could do if you feel depressed at home, don’t know what to do with your future, your life, your partner, anything. Once you are away, preferably somewhere very new and unknown, you are forced to adapt and meet people. This works especially if you travel alone but no worries, it worked for me when I traveled with my Mother and sister. A new life and especially the new relationships you build, even if only for a short period of time, reveal opportunities and views you never would have thought of and had otherwise.

When I was 23, I traveled to my mother's native country, Vietnam. We went to the villages and met relatives whom I never even existed. The country still remains impoverished and many people work back breaking jobs just to put food on the table for their families. The people I have met there taught me to be laissez-faire and I have realised that I could just return home, work harder and be grateful for what I have.

Writing this makes me appreciate the times I’ve been away. Without them I would not have known what to do with my life. I wouldn’t say I ‘found’ myself as the meaning of that has always been unclear to me and I don’t know if humans are boring enough to ever want to ‘find’ themselves.

I know now that life only feels empty when there’s nothing to look forward to. And I know that the best way to fix that is to leave your daily life. Being lost for a while helps you find yourself, I’ve heard. Well, it helps you figure out what to do next, too. Even if that means going away again. You’ll return home working towards something and appreciating having traveled more than ever. This is why I’ll never stop traveling.

I could go on about the beauty of traveling because there is so much to it. Is it cheesy to say that I believe if everyone traveled, the world would be a better place?

don't chase love.

2011-11-29T09:16:00.001-08:00

how appropriate.

2011-07-03T12:21:00.000-07:00

"Yeah, it will be ok
Do nothing today
Give yourself a break
Let your imagination runaway"

sia - sunday.

how appropriate for my fourth of july weekend. yet again, i lie around like a bum with a goofy sidekick sister and a mundane dog. i think the only productive thing we did today was eat! so glad i suggested us go to eat hu tieu nam vang (vietnamese Phnom Penh noodles soup) We are a couple of heffers because on our way home we stopped by Kebab Korner to order our dinner. Mmm...can't wait for chicken karahi, tamarind chutney and garlic naan. perfect pre-independence day food, i know!

pre-fourth of july weekend shopping - I can't wait to sport my new swimsuits i just bought yesterday.

hubbel and hudson beer and cheese fest was a success! i got my free buzz on!current favorite beer: brooklyn's summer ale.It’s a smooth drinking, well balanced beer with just the right amount of malt and hop bitterness to invigorate the palate while sitting outside relaxing under the sun. I won’t be passing on this one again on my next trip to the store. Quite a decent pale 'summer ale', I wouldn't expect anything less from the Brooklyn Brewery. It's a nice beer that quenches one's thirst and is a nice opener to any session and stronger beers.

artistic quenching.

2011-03-14T20:53:00.000-07:00

due to laziness and lack of time i am slowly crawling out of hiatus to blah-blah-blah. random opinions would just flutter about but here i am with nothing to show for those moments of shear brilliance. i think i needed a spark of inspiration again so i could organize my thoughts. thus, i finally got it when i went to the menil museum with an old friend and a new friend. it was a ying and yang balance, i suppose. its always fun to show uncultured people there's more to life than just video games and comic book fantasies. ignorance is NOT bliss. nonetheless...it was an enjoyable time. we leisurely walked about and went to the rothko chapel. it wasn't what i expected...it was deathly quiet and awkward as i walked and had to refrain from bursts of laughter when i saw my friends' expressions. people really did come to the rothko to get in touch with their inner spirit...i sure didn't. after the utter disappointment 0f black and purple canvases...we proceeded to go to the menil museum which semi-quenched my cultural satisfaction for art. it blows my mind how other people can put their imaginations on canvas and sculpture. crossing off the menil collection and rothko chapel off my list.

epic teen angst.

2010-10-31T20:54:00.000-07:00

As I was channel surfing...Sixteen Candles happened to be on TBS. Classic John Hughes film that I absolutely adore. I couldn't help, but stop and watch with commercial breaks and all. Contemporary retro take on a happy-feel good ending romance. It's strange how quotes like "Donger's here for five hours, and he's got somebody. I live here my whole life, and I'm like a disease" and "She's got her period. Should be an interesting honeymoon" can be so relate-able. Who doesn't have that one boy or girl they have a crush on in fear of rejection if they confess their feelings? Overall, I think its a pretty damn hilarious movie. The Geek is triumphant in spite of teenage awkward social skills. Reminds me alot like myself. My favorite moment is when Jake and Sam celebrate her forgotten birthday! Makes me swoon for a boy who can be thoughtful to a girl he adores.

session beer.

2010-10-18T19:59:00.001-07:00

I am rarely in the mood these days for a boozy or remotely heavy beer. I'd rather be able to have a "session" without feeling loaded or tired. Furthermore, there is something very special and sophisticated about a well made session beer, which is not an easy task for a brewer! I'm on a mini-mission to expose to people the beauty of a low abv, drinkable ale or lager. Bigger is not always better.

progression.

2010-10-14T09:46:00.000-07:00

evening wear.
office casual off to happy hour wear.soft semi-formal wear.

bayou art fest.

2010-10-14T09:29:00.000-07:00

had a lovely time with my favorite peeps at the bayou art fest this past weekend. it was a definite mind fuck to see all these different interpretations of what people find humorous, beautiful and fascinating. whether it was on canvas, organic, a sculpture, or a photograph...it was amazing! i was lucky enough to be invited by Yelp Elite to attend the VIP tent and lunch with the Mayor of Houston. free booze and food sure adds depth into looking and appreciating art. i highly recommend looking at art while inebriated with people who have a sense of humor especially those who don't have the same mind frame as you.

sincerest form of flattery.

2010-10-07T08:35:00.001-07:00

be suspicious of flattery. the desire to be liked and appreciated makes people vulnerable to flattery. how charming. how utterly winning that someone you hardly know has lavished you with compliments or humbly confessed complete admiration. watch out. you're wonderful, but not that wonderful.

beer gear.

2010-10-07T08:07:00.000-07:00

with the season to give coming up...why not give that special companion of yours a beer holster? a practical gift.

stealthy ninjas.

2010-09-27T10:29:00.000-07:00

If you don't have a lover, it's a problem. If you do have a lover, it's another kind of problem. Lovers don't solve problems. Rather, they add layers of complication and difficulty whether they are absent or present. Dont kid yourself. All lovers are unpredictable shadow-warriors capable of snapping your soul like a matchstick.

brad.

2010-09-24T13:05:00.000-07:00

a girl friend and i went to two rows (local micro-brewery that closed down) for the last hurrah. we saw a bartender that was above average on the attractive scale and made a hypothetical name for him: BRAD....unassumingly thinking that every chiseled cute caucasion guy goes by that name. as for the fine-looking young model in the above photos, his name is brad too.

third time's a charm.

2010-09-24T12:44:00.000-07:00

I'll allow someone to lie to me three times before I withdraw my trust. For some people, one lie can destroy a whole relationship. I'll allow three because most of us tell little fibs for innocent reasons, or because we can't remember details. But three --significant lies-- is my limit. One of my friends has a five lie limit, thankfully, which is why we're still friends. I'm on lie three with him. It's important to set a limit on how much dishonesty you can tolerate in your relationships. Stick to it.

Don't worry if people hate you.

2010-09-24T12:41:00.000-07:00

They'll survive, and so will you.

threads.

2010-09-09T14:00:00.000-07:00

artistic garble.

2010-09-09T12:57:00.000-07:00

salvage.

2010-08-18T13:19:00.000-07:00

Me: My new H&M dress I got in San Francisco – Silk. Hot iron. BURN….can you make this into a top?

Raven: [slight hesitation] I’ve never sewn on silk before. BUT since you already effed it up, sure I’ll give it a shot ;)

Thank you to my talented and beautiful seamstress friend, RAVEN, for making a kick-ass top from my poor burnt dress. It's amazing how people can astonish you with their mad sewing skills. I was bummed when I ironed a hole on a polyester dress and the first person that popped in my mind was Ravestar! The top was a little short on me but hey! it was my eff up.

I traded her labor for a Corinne Bailey Rae ticket at the House of Blues, which was an AMAZING concert! I took my cousin, John, and my sister along too which they thoroughly enjoyed. I'll never forget this concert. Here's a silly mini-photoshoot of the finished product. As you can tell, I'm not a model by all means.

wishful shopping.

2010-08-10T14:44:00.000-07:00

1.} anthropologie. Grasby Gardens Dress

2.} anthropologie. Unaligned Bands Dress

3.} anthropologie. Feliciana Dress

embrace it.

2010-08-09T10:20:00.001-07:00

OK...i'm not the typical skinny asian girl. I live to eat and eat to live. My workouts are based on the many calories I consume a day. I love fried chicken and cupcakes! Can't take that away from me unless my health was in detriment...

I do give a shit about how my body looks, but what girl doesn't?!? I have a ba-dunk-a-dunk and embrace the hell out of it! I've always been self-conscious of my assets just cause its so big and round. I may not like how my junk in the trunk looks in jeans sometimes, but I've come to terms that I slightly overfill them. That's why I must be blessed with this booty?!? I have this tendency to always do that butt check in the mirror when I walk away and then just pout in disappointment how big my arse looks. MUST STOP DOING THAT! Screw society and how they view beauty in slender and thin women. It's all about curves! Do guys really want a flat pasty ass grinding against them or a nice juicy firm ass bouncing off them? I would take the latter anyday if I was a dude. It's possible to be envious my own ass, isn't it? NIKE ad courtesy of my homie, JON, and his appreciation for girls with a small waist and big round booty!

i'd do it all again.

2010-08-05T22:17:00.000-07:00

Ooh, you did it all again, you broke another skin
Its hard to believe this time, hard to believe
That my heart, my hearts an open door... See More
You got all you came for, baby
So weary, someone to love is bigger than your prides worth
Is bigger than the pain you got for it hurts
And out runs all of the sadness
Its terrifying, life, through the darkness
And Id do it all again, Id do it all again

- Corinne Bailey Rae

Her music is so soulful and beautiful. I can't wait to see her in about a week!

found in translation.

2010-08-02T13:28:00.001-07:00

My first class of ESL wrapped up this month and a new one begins tomorrow. Ever since i started teaching english after work, I have found a new respect for my students, peers, and myself. it's damn hard work to speak in correct english, but to teach it to people who have an utter lack of understanding in a foreign secondary language is a HUGE struggle! If you have a passion to learn something, just go for it! Don't wait.

"You need a certain amount of openness and non-conformism to be creative. People who are considered mad have not been taught by life to wall up their openness and they have more direct contact to their unconscious." - Anonymous

the fire.

2010-07-27T23:21:00.000-07:00

"You came to celebrate,
I came to celebrate,
I hate losing.
I refuse to make
the same mistakes."
- The Roots ft. John Legend

There’s something in your heart,
and its in your eyes
It’s the fire, inside you
Let it burn

we stomped.

2010-07-27T08:57:00.000-07:00

had a grand ole time grape picking and stomping with my girls at the messina hof winery in bryan, tx. i was long overdue for a estrogen packed weekend. it's so difficult nowadays to get such a huge group of my dynamic friends together for organized alcoholic debauchery...it was so funny how the owner kept calling us the yaya sisters....so glad my sister had the time and patience to coordinate with everyone. thatsah goodah! oh yeah...i highly recommend Messina Hof's Mama Maria Rose Wine for a sweet wine.

burst my bubble.

2010-07-21T11:28:00.000-07:00

Melvin Sokolsky's spread circa 1963 in Harper's Bazaar called "The Bubble Series," depicting models in fancy clothes floating above the Seine River. The bubble creates the feeling that the women are untouchable and in an entirely different league to all the regular schmucks. Some kind of ethereal, glamorous league. Why can't I go through life just floating in a bubble without a care in the world? or do I?

violent concept.

2010-07-19T11:31:00.000-07:00

And I wrote two hundred letters
I won't ever send
Somehow it is cut so much
Deeper then they seem
You'd rather cover up
I'd rather let them be
So let me be
And I'll set you free

- maroon 5

Maroon 5's new "Misery" video is a gleefully over-the-top affair, full of cartoonish, wanton violence, nifty stunt work and special effects, and a whole lot of good-natured wink-wink-ery. Adam Levine is supremely handsome and cocksure. Turns out, he's indestructible ... though many are out to injure him, and no matter how many messes he makes, it's the other guys who ultimately end up getting hurt, and, really, no one notices when they do.

Of course, to hear Levine tell it, the video is also about "the sexual energy between two people," and maybe it is, but I'd prefer to give Levine, a bit of credit for poking fun at archetypes, for being smart and even a bit understated. There's just something so hot about throwing a guy against a wall and planting a kiss on him. mmmhmm!!

tickle me bold.

2010-07-16T15:03:00.000-07:00

One of the few important questions always comes to mind when I go out to meet up the girls for a drink or even go on the prowl: "what statement do i want to make?" Oftentimes, the answer's sexy, smart, and bold. Print dresses is a way that can make that fashion statement.

I especially love the Jackson Pollack inspired dresses. Abstract Expressionism are one of my fav art movements. As for the shoes, Espadrilles are a must this season and these Lauren by Ralph Lauren espadrilles are perfect with a towering high wedge heel. These will look great with jeans, dresses and shorts. Marc by Marc Jacobs purse too!

what are you fighting for.

2010-07-10T09:13:00.000-07:00

So you think I'm alone?
But being alone's the only way to be
When you step outside
You spend life fighting for your sanity

This is a cold war
You better know what you're fighting for
This is a cold war
Do you know what you're fighting for?

- janelle monae

oh, ryan.

2010-07-09T00:16:00.000-07:00

voltron girl.

2010-07-08T23:41:00.000-07:00

Awwwz yeaah...this is one kick-ass Voltron girl! If I had a daughter..I can assure you that she will be one of those girls who can sport a costume like this and put little boys to shame. That's right...no kid of mine will ever wear a fufu princess costume or play the damsel in distress. I applaud the parents who went to great lengths to make this Voltron costume for a girl - no less. Cartoons nowadays aren't like how they used to be when I was a kid growing up in the 80's.

wishful shopping.

2010-07-06T21:38:00.000-07:00

"Know first who you are; and then adorn
yourself accordingly." - Euripides

modern slavery.

2010-07-06T20:26:00.000-07:00

Human Trafficking is modern day slavery. It comes in many forms. Forced prostitution, bonded debt labor, child soldiers, domestic servitude. Can’t believe it’s still around? Actually, it’s bigger today than ever before. “A woman or child sold into prostitution can earn up to $150,000 annually for a crime boss,” according to a 2003 report by Melvin Levitsky titled Transnational Criminal Networks and International Security. No wonder the crime is so prevalent and attractive to criminals that it earns $10-12 Billion dollars a year!

Ever since I started working at non-profit it has definitely opened my eyes to issues that affect more and more women. One of them being Human Trafficking. I always heard and saw on the media of women being sold into slavery, but I never really got to meet anyone or help anyone until now through immigration processing. Shit. It's something I would never want anyone to endure. I just wish there was something more that I could do. How can people be so sick and twisted to force a child into prostitution?

erase me.

2010-07-05T14:46:00.000-07:00

It's like I'm her new nightmare, she ain't escaping
It makes me feel a bit complete, yeah
Knowing someone you love don't
feel the same way about ya
Memories they soon delete, hmmm

- kid cudi ft. kanye west

happy 4th of july.

2010-07-04T12:28:00.000-07:00

Do I really want to sit around in the humidity and hot muggy weather drinking beer and goofing around with my friends on Independence Day? Answer: Why the hell not?!! Can't wait until I get a cold brewsky in my little asian hands. I was never a big fan of beer until I started going to Saint Arnold's Brewery. Plus, hanging out with beer-drinking cousins and a pub fanatic sister are rubbing off on me. Yesterday, my eccentric friends and I went to Hubbell and Hudson, a fine market and bistro establisment, in the Woodlands and found myself in the midst of a Beer and Cheese Festival. It was great! FREE BEER TASTING!

Here's a beer that I thoroughly enjoyed during my beer adventure! Hoegaarden White Beer...maybe I like it because it has the word hoe in it (shrugs)...no, not really, but it was tasty going down the hatch. Thumbs up! Honorable mentions were Blanche de Brussels, Singha, Paulaner Oktoberfest, Xingu Black Beer, and Honey Moon Summer Ale.

it's OK to be single.

2010-07-02T21:43:00.000-07:00

I hate explaining why I’m single. Please, riddle me this, why are you in a relationship? Does the answer “because I have support, someone to come home to, get lots of presents” sound that much better than “because I like freedom, being able to do whatever I want, go on lots of dates”?

When people ask me why I’m single, I usually let my ego answer. People always give you the schpeel, “but you’re so pretty! smart! funny! talented!” insert a million other adjectives. And yeah. I am fucking sexy, smart, good at what I do, really good at what I do on the side, fun, and well-raised. But if I am all-kinds-of-awesome, shouldn’t it technically mean that it would be harder to find someone just as awesome?

I hate when people say, “but he’s so nice!” Why do I have to settle for nice and smart when they get to enjoy the whole package? Why as a woman am I told that I MUST be everything, but settle for less?

Let’s pretend for a second that I am a university. I am a Tier 1 University. I have a beautiful campus, great academics, excellent athletics, a whole plethora of interesting activities, a great night life, affordable housing, etc. I am a kick-fucking-ass University. Tons of people apply to get in me. If I read through the first 30 applications and was like, “hmm, you’ve got OK grades… I see you’re not that great of an athlete. Aw, but look, you volunteer sometimes with kids. I guess you’re OK, sure, you’re in.”

No. Fuck. That. I am a kick-fucking-ass University and there are thousands of applications. Just because Mediocre applied, doesn’t mean he gets in. I am a great University, and I will accept only the best. That’s why I’m single, bitch.

i tell myself.

2010-07-02T20:43:00.000-07:00

only exception.

2010-07-01T15:33:00.000-07:00

Maybe I know somewhere deep in
my soul that love never lasts.
And we've got to find other ways
to make it alone or keep a straight face.
And I've always lived like this
keeping a comfortable, distance.

And up until now I swore to myself
that I'm content with loneliness,
'cause none of it was ever worth the risk.

- paramore

flower me.

2010-07-01T13:23:00.000-07:00

peonies and hydrangeas make me happy!

brownie pillow cookies

2010-07-01T13:07:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

1 package brownie mix

1 cup butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs, plus 1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
12 oz. bag miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips

courtesy of bakerella.com

wishful shopping

2010-07-01T12:42:00.000-07:00

Day and Night looks I wish I could have right now! Sophisticated, elegant, and sexy are three things I try to incorporate into my wardrobe. The key to a nice outfit is to be comfortable, simple and to choose the right accessories. Inspiration of how I dress and act is my mother. She is my true icon. I love you mommy! Thanks for all the sacrifices you had to make in order for me to live.

dear loner.

2010-07-01T11:20:00.001-07:00

There’s been some hostility towards you and I do have my reasons. The smart ass remarks are just a natural quality of mine, but I can't help but wonder why you would do and say those things without knowing how they would affect me. Random texts to ask how I’m doing just makes me miss you. I think you would have saved me less confusion if you had just let whatever happened that night be a memory.

Even though whatever time we spent together was short-lived. I feel as if whatever we had was more than just lust because I actually care what happens to you. There was an instance where my mom caught me smiling when I was washing the dishes while I was thinking of you. Strange....I feel butterflies in my stomach whenever I’m around you, every time you kissed me my heart would race and when you held my hand it felt right.

Somehow you touched my heart and usually that’s not an easy task because I believe men are assholes or maybe I'm just a sucker for jerks and like a challenge. I really don’t know what your intentions were, at this point I don’t really care to know. I am a silly girl out there that actually liked you for who you are, laughed at your cheesy jokes and seen you grow up to be somewhat of a man from the first time that I met you. I know deep down inside that rugged exterior lays a good heart and you deserve someone just as caring to put up with all your quirks and flaws, as do I. There are a lot of things that I feel we see eye-to-eye like how we treat and value our family and friends and those are the real reasons behind why I like you. I wish it wasn’t so hard to see you or much less talk to you. If you truly believe that I’m much better off dating someone else then so be it. Just don't treat me like I'm a convenience of yours. I deserve better. Hopefully, I can still have you in my life whether it be friends or lovers.

Life is too short to dwell on the past.

yours truly,

one badass chick

phoenix concert

2010-05-14T09:04:00.001-07:00

The Phoenix concert I went to was fantastic! The music rocked and the crowd was charismatic. It's amazing when you go with friends who feels the same you do about a music artist. Now only if the bank account would allow me to go to Lollapalooza in August to visit my newlywed friends in Chicago.

i am a foodie.

2010-05-14T08:05:00.000-07:00

i like to eat hence i workout to burn the extra calories i ingest.

2010-05-14T06:58:00.000-07:00

hello audience.

beginning. i'm merely writing this blog to express what i enjoy...especially the simple things in life we take for granted. i've always thought my life wasn't that interesting, but i realized that i am the bomb diggity! why not share what i find beautiful and amazing to friends and strangers?!? its just my perspective on how i view life and how i carry myself as an individual. i guess you'll get a taste of me when you read this blog.

kudos!