Monday, June 30, 2008

Cool


I never knew how beautiful this song could be until I watched the music video a couple of weeks ago. Of course we could expect something like this from the oh so glamorous Gwen. What's not to love about retro fashion, an Italian villa, and a romantic song you can dedicate to your past lover? I really feel for this song, I almost got a tear in my eye from watching it. Almost.

I am..

I am strong because I am weak.
I am beautiful because I know my flaws.
I am a lover because I am a fighter.
I am fearless because I have been afraid.
I am wise because I have been foolish.
& I can laugh because I've known sadness.

Living in shadows, you realize you only need to step into the light to find your way out of a dark place.

- Unknown

Le Peep



There is nothing else that feels better on a lazy Sunday afternoon than eating lunch at a place that gives you good memories with your girls. <3

Le Peep is a simple/elegant breakfast, brunch & lunch restaurant and there is only one location in Orlando. It was my first time eating at the Orlando location and the food was alright..didn't taste the same as the first time I had it elsewhere.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Instructions for Life

~ Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

~ Memorize your favorite poem.

~ Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

~ When you say, "I love you", mean it.

~ When you say, "I'm sorry", look the person in the eye.

~ Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

~ Believe in love at first sight.

~ Never laugh at anyone's dreams.

~ Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.

~ In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

~ Don't judge people by their relatives. "NO KIDDING".

~ Talk slow but think quick.

~ When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?".

~ Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

~ Call your mom.

~ Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.

~ When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

~ Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; Responsibility for all your actions.

~ Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

~ When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

~ Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

~ Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, his/her conversational skills will be as important as any other.

~ Spend some time alone.

~ Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

~ Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

~ Read more books and watch less TV.

~ Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll get to enjoy it a second time.

~ Trust in God but lock your car.

~ A loving atmosphere in your home is so important. Do all you can to create a tranquil harmonious home.

~ In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation. Don't bring up the past

~ Read between the lines.

~ Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.

~ Be gentle with the earth.

~ Pray. There's immeasurable power in it.

~ Never interrupt when you are being flattered.

~ Mind your own business.

~ Don't trust a man/woman who doesn't close his/her eyes when you kiss them.

~ Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.

~ If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living. That is wealth's greatest satisfaction.

~ Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a stroke of luck.

~ Learn the rules then break some.

~ Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than your need for each other.

~ Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

~ Remember that your character is your destiny.

~ Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

Got this from here.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Hit-and-Run Horror

I can't believe what the people in this world have become: careless, inconsiderate, and selfish. Okay, so I'm not talking about everyone..but I get upset every time I think about the story of the 78-year-old man who was hit by a car and got no help from the people who walk past by him. After he got hit by the car, nobody bothered to help the man who remained to lie motionless in the middle of the street. This kind of story makes me firmly believe that the world we live in is cruel. What happened to the kindhearted?

The Clip

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Nothing to buy

I went to a couple malls yesterday with my sister and I surprised myself by not buying anything. It was a funny feeling to leave the mall with nothing in my hands. But at the same time I think I'm finally learning how to shop correctly. What does that mean anyway? It means that I'm not going to buy something that I plan on wearing for just 1 or 2 months. Or buy a different variation of something I already have in my closet (which I used to do frequently).

Paris is my favorite fashion capital, and I read in a French lifestyle book that "a closet with a few quality items is worth much more than a wardrobe of so-so clothes-and (God forbid!) outfits."

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Capturing the perfect moment

From now on I think I'm going to carry my digital camera with me wherever I go. To take pictures of myself? Maybe. Because I love myself that much. But because a store might have a nice window display that I'll never get the chance to see again or because the sun set beautifully on a particular day. I want to remember the city that I love and grew up in.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Austins Coffee


(picture from www.austinscoffee.com)

When I was young, every Sunday my family would pass by Austins Coffee on the way to church and I've always wondered what it was like inside. And now that I'm finally old enough to drive and wander around town, why is it that I've still continued to ignored this place? Well today was the day I thought I'd give the place a try, and when my foot stepped into the coffee shop I immediately fell in love. I enjoy going to places that have an intimate and hip feel. And surprisingly the reviews were correct, everything about this place is better than Starbucks("the Mcdonald's of coffee"). Take some time to go on their website and look at their menu, the prices aren't that bad! After I got my coffee the barista gave me a Hershey's kiss, which was very unexpected but thoughtful at the same time.

Congratulations, Austin. You've just won my heart.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Sinfully sweet

I love sweets & desserts! It's sad that Orlando doesn't offer a wider variety of unique pastry shops or restaurants that specialize in crafted desserts.

Here's a couple of places that I would like to try out:

1. Fifi's. Located in the newly developed area of South Eola district. I passed by this restaurant once and I'm curious to see what they have to offer. Jenny's cupcakes sounds delicious, though I would also love to come here for breakfast and sip on some freshly brewed coffee.

2. Dessert Lady. I had no idea this place existed until my friend brought up the name. The cafe looks very upscale (Perfect!) and the menu doesn't look like much but I'm willing to give it a try!

Beautiful

The best & most beautiful things in the
world cannot be seen or even touched,
they must be felt with the heart.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

I'm back!

Words cannot describe how amazing this past weekend was. I'm glad that when I was in office we started the tradition of having officer retreats for VASA because I definitely believe that officer bonding time is necessary. I had so much free time this past weekend that I didn't know what to do first. Even though I always think to myself of how nice it would be if I could do nothing all day, I really don't know if I want that anymore. I like being busy, tired, and sitting on the couch watching tv after a long day. It's a rewarding feeling.

When I came back today my mom told me that my dad signed up for a vacation plan so we'll be looking forward to many more trips to anywhere! I am so excited. France, here we come! :)

(Lol. That's if I get really lucky!)

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Finally...a weekend to just relax.

Be back on Sunday.
:)

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Different is good

think differently.

then this way, life will be more
interesting
when everyone isn't
thinking/doing the same thing.

It's been observed that people will always go with the crowd. Whether it's in a classroom, or just talking to your friends. Most people have a hard time thinking on their own when other opinions are voiced before theirs.

So with that said, if you're not sure about something, then find out for yourself before you come to a conclusion. And when making a decision, think about all the possible options. I would hate to see people doing or saying something that they might regret. Sometimes you are only given once chance, so don't screw it up!

Thursday, June 12, 2008

The Classic White Shirt

Favorite item of the week: The classic white shirt.


Some staple wardrobe pieces that no woman should be without include: the little black dress, denim jeans, a trench coat, ballet flats, and a crisp classic white shirt. And my favorite white shirt is from Victoria's Secret.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Carrie Bradshaw Quote

"Later that day I got to thinking about relationships. There are those that open you up to something new and exotic, those that are old and familiar, those that bring up lots of questions, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that bring you far from where you started, and those that bring you back. But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you find someone to love the you you love, well, that's just fabulous."

The 4 F's

fashion, fragrance, food, & fresh music.


1. Fashion: I've made it a new rule to try to look my best everyday, and if possible, every second. And even if others my not agree with my style, the only thing that matters is that I feel confident and comfortable.

2. Fragrance: I cannot go through a day without perfume, and I believe that every women should invest in a bottle that is good enough to enchant those who are around her. The perfume that I currently wear are: Dolce & Gabbana's "Light Blue", Elizabeth Arden's "Provocative Woman", and Juicy Couture.

3. Food: I love good food. But what makes good food taste better is going out to eat with a group of friends because then you know that you paid good money for food, ambiance, and a great conversation.

4. Fresh music: Listening to mainstream music can be such a bore to my ears sometimes. Some of my favorite genres of music include indie/indie-pop, soul, folk-rock, acoustic, & classical. For new listeners, I recommend Ingrid Michaelson, Kate Nash, Feist, Lisa Loeb & Copeland.

Same look, different deal

A couple weeks ago I tried on dress at Forever21 that was cute, but not cute enough. The proportions of the dress were a bit odd, and the only thing that kept me from buying the dress were the skirt's inset pockets (which is rare to find at a good price). As much as I wanted to purchase this outfit, I knew that I could find a better deal if I bought the pieces separately and created a look of my own at a cheaper price.

Their outfit

My outfit
Luckily this skirt also has pockets and I don't own much items in yellow so this would a great addition to my wardrobe!
Buying two pieces to create an outfit is more practical because you can wear the items more than once by mix/matching the pieces with other items in your closet. This should be common sense for those who like shopping & fashion.

Monday, June 9, 2008

High School Senior Autobiography

I was looking through my old xanga journal posts just to remind myself of how goofy I was..and then I found my high school senior autobiography that my best friend, Monica Mai, wrote of me. And she is probably going to kill me for posting this up.


Like rainbows on a stormy day,
Like sunsets where the evening lay,
Like sprinkles on an ice-cream sundae,
That's what friends are.

Long, long ago, back when wide-ruled paper was preferred and light-up shoes were the fashion trend, I met a girl in my second grade class with the charisma and character to light up any room. Her name was Krystle. As time passed, I grew to love and admire her for the plethora of traits she possessed. She's a very down-to-earth gal with a bubbly personality that people fall head over heels for. She has a genuine warmth that's complemented by her sweet heart and pure soul. She's a loyal friend who I can count on through thick and thin. Her creative genius continues to elude me; her kindness moves me. I highly value her opinion and treasure our friendship. Krystle is a truly good person who I am proud to know. She's someone I am honored to call my best friend.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Love Love Love



Currently love this song & music video by Epik High.

Busy days are my favorite

Yesterday was one of the busiest days that I've experienced ALL YEAR. I know, how boring. It's because I've finally mastered this thing called time management. But I love to be on a constant time crunch and rushing myself to get to one place to another, like a back-to-back schedule. It's weird because a lot of people complain about being busy. But I think it's fun, it's almost as fun as playing a game that requires you to complete certain tasks in a short amount of time. Just like how there are so many things that you have to balance in life: family, friends, school, work, hobbies, etc. I feel like life is a challenging game sometimes, and if you know me well...then you should know that I love to play games.

For Love 21


I don't know about you, but I've been waiting for the day For Love 21 would launch their store online. For Love 21 is an accessories only store owned by their sister store, Forever 21. I'm amazed by the large selection of beautiful jewelry that they have at affordable prices. Right now my eye is on the Mantana and Manhattan cuff watch. I was also surprised to find a decent ring watch on there, which is rare to find in Orlando stores nowadays.

Mantana Cuff Watch

Manhattan Cuff Watch