ode to lovely

and there goes the weekend

Me and my boy finally had a weekend alone and it was so lovely. I hardly see him during the week, and for the last few weekends we've had a house guest, so I was extremely excited to have him all to myself. We watched The Hangover yesterday, which I highly recommend. I must say, that Bradley Cooper is one damn-good looking man. Especially with the long, curly, I-just-got-out-bed-looking-this-sexy, hair. So yep, I'm a big fan. Anyways, in other fantastic news, I FINALLY found a ring setting that I am madly in love with. Yes it took me 3 months and yes I'm incredibly picky. But if I have to wear this ring for a lifetime, then it should be perfect right? I can't wait to go home next month, get the diamond set, and rock it with pride. Now let's hope finding the location for the wedding doesn't take me as long as the setting did. 

localized

My new thing: I rock an umbrella even if it's not raining. The locals do it, and at first, I thought it was strange. But then I started seeing sun damage on my face.  And so, I learned my lesson. I mean, just to give you an idea on how strong the sun is here...Taipei and Miami are on the same latitude. And the last time I went to Miami, I burned to a crisp. Not many foreigners in Taipei do the umbrella thing, but perhaps I can start a trend? I wonder what my friends would say if I tried to bring this "custom" back to the states. I think they'd just laugh at me. 

the new mrt

Taipei's new Brown MRT line opened up this weekend. I live right at Daan Station so this was very exciting for me. I rode it up to Miramar (this big mall with a ferris wheel) and I was so excited to see this:

A mini Fourth of July celebration! I was so happy to see the American flag combined with Chinese characters. There was beer. American food. A mini-concert. American flags everywhere. AND, they even had  a photobooth. It turned out to be a random, yet lovely fourth of july after all. 

another fourth away from home

Today I'm going to:

• Workout
• Go to the movies 
• Go to happy hour 

I should be:

• At the beach with Nesha
• Wearing my fourth of july bathing suit 
• Having drinks on the beach 
• Eating hamburgers and hotdogs 
• Watching fireworks  
• Going out in Dewey at night 

bonjour juillet

Hello July! Two thumbs up for a new month. Today, I feel so inspired to GET MOVING.  A fresh month always inspires me to reevaluate and regroup. I've decided to make a list of things I want to accomplish in July. It's a very reasonable list and I can't wait to start crossing things off. One of my to-do's is to take a photo-a-day for all 31 days. Today's photo is of my new textbook, which has officially bumped me into the "advanced" chinese category. Whoop whoop! So here's to a new month, new challenges, and crafty to-do lists. Raise your margarita glass and let's toast this one together, shall we? :)  

love and miss

love:

• gouda cheese from holland
• wheat crackers to go with said cheese 
• japanese barbeque at Rico's 
• my new off-white high heels 
• my new off-white vintage flats 
• chicken cheesesteaks, with extra onions 
• dresses, short and sexy please 
• my daily alone time at home 
• feeling sore from leg workouts  
• making lists of what i want to buy when i go home  

miss:

• five guys hamburgers
• pf changs spicy chicken 
• Target, my happy place
• WholeFoods and Giant 
• Burke Lake Park 5 mile loop  
• getting manicures on a regular basis
• happy hours with my girls  
• my bed at my parent's house 

a side bun and "grape" earrings kind of night

• Been really into braids and side ponytails/buns. Sometimes, when I'm feeling super wild, I rock both at the same time.
• I finally, and I mean FINALLY booked a ticket home. Words cannot begin to express how excited I am to set foot on US soil. I miss my family, my friends, and greasy american eats. 
• I've finally taken the initiative to start the wedding planning stuff. I have to admit, I'm not really that into it. But, a mock guest list has been made.  And that is a BIG step for me. I have, however, scoped out letterpress invitations and photographers (shocker that I started with my favorites: paper & pictures). 
• After a solid week of cutting, piecing, and assembling my quilt, my back needed a little break. But I started the free-motion quilting yesterday. And my goal is to finish it by July 1. Although I'm a little worried I might not have enough fabric for the binding. Here's hoping I do...

i need a back massage like whoa

• I can't find a reasonably priced ticket home. $1700 is way too much. I've spent hours upon hours researching this shit and I am so incredibly frustrated. I really want to go home but i swear the airline gods are against me right now. 
• Rocking my new earrings that I bought in Seoul. Did I mention they have the best handmade jewelry ever. So much local talent. I was very impressed. I'd go back just for the jewelry. And their face masks.
• My chest has been breaking out lately. For 27 years this has never been a problem. I have no idea why all of a sudden my chest has decided to act like the chest of a 13 year old pubescent girl. If only would my boobs would grow to match the zits, then I would have nothing to complain about. 
• I still haven't decided on a setting for my ring. Either I am way too picky, or I just haven't found the right one. Has anyone ever ordered from Blue Nile?  If so, can you please share your thoughts. 
• My two week vacation is over. I thought I would feel bummed out about having to go back to school, but I'm surprisingly excited. It's my last semester so I'm going to give it all I've got. 
• Quilt front is done. Quilt back is 70% there. This is definitely my most favorite quilt ever. I can't wait to finish it!

nail polish color love

I love how this is turning out so far. The colors remind me of all my current nail polish obsessions, dark purples, metal grays, an bright blues. I cut and assembled it faster than my other quilts, but man oh man has it been incredibly difficult to line up the pieces. I was hoping to have it done by this weekend but I was just informed that we will have a guest staying with us this weekend (a guest who will be sleeping in my craft room), so there go my chances of that. Total bummer.  

snippets

• I experimented with shrimp today. Six of the them to be exact. It was a cajun-asian mixture that had potential to go either way. Luckily, it was a success. 
• My mac has been my best friend lately. Especially since all my school friends no longer live in Taiwan. Sigh.
• I'm really on the fence about studying Chinese this summer. It is SO expensive. Like $54/hour expensive. I guess the doubts start rolling in when the money starts pouring out.
• I have a buy-one-get-one-free Cold Stone coupon that expires tomorrow. My boy is busy, and friends, well, non-existent. I'm thinking I should treat a stranger to ice cream and hope the stranger turns into a friend.   
• The rotary cutter has been out and about for the last 36 hours. Cutting, and piecing, and loving the results. I'll share tomorrow. I promise.  

i love my foodie friends

I don't have that many cultural sight-seeing shots from South Korea. Probably because I spent the majority of the time eating my way through Seoul. Examples:

Now, it's back to reality. But, I still have one week of vacation left. I plan to do a belated spring cleaning, hopefully book a ticket home, clean out my hard drive, and workout every single day. I want to have a productive, yet relaxing last week of freedom before my last semester of chinese studies begins. Ok, back to it.

sharing is caring

Three years ago, my family and I went to Russia on vacation. At that time, the USD-Ruble exchange rate was a really odd number, like 1 to 37.29. So instead of giving my brain math problems while on vacation, I decided to create a cheat sheet. And now, because the USD-Won rate is a very large number (and because the last thing I want to do is whip out a calculator on vacation), I've created another one. Basically, I created a Excel document, printed it on cardstock, folded it half, glued it together, and voila! A simple, fast and painless way to calculate how much you're about to spend in a foreign currency. Make one for yourself, make one for your friends. Dorky, yes. Convenient, double yes. Mine lives in my wallet for easy access. 

plus one, makes four

Busy day ahead. I have lots to do before my 5pm flight to Seoul. I have acceptance letters to turn in, emails to write, phone calls to make, laundry to fold, and a suitcase to pack. And hopefully I can squeeze in a killer workout somewhere in between. Super excited to get away. Back on Saturday.

on my dashboard

On my mac, on the dashboard, I have a post-it note with these words. Words that keep me going. Words that remind me of what is important. That give me a simple boost when I need it. And so a page has been made to remember these words. 

just another saturday

I have two complaints for today:

1. My internet was down all day. Unfortunately, due to my sheer boredom, I probably gained 6 pounds. I made pasta salad, seven layer dip, and brownies. 
2. My boy had to work late yesterday, all day today, and is now at a "team building" event, which in other words means "out-drinking-with-his-new-boss." I guess boys will be boys, but man, boys really know how to annoy us girls. 

At least I have the house to myself. Looks like it's just me, some ice cream, and a good book tonight. 

june 5

I have three things to celebrate today:

1. I got accepted to another grad school program
2. Last day of school. Two week break ahead! 
3. It's my one year anniversary of arriving in Taipei  

I can't believe it's already been one year. It has truly flown by. I feel so incredibly lucky to have had this opportunity. I feel like I've accomplished more in the last year of my life, then the last four years combined. I don't think I need to get into the mushy details, but all I can say is that I'm proud of myself for surviving the last 12 months. So, cheers to year one. And cheers to many more. 

big day

Thankful for:

• matt's family always making me feel so welcomed
• good conversations with tom 
• seven layer dip and salami pesto sandwiches 
• lauren's good company while matt was away 
• christine who helped me pick out the best present ever 
• good cleaning-the-house music 
• that my boy is coming home today! 

dragon boat festival

I went out yesterday with some classmates to check out the festivities for Dragon Boat Festival. It was especially cool cause we got to see one of our classmates compete (she's the brunette sitting in front, behind the guy with a shaved head). I've decided that before I leave Taiwan, I want to participate in the boat races. I know training would be hard, but imagine how diesel I would be! 

Some pictures with my classmates:

I'm off to celebrate this holiday with Matt's family. I'm a little nervous because this will be my first time hanging out with them without Matt (he's still on vacation). I know my Chinese is conversational now, but I still worry that I'm going to say something stupid, or that I won't understand them. But, I am brave, and I can do this. Happy weekend!

two, four, five, vacation!

• two more days of class this week
• then a four day weekend for Dragon Boat Festival
• then five more days of classes
• with a few final exams in between
• and then finally....a vacation in Seoul with my girls
• i can't freaking wait to explore a new city
• and shop like crazy
• and eat yummy korean food
• so thank you uncle sam for your generous tax refund
• happy monday blogland

4:39am

• Dancing makes my soul so happy
• Excited the semester is almost over 
• Sad because that means all my friends are leaving so soon 
• I love staying out really really late 
• Especially when you see the sun come up 
• Drinking whisky reminds me of Bolivia 
• Rum and cokes remind me of home 
• The music from tonight is still ringing in my ears  
• I wish Lauren's camera hadn't died so early
• I had such a great night and I'm sad its over 

don't call it a comeback

Trying to get back into my old hobby. Sticking to my old scrap-mantra of less is more. It was hard to get started, but I've been on a roll the last few days. I forgot how much I enjoyed my nerdy love for paper and words.

I've created an album of the stuff I've made since coming out to Taiwan. Check it out if you so please. Only ten pages or so, but I hope to add to it this weekend. 

so far so slow

First, thank you so much for your lovely comments. Thank you thank you!

Some details:

1. The ring in the picture, well, it's actually not a ring. Just the diamond. My boy knows how picky I am when it comes to jewelry, so he purchased the diamond he liked, and now I get to pick out the setting I like. 
2. We have no idea when we will actually get married. Or where. Or even in what hemisphere. We are just enjoying being engaged, adjusting to saying "fiance" instead of boyfriend/girlfriend, and just soaking in the excitement. At the rate we are planning this wedding, it might not be until 2020.
3. We want a very simple wedding. Not too many people. Just good food, good drinks, and good company. And lots and lots of dancing.
4. Ideally, we do not want to get married in the States. Originally, we had Thailand in mind. Then it was Malaysia. Now, we're thinking somewhere closer to home, but still somewhere exotic and fun.
5. All I truly care about are the pictures. I want them to be classy, and sophisticated, and as far from "posed and corny" as humanely possible.     

i guess its about time i share

I've been waiting for a while to share the big news. My boy finally popped the question, exactly one month ago today. It was totally unexpected and one of the most shocking moments of my life. It was simple. And sweet. And so totally us. I couldn't be happier! I can't believe I'm going to be a Mrs. I feel so grown up.

five eighteen

Things I am happy about:

• That iPhoto is simple, yet awesome
• I got a scholarship to grad school
• Skype dates with family in Bolivia
• Zumba classes at the gym
• Underwater photos from Thailand
• Booked a flight to Seoul today
• Feeling inspired and creative
• 1 hour and 20 min of solid cardio
• The beginning of a new week

a few firsts

• I successfully hosted my first dinner party with no help from my boy. 
• I scrapbooked twice in one week. This is a first in Taiwan.
• I thoroughly cleaned my house three days in a row.  
• I had a kill a cockroach all by myself. It was so gross I almost cried.