ode to lovely

in-class craftiness

This is the chinese character for "spring." I cut this out in class a few weeks ago and its been sitting on our coffee table ever since.  Spring has arrived here in Taipei. It's been about 75 all week. Our orchids are blooming again. And everyday I wake up to the sweet sounds of birds chirping outside my window. Now if only I could find a way to train those birds to only wake me up monday-friday. sigh. happy weekend everyone!

its 83 degrees outside and i am indoors studying

i love pictures that just capture random daily bits of life. This is from yesterday. Pretzels, grapefruit boba tea, chinese books, computer, camera, keys, cell phone, backpack, timer, etc. This is a typical afternoon for me. Home alone, chinese audio tapes playing via my mac, a book glued to my face, some kind of tea, and a snack to get me through it all. welcome to my little world. 

thoughts stemmed from lunch

today's lunch for one: green beans and dumplings. Easy, fast, healthy, and delicious. If you don't own a steamer, I highly recommend you get one. And also a rice cooker. Two very important asian cooking tools that I had never ever used before I started dating my adorable half-asian man. 

Sometimes, when I take a step back, I realize how much this one boy has changed my life. Lately, I've been thinking about the decisions we make and how even the small ones can affect our lives in a big way. I mean, 3.5 years ago I decided to date this one boy, and because of that boy, I now live in Taiwan. Crazy how life works, right?

on friends

These are some of my classmates (and one of my teachers - the super adorable one second from the bottom left). We went to KTV (karaoke tv) last night where we practiced reading characters by singing chinese songs. And you thought learning chinese wasn't fun!

It's been hard for me to make real friends here in Taiwan. It's been especially hard knowing that most of the people I meet are eventually going to leave Taiwan. It's already happened with my former classmate who left to go back to Korea. My other friend Randi is leaving me soon to go back to the States. And all the kids from the picture above will leave by summer. I guess I'll just enjoy them while I have them.

hello hump day

today, i want to remember:

• my mom's laughter when I told her some funny stories
• that surrounding myself with happy people is good for the soul
• that its better to push yourself than to live life in cruise control 
• that it doesn't hurt to look around at the options around us
• that i rather have 1 good friend than 20 mediocre ones  
• that working hard really does pay off
• that it's possible, and surprisingly comfortable, to ride a bike in high heels 

dear oven, i miss you

I think it's safe to say that 98% of Taiwanese homes don't have ovens.  Taiwanese cook everything fresh (and fast), so ovens really aren't their style. But the longer I'm here, the more I miss having one. I miss making sweet treats from time to time. I also miss making lasagna. And baked potatoes. And all those quick meals I used to make back home. I've been dying to make carrot cupcakes, but alas, I am restricted by the lack of oven. I hate it when I have cravings that I cannot satisfy. 

could it be?

It is 80 degrees outside. I started sweating on my bike ride home. Sweating, people. Yuck. Could it be that Taiwan's winter is over and the hot, humid, sticky, gross months are right around the corner? Ohhh no.

I'm not going to worry about that today. I want to enjoy today. Today, is just perfect. 80 and sunny. If you need me, I'll be outside, wearing flip flops and possibly skipping.

the next best thing

I lack free time for creative endeavors. These flash cards might not be "creative" per se,  but i swear they are the next best thing to mini-books. Making them tricks my mind in believing that when I'm using scissors, that I am being crafty. They might not be colorful, or pretty to look at, but they are an excellent study tool. And this will have to do until I can make time to get the glue stick out again.

How to make mini-books flash cards: 

1. Create a template
2. Write new words characters with meanings 
3. Print on pretty white cardstock 
4. Use paper trimmer to cut them evenly 
5. Use scissors for added perfection 
6. Use crop-a-dile for punching holes 
7. Grab old book rings and voila!        

favorites

This is my favorite picture from our vacation. It was taken by accident. And yet, somehow it was precisely timed. It shows real emotion. It shows pure happiness. And for that reason, I love it.

Other current favorites:

• the short black dress matt bought me from a local designer
• purchasing the season pass of LOST on Itunes
• jasmine green tea. all day, every day.   
• random dance parties at midnight
• wearing flip flops again. its supposed to be 75 all week. 

bangkok

Bangkok was so beautiful. We did all of the touristy stuff in one day so we could spend the last two days shopping, eating, and relaxing. And shopping we did. I've been to a lot of cities but I have to say Bangkok has probably the BEST shopping I have seen in a long time. The malls there put the Mall of America to shame. They are immense, and beautiful, and full of hidden gems. And they also have huge open air markets where you can find anything your heart desires. So if you are a shopaholic, like my  cousin Michelle, Bangkok is seriously your shopping mecca.

Tuk-tuks. My favorite part of Bangkok. So freaking cool. Tuk-tuk video coming soon.

And last, my second favorite picture of the whole trip. This is SO us. We are such a weird couple, but i wouldn't want it any other way. Happy friday blogland.

elephant love

 

Notice the lump of poop on the floor...well if I had starting shooting this video 5 seconds prior, you would have seen the elephant in action. How can something so incredibly gross, also be so funny too?!?!?

commercial break

• i can't just have one bowl of pasta salad. i need 1.3 bowls. 
• i love my last class. my teacher gets the above and beyond award. 
• i wish my legs magically shaved themselves. and my armpits too.
• i rode my bike home in the rain for the first time. it was very freeing.
• i've decided that i don't like being a house-girlfriend.  
• last night we danced to lady gaga and it was silly fun 
• i want to make chili before the weather gets warm again 
• i swear i blink once and its 3pm. i blink again and its 9pm. wtf. 
• i am a much better student than i ever thought i could be.  
• i could kill for a quality hour of giggles with my sister.
• i want to have four kids. and a dog. and my louie back. 
• i think in list format. i speak in list format.  i also write it in too.   

samui

First, the island of Samui. It was beautiful. And relaxing. And the food was incredible. But Samui was a little too touristy for our liking. Still, we had an amazing time and we have the pictures to prove it.

The beach right outside our resort.

At the safari park. I would have paid lots of  money to take this little guy home. They are so damn fluffy and cute. And how cool to say "yeah, i have a pet tiger!"

Um yeah. I didn't know whether to applaud of just fall off my chair with amazement. I can't even do that, and I weigh .0001% of what he does.

We got to ride this big guy which was both wobbly and exciting. Oh and the thai-dude who took the picture told me to wave, so please don't make fun of me for the nerdy tourist shot.

This bird's name was Natalie, so it was only fitting that I paid the 100 baht to take a picture with it. 

And of course, my signature jumping shot. I need to get that "jumping across the world" mini-book started one of these days....

more later. for now, homework, gym, snack, jumping jacks, painting my nails, cnn, and season 2 of the office (on illegally burned dvds that i purchased in thailand). so sweet.

back

from thailand. 

which was incredible.

one of my best trips ever.

more pics soon.

and probably a video too.