ode to lovely

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.