Find something.

"Find something you're passionate about and stay tremendously interested in it."

- Julia Child

Passion fades, but you can always grow and nurture your curiosities and interests.

Always.

After years of making it a personal and professional goal to be a "writer", I finally consider myself one and it just feels like ... like home. A very happy and comfy one.

Sunday Funday.

Cup of tea; granola waffles with blueberry preserves; mixed berries yogurt; my thoughts, and my laptop.

Writing, and setting my writing schedule and assignment deadlines for the week, is what I'm doing this morning. And I couldn't be happier.

As an amazing 2012 winds down, I find myself reflecting on some important life lessons I've learned this past year...

• Don't just ask - negotiate.
• Say no to things that do not nourish you.  This includes people.
• Take control of your career, because no one else will do it for you.
• Dig deeper until you find or obtain what you want.
• No matter how hectic life can get, always carve out quality time for loved ones.  Always.

Provided the Mayans were wrong, and the world doesn't end on December 31, 2012, I am looking forward to 2013 with every single fiber in my being.  

Cooking -- with you, and for you.

I think I am one of the luckiest girls out there, as Manfriend loves to cook -- and he's a great one, at that.  On one of our earliest dates, he made me a delicious Thai-themed three-course meal, with pork spring rolls, red curry duck, and a medley of mango desserts.  I remember telling myself to wait at least a week to officially fall in love with him after that night's dinner!

Some of my favorite moments in our relationship involve us simply cooking together.  Whether it's a quick breakfast on lazy Sundays, or more elaborate recipes inspired by our foodie cravings du jour, I really love the time we spend in his (and sometimes my) kitchen.  Mind you, cooking was probably one of my least enjoyable activities before I met him -- and, admittedly, it still kind of is -- but he has been such a wonderful, patient, and humble teacher, that his enthusiasm for picking out the right spices and slicing and dicing vegetables just the right way has quietly transferred onto me over the past two years. 

Since living on my own, it has truly been a daunting task to force myself to cook for, well, myself.  To be quite honest, there are days where I am eyeing my stash of cookies and other assorted snacks and I come very, very close to qualifying them all as "dinner".  (Oh, the shame!) 

But I have also realized that the better I eat, the more energy and focus I have at work and at school.  This knowledge alone has really helped fuel my desire to eat healthy and be more careful about what I feed my body.  The fact that I am now paying my way towards a graduate degree has also reinforced my willingness to save money by cooking at home, versus eating out. 

So far, my repertoire mainly consists of chicken and vegetable soup and a variety of pastas.  I know, nothing to brag, but coming from someone who previously only knew how to make omelets and scrambled eggs, I'm excited to see what I can cook up next!

30-Day Letter Writing Challenge

Starting today.

(Although, definitely not for the next consecutive 30 days.)


•Day 1 — Your Best Friend

•Day 2 — Your Crush

•Day 3 — Your parents

•Day 4 — Your sibling (or closest relative)

•Day 5 — Your dreams

•Day 6 — A stranger

•Day 7 — Your Ex-boyfriend/girlfriend/love/crush

•Day 8 — Your favorite internet friend

•Day 9 — Someone you wish you could meet

•Day 10 — Someone you don’t talk to as much as you’d like to

•Day 11 — A Deceased person you wish you could talk to

•Day 12 — The person you hate most/caused you a lot of pain

•Day 13 — Someone you wish could forgive you

•Day 14 — Someone you’ve drifted away from

•Day 15 — The person you miss the most

•Day 16 — Someone that’s not in your state/country

•Day 17 — Someone from your childhood

•Day 18 — The person that you wish you could be

•Day 19 — Someone that pesters your mind—good or bad

•Day 20 — The one that broke your heart the hardest

•Day 21 — Someone you judged by their first impression

•Day 22 — Someone you want to give a second chance to

•Day 23 — The last person you kissed

•Day 24 — The person that gave you your favorite memory

•Day 25 — The person you know that is going through the worst of times

•Day 26 — The last person you made a pinky promise to

•Day 27 — The friendliest person you knew for only one day

•Day 28 — Someone that changed your life

•Day 29 — The person that you want tell everything to, but too afraid to

•Day 30 — Your reflection in the mirror

Inspiration and collaboration.

Karl Lagerfeld's designs are coming to Macy's nationwide on August 31 for a fraction of the luxury brand's price. His sketches above aren't exactly what I expected from him, but they're making my head turn with ideas and inspiration.

I've selectively shared my vision and goals with two more friends whom I admire and respect deeply. I think with any venture, big or small, you need to build support for it while also being open for constructive criticism. Too often, we are so focused on what we are trying to achieve, we get tunnel vision, or become caught in the unrealistic expectations we've built for ourselves.

As I move forward, I am finding people who will not only listen to what I have to say, but will also share their concerns/advice that will come from a well-meaning, well-intentioned place, versus stemming from jealousy or competitiveness. That's the very worst.

The wheels are in motion.

“The world is changing and it’s up to us to play an active role in it. If we passively live our lives, the universe will act accordingly.”

– Jessica Krewson, FIDM Graphic Design Alumna and Art Director of Yogi Times

I've had an idea for a very long time now. The first person whom I first shared it with is someone who loves me and supports me greatly. The first stranger I recently let in on my secret told me she strongly believed in me.

The wheels are now in motion. I have been doing my research, attending workshops, reaching out to my network, asking questions, observing and learning from those who have been down this road before me.

These days, I wake up feeling excited again.

The seed has been planted. Now it's up to me to nurture it and let it grow.

Summer livin'.

Growing up, summer meant climbing and swinging off trees, racing my bike down hills all day, and spending all of our money on candy and Mr. Freezies from the mom-and-pop convenience store a few blocks down the street.

I can't remember the last time I felt like I had all the time in the world like I did back then, but I resolve to get back in touch with my inner child in the next few months.

Inspired by Emily from Cupcakes and Cashmere's summer to-do list, here is my very own for my first summer of DC livin':

1. Relax after a busy work week at Jazz in the Garden at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden [DONE - 6/24/11 & 7/29/11].
2. Medidate with old and potentially new friends in the Moongate Garden at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art.
3. Visit the Newseum. [DONE - 6/12/11]
4. Watch a movie -- or several -- outdoors. [DONE - 6/12/11]
5. Practice my photography on still life or people.
6. Ride around the city, thanks to Capital Bikeshare.
7. Kayak during sunset on the Potomac River on Jack's Boathouse Twilight Tour.
8. Check out a beer garden.
9. Wander around the Eastern Market for fresh produce and various trinkets.
10. Take a cooking class, in the hopes that it will lead me to cooking more in general.
11. Take a sewing class, and attempt to make my own sundress(es). (But not before donating lots of old clothes to Goodwill, first!)

And, needless to say, there will be plenty of pool parties, BBQs, and roadtrips with friends in between!

Hustler.

I looked at my calendar the other day, and something in me snapped when I realized that my first graduate class is only a mere few months away. Only a few more months to squeeze in as much volunteer and freelance work as I can before I have absolutely no semblance of a social life come August since I will be working and schoolin' at the same time.

Currently trying to write up a 75-word bio for my new DC style column, and I am completely stumped. I've always hated writing about myself, mainly because I'd like to think that I am one of those people who can't be properly summed in a few words, or a short paragraph... (And, yes, I'm being facetious, stop taking things so seriously.)

In any case, can I just write "HUSTLER" somewhere in there and get it over with? Sigh.

Writing on Wednesdays.

I have a couple of deadlines coming up that require me to write rather extensively -- and, yet, here I am, procrastinating, writing on my blog instead, as an excuse to get the creative juices flowing. I definitely have my priorities straight, don't I?

Considering my writing group meets on Wednesdays, I only see it fit that I dedicate this day to writing. I write regularly -- for work, and for professional and entrepreneurial blogs as well -- but I have not written something personal or poignant in a while. I am tempted to blame it on lack of time, but perhaps the truth rests more between a lack of confidence in my writing abilities, and a lack of want to share.

First personal writing project: a handwritten letter to Manfriend, while he is traveling on business. He gifted me a box of love letters, written by famous names such as Beethoven and Napoleon to their amours, this past Valentine's Day. I'll consider that my inspiration to leave behind a written (physical, versus digital) legacy.

"Enjoy the daydreaming", she said.

It's a beautiful Friday, made even better by the fact that it is preceding a long weekend. I hope everyone has lovely plans.

Manfriend and I will be spending the bulk of tomorrow jumping from one estate sale to another, and making a trip to Home Depot and IKEA. I am so thankful the latter extended their sale to this coming Monday because I was in no condition to browse for furniture last weekend. Here's to hoping I find the perfect wardrobe and/or vanity dresser! In the meantime, I'll be daydreaming of the perfect home. Thanks for the encouragement and reminder, L.

I owe these inspiring images to Urban Nester, Dolly Pearl, iSocialRealty, and The Cinderella Project. Thank you!

Cinderella is proof.

That a new pair of shoes can change your life. - Anon

This inspiring photo of J. Crew's creative director Jenna Lyons' wall of shoes, spotted awhile ago on my friend J's amazing blog, urgently reminded me that I needed to devise a way to stylishly display my own collection while making efficient use of space.

Now that Manfriend and I are living together, I can't just have my shoes strewn all over the place (even though, to my defense, they were all arranged in a fairly neat manner on the bedroom floor before). Lucky for him, I (relatively) don't own that many pairs to begin with, or else I highly doubt he would have gifted me a few months' membership to ShoeDazzle, right?...

... right. In any case, he cleared out half of his closet and dropped off a few bags to Goodwill last weekend -- my turn to let go of the old is coming up this weekend and the next. (Or, that's the plan, at least.) I swear I'm not (really) a hoarder but I can already feel the separation anxiety kicking in!

images via

A work in progress.

Manfriend and I have been talking about redoing and redecorating our little love nest lately. A few cabinet lights here, a new bookcase there. We also need to get rid of his empty aquarium and that age-old television set in our room as soon as possible... {prints from graphic designer Therese Senneholt}
I was semi-bracing myself for a possible clash in aesthetics, but come to find out, the Mister and I both have similar tastes, which makes these upcoming changes and home improvement projects truly exciting to look forward to. Who knows what will happen once we start getting down and dirty, though... I'll let the animal print and hot pink pillows go, but filling up the house with framed prints and photos is a battle I'm totally fighting (and winning).

But first things first: we are thinking of repainting the walls white, white, white. Whereas some people might find the color too sterile and cold, I have always taken quite a liking to it. I have been browsing the web for inspiration and, although many of these photos look slightly too staged and entirely too sophisticated to truly feel like a comfortable "home" to me, I admire each owner's commitment to creating and keeping such beautiful living spaces. I can't wait to get started!

{via apartment therapy}

{via atlantis home}

{via flickr}

Taking it day by day.

In the spirit of counting down to Halloween last month, I gave myself a daily challenge:

Do one thing each day that scares you.

Some scary items I've managed to check off my list (and I am perfectly aware that "scary" is relative here, so no poking fun at me, please!):

• Running a half-marathon for the very first time.
• Not wearing any make-up at all to a fancy client event.
• Being vulnerable.
• Watching gory horror movies.

There remains a few things that I still find a tad daunting, though (e.g. cooking!), but I have long realized that of all the things that I am afraid of, I am most afraid of the things that are beyond my control.

But what I can control in the here and now, however, are the attitudes and actions that I mindfully and meaningfully choose to assume as my own, each and every day.

What I can control, is to take it one day at a time.

Currently brainstorming my next daily project. Considering I am photographing a beautiful friend this Saturday, I might have to take a few photos each day from now on until then to warm myself up -- figuratively and literally, that is; the weather here in DC seemed to have dropped about 30 degrees overnight! Brrrr.