butterflies are free

hello?

2010-07-09T17:18:00.000-07:00

yes,

things have happened.

but life does go on.

i've been working on some things to keep busy.

here's a sneak peek:

stay tuned...

blur

2010-06-23T01:45:00.000-07:00

life's like that sometimes.

sunday summarie v18

2010-05-16T16:10:00.000-07:00

a quick list of 5 things to summarize this weeks

inspirations/ findings &

doings:

1. crepes

sweet or savory, i can never decide.

all i know is that i LOVE crepes!

i tasted the BEST crepes saturday morning...

i got em from the farmers market (i forgot to take note of the vendor though. sorry!)

and took them home to share with my sister.

i kept Mmm Mmm-ing aloud!

fresh ingredients and i was able to watch it being made...

i would've taken a photo of the sweet one (nutella and hersheys chocolate!)...

but by that time i was just all into the crepe, nevermind photography!

2. plants

i adore flowers

but never in my life have i enjoyed planting.

i used to dread when my mom would call my sister and i out to the garden to weed or water,

i just wasn't into the bugs and spiders and, well, labor.

call me lazy. i was.

(still kinda am)

but something changed.

about a week ago i got the idea to finally use the front 'flowerbox'

(up until then it was basically dirt and the litterbox for the neighbors cat )

i was set on 'beautify-ing' our little house,

eventhough (and especially because) our neighbors disregard their own lawns and whatnot

(i figure, set an example. if our house looks tidy and beautiful,

hopefully they won't throw their trash, cigarette butts, fast food bags and cap gun caps all around)

who knows?

sigh.

either way, with the help of my good friend carolyn, we planted a pretty little stretch of garden.

i included plants like marigold, geranium and lavender,

and when the breeze picks up, the smell is just wonderful... :)

and i actually enjoyed myself this time,

shoveling, plating, watering- the whole nine!

updates to come.

3. the downtown la artwalk

i didn't take in too much art

(i was actually there to hear a discussion/forum)

but i did enjoy the ambiance of downtown in the evening.

i have a hard time viewing/appreciating art when there is a huge mob/crowd,

and i think the artwalk is now mostly for people-watching...

the food trucks were there, people break dancing on the streets,

and various processions going on...

i believe this was nick cave's sound suits on the go (i'm not 100 % sure tho)

there were bands playing in historic buildings

and planned parenthood giving out condoms and whatnot...

it's easy to get overwhelmed there!

...one of my favorite parts of the night was going to lost souls cafe

and seeing how much it and the art scene has grown and expanded.

this will always be my favorite alley-view:

we'll see what happens next month!

4. aloha expo 2010

hawaiian shaved ice + hula dancers + sunshine + friends = :)

every year i look forward to this festival...

there's so much beauty...

in the people, the flowers, the cuisine!

the hot guys!!!

haha.

5. painting again

not anything big, just a lil something something.

paint on canvas = therapeutic

sunday summarie v17

2010-05-09T22:09:00.001-07:00

a quick list of 5 things to summarize this weeks

inspirations/ findings &

doings:

1. mother's day

happy mother's day to mother earth and all the mothers on it!

here's a photo of my mum (and my little cousin)

hamming it up this morning:

aren't they great?!

we continued to celebrate mother's day by taking mum out to tiny thai restaurant in long beach, ca.

at the end of our delicious meal, we found this fortune:

sweet, huh? :)

...keeping to the lovely theme of the day, we skipped over to miss priss cupcakes

where they had special mother's day cupcakes:

Mmm!

my mom liked it/enjoyed the area so much that she's already asking to come back!

2. roxanna mostatabi's art show: intrinsic

i've been meaning to check out the fullerton art walk for some time now,

so when a friend of mine invited me to an art opening at the tranquil tea lounge,

i happily obliged.

who knew i was in for such a treat?!

my friend, bless her heart, never gave me any prior details about the art show,

so i wasn't sure what to expect....

the artist was a family friend of hers,

who, along with her mother and sister,

i have seen at various family gatherings: weddings, baby showers, birthdays

what a trip!

such talent! and i didn't even know.

i was so impressed with roxanna and her artwork,

that i bought several pieces.

i don't really have extra money to be spending,

but roxanna's work is laced with passion and fervor and life.

her work spans various art genres and media,

all of which are absolutely b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l.

there is this deeply nourishing quality to her pieces,

organic, but also fierce!

here's the talented roxanna infront of her stunning art:

3. malibu

i've lived in so. cal all my life, but i've never been to malibu.

on tuesday, i finally got to go! :)

the fog rolled in, but still! it was a breathtaking sight

(too bad i forgot my camera, and had to use the cameraphone)

we woke up early early in the morning to get there...

such a magical experience!

thanks lu :)

4. sunday school

did another school year go by already?

jeez! i'm gonna miss the kiddos!

chelsea and one of my student's, noelani, are friends and demanded they get a photo together

(even before playing on the playground):

i hope that one day i'll be a teacher to her little brother... he's sooo cute!

5. coconut!!!

fresh coconut!

i went NUTS!

sososo good!

(i'm an island girl, you know?)

suday summarie v16

2010-05-02T12:14:00.000-07:00

a quick list of 5 things to summarize this weeks

inspirations/ findings & doings:

1. seonna hong

seonna hong's art makes me smile (her book animus is one of my favorites!)

so when i randomly came up on a piece in Culver City,

i swooned.

the perfect balance of sad/sweet.

2. where is God artshow

several friends of mine had work up in the 'where is God' art show held at Remy's (on Temple) in LA,

so of course, i had to go and support!

given the subject matter, i wasn't sure what to expect in terms of art and ambiance...

i was pleasantly surprised to find the artwork interesting and the scene upbeat.

during the 'gallery' hours of the evening, the dj played cuts like common's 'the light' and tupac's 'changes'

i particularly liked this (snowboard) piece:

some pieces were more thought-provoking:

and the rest of the night included musical performances and various acts (spoken word, etc).

it got crowded!

too bad i wasn't able to stay longer.

3. muzeo

on tuesday i got to check out the muzeo in anaheim for the first time.

they had an exhibit on frogs, which was fun and, in my opinion, very well curated.

i learned a lot

and made a few friends:

4. the norton simon museum

my good friend sonia and i went back to the norton simon museum (we're both former employees)

to attend the COSMIC DANCE OF SHIVA, ART, SCIENCE and PERSPECTIVES on NATARAJA

event on friday night.

i was wowed by the information presented

and also by Dr. Sharada Srinvasan's interpretation of the material,

and translation into dance.

too bad i wan't able to photograph any of it

(no photography allowed during the performance)

i did, however, have a chance to snap these:

oh, norton simon memories!

5. carne asada fries

need i say more?

don't sleep on it!

2010-04-26T11:34:00.000-07:00

i've got to see the bansky movie

and david choe's 'nothing to declare' exhibit!

hopefully this week?

sunday summarie v15

2010-04-25T20:18:00.001-07:00

a quick list of 5 things to summarize this weeks

inspirations/ findings & doings:

1. simplicity

i tend to overwhelm easily... but at the same time, i'm inspired by sensory overload!

to make peace with this and have some sort of balance in my life,

i've decided to keep my 'studio' space playful and creative,

and where i sleep... as simple as i can possibly stand it.

here's a peek:

my goal, really, is just to keep fresh flowers in that vase, and not much else

(on the dresser that my sis donated to me)

i'm looking forward to waking up and going to sleep with a clear head/space.

2. hair cut

actually, it's just a trim, but i feel like a different person!

only a inch and a half was lopped off,

but my hair feels lighter and looks much more healthier.

i'm hoping to grow my hair out, so it feels weird going in for a trim!

ah, but it was necessary (to get rid of loose ends)

MmmHmm.

you are sensing a trend, yes?

3. OZOMATLI

i LOVE them! y'all know?!

in 1998 i was at the vans warped tour and was passed an OZO sticker

and decided to stick around for their performance.

i'm an ozohead from way back!!!

they're an LA band, so i've been fortunate to make it to 2 of their record releases...

last tuesday, i was able to make it my 3rd

... and i got the guys to sign my cd and poster and chat a bit!

i was ridiculously happy/nervous so i wasn't on my best photographer game...

but i had such a great time, it didn't matter! :)

ah~ i got to catch them a second time (live!) friday afternoon at city hall,

as the mayor declared april 23, 2010 OZOMATLI DAY!

what was awesome was that not only were they presented with plaques and whatnot,

but kids from various elementary, middle, high school and after -school programs

performed ozomatli songs for the community and for the band!

the finale was a JAM SESSION with the kids and ozomatli,

which was amazing to watch!

here's my photo of ULI (sax) and ASDRU (trumpet) getting down with the kids:

the energy was kick ass!

whats not to love?!

4. LA times festival of books/ fowler museum UCLA

i went kinda sorta on a whim.

the last time i attended the festival of books, i took a bus and got off 3 miles too early,

was all stank cos it was hella hot and i didn't have enough money to buy a cold drink...

and the line was too long to meet maya angelou.

so my experience wasn't exactly pleasant.

but i had an inkling to go this time.

i didn't check who was going to be there, or where the various vendors were set up at...

i just went. straight from co-teaching sunday school. by my lonesome.

i'm a book nerd. how cool am i?

but there were tons of people!

(which is nice! YAY BOOKLOVERS!)

...my real mission was to get the kapwa book from the philippine expressions booth.

luckily, linda was there with one last copy...

as an added bonus, the FOWLER museum was open...

YOU HAVE TO CHECK OUT NICK CAVE'S SOUNDSUITS

i was so wowed that i bought the book/catalog.

for $50!

but it's toootallly worth it!

this photo doesn't even do the exhibit an ounce of justice:

you've got to go see it LIVE!

it's up till may 20th, and the fowler is free!

5. ending my day/week in long beach

i had a looong sunday...

i went up the 10 and down the 405.

i opted for the ocean to unwind.

ahh~ breezy:

i walked bluff park for a bit.

sat down and wrote a few pages.

looked around for different perspective:

then it got waaay too cold (like, 20 minutes before sunset)

so i picked up and headed out to viento y agua, one of my favorite cafes...

to knock back a toffee mocha treat

and that was my week!

er, somedays are like, you know.

2010-04-12T14:44:00.000-07:00

sunday summarie v14

2010-04-04T14:23:00.000-07:00

a quick list of 5 things to summarize this weeks

inspirations/ findings & doings:

1. easter/bunny

HAPPY EASTER!

if you celebrate, i hope you have a wonderful one!

i had lunch at the gypsy den in costa mesa the other day

and found kozik's labbit at urban.

i had to take him home!

and of course, i had to introduce him to casey so they could make friends.

i love mustached bunnies!

2. street feast @ the americana at brand

there were long lines and hour long waits,

but the food and people-watching opportunities made it ALMOST worth it.

(i'm sure there could have been a better way to organize this event)

i only got to sample from 1 truck, the grilled cheese truck.

i ordered and split a brie and dessert melt,

delicious!

what made the night much more pleasant for me is that i ran into an old friend!

i hadn't seen joni in years, so it was nice spotting here there.

she's so cute!

3. glass magazine.

at the bookstore friday night

(because, yes, that's what the cool girls do on friday night)

i came across glass magazine, with a sunning portrait of maggie cheung

(i love her!)

i paid $17.99 for this magazine but oh, it's so good!

i don't know why i was never exposed to this magazine before?!

such a great fashion/design magazine!

4.marie went to the market

i'm really really making an effort to eat better,

so lately i've been forgoing the supermarket for the farmers market,

buying fresh over package.

after getting the hang of it

(it's sorta intimidating at first- all those people calling out!)

it's kinda fun.

and at the end, there's always kettle corn!

here i am wearing my toms and huge flow-y scarf

veggie yums!

lemonade, sweet peas, kettle corn and pupusas!

i brought some pozole home to eat for lunch...

it was my first time to eat pozole! yum!

5. more bunnies!

shirley brought back these sweet cleaning cloths

from her trip up to san francisco earlier this month...

adorable, no?

thank you!

score!

2010-04-01T19:21:00.000-07:00

i thought it'd be too late,

but i got tickets to the alicia keys concert!

eee!

loot

2010-04-01T12:43:00.000-07:00

yesterday, a percentage of proceeds from whole foods long beach

went to support the Long Beach Museum of Art.

here's my $55 effort:

i was happy to finally purchase the red toms

(i've been eyeing them for awhile)

these sweet shoesies make me feel like they could be ruby slippers...

like i could get out of any situation by clicking my heels and going home.

admit it monday

2010-03-30T00:06:00.000-07:00

maybe its a little lame,

but today i want to admit that i had a totally unplanned, random day

but i rolled with it instead of getting pissed.

(how often does this happen?)

it rocked!!!

i spent the morning in alhambra/monterey park

and the afternoon in el segundo.

it was lovely and the weather cooperated :)

um.

i guess what i really really really want to admit is:

i had a great day, but my night was kinda shot.

you're still here.

GO HOME GO HOME GO HOME!

arugh!

i'm too nice to say anything, but llllllleeeeeaaaaavvvvvveeee already!

i admit that i'm angry right now

grrrrrr!

sunday summarie v13

2010-03-28T22:59:00.001-07:00

a quick list of 5 things to summarize this weeks

inspirations/ findings & doings:

1. the kiddos.

easter came early for the sunday school class that i co-teach.

preparation for the celebration was h-e-c-t-i-c,

but it was awesome to see the kids have fun and smile with gusto.

2. firsts.

not terribly exciting, but i ventured out to a few places i've never been before~

monterey park, east LA, the trails cafe in griffith park.

since these places were new to me,

i responded with childlike wonder... oohing and ahhin

and taking mental notes of where i'd like to stop the next time i roll through.

i guess part of it is al

so because i was by my lonesome,

when i'm used to having someone with me to get here and there.

not exactly sure why i've been so without a companion lately,

but pretty sure the universe is telling me

'you CAN make it on your own'

3. casey hopscotch.

my playboy's growing up fast!

this week i spent plenty of time

hanging, playing, and deciphering my bunny's actions.

i've been hitting up rabbit web sites and youtube trying to figure out how to be a good pet parent.

4. baby jasmine.

i held my Goddaughter for the first time

(she's almost 5months)

and it was an amazing feeling to hold onto a brand new life.

she wiggled and cuddled, swatted and teeter-tottered,

all at once strong and fragile.

she lives about 25miles away,

but i still do hope that i'll be visiting her...

and often.

i want to be there to bond and giggle,

and i want to actually have a relationship with her,

and not be a deadbeat Godparent.

it's weird, but thats one of my fears!

5. reconnecting.

this weekend i was able to reconnect with a small group of friends from college

it's been about 5-7 years since we've been 'out'

it was such a pleasure to catch up a little bit

and relive each others company...

i was elated cos it was sooo nice to be in a 'creative' circle again

not that i'm not normally around really awesome, creative people,

because i am :),

but this was like, specific.

our background is in design, animation and gaming.

it's like being creative from a technological standpoint.

i mean, i don't think i 'fit' that profile,

but i was definitely influenced during my college years.

it was cool, cos while waiting for the other half of the group,

i got a mini lesson on photography, and quick run through about photo-retouching...

definitely appreciated!

the bad ass talent crew:

i hope to see them again soon!

um, 6. blossoms!

i couldn't resist!

photos on the hour (part 2)

2010-03-27T21:28:00.000-07:00

hourly photos

taken on my blackberry storm

cont...

5pm: mail!

what can i say... yay! :)

6pm: messy room/ laundry.

gotta tackle it.

7pm: walk at the park with the boyfriend.

spotted rabbits everywhere near the stables!

8pm: lesson plan time.

i had two weeks to plan the Easter lesson for tomorrow's sunday school class.

of course i waited till tonight to even open the book!

i know these aren't my best photos aesthetically, but they're a good exercise in not being such a shy camerawoman.

photos on the hour (part 1)

2010-03-27T16:01:00.001-07:00

photos taken with my blackberry storm.

7am: up from an unrestful night of sleep.

obviously, the new day came waaay too early.

the only remedy? shower time and get ready.

8am: farmers market.

i usually opt for the buena park farmers market,

but i didn't need much so i ended up at cerritos.

i picked up snap peas, artichokes and asparagus,

but really only took interest in photographing carrots and blossoms.

9am: moms garden.

since i was so close, i decided to drop by and visit my mum.

i wandered into her garden and marveled at all the new orchids abloom

10am: hungry!

my sister cooked some shrimp and it was delicious!

11am: on my way to visit an old college friend.

i get stuck in traffic and then a little lost

navigating my way through east la.

(i knew i should've taken the 60!)

pretty interesting rolling through east la during the day.

it's this mix of barrio, industrial, shady, cool.

p-l-e-n-t-y of places i wanted to stop and take photos at, but didn't.

doh!

12noon: friends casa.

such a charming, quant little place.

she went to cut calla lilies from the backyard...

i beyond loved that!

catching up means lots of talks and hugs and whatnot.

this, of course took up a couple hours :)

while waiting for some other friends,

i got a lesson on photo-retouch and basic camera settings and stuff.

nice!

thank you!

3pm: mission get bunny grub.

4pm: thirsty!

crrraaavvviiinggg!

stay tuned for part two

liberty of london for target

2010-03-25T19:20:00.000-07:00

when i walked into target today and saw that they still had some

liberty of london for target items,

i squealed...

plenty of the items were sold out online,

so i didn't think there'd be any left in stores,

but i scored on some pretty rad stuff,

even if it was slim pickings...

what i got, i adore!

-a quilt

-a cereal bowl

-a clipboard/notebook hybrid

and

-a sweet stationary set

I'M SO EXCITED!

(yes, i'm gushing. yes, it's ridiculous!)

i'm excited because i'm looking forward to warmer weather,

for spring and summer and

afternoons/evenings

where i can lay my quilt out on the grass

and have a picnic or a pow wow

i'm excited to lay out and read books,

doodle in my sketchbook and write short notes and long letters

maybe even turn it into a tent or set up a fort at night.

the patterns and prints are insta-happy!

s-c-o-r-e!

admit it monday

2010-03-23T11:06:00.000-07:00

according to kate swoboda,

courage is: feeling fear, doing it anyway, and transforming.

i, um, lack courage.

i admit that i'm still at the FEELING FEAR stage.

sure, i've accomplished some things...

but even thinking about embarking on my BIG DREAMS,

i start trembling.

which is why, i'm interested in: DOING IT ANYWAY.

(as in doing, and not so much thinking)

so, i signed up for a 10 week e-course

(i mean, i've done the artist way,

with results... but more than just an individual project,

i'd like to connect with a community, albeit online,

and have the support of similar goal-oriented people.

i think that'll be good for me)

my hopes in signing up for this is that,

at the end of the 10 week duration,

i will have been able to integrate positive changes, by taking small steps

in certain 'focus' areas in my life.

It's a course that integrates real, practical and daily tools while it also acknowledges magical possibility, fun, and PLAY

yay!

i start next monday.

p.s. yeah, i know. my posting's a day late.

y'all still love me though :)

sunday summarie v12

2010-03-21T15:18:00.000-07:00

a quick list of 5 things to summarize this weeks

inspirations/ findings & doings:

1. spring/blossoms.

springtime is finally here and to celebrate,

we've got these lovely, delicate blossoms at at table.

the blossoms bloom so elegantly against the branches!

i love how its so simple, yet so beautiful.

2. photo flow/inspiration.

i've had a bit of a dry spell in terms of my photography until just recently.

over the course of this week, ideas and images started to flow...

it feels wonderful to be on that creative current again :)

i found myself opening up to the outdoors and colors again,

and also to muted tones and gray.

things could be out of focus and ordinary...

and where before i would've had a fit, i'm finding that those things are just fine.

inspiration also hit after watching POPaganda the art and crimes of RON ENGLIGH

culture jamming- i love it!

just so many ideas and interests and philosophies to explore!

3. quater bloom's the okie doke 3

quarter bloom is a lifestyle brand that offers gear that embraces multiple creative outlets...

the've got this amazing circle of talented artists and musicians,

some of whom happen to also be old co-workers/ friends of mine.

for the most part, i'm an old fart who prefers to stay home,

do things during the daytime rather than party at night,

but somehow i had the energy to attend the okie doke

(i missed out on the previous ones)

good times!

it was nice seeing folks i don't get to see often:

and hang out and get down with anne! :)

what was rad, too, was 'knowing people' who 'knew people'

and the perks of getting into another event, free and discounted drinks :)

across the plaza, at grand star ,

i saw that bartender lady who served me drinks when i used to hang there years ago...

seeing familiar faces :)

4. michelle and mike's photo shoot.

it took a little longer than expected, and i ended up getting sunburnt,

but it was sooo much fun!

i didn't realize exactly how much i missed them

(they're no. cali-ans, just here for a visit)

until we got to hang, talk and pal around on the shoot.

wahhh! i miss/ed them so!

but how awesome is it to look through the viewfinder

and watch the romance of your close friend and her fiance unfold?

how that camera catches the lightheartedness in their hearts,

the sparkles in their eyes,

the hope as they hold hands.

i wanted to cry (tears of joy!)

but hid it really well (haha)

i'm sooo happy that they found each other.

i'm lucky that they let me chase them around, take photos and experience that.

i'm so happy for you michelle!

5. relaxation!

burke williams cranial-sacral 80 min massage.

i felt like i was floating!

recharge for the new week~

zapatos

2010-03-19T23:06:00.000-07:00

if i had my way, i'd walk around barefoot...

but since thats not always possible or very sanitary,

i tend to opt for flip-flops.

just recently, i've warmed up to the idea of wearing sandals.

i found a cute pair at target and ended up purchasing it.

the next day i went and bought another.

and yet another.

so now i have a bit of a spring shoe collection.

who knows? maybe next season i'll actually attempt wearing shoes!

chelsea

2010-03-19T21:52:00.000-07:00

just a few days away...

2010-03-18T18:33:00.001-07:00

spring!

admit it monday

2010-03-15T13:27:00.000-07:00

today i want to admit that although i dream about having long locks of hair

that i could tease at the top and curl under,

looking all feminine and flow-y...

i miss short hair terribly!

it was during a particularly stressful time in my life

(read: college graduation portfolio show)

that i came home one day, grabbed a pair of scissors, and locked the bathroom door.

30 minutes later, i had chopped of all but an inch and a half of my hair.

it was completely liberating.

of course, looking down at all the hair now on the floor at my feet,

i freaked.

during the process of cutting-at-random,

i had imagined a pixie worthy of audrey.

not so.

it was lopy, choppy.

i didn't have a face for it, but still, i loved it so.

that is, till i felt like a total boy when i went out without make-up.

and sure, i compensated by wearing a ton of make up and glitter.

but at my best, with this cut, i felt my bravest.

but right now, i'm attempting for my hair to grow.

it does absolutely nothing for me after it reaches a certain length,

but it ups the anticipation for when i can get it cut short again

(i usually do this on my birthday month)

i can't wait for that satisfaction of the shears skimming through my hair

the length of it like sheets, dropping to the floor.

hopefully, i'll have a 'face' for it then?

less pudgy-er sides to highlight my high cheekbones...

i dream.

sunday summarie v11

2010-03-14T23:08:00.000-07:00

a quick list of 5 things to summarize this weeks

inspirations/ findings & doings:

1. LBMA after dark.

art + support + keshot photobooths + great views of the long beach shoreline

what can i say?

good times.

2. veggie pad thai and green tea boba at via cafe in chinatown, la.

theres something about that particular combo that hits the spot.

i was c-r-a-n-k-y that afternoon,

but calmed down at via.

the low lit, offbeat scenery and eclectic music...

wins every time.

3. ashkhan.

my cousins used to babysit ashkhan when he was a kid,

and he was usually there whenever i was over.

somehow, i took notice of the little dude,

who'd crawl around in diapers on the entertainment room floor,

blocking my view of the television...

anyway, i was elated when i found out (a couple of years ago)

that he was doing well in the art/design world,

rising up and making a name for himself.

and late last year before i had my connect art show in chinatown,

i ducked into flockshop real quick

and discovered that he was selling his stuff there~

i was all proud and whatnot.

so when i heard about his show:

you forgot this on the way out

i had to go and support

his work is bad ass awesome!

4. baby jasmine's baptism.

i became a Godmother, officially, for the first time today.

(i'm not pictured, by the way...

in the photo are jasmine, her parents, and her primary Godparents)

it was sweet seeing jasmine, her parents, and all other Godparents...

looks like this little girl is gonna be well taken cared of/ looked after.

5. portraiture after ingres

i attended a lecture at the norton simon museum on portraiture,

and found it interesting and informative.

it was nice to gain some insight from the curator,

my only regret is that i didn't go downstairs

to see the exhibit that the lecture was derived from,

gaze

which will be closing april 5th.

looks like i'm gonna have to make another trip up.

admit it monday

2010-03-08T19:36:00.000-08:00

probably not the most interesting admit it post,

but today i'm admitting to:

drinking 3liters of smart water a day

as in every other week or so,

i go to costco and buy smart water in bulk.

i go past the kirkland and arrowhead

and go for the liter bottles of smart water...

dodging sneers like 'does that water really make you smarter?'

ugh.

my boyfriend thinks it's fancy water.

i think it's easier to drink.

it's smooth and goes down easy.

basic point~ it gets me to drink adequate amounts of water for my body.

and for my size and weight, i need a lot of water.

i break it down with 3 1-liter bottles a day

(as opposed to to 6 average sized arrowhead bottles)

and i'll notice a difference when i meet my water-intake goals.

yes, i trip off this.

sounds ridiculous~ blogging about water,

but water is important!

at one point, at my sickest, i was downing penta...

which is great, but that stuff's crazy expensive!

(i found smart water to be similar, and therefore, a better deal)

i'm not so sure i follow along with all the health claims and stuff

but it tastes great. (yes, i can taste a difference with water)

another thing i'd like to admit:

i write words like

love, health, happiness

in sharpie on my water bottles.

... i totally believe in the power of intent!

sunday summarie v10

2010-03-07T15:33:00.000-08:00

a quick list of 5 things to summarize this weeks

inspirations/ findings & doings:

1. i got to getting creative again.

flow is back, and i am ever thankful for that!

every day i am feeling better and better,

exercise and a more nutritious diet helps give an energy boost,

and i'm responding to rhythm and whatnot.

cool!

2. i painted.

it's not painting painting per se

but i am laying down color on canvas.

more of an intuitive, go with the flow type thing

rather than anything controlled

think playing instead of painting

making a mess.

the urban outfitters catalog was nearby

and somehow i started cutting out images i liked

and began gluing them to the background paintings i did

not exactly sure why i did that~

but i liked it

and realized that

these little 'practice' paintings/collages are really serving as

inspirational sketches for my next photography project...

little springboards from my imagination,

nice to have them come to life and mingle somewhere.

i can't really paint, you know...

but it sure is nice to put something together :)

3. i acquired some new loot.

i'm all into whimsy,

i can't help it.

bad ass:

oh deer:

4. i got snail mail.

thank you michelle :) !

5. my sister and i had a tea party,

pre viewing the midnight showing of alice in wonderland.

i can go on and on about this,

but i'll just say that 'it was amazing'

and thats it for this week

(didn't have too much going on)

curious to see what next week has in store~

sweet

2010-03-05T19:53:00.000-08:00

ack! i couldn't resist!

thankful thursday v1

2010-03-04T10:13:00.000-08:00

a list of random things i'm thankful for:

1. wii fit.

gym membership isn't exactly a necessity, and when going through finances with my sister, we decided that we'd cancel our gym membership, at least for the time being.

thankfully, we've got a number of workout options...

- there are parks close by, a nature trail, and the ocean

- my trampoline is set up and all ready to go

- i'm (im)patiently waiting for my hoop from hoopgirl to come in (can't wait!)

- my bike (if i ever get to learning how to ride it... and i will...)

but my favorite option/obsession right now is:

i know that i'll have to do more than just wii fit to make a difference,

but i'm excited to start a routine!

2. my golla camera bag.

i'm super thankful that i was

a.) able to come across the golla line of media bags at target

b.) able to order the exact bag that i wanted online, even if it wasn't in stores

c.) able to receive my order so quickly~

when it arrived at the door i jumped up an down like it was a gift :)

it looks like a lunch bag,

but holds all of my camera needs :)

what can i say? it's nifty!

and it's beautiful (i love good design!)

it makes me want to take it everywhere~

and i probably will do just that.

it's definitely easier to tote than my previous 'camera bags',

which really weren't camera bags at all...

an old jansport backpack that didn't have any support

and this orange ricardo traveler, which worked out okay, but was bulky...

oh, i don't know.

this one just feels right.

i'm happy with it!

3. stand up comedy.

i've been in an out of a little funk these past few weeks...

just when i feel alright and ready to go out into the world- it rains,

so i've spent most of the past month in this weird semi-slumber

it's been a little tough pulling myself out,

but i'm so glad that i have netflix and can watch movies instantly, at whim...

i've been choosing comedy lately,

and it just feels sooo good to let out a laugh.

i watched some margaret cho yesterday,

and laughed it out.

h-i-l-a-r-i-o-u-s!

i've seen some of her stand up before, and didn't think it was too funny,

boy am i thankful that i gave her a second try.

and thats it.

thanks for reading.

whats in your bag?

2010-03-01T20:24:00.001-08:00

1. planner/ organizer-

because even with a laptop and blackberry,

i like to literally pencil things in.

there's this sense of satisfaction of carrying an 'agenda'

2. hoop earrings, in silver.

its my go-to item for when i need to look like i at least give a damn

3. wallet. the smallest they had, actually.

4. diana mini 35mm camera.

analog is charming, beyond.

another plus: it's a great conversation starter

5. turtle shaped paperclip holder.

used to house my mini business cards. :)

6. blilss hand lotion.

perviously, i had ashy ass elbows!

7. burts bee's pomegranate lip balm.

smooth!

now i can't even go back to the regular beeswax balm.

8. sephora lipstick in merlot.

i switch between that and mac ruby woo

(but i kinda prefer red lipstick for the fall)

9. hello kitty journal/notebook.

i got it at barnes and nobles

(but it still had a 'sanrio' smell)

and use it for jotting random notes

(mainly from books i can't afford to buy in store)

10. highlighter in what my sister calls 'old yellow'

for emphasis, you know?

11.blackberry storm with kozyndan's bunny blossoms skin

i put my phone on vibrate and barely notice calls...

i am a huge texter though.

heh.

12. pencil case.

holds coins and lint and pens. a few of which are:

13. a blue sharpie and hello kitty pen (with geisha topper)

just for fun

and there you have it~

i just ordered the spring purse of my dreams,

so i'm sure all of this will be changing.

still kinda interesting to see the things that i deem necessary to take with me all the time.

and how thats changed over the years (i don't carry around as much make-up as i did as a teen)

admit it monday

2010-03-01T00:55:00.000-08:00

hello.

i'm trying something new on my blog called 'admit it monday'
basically, every monday i'll post a confession or random admittance...
more fun than anything really~
think along the lines of guilty pleasures and embarrassing moments

:)

first monday admittance:

growing up, i was obsessed with tank girl.

more the movie than the comic because i was totally in love with lori petty.

i loved the hair, the make-up, the EYEBROWS, and the attitude.

i played with streaking my hair green/blue with a bleach and kool-aid combo

(though the crazy colouring didn't come until college)

and tying my hair up in braids and little knots

riot grrl style, you know?

the anti heroine heroine.

i don't think people expected me to be into that.

this is the closest i got to emulating somewhat of a tank girl kinda look

haha.

(it's still sweet! eww)

second monday admittance:

i watched the movie over and over again because i had a huge crush on ice-t!

i was 14 and thought he was hella hot, even as a ripper.

gangsta haha

sunday summarie v9

2010-02-28T14:20:00.000-08:00

a quick list of 5 things to summarize this weeks

inspirations/ findings & doings:

1. nick, my boyfriend turned 32 on thursday!

the celebration was pretty low key

(we ate at la capilla, stayed home and watched bruno)

but fun

happy birthday icky!

2. rosetta stone.

spanish level 1 (latin america)

i finished lesson one. :)

3. netflix.

i had a love/hate relationship with netflix.

mainly because i tended to misplace dvds for months at a time.

but now that i have this pretty little laptop,

i can watch movies instantly,

and that makes me h-a-p-p-y

i've been on again-off-again sick this past week,

so i caught up on a few movies,

this, by far being my favorite

i went to see the exhibit, have the catalog/book, but i haven't seen the movie until now.

4. casey hopscotch.

i love my little casey,

seriously, i can't get enough!

bunny love:

5. ozomatli

@ the house of blues anaheim 2/28/10

what can i say?

these guys are just amazing live!

this was my 4th or 5th time seeing them...

hopefully i'll get to see them again at the hollywood bowl later this year!

vv brown

2010-02-22T11:05:00.000-08:00

heard v.v. brown for the first time this morning...

was charmed by her:

*voice

*energy!

*video for shark in the water

i like her lots!

(helps that she looks a little bit like my sister, too)

x2

2010-02-20T09:29:00.000-08:00

drew + bunny = 2 times the love!

f.y.i.

casey (hopscotch, my lil bunny),

is actually named after drew barrymore's character

in the movie mad love

(she is also 'casey' in scream and irreconcilable differences)

so how could i not love this photo?

*swoon*

post valentines

2010-02-15T16:34:00.000-08:00

i didn't get to see my boyfriend on valentines day

(we're gonna celebrate today),

but i do have a sister that i love love love,

so i bought roses yesterday.

granted, i got them very last minute

(she wouldn't be home till late anyway)

but at the store they were still plenty,

and since the day was almost over...

they were discounted and cheap!

this morning, some of the petals looked wilted,

and were curling a bit...

i decided to pick a few of the petals off

and continue this valentines day love fest thing...

and ran myself a sweet little bath

of lavender essential oil, white tea bath fizz

and the aforementioned rose petals...

bliss!

pretty petals:

simple but luxurious...

ahhh~

sunday summarie v7

2010-02-14T17:25:00.000-08:00

a quick list of 5 things to summarize this weeks

inspirations/ findings & doings:

1. happy valentines day!

i love this holiday... i love the cards, candy, hearts and flowers...

balloons, streamers, cakes, hugs and kisses...

heart shaped lollipops:

i enjoy seeing kids exchange their valentine grams

and have big smiles on their faces:

prepping:

happy valentines day nick!

(from last year at the pink guerrillas fundraising event):

2. saturday 'art out'.

i had the chance to check out the following opening receptions:

giant robot: year of the tiger

i am you are book and blog release

the i am you are book and blog release party was held at

{open} bookstore,

which i fell in love with years ago (but haven't visited in awhile)

i wasn't too into the band that was performing,

but how great is this message?:

3. wacky/wishful.

i wasn't able to sample the food,

but i totally got a kick out of the front of the lomo arigato truck:

an "economical" luggage tag my aunt had tied to help her spot her luggage...

not sure its such a great idea

(the box is made of flimsy material and can rip easily

not to mention it wasn't reinforced at all)

but it's hilarious!

we're filipino, yes:

dandelions are great

(and sooo much fun to wish on and blow)

i found this little field of em at a friends house:

charming.

4. water.

i'd like to increase my water intake,

but sometimes, it's just hard to do.

my sister and i decided to flavor up our water,

with fresh fruit, cucumber or lemon

and it does help.

it's beautiful, and great looking to boot:

5. food (of course)... and FRIENDS :)

such a great combination.

this week, anne fixed sweet iced tea and chinese chicken salad

(it had the best dressing i've tasted... and i ate most of it!)

delicious and prepared with love:

and i got to go to dinner at macaroni grill

(a rare treat!)

with nick, my friends robin and cecilia,

and salve and albert, visiting from up north.

jump for joy

2010-02-10T12:54:00.000-08:00

i love how bunnies 'binky'

(jump & twist their heads)

to show joy and happiness

here's casey doing one:

sweeet!

workspace

2010-02-09T19:40:00.000-08:00

i wanted a creative & inspiring place

but i didn't have a ton of money to spend

(especially to furnish and decorate)

...

it took about 2 weeks of searching target and wal-mart

(for items that were on sale),

multiple trips to the dollar store,

a bit of haggling at big lots,

and caving into beautiful patterns at cost plus...

i got stuff at habitat for humanity's REstore

and a kid robot smily-faced stuffed donut @ UO

(that was on sale, but still overpriced, but oh, i love it!)

ta-dah!

i am happy with what i was able to put together (for relatively cheap)

an overview of the space:

left side love:

a closer shot,

with some of my favorites things~

max, misha's "hello venus" print, an h&m coin purse i adore...:

my marieposa inspiration line,

and a line of inspiration (by mahatma gandhi):

the right side,

where tokidoki and fresh flowers are a must:

i'm a bit lazy sometimes, so i picked out puffy chairs and pillows

cos i love to lounge:

and i really, really, love this:

*YES!*

sunday summarie v6

2010-02-08T10:17:00.000-08:00

(a day late) quick list of 5 things to summarize this weeks

inspirations/findings & doings:

1. morning walks.

when the weather is this beautiful, it's difficult for me to make it to the gym.

(er, it's difficult for me to go to the gym regardless! hah)

instead, i've been scoping out different parks to get my walk (or stroll) on.

i used to be okay doing laps around a track,

but it gets repetitive,

and i'm all for scenery/sensory

some photos i snapped during my walks:

not picturesque, but kinda cool.

fun to meet the dogs and cyclers who go by:

heartwell was interesting.

walked it alllll the way past lbcc.

i'm thinking if i want miss priss cupcakes, i'll park waaay far and walk for it:

another LB locale,

bluff park...

those steps kicked my ass:

2. mia maestro.

i'm can't stop raving about mia maestro...

her music makes me want to learn spanish and travel to argentina

(for real this time!)

3. patterns.

pretty, pretty.

my favorite rug (got it on sale! whoo):

bed/pad/floor thing:

4. habitat for humanity's REstore

i found this little storage case for $5 at habitat for humanity's REstore...

simply because i fell in love with the lining/pattern inside.

i mean, really~ what a nice surprise!

a close up:

5. popcorn party.

the sunday school kids had a popcorn party yesterday.

they munched on the buttery stuff and watched veggie tales.

not a bad way to start a sunday!

magic

2010-02-06T03:28:00.000-08:00

friday:

1hr + at the container store

(to me = a bore!)

my sister went around aisle after aisle...

while i pushed the cart

and snapped cameraphone pictures of random things,

this shot being the only one i actually liked:

color color color color!

we pit stopped equator for coffee and dessert,

not to mention time to dry off and get out of the rain...

i ordered a banana royale expresso,

which was decadent and delicious

(but had milk and cream in it...

believe you me, i paid* for being lactose intolerant...

sigh

all those things i wish i could enjoy...)

while at equator, i found out last minute that mia maestro was playing

at the hotel cafe, one of my favorite venues...

and the combination of hollywood + the rain + live music

was just waaay to hard to resist.

it was lovely.

she was lovely.

*then my stomach began to feel funny.

when i got home i puked and all that good stuff.

i fell asleep early and now i'm up.

i'm still dreaming about mia and her songs and her scenes with gael garcia bernal.

i'm wishing i could speak spanish and learn how to tango.

i'm missing my boyfriend.

i wish he was there.

i wish he was here.

i had a great friday night regardless (even with the puking).

i wish i could capture the magic.

i sound insane? it's 4am for reals.

playing catch-up

2010-02-05T10:11:00.000-08:00

it's been over a week and a half...

and i haven't yet established a routine.
i feel funny, confused, a little lost even.

the rain seems appropriate today.

dreary, but looking up.

some images from today~

reassurance looking at the window:

(the ice cream cone is actually a bubble wand,

i was blowing bubbles at 7 this morning, trying to cheer myself up)

the basil plant in the kitchen:

trying to cook with fresh ingredients... it makes a difference.

and from a trip to the library earlier this week:

ha!

(i've really only read thru the rabbit one)

oof.

i'm having a case of the shoulds!

i've been spending time watching tv too~

something i totally never ever do

... it makes me feel useless and b-l-a-h

sigh.

i justify this by watching the MAKE LIFE CREATIVE channel

oh, i feel weird!

but maybe it's because i'm changing?

likes

2010-02-03T15:18:00.000-08:00

current obsessions:

-crumpets!
-dark chocolate covered mini pretzels
-BUNNIES! (especially my casey hopscotch)
-walking walking walking
-dresses w/ jeans jackets and boots

sunday summarie v5

2010-01-31T20:17:00.000-08:00

a quick list of 5 things to summarize this weeks

inspirations/findings & doings:i had a weird/transitional week, so bear with me through this...

1. avenue q

i got to see avenue q yesterday at the cerritos performing arts center... it was a totally blast! :)

it was bust-a-gut-laughing type of humor from beginning to end!

thank you shirley for putting the whole thing together! <3

2. loralei's birthday celebration/ jlounge

i haven't hit the bars/clubs in quite sometime

(cos i'm totally awkward

and it's crazy hard hard to park the truck in LA anyway)

but this was artist/stylist/activist/superwoman loralei's celebration!

...there was no way i was going to miss this!

jlounge was a beautiful spot with great atmosphere,

it was the first time i've been...

crowd was different then the ones i'm use to...

everywhere i looked girls had overly done eye make-up and not much else on.

hiding a black eye?

or overcompensating with the eye make-up for....

what?!?

disappointing.

not sure why that bothered me so much,

but it did!

lack of originality bugs me.

i digress!

anyway,

i did enjoy myself (it was sooo nice to be out)

and the company i had:

excited to see some of these folks again next week!

3. heels.

i wore heels.

i don't even like to wear shoes, but i wore heels this week

(and survived)

so hell yeah!

sooo unlike me, it's #3

4. chinatown

i got to spend some time in chinatown last friday~

when i got there they were filming a scene for ncis los angeles.

they set up a fake farmers market

and the extras were all walking all about...

pretty cool to see directors chairs and cameramen

i watched everything while i ate at via cafe.

sweet afternoon.

5. retro row

i hit up retro row (4th street, long beach) for inspiration

and (mainly) schtuff for my room/studio (more on that tomorrow)

i didn't really end up with much

(arugh! the vintage stuff i wanted was STILL too pricey)

but i love that area just the same anyway:

sure, sure.

hah!

be

2010-01-28T23:35:00.001-08:00

casey

2010-01-28T07:43:00.000-08:00

meet my little bunny, casey:

totally sweet, right?

kinda reminds me of frank kozik's labbits...

especially the one with the mustache!

i love how are infiltrates all aspects of my life!

third day, third heart

2010-01-27T08:06:00.000-08:00

yesterday, i received a little note from a dear friend who i rarely ever see,

but who has inspired me so much with her passion, drive and positivity.

the card must have been mailed a few weeks or so ago,

but it made it into my hands just yesterday...

with perfect timing!

here is my 3rd heart (see post below if you're confused),

and it made me so happy :)

thank you, christina zabat-fran!

my word of the year is make~

and in the past few days i've made a few things:

-a mobile for my studio

-the start of an inspiration board

-collage wall decor

-an itty bitty floral arrangement thing:

(yes, follow your bliss)

i'm definitely going to have to share more...

but i just wanted to post something

because i'm sooo excited to be able to create and make again!

hi

2010-01-25T21:20:00.000-08:00

this is such an incredible, emotional time for me right now~

i wanted to post today to

thank you for all the love and support.

i've found that during the times i needed extra reassurance,

the universe, or God, or whomever you'd like to address

HAS provided.

all the way down to the smallest of things,

like sweet little messages to keep me going:

yesterday, instead of crying into my bowl of miso soup,

i looked down and found a heart-shaped bit of green onion,

floating in my spoon~

it was so ridiculous and it caught me off guard that i couldn't help but laugh it off.

i instantly felt better.

the bowl of warm soup made me feel better, too.

and today,

i was going back and forth in my mind,

replaying scenes and possible scenarios,

wrestling, and having a really hard time...

i decide to pick up some lunch,

and on the way there, this is what i find:

exactly what i needed at the time.

sunday summarie v4

2010-01-23T10:11:00.000-08:00

a quick list of 5 things to summarize this weeks
inspirations/findings & doings:

(i'm posting this early because tomorrow will be a very, very eventful day for me)

1. rain.
it rained for 5 days straight here in southern cali.
we're not used to that!
there were thunderstorms, power outages, and flooding...
(at one point, our street looked like a shallow river)
there was even a 'tornado' watch in the o.c.!

my child sized umbrella (i bought it because i LOVED the print) was insufficient
and the sound of thunder booming had me scuttling around in circles
(seriously, i didn't know what to do. my body was like~ just move!)
but i loved it.

on the first day it rained,
i remembered playing heads up 7up
inside the classroom on a rainy day.
inspired by the idea that being inside could actually equal some fun,
i bought a beautiful, brightly colored puzzle that i can't wait to bust out for the next rainy day:

and after a few days of this rain and excitement, it did sort of wear out its welcome.
pea sized bits of hail pin-balled off the hood of my truck,
water spray dangerously covered my windshield,
the sun would show up and i'd dart out and get some lunch,
but by the time i was done
it was pouring hard again...

i got soaked really hard once, miserable in my wet denim jacket (duh)~
when i made my way to the car,
i noticed the flowers soaking and shivering too:

so i didn't feel so alone in this
and for some strange reason, that made me smile...
and upon reaching the parking lot,
this did too:

it says "salad only" on the door to the gas tank!
great, huh?

things like that are so much fun to discover and laugh about on a gloomy, gray day!

2. my cat hat beenie from college.
at venice beach last week i craved buying one of those 'animal' hats
you know, the one that has a bear or dog or kitty's face and flaps that cover your ears...
there was this leopard one that i really really had my eye on,
but i kept telling myself that it was unnecessary and i didn't have the cash for it anyway
so i sadly hung it back up on the rack and walked away.

that was on saturday.
come monday, it was raining all fierce and i was wishing sooo bad for that furry thing!
bummer!
i thought about trying the nearest swapmeet looking for something similar,
but i never made it.

thankfully, while rearranging my room this week,
i came across beenie that i've had since my college days, but that i had misplaced...
SCORE!
it made me sooo happy to be reunited with that thing again.
it's white and has little ears
(my 5 year old cousin was like~ "those are bear ears, not cat ears"...
then how do you explain the "meow" written in pink across the forehead part, little one?)
and i adore it.

see here:

sweet, yes?

p.s. this taking a photo in the car thing started out as a joke... but i'm kinda liking it!

3. postcards.
early this week I GOT POSTCARDS FROM INDIA!
i could barely contain my excitement... i wanted to facebook and tweet and post...
but i wanted to save it for here.
finally.
THANK YOU NIDHI! i love love love:

i used to be part of a postcard exchange,
and whenever a friend goes abroad i ask them if they could kindly send a postcard...
(i suppose i live vicariously?)
but i've never gotten one from india before so i got all giddy.
i did a dance infront of the p.o. box when i picked it up.
simple pleasures :)

and at the bookstore, i couldn't resist the charm of these postcards for sale:

the one on the left i am just gaga for (patterns!)
and how could you NOT fall for the one on the right?
(it's a good week for) elephants and bows! eee!

the latter i put on the back cover of my new notebook,
which is, by the way... number 4 for today...

4. new notebook!
i don't have a problem with shopping for shoes.
or jewelry.
or purses (anymore).
i do have a bit of a problem with notebooks, journals and diaries.
i carry them around frequently because i like to jot things down, collage and plan stuff out.
(i'm a list maker!)
i was perfectly fine with my little red one from mitsua, untill i saw this one at borders:

of course i had to personalize it (and i'm not done with that just yet)
but even before putting my unique stamp on it,
i was swooning over~
the colors!
the retro!

oh my!

:)

5. pad thai.
i've eaten it twice this week.
i mean~ i've had good sushi this week too, but it's all about pad thai.
it's my favorite food (well, veggie pad thai done right).
i gobbled some at pick up stix.
i've never eaten there before, but i'll come back for the pad thai.
warm and with lemon.

and that sums it up!

have a great week, and enjoy the rest of you weekend, kids.

ch-ch-changes soon~

i can't help it

2010-01-19T10:46:00.001-08:00

i loves it!

through the viewfinder

2010-01-18T23:01:00.000-08:00

faking the ttv look
with photoshop

fun!

how we do

2010-01-17T19:56:00.001-08:00

ever wonder what goes on during a photo shoot?
here are some outtakes from the latest bella maven one:

shoesies!
(models own)

make-up
(and hello kitty stickers for good measure)

molly getting her hair did :)

putting together/ laying out various outfits

styling inbetween takes

the bella maven mascot of the day

testing the lighting

composing the shots
(practicing to get it just right)

jamming out, telling jokes & stories...
learning more about our fabulous model, molly

molly and me.
i'm a slob!
(how~ and when did that happen?!
all i know is that i taught a chaotic sunday school class this morning
and i'm wearing my boyfriends shirt...
note to self: make more of an effort!)

hugs and thank yous!

sunday summarie v3

2010-01-16T21:34:00.000-08:00

a quick list of 5 things to summarize this weeks
inspirations/findings & doings:

1. photoLA 2010
this year's event was much smaller then the photoLA's of the past,
but it was still a great gathering and turnout.
plenty of photos to salivate over:

i snapped some photos with my cameraphone...
they're not the greatest, but my blackberry is definitely a good stand-by.
thats me in the pic :)

2. a saturday out:
in addition to photoLA, we were able to hit up
the sidewalk cafe in venice beach, the santa monica airport,
and the santiago street lofts artwalk in santa ana.
(this was a rare opportunity, since nick usually works on the weekends)

3. the sky
i've been taking plenty of walks lately, and have started to notice things like
the trees, leaves and the sky.

i'll notice how they'll shift or change
after my next lap, or day after day

4. food.
food is always good.
this week started off with an iced horchata expresso and chocolate croissant
from cafe de leche in highland park

but my best meal came home cooked from my sisters kitchen,
salmon and cous cous! Mmmm

5. photo shoots!
i took a short hiatus from doing photo shoots
(read: recovery from my head and hand's photography project)
but now i'm back and loving every minute of it.
i'm not exactly in full-force just yet, but i'm getting there~
with the help of my super amazing model/friends:

abby:

nicole:

michelle:

and this ends summarie v3...
see you next sunday
(but hopefully before then)

take care,
{m}
see you next sunday

back in the swing of things

2010-01-14T21:53:00.001-08:00

feels good to be doing photoshoots again!

here's a preview of the beautiful miss abby, for bella maven:

thursday

2010-01-14T12:36:00.000-08:00

i've been feeling a little topsy-turvy these past few days...
not sleeping very well,
feeling out of whack,
getting confused on dates...

i feel sorta like this picture i took of myself last sunday:

trippy.
(by the way, i took the photo with my blackberry, it's shot from the rearview mirror, so the photo got my phone, my reflection, and my face it the mirror... pretty cool, huh? the composition was there, totally unaltered. i just played with the colors and brightness with a photo editing software)

and yesterday, i had a girls day with shirley,
getting manicures, doing lunch, and grabbing ice cream...
but with all sorts of psychedelic coloring:

no drugs though, i assure you.
i've never been into that.

just feeling very...
i don't know.

just a ton on things.
not matching, not exactly fitting.

last night, frustrated with this, i picked up max and picked him as my mascot

he'll help me get through this little funk, yes?

karen o and the kids playing on the ipod now...

tuesday

2010-01-12T14:07:00.000-08:00

came too early.
obviously, i wasn't prepared:

...at least i'm rocking a beatrock shirt!
no makeup, ghetto fab (not really).
sigh.

michelle looked lovely though~
her skin was a glow!

i hearts her!

HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY, GIRL!

sunday summarie v2

2010-01-09T23:06:00.000-08:00

a quick list of 5 things to summarize this weeks
inspirations/findings & doings:

1. first art date of the year:
instant gratification: los angeles
& art and scars
nick bean checking out the hot chick, i mean, airplane.

2. say hello to my little friend, the diana mini:
she's small and super sweet
(mine has a pink bow sticker in the left-hand corner)
here's a sample of some photos i've taken with her:

from my day in long beach
(1st roll, not a bad start...
i'm still learning to shoot, and love, the inconsistencies)

3. i also fell in love with her big sister, the diana f+ hong meow and instant back:

4. which i took with me to descanso gardens in la canada, ca
where i wandered through the camellia forest and
shot the following dreamy, double exposure instant photos:

5. dining out... it's a little luxury for me.
here's what my camera phone caught:

way to go week!
can't wait for next...

CROUCHING tiger, not so hidden marie

2010-01-05T21:23:00.000-08:00

just for fun:

photo from molly's cam

photo by nick bean

post 51

2010-01-04T18:31:00.000-08:00

make : goals

2010-01-04T08:28:00.000-08:00

woke up to fiery orange and blue skies~
h-e-l-l-o monday!

first 'work week' of the new year
...seems to have come up on us fast.

anyway, it feels like i can finally get the go-ahead to officially start the new year~
because last weekend felt sort of like practice (or play),
me being sick and taking not much seriously at all.

i'm in better spirits today, so, begin!

first order of business, i thought, would be to make goals/ resolutions.
i'm not a huge resolution person, but i like the idea of a new start/challenge.
and i get overwhelmed pretty quickly, so i thought i'd break my resolutions down
from yearly to monthly to weekly (even daily, if needbe).

this weeks goal is:

eat oatmeal in the morning
[source]

and drink green tea more often
simple and
done~ at least for today.

i feel accomplished! haha.
(but i've got errands; a million things still to do today~ go to the bank, get an oil change...
what i really want is to go to the zoo/park today!)

have a great monday~

sunday summarie v1

2010-01-03T17:32:00.000-08:00

a quick list of 5 things to summarize this weeks inspirations/findings & doings:

1. ringing in the new year: 2010...
and almost missing the stroke of midnight watching the hangover ... and not minding it at all

2. finding a new fragrance: lollia's relax, which is a blend of:
lavender, white orchid, tahitian vanilla, bee blossom honey and indian amber.
feels perfect for everyday. i like how the scent wears well on my skin.

3. scrapbooking.
i finally have a good reason to get a fresh start on an old hobby again.
i'm a little rusty, but here's the cover to this years book:
hey~ it's a start! can't wait for it to fill up and grow.
make, make!

4. pass it on/ pay it forward.
i picked up these sweet cards at mimio pasadena.
they're these tiny cards that fit in the palm of your hand.
you can give them out at will...and at random.
they're made by yee-haw industries and can be used as a thank you or to brighten up someones day.

5. i'm smitten by this birdie coin purse that shirley gifted to me, from anthropologie.
inside, she put in a pack of quarters... to feed the meters in LA.
definitely came in handy!
thank you!

and that sums up my first sunday summarie for the year~
check back next week for version 2, sooner to read more random blogs from me
(still testing/figuring this out here)

besos n blesses,
{m}

ain't wasting no time

2010-01-02T15:06:00.000-08:00

ready...
set...
artsee 2010!

japanese american national museum for the giant robot biennale 2 today...
i was able to snap a few instax mini pics
(i asked the gallery attendant multiple times if i could take photos with flash...
cos i didn't believe him the first time he assured me it was ok...)

oh that david choe~

he is crazy amazing!
his work is raw, yet street, but organic
a-n-d
vulgar!

i am both super intrigued
and disgusted by him

but definitely glad that i got to see his art up close!
(even if up close meant going eye to, uh, eye with an asshole~ literally.
i didn't take a photo of that)

inspiring, nonetheless.

i enjoyed the albert reyes installation, kozyndan piece, and the deth p. sun wall too!

...

next up~

photoLA

sooo excited!

breakfast is served

2010-01-02T11:54:00.000-08:00

make: BREAKFAST

breakfast for my sister and i~

crepes, crumpets, and tea sandwiches.

okay, i didn't make the crepes (they were from the farmers market)

but i did fix everything else. it's a start, yes?

tonight i will attempt to make dinner.

what will you make today?

new year sniffles

2010-01-01T22:04:00.000-08:00

missed out on the annual rose parade this year,
and though i miss seeing the floats and smiling folks,
i'm sort of glad that i wasn't able to attend~

i mean, i spent the whole day at home, in bed,
but it was nice to really get in some rest.
being sick makes me really appreciate when i am in good health,
and though i wanted sooo badly to go out and get stuff done,
this cold forced me to stop, slow down, and take it easy.

my day consisted of not much more than this:

a monogrammed mug from anthropologie,
a darling christmas gift from my dear friend, michelle:

and harney and sons green tea with coconut, ginger and vanilla...
i had some the other day while at a barnes and nobles, chatting it up with jane, and fell in love with this flavor.

simple pleasures.

palabra

2010-01-01T11:52:00.000-08:00

del ano~

i like the idea of having a theme/word to explore throughout the year....
something to keep me focused and keep me coming back.

the word i am choosing for 2010 is: as in:

make time
make space
make art
make scrapbooks
make blog entries
make cookies
make tea
make out
make music
make it happen ...

2009/2010

2010-01-01T00:31:00.000-08:00

12 grapes at the stroke of midnight,
iglorious basterds and the hangover back to back,
an orchid and pink and white oriental lilies,
some good things transitioning into 2010

wishing you

2009-12-31T18:32:00.000-08:00

hugs & kisses & a great start to your new year!

(from breakfast this morning @ starling diner in long beach with my best friend)

into the light

2009-12-31T08:56:00.000-08:00

just a reminder*

ALL you need is: (i spelled it out in instant photos over my bed)

happy 2010!

love

2009-12-27T17:01:00.000-08:00

nick got me a bunch of tea lights for christmas;
in cherry blossom, peony, and vanilla scents.
at first, i wasn't quite sure what to do with them,
but i've been obsessed with hearts all day today
so, go figure~

sending you love and warmth this sunday,
marie

just too good!

2009-12-27T10:38:00.001-08:00

i LOVE LOVE LOVE her!

queen of hearts

2009-12-27T10:07:00.000-08:00

no sunday school this morning (winter break)
so i the kid and i spent the morning together and walked to the park.
on our way there we stomped through fallen leaves,
practiced counting to 100~
me counting off on odd numbers, her even, then switching it again and again,
and stopping every now and then to look at pretty flowers.
i was able to snap a quick camera phone pic,
before she spotted the playground and made a mad dash for the swingset.
here she is, holding a singular hello kitty glove.

spent the rest of my sunday morning
drinking orange pekoke tea,
listening to Queen
(i'm loving "you're my best friend"...
i've been playing it again and again!)
and dreaming about making photo/art/decorations like this:

details

2009-12-26T11:02:00.000-08:00

friday i'm in love

2009-12-18T10:39:00.000-08:00

monday you can fall apart
tuesday, wednesday break my heart
thursday doesn't even start
it's friday i'm in love

1. nick bean <3

2. bella maven's marie bag

3. karen o

4. hangings

5. graf, like this

some days

2009-12-17T14:09:00.001-08:00

need a little bit of extra help making it through.

today that extra help came in the form of:

*sunshine coming thru the blinds, casting pretty shadows
*sips of ginger peach green tea
*morning star farms chik'n nuggets
*a new colour-coded notebook/ journal
*a tuberose and gardenia scented soy candle
*art orders coming my way
&

an old skool polariod found the other day in the storage room (still dusty!)...
i can't wait to order film and photograph something fun!

oh, and hello kitty panda. she just made my day.

happy holidays!

2009-12-16T15:35:00.000-08:00

red

2009-12-14T22:55:00.001-08:00

whats up?

2009-12-02T22:54:00.001-08:00

howdy...
did everyone survive thanksgiving ok?
food, family... washrinserepeat?
me too.

i feel like (almost exactly a week later) i've just started to recover...
and of course, christmas is right around the corner!

normally, i cringe at this time.
but this year, i'm feeling the spirit :)

earlier this week i sabotaged my sisters cute little christmas tree
and decorated it my own little craft-thingy and hello kitty.
(all this while she went shopping for xmas decor and accessories)

she, of course, took my stuff down, explaining that she was looking for something more 'classy', which was totally fine.

i'm glad i got a snapshot of my little interpretation though!

i freak out at the crowds at the stores during the shopping season, so i bought all my christmas items at last years after christmas sale...

all i had to do was bust them out and get to adding small touches that i thought would be fun.

l'm so not into that cheesy photo greeting card everyone sends around, though i think it's a good idea... i just prefer to make something customizeable, but also have each piece be individual and unique.

anyway, i'm not giving out gifts this year, so i thought i'd spend a little more time and effort with the cards.

it want it to be that way in everything that i do.

*

more to come!

hey baby

2009-12-02T22:31:00.001-08:00

happy 1 month baby jasmine! <3 you!

thanks!

2009-11-27T18:07:00.000-08:00

super greatful that i was able to do a photo shoot with these two:FUN!

k

blessed

2009-11-25T00:16:00.000-08:00

love:
light:

my computer (and i) had a bit of a meltdown this morning.
life is still beautiful, you know.

i'm hanging in there.

exciting news coming soon...

nature

2009-11-17T21:01:00.000-08:00

cameraphone cute

2009-11-16T07:04:00.001-08:00

here's to starting your week off sweetly...

pb&j cupcake, miss priss cupcakes, long beach, ca

hello kitty mushroom & swiss sandwiches, royal/t, culver city, ca

pit stop

2009-11-12T21:08:00.000-08:00

so many things going on,
so little time to blog about it.

i'm running around doing things, but mostly it feels like i'm just day dreaming: