2011 in review

In a brief looking back of my 2011, I discovered that it was quite boring.  A simmering year I suppose.  At first I was really bothered that this year didn’t seem to hold any standout moments, but then after some more thought, I realized, it’s a lot like a pot of soup.. Just because you don’t see the boiling bubbles, doesn’t mean the fire isn’t on underneath.  AND, our minds do a funny thing… it forgets.. So here it is, a quick photo recap of 2011 –

I started the year with the welcoming of beautiful baby Nhi Tien Nguyen Vasquez which led me to Honolulu, HI.

But it was also the location where I left my wedding rings to be stolen.  Yes.  I took my rings off in the restroom to wash my hands, then in a distraction, left them there.  When I returned, they were gone.  And so I did what I normally do after a traumatic experience.. I got a tattoo.

But what I DO love about that trip was the opportunity to continue growing my friendship with my dear friend Yen.  Her and I have “officially” been friends since college (now over 10 years), but believe it or not, we have crossed paths since 5th grade.  I look forward to this year as she and her husband move to TEXAS, and we can continue to deepen and widen our friendship as our lives and families grow.

This year was also big in my side job of styling.  After years of retail, styling clients and friends a like, a blessing came into my life — and opportunity to style a new celebrity for a red carpet event!  I have now styled her for several events and updated her wardrobe twice.  Not only is she a client, she is a dear and patient friend.  One of the most open people I know who has not only allowed me to grow my business, but also given me the grace to develop my character.  In my work she has allowed me to explore areas of my personality and helped me process through them like no client should.  With her, I have laughed a lot.. my time laughing with her is probably tied for first with Erika.

Working with Miss Thunderbolt has allowed me to start working as stylist on fashion shoots.  It’s very exciting and fun.  However, it’s a lot of WORK! AHHAHA.

And of course, I have to mention how far Kira has come in the work I’ve done with her for, I dunno, 3 years now?  From this:

Girl on right

To this!!

WOWZA!

Just saying.  I thought it deserved an honorable mention.

This year, I’ve really enjoyed my coffee dates with Erika.

My.. how far we have come.  I remember years ago liking her and having  no idea why she disliked me so.. it took a tragedy, but beautifully from the wreckage, we pulled out a friendship that I value so so much.  I look forward to our continued journey as it ebbs, flows, and changes.  She has been a wonderful cheerleader and a source of encouragement this year.  Of course, I enjoy our cracked out moments too — that’s where the tears of laughter come — but moreso, her continued efforts to not only maintain and grow our friendship.  We forget how much work friendship takes, but with her, it’s become very effortless.

This year was also the year at MOCA downtown LA.  It was the “art in the streets” exhibit.  By far our favorite.  We went at least 4 times.

This year we also started a pre-summer cabin trip.  I felt like Jason deserved it.  He works so hard, and right at the end of the school year, he is just spent, so I thought, what better than to recoup that energy in the wild with friends!  We had SO much fun!  I hope to do it again this year!

What else happened this year?  OH YES!  I chopped my hair off.  That was fun.  Now I am just trying to grow it out.

We started house hunting.

I started editing and producing more my video blogs in a fun way!

The babies, my big sis and brother-in-law had a layover in LA for a few hours.. so it was great to see them.

It was the summer of the last Harry Potter

Speaking of, I read a lot this year.  I read all 7 of the Harry Potter books and all 3 of the Hunger Games books.

We spent more time with the Bugays and Johnsons.  I am so happy to have them in our lives.. we can be vulnerable and honest in many ways most people aren’t.  It allows us to gauge our marriage and really have support as we journey through it.

Actually, I have become much closer to Sarah.  Back 3.5 years ago, we were just knew of each other through Mosaic functions.  Today, she is a dear friend and I hope we can continue to invest as our lives deepen.

OH!  Jason and I went to Seattle with Helen (my baby sis) and her husband Jesse to celebrate my mom’s 60th birthday.  It is Chinese tradition that the children throw a lavished dinner party for the 60th birthday.  But mom decided that she would just like us to come visit her.. and give her money towards her trip to Europe.  Go ahead mom.

August was a fun month cuz Jason doesn’t work.  It’s also an expensive month because that’s when we travel and do all those things because he is off work.  LOL.

We continue to go to the beach – still one of my favorite things to do:

Celebrated my 31st bday

And still do things like this — albeit even if it means ripping my pants.  LOL!

Drink boba as big as our face:

Go to disneyland

Make new friends

Keep old ones:

And keep up with the ones we miss:

We continue our search for our white tiger home:

 Exercise:

and continue making memories with the ones we love.

Happy new year!

AND REMEMBER:

 

Insomnia inspired… VLOG LOG #18

In the middle of the night between 2am-4am.. this is what I do. LOL. No makeup.. no product in hair.. get ready. HAHA!

 

What do you do when you can’t sleep?

 

Vlog Log #16

Finally!  This week’s vlog log has been created.. it was a labor of love since last week was a little tough, but I wanted to put something out that was both entertaining and uplifting..ish..

 

 

ENJOY!

 

[birthday wish list living vicariously through]… TNF.WSP.BAM!

I’m not as noble as the rest of my friends who gave their birthdays away to Charity Water… being that I gave my hair away this year already to Locks of Love.. I figured, for my birthday… this poor girl can make an imaginary wish list and dream of things she wants for herself can’t she?  And since it’s been a while since my last style blog.. I thought.. why not turn this dreamy entry into one?

2011 Fall/Winter — a few items to get my wardrobe started…

(I’m not soliciting (maybe a little), but not really.. I’m just taking advantage of this online space.. afterall, this is my blog.. where I get to write whatever I want!  So I figure, if I write down my list.. maybe I can get it off my mind:)

1)  A pair of skinny leg boyfriend fit jeans (cropped ok too – med to dark wash) — and if that looks funny on me, I’m ok with a cigarette pant too..

(not these shoes)

2) A pair of baby boot jeans (light to med wash)

3) lace up wedge heels/boots/platfrom (closed toe) for example:

Would also need something in black:

4) New boots.. I would love a tall black one.. one that comes up right below my knee… yea.. we’ll see how that search goes.. good boots with the right length and fit are always a hard find.

5) These TOMs:

6)  Stuff like this (yes including the shoes) – maybe even leather pieces… I know.. leather t-shirt.. If the cow doesn’t mind, I’d love one, thanks:

7)  A pair of leather pants… maybe even with a cut out architectural shape to it (color blocked – black with navy?  That’d be cute. The one shown is a cigarette pant – in case y’all was wondering):

mmmm.. YES!

8 )  Maybe a couple sweaters (nothing too bulky in case I want to wear a long sleeved blazer jacket over it.)

(Flowy skirts like these too.. especially in LA.  I can always wear legging with them.)

9)  A black maxi I can throw those sweaters over on days I don’t feel like getting dressed:

9)  …and THIS tiara:

HEY!  It’s my birthday!  I gotta’ have some bling!

10) OH.. speaking of bling!! I totally forgot!! I NEED one of THESE!!! And I want it bedazzled!!

BEDAZZLED!! I NEED IT BEDAZZLED!!!

11)  Topped off with some cool accessories.. belts, leggings, leather wrap glove worn on only one hand…

TA-DAHH!!! I feel happier now!  YAY!  Remember, this season, we’re bringing it back a size.. so no more off the shoulder type tops.. a little more form fitted.. but loose enough for comfort.  Blazer lengths should hit ya mid way on the hip or just barely covering your booty.  Have fun mixing, matching and layering!!

There’s your TNF.WSP.BAM!  

(Which stands for “Thursday’s the new Friday, weekly style post, BAM!”.. um… not so weekly.. hahaha!)

 

If home is where the heart is…

…then those of us who love to travel should be more touristy at heart… at home!  :)  Jason and I have been making more of an effort to escapade around our city as if we are just here to visit and I have to tell you, not only has it given us more memories together and provided quality time in the process, but it has been superbly fun!

I noticed that we only start to care about our city when we’re leaving it, or have left it for awhile.  For example:  I just recently went home to visit Seattle and seriously.. WOW have I been missing out on some gems in the city simply because it was my “home” and I didn’t see a “need” to explore.  This time back, I googled top 10 places to visit and jotted them down (picking only 2 to see)… then agreed to see a park that promised a skyline view like I’ve never seen before  (I can’t believe I’ve never been to Kerry Park after all this time!!)… and then, my sister, brother-in-law, and mom checked out the Underground tour in Seattle… it gave us really cool history on not just what used to be pioneer square, but how Seattle came to be.  What the first settlers did.. how the toilet got the name “crapper”.  It’s such a shame.. how many memories and experiences were lost simply because I didn’t live life with a sense of urgency to experience all the good that this city offered.

So upon returning to LA, I’ve made a few more efforts to yelp new eats in a current location that I happen to be at.  Drive around the long way home and see what I discover.  Look up touristy (and local) things to do.. and go do them.  For example today, my husband and I went to see the Watts Towers.  I think a lot of residents stay clear from that area because it’s not known to be that safe of a neighborhood.. but we went right before sunset.. and the towers were incredible.  It reminded me of Gaudi’s work in Barcelona, Spain.. and who would have thought that in my own city I could have an experience reminiscent of one I had in another country?

So this blog is to encourage you to utilize the technology we’ve been given to research and find a few different things to experience in your city at least once a month with friends.  Not only will you become a better guide for when friends come to visit, but you will have the time of your life experiencing it all.

Happy travels!!

 

Blame shifting, false humility, & closed hearts

It’s an interesting story…

So, I’ve been working at the same restaurant for over a year now.  In short, I wanted better sections (as all servers do), and after 9-10 months of working silently in hopes that my hard work and effort would be seen, I continued to be repeatedly placed at the bottom of the charts as other people hired after me were placed in better sections.  Of course there are the usual office politics and boss favorites to put into play (not to mention that some of them really are just better servers than I), but none of these were really in my favor unfortunately – or I wouldn’t have had this experience to be writing about now.. haha.

One day I decided to have a sit down with the head boss and in false humility ask what I may be missing that would help me get into better sections.  What happened next.. shocked me.  My boss then listed all the areas I needed improvement in as well as the things I still did that showed I wasn’t respecting their system as well as performing according the the company’s specification.

I got defensive.

Because in MY eyes, I wasn’t entirely doing what he was accusing me of.  I had an explanation for each example.  I justified why I was in the right and secretly seethed that my authority really didn’t know.  I had a list of names of co-workers that were doing the same thing or worse.. and quite honestly.. a lot of those are forgivable and understandable.  Even now, I could re-tell that story to anyone and have them be on my side in saying that I was wronged and it was them.  Because, in part, it was.. but in larger part.. it was me.

I approached my general manager and asked him what I was missing/needed improvement in without actually having the heart to receive  what he had to say.  You know why?  That wasn’t on my agenda.  My agenda was to manipulate the situation so that he would see that it was unjust where I was being placed in the restaurant and that I did indeed deserve a better section…. and why all that trouble?  Why did I have that false humility of “wanting to learn or understand”, when the truth was that I wanted a better section and felt I deserved it?  I should have just asked, would you be willing to put me in a better section?  Not, “hey.. I’ve noticed that I’m being placed at the bottom frequently, are there things that I’m missing that can help me perform better?  Please tell me.”  Of course the 2nd sentence sounds better.. but that wasn’t my heart’s intent and really. I didn’t care, and didn’t want to know.  My goal was just to get what I felt I deserved and wanted. <– all justified too btw.

At the end of the day, I felt unheard, undervalued, misunderstood and stupid.  But you know what?  It was never him.  It was me.  My intent wasn’t to learn or receive.. it was to be heard.  But I didn’t want to look like I was trying to be heard, so I approached in a falsely humble way… and when it didn’t turn out the way I had planned in my head.. I blamed him and the company. It’s funny how the truth has a way of revealing itself — and how ugly that truth can look.. and how it hides in our justifications and emotions.  No wonder so many people can get away with rarely facing it.  My friend Rickey said it best, “we love freedom, but refuse to accept the truth.”

All this to say — I am now in a much better section — because when I finally got over myself, I started doing more of what he suggested, made a point to be a better listener with true humility (with the intent to learn and change.. not put myself in the place of being right), and no, he wasn’t all right in everything he said.. but that’s not the focus.  The focus is my heart started in the wrong place.  My humility was a lie.  The blame is on me.

And today.. this story has never been more important.  Because right now, in the moment — I am so glad and blessed that the Lord granted me eyes to see this way.  And no, it didn’t happen right away, or that same day.. but I am so so so grateful that God has allowed me this vision outside of myself… because one day.. I truly WILL be able to step into more situations with open heart, true humility and complete confidence in accepting ownership of all that is my responsibility.

“Know the truth, receive it, embrace it and it will set you free… it will not be hard to stand in truth if we’ve been living in it in our life.”  ~Rickey Williams

 

Vlog Log #14

I went ape*beep* crazy this weekend and watched a movie EVERY DAY since Friday!  I don’t know what caused the splurge, but I decided I would use my purchases as research and content for my… dun dun dun… VIDEO BLOG!  I really had a great time making this one.. I hope you enjoy it!

Seen any good movies lately?

 

Vlog log #12b

Having a little fun on this disconjointed collaboration: Briefly continuing a previous political science 101 conversation from vlog log #11… and noting art form spoken word.

And yes…. disconjointed is a word… it’s in the urban dictionary.

ENJOY!

 

Vlog log #12a

I think we forget how much we can give.. not just of our time, but maybe little things we take for granted…

 

Whether it be running for a good cause (because you have two legs and have the capacity to walk/run).. or you have arms that can carry a hammer or help raise a wall (to build a house for someone who doesn’t have one).  To take time to listen to a homeless person’s story and maybe buy them a sandwich.

Whatever you do, make a goal to do something humanitarian!  We can start small.  How about once a year?

Together!  Let’s do amazing things!!

 

Vlog log #11

A conversation I find myself having often… with myself … and strangers….

ENJOY!