"Thanks?" : The PSA.

I'm just gonna leave this here, with the hopes that if you have any questions about why this isn't okay, you'll ask someone to explain it to you.

Also, word of the day: Inept.


We're halfway there, guys. Happy Wednesday ♥

xo | cms

Woo!

And no, I'm not referencing the Myers-Briggs test result, but one of these days I'll get on here and share those with everyone.. haha. Today was just.. just a good day to be thankful for everything in it - the good, the frustrating, the delicious and whatever else came along with it. 

For starters, there was this guy: 

yes. 

^ I love that guy. I don't know his story, but if I'd had the chance to snag him before we parted ways in the parking lot, I would have asked. It's a small gesture to put a sign in your window, but he was shameless about it, and for that I applaud him. Plus, it's true, and I need to be reminded of that sometimes, even on good days.

I got hit with the desire to eat teriyaki for dinner, so that's what I did, and if Rob was in fact being honest, then he thought the same :). It's not a hard recipe, so if any of ya'll want it, let me know!

teriyaki chicken rice bowl! 

The evening was nothing spectacular, but we did have a contest between the dogs, of who could jump higher, hang on the longest and scrabble the quickest after a thrown toy. Sasha unsurprisingly has the greater amount of physical range, but man oh man, watch out for Stella's pearly whites if you're wild enough to stick your hand in the middle of a toy battle.

go go pups! 

Aaaaaand.... the highlight of Rob's week when it comes to the house: LOOK what is finally fitting in the garage! Please excuse the clutter around the car; that won't always be there, but I am so proud of him for his dedicated work in clearing out the space and all of the shelf-building he's done to make space for our cars! One down, one to go getting in here..

thanks, babe!

The countdown's on.. just a few more days and then it's a 3-day weekend, with good friends, boats & plenty of lake to go around. I. Can't. Wait. 

xo | cmd

To Chop or Not to Chop?!

Oh, hello...  

july 2013

Dilemma: I've been at war with myself for the past two months [at least] now, over whether or not to make the leap of cutting my hair. Honestly, I've never had this much trepidation over having short hair.. and I had to stop and wonder why that was...

Oh yeah, that's right. Two things!
1] The last time, I donated 13 inches of my hair. I shattered my collarbone into 10 pieces the following weekend and had to deal with the task of managing short hair.. with one arm.
& 2] When I did donate it then, I went to one of Cincinnati's best-known salons and came out with a bob that looked more like the shoulder-length-with-bangs do I had when I was 7. Not quite the edge I was hoping for... yeesh.

yeeeeup. short hair + newly-installed metal plate + 10 screws. awe-some. >:|

MMkay, bad timing. Since then, I've been overly-cautious about losing massive lengths at one time, which is an absolutely stupid thing to fear, I know.

That being said, the collarbone incident was over three years ago now, so I think I'm finally in the market for a new haircut.. and if I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna do it.

Thanks to the input from a few folks, here are some of the top contender styles [as of now.. I'm fickle, so for all I know, next week I'll be shopping for extensions. Who. Knows.].  Anyway... here:

For a much shorter, slightly conservative look:

If I'm thinking more bob-ish, but not too drastic [& the gal on the left has texture very similar to mine, if not a little straighter, naturally].. I almost picture the straightened version of the left picture as something like that on the right [two different people]:

Slightly more daring, I can't deny considering singer Kina Grannis.. because I love her, with long or short hair. She also has hair texture not unlike mine if I don't touch it with a straightener or a dryer...:  

Of course if I was really feeling like going polar opposites, I could always do one of those and throw in an undercut [not undershaved, sorry] side, just for kicks [something I could still conceal, if need be] .. Of course, this fascination could also be that I just think Rosario Dawson is classically-gorgeous, as well. Who knows:

Lastly, I'm looking to my cousin for some encouragement; she just chopped her hair a few weeks back and while she.. looks... stunning in that particular cut, my hair would never agree with that so I'll be adding my own twist, of course. It is inspiring, motivating and encouraging though. Haha.

my too-beautiful cousin & her new do

*Sigh. I still wish I didn't feel so apprehensive about it, but I now know a few gals who I'd actually trust to the task and so that will be where I start, if I'm brave enough. The issues I have with my Spanipino [dad was Spanish {Madrid!} & Mom was Filipino {Cebuana}]

First world problems, I know.
#spanipinoproblems, more like it.

For now, I'm taking this to the streets of facebook; We'll see if I can find some solid advice from any of my friends who do this, yenno, for a living. (:

xo | cmd

Killer Yardwork & Asian Volleyball

First things first, let's talk about yardwork.
... Let's talk about that time I completely forgot I had a backyard in the capacity of the jungle that had taken it over. I haven't bothered going back there in quite a few weeks due to the massive camps of mosquitos who I'm convinced are just patiently staking out until I'm in striking range, so honestly, it didn't occur to me that the yard might look more like a forest than an occupied property. Embarrassing blunder.. definitely won't happen again.

Good news, I took care of it, with minimal damage [only TWO mosquito bites.. take that, suckers..]. Note to self? - This sucked today. Don't forget about this again, self, don't... forget. Yeesh. 

massive overhaul. whoa.

Moving on to the rest of the night... it has been.... a while since the last time I was surrounded by this many of my Asian friends. Let's take a second to give a flashback just for the sake of a flashback...

uc dpsa 2004 (discover philippines student association)

Ohhhh yeah. That's a bomb right there, haha. Look at all those old faces.. and that's barely the half of it. There were definitely some great times with these guys and gals, and though I'm happy where I am now, I had some incredible experiences, road trips, conferences and performances with this group.

So tonight, for a miniature reprise, I opted in for some volleyball at Hahana Beach after B found out I played there. He and a crew of Asians catapulted me back in time to my college years when we stormed three full courts for a few hours tonight to play.

nothin' like late night sand volleyball (:

This was my favorite part... because I've become so used to now taking pictures and having no way of mistaking which one is me. I'd also like to say that yes, the obsession with taking pictures is absolutely an Asian thing, and I will embrace that to the bitter end ;)

asian overload!

Hilarious. Thanks again, B, for the invite! I'll be back here in the same spot tomorrow night for league with Kalyn, Keifer & Beth. I'm certainly getting my fix if nothing else!

On an unrelated note, I finally made it home after some debachle finding my keys post-game [it could be worse... I'm just glad I got back], and for what it's worth from the situation I must note that once again, I've been reminded that I am dating an incredible guy and even from 500ish miles away, he's there for me whenever I need him. I don't deserve it, and count myself one of an elite handful to have someone on whom I can rely and trust. //endrant (:

And that's the day, folks! Let's meet here same time tomorrow? ;)

xo | cmd

Cutest Apology Ever

I just want to highlight this for the day and leave it at that:

cutest apology, ever

^ My friend Sarah's daughter snagged her cell phone last night and managed to call me. I wasn't sure what she needed when I saw the phone ringing, but was quickly informed that it was in fact, a hacked effort.

&& then I got this.
&& then I decided she could call me ANYtime she wanted. Haha.

Too funny.

|| On to The Voice, some more edits, and probably a trip to Gold's to work off the Red Robin I shamelessly devoured today with the gals from work. *Sigh. My oh My. (:

xo | cmd

Hello, MAC!

WHERE HAVE I BEEN FOR THE LAST #### YEARS?!?!

I'll give you the condensed version of how this happened:

I've functioned primarily on Windows/PC-based software & hardware for the past however long... but it's been eating at me to try it all out on a Mac. For as long as I can remember, I never really had an interest in choosing sides [& I still don't, really] in the ongoing bout of PC v. Mac, but I figured I might as well at least step it up a little if I plan on editing any pictures in large quantities moving forward.

So... I bought a Mac. Problem solved. Haha.
And then I came home from work, with the Mac.
And now I'm going on hour FOUR of editing.
I'm obsessed.

Oh, and there's some sort of presdiential debate happening tonight, along with The Voice, and almost just as importantly, the Cardinals just lost to the Giants 9-0. Sorry, Cards fans. :p Haha.

#stillaredsfan
#cincinnati
#ohiofanlivinginstlouis
#woops!

Good NIGHT (:

xo | cmd

Birthday Twins [Moll&Care] & Beads Galore!

It would be one thing to have ONE friend as cute as Molly or Carrie, but it just so happens that there are TWO of the, equally friggin' adorable gals to whom I would like to wish the happiest of happy birthdays!

I miss 'em.. it's been way too long since I last saw either one of them, but either way, girls, have the best birthday yet!! [Super shout out, because they're adopted, too. That adoption thing really pays off ;) haha.. ]

Happy Birthday, Molly & Carrie!

moll & care | cute friends.
happy birthday, girlies!

circa 2009..ish? | toooold ya it's been too long.. :(

Gotta love birthdays, yeah? Yeah :).

----

You know what ELSE I love?! My pastor and his wife. I also love amazing dinners and a few hours of playing with boxes and boxes.. and boxes of BEADS. Ms. Debbie had asked me on Sunday if I wanted to come by this week for dinner since Joe is out of town, more purposefully to help her sort through some boxes of beads that had come from Jarod and Ms. Ellen during the cleaning process. By some, I mean almost a matching equivelant of my current inventory. Beads, everywhere was where we started in an effort to sort and consolidate. I gave her some pointers on simple wire working, explained the various tools, and even fixed one of her plaque bracelets that had broken. Sydni kept herself busy in the play room, and when it was all said and done, I toted home an incredible variety of new beads, fixtures, pins, etc. I'm like a little kd when it comes to this... lol. I'm in heaven ;)

almost half of what i now own... whoa.

Craft party, anyone?!?! I need to go to bed before I pass the point at which I won't be able to function in about 8 hours or so. Plus, I'm starting on the mini's birthday shopping tomorrow. She'll be three, all too quickly. Any suggestions?

xo | cmd

INSPIRED.

I wanted to take a break from the typical recounting of my day to share with the world some of the things and people by which I'm inspired. While I do have a rewarding life, I love to live that little bit of myself vicariously through others, or if nothing else at least draw some inspiration from things, places and people that move me.

Just SOME of the motivations in my head today :)
In no particular order... 

christine ha | master chef

1 | Christine Ha. I don't watch the show Master Chef, but a couple of my co-workers do, and they share with me the day after each episode how this girl is still hanging in there in this reality show competition for amateur chefs. She's adorable, and quite Asian, yes, but she's blind, too. That's right. The girl who can't see is on national television kicking tail and taking names in the kitchen. I have 20/10 vision, according to my doctor, and I am absolutely positive that I can't cook better than this gal. 


rissa. nancy. yun. joann
august. september. october. november

2 | Adorable Prego Friends. You're lying if you don't think that all four of these girls make the cutest pregos ever. These are four of my girlfriends from back in Cincinnati who are all [obviously] pregnant, all due one right after the other. They got together recently and had i2 studios do a shoot; this is just one of the many killer pictures they got back. They look like pretty little autumn skittles. This one confirms that there's a slight chance I will be this cute in the event I'm pregnant again. Now I just have to find 3 other girls to share the pregnancy journey with, hire an awesome photographer, and we're good. Haha. Seriously, I really was moved by this in that it highlights the innate and natural beauty of a mother. There is so much complexity to the process of literally growing a human being from essentially just a few cells; to have that captured as a complete picture should be a moving reminder to every mom out there. :) I love everything about it and am excited for all of them!


see red.

3 | RED. This is one of the blogs I follow: Tewfic El-Sawy. He's the Travel Photographer, and posted this collaboration recently. Read about it >here<. This is from a tribe of people in Northern Malabar. I wouldn't say I follow the ritualistic tradition behind this customary getup, but I am so intrigued by the cultural concept of such elaborate decoration. Plus, I love red, and the monochromatic way he put this together is quite appealing. I stand to learn so much from photographers like him! This reminded me that I need to travel more, photograph more, and make a constant, proactive effort to maintain an appreciation for worldly culture even while I'm living in the good old midwest, USA.


toms | boot wedges!

4 | TOMS BOOT WEDGES. I'm such a prolific lover of TOMS, not just because their classics won me over from the start, but because I am fully-aware of the impact they have as a grassroots operation gone-global. Sure, their gear is a little pricey for what it really is [truth, sorry], but I've read the articles on their advocates going directly into the hearts of undeveloped territories and putting shoes on the feet of kids who otherwise use whatever they can find in the woods or in a trash can to keep their feet protected. Call me a hippie, but TOMS are comfortable and supportive of a good cause. These new wedges are adorable, and I'm thiiiiinking about checking them out. We.. shall.. see. I use TOMS [& coincidentally the store in which I get them, shout out to Peace by Piece in Belleville] as motivation for my future potential endeavors of entrepreneurship, too. It could happen ;).

that's love! mama & daughter
[borrowed from fb, christine... it looks like a magazine ad :p ]

5 | SINGLE PARENTS. I work in a small office, but there are two single moms on our staff. It's a weird emotion having sympathy for but lacking the experience to have empathy for single parents and the strife that comes with the territory. I had a[nother] conversation with Christine today, with whom I've grown fairly close in our time working together, and was so moved by the current challenges she faces being a single parent. Sorry to single you out, Christine, but it was in something of an odd way, compelling to be reminded of the strength and courage it takes to continue on with blinders focused on objectively raising a happy kid. My respect for the single parent has exponentially increased over the last few months. Make no mistake, either, I share an equal admiration for single fathers, because I know the indwelling of maternal instinct may come a little rougher to them, but they hold down the cycle with the best of them. I had the privelege growing up with two parents; many of my friends did not. I am so grateful for the blessings I've had in that arena. I look at the broken world in which we live sometimes and I can't help but think I couldn't do what these parents do. The ones who choose to raise their kids right in spite of circumstance amaze me. My job as a co-parent looks like a cakewalk compared to what you do. It's parents like this that remind me of the human capacity to overcome and succeed, if the will is there.


happened across this online

6 | NOT JUDGING BOOKS BY THEIR COVERS. I just needed that reminder. Sure, there are exceptions to every condition, but loving art and expression as much as I do, I just have to say that while I wouldn't necessary canvas my body out to the extent this guy and many of my great friends have, I absolutely believe that a heart is a heart and that doesn't change. 'Nuff said.

rick & dick hoyt

7 | TEAM HOYT. If you haven't heard of them, seen their pictures, watched their videos, or checked out their journey, quit reading my amateur blog and go look it up. I'll get ya started: It's amazing. If you need some motivation to work out, or quit complaining about your workout.. or really your life in general, this is a good place to start. Yeah, this is a bit of an extreme example of how my circumstance could be different, but there is so much that I stand to admire about this father and his son. If there's been a testament of dedication, sacrifice, endurance, and unconditional love in this century, I'd say these two are strong contenders for a top spot. Notice that the wheels say, It's a Good Life! Talk about motivating.. :) 

8 | BEADS. I've had these for a few weeks now and finished up the last one tonight. These look like simple little charms, but there's much to them. These are for my pastor's wife, Debbie, who has a severe version of asthma, and has to wear a medical plaque on her wrist as a failsafe in the event she would have an episode. The way she's got it figured, if you're gonna wear the thing, wear it in style! < Totally adoptable principle, and clearly it works, since for the longest time I thought it was just a regular - but stylish - interchangeable bracelet of some sort. She had asked me some time ago if I could make some minor repairs to a few of the adorning bands; I finished the last of them tonight and thought I'd share. It's been a little while since I touched jewelry-crafting... I made a mental note that I must start making time for it: I love it and it's relaxing. Thanks for the reminder, Miss Debbie! 


photog credit : dk

9 | THE BIBLE. Duh. I know this should've been at the very top of the list, but I decided to save it for end so it would be the last thing we leave with for today. There are a million ways to dive into how this one book has revolutionized my life; I will keep it simple and succinct by just saying that there are so many paths down which I tried to take my life on my own terms, but by this book and all the wisdom in it, I found that real peace, that real happiness, and that real fulfillment I wanted, but never had. It's the instruction manual for creating and achieving my short and long-term goals, raising my children, coping with trials, and appreciating my blessings. It's a link between myself and the Lord who so willingly sacrificed his everything so that I could have everything, without hesitation or doubt. It is unchanging, unfailing, and hugely underestimated. It's my lifeline; by and through it I am who I am, and growing, still. TRULY.. Inspired.

What's inspired YOU today? :)

xo | cmd