firecracker-woman

Living beyond limits

2012-02-08T08:16:00.000-08:00

Somdays, my work appears so difficult- it's not the educational aspects
but the personal, relational ones.
People in the world of academia can be so mean.

then other days, I find kindness in the least expected folks
and I am surprised by their gentleness.

This term has been interesting. I am finally done with courses
which leaves me to absolutely nothing all day if i want to.
these days seem to go by with less accomplished days

I know that my research is in my own hands...
and sometimes it gets so daunting i forget
about my parents' lessons to us as children.
they told us, we could be whatever we dreamed of being.
and worked against all odds to get my family here.
so these days, I am doing my best to remind myself
of all the dreams I have had my life....
this PhD is possible and peace in Burma is possible.
as long as i believe in its possibilities.

life lately...

2012-02-01T08:38:00.000-08:00

has been difficult. it breaks my heart when students and people in general
act the way they do.
it makes teaching, something i love so much
so difficult and terrifying.

i dont want to become cynical and mean...
but that is exactly what these experiences do.
i do my best to keep myself centered.
i saw a long of good friends all weekend and made sure i laughed a lot and often
i ate a lot of ice cream, talked to my mama
and kept myself firm, yet sensitive to these issues.

i just hope i make it through all this
with strength and dignity.

locks

2012-01-26T11:34:00.000-08:00

School, wedding planning and long distance
led to severe neglect of things i take for granted like my healthy hair.
in an effort to grow my hair out...
I have been so negligent with my hair for the last 2 years
its something I dont pay attention to
since I have always had very healthy, shiny, strong hair.

Unfortunately, I started to notice that
i was losing so much hair
(when dylan complained about all the hair around the house- Gross!).

So recently in an effort to get it back to its normal state
I have been taking biotin.
I also started in investing in hair masks and treatments.
I have been experimenting with different kinds when I finally found my one true love.

Macadamia Oil deep repair mask and the healing oil
have been my life saver.

I use them both (50/50) after I shampoo
and I have noticed such a difference in the luster of my hair.

I also know that healthy scalp means, healthy hair
so I have been using Body Shop's Ginger shampoo for my scalp, and banana shampoo for my hair.

Also, I chopped off about 3 inches off my hair so we can have a healthy new beginning!

All this combined with lots of water consumption and heat protection when blowing drying
has made a huge difference in my hair and scalp.

Now I truly feel beautiful and healthy, inside and out.

home made.

2012-01-23T11:21:00.000-08:00

every sunday at our home...
we have made a new ritual to make granola for the week.

this started with a simple recipe
of old fashion oats, almonds, shredded coconuts and coconut oils...
but this week we experimented with cranberries
and next week we may go for apple sauce instead of agave.

it's such a delicious snack to have around
and it makes our home smell so delicious as well.

happy monday.

juicing.

2012-01-18T08:58:00.000-08:00

the past 3-4 days in portland has been full of snow...
there were many moments of sitting by the window sill
watching the snow fall...
to me, its such a magical process.

in the meantime, we have been learning to home make many things
from juicing at home, to our new fake meat recipe
we have turn ourselves into
some experts in the home making department.

all in all, its a quiet snowy week here at our home.
and everyday we wake up
we thank our families and those in our lives who have guided us
to this special space.

birthday wishlist...

2012-01-16T11:19:00.001-08:00

Liz Claiborne vest (see more long vests)
my birthday is around the horizon and i am getting so excited about it.
i already told dylan exactly what I want to do for my birthday.
but, i decided to make this little list for some hints as well.

Since my no shopping rule, I have been such a great saver...
but i think a birthday is worth breaking it.

You may notice a pattern in my birthday gifts from last year.
I always go for a good book and perfume from VS...

I can't believe I am turning 28...the big 3-0 is around the corner.
I still have a long list of things to accomplish by then.

Happy Martin Luther King day...
I hope you are spending the day as a day of public service.

2011- a photo or two for each month

2012-01-09T20:13:00.000-08:00

While 2011 was a great year...a year where we finally got married and had a chance to fulfill our long term dream of building a life together while fulfilling our personal and professional goals, I felt like the first year of long distance really kept me from experiencing life to its fullest. I learned a lot about myself and a lot about patience.

I hope 2012 is an even more amazing year...and I hope this is a year where I can begin to be more giving, understanding and forgiving...even with myself.

December was my spend with my favorite people in the whole wide world. I slept in daily, cuddled with my sisters, ate home cooked meals and enjoyed my holiday with my lovely family.

We gave thanks in November and took a little break from studying to make a delicious meal.

October and beyond seemed to have gone by in a flash...so many memorable moments with great company.
In September we began school together as PhD students. It took us back to our college days (when we first met) and made the rigor of school bearable.

Once we got home, we began another adventure- our honeymoon to Vancouver,BC. It was our first international travels together and we loved this city beyond words.

In August, we made an epic road trip, also known as the return to Portland trip. On the way we stopped in Ashland, OR to enjoy the quaint little town and their amazing frozen yogurt.

We spend most of July exploring San Francisco and just enjoying our little life as husband and wife.
July was spend close to home. I just remember feeling so loved and relaxed. My momma planned an intimate Burmese wedding ceremony as well. So technically, we had a second wedding.

In June, I returned to sunny California and we had our beautiful wedding. The day was made so special thanks to my incredible family (esp. my sisters) and our friends. Our wedding was beyond amazing...and it was worth all the years of waiting and planning.
In May our friends visited our little city for our bachelor/ bachelorette weekend and we spend the weekend exploring our favorite spots.

April was made easier by my friends. In between long distance wedding planning and missing home, i was extremely depressed. Without these ladies, I would have been worse off.
In March, Dylan also turned 27 and we spend another lovely weekend in downtown Portland exploring food carts.
February, I turned 27...and the birthday celebration was full of sushi, cupcakes, and cuddles.
January was a lonely month...most of my days were spend alone, wedding planning and missing everyone terribly while also studying very hard.

I taught my first course which officially made me a professor at a university.

2011 began in san jose, ca...where we celebrated new year's eve with my family.

a new year.

2012-01-03T10:42:00.001-08:00

we rang in the new year together in our little apartment.
my plane from california got in around 11:20
and by the time we got home we had 3 mins before midnight.

we opened our x-mas gifts,
shared a toast and a kiss
and then it was midnight...
fireworks went off on the hill by our house
so we stood at our window, hand in and hand
to watch the fireworks then went to bed.

on the first day of the year
we went for a late brunch at tin shed,
we did some meditation
we played boardgames and relaxed at home.

it's a belief in my family that
whatever you do on the first day of the year
is what you will be doing through the rest of the year.
so we are pretty excited that our year
will be full of love, food, and relaxation.

Happy 2012 friends! We hope 2012 is a year full of adventures for you.

family

2011-12-30T09:04:00.000-08:00

i have been home visiting my family since the 14th...
and it has been a lot of fun.

from fireside movies, cuddling and reading in bed in my sisters
to cooking, shopping, relaxing...
i have been spoiled.

i miss being home so much and i honestly hate returning to school/work
after such a relaxing time.

Like Crazy Featurette - "I Want You"

2011-12-28T13:33:00.000-08:00

dylan and i spend our first time apart as a married couple this holiday season.

after 3 years of long distance...
we thought we got this.

but, we miss each other dearly.
and this little film reminds of so much of how much i want to be close to him.

happy holidays

2011-12-24T15:52:00.000-08:00


Personalize a digital greeting card

home

2011-12-21T10:02:00.000-08:00

we love our little home...and kinda think its the best.
i love that its ours and that every inch and every corner
has been paid attention to by us.

snow.

2011-12-19T10:53:00.000-08:00

i have seen snow a total of 3 times in my life.
so, last weekend before i came back to California...
husband decided to drive us up to mt. hood
just to play with snow.

we packed a little picnic (that we ate in the car)
and explored the timberline lodge...
maybe one day, i will even tackle the bunny hill.

ps: do you like my red hunters? i told you, that man sure spoils me.

love love love.

2011-12-06T16:36:00.000-08:00

The cat is out of the bag...
i do listen to taylor swift...
yes, i confess.

i love this song however, for reasons beyond the obvious.
my favorite actor- known as Matt Saracen on Friday Night Lights is in this video.

I know I surprised myself too when Dylan and I both fell in love with the show.
But, the character of Matt Saracen, and his relationship with coach's daughter Julie Taylor
really reminded me of our own relationship.

Matt reminds me so much of Dylan and I can't help but fall in love with him as an actor.
his facial expressions, his sweetness, the nervousness when he talks...
ahh..this video just made my day.

smell.

2011-11-28T20:52:00.000-08:00

the scent of people, places and things always lingers on for me...
it revokes memories and brings me
to what it once was.

i always remember my grandmother's perfume...
jasmine and musk.
i always love the smell of my mom's cooking...
the smell of my home, my pillows...my husband.

so without further ado...its a little beauty blogging time
my top 5 favorite perfumes:

1. BCBG Girl Metro - Sadly, they don't make this anymore and I am on my last bottle.
2. D&G Light Blue (fresh, beachy, california)
3. Coco by Chanel ( a sophisticated scent for my grown up days)
4. Ralph Lauren Romance
5. Victoria Secret's Tease ( my favorite spring scent)

thanks.

2011-11-28T11:04:00.001-08:00

we had our 7th thanksgiving together.
our third thanksgiving in portland...
our second thanksgiving in our little downtown apt.
and our first thanksgiving as husband and wife.

we decided to go with less...to minimize the left overs.
so...we made a tofurky roast with pineapples and carrots.
a layered vegetarian torte.
roasted beets and spinach salad,
baked yams, mushroom gravy and chocolate chip cookies.

it was such a great weekend...
to not have any school...
we spend all day Thursday feasting beginning around 1:30pm...
and playing boardgames till midnight.

raw

2011-11-21T11:48:00.000-08:00

who said, you have to eat crappy food on the go
when you are in grad school.

this morning i made a raw kale and butternut squash salad
all you need is lime juice, ginger, salt, pepper...
and you have a healthy lunch.

my own version of 'occupy' wallstreet.

2011-11-20T16:53:00.000-08:00

As a scholar who has been analyzing this movement
from a socio-political perspective...
i have my critiques as well as my praises.

this is by no means a substitute for
what is happening out there on our streets.

this is merely my own way of contributing in a small way
and while it may not be the most effective, it is a beginning to
a movement is unseen in the blogging community.

Like most bloggers- i am very attuned with all the upcoming fashion trends.
I have been a fashion trendsetter as far as I can remember
and I genuinely love the concept of fashion
It has contribute a great deal to my creativity and self-esteem.

However, over the past few years...
i have fallen victim (like most of us)
to the desire for more more more.
It is often never enough. The minute you come onto a fashion blog or
open a magazine...
there is a new blouse, a new bag, a new pair of shoes...
and there is the message, both subtle and
often not so subtly nudging you to make the purchase.

Then, there is the bargain hunt,
the search of an item at less than the listed price...
maybe a substitute for a brand name.
I have been down that route too...
and I am finally at the point where
I am officially recognizing that this is a problem.

If I am truly a fashion trendsetter, why do i need others to tell me what to wear?
Why isn't the minimalist life style ever encouraged?
i understand that it is my responsibility as the consumer
to shop responsibly...
but as long as I am tuned in to the media ...
i am reminded of more items I need to fulfill my closet.

I am officially tired of how much time I spend observing
what to wear and bookmarking all the sales.
i tired of this feeling and I think my bank account is as well.

So, beginning at the end of this month...
ok, maybe if i am brave even tomorrow.
I start a five year pledge. yes five years
to not purchase a single item of clothes/ accessories- ANYTHING.
this even includes make up
since I have enough stash away for WWIII

this also means, all gifts, birthday gifts and such will come from the heart.
they will be handmade with love.

I have enough clothes...and bags, and shoes
to last me through the next five years.
and of course if things change like (a baby is on the way, we will make adjustments)
BUT till then,
I will not purchase a single thing
(with the exception of food, and basic items like toothpaste)

I will merely observe the trends, and work creatively to make my outfits
work with what i have.
overall, i will practice contentment with my current wardrobe.
and i will no longer let the corporations, or the news media tell me
what to do, what to wear, and where to shop.
I will be the boss of my own style.

Dylan said, he will join me too
(this is funny cas, he never purchases a thing)
but, its official...
this blog will catalog my new journey and
my own way of saying,
no more, enough is enough.

Kara-oke

2011-11-19T16:01:00.000-08:00

we tried Karaoke for the first time last night...
it was so much fun...once you get pass the slimy crowd
and cheap drunks...what's with the bad crowd at karaoke? serious.

we are busy bees today- studying, writing...before the quarter ends.
its cold and rainy...
and i want to go camping with my man.

i miss our big sur camping trip.
i miss the little family with the vw bus
and the hippy babies.

maybe, i can convince husband to build a tent with me...

favorite saying of the moment:

grow old with me
the best is yet to be... (rose&crown)

red.

2011-11-16T21:18:00.000-08:00

i am a bit spoiled. I will say it.
when husband saw how cute i was in my brown hunters...
he decided that i gotta get a pair of red ones.

how does he know me so well ;)
i got my first pair on gilt groupe for discount...
but i wasn't willing to pay the price even for that discount.
i couldn't justify spending any more than $50.

and lo and behold, we searched from nordstorm rack
to discounts via blogger...
i finally today, i found someone on craigslists
who just happens to have a pair in my size.
and yes, they are willing to ship them to me all the way from Chicago.

that is call perfection.

3 days.

2011-11-14T09:55:00.000-08:00

over the long weekend....
a) we did a lot of cleaning. Our closet space and under bed storage needed organizing, cleaning and donating.
b) It rained again, reminding me of how useful my hunter wellies will be this winter.
c) We made a wish for a European vacation this summer.
d) i researched the history of my homeland...and began to understand the complexities of conflict and violence that has been going on. it was exhausting, enlightening and deeply inspiring.

“Peace is not something you wish for; It's something you make, Something you do, Something you are, And something you give away.”
-Robert Fulghum

today.

2011-11-11T16:37:00.000-08:00

1

1/2/3/4

why are you so busy
with this or that or good or bad
pay attention to how things blend.
- rumi, life and death.

today: we awaited our canteens, studied till our eyes ached, ate out at Baan Thai and I wore my hunters from Gilt Groupe.

freedom from fear.

2011-11-11T15:34:00.000-08:00

in a letter to my students after our viewing of Burma VJ
i wrote: it is with huge responsibilities and
heavy hearts that we find the courage to lead in this world.

i reminded them of my favorite quotation from
Reverend Martin Luther King:

Darkness cannot drive out darkness;
only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate;
only love can do that.
Hate multiplies hate,
violence multiplies violence,
and toughness multiplies toughness
in a descending spiral of destruction....
The chain reaction of evil --
hate begetting hate,
wars producing more wars --
must be broken,
or we shall be plunged
into the dark abyss of annihilation.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Strength To Love, 1963

enough

2011-11-10T20:22:00.000-08:00

1/2/3/4

yesterday we had a feast worthy of royalty.
vegetarian quesadillas, red wine, chocolate, raw almonds, and dried cranberries...
we laughed, we talked over each other and we danced till we were dizzy...
all the while spoon was playing on vinyl.

while it does not compare to dancing on rooftops,
it came real close- and sometimes...
that is enough.
enough for me, and for him.

because...

2011-11-10T09:53:00.000-08:00

because it happens...this little thing call waking up on the wrong side of the bed.
because, love takes patience...
because, he always says sorry first.

So, she'd efface the score,
And forgive me as before.
It is twelve o'clock:
I shall hear her knock
In the worst of a storm's uproar,
I shall pull her through the door,
I shall have her for evermore!

A Lovers' Quarrel by Robert Browning

changes.

2011-11-09T18:26:00.001-08:00

our little family of two has been beyond amazing.
we love our home, our city, our work.

while this blog has been a catalog of my portland journey...
as of today, there will be some changes...
more poetry, more creativity...
more me.

just giving you a heads up- that is all.

SLO.

2011-11-09T11:34:00.000-08:00

the town i once called home...
miss SLO so much some days...
and love how we done most of the things on this video.

watching this with dylan brings so many memories back.

more baby update

2011-11-07T08:33:00.000-08:00

i got another call this weekend
from another favorite friend of mine
that she is having a baby.

Today is the big day to listen in on the baby's heartbeat.
so, i am excited and nervous for her.

in other new, dylan & i picked out
baby names for our future babies (whenever they may come)
our girl will be:
may koko myint (she will go by koko to us)
and our boy will be:
Thor Myint (we didnt get to the middle name)

please dont get too excited...this baby
is not coming for at least another 3 years.

typical

2011-11-05T13:24:00.001-07:00

this is what our weekend looks like during the day.
luckily for me, i am married to one of the most exciting people i know
and he got us tickets to go see lovers tonight.

and we are stopping at a lumber jack theme
party before the concert...
this may be the closest thing we get to a Halloween party
for dress up.

i am excited for this weekend and i hope
everyone out there has a good one as well!

hood river

2011-11-04T10:00:00.000-07:00

did i mention that this summer
we took a trip to hood river
to watch the wind surfers and check out the little downtown.

it definitely one of windiest places i have ever been
and it was such a great day for a picnic on the beach.

its hard to imagine all this sunshine
now that we are in the beginning of our wet/ cold portland winters.

rain.

2011-11-03T15:03:00.000-07:00

pic.

it stated pouring last night
and i was so excited.
growing up in Rahkine state (the rainy state) of Burma
I have always loved the sound of rain.
i love the air after it rains...
i love puddles...

so today i put my hunters on
and did my best to enjoyed the
beautiful rainy day.

ps: i have always loved the look of hunter boots
since i saw princess di in this pic.

* side note- i am not much for British loyalty
considering the 100 yrs+ of colonization and all
just thought that clarification was necessary

canteen.

2011-11-02T15:35:00.001-07:00

pic
update: portland has been cold these days-
crisp air and fog rolling in

in the hustle and bustle of work and school-
i made a necessary purchase today-
some cloth covered canteens for us.
PSU has amazing water stations
(an initiative that some of my students are a part of)
and i have been an avid user of steel bottles
but, the darn bottles keep getting lost
so- i made the switch from bottles to canteens.
I figure the canteens will be more useful on hikes-
on our camping trips, and bike rides...
and maybe they will stop getting left behind us well.

one can only hope.

nobody loses all the time...

2011-10-31T20:51:00.000-07:00

its been over 2 years now since Uncle Lu left us...
"I remember we all cried like the Missouri..."- e.e. cummings.
and today, i am remembering the tears, the pain, and joy
of having known my uncle.

travels.

2011-10-30T20:26:00.000-07:00

i just got back from a very long-
very fun wedding weekend.

steph was a beautiful bride and it was
such a joyous day to see them married.
weddings are so beautiful.

I also loved that i finally fit the bridesmaid dress
and it was stunning- charcoal is stunning
on me- who would've thought!

i am off to cuddle and rest with my sweet husband-
who picked me up at the airport with gluten free cupcakes
from sweetpeas.
he also made rice, cleaned, swept the floor, made the bed...
just the sweetest thing to come home to.

forced vacation.

2011-10-27T09:31:00.000-07:00

pic

one of my dearest friend is getting married this weekend
and their families are from las vegas...
so this weekend, i will be flying out to
sunny vegas (yes, sunshine!)
and i am going be in her bridal party.

I am excited for my friend...
and i am kinda happy for this forced vacation.
middle of the quarter is always
a very bad time to travel.
from this point on till the end-
you are basically running a rat race.

regardless, vacations are good.
and i am glad that i am forced to take this vacation...

so, till then...its case laws, predatory states, and qualitative studies...
no blogging, no internet.

powells.

2011-10-26T16:02:00.000-07:00

this is so old, but chuck came to powells
and we snuck out on a school nite (tsk tsk)
to go hear him talk about his new book.

we aren't much for his fiction,
but his non-fiction work is pretty amazing.
Dylan loves all his stuff.
i just love the one and only:
Killing Yourself to Live.

Probably one of my favorites.

Chuck was funny and the people were annoying (Q&A)
who comes to an book signing and ask
about brittany spears & lady gaga...
really people?!

regardless, we had fun hearing chuck speak
and in true D&P fashion,
we got late, and still lucked out on nice seats
due to our assertiveness.

motherhood.

2011-10-25T09:35:00.000-07:00

the glow

i will admit first and foremost...
i do not like kids (i know that makes me sounds horrible)
until this past summer, i have held a total of
one child in my life (since my baby sister's birth).
i don't find other people's kids cute (like dylan).
and i don't care much for conversations with kids.

i know, all this makes me very unorthodox in my role as a woman.
fortunately, for me
i have always had a great role model of a mother
and while i have little interest in kids...
i know that one day when i am ready,
i will be a mother. and a darn good one too.

these days i am surrounded by motherhood.
from my best friend having a baby to
my classmates, and friends...
and now even all the bloggers i follow.

some are traditional mothers
and others like Carissa are adopting.

despite all these amazing soon to be mother stories...
i am still not convinced its the time.
but, i want to say that it does not mean
i do not respect the grace, beauty and compassion of motherhood.
As a feminist, i have always had a deep respect for women
in whatever roles they have taken,
and mothers even more so for bringing us into this world.

I think a woman with her children...
is a woman ready to change the world.
so, today, i toast to motherhood
and to all the mothers (my momma esp.) and soon to be mothers.
they are so very brave and so very strong.

vegie.

2011-10-24T08:51:00.000-07:00

While on my morning readings of the New York Times,
I ran into their slide show for
Vegetarian Recipes for Entertainment.
I got so hungry just looking through the recipes.
I am so excited to incorporate some of these meals
into our amazing thanksgiving meals: here & here.

We just got the news that Dylan's family is out of town...
and secretly we are kinda excited that its just us two again.

blues.

2011-10-23T22:26:00.000-07:00

this weekend when i was feeling blue (due to work overload)
Dyls snuck out to go to the library (*the farmers market)
and surprised me with this awesome breakfast.

He got me a delicious gluten and wheat free raisin bread.
and he even made me some eggs.

needless to say, I was it made me smile.

backpack

2011-10-22T12:01:00.000-07:00

I used to think backpacks were so dorky.
I still kinda do (hard to break the habit)...
as far as high school, i was always a tote or messenger bag kinda gal.
well, today i gave in.
My back hurts from all the things i have to carry in my school bag
and i feel lopsided from years of carrying the said bags.

As I get a tad bit older,
self care seems to matter more...
so yes, i bought my first backpack today.
And i have every intention of using it
(usually, dylan ends up carrying the backpacks i purchase.
he also has the same habit with my jeans
* but that is a story for another day).

true.

2011-10-21T17:06:00.000-07:00

pic
we stay at work on some nights till midnight
reading, studying, me (writing) and dylan (solving equations).

There is nothing glamorous about this life.

The last 4 days, I have been working 14 hr days
for work related work-
not to be mistaken with work related to school.

I did all this, so today, tomorrow and sunday,
I can do school work.

But, truth be told, this year-
all this studying, and writing is making sense.
this year, I know my field of interest- i know myself as a scholar
and this year, dylan is next to me reading or scribbling away.
So, this year isn't so bad after all.

Happy weekend.

weekend.

2011-10-17T21:25:00.000-07:00

our weekend went by so fast.

in between a birthday party, a work party. and reading law briefs
it was insanely busy trying to make time for work and play.

regardless of how busy it gets i make an effort to start my day differently on saturdays.
saturdays are spend sleeping in, working out for at least an hour and eating a great breakfast.

pictured below: OJ, apple slices in my new anthropologie bowl from our wedding registry, eggs in a basket (heart shaped cas thats how i like it) with some spinach.

row boat.

2011-10-14T16:22:00.001-07:00

I saw this picture above while browsing Ruche's desktop downloads....
and it took me right back to our row boating experience
in Montreal on our honeymoon.

Instead of Kayaking, i convinced Dylan that we should row...
it ended up being that Dylan rowed
and I romanticized the whole experience.

it was after all my first experience on a row boat...
lets just say, its no kayaking.

beauty vitamins

2011-10-12T10:46:00.000-07:00

Considering that I am mostly vegetarian/ sometimes pescatarian...
and lactose intolerant...getting all the nutrients
i need to stay healthy takes some extra help.

So, on top of my daily vitamin, i also take supplemental vitamins.
After my lunches, i consider these little treats my desert (yeah right!).

I love the calcium chews from Borba.
I also take 6 of these might energy gummi mice to give me the energy
through out my day (unfortunately these taste like red bull...yuck!).

Probably my least favorite but a necessary one is the Smart & Sexy OMEGA 3 Bursts which they claim does not have the fish after taste- but it does. Still, its beats the pills...so i chew on these diligently.
Finally, i top it off with my skin balancing gummi bears- and these are actually super delicious and tastes the way gummi bears should taste.

At the end of the day, regardless of how annoying it can be...
the benefits in the long run are worth the few seconds of not so tasty treats.

And Borba, has a great line of vitamins...that make taking these actually fun.

The Future.

2011-10-11T10:17:00.000-07:00

On sunday evening we realize that we were both done with homework...
and the future was playing at Laurelhurst.

Needless to say we ran over there just in time
to watch the sold out movie.

i loved it-love it so much, even though it was sad.
it was very well done and the characters were lovable
and their love was actually convincing through the tough times.

unlike, *humm* valentine, only the most disappointing love story.

news.

2011-10-10T09:13:00.001-07:00

pic.

I cannot stressed enough how important it is to read the news...
with Occupy Wall Street,
with all the critical human rights abuses
policies and economic issues that our global community is in...
as an advocate for civil society and civic engagement...
I am proposing that we all do our part to stay
educated on whats happening in our world...
what's happening to us!

My two sources for reliable & credible news:
New York Times & Washington Post
And if you must watch a news broadcast then:
check out CBC.

*** I know, i am guilty of this too, I get too busy or too behind...but its' our privilege to have this freedom, and with such privilege comes great responsibility...well, at least allotting 30 mins each day to learn about what's going on, and who/ where is facing great injustices.

maxi.

2011-10-09T13:10:00.000-07:00

(pictures: vs, my all time favorite place for classy, sophisticated, professional clothes)

the funny thing about clothes is that if you keep things around long enough
they always are back "in fashion" in due time.

When i recently discovered that maxi skirts are hitting it big...
i had to contain myself.

I sported the looks above, and the flare jeans thing
(along with other unfortunately not so fashionable looks)..,
in high school. I had a maxi skirt in every color possible.

When i go home this x-mas break
its time to rummage through my closet and find those maxi skirts!

finally...

2011-10-07T09:32:00.001-07:00

we went to the courthouse yesterday
to finally finish up all this wedding business.

We love our darling friends who showed up
with big smiles and so much love to support us.

We actually had so much fun at this short (15 mins) ceremony...
it was certainly less stressful than the real day
and we were cracking up the whole time
about the jankiness of the scene...
from the Restraining Order crowd awaiting the judge,
to the microwave in the judges office...
it was a funny event.

making it legal...

2011-10-05T16:12:00.000-07:00

tomorrow around this time, dyls and i are going to be legally married.
we wanted to do the ceremony in Oregon...
even though we had our "real wedding" back in California.

i got this dress back in May...
for this special occasion and I am so excited to wear it.

in another life...

2011-10-04T21:31:00.001-07:00

if i wasn't burmese, if i wasn't directly affected
by all the human rights violations...
if, for just a second i can say this without any guilt...
(and if i had longer legs)
then i would be doing exactly what Andy Torres does...
i would be a globe trotting, freelance stylist...

i love fashion so much...
i know so much about it. i follow it (despite my better judgement)
and i know i would be darn good it at (because that's how i roll).

i don't want to apologize for this post- so, i won't.

My two favorite fashion icons at the moment are:
Miroslava Duma and Andy Torres
oddly enough, they "all look same."

journal day?

2011-10-03T19:40:00.000-07:00

school and worked has started in full force.
I am working 2 jobs, teaching 1 class
and taking 3 classes.
This makes for an awfully busy quarter.

This past weekend, i presented at a conference....here!
It was a very successful presentation and
it was the largest attendance I have ever had.
Unfortunately, I have been sick all week along and
now i have pass off the cold on Dyls.

With all this insanity, I wonder how it is that
I managed to journal at all (even on here).
It has been helpful to have this little blog...
even though i don't say all i want to say here.

Tonight, my goal after homework is to
sneak some time to do some journaling...
and maybe if i am lucky- even get to work
on some fun prompts to stretch my artistic lenses.

summer.

2011-09-25T12:03:00.001-07:00

summer time has been good to us.
we've had over 2 months of vacation time
eating frozen yogurt, making ice-tea, sweet corn risotto...

while we are sad for summer to leave...
we are also getting excited about study dates,
snuggling under blankets, drinking hot chocolate, and building forts when its too cold outside for camping...

breakfast in bed.

2011-09-23T19:05:00.000-07:00

just when i am about to get sad about school
and worry...dylan comes to the rescue with breakfast in bed.
he made me waffles the other day while i was still half asleep...

he is so sweet like that.
dyls being here makes my day a ton brighter and it makes me realize
that no matter how tough things are,
this year is going to be incredible because
i will always have my partner in crime around to take care of things.

back to school...

2011-09-21T11:41:00.000-07:00

last night like all nights before "back to school,"
i was driven by the anxiety over it all.

I lied in bed, cried and even panicked over the beginning of another year.
a beginning that once it begins, i see no end to.
i asked myself the questions of how i got here, who the heck am i, and why am i doing this?
I know that everyone, even those who love what they do- in their careers
ask these questions...

i think it is healthy to ask these questions.
but i have to be honest to myself (and to you) that this is not always easy.
I know i am going to be a great educator- i will do my best to be inspiring and understanding to my new batch of students,
i know i will be a great student- i will be motivated and curious
i know i will be a great worker- i will accomplish my work in a timely manner...
but sometimes to think of all these roles, and to think of how little i get compensated financially
how little i am recognized for my work ... and i get a bit down.

But, then again I am reminded that often the biggest accomplishments in my life
are not always the ones celebrated in the professional realm.
sometimes, it is the mere fact i reached out to a troubled student,
it is the fact that i smiled to a stranger or lend a helping hand amidst my busy day.

sometimes it is the mere fact that i overcame my biggest fear...
and everyday that i wake up and put myself out there
and continue to dream the dream i have always had as a child...
that I can make a difference to help ease the sufferings out there in this world...
in some small way through my research, through my advocacy, through my faith in humanity.

i don't believe it is naive of me to dream such dreams.
i don't believe that it is selfish either that i hold this commitment
this dream is why i wake up everyday...

musicfest NW: Night 5

2011-09-19T08:24:00.001-07:00

the last nights of the festival
were probably one of my favorite nights.
Band of Horses was incredible...
listening to them live was hands out
one of the best shows I have been to.

Once again we were in the front row, stage left
and got lots of up close and personal time.

autumn in Portland

2011-09-14T22:35:00.001-07:00

Summer has ended...the sun has finally left portland...
we are back to gray skies and sweater weather days...

however, i think this year I am going to try to keep
the floral patterns in my fall/ winter wardrobe.

i am obsessed with floral backpacks, combat boots and silk shirts...
also paring leggings/ dark tights with floral dresses under cardigans
make for the perfect fall attire.

i don't care if I am turning 30 soon...
i don't think combat boots will ever go out of style.

autumn in Portland by firecrackertalk featuring silk tops

MusicFest NW: Night # 1

2011-09-11T08:05:00.000-07:00

It is that time of the year again...
when great music comes to Portland for
a 5 day festival at the beginning of autumn.

We went to MFNW 2 years ago:
here...here.

And this year we begin our festival with
the Kills at the Crystal Ballroom.

We were the first 21 and over people in line
sadly (that's what being a grad student with no job at 27 makes you).
on the bright side, we got great seats upstairs...
and the Kills were amazing.

Ride into Williamsburg...

2011-09-07T14:39:00.000-07:00

Oh, olsenboye....how you know me so well.

picnic

2011-09-07T11:38:00.000-07:00

we live so close to the waterfront
that sometimes eating dinner in door seems a bit bland.
the other day, we packed some sandwiches and fried rice
and had a picnic under a tree.

i have to say, i love portland
in the summertime.

cookies + tea.

2011-09-06T12:34:00.000-07:00

this past weekend, we enjoyed the benefits that
our labor unions bring to us by :
a) not partaking in the labor day shopping weekend;
b) not taking any trips out of town only to get stuck in traffic;
c) baking cookies, corn bread and making tea.

We entertained some friends who were visiting town, and played a game of puerto rico.

sisters.

2011-09-04T08:12:00.000-07:00

i have been missing my sisters a lot.
i miss living so close to home and being able to visit often.

six years ago...

2011-08-31T12:51:00.000-07:00

on this day, we met for the very first time
and fell in love.
and that is something to celebrate about.

surrealism.

2011-08-29T10:22:00.000-07:00

on our trip to Vancouver, we went to the museum to check out
the surrealist artwork...
while i did my best to refrain from breaking the rules and taking photos
of the earlier work...
i figure that it wouldn't hurt anyone to snap a few shots of Ken Lum's pieces.

baby.

2011-08-23T18:41:00.000-07:00

picture

i just found out that one of my favorite women in this world,
my friend Janine is having a baby girl...

since both of us are the eldest children and were once girls (now women)
we feel that this little one is going to be amazing.
i know that Janine will be an amazing mother as she has been an amazing therapist and a friend...
this baby is one lucky child
and the best of part of all, as the god mother, i get to spoil her rotten with love...

and i get to remind her when times get tough that
her mother and many women like her
have been there and have conquered it all...
that she too has the strength and the heart to cry and heal
not only herself but the lives of others.

truth.

2011-08-22T20:32:00.000-07:00

picture

for the record, i must clarify that working out is not a beautiful/fun activity.
i say this from the perspective of someone who loves working out
over the past 2.5 yrs, i have stuck to my promise to work out at least an hour every other day.
and while some days are full of energy, others are hard.

i say this because i think it is important for all of us to be honest
that no one would choose running 4 miles over relaxing over your favorite dessert treats.
i say this because i think every thing is important to do in moderation.
i've been training for a marathon and yesterday i ran 9 miles, and walked the 10th.
it was a difficult run after a long hiatus from it and it was so good to feel my body come to life.

i ran outside for the first time in portland along this beautiful waterside trail.
i was inspired by many athletes of all shapes and sizes, working at their own pace.
everyone was so encouraging to other another and it made the run just a tad bit easier.

so, while i can't speak for everyone, truth is, i would never say i love working out
in the same manner i love reading atwood, or eating chocolate chip cookies,
but i love the strength of my body, the sweat and the day after muscle pains
that remind me, hey- you were a warrior yesterday!

Lodekka

2011-08-21T18:57:00.000-07:00

On our way to bike polo today we spotted lovely Lodekka...
and i just had to take a peek inside.

beautiful vintage finds, reasonably priced
and creatively placed inside a 1965 Bristol Lodekka.

Levi

2011-08-19T07:07:00.000-07:00

Dylan showed me this commercial and said i knew you would like this one part....
and what part is that you may ask?
the part where a table has been converted into a boat.

salt.

2011-08-18T07:17:00.000-07:00

in love.

2011-08-17T18:39:00.000-07:00

pic: andrew&carissa

it's been almost a week since our settlement in portland. honeymoon in vancouver, bc was full of adventures. these days you will find us biking at sunset to the foodcarts for vegan burritos. reading at the library: me- posner and dylan- chomsky. it's been relaxing, lazy and full of love.

seafood paella and other adventures...

2011-07-28T07:41:00.000-07:00

I have 3 words for you if you are ever in the SF bay area: Cha Cha Cha.
We went there for the first time on 4th of July and discovered their seafood paella...
needless to say we were hooked.

We came back a week later and asked them if they could make it for us again.
While their menu is delish...we recently discovered that they do make lots of things
off the menu if you know how to ask for it.

We were so happy to taste this meal one last time.
With our bellies full, we were left to wander the city....

it was a good day, even if i appeared to be wearing the tablecloth. How embarrassing!

vacay...

2011-07-20T07:48:00.000-07:00

impromptu trips to berkley; reconnecting with old friends and discovering new ones; trivia nights, and prolonged dinners; sea food paella, anarchist bookstores, snuggles with my momma and even some harry potter.

feast...

2011-07-14T08:40:00.000-07:00

since i got back to California we have been eating good food non-stop
who am i kidding, we have been eating good food
since forever....

This delicious meal however deserves a post considering that
it was at the same restaurant where we held our rehearsal dinner.

We were still scrambling 2 weeks before the wedding to find a place
that would serve what we liked within our budget.
Rice Thai- one of our favorite places in town...
and probably one of the nicest people in Palo Alto in the restaurant business
decided to take us on.

It turned out be a delicious meal and it was exactly what we wanted.
Our party was only 18 people (we wanted it to be intimate)
and everyone was so happy with the food.
We had so much leftovers for the next couple of days as well.

Lovers - Winter Takes A Lover

2011-07-13T09:21:00.000-07:00

Probably my favorite song ever...

....

2011-07-12T23:35:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the burden of blending, folding and fitting
into tight corners seems rather absurd.
Sometimes the secrets you stored away in
finger paint and tears...well, they too seem a bit too absurd.

Recently, i wrote in my "real" journal-
do i write for an audience or for myself....
that question has been haunting me for days.

Performance poetry- the answer seems to be right there in itself.
Even here- in this little world of smiles, thrifted clothes and red lipstick...
i feel like an imposter.

So it begins here- not the whole truth
because well, the whole truth must be saved for the best
at least i still have enough caution in me to not "talk to strangers"

but this is a new chapter...
a shade painted just for me...
because if i must confessed- all of this have always more for me than for anyone else.

smack talk...

2011-07-08T13:39:00.000-07:00

when i packed for my trip back to Cali...
i decided that i didn't want to deal with a check in bag.
So, i only packed 2 dresses back with my wedding gowns and
wedding related items...
leaving me in California for two months
with not much of a wardrobe to work with.

These days, i have been noticing that when you are working with a limited wardrobe,
make up, particularly lipstick plays a big role.
I could wear the same outfit in 3 or 4 ways
by changing up my accessories and my lip color.

These days my two favorite lipstick shades
are bright red, and light fuchsia.
its kinda unexpected to wear these shades with
very neutral eyes during the summer
no one is really expecting these colors on these hot days.

lazy days...

2011-07-07T13:40:00.000-07:00

I think that today is the day I am finally done making excuses to procrastinate. I went from working 2 jobs, planning a wedding and going to school full time to doing absolutely nothing.
The 12 days since our wedding, I have been saying, "I just finished school, I need a break" or "I just finished the wedding, I am going to do absolutely nothing today." I have also been finding projects to do around the house- anything BUT school and work.

Well today i think is the end of such days...i have a paper to finish for a conference by mid july and Dylan just threatened to not play with me after work if i didn't do work. I hardly doubt that he is capable of really following up with the threat :)

...but regardless, it is time to get down to business.

Rock n' Roll Bride made our day...

2011-07-06T10:57:00.000-07:00

by featuring our big day!

We put so much work into this day...so many pieces were DIY projects and lots of our friends and family pitched in to bring this day together. We are so lucky to have so many amazing people in our life. Check out the link below to read more about the details...

Pyucin & Dylan's Sustainable, Eco-Vintage Wedding

wedding cd

2011-07-05T10:38:00.000-07:00

Dylan and I made a little cd with our favorite songs and songs that described different stages of our relationship....
we gave the cd away as a party favor for our guest...and this little song is the last song on there.

I love this song for a million reasons...and for the many ways it describes the man i love.

Take a listen...the take away shows are also incredibly beautiful...

tying the knot...

2011-07-04T08:54:00.000-07:00

is an interesting little process and i think it deserves at least a word or two on this blog.

pictures are from our last hurrah in Portland...

Everyone makes a big fuss over it and ask you how married life is different. Our answer to that is as convoluted as ever- it changes everything and it also doesn't change much. It has the same sort of after taste to a birthday- when you expect to wake up a new person and you are still you. In that sense, our relationship is still uniquely us. We didn't take our honeymoon right after (we are hoping to travel once we return to portland), so things went back to normal (thankfully) after the big day.

But, i remember being in the car driving away from the venue with the "Just Married" signage on our car, and saying to Dylan, "i don't care what people say, marriage is a BIG deal." Something happened to us along the way of planning this wedding. Maybe it is because we were so involved every step of the way- funding every penny on our own, to the decor on the cake- we did it all or asked our dear friends and family for help. The wedding was uniquely us, and we invested so much hard work into it. It was truly a monumental day for us and it transformed our love and our relationship to a whole new level.

So, yes these days we are still playing our favorite boardgames after work, going for our daily workouts, and sticking to our usual routine (and in this, marriage hasn't change us). But, we are falling in love more and more each day and realizing that the changes marriage brings are more visible to us in our hearts than anywhere else.

Married!

2011-06-27T06:48:00.000-07:00

We got married on Saturday!
Thus my hiatus from blogging is finally over...
here are some photos from our very intimate ceremony
at the Shelldance Orchid Gardens.
It was such a beautiful day and everything,
when i say everything...i mean it...
was exactly how i wanted it to be.

outside looking in...

2011-06-06T21:31:00.000-07:00

that's all i want to do all my days...

been listening to lots of Sarah Kay's work on youtube.
been re-reading all my poems.
been recording...
been running around the track- shaken by the fear of the world's spin.

6 more days of solitude in Portland...
the beginning of a new chapter, the ending of another.
there is some melancholy in that...

"All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves. We must die to one life before we can enter another."
---Anatole France

too often we run, skip, dream, pray for the future...
we skip the presence...
the past, the moments that matter.
i don't want to do that.

I am content where i am...
i am happy, i am still...
i am on the outside
looking in.

ready for summer days...

2011-06-05T09:01:00.000-07:00

i felt restless this weekend.
i am one paper away from being done- and the wedding stuff is just
piling up- and i cant even think about it.

the sun was out and its finally warm...
and nights feel infinite.
friday for example felt like a - dancing on rooftops, impromptu poetry readings, and midnight bicycle riding sort of night.

generally, its hard for me to feel this way...
and i am looking forward to
returning to california, being with my sisters again
bikini tops and dancing in empty parking lots.

6 more days and counting...
summer vacation here i come...

poladroid outfit post-1

2011-05-26T23:46:00.000-07:00

I started taking photos every morning for dylan
as a way to keep us connected.

And then i also started playing with the poladriod applications
so...the end result is what you get here.

outfit posts with a poladriod twist.

I love fashion, and always enjoying styling myself.
Apparently, many of my co-workers and classmates have confessed:
we always wonder what you are going to wear tomorrow.

So here you go...
the outfit here is just your sweater and jeans day.
The sweater is a white knitted sweater i've had forever in my closet
and jeans (not pictured) are just skinny jeans/ no label. no more than 10 bucks
and they fit like a second skin.

Comfort level- 10, looking good and feeling good, also a 10.

foodie...

2011-05-25T19:37:00.001-07:00

I love food- there's no qualms about it.
I love good food- healthy, exotic, vegetarian goodness...

I am however not a fan for recipe.
Dylan knows this because every time I make Mexican food
(or my version of it with an Asian flair)
it never tastes the same.

I have no patience whatsoever for following directions
a weakness, i have learned to be proud of.

I am however, a great cook, not boasting at all...
but, I make so many delicious goodies none of which i take
enough pictures of and post (but all of that is about to change)

I got a new camera (a good one too!)
and i also found a food blog that i finally like
shutterbean

And this little falafel recipe is screaming my name
just waiting for me to tweak it and make it my own.

maybe i will play with it this weekend when Dyls visit me.

Confession...

2011-05-24T17:27:00.000-07:00

picture

I don't want to run today...
I don't want to work on the paper for how education and gender relates to sustainable social development (AGAIN).
I had a bad hair and bad skin day- all day along...
and I am a bit sleepy and a bit lazy.
oh, and maybe i only smiled to one person today. wow...

Sometimes i think it's GOOD to say these things out loud.
I don't look good every day/ or feel good
and as much as I value my education and my work,
some days i want to sleep in till noon and eat a bar of chocolate (which i did)
and some days...
i don't like to exercise- no matter how good it feels afterward.

It is completely OK to have these days.
And i am not even upset about having them.
It's not a bad day...
it's just not a perfect, i feel and look great day.
It's just an average day, and it's not the end of the world.

The end. Oh...and in case you are wondering what chocolate bar i devoured on my own.
it's the one and only Theo Salted Almond Bar- and yes, I ate it all by myself. Jealous?

cant wait...

2011-05-21T01:11:00.000-07:00

Ok...i am obsessed with this movie now.
After blue valentine disappointed me with a failed marriage
i want to see something that is much more beautiful
than two losers who dont even like each other
beyond the honeymoon period.

I love that this movie is as much about friendship
as it is about love...

i love you mac...

2011-05-20T12:23:00.000-07:00

remember how i broke my laptop...
well, I got back today.

Not only did I get it back, they gave me a brand new one with all my
work still on the hard drive.
They replaced everything- and best part
it's all for free.

No, i am not being sponsored by the Mac people...
i just can't believe how nice they were through the entire process...
I went in there terrified and angry
and they were so helpful and sweet.

I am definitely a mac person through and through now...
this is my second mac, and my first one lasted over 5 years as well.

So, all in all..this is a great friday

Time saver...

2011-05-19T08:36:00.000-07:00

Ok folks, I have recently learned of the Pomodoro Technique
it's really not much, except it keeps me on task.
As of 8:40am today, I will begin my experiment with it
to see how much I can accomplish.

Will keep you posted-
if this doesn't help I don't know what will.
I have three 30 page papers
26 final exams to grade
and 3 paper proposals for conferences
oh, not to mention that pesky little thing call
work,
all before I get married!

So, pomodoro or not baby, this work
has got to get done.

when SLO meets portland...

2011-05-17T19:19:00.000-07:00

Finally some photos from the bachelorette party.
i had so much fun with my girlies...
I love that so many of friends from SLO moved to P-town
and i also love that I have such beautiful and sweet women
in my life.

peace and serenity

2011-05-16T19:29:00.001-07:00

picture

Well friends, my computer crashed on Friday...
in the midst of end of the term grading for my students,
final papers and assignments for my fields committee
oh, and yes, wedding planning too..

Thankfully, I was in such a good space emotionally when this happen.
Instead of freaking out (which i would generally do).
i stayed calm, got all the work i needed done while staying late at work
i even went for runs at the gym instead of doing kick boxing on my computer.

And the best part of all...
my computer is being fixed for free by the lovely people at the mac store
and all my files were backed up and those that weren't were easily retrieved.

Oh course, i had to run around town trying to get all these things done...
but, boy am I enjoying my days of coming home
and just journaling and talking to people on the phone.

Hello Monday...i hope your weekend was less hectic than mine my friends.

Rachel Bilson for Magnum Ice Cream: Art Class. By Karl Lagerfeld

2011-05-13T13:14:00.000-07:00

can i just say...
i have always loved Rachel Bilson...
and i have always loved ice-cream...
combined...these two make for an adorable commercial i can't help but say, yes to!

Happy weekend my love...and now, go eat some ice-cream...Just kidding!

new adventures...

2011-05-08T19:11:00.000-07:00

since the days of my lost camera,
you may have noticed that my blog has been lagging in photos...

While researching on my next purchase, I started to realize that instead of buying a digital camera, I want to try film for a change.
I still have my diana from 2 birthdays ago that I haven't even used...
so, I finally purchased film and read (well skimmed the user's guide).

Then, I started researching on cameras...
and through all my research, I kept coming back to the Nikon EM as one of the best cameras for beginners.

Today much to my surprise, I stumbled upon one in great condition on etsy and decided to treat myself.

I am anxiously awaiting it's arrival and looking forward to learning how to shoot again with film.

(while this will not change my current lack of visuals on here, it is certainly a start in the right direction)

felicity- letters from sally...

2011-05-07T14:22:00.000-07:00

I've recently started watching felicity...
i know i am about 10 years too late on the hype
but thats how these things go with me.

I have always been a my-so called life fan...
and have not found a show anywhere close
to replace it...
and felicity is by no means that show, but at least it is somewhat reflective
of how I was in college.

Isn't it funny how we are always looking for parts of us all over the place.
It is as though we have to search outside ourselves to find who we are internally.

anyways, here's a letter from sally that made of think of love and coincidences...

Dear Felicity,

It's funny, your crisis with Noel is how John and I got together. We met at a garage.

I was getting my car smog checked, and he was getting some part for his motorcycle. We became friends. And a few months later, we were at dinner at a restaurant, and to my complete shock, John leaned across the table and kissed me.

I'm just saying, you know, you can't know, who that person is, the person who will become your ultimate confidant, your soulmate, or your lover.

He maybe that guy you had your eye on for years, or he might be that guy standing next to you in torn jeans buying some part of his motorcycle.

Whoever it is, he starts off as a stranger, so....could be anyone. Since John, I think about that quite a bit.

green smoke and ink...

2011-05-06T17:08:00.000-07:00

This week went by so fast friends...
I was on such a high when everyone left
that i had such a hard time settling back into my schedule and sleeping in a timely manner.
I finally went to bed yesterday before midnight.

And I am so looking forward to just doing hw,
sleeping in and cleaning my little home.

Also, my obsession and desire for a tattoo is growing
growing...growing by the day.

So in love with this one on the thigh.
I have been drawing on a little tattoo on my wrist everyday
for the last 30 days or so.
And, now I really want one on my thigh.

I can't get inked up till after the wedding.

but, I am looking forward to it so much!

Happy weekend!

bachelor/ette weekend extravaganza...

2011-05-02T10:58:00.000-07:00

dylan and our wedding party came into town on Friday
to celebrate our joint bachelor/ bachelorette party...
it was an exhausting and very fun weekend of adventures.

We spend friday evening doing a girls night and guys night out...
and then saturday was a tour or Portland (our favorite places and spots).

On sunday we had brunch at Tin Shed...
and just had a blast boasting about our favorite city
and celebrating our love.

Happy Monday!

record store day...

2011-04-22T08:21:00.000-07:00

picture

So, last saturday was record day...
and my new record player came in the mail just in time.
(I have been waiting to find a good record player curbside since SLO, but no luck)

My friend, Dustin and I
went to a record store
to rummage through their clearance section.

I got 2 Simon and Garfunkel vinyls and
then my favorite girl, Joni Mitchell
been playing her vinyl non-stop.

This week, I hope to accomplish some spring cleaning,
and lots of homework
while rocking out to Joni on vinyl.

bad day...

2011-04-21T11:00:00.001-07:00

photos from twig & honey (my new favorite bridal accessory store)

i had a bad day yesterday...
felt vulnerable, defeated, weak, angry...
all i want to do is crawl into bed
and listen to damnwells' I will keep the bad things from you.
on repeat.

Nothing is resolved with the bad day...
so the bad day is lingering into
my new day.

i just ask for the strength to handle these sort of things
and handle it well with honor.

letters in the spring...

2011-04-20T08:18:00.000-07:00

picture from rockie nolan.

the sun is finally coming out here in Portland and
I've been doing my best to spend some time outdoors...
been spending some time writing letters I will never send.

been spending some time writing letters I hope to sneak into passerby coat pockets
been spending some time missing my typewriters...
and love lost.

been spending some time wondering where all the fireflies went...
been waiting to spring to come around.

to draw or not to draw...

2011-04-13T21:41:00.001-07:00

that is the question...
i have been contemplating a tattoo for a while now...
since i was 21 or so, but I want to be certain on what I want.
I am often indecisive...

i want something small, meaningful and still classy...
perhaps on my 28th birthday...
a gift to myself if i am really good.

bright eyes, lost cameras and dylan's visit...

2011-04-12T07:53:00.000-07:00

picture taken with my mac, cas i lost my camera :(

We had the craziest weekend when Dylan visited this past weekend. We can both easily agree that this was the most fun we have had since our college days.

On saturday, we went to see Bright eyes at the Crystal Ballroom which just blew me away. We saw them back in 2008 at the Santa Barbara bowl. While, I am generally a fan of smaller concerts, when it comes to my man, Conor, I have to see this guy.

Walking back home that night from the concert, Dyls and I just remember thinking, this is our little life- you, and me in this beautiful city of Portland, Oregon. We both agree that we are so excited to begin this life, and we have never loved one another as we had in that moment.

firecracker-woman

Living beyond limits

life lately...

locks

home made.

juicing.

birthday wishlist...

2011- a photo or two for each month

a new year.

family

Like Crazy Featurette - "I Want You"

happy holidays

home

snow.

love love love.

smell.

thanks.

raw

my own version of 'occupy' wallstreet.

Kara-oke

grow old with methe best is yet to be... (rose&crown)

red.

3 days.

today.

freedom from fear.

enough

because...

A Lovers' Quarrel by Robert Browning

changes.

SLO.

more baby update

typical

hood river

rain.

canteen.

nobody loses all the time...

travels.

forced vacation.

powells.

motherhood.

vegie.

blues.

backpack

true.

weekend.

row boat.

beauty vitamins

The Future.

news.

maxi.

finally...

making it legal...

in another life...

journal day?

summer.

breakfast in bed.

back to school...

musicfest NW: Night 5

autumn in Portland

MusicFest NW: Night # 1

Ride into Williamsburg...

picnic

cookies + tea.

sisters.

six years ago...

surrealism.

baby.

truth.

Lodekka

Levi

salt.

in love.

seafood paella and other adventures...

vacay...

feast...

Lovers - Winter Takes A Lover

....

smack talk...

lazy days...

Rock n' Roll Bride made our day...

grow old with me
the best is yet to be... (rose&crown)