Everyday Grace

A message for you

2012-02-02T19:49:00.000-08:00

Having to do something against my will...

Having to cut ties with people that I care about...

Getting further away, creating misunderstandings...

...

Please don't abuse power

I miss you. All is well with me and I hope all is well with you.

Oh, the Colorful Life is a Tasty Life

2011-09-09T08:33:00.000-07:00

I love colors! They make me feel so happy. Ironically, most of my wardrobe has been black over the last year, but nowadays the colors are slowly being added back in. {Who doesn't love black, it's just so classy, plus it has slimming effects!} Anyways, that's what my life feels like at the moment. I feel excited, 20% hesitant, happy, and ready to embrace what comes my way~

It's just a thought that popped into my head as I start off my morning blasting the music.

I've been packaging some kits and seeing these strands of colorful threads is just putting me into a good mood! Silly, is it?

Ah~ getting back into cooking these days! This is a cheesecake topped with fresh raspberries and blueberries, and raspberry sauce. I'm planning on testing some cake recipes over the weekend. My co-workers are encouraging me to bake one a day, and most importantly, bring them into work so they can taste test. >_< So much for a diet!

This book just arrived in the mail~ So bright and red! I'll be reading it before I go to sleep. Gotta love cookbooks! ^_^

And isn't this freakin' A W E S O M E ?!?!~~ Wacom, you guys are just genius!

"happy! in your smile!

더 크게 웃어봐

나는 법을 잊은 것뿐야
날개를 펴고 가슴을 펴고 힘껏 날아올라봐

내가 있잖아
영원히 함께할
내게 꿈이 있잖아"

from 이승기's Smile Boy

Melting

2011-09-04T09:09:00.000-07:00

Melting. Yes, I'm melting in this heat! haha! I hope everyone had a great start to their Labor Day weekend! :) Enjoy it~ with good company!

I had quite an eventful Saturday, so today I will wind down to some much delayed stitching, gracemade goodies, writing in the diary... and getting my share of sunlight!

I am off to make some creamy pasta with lemon zest and basil. yum~!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Daisy

2011-08-22T07:46:00.000-07:00

These days I've been drenched in sweet korean melodies, and this song by Alex, happens to be one of those songs. A perfect concoction of beautiful lyrics, sweet voice, mixed with a bit of romance and it has me feeling fuzzy for a long, long time.

어떻게 해야 하는지
난 알수가 없잖아요
나에게 가르쳐줘요
너의 마음을 얻는 일

난 이렇게 눈부시게 아름다운 미소를
본적이 없어 이렇게 떨리나봐요
Just only now and kiss me now
지금 이순간 우리만 생각해요

온종일 난 그대만을 생각했어요
그대만이 날 웃음 짓게 한
단 한 사람인걸 아나요
당신만을 난 꿈꾸죠

세상에 난 그대만이 보일 뿐이죠
그대만이 날 아프게 하는
단 한 사람인걸 아나요
당신만이 필요해요

어떻게 해야 하는지
난 알수가 없잖아요
나에게 가르쳐줘요
너의 마음을 얻는 일

난 이렇게 눈부시게 아름다운 미소를
본적이 없어 이렇게 떨리나봐요
Just only now and kiss me now
지금 이순간 우리만 생각해요

온종일 난 그대만을 생각했어요
그대만이 날 웃음 짓게 한
단 한 사람인걸 아나요
당신만을 난 꿈꾸죠

세상에 난 그대 만이 보일 뿐이죠
그대만이 날 아프게 하는
단 한 사람인걸 아나요

간절히 바라고 원하는
나 언제까지 당신만을 기다려왔어요
당신만이 나의 꿈이였죠
이제는 내가 당신의 완전한 꿈이 되어줄께요

온종일 난 그대만을 생각했어요
그대만이 날 웃음 짓게 한
단 한 사람인걸 아나요
당신만을 난 꿈꾸죠

어떻게 해야 하는지
당신는 알고 있잖아

Can't turn back time

2011-08-14T07:27:00.000-07:00

I may have lost something that is so precious to me. I am biting my lips for speaking too soon, speaking hurtful words that I don't even mean. Every ounce of me wants to turn back time, but the reality is... I can't.

Brighter than the Sun

2011-08-01T21:16:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to find a steady rhythm. I wake up each morning to walk. I walk, I sprint, and I notice minute details... things here and there, that I wouldn't have noticed otherwise. I love this time where I can tune into my most intimate worries.

Enter!

2011-06-27T22:27:00.000-07:00

Hello dear blog and anyone who may stumble upon this post!

It feels good to come back to you! I can't believe I left you unattended for this long and for that I'm truly sorry. I have indeed missed you.

Many things have changed since:

1. I am a designer at a wall decor company, my specialty is in colorful flowers and patterns!

2. I convinced my mom to get a puppy, and now we have the cutest Maltese named Mochi.

3. I got my first DSLR

4. We finally remodeled the kitchen and I LOVE it!

5. My mom got me my first ever kitchen aid stand mixer, which I've been eyeing for a very, very long time! (Thank you Mommy!)

6. I changed my hairstyle of many years, and got bangs and a perm. As a result many people had trouble recognizing me, including my very own brother and grandfather. I had an opportunity to live a double life, lol!

7. I started exercising! Woo~ I walk every morning before going into work.

And I'll fill in the rest with future posts!

Time just flies by! So far it has been an interesting year for me. I've met some wonderful people. I've caught so many colds. And I've also gotten to experience a spectrum of emotions. Through that I was able to learn a lot about myself and I'm continuing to do so. In this whirl of events, I think I've gotten a taste of my quarter life crisis. I have lived in bliss for most of my life, but I think I've stumbled upon something these past few months. It's been a roller coaster ride for me. Hopefully, I'll reach a steady balance soon. =)

xoxo,

Grace

A much delayed update

2011-05-06T20:48:00.001-07:00

Hello lovely blog, I have missed you so.

It has really been a long time since I last blogged. I don't know where to start updating. A lot has happened since the last post. I am now officially hooked on macarons, especially the Earl Grey flavor. I have turned 24. I have a Maltese puppy named Mochi- who is just the cutest little thing! I am obsessed with tea, once again Earl Grey! My co-workers want me to break free from my single life- and surprisingly I think I'm ready, too. I still love Lee Seung Gi though. hahaha

I am now working as a designer and it has taken away a lot of "me" time. Thus, I haven't had much of a chance to blog, or cook, or cross stitch. (But one thing I'm very proud of was that I kept up with Andwabisabi all this time.)

In the past year, I went through many ups and many downs, mainly because of working. Going from a student, to working full-time was not an easy transition for me. I would come home many nights feeling a little down cause I felt like I had no time for myself. Fast forward a year and here I am. I have gotten accustomed to the workload somehow, learned how to become more efficient, and learned to be a little, tiny bit more vocal. (Yes, I know some of you may laugh) I met some amazing people and I could truly say I love my co-workers! They make work a lot more enjoyable and we keep each other sane amidst all the chaos.

I don't know why but I had a sudden urge to blog again. It just hit me... and I realized I had to log in and just start a new post. I will try to update more often from now on. I apologize for being away for such a long time.

A Shout Out~

2010-05-19T20:00:00.000-07:00

Hello Hello~

My best friend just started blogging! Yay~ Please give her blog some love! She just dedicated a post to me! Isn't she a sweetheart? Well, it's definitely given me a push to post an entry~
I will start off my sending my bff a little shout out!
Elizabeth! Can you hear me? Can you HEAR me? :P
Liz, my dear, you know you're amazing right? When I first met you, I just knew right off the bat I had to be friends with you! You have this unmistakable energy about you and you bring out the best in me. And I am truly blessed to have a friend like you. I love you dear from the bottom of my heart and I hope our friendship will grow even stronger throughout the many years to come!
You dream of becoming an artist, but let me tell you, with a voice like that, you have the talent to turn it into reality. Go, go Liz! You have my full approval and support! :P 짱이에요 우리친구, 사랑해요 우리친구!

I've been lagging behind on my posts again. A lot has happened in my life. First and foremost, I am now working full-time! Working is hard work, but I'm learning so much in the process. Not only am I improving on my skill, but I'm also learning so much about myself.
Everyday is a new experience!

Please Enter the Giveaway~~

2010-04-24T14:00:00.000-07:00

Hello~

Monique, the creative genius behind Voleur de Bijoux is hosting a giveaway from moi (andwabisabi) on her blog ! Go to her blog and enter for a chance to win any 7 cross-stitch designs from my animals and insects sections The giveaway is going on until May 8, 2010.

Please leave comments on her blog (not mine) for a chance to win these fresh, simple, and cute designs! And while you're at it browse through her breathtaking jewelry shop!

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Sending you lots of Gracie love! <3>

Hehe! Now time for some shameless advertising!

Here's what I've been working on these days~ Enjoy!

Something sweet for mommy! <3

The following are a part of my NEW Cross Stitched Stud Earring Jewelry Displays.
Fresh and fun, this would make a great gift for your loved one and/or yourself! What a darling way to display your stud earrings when they aren't worn by you!

These patterns are Original Andwabisabi! © Grace Kim 2010. Do not copy.

These items are also in my shop

Have a lovely weekend! Happy creating!

Curious? Take a peek!

2010-04-23T14:40:00.000-07:00

I decided to share my work space with those whom are curious. This is where all my masterpieces come to life. hahaha jk :P It's where I create my illustrations, embroidery illustrations, design work, and of course, my andwabisabi line.

I've also updated my shop (andwabisabi) with new patterns! Take a peek!

For the remainder of April, customers who purchase $35 or more will get 10% off their entire purchase (amount will be refunded through paypal) Code: "twitter" at check out.

I have a twitter account! Follow me on twitter! I look forward to your tweets!

I wish everyone a wonderful weekend! Happy creating!

All is well... and warm!

2010-04-18T10:06:00.000-07:00

Hello~ Hello~ I have missed you!
A lot has happened since I've last written. So I really don't know where to start, but all is well!
I have been learning how to knit and I've also grown an interest in creating miniature food out of polymer clay.
These are two crafts that I once tackled before and abandoned. Well, it looks like the second time around is the charm!

So without further ado, my ivory cable scarf! I will have to wear it when winter comes.

Isn't it quite lovely? I'm very happy with the way it came out! There is something just lovely and precious about cable scarfs. I'm partial to them and I find them quite endearing.

As for the minature foods, I haven't got around to taking pictures. I shall share them when I do!

Pika Pika

2010-02-18T14:00:00.001-08:00

:) Hello Blog. I'm sorry for neglecting you. It seems like the more time I have on my hands, the less I'm able to do. This is why a person needs to stay busy! haha

Well let's see! I am re-learning how to knit. I totally suck at it and I've accepted the fact that the only thing I'll be able to knit is a scarf! My goal is to complete one scarf by the end of this year, instead of starting on 8 different ones. That in itself is a big task for me, haha

The weather today is not particularly gloomy nor sunny. Maybe it's just cloudy.

Guess what I've been doing these days. I've been trying to make Rainbow Rice Cake. Though I had to ditch the rainbow part because the steamer was too shallow. They say rice cake is easier to make than regular cake. Yeah right, that is a bunch of bogus. I tried making it with my friend 3 times and we failed miserably. I tried making it again alone, I got rice cake, but I wasn't particularly happy with the consistency. Maybe it's cause I used the packaged rice flour, instead of soaking rice and grinding the rice down to rice flour. ~__~
I'm so determined to do it until it's right. Right now I'm at attempt #6.

It looks alright, doesn't it? Looks are deceiving. Well it's ricecake, but it's not at the level of consistency I'd like it to be.

Oh Sunny day!

2010-01-27T18:01:00.000-08:00

The sun is out again! Phew~ saved me just in time! As you know, I fail emotionally with the rain. And with a week of rain I've been so waiting for the sun! Thank you!

Finally managed to take a photo of my finish. I finished it in early December 2009.
Isn't it adorable? hahaha! ^^;
Excuse the funky angle, I was trying to keep the glare to a minimum.
Little Red Riding Hood by andwabisabi

"I'm an Animal"

2010-01-12T17:22:00.001-08:00

"I'm an Animal"
Haha. Yes. I'm in a group show at the Black Maria Gallery (3137 Glendale Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90039-1805) If you live close-by, come and enjoy~
Opening night is this Friday, January 15, 2010 at 7:00PM ~ 10:30PM
It ends on Saturday, February 13, 2010

“YOU COULD SAY IT’S MY INSTINCT
YES I STILL HAVE ONE
I DON’T SECOND GUESS IT”

-“I’m an Animal” Neko Case 2008

As the new decade begins it seems time to stop in the forest, stick our wet noses in the air and try to sense what’s approaching. Guest curator Aaron Smith says it’s a group of female artists that are moving fast, bringing with them imagery that is beastly and beautiful, funny and ferocious.

Sarah Williamson, Mashanda Scott, Nicole Adee Dreyfuss, Connie Wong, Grace Kim, Brianna Harden, Saejean Oh, Alisha Amirkhanian, Shannon Freshwater and Daniaelle Simonsen are the young women who create work that is fearlessly candid and filled with the beauty and danger of nature.

Aaron Smith is a painter who has mounted several solo exhibitions in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, with reviews in the Los Angeles Times, Art Ltd. and the Chicago Sun Times among others. He attended Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California where he is now an Associate Chair and was the first Artist in Residence at the J. Paul Getty Museum.

Kimchi :)

2010-01-09T13:08:00.000-08:00

I'm just listening to music and semi-relaxing. My mom and I did make kimchi. Unfortunately, my hands were occupied, so I wasn't able to take pictures of the "real process" Instead, here's a picture of the cabbages sitting in a salt brine.

15 cabbages in all.

We started around 2:20PM and finished around 1AM. It's cause the brining part took so long!

Unfortunately, I don't have an exact recipe with measurements to share because we don't really measure anything, we just kind of eye it. The measurement of each ingredient also really depends on personal taste and how much kimchi you want to make at a time. We made kind of a lot. You may just want to start out smaller with 2 or 3 cabbages.

But these are just the steps you go through when making kimchi. Oh yes, and I'd recommend that you use some gloves if you don't want stained hands with burning sensations! :P

배추 김치 (bae-chu kim-chi)

Ingredients:

Napa Cabbage

Korean radish

Coarse sea salt

Garlic

Ginger

Green Onions

Fish sauce

Mochiko Powder

Red Pepper powder

Salt

Sugar

Raw oysters or shrimp

Water

1. Cut the cabbage in half and give it a dip in water. If the cabbage is very big, you can quarter them. (You don't need to wash it at this point, because you will wash it after it's been sitting in the salt brine)

2. Lift each leaf and sprinkle each individual leaf with coarse sea salt. The quick dip in the water will allow the salt to stick to the leaves. After you're done doing this for all the cabbages, put them in a large container with salted water. (Don't fill the container up to the brim with the water, just about half way) Let them sit in this brine for several hours. The cabbage will reduce in volume and turn darker in color. Remember to turn over the cabbages once in between so that they all get evenly covered in the salt brine.

3. In a medium saucepan, pour in mochiko powder (sweet rice flour) with water and simmer until the mixture turns into a thicker transluscent paste. Stir continuously to take out all the lumps and so the mixture doesn't burn onto the pan. Take it off the stove when it starts to boil.

4. After the mixture cools, stir in red pepper powder, salt, sugar, freshly minced garlic, minced ginger, and fish sauce. Incorporate well.

5. Once the cabbages are ready, rinse them under running water several times. About 3~4 times should do the trick. Drain the cabbages and give them a little squeeze.

6. Julliene some Korean radish and roughly chop some green onions and transfer them into a large container. Pour in the red pepper mixture and toss the ingredients together.

7. You can also add in chopped raw oysters or shrimp if you'd like. My mom makes it with raw shrimp. But if you feel uneasy about this, just omit it altogether. It's optional.

8. Mix all the ingredients together. Now spread the red pepper mixture thoroughly over the cabbage. Don't forget to lift each leaf and give it all a good coating with the mixture. Repeat this step for all the remaining cabbage.

9. Place the cabbages in a air tight contain or a glass jar.

You can eat it fresh or fermented, depending on what you prefer. To ferment, keep it in room temperature for 1 or 2 days, before transferring into the refrigerator/kimchi refrigerator. (Kimchi stays fresher longer in a kimchi refrigerator.) You will know if the kimchi is fermented when you open the container and see bubbling liquid and it smells sour. Also, don't fill the container or jar up to the very brim because it'll most likely leak juices while it ferments. And as you know kimchi stains are hard to get rid of.

I'm sorry that I couldn't provide any measurements.

Kimchi, and a bit of stitching!

2010-01-07T10:17:00.000-08:00

Hello! Good morning!
It's fairly sunny outside today. It looks like a great day to make kimchi! hahaha, yes. I am making kimchi today!! These days we've run out of homemade kimchi so we've been eating storebought kimchi purely out of convenience, but of course homemade kimchi is the best. Weee! I'm so excited! As you know I'm like a kimchi killer and I cannot eat bab without kimchi! hahaha But it's not an ordinary task so I might be knocked out afterwards.

I hope the sunlight lasts so I can take a couple photos here and there.
Our next door neighbors have these really TALL trees that block a lot of sunlight that could have entered our house. Sometimes when the wind blows really hard, I get paranoid that the trees will bend over and topple over our roof and destroy. And I kid you not. One of the trees started tilting a bit and it already pushed the brick wall (that separates the two houses) and it's currently sloping at an angle.

I've also been stitching away with my andwabisabi characters! Here are some pictures:

Unibrow Body Builder Cross Stitch

Happy Milk Carton Cross Stitch

Cute Giraffe Cross Stitch

Patterns by Andwabisabi!

Good Bye 2009!

2009-12-31T17:00:00.000-08:00

I love when Christmas time rolls along. It's too bad it has already come to an end. Although the holiday decoration isn't everything, I sure love the festive spirit they bring. The glowing lights warm my heart and remind me of endless opportunities.

I love being in the kitchen, raising the volume to some holiday music, swaying my hips to the rhythm, all the while sweet aromas fill me up.

I especially love listening to this song:

~~~Chestnuts roasting on an open fire

Jack Frost nipping at your nose

Yuletide carols being sung by a choir

And folks dressed up like Eskimos

Ev'rybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight

They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
And ev'ry mother's child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly

And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said many times, many ways,
"Merry Christmas to you." ~~~

at The Grove one winter night '09

Good bye 2009! And Hello 2010~ Wishing you the very best in health, in happiness and prosperity! I hope the new year brings you many, many blessings.

Happy New Year!

Hello Blog

2009-12-29T11:50:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since my last post. Hello blog! Lots of things have happened between then and now. I finally graduated from Art Center! I expected to feel great, I told myself I'll finally have some freedom. No. No. I really miss school, despite all the sleepless nights and stress that comes from it. I need that schedule, I need the strict deadline, and I need those brutal critiques. I just hope it's prepared me to jump in the real world.

The new year is approaching, and so fast. I really can't keep track of the days anymore, they are getting blurred together. Some special moments, some sparks, but I want some glowing action, haha. I want some excitement back in my life and I know the new year is going throw a lot of obstacles my way. Finding a job, but most importantly, finding a job that I will actually enjoy is my priority. :)
2009 has been the most challenging year yet. I've had to jump over many hurdles, come face to face with situations I thought I'd never have to encounter in my lifetime- but I can't take back what has happened, it was never in my power. If there was any good in the bad, I have grown from the experience. It may have been a blessing in disguise.

In the New Year I hope for the best, most importantly I wish for good health and happiness. Cheers to a wonderful New Year! Happy New Year!

I also wish the best for my cutie, Lee Seung Gi! I don't think his 'Will you marry me?' song will ever grow old on me. The perfect proposal song! 나랑 결혼해줄래?

Two Way Street

2009-10-23T08:50:00.000-07:00

Relationships are so odd and yet one of the most fundamental things in your life. The world cannot function without our relationships, whether it is between people, animals, nature, materials, and so on.

To cultivate a relationship, it's a two way street.

I simply don't want to read in between the lines anymore.

Seung Gi, my love! <3

2009-09-20T12:24:00.000-07:00

우리 승기 앨범나왔데요~
마치 마법에 걸린것처럼 내 마음을 설레게하는 이승기.
목소리만 들어도 미소가 절로나게하는 이승기.
텔레비전에 비치는 모슴만 보면 너무 예쁜 우리 승기.

스트레스를 싸르르 녹이는 이승이
랄라라~ 랄라라~ 이승기~
내가 너무너무 존경하고, 좋아하고, 사랑하는 이승기.
우리 승기 앨범나왔데요!!

이승기 4집 'Shadow'

많이 사랑해주세요!

Lee Seung Gi's 4th album 'Shadow'

I just preordered it on yesasia. I can't wait for it to arrive!!!! I wish I could go on 1박2일 and meet him and the other cast members! I just love them!

I am most definitely going to his concert when he comes in November. My brother says he'll go with me and that'll be my birthday present. lol. I cannot wait!

i <3 ZOYA

2009-09-18T16:33:00.000-07:00

OKAY... so I'm a little (or very) crazy for nail polish these days.

My new favorite nail polish is ZOYA. This is one of the best nail polishes I've ever tried. It's long lasting, free of toulene, formaldehyde, DBP (phthalates) and camphor.
My polished nails never last very long because I wash my hands like every fifteen minutes and because I draw, paint, cook, wash dishes and do other various things, the polishes seem to wear off like nothing. But with the zoya polishes, I went a week with very minimal chipping (chipping only on the index fingers)! I am very impressed~ The nail polish glides on SO smoothly and it dries fairly fast. ($6 per bottle)

If you're interested, check it out here

I also updated my shop these past few days with new patterns

:) My two weekends

2009-09-14T18:10:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone and hello blog! I've started school so my posting will probably be sporadic. But I'll try my best to update. Let's see... school is tense as usual. I'm afraid that my mindset has not switched over from my breakmode. I find myself slipping away as I'm working on an assignment. Like right now, I'm supposed to be researching, brainstorming idea, reading and writing summaries, working on layouts for my book, making color mock ups for PDL, finishing up multiples, working on doll designs, learning a design program, and so much more! Basically working my butt off.. but here I am updating my blog. haha. I'm a bit overwhelmed, which is why I'm stepping a away from my work for a moment to breathe. And my blog allows me to breathe and have some fun! To think about the good times, the bad and everything in between!

So the weekend before I started school I was craving steamed crab! Actually, I've been craving it for so long, but it wasn't until then I got to have myself some crab. It was really good and of course, smelly. Liz, Edward and I had a crab feast!

Then in the evening I called over my beautiful ladies (Connie, Liz, Stella) and we had a one of those potluck-esque things. We had so much food! Stella brought naan bread hummus and wine, Connie brought vietnamese sandwiches and rolls, and Elizabeth and I hit up trader joes and got mochi icecream, creme brulee, dessert wine (Moscato), quiche and we made a baby spring salad with balsamic vinaigrette, hot dogs. We ate, we drank, we chatted, and... they left!

My parents were out and my friends were gone so I watched a scary movie with my brother and his friends. I forget the name of the movie.. it was like darkness falls or something like that. It was bleh.

That was Labor day weekend, this weekend (or last weekend) my brother threw a BBQ party for his friend, Eric because he's leaving for Nor cal soon. So I called over Liz and we decided to sneak in their party and just freeload off of their food.. but little did we know that we would turn into the semi-hostesses. We ended up in front of the grill alongside my brother! hah!

Edward on the grill

Gulp, Chop, Nom Nom

Paul and Jeff. Shhh~~ they are my (2/3) favorites amongst my bro's friends.

Later that evening, the eight of us went to karaoke! It was so much fun!

Liz commented how Edward looked like he was a leader of a mafia with his arms out like that. hahaha

They were trying to photograph us. We escaped many, but not this one. Apparently, I was too wild with the tambourine and I bruised my left index finger, it turned purplish brown.

Dim Sum

2009-09-04T15:29:00.001-07:00

Today I had Dimsum for the third time. I had dimsum (carts) when I was in NY last December for the first time and it was pretty good. In fact, I started craving it once I came back to Cali. So I had it again in chinatown with no carts, it was a disappointment. I'm not sure if it was the taste or the fact that they didn't have the carts going around, quite possibly both. So today I drove out to Monterey Park with my friend Liz and tried dimsum at a place called NBC Seafood.

The restaurant was spacious and clean inside. All the chairs were covered in cream colored fabrics and the servers were very attentive. We barely got seated when three carts came to us and started offering different dishes to us. I think in a span of like 2 minutes we had our table filled with five to six different dishes. And they would clear the table once each dish was empty and come by every two minutes to fill our teapot. I've never been to a restuarant that had such blazing fast service! I was actually overwhelmed.

Anyways, on to the real point, the food was quite delicious! And here are some pictures. The lighting was quite horrible inside so most of the pictures were blurry. I managed to salvage a few photos. I apologize if I have totally butchered their names.

Shrimp Sticks

Shrimp enclosed in noodles with sauce

Pork Dumpings - Ham Shui Gok

Sweet BBQ Pork Buns

We also had steamed bbq pork buns, shrimp shu mai, shrimp and scallion pan-fried dumplings, and steamed shrimp dumplings. Yea, we ate a lot, but we couldn't really tell cause they kept clearing the table. After that, we got severe food coma and we were so thirsty.. probably from all the MSG consumption. My mouth is still dry no matter how much I drink. (tsk..tsk.. msg)

Here's where I'm at on Helen Bell's Multiplication Table.

Shopping finds.

2009-09-03T14:18:00.000-07:00

A couple days ago I went shopping! I will share with you my finds!
I've already told you how I have a new fascination for nail polish right? Well... when I start liking something I want more of it so I stocked up on some colors I've been wanting.

From left to right (dark room, ocean love potion, and russian navy in matte)
I love the matte look. It's true that it doesn't last nearly as long as the other polishes, but the nail polish dries almost instantly as it gets layed on. It's truly amazing.

So yes I gave in to the hype of the Urban Decays Primer Potion and got one to try out for myself. I don't gunk on makeup but I do like to wear eyeshadow every once in a while when it's a special occasion or when my spirits need some uplifting. And I hate it how it just sweats off, or the colors turn murky, etc. Well I hear that this is the cure to all of that and more. It's supposed to keep your eye shadow lasting all day long with no creasing, and the color stays more vibrant. Sounds pretty amazing, no?

I couldn't pass up this japanese loofah. It's just too cute. I thought it was a pig until I brought it home. Is it a pink rabbit? dog? I don't know, but isn't it cute? It's so cute I don't want to use it.
Remember that you need to throw out your loofahs once every couple months, because it's a great place for bacteria build up. Also you should air it and let it dry, opposed to leaving them inside the shower. And wash them out pretty often. Or opt for a dry rub instead, before stepping into the shower/bath.

Also, I have been stitching on this little piece.

I really love the way it looks. This photo really does it no justice. I believe it's my first time attempting blackwork and I am loving the results. This lovely pattern can be found in Mary Hickmott's New Stitches Monthly Issue Ten.

Jibber Jabber

2009-09-01T02:16:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!
I don't have any pictures or anything particulary entertaining to say, but you are still welcomed to read if you're interested. I warn you that this post might be non-sensical as it is late into the night.
I got home after a fun night out with my friends and when I come home after meeting my friends, I simply just cannot fall asleep. I don't know if it's cause I've had a sugar-rush or if it's from the excitement of getting together with my friends... but whatever I can't seem to just sleep, as tired as I am. And like I don't have enough trouble trying to fall asleep already!

I am feeling very talkative today which is abnormal for me, so if you wanted to know my darkest secrets I just might spill the beans! hahaha.
I love my dear friends. I don't have many friends, but I do have a few really sincere ones that I just adore. I believe quality over quantity in this case and many others ;) I really don't know what I'd do without them. They are so SO SOOOOOO amazing times 100!
I was feeling a little poopy throughout last week and so I stayed cooped up inside the house which made me fee even crappier. I am so glad that I got some air today cause goodness it feels great. (Well, the air is just horrible here. The fires are burning again which worries me greatly! I live in the valley enclosed by the mountains so there is a lot of brush in the area and we do have quite a lot of fires. :( )
You know how it gets when you get together with your close friends, you talk about the most random things and laugh so hard until you cry, and sometimes you just cry on their shoulders... and other times you whisper and giggle. Very fun times if ya know what I mean! ;)

Apparently, I have a new fascination for nail polish. I am into the matte look nowadays. I just got a matte navy blue polish and I'm getting a matte metallic red one shipped out to me this week! Excited!! And I got two more today while shopping at Sephora, I got a blue/black and creamy turquoise. :D
Oh but I gotta lay-off on the toes for a bit cause I have ingrown nails and if you've ever had in-grown nails you know how painful that is. It's a really bothersome kind of pain. Well... last week the pain was so unbearable that I got 0 hour 0 minute sleep that night. My mom was wondering what I was doing up at like 7am so I showed her my toe which was red and throbbing and she told me to take off the polish first and to stop cutting my toe nails round. Then she swabbed it and put neosporin (ILOVEneosporin), gave me aspirin and bandaged it up. It felt so good/nice. I love getting special treatment from my mommy ^^ (yes, once a baby, always your mommy's baby!) HEHEHEH *BIG SMILE*

End of jibber jabber! Peace out! (wait.. did I really say that?)

Dad's helper

2009-08-30T00:33:00.000-07:00

My first attempt at waste canvas

Today (or technically yesterday) I was daddy's helper. We were cutting down new base boards for the bathroom. It was really tiring especially cause we didn't have the right tools for the job. Seriously if we had an industrial cut-off saw the job would have been a piece of cake, but it was oldschool with just a saw, an old saw at that. The 45 degree angles were really killer!

My dad usually teams up with my brother for these jobs, but he's been so busy these days, so I was the perfect candidate. It was really exhausting, but it was a great father-daughter bonding time.

Sweatpants! Check~

2009-08-25T10:47:00.000-07:00

So I'm back at it again! This time I'm painting the bathroom. It looks really orange in the photo but it's a more subdued tone. I would say a mix between pumpkin and terra cotta.
I'm not in love with the color yet, let's just say I've had an ongoing battle between peach and orange house paints, I despise them. So why did I paint the room in this orange copper? My aunt is extremely knowledgeable and talented with picking out paint colors, keeping the layout, scale, and harmony in mind so I completely trust her judgment on this. I'm sure when the job is done and we bring in the hardware and accessories back in, the room will come to life!
It'll be my third day today and I didn't know such a small room would take so long! It literally takes eight coats to get even coverage, I'm not even exagerrating! I will admit, I do get OCD when I paint so there is no easy-medium with this kind of thing. It's either good or it's not! Yes, because of this mentality my body takes a beating.. but it's totally worth it in the end!
I'm also going to learn how to grout tile this weekend! I'm really excited about that! :D

I also received my precious Lee Seung Gi CD in the mail! (Doing the happy dance!)

Wonderful weekend~

2009-08-17T21:12:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

I had a wonderful one myself! On Friday I had a movie night with Elizabeth. We watched a Korean movie, 과속스캔들 (Speed Scandal) while eating rotisserie chicken, frozen yogurt and chomping on kettle popcorn. An interesting combination I know. My friends and I have this thing where we must eat salty/savory after something sweet and vice versa.
Speed Scandal was a really cute comedic movie especially with Wang Seok Hyun. He's such an adorable baby actor!

After the movie we were just talking. It was dark when we started and by the end of the conversation the sun was up and shining. My head was pounding/ringing from not getting any sleep, but it was so much fun! I think it was the first time we actually talked through the night.

Saturday was spent re-cooperating from the previous night of no sleep. I finally managed to get up during the early evening and decided cut my hair. It was a spur of the moment kind of thing, but I really needed a haircut! Now it's shoulder length, layered with bangs! It's definitely something different but I have mixed feelings about the haircut. I hope it'll grow on me soon.

Today I played with Elizabeth again. We made Pad-see-ew (Thai food) and it was pretty good. Since we're always cooking together, we're gonna start compiling our recipes and make a cook book and eventually a cooking blog. Tomorrow we're gonna make lemon madeleines with our friend Shanna. :)

And I managed to get a little further on Helen Bells Multiplication Table. I've been working on it a little by little every night.

Oh Happy Day~

2009-08-14T00:17:00.000-07:00

Remember how I was working on portfolio to get accepted into a class? Well, I got accepted into the class! Please be happy for me. I had extra bags under my eyes working on this. Of course, that comes from procrastination and neglecting my drawing.. but that is another story.

So today I drove to school for the third time this week! That's a lot considering I'm not even in term! I asked my mom to tag along and we had a late lunch/dinner in Old Pasadena. I love spending time with my mom. In fact, I will actually throw a tantrum if I don't get my share of mom time. I can be a baby at times. x) She's most definitely my best friend and a wonderful mother. I was having a really heartfelt talk about my future and really what else can I say... the pefect dose of support, love, faith and discipline! My mom is the best! I love you umma!

I also got a new pair of shorts at H&M, my most favorite shorts in the world! It's like the only thing I wear during summer and its so, so comfortable, also the perfect length! It's the eighth one to join my family, though four of them have had their time and I must say goodbye. (I'm the kind of person that buys three of the same pants in different colors if the design looks good on me. It saves me a lot of time and trouble when shopping.)

Oh and the most thrilling part of the day was taking my brother out for his first driving lesson. I was dreading this moment cause I heard many horrible stories! But it wasn't bad at all, no one was hurt and there were no harsh words exchanged! Sure my head was jerking back and forth for the first 20 minutes, but once he got the hang of it, it wasn't bad at all. I just remember repeating "smoothly" and "brake" ^_^ Once he got home, he was like "nuna, umma, I did good huh?" times like 10! -.-; Hah, my cutie baby bro!

Oh happy day!

Oh~ Sweet Memories!

2009-08-13T12:00:00.000-07:00

Anyways, a couple nights ago I suddenly had a 젝스키스 binge. Oh~ I remember the times when I was a crazy fan and stayed glued in front of the TV laying kisses on my dear hoony while rewinding and watching the same song over and over again! Not to mention my room was wall-papered with their posters. Oh yes, my love for sechskies was big and strong. I remember the day when I heard that they disbanded, I spent the day with tears streaming down my face. The good ol' middle school days!

Aug 10

2009-08-10T19:15:00.000-07:00

After returning home from school, I took one of those useless kind of naps for a couple hours. I couldn't really sleep, and yet I wasn't able to function, so I was sprawled out on the sofa zoning in and out. I think my body just decided to let out because I had been so tense the past couple of days.

Anyways, its been so long since my last cross-stitching update. When September comes, I'm gonna stop cross-stitching cold-turkey style. Reason being I'm going back to school. Fortunately, I draw with a lot of embroidery, so I won't be totally deprived.
This is the lastest of the projects:

Helen Bell's Multiplication Table

The instant I saw this, I just knew I had to get it. So I got it and I started! I made some adjustments to the placement of the numbers and I also made a couple mistakes on the grid so I need to rip that out.

I'm feeling 홍경민 (Hong Kyung Min) Tonight. hahahahahahha! Everyone starts cracking up when I rock out with this song. I wonder why :P

"아름다운 그녀가 어어어 어어어~
나에게로 다가와
흔들리는 머릿결 어어어 어어어
나의 숨이 멋는다"
(from 홍경민의 Tonight)

Yay!

2009-08-10T00:09:00.000-07:00

So I'm sitting in front of the computer still in my pj's with bed hair. It feels quite gross but I just slipped in the last pages of my drawings into the itoya folder and I'm done! Now I just need to drive to school in the morning to turn it in.

My brother is back from his retreat and he seems to have been deprived of sleep, he totally conked out after he came home. Anyways, it good to see him back safe and sound! Whenever he's gone, I usually get bored and lonely, but this time around I didn't feel his emptiness because I was totally focused on finishing the class portfolio. Actually, I kind of enjoyed it cause I got to hog two computers and sit on the comfy chair while dominating the living room and the study. hahaha

Now I'm planning to unwind with a cup of hot tea listening to music, but first I must take a shower! Oh how I would love for some hot apple cider right now. It was so, so good, especially with the beautiful view. I usually don't like whipped cream but this one was so light and fluffy, I was licking it off the stir stick. Yum!

"흘러가는 구름따라 어디론가 떠날볼까
시원한 바람따라 두팔벌려 달려볼까
화창한 햇살보며 파도소리 귀기울여
그대의 미소와 함께 꿈을 싣고 여행을가"
{from 이승기의 Paradise}

So sweet.

2009-08-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

"Oh~ You and I, oh you and I
왜 이렇게, 왜 이렇게 좋아요
I can see the sunlight through your eyes
Everyday, oh everyday
웃게 해줄게
서툴겠지만 그대위해서만"
{from 박정현의 달아요}

Listening to sweet love songs feels so nice!

Insomnia

2009-08-04T01:54:00.000-07:00

I can't seem to fall asleep. Maybe it's the pressure of putting together my portfolio or maybe it's because I'm alone in the darkness. It's just one of those nights when I'm so immersed in my thoughts and emotional. I will eventually drift off to sleep and I will wake up and tell myself I was being silly. But tonight I'm feeling rather down.

이럴때면 가끔 한번씩 생각난다.

Up and Down

2009-07-28T18:05:00.000-07:00

I miss Carmel. There's something soothing about being near the waters. Although I can't swim, I could spend hours just watching the waves glide towards me, while skipping along the shores and kicking the sand beneath my feet.

I dug up more photos from our trip. E and I decided to make a lovely sunset dinner for the last night. It was picture perfect, a five * dinner with a five * view, with my best friend!

Now I just needed my 승기<3 to serenade me away to 결혼해줄래 and I would've said yes to him in a split second! And I'm sure E had Mr. Nick Khun drifting around and about in her head. But that is a different story to which I would have to devote a whole blog post to, or maybe two or three or even a 100.

We set it out on the balcony on top of E's picnic mat

Steak and seafood kabobs on a bed of orzo.

Now that is one sexy plate!

I love how our glasses frosted up!

Cheers to a wonderful week! :)

Staying cool in the summer is easy peasy!

2009-07-27T14:44:00.000-07:00

Juicy. Sweet. Refreshing!

What's better than winding down with a mouthful of watermelon on a hot summer day!
I've been hooked on making su-bak hwa-chae (수박화채) Basically the same idea as a fruit salad except using watermelon as the main.
For this one I used refrigerated watermelon, lychee, and peach, that way you can eat it right away and it'll be nice and cold!
1. Split the watermelon in half.
2.Cut the edges in a zig-zag, and scoop up the watermelon with a spoon (a melon scooper would be ideal, but I couldn't find one) Keep all the yummy juices.
3. Cut open fresh lychee, or open and drain a can of lychee
4. Slice a peach into 1/4" thickness, then press the peach with a cute cutter. (Stuff the leftovers in your mouth while singing merrily)
5. Toss the trio in the juices and voila! YUMMMMMY!

I think I'm gonna go make myself one right now! Ciao.

How do you stay cool in the summer?

I'm BACK!!

2009-07-22T13:26:00.000-07:00

I've been MIA for a long time! And that comes with a large update! I've started a painting project on the first floor of our house last month which is still running on. I'm taking it slow and doing one room per week, or so I'd like to think. ;) All our walls have been cream/ivory/off-white for the past 10 years or so, so yes we needed a change! First off was the living room, which went from cream to a lavender colour. Our choice was Olympics 'Ancestral' after seeing it on the paint swatches. In the beginning it took some getting used to, because it changed so drastically throughout the day, depending on the light situation. But after a week or so, our family totally fell in love with it. The colour brngs a feminine and romantic feel which complements the dark chocolate furniture. I also stained the wooden mantle above the fireplace from a colonial maple to a dark chocolate. It's uber sexy, in my honest opinion. ;) hahaha! And then I painted a large mirror that was hanging on the wooden panel to a white and gave it an antique look. Those two additional changes (mantle + mirror) really transformed the living room, in a good way and we love it! It so interesting how a coat of paint makes all the difference!
Unfornately, silly me forgot to take before photos, but I do have an inbetween shot. :P And I haven't gotten to the after photos.

The second project was by far the easiest, we painted the entryway and the stairway wall, from an ivory to a light sage colour. It looks good and it makes our white door stand out from the walls now.

Then I tackled the third project with my mom, "THE KITCHEN, including all the cabinetry". It went from a yellowish cream to a organic basil colour, and the cabinets are now wearing white, and we love it! I under-estimated the work that comes with it... Well... let's just say I made a mental note to self that next time we will have that professionally painted.

The fourth project was the family room. We had the ugliest varnished wooden panels on the walls and it was my wish to get them re-painted... but I did not get my way till now. Now I love myself some wood, but these panels were so varnished to the point of cheapness!! Yes!! Feels so great to have it covered up in a nice natural taupe!

I know a picture speaks a thousand words, but after all the painting my body went into lazy mode so I skipped out on the photos. :P Perhaps in the near future~ But I did go up north to Carmel and had the most relaxing week by the waters!

Asilomar Beach

We made Baby Baby Bertha @ Asilomar Beach

Point Lobos (China Cove)

Cannery Row - "Candy Barons"
I was fulfilling my sweet desires with salt water taffy!

Sunset view from our suite

I know, you know, God knows

2009-06-12T19:37:00.000-07:00

Whilst on the phone with my bff, I came up with this quote, "I know, you know, God knows", and I thought "hey, I should make a pattern out of it" because a lot of people can probably relate to it. The quote came about because we kept getting involved in sticky situations. But really, what matters is that I know, you know, and God knows {the truth}

Pattern can be found in my etsy shop.
It was stitched over two on 28ct evenweave linen (hand-dyed) with dmc floss.

Why is it so gloomy?

2009-06-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

Why, oh why? I really can't stand gloomy weather! One day, or maybe even three days I can stand, but not a whole week! I can't help but feel grumpy/sad in this overcast state- weather can really make me or break me. I've made a mental note to self a long while back that I will have to live in a sunny place. Okay- my rant is over, now on with the real news! ^^;

I present to you "The Sampler Lady" framed with a mat. Excuse the weird angle- I was trying to escape the glare/reflections.

And here's where I'm at on State Fair

the progression

Excuse all the photos, they are a bit dull because of the overcast day

My grapes are steadily growing. They haven't sweetened yet cause the squirrels would've gotten to them. We're planning on covering them soon from their claws.

The seeds from last year sprouted this tomato plant.

Hydrangeas are blooming~

Last but never least, my babies, Mochi and Pudding

Thanks for viewing, and I hope you all a fantastic week!

The past week...

2009-06-09T10:58:00.000-07:00

My brother graduated last Thursday! The graduation ceremony was a let-down from my year, but the fireworks at the end made up for everything.

Throughout half of the ceremony I was waving like a lunatic to some kid that turned out to be not my brother, but a stranger (I was wondering why he wasn't waving back). He was looking at me throughout the entire ceremony, probably trying to figure out who I was. Finally, after an hour, he waved back to me, LOL.

Mom, Grandparents, Dad, Brother

WOOT! They had fireworks!! (The photos really do the fireworks no justice!)

Me and my cutie pie! (He is slouching for me in the photo)

~~~~
As for stitching, I finished "the sampler lady" and got started on "ate fair" :P

Oing! :O

2009-06-02T10:45:00.000-07:00

I was happily stitching away...
I was on a streak...

and I knew I could finish it!

and then...
I ran out of floss!

I looked at the clock and it read 6:30 PM (it was a Sunday and Michaels closes at 7PM), I jumped in my car and drove like a mad woman to Michaels. Okay- maybe not a mad woman, but you get the point. I ran to the floss section, and they had everything, everything but the DMC 420. Hah. Then I started scanning the whole floss section to make sure it wasn't misplaced. Sigh. Just my luck.

Love ya Edward!

2009-06-01T10:56:00.000-07:00

Edward's baby photo

My little brother is graduating from highschool already! We're five years apart, but he's my bodyguard, sometimes an older brother, and sometimes like my dad. We fight like crazy, but I also know that I can count on him to be there for me, always. He is such a cutie and a softie and I just love him so~ :) Time really flies, and I can't believe it's already time for him to go to college.

Edward, I wish you the best in college. Study hard, play hard, and continue to grow in God. And would you lay off the Sriracha sauce please?

Edward on his tricycle

Edward, Me, Cousin - at the beach

Edward, Grandma and I

Edward

I love you 현우야!

LHN - The Sampler Lady

2009-05-30T18:01:00.000-07:00

I started on Little House Needleworks "The Sampler Lady" a couple nights ago. I've been sitting in front of the tv, just stitching away on this one. It's really enjoyable and I'm loving the way it's turning out. It's being stitched over two on 28ct. Wichelt lambswool linen.

I also made lasagna today. Well... I guess you can't call it lasagna cause I had to use rigatoni instead of the lasagna sheets, but it was still de-lish either way.

Brightneedle - Dollhouse

2009-05-28T20:25:00.000-07:00

I know I said I'd be finished with brightneedle's dollhouse a couple weeks ago, but that hasn't happened. I have completed a bit more than this photo shows- I think I'm about 3 hours from finish. I can't wait until it's completely finished, the only problem is... I don't feel like stitching it at the moment! I bought a board for the mat, which is a mauvish color, and I think it'll go well with the stitching along with a deep brown frame I picked out. I am partial to frames with molding- I really love the extra detail and character it brings to the piece.

In the meantime I got started on Little House Needleworks' "The Sampler Lady". I am enjoying working on it cause it's much smaller in scale compared to the dollhouse. And I can actually see a good amount of progression within 30 minutes. I shall post pictures of it soon~

Ciao! Have a wonderful evening!!

Skype

2009-05-28T20:20:00.000-07:00

I've recently discovered the beauty of skype! And I must say it's a great way to keep in touch with your long-distance friends. :)

A Yum and DONE

2009-05-27T11:28:00.000-07:00

I spent some of yesterday cutting mats and framing. And I probably always say this after I frame something and while it's fresh in my mind- but, my hats off to those who frame their creations themselves!
The bulk of the time was spent trying to straighten/stretch the linen so that the stitches are in alignment with the mat. I had to re-do it like 15 times, literally. It's still crooked, but I suppose that's the best I can do. But I do, I do love the frame and the double mat. Cutting mats and framing are not my specialty and never will be, but nevertheless I will continue to do it cause I can and I am a poor college student.

Brightneedle "Larsen's Farm" double mat and framed

I made vietnamese spring rolls again! This time for my grandma- it was her first time trying it and *drumroll* she liked it!

Yumminess Overload

2009-05-25T18:38:00.000-07:00

Today my best friend and I had a feast of very random foods. We haven't cooked together in a long time and we just needed a breather- she's up in Santa Cruz while I'm stuck in the valley, so this was a once in a blue moon kind of thing. From vietnamese spring rolls, grilled mozzarella cheese sandwiches, yubu chobab, to red velvet cupcakes, it was a feast alright.

Yubu Chobab {Japanese- inarizushi }

Yubu Chobab is seasoned rice (sweet and sour) stuffed in fried bean curd.

Iced Red Velvet cupcakes

Red Velvet Cupcake

They were moist and just the right amount of sweet.

It'll only make us stronger

2009-05-25T17:29:00.000-07:00

It's such a great day out, sunny with a wonderful breeze. And today was the first day I wanted to welcome that brightness back into my life. The past month has been really tough on my best friends and I. It still is, and I know that we all need some time to heal.
Having to process the loss of loved ones in such traumatic ways has changed us, inside and out. I never knew that such unfortunate events could come to us like so, in a chain reaction- moments of shock, disbelief, which led to denial. But now we know anything can happen at any given moment. I've been grateful for what has been given to me, but now I can say it's truly heartfelt and it's not something I just know in my head.

Larsen's Farm finished

2009-05-24T11:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I put my last stitches in Larsen's Farm by Brightneedle. Now I just need to get a mat and a frame for it. I'm probably going to cut the mat myself, but I really do hate all the measuring. It brings back nightmares of the day and night I spent cutting and matting all my pieces for my illustrative storytelling final.
One of my classmates came into class with a bandaged finger which was later revealed to be an exacto knife accident. She was cutting down the mats when she accidently sliced her finger to her bone and had to make a trip to the emergency room. This is what happens to sleep deprived artcenter students. Fortunately for me, I just came out with a sore/tender hand.

Rain, Rain go away

2009-05-23T02:02:00.000-07:00

내 머리 위에 먹구름 한개가 떠있는것만 같다.
많은 것을 겪으면서 힘들었던 만큼 나 성숙해졌음을..
그런데도 마음은 찢어지게 아픈걸...
죽음도, 새로운 생명도 우리가 원하는데로 되지않는걸 이번에 확실이 알아버렸어.

Brightneedle - Larsen's Farm

2009-05-20T14:40:00.000-07:00

I started stitching Brightneedle's Larsen's farm a couple nights ago. My stitching has been getting progressively slower this month, probably because I'm so physically and emotionally drained. I'm hoping to get re-energized this coming memorial day weekend.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Organization

2009-05-19T13:41:00.000-07:00

We've finally got the bookcases from Ikea. My mom and I assembled them and organized/cleaned for 8 and a half hours on Friday. Then we went back to Ikea on Saturday and got a whole bunch of boxes, and other smaller furniture pieces. everything is in order, I just need to get used to what is where now.

Some of my books along with my kitty I painted at Paint a Dream on my 20th birthday.

My very small Dunny collection along with my postcard books and a couple of my paintings.

My fluffy flowers are guarding my collection of dictionaries.

Old magazines.

Our class' collection from archetype press. I picked Naomi Shihab Nye's 'So much Happiness' poem.

A couple pages from the book. Poem by Naomi Shihab Nye. Book design, hand-set, letterpress printed by Grace Kim.

A page from the book. Poem by Naomi Shihab Nye. Book design, hand-set, letterpress printed by Grace Kim.

w & whale

2009-05-13T12:26:00.000-07:00

I've been totally hooked on w & whale, a korean band who was formerly known as W [where the story ends] until a female vocalist, Whale, joined the group.

This music video is so fun and quirky, I love it!

"맘껏 나를 믿을 뿐, 나를 버리지는 않겠어."

That's what friends are for

2009-05-11T12:25:00.001-07:00

These lyrics just pierce my heart and I can't find any other words that can better express the way I'm feeling.

"That's what friends are for" Dionne Warwick

And I never thought I'd feel this way

And as far as I'm concerned

I'm glad I got the chance to say

That I do believe I love you
And if I should ever go away

Well, then close your eyes and try to feel

The way we do today

And then if you can remember
Keep smilin', keep shinin'

Knowin' you can always count on me, for sure

That's what friends are for

For good times and bad times

I'll be on your side forever more

That's what friends are for
Well, you came and opened me

And now there's so much more I see

And so by the way I thank you
Whoa, and then for the times when we're apart

Well, then close your eyes and know

These words are comin' from my heart

And then if you can remember, oh
Keep smiling, keep shining

Knowing you can always count on me, for sure

That's what friends are forIn good times, in bad times

I'll be on your side forever more

Oh, that's what friends are for
Whoa... oh... oh... keep smilin', keep shinin'

Knowin' you can always count on me, for sure

That's what friends are for

For good times and bad times

I'll be on your side forever more

That's what friends are for
Keep smilin', keep shinin'

Knowin' you can always count on me, oh, for sure

'Cause I tell you that's what friends are for

For good times and for bad times

I'll be on your side forever more

That's what friends are for (That's what friends are for)
On me, for sure

That's what friends are for

Keep smilin', keep shinin'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtGF2m102Wg

Deary, please remember that I'm here for you whenever you need me. I love you.

"For good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for"

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

2009-04-29T18:30:00.000-07:00

Or at least that's what Mochi thinks. Mochi is a funny lady. She has developed a habit of taking from Pudding. In fact, she's always trying to get the food that Pudding stores in her cheek-pouch and just now she grabbed the yogurt drop that Pudding was feasting on. And it's not like I only give treats to Pudding, I give them equal amounts but Mochi just like to taking Pudding's, even if its half-eaten. What a weird hammy!

"You're not talking about me or are you?"

Pudding is chilling underneath the tissue hat she created herself! A masterpiece right?

It was only to make our friendship stronger

2009-04-27T17:29:00.000-07:00

I've been watching the hammies like a hawk and they seem to be getting along just fine. They have migrated to Mochi's toilet roll and now they are happily sleeping in it together.

Here is Mochi making a face at me. I'm not quite sure what she means, maybe she's saying "hey mom, you don't need to check on us every five minutes!"

And here is the progress I made on the dollhouse so far. I'm hoping to finish it by early May, but we'll see what happens. I really can't wait to get it completed and framed!

Separation, maybe reconciliation.

2009-04-27T11:15:00.001-07:00

I had to separate my hamsters because what began as playfights took a more serious turn and they turned out-right aggressive toward eachother. Several days ago I woke up to find blood spattered all over their bedding, and that's when I knew this was no play. I checked on both of them and I couldn't seem to find where they were wounded.
It's been 3 days since they have been separated by a screen door mesh I made straight down the center of the tank. I purposely made it out of the mesh so that they could still see and smell eachother in the hopes that they would be able to reconcile.
Well... I just went to check on them and I found a pleasant surprise. Mochi (the more energetic one) was no where to be found on her side of the tank. I was about to break out in a sweat when I looked at Pudding's half and found her cuddling next to Pudding. Now they are playing and running in and out of Pudding's toilet roll. Mochi must have climbed up the mesh and jumped over to Pudding's side of the tank. Mochi always loved to play with Pudding from the beginning, but I think she's a handful even to Pudding.

I am still going to keep a good eye on them, but I really hope they would get along. :]

I held her...

2009-04-23T10:19:00.000-07:00

I've been playing with my hammies everyday in hopes of taming them, and Mochi let me pick her up a couple days ago!! That's not to say that they aren't scared of me, cause they still are very cautious. But hey~ I'm a few steps closer! So far I'm able to: pet them, have them walk unto my hand, and have them eat off my hand. *beaming* I feel like a little girl who has just learned to tie her shoes!
They are so lovable. I've been so sad after losing my two syrians; these girls totally brighten my day! And they are a delight to watch on the wheel.

I've also been in a cooking mood this week and I managed to take pictures. Most of the time, I end up cooking during the mid evening so I don't end up taking pictures cause the lighting is horrible. But this time I managed to get it done during daylight. I really can't wait to get a new camera. I've been eye-ing the nikon d40... now I'm just waiting for a hunk of cash to fall upon me.

Creamy white wine penne pasta with sauteed veggies topped with lemon zest

Baked tiliapia with sauteed veggies

I've been craving spaghetti, so that might be on the menu sometime soon. And I love waking up the next morning to have some the leftover spaghetti sauce on some toast. It's yummy!

My girls!

2009-04-18T14:04:00.000-07:00

On Thursday I became a mommy to my two girls, Mochi and Pudding. They are robo hamsters and can I tell you... they are so adorable! The girls are super fast and skittish, and I can see it'll take a while for them to be tamed. I look forward to bonding with them.

Mochi is much more timid than Pudding, she likes to stay in the house or sleep under tissues or hide out in the toiler roll, while Pudding is much more adventurous. Pudding loves to run on the wheel and she is the first to come when I offer food. Mochi follows only after she sees Pudding do something first, it's so cute and funny!

Last night I stayed up and watched them playing on the wheel- they both love the wheel! The wheel is too small for the both of them at the same time, but they tried to make it work nevertheless. They are so fast that they end up getting flung out of the wheel. Mochi halts the spinning wheel with her paw and that's how they switch off turns.

Here are the girls nibbling on a piece of broccoli. They were taking a nap under some tissue.

You gotta love those girls~

Yay! 200~

2009-04-15T23:03:00.000-07:00

I've reached my 200th sale on etsy today, which I am ecstatic about! It's come a long way since the beginning, it means so much to me because it wasn't a one night wonder and it's something I nurtured with my love and passion for cross stitching. My goal was and still is to introduce the joy of cross-stitching to first timers and renew the love of cross-stitching in oldtimers with simple and friendly imagery.
I thank all my customers for supporting andwabisabi! Thank you so much for all your love! It is because of you I am able to continue to make more new patterns. Please continue to give andwabisabi lots of loving. ^__^

Here is a new custom order I just completed.

Hello! My name is Yammy, nice to meet you! Please stitch me up and take me to your lovely home! I can be found at andwabisabi. I'm sweet and yammy and I hope you think so too!

Lovely Spring

2009-04-10T10:55:00.001-07:00

I've been cross stitching since senior year of highschool, but you'd be surprised to hear that I've only finished about four (big) projects, two of which I gave away as gifts to two very special people in my life.

I have a lot of projects that I've started without applying "the rules" and I can't seem to get back into those projects because they seem tainted. At the time I was more excited about getting started rather than getting it right and learning the foundation. Now I cringe when I see the knots I made in the back of my very first projects, or when see the horrendous back of a piece, and the projects where I've cross stiched one direction in one section and then started cross stitching a different direction in a different section.

Nevertheless, I managed to get back into my 'lovely spring' piece which comes from this Japanese book I found in Little Tokyo. The book is called Cross Stitch Embroidery with patterns from six different designers. My pattern was by Misako Murayama. I'm not completely finished, I just need to stitch in a couple leaves, finish the window and salad bowl.

Got Rice

2009-04-08T17:38:00.000-07:00

Today was a great day for me creatively. I've gotten several cs patterns up on andwabisabi

including the steaming rice bowl below. I love rice, I wouldn't be able to survive without it! Okay I admit it... My taste buds are totally Korean, and although I've never lived in Korea, I can't live without my rice and kimchi. When I'm at an restaurant you will probably hear me mutter the words, "it'd be nice if there was kimchi". :D

I need to have bab (rice) and kimchi at least once a day. And although I don't usually eat breakfast, I prefer to eat rice + banchan (side dishes) as the first meal of the day. If I don't get my bab, I feel rather grumpy.

My steaming bowl of rice with green peas. :)

Mes Recettes

2009-04-06T10:15:00.000-07:00

This is from a while back and it was intended for the kitchen, but somehow ended up in the living room. :) My mom usually doesn't like the designs I choose to stitch, but she really liked this one.

Start of another room

2009-04-04T15:08:00.000-07:00

I haven't been able to devote much time to stitching lately. I can't wait until I start on the room with the fireplace. I love bricks. Sometimes I go strolling around my neighborhood just to admire the houses with beautiful brickwork.

It's such a beautiful day out. The sun is out and it's wonderful weather out to go to the beach. Can't you just imagine sinking your feet into the warm sand, sipping on a cool drink and relaxing to the sound of the waves? Sigh. But the reality of it is I am home alone waiting for someone to come home.

New Dinos

2009-04-02T11:37:00.001-07:00

I made some more dino cs patterns which are available at andwabisabi

My yummy Heart

2009-03-31T16:15:00.000-07:00

I baked a heart shaped pineapple cake with lemon frosting and blueberry&raspberry topping. The cake was so moist and delectable, and the frosting was refreshing, and the blueberry & raspberry topping was just enough of sweet to balance the cake.

Semi Homemade~

This time I didn't have enough time to make it from scratch so I used a pineapple flavored store bought cake mix (+ eggs, water, oil). To that I added 1/4 cup of plain low-fat yogurt so the cake would be extra moist. I baked it at 250 for 35 minutes. (My oven is extra hot! Because the body is so small, the heat is concentrated and it burns the contents if you don't pay close attention.) I split the batter and baked it in two batches. After the cakes cooled I chilled it in the refrigerator for a couple hours. For the frosting I took the juice (1/2 cup) and zest of two lemons, 3 eggs, 3 Tbs of honey. I put this mixture over a pan of simmering water and stirred the mixture for about 10 mins. Then I let it cool and stored it in the refrigerator to chill. In the meanwhile I whipped up 3/4 cups of heavy cream, incorporated the chilled lemon mixture with 3 Tbs of low fat yogurt and there you have the frosting.

For the blueberry/raspberry syrup I took 3 Tbs of berry jam, 3 Tbs of grape fruit juice, and simmered the contents over low heat.

Next, I frosted up the cakes and decorated the edges with finely chopped roasted walnuts. And lined up blueberries in a shape of a heart and filled it in with the berry reduction. Then I put some of the leftover frosting in a ziplock bag, snipped the edge and wrote a short message.

Voila~ my yummy heart! And it was a success!

A tip

When frosting the cake, you can get crumbs in the frosting. To avoid this first thinnly coat the cake with the frosting. Then wash up your tool and add a second layer of frosting, now your frosting will be crumb free.

Also an update on my Doll house:

I wasn't able to get any stitching done on it yesterday, hopefully I'll get to work on it tomorrow~

Umma's Birthday

2009-03-30T15:00:00.000-07:00

It's my mom's birthday today! But she is stuck at work. I woke up extra early today so I could give her some special service. I drove my brother to school and I had breakfast with her. Last night my mom and I made miyuk gook together. (seafood soup) It's a tradition to eat mikyuk gook on your birthday in Korea.
And I wrote her a long card and hid it in her purse so she could be surprised at work. She just called me and said she found it, and she was choking back the tears. Oh, how I love my mom!!

My mom is an amazing person and individual. If I were to talk about all the things she does for our family I wouldn’t know where to begin or stop. She is a wonderful mother, wife, daughter and friend. I refer to her as “super mom”. I wonder how she does it, cooking, dishes, groceries, laundry, bills, all the while being a wife, mother, friend, and daughter herself. She’s always trying to give us the most she can, she doesn’t suffice with “that’s enough”.
I would say it’s because of her our family lives in harmony. She has taught me so much but most importantly, she taught us how to love and be loved. And I feel so fortunate to be her daughter, she’s the one person I can always count on, my confidant. She has been my number one support and always giving me the courage to pursue my goals. It is because of her nurturing my brother and I were able to stay on the right path. She always thanks us for being such a great kids, but we really owe it all to her. And anyone who crosses paths with her would be able to see what a beautiful soul she is.

I decided to make her some new earrings as a birthday present. I haven't made jewelry in a couple weeks so I had a lot of fun while making these pieces, especially since they are for my lovely mother.

They are made using Swarovski crystals, Swarovski pearls, Freshwater Pearls, and Sterling Silver Components.

These earrings are long and fancy and appropriate for formal events. I personally wouldn't mind them for myself, haha.

This particular earring is a mustard color and I thought it would be pretty for spring. And my mom loves the sparkles. The crystals are placed to be denser towards the bottom and it becomes sparse as it reaches the top.

This earring is simple but elegant. And what lovely light colors for the spring! I love the white coin shaped pearls.

Since she's working, the family went out to celebrate it last night. We went to Jan Galchi Sijang in Korea town. We got the full sashimi platter which came with an whole assortment of seafood. I took my dica to take pictures, but they came out rather blurry.

Happy Birthday Mommy.

I love you so much and I'm so thankful to be your daugther!

Doll House

2009-03-29T11:23:00.000-07:00

I wasn't able to get much stitching done yesterday. But I was able to feast on a meal at Stonefire Grill so I was happy. We had so much leftover- we brought back five to-go boxes. I absolutely love their bbq chopped salad and the aloha pizza. mmm dee-lish!

This is the little progess I made on Doll House. I am loving how it's turning out despite a sour start. Everytime I watch something on the television I always make some kind of mistake, this time it was a big booboo and I ended up pulling out a good three hours worth of stitches.

I'm putting the Noah's Ark Sampler on the backburner for now. (Sorry~ I will get back to you soon!)

Doll House

2009-03-28T13:21:00.001-07:00

I started on Brightneedle's Doll House cross stitch a couple days ago. I made some color changes and I started on the framing of the house.

I really love this charming pattern and I hope to get it finished and framed soon.

More pictures to come soon~

I tried my luck on ebay and I was able to win some patterns. They should arrive by the end of next week. :)

Redecoration!

2009-03-26T02:12:00.000-07:00

Its almost 3 am and I'm so energetic! Can't seem to fall asleep so I will write about my day.
We finally got the sofa! Well not quite, but we've made our pick. Woot Woot! It's a dark chocolate leather sectional and I'm uber excited! It's not completely my taste but hey~ its sturdy, functional, and within budget. It's very simple and the cushion is firm and superb. It's being made right now so we are to expect it in late May. And the salesperson at Macy*s was SO cute and nice, I just love her! Just thinking about her makes me smile.
I love updating the house, even though it's property of my parents. I just like to think of it as mine, well I did claim most of it, hahahaha ;) I'm gonna miss our sofa now as it's been in our family for 10 years, but now it must be put at peace. Our house is slowly being updated as the budget allows and can I tell you I'm so glad to say adieu. Well I'll leave it at bittersweet.

And my dad said we can get a new bookcase! My mom and I found the perfect one at Ikea. We are going to check it out again this Friday. I normally don't like modern or boxy furniture because I find it cold and impersonal, I'm more of the traditional crown molding gal, and I found one with molding on slightly antique/distressed dark wood! I think I'm in love with it but who knows what the second impression will bring.

Herbs~

2009-03-24T19:09:00.000-07:00

I love herbs! I <3 growing them and eating them. I especially love chopping up fresh basil. I get a kick out of it. *big grin* Actually I enjoy chopping up foods in general. There is something about the sound of it that is so pleasing to me. And I absolutely love the sizzling sound when something hits a hot pan. Therefore I love watching Giada de Laurentiis and Ina Garten on the Food Network. Everything about their shows captivate me, the colors, the sounds, I love the way they capture everything and tickle my senses.

Above is a Herb cross stitch that I completed an year or so ago. And below is Corner playing in my mini pot garden. (He is sitting in my carrot pot) What a cutie, I miss him so.

Christmas Everyday

2009-03-24T11:06:00.001-07:00

When I was younger my mom loved to buy seasonal decor and ornate frames. And the decoration would be placed all throughout the home. Some twelve years later the once seasonal decor has found a permanant place in the house during those years. Although they have been there all along, it just hit me that our house is full of christmas decor. Chuckle. Our house is christmas everyday!

As I was going through my stash of unfinished projects I pulled out this christmas cross stitch. I hope to complete it before this Christmas!

Noah's Ark WIP

2009-03-23T19:02:00.001-07:00

I've been working on the Noah's Ark Sampler bit by bit everyday. I've progressed quite a bit from this picture, but it's what I have for now.

I've been furniture shopping with my mom this weekend. I'm looking for some bookshelves to store my growing supplies, and my parents are looking for new seating for the living room. While shopping around for sofas my mom and I found the perfect leather sofa and chaise. It's similar in color to the one we currently own, but the design, shape, and price is just what we've been looking for.

I can't wait till I move out and get to decorate my own house~ but I have a feeling that will be years later.

Day Six

2009-03-19T13:15:00.001-07:00

I made the mistake of watching my favorite drama while cross-stitching last night. I ended up taking out an hour's worth of stitches. It was so painful, but I had no other choice.

I also love putting together puzzles. I had bought this one a couple years ago and decided to put it together this month. Unfortunately it has been the last thing on my mind these couple days. It's a stunning 1000 piece puzzle with Kathy Jakobsen's lovely landscape of autumn trees.

Small Changes

2009-03-18T13:14:00.001-07:00

I made little progess last night. I'm determined to work on it little by little everyday and it'll all add up and amount to something wonderful I hope.

Ham Shui Gok

2009-03-17T18:21:00.000-07:00

When I went to New York, my best friend and I had dimsum in chinatown. It was my first time trying the authentic dimsum as opposed to the store bought shu mai. Well there was this one kind that was crunchy on the outside with chewy mochi and savory delicious-ness inside- I later found out that delicious-ness was called ham shui gok.

And during the weekend, I just had to make it myself! My version has more of a korean taste, the only similar thing was the crust, but it's still delicious.

In the original version I heard you use ground pork, which I replaced with ground beef. My mama always taught me to grind your own beef, that way you know what's really in your beef. To the ground beef I added: finely diced mushrooms, onions, garlic, and scallions, a touch of sesame oil, a good amount of soy sauce, a bit of salt and pepper and mixed filling together with an egg. In a separate bowl I combined sweet rice powder (Mochiko powder) with water and seasoned that with a tiny amount of salt and sugar. The texture should be soft to the touch but not gloppy. Then I rolled ball-shaped mochiko dough with my palms, stuffed it with the filling and closed it up. Then you fry them in oil and voila, my version of ham shui gok! Enjoy~

I also started a new cross stitch pattern. This is the progress I made in four days.

Title: Noah's Ark Sampler (Cross Stitch & Country Crafts Dec 92)
Date Started: March 14, 2009

Sleepless night

2009-03-16T01:56:00.000-07:00

It's one of those nights where I'm absorbed in my thoughts. So many things are flowing through my mind and there are so many unanswered questions. There is so much I want to say, yet everything within me is holding it back. Maybe it is best to keep those questions unanswered.
And to top it off I am listening to the perfect song.

아무래도...

Yet another new project

2009-03-14T01:14:00.000-07:00

I am known for starting new projects before completing the previous one(s), but I just couldn't refrain myself from buying a new x-stitch pattern. I can't wait for it to arrive in the mail :) It's not an easy thing to find a pattern that I absolutely love... but that is exactly what happened. i j u s t s i m p l y cannot WAIT!

In the meantime I'm still trying to finish stitching a pattern from Paula Vaughan's 'Quilts for all Seasons'. I was anticipating to finish it in December 2008 but it just got buried with all the school projects. I shall post pictures soon!

I'm craving this macaroni salad I made a couple weeks ago. It's so colorful and yummy with kiwi, apple, carrots, potatoes, red onion, and macaroni! For the sauce I ground up kiwi + apple and mixed it into light mayonnaise and added a splash of lime.
It's really simple to make and the freshness just explodes in your mouth.

I cooked the pasta more than al dente because when the pasta becomes cold it'll naturally become more firm. Then I diced apples, kiwi, carrots, potatoes, and red onions. I let the onions sit in a bath of water to mellow the flavor and boiled the potatoes until I got the perfect firmness, and blanched the carrots. For the sauce I took half and apple and 1.5 kiwis and blended it with just a bit of light mayo with a squeeze of lime and seasoned it with salt and pepper. Toss the macaroni and the fruit and veggies in the sauce and voila. Store in a airtight container and enjoy as a simple snack during the day. :)

Kimchi love!

2009-03-05T20:08:00.000-08:00

I love kimchi, do you love kimchi? I love it so much that I need to devote a cross stitch pattern to it. :D I am excited to announce you my newest kimchi cross stitch pattern! And I am proud to say that I know how to make kimchi!

For those of you who are wondering what kimchi is. It's a traditional korean side dish (banchan) and its something that is always present on the korean dinner table (with minor exceptions). There are many types of kimchi and everyone likes their kimchi a special way. Some people like it freshly made, some people like it more fermented, etc. Kimchi consists of cabbage, radish, scallions, garlic, red peper flakes, fish sauce, etc)

It is true that kimchi presents itself with a foul smell, but once you get acquired to the taste of kimchi it is something that you crave and can't live without. Or at least that applies to myself ^^;

And it's extremely healthy too, it is packed with vitamins A, B, and C!

I've also been busy at creating cross stitching kits. I've decided to make kits out of the popular patterns for now. The dinosaur cross stitch kit is available at andwabisabi

Included in the kit is the cross stitch pattern, 14ct. white aida fabric, DMC floss, and a needle.

2009-03-01T14:36:00.001-08:00

I've been completing a lot of custom orders lately. The newest addition to andwabisabi is the lovely eiffel tower pattern. I was concerned if I'd be able to achieve a likeness, but after working and reworking it, I've finally achieved what I wanted. :) What do you think?

Monkey Love

2009-02-27T16:40:00.000-08:00

New on andwabisabi : monkey love

Buddha Cross Stitch Pattern

2009-02-24T13:06:00.000-08:00

Created a happy buddha pattern upon request.

New Cross Stitch Patterns

2009-02-22T13:43:00.000-08:00

More cross-stitch patterns were added to andwabisabi :)

For the artist

Bzzz... bzzz... <3

New York, here I come

2008-11-13T15:03:00.000-08:00

So the sleepless nights and stress are going to be neutralized because I'm leaving for New York the morning after I end school!!! There's so much I want to do: Broadway, MoMA, The Metropolition, Guggenheim, New York Botanical Garden, Ice skating at the Rockefeller Center, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, EYEshopping! Wee! I'm so excited! :D
Any suggestions?

Rolls, anyone?

2008-11-12T16:53:00.000-08:00

Part of the sushi set I'm making for my term project. :)

This is irrelevant, but I just wanted to say make sure you lock and close all your doors and windows before leaving your house. My mom and I caught a young man trying to break into our house this past Saturday. Our house went untouched save the two ripped screen doors, which we only realized after we let him go. This was the third unsuccessful attempt of people trying to break in our house. I don't know if I should consider it unlucky or lucky. Anyways, robbers are so sneaky these days. In my case it was a whole family working together. A mother, a daughter (who looked to be 8 years old at most), the son, and an icecream man who probably is the father were putting on an act while being on the look-out of on comers. I was shocked to say the least. Be careful and be wary of strangers buying icecream in front of your house. -.-

2008-11-07T11:51:00.000-08:00

So I've been getting into felt food toys lately.
It's so much fun, and there are endless possibilities!

The weekend

2008-10-25T09:25:00.000-07:00

It's my much awaited weekend. Although I'm buried with things to do, the fact that I don't have school takes a lot of pressure off my shoulders. I know I probably took on a little too much this term and I might be kicking myself for it later. But I pray, pray that the outcome is good.

I've been neglecting this blog, so I've decided to come by and update. I've been updating my etsy regularly.

Colorful Threads

2008-09-10T11:37:00.000-07:00

I love to draw with thread, here are just a few. This was an class assignment inspired by two distinct designers: Valentino and Christian Lacroix.

cover

spread

I need to get around to photographing the others. :)

Goodbye.

2008-09-09T08:51:00.001-07:00

So I've been sluggishly moving all my supplies upstairs. They have been banished to the corner of my room since I've promised my mom not to create jewelry or cross-stitch once I'm back in term. Now that school's started I must say goodbye to my lovely babies. *tear* And the day starts out gloomy.
As with stitching, I'm not too upset about it cause I draw using embroidery anyways, so floss will befriend me during this lonely journey.

I am ashamed of the state of my room, but it will be revealed none-the-less. I'll get to organizing this weekend.

before (still messy)

after (even more messy)
Work throughout the terms that my mom has been threatening to throw away if I don't place it somewhere more discreet. (shhh... although it's blatantly out in the open)

byebye supplies!

And Garoo, he makes sure no one takes anything from my room. Notice his big oogly eyes? He's looking out for me. ;)

Lake Casitas

2008-09-06T20:07:00.001-07:00

So I spent my last summer days going camping with my good friends. It was a memorable trip, the view was truly beautiful and I've been able to encounter with animals I've never seen around at home. :)

Missing you.

2008-08-29T09:54:00.000-07:00

My teddy bear hammy Corner, who passed last november. I miss my little hammy. Corner was so sweet and calm, and unless he's digging in his food bowl or playing on the wheel, you can always find him in the corner. :) He was also the biggest scaredy cat, I think he was traumatized by the caretakers when he was at the pet store. It took him long to trust us, even the slightest movement would set off his fright and he would make five spins around his house.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ <3>

My first hammy, the wise Blobbi. He was just a little blob when I got him for my brother's birthday present. He passed in July 2006, and being so devastated with his loss, I brought Corner home a couple months later. Blobbi was a wildchild, a great escape artist. I had to pile five thick hardcover textbooks on top of his house so he couldn't get out. I had to learn the hard way that one, two, three, or four wasn't enough. Sometimes we don't even realize he's gone, til he's suddenly next to us. One night he escaped and ran upstairs to my brother and sat on top his head. My brother got so alarmed and immediately turned on the lights to find Blobbi's round black eyes staring at him with his two arms in the air. :D

One stitch at a time

2008-08-28T09:45:00.000-07:00

Cross-stitching has been one of the loves of my life. I cannot describe the waves of happiness that flow through me when I complete a project. Thus, I have been making some cross-stitch patterns, so I can stitch my own :) There are many more charts coming soon~

Two less!

2008-08-27T11:24:00.000-07:00

I'm getting my lower wisdom teeth pulled out this afternoon, and can I tell you that I'm scared. I know that I'll be under novacaine, but still I'm not looking forward to it. My mom is making me porridge, while my family will be feasting on barbeque. :(

In the meanwhile I've been taking some time to update some of my old pictures. Hopefully they'll all be updated soon before school takes over me.

A New Start

2008-08-26T09:08:00.000-07:00

I've decided to create a entirely new blog that actually pertains to my store name, somewhat. Since hooniesarang was such a far cry from apple-pie-order. I had to make use of the dashes, because 'applepieorder' was taken, but I presume it's better for recognizability.

I've been working on promos lately. I've decided to make one of those stamp deals, where you get 10 stamps and receive a free gift. I'm planning to keep a copy of all the records myself, so it shouldn't be a problem, there's no need to send me the stamp card or anything. I figure it'll be fun for the customer as well.

New pieces added to my etsy shop, http://applepieorder.etsy.com/