Current obsessions

Pumpkin spice latte: Ummm, how is it that I've NEVER had one??  It's about that time in Portland....where I'm pretty sure I won't see the blue sky for....another 8 months probably? Soooo...pumpkin spice lattes are gonna be my new "It's rainy, I don't care how much sugar is in this, and I feel FESTIVE drinking it" thing.  If it helps, it is a SOY pumpkin spice latte.  

Pambiche: Cute little hole in the wall-ish Cuban place.  The food and wine were EXCELLENT.  If anyone comes to visit me, we are eating here.  The prices were a tad bit higher than I expected them to be....but it's ok because the food was deeeeelicious, and they gave me great pour of wine ;)  I'd definitely have it two nights in a row...maaaybe even three.

Mm mm mmm

My sunday in fotos

My mellow sunday.  Gotta enjoy those days and times we have to just.....drink espressos and lay in parks all day.

Thai wrap and an espresso to start my day

Then I basically spent the day in the park...

and read...

looked at the sunshine...

stared at the sky...

then the trees...

oh, and the geese

Ahh, so at ease.

Then finished the day with a picnic....at another park

Oh, day of parks!

Counting my blessings

I am grateful for life.  I am grateful for my health.  I am grateful for laughter.  I am grateful for genuine kind hearted people.  I am grateful for love.  I am grateful for every person in my life whom I love so  so much.  You all make me such a happy soul.

You are TRULY the seeds to my growth and happiness.  Words can't express how grateful I am for every single one of you.  Since my sistah is  now a follower of my blog...and for the first time in years we are actually not glued to the hip..and are in fact separated by this huge ocean, I'd like to just tell her that YOU'RE MY FREEEAKIN BEST FRIEND EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you :)  

My BFF-sta

Ms. Chan

I am "Ms. Chan".  It was extremely awkward at first introducing myself to these students as Ms. Chan...when I really don't look THAT much older than them.  A parent asked me a couple of weeks ago if I was an incoming Freshman for example.  Buuuurnnn.  Jk, I embrace it, because I know in 30 years i'll look stellar for my age.  Let us all be thankful for Asian genes.  lol :)  So Tuesday was the first day of school....and it's been really nice with the kids finally around!! I love observing them (hopefully in the least creepiest way possible) and I love interacting with them.  I am amazed with how bright and intelligent some of these kids are....while others have already given me a headache or two....haha but I still love them.  The freshman are rascals but adorable and so innocent.  The sophomore girls are eager to grow up so fast.  The juniors are...respectful.  And the seniors.....well they're "seeeeeee-nioooors".  I remember saying that all the time Senior year.  Oh how cool you always think you used to be.  I am stoked to be helping LYM (Lasalian Youth Ministry) as well and being in charge of planning all the dances for the year.  I already have an adorable bright small group of girls for my homecoming committee.  Working in LYM will be a great creative outlet for me, when things in CIP get caaa-raaaazy.

Last night, I was invited to such a fun event.  It was called "Music for Medicine", and it's an annual party thrown on behalf of the Children's Cancer Association.  I wish I took pictures.  $25, all you can eat and drink, silent auction, a band, dancing, a great ambiance and fun company!  I found the attire description very cute, "Attire: This will be a night to remember as you wear your favorite Cocktail Attire! Think your cousin’s wedding, but super chic or if you have a cute bridesmaid dress, this is the place to re-wear it. (slight change on attire J).  It's too bad I only have THREE dresses here...but I made it work.  My dress was pretty "chic wedding" I think.  Ha, but when I got there, there were a BUNCH of people dressed like they were going to the prom!!!  But  even if my prom dress from high school magically appeared in my closet, umm...I'd definitely veto wearing it.  All in all, it was a very fun evening.  Now....I am relishing in the fact that it is only Saturday night.  And that I'm going to watch The Lion King.  

Naaaaaaaa Saaaaaveniiiaaaa!! Did you know that it's actually spelled like this tho....Nants ingonyama bagithi baba.  Sithi uhhmm ingonyama.  

Escape to the coast

Dear Seaside, Astoria and friends of the Coast,

The retreat this wknd to your homeland was beeeeeautiful.  I can't lie, seeing the the ocean did make me miss Hawaii's beaches....however the coast was extraordinary and our last stop to Canon beach was stunning.  I couldn't believe how much BEACH there was to it.  Thank you for showing us a great time and giving us beautiful weather.  I'll leave you here with some pictures and videos that sooort of sum up the mild and relaxing wknd.

JUMP Brothers JUMP!

This beach was beautiful. HAD to capture the horses.  I never see horses on an average day a la playa.

LV. Recongniiiiize.

LOVE dogs that swim in the water.

 
All our love,
The LV community

Oh my geeez!!

Alllllright....so I need to change this post because I THOUGHT that my little cae-bay was going to be a sister!!! So I got extreeemely excited and posted about it.  False alarm....shucks!!  But it's ok cause I don't have enough money yet to spoil TWO Chan behbehs anyway!  I do love and miss this little adorable thing BEYOND WOOOORDS.  I'm scared that she will grow up TOO fast and that I will miss it.  But, I'll do whatever I can to make sure she gets my love and guidance.  I have a feeling that she's gonna be sooooooo cool....just like her auntie m. ;)

I love you Cae-bay.  

CAE-BAY and ME

Cool kicks!

IT'S A CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE.

Biiiiiizzy beee

Holy sheez, is it September?? Ahhh it's been a HECTIC week.  However, the 7am to 6 somethin'pm hour days where every minute is GO!GO!GO! at work this week are starting to pay off....in that, I feel good in my heart type of way.  I love what I'm accomplishing so it feels good to just pour everything I have into the work I am doing!  It's an amazing and strange thing when 5pm just comes by SO fast!  Then I come home, eat dinner with my community, and rejoice at the sight of my room and bed....with my "Tattoos on the Heart" book patiently laying on my dresser waiting to be read.  Then it starts all ovaaaa.  Tonight was my night to cook dinner for the house...and if you know me....I don't cook.  I have about 3 dishes I can "master".  One of them being my Italian 3 course meal....carbonara, bruschetta and a spinach salad.  I'd say the carbonara is quite legit being that I learned it from my Italian sistah...she is seriously from Italy, and she taught me how to make 2 authentic pastas.  So, since I'll be cooking weekly...I figure at the end of this year I'll be a semi-master at cooking.  Scratch that, I WILL be a master.  We've got some mighty chefs in the house.  I'm totally up for being their apprentice.  And yes, I am 25.  But I am also a 25 year old who can EASILY live off eggs, granola and wine.  Can you see why I've never really had to use pots and pans and ovens much?  Sigh...I should watch Julia and Julia again to get inspired ;)

This wknd we are going to retreat to Seaside....where I will see the coast for the first time, and I absolutely cannot wait to see some ocean!!!!!!  It will be nice to relax, meditate and center myself after these last couple of hectic weeks and before the school year begins next week.

Peace be the journey.