The Ideal Guy

This quote is way too ideal and overreaching... but I have to share it with you anyway:

“Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who calls you back when you hang up on him, who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep... wait for the boy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you're just as pretty without makeup on. One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky he is to have you.... The one who turns to his friends and says, 'that's her.'”
-Anonymous

Sweet or what?

My Top Destinations

Since I've lived overseas my entire life (Hong Kong and currently Taiwan) I've been able to travel to a lot of different countries. I've seen Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the Eiffel Tower in France, the Colleseum in Italy, Stonehenge in England, Blarney Castle in Ireland, the Forbidden Palace in Beijing, and I think you get my point! I love traveling and will always love it. I plan on living overseas when I'm older too, whether that means Asia, Europe, or the America's. I couldn't imagine being born, raised, and spending my entire life in one town, city, or zip code... although some people out there are like that. I think the gift of travel should be taken advantage of and enjoyed! So... today I'm going to share with you some of the top places I've never been to but I'd love to visit in the near future. You may not agree with me entirely, but there is something about each destination that I found so magical and intriguing, hence the reason it's on my list!

1. Vienna, Austria

2. The Taj Mahal, India

3. St. Petersburg, Russia

4. Copenhagen, Denmark

5. Praslin island, Seychelles

6. Greece

7. Cairo, Egypt

The Common Cold

I'm stuck at home today with the common cold. Coughing, sneezing, heavily breathing.
Luckily, it's just Monday so I'm not missing out on much. I've gone through a pile of Oprah magazines and have just started reading I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. She is extremly inspirational and an amazingly talented writer, poet, and figure to look up to! I'll fill you in when I finish the autobiography, which discusses the hardships and joyful memories she has about her childhood!

Nowww... hand over the Kleenex!

Mothers Day

Have you ever had one of those weekends that felt like it should be three days long, as oppose to a meager two days? Hmm?? Well, that's exactly how I felt today. I woke up quite early, at 7:30 to prepare for Mothers Day! I decorated the first floor with colorful cut out heart shapes and put flowers, chocolates, and cards on the dinning room table. I also helped my little brother, Myles, prepare for breakfast in bed. We made an omelette with tomatoes and herbs, fresh mango, yogurt, orange juice, poppey seed muffins, and.. of course, COFFEE! (with foam and chocolate shavings).

And... since I haven't baked at all this weekend (besides the simple poppey muffins) I decided to make a carrot cake! I added rich cream cheese frosting on top. Overall, it was a success. :)

Tomorrow I have a Asian Studies test which I am not looking forward too, but, I studied for up to three hours today with two of my friends, David and Louis. We went to Starbucks.. and now my papers reek of coffee beans- just how I like it:] I'm feeling quite sick at the moment... and should probably head of to bed. Toodles!~

Puppies

Aren't puppies just adorable? Despite the shedding and the yapping and the... pooping, they're worth it, aren't they? Hate to disagree? Well, my siblings and I have been begging my parents for a puppy for quite sometime now. And I think we may actually have a chance! You see, we live in a town house, not an apartment... so it would have space to run about. As for what breed-I've got no clue! So, I was wondering if you had any suggestions? Toy poodle. Lab. Chihuahua. Beagle. Maltese. Collie.

Short post for today... I'm feeling quite queasy from all the food Jane and I ate after school (since it is in fact Fatty Friday). :)

Baking... for fun!

Avocado pound cake. Poppey seed cake with blueberry glaze. Berry cobbler pie bars. Yum, yum, delicious. I know what you're thinking.... obsessed. Infatuated. Fixated. Some may view my baking indulgence as obsessive, but no, I'm just passionate! Or so I think... To tell you the truth, I haven't always been a baking freak. In fact, I've only recently discovered the magnificent wonders that the kitchen holds. To me, baking is as whimsical as Alice in Wonderland. As imaginative as The Wizard of Oz. And you may hate me for saying this.. but as enjoyable as picking up Twilight or New Moon for the first time. There are so many fantasies that lie behind the kitchen cupboard... just waiting for someone (YOU!) to discover them. I am always digging up new recipes- just like an Archeologist, except I don't bake Prehistoric cakes, hehehe. I don't know what the point to this post is, but after spending most of my Journalism class on joythebaker.com- which happens to be my fave food blog- the thought of baked goods and the aroma of fresh, out of the oven Tres Leches cake was jiggeling with my brain cells! By the way, if you happen to be one of those fruitless people who constantly says "I can't cook" or "cooking is for 1950's housewives," then I'm glad you read this post of mine.. since it should be a WAKE UP call for you. Now, go buy yourself a lovely pinstripe apron and cook up a storm... or a dainty banana cream pie for that matter. :)

Photo courtesy of Ms. Joy herself! :D

Poetry.

Wow.
Spoken words..
Anis Mojgani's slam poetry is simply amazing.
My favorite poem of his: Shake the Dust is truly inspirational.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qDtHdloK44
Who knew that a few words strung together could create something so beautiful? I certainly didn't. It was certainly a wake up call... one which I will never forget. Watch his video. Tell me what you think. Your reaction?

Speaking of words... in English today we analyzed Langston Hughes' renound poem: Mother to Son.

Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor --
Bare.
But all the timeI'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps'
Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now --
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

Hughes' poem was written during the Harlem Reniassance, which is basically just as it sounds: in Harlem and similar to a Reniassance (blooming of culture, music, the arts). In his poem, a mother is narrating to her son about her hardships in life. Although she has come across a number of "splinters" and "boards," she has perseverd and remained resiliant. She has not given up. The mother is sincere and hopeful- anything but synical! I'm hoping I can be more like this mother. Instead of being a pessimist I should be an OPTIMIST. Instead of being hopeless I should be HOPEFUL. Instead of giving up.. I should PERSEVERE.
Okay. I'm done. That didn't take too much brain power, did it? My goal wasn't to be preachy today, that's what Mothers and teachers are for! I just felt the need to share with you these poems, since they have truly touched me. Touched my heart. Touched my soul.