new chapter, please refer to cupoftandsugar.tumblr.com

poached eggs

i realized that i have a natural talent for poaching eggs and they are also my favorite snack. so convenient.

It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious. Oscar Wilde

Apparently, not everyone understands my language except for my good friends and that took years of practice. I use it to invite people into my life but also keep others at a distance. I confuse people on purpose. My friend started writing about her first date experiences and her frankness really inspired me to be more upfront and honest with my thoughts and feelings. I am tired of keeping people at arm's length.

lyrics used to mean something

It cursed us all on our way home
We passed the sights like passing stones
And I will never go back there again
The tourists and the army men
The prostitutes this evening
Will start to sink under my skin
The dust and sand is what they sell
The flashing lights and ringing bells
A wish as far as I can tell
Inside this dried up wishing well

food experiment: melon and basil soup

Wish me luck!

after twenty-five layers of paint

The sad fact is that language and logic cut off from reality have a far greater power than the language and logic of reality-with all that extraneous matter weighing down like a rock on any actions we take. In the end, unable to comprehend each other's words, we'd part, each going our separate ways.

next dress project

here' the pattern

five senses

my favorite memories consist of the times when i can remember the sounds, smells, how the air feels, and my surroundings. It's like being a little child wrapped up in a warm blanket; feeling the warmth of it against your skin, blurred images of the little fuzzies, the smell of lint and detergent, and embracing its weight of security. it consumes you.

after spending the weekend being scorched by the sun that finally could in Seattle, my skin was on fire (and thank goodness, I have a healthier complexion now

) and I woke up to the summer rain that calmed and cooled down all my heightened senses. last night, explosions in the sky concluded the three day marathon of Capitol Hill Block Party and I was surprised by the loudness of my love for music, my independence, restlessness, and self. and suddenly the wind settled in like a cool band-aid. today it continues on with the rainy day music and activities. it was the perfect sensory combination but this time i can't tell if its nostalgia or signs of growing up.

I started on a new painting that resonates with the warmth and cool:

summer days-cruising around alki beach

Inquisitive (adj.)

definition:

1. given to examination or investigation

2. inclined to ask questions; especially : inordinately or improperly curious about the affairs of others

Curiosity rules my life. And it comes in many forms including wonder, questioning, speculating, interesting, etc. Not surprisingly, curiosity also means "odd item". That definition also fits me well. Knowledge is important to me but sometimes I wonder if I confuse knowledge with wisdom. Knowledge and wisdom have similar entities but I am starting to realize that knowledge must exist for wisdom to exist. But knowledge does not necessarily indicate you are a wise person. One definition of wisdom refers to the attainment of experience and perspective in which deepens your understanding of knowledge.

Here's an example, I have been sitting here, in a coffee shop, eavesdropping on a LSAT tutoring session. I now have the knowledge of how to approach the LSATs (which could of helped me years ago) but I wasted my time listening instead of writing cover letters. Will I learn from this experience? Probably not.

Now, here's the question of the day, if we have proficient self knowledge of ourselves but on purposely ignore it, is that experience still considered to be wisdom?

Things A Woman Should Know About Style

In honor of me finally accomplishing (and ending) my academic career, I have the time to enjoy the small daily/weekly rituals we often overlook but realize are important in maintaining good self-esteem and a balanced life. Sometimes, if we want a little rebellion in our lives, even breaking out of these routines can be beneficial. Just remember to mix it up. I was talking to one of my best friends last week about creating a list of things that I should strive to do before starting or ending the day. This is what I came up with:

1. Brush my hair (in some cultures, it is considered to be a medicinal remedy)

2. Read one article from the newspaper, gossip column, or magazine

3. Listen to one song from a band/artist you never heard of/fell out of touch with

4. Sing out loud (especially in the car)

5. Put whipped cream in your coffee

6. Think of one thing you are thankful for

7. Sit down and have a proper breakfast

8. Change up one thing in how you do your makeup, hair, clothes

9. Don't afraid to show a little skin (cleavage, legs, and even your back)

10. Take your vitamins

11. Handwrite your name somewhere ( a napkin, in your planner, on a post-it)

12. Set out to accomplish cooking one full meal from scratch

13. Always carry a book with you

14. Take at least one photo with your camera or phone

15. Laugh and smile

16. Stretch

17. Call your parents

18. Write everyday in your blog

19. Take a walk

20. Plan mini and big trips

21. Be thankful for your friends and health

22. Return stuff, a borrowed book/dvd is far better than a monetary fine

23. Sit and do nothing for 5 minutes

24. Drink beer or wine with dinner

25. Organize your belongings

26. Be creative in how you approach things

Also, it's important to recognize when things are not good for you:

1. If you don't find passion in what you are doing, don't do it anymore

2. Sometimes taking a step back is better than being in control

3. Patience is a virtue (and I am not just saying that because I am job hunting)

food challenge

my trip to Austin in March invited various bottles of hot sauces into my home. an interesting one in particular is the balsamic blackberry hot sauce.

poached eggs? strawberry salad? a trip to the farmer's market will tell all.

life is about the little perks

little perk #1



looking forward to the whipped cream on top of my coffee every morning. it's important to embellish the ordinary sometimes to carry us a little further. bonus points: eating the ultimate breakfast burrito while reading chicklit.

contents: scrambled eggs, green chiles, sausage, potato wedges, chiptole sour cream, hot sauce, cheese.

bright lights bigger city - cee lo green

something worth checking out

http://www.thedrtproject.com/

new definition: juergen teller

being sick let's you catch up with many fashion magazines and I'm really liking the dynamic duo of marc jacobs and photographer juergen teller. it makes me crave some vitamin C & D and color.

I read with every broken heart we should become more adventurous - rilo kiley

I recently discovered the artwork of Marie Laurencin. One piece in particular stood out to me in Elliot Bay. It was a postcard portrait of Coco Chanel in a black and blue off the shoulder dress with a reflective expression on her face. I was instantly drawn to the picture because I recognized that woman, she's me.

All my life I have been a people pleaser and now, at a convenient time, I decided to find my voice. These past weeks have taught me that I can survive on what I want and I shouldn't care what other people think. Yes, there has been struggles and I'm not the most desired person but I go home every night accepting that. Let's hope that I won't get carried away because I'm starting to like not being liked.

care package from a friend!

the simple things

today, some gave me a free baguette in a paper bag with butter and jam. it reminded me of Paris when i used to carry a baguette in a bag around the city.

back from portlandia...

and I was inspired to start playing with vibrant colors.

breakfast is the most important meal of the day

Watching the Rat City Roller Girls documentary makes me want to wear black makeup and knock people to the ground

compliments of lady gaga

I wanna just dance
But he took me home instead
Uh oh! There was a monster in my bed
We french kissed on a subway train
He tore my clothes right off

He ate my heart then he ate my brain

Happy Chinese New Year!

definition

flir·ta·tious (flûr-tshs)

adj.

1. Given to flirting.

2. Full of playful allure: a flirtatious glance.

---

flir·tatious·ly adv.

flir·tatious·ness n.

"success is so forbidding but it makes me think I'm winning" - clap your hands and say yeah

I have never grown accustomed to waking up very early in the morning just to have the whole day ahead of you. I think being sick for the entire week has made me depressed and I realized I wasted perfectly good days in bed. Around 5am, I decided to compile my "morning wake up call" playlist and make coffee and drink it from a cereal bowl. I find satisfaction in cupping both my hands around the bottom of the bowl to feel its warmth. Yes, coffee & music in the morning, this day has potential...

life.

my favorite thing to do in my apartment is listening to my neighbors upstairs play loud & dramatic opera. it gives me chills sometimes.

projects for january

after much consideration, I'm starting the dress project back up again. My excuse used to be graduate school but I need something to keep me balanced and I love sewing and creating things. I'm inspired to start designing my own dresses too, so stay tuned.

Also, as a favor for a friend, I'm painting something for her fabulous apartment in LA.

Maybe this why I moved to Seattle, rainy day activities...

i just need to keep telling myself this:

"people do it all the time".

Trinh fact #132

Sometimes it's not about the destination. I look forward to walking or driving somewhere/anywhere because I get to listen to music through my headphones or on the radio.

Your Get-Happy Checklist

I read this article on the plane trip to Seattle and it made me smile. I believe one of the most important things in life is self care. People often forget about that. Here are a few things on the checklist I appreciated:

Speak up
"Being assertive enhances self-confidence and shuts down feelings of helplessness"

Do less
"There's too much doing. We need to do more nothing-just take time to be"

Go Outside

Face your challenges
"Actually doing the things on your to-do list"

Be grateful

it's when you slow down that you start to notice the scenes of silence

as a child i've always been fascinated with animals. social culture has always portrayed animals in such a whimsical nature. Nursery rhymes. Fairy tales. Noah's ark. Zoos & circuses. Mother's Circus Animals cookies...

i'm anticipating the adaptation of Life of Pi on the big screen but it seems like that project has been delayed. When I first heard that Jean-Pierre Jeunet was directing it, I was ready to be swept away by his charming cinematography but now it all lies within the hands of Ang Lee.

My favorite animals are zebras and giraffes because of how artists portray them. The mix of playfulness and their natural form reminds me of my childhood:

Rithika Merchant:


Amy Cutler:

time of my life

Now that I can officially make New Year's resolutions, I only have one: to continue to be happy.

I have nine best friends. I know that sounds a little much and defeats the definition of "best" but these people have continuously reaffirm my self worth, challenge my doubts, embrace my antics, and most importantly, inspire me to be bigger than life.

Who I am today are pieces of nine best friends. I'm a very complicated and complex person and I'm blessed to have friends that bring out every side of me. They remind me of what's important in life:

1. Falling in love and being rescued by music including driving with the car top down and rudely changing the music to what we like. Only speaking by using music lyrics.

2. Wanting to live a meaningful life and having profound conversations

3. Random dance parties

4. Creating beautiful things

5. Acting like a little kid but enjoying aged wisdom

6. Ignoring rules and getting into trouble

7. Indulging

8. Understanding how spontaneity works and going with it

9. Be fancy: Being extraordinary and understanding self worth

10. Knowing what you want and getting it

Oh, 2011, we got you down.