Anne K. in L.A.

Starting Fresh

2010-01-11T10:52:00.000-08:00

It's a new year and I've got a new blog. With all the changes in my life, I thought it was time I retire this blog. It's been a fun 5 years, but all good things come to end. Please update your bookmarks, blog readers and RSS feed readers to.....

The new web address is www.AdventuresofAnneK.com

I've been a busy gal and I have lots to share. I hope you'll mosey over to the new blog.

Delays and Transitions

2009-12-17T11:42:00.000-08:00

Photo by JasonJT via Flickr (Creative Commons)

In the midst of the chaos that is my life at present, I want to thank everyone that has been so supportive. Family and friends alike have called or messaged me with much needed encouragement. I have been moved to tears. {Good tears, I promise}

I apologize if my previous posts came off as harsh or abrupt. When I stated that we didn't wish to discuss the divorce, I made that statement in the hopes that Rob and I wouldn't be bombarded by gossip mongers and busybodies. It didn't work. Busybodies are still busybodies. Some people can't resist a bit of gossip. I did not mean to shrug off concerned parties. While this situation is upsetting, it is not as terrible as my posts might seem.

The last 2 weeks flew by. I got oodles of quality time with Dottie. {Lots of naps and snuggle time} I've shopped and eaten at a few of my favorite L.A. haunts. However, the going-away shindig never quite made it into my schedule. In fact, socializing in general got left off of my schedule. I had so much paperwork to attend to and a design job that took over my life. {Picture 230 wedding invitations and numerous shipping delays.}

Speaking of delays, I've run into quite a few. The first of which pertain to the divorce. There have been a few small snafus. Nothing major. It's just that whenever this much paperwork is involved things NEVER go according to schedule. The cross-country roadtrip has also been postponed. I ran into some hiccups with the travel arrangements. So, I'm flying back to Virginia for the holidays.

What this means is that I haven't 100% moved. I'm kind of trapped in transition and it feels really odd. I don't feel like I belong in L.A. and I don't quite feel moved into Virginia. I'm in a sort of limbo with no roots.

There are a few bright sides to all of this. I can still have my going away shindig and see a few more people before I go. My trip can be rescheduled for a more convenient time. I also I have time to compile a more comprehensive L.A. Hit List aka places I want to see. {Once I come up with the list, I'll be sure to share.} For now, just call me In-Between Anne ;)

BIG News - Part 3

2009-12-01T13:05:00.000-08:00

Aside from moving and getting divorced, there is a third part to all of this....

Dottie is staying with Rob in Los Angeles.

A few weeks back when the details were being hammered out and arrangements were being made, it was decided that Dottie would stay with Rob. Again without going into too many details, this was a heavily discussed and debated topic. I can only say that when we finally came to this decision I was so upset that I could not speak to anyone for a week.

Even now as I write this, I am teary-eyed and emotional. Dottie is the first dog that I have raised from the time they were a puppy. We rescued Dottie when she was only 5 weeks old. Ironically, Dottie is the 1st Christmas gift Rob ever gave me.

Dottie the morning after she was rescued - 01/14/05

I cannot underscore how difficult this is for me. Because I have been working from home for the last year and a half, Dottie has become my constant companion and my muse. I photograph her, crochet scarves for her, sew jackets for her, etc., etc. She is the best napping buddy a gal could ask for. In the deepest of my depressions, Dottie has been there to make me smile and feel loved in a way that only a dog can.

Dottie and one of the many balls in our home 10/09

As hard as this is, my best friend Cicely reminds me that Dottie isn't in a bad situation. She's not ill or worse, dead. She is just staying with Rob. For as much as Rob and I could not agree on many topics, Dottie is the one thing we could always agree on. He loves and spoils her as much as I do, if not more. I have no doubt that she will still be loved and cared for.

By staying in L.A., Dottie is not far from her best friend Piper (the Shiba Inu) and her buddies Kevin and Lu. Lastly, she won't be far from the mountains and hills where she loves to play. My pup is an outdoors dog. She would hate not having mountains and hills to romp around in. The flatness of Virginia Beach would drive her crazy.

Of course, Rob agreed that whenever I'm in L.A. I am more than welcome to pick up our pup and spend time with her. Because of the bond that Dottie and I share, I know that she will always be my pup. Time and distance will never change that.

BIG News - Part 2

2009-12-01T12:00:00.000-08:00

There is more to my move...

I'll be headed to Virginia alone.

With a heavy heart and without going into too much detail, Rob and I are ending our marriage. It is a decision that may not be a surprise to some and a complete shock to others. It is a decision that has been thoughtfully considered and agonized over. We did not enter into marriage lightly nor are we leaving it lightly. Although it has not been mentioned until recently, this is a decision that came about over the course of several months and extreme efforts. All other avenues have been exhausted. I know that as a blogger and a person on Twitter much of my life is available to the public. However, I respectfully ask that you refrain from offering any unsolicited advice or prying about the causes behind the collapse of our marriage. This is a decision that we have already been well-counseled and advised by professionals and individuals who know us well. We understand that people often mean well by offering their thoughts or advice. However, it is a painful situation that is not open for discussion. If either one of us wishes to talk about it, we will approach you.

Of course, I am not naive. An announcement like this will pique curiosity. Rather than have misinformation circulate like wildfire, I will say a few things. First, there is no infidelity or abuse to blame. More or less, Rob and I have irreconcilable differences. For the sake of privacy, I will not say any more than that. Lastly, our divorce is amicable... or as amicable as the situation will allow.

It goes without saying that I appreciate the support I have received and continue to receive from my family and friends (both online and in real life). I don't know what I would have done without them. I am moved by their generosity and loving support and amazed by the outpouring of love and understanding.

BIG News - Part 1

2009-11-30T21:11:00.001-08:00

photo by Rachel Spauldilng

I know I have been very bad about blogging. Truth be told, I've had a lot going on in my personal life that I was not comfortable sharing with all of the internet. {Believe it or not} There are things I keep to myself and my inner circle. Now that I have hammered out a few details, I feel comfortable sharing part of what I've been cooking up. Everything will be revealed in parts so as not to overwhelm {and give me fodder for future blog posts}. Ok... Here goes....

I AM MOVING!
Anne K. is leaving L.A.!

For those that are Facebook and Twitter friends, it should be no surprise that I am leaving Los Angeles. After 7 years in this city, I feel as though I've overstayed my welcome. I am definitely a city girl, but not necessarily an Angeleno. I could not decide what city I would prefer to relocate to. In the interim, I'll be moving back to my hometown of Virginia Beach. Over the next couple of months, I'll be "auditioning" {read:visiting} cities to decide on my next locale. I am open to suggestions. The move will give me an opportunity to further develop and focus my energy on The Paper Stylist and spend some much needed time with my family.

Here's where it gets a little crazy...

I'm leaving L.A. for good on December 14th.

I'll be having a going-away soiree so that I can say, "see you later" to some of the wonderful people I've met during this chapter of my life. Please email me at AnneKDesigner@gmail.com if you'd like to join me.

My two year blogiversary just passed. I'll be sad to change the name of this blog, but I don't think Anne K. in L.A. will be quite so appropriate when I'm living in an different city. I'm open to ideas for a new blog name. If I choose the blog name you suggest, I'll send you an awesome gift. It'll be good, I promise.

Crazy for Hello Kitty

2009-10-24T22:56:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: This is a post with photo overload. It may take a moment to load all of the photos. Most of the photos were taken with my point-and-shoot Casio Exilim. I left the Nikon SLR at home.

When I read about The Hello Kitty: Three Apples Exhibit on the Hello Kitty Junkie blog , I was ecstatic. And when I found out that it was in my neck of the woods, I was thrilled.

I know I am a gal in my 30s, but I will always have a special place in my heart for Hello Kitty. I was born in Japan and frequently visited the Philippines while growing up. As a result, I had quite a bit of Hello Kitty toys and trinkets. Hello Kitty stationery contributed to my love of paper.

My partner-in-crime Pamela joined me for the opening day of the exhibit. My BFF Cicely was there in spirit via Facebook. {She's a bigger fanatic than me}. The exhibit was divided up into sections.

photo by Pamela Masters

The first part was a Hello Kitty retrospective. There were Hello Kitty merchandise from the last 35 years on display.

They designed a Hello Kitty apartment. I loved it, but I don't think I'd ever go that far.

As I was looking at the throwback items, I was giddy recollecting which pieces I once owned and which ones that I still have.

There was a gift shop that had a line out the door just to view the merchandise. We bypassed that, but I now regret it. There was also a cafe serving Hello Kitty high tea, which also had a very long wait. From other blogs, I've seen cute little Hello Kitty tea sandwiches and cakes.

My favorite part of the exhibit was the art show. Japan L.A. did a spectacular job curating the show. The variety and quality of the pieces on display was phenomenal.

Click here for an online gallery of the Hello Kitty Artwork

Our day was not complete without a photo op with the Birthday Girl.

photo by Pamela Masters

After traipsing around the Three Apples Exhibit, it seemed appropriate to head to Little Tokyo for a late lunch. It must have been my lucky day. I finally got to eat at Daikokuya. It sounds crazy, but I have been trying to eat at this place since I moved to L.A. in 2003. There is always a line. On this day, there wasn't.

photo by Pamela Masters

Now that I've eaten there, I understand why there's always ungodly line. It's THAT good.

I love the gyozas...

...but the Ramen is the best. Their broth is perfect.

Can't you tell how much I'm enjoying my meal?

photo by Pamela Masters

We swung by Fugetssu-do where we picked up a few treats.

photo by Pamela Masters

Despite my wonky facial expression, I really love what I picked up.

photo by Pamela Masters

It was double dessert day and Pamela introduced me to Yogurtland. I'm ruined. I love, love their yogurt. Forget Pinkberry. This is the real deal.

photo by Pamela Masters

In keeping with the kawaii theme of the day, they had Tokidoki cups and spoons.

I was exhausted and I'm glad I didn't pass out from the cute overload.

Sew Much Fun

2009-10-17T00:24:00.000-07:00

In high school, I took a home economics type class. I made a lop-sided duffle bag and a deformed chocolate chip cookie pillow. I had a such a terrible time making both projects that I didn't sew again. I've always been envious of my friends who can sew.

All the craft shows that I've been to in the past year have inspired me. I decided that I wanted to learn/relearn is how to sew with a sewing machine. I want to do basic things like make decorative pillows, maybe some pajamas.

I used trusty Yelp.com to find sewing classes. My search led me to Sew L.A. It's this hip sewing studio in Silver Lake. It's definitely not like your grandma's sewing shop. They teach classes and have a small shop. They carry some great specialty and import fabrics.

I signed up for their Machine Intro Class and Return of the Machine Class.

Learning to sew was much easier this time around.

After the 1st class, I made this.

The second class was about different stitches and what they are used for. Here are some of my sample stitches.

I'm addicted. I plan to take more classes soon, but the break in my design schedule is almost up. My mind is racing with all the different things I can make. For now, I'm really hoping Santa will bring one of these.

Janome Threadbanger 12

Cathee invades Cali

2009-10-05T01:32:00.000-07:00

September 24-28, 2009

Cathee with our niece Brooklyn

My sister Cathee came to town to visit for a few days. She normally visits with my incredibly awesome nephews, Franky and Ethan.

Unfortunately, she opted not to bring them with her this time. {Insert sad face here} This was a probably be a good thing because Cathee and I did A LOT of running around town.

Thursday

When Cathee arrived, she was starving. We headed to Hodori for some Korean BBQ. Pamela joined us.

Galbi - Short Ribs

After Korean BBQ, the three of us headed to El Cholo for some margaritas.

Two margaritas into our gabfest and Cathee was ready for bed. We headed back to my place. Cathee got ready for bed. Dottie and I left for a short walk around the Rose Bowl. As Dottie and I were returning home, we returned to a scene similar to this.

photos from Apartment Therapy L.A.

I was horrified. My sister who lives in the suburbs was passed out at home alone in the middle of a police fugitive search. Oh.my.God! We weren't permitted to go down the street. There was a police cruiser parked in the driveway of our place and officers in our yard. I called Cathee and thankfully she was safe with our neighbor. I was relieved. The fugitive was apprehended on another street and we were allowed to go home. The funniest part of this story? Cathee was sleeping through ALL of it. Police helicopter overhead. Officers in the yard. She had no idea. The only thing that woke her was our neighbor who banging on the door with a police officer to check on our safety. Needless to say, I need a stiff drink to calm my nerves after that. Cathee promptly went back to sleep.

Friday

Map of Friday's stops.

Thank goodness for a good night's sleep. Friday was jam-packed. We started with a hearty breakfast at La Llamarada in Lincoln Heights.

Chile Rellenos

After breakfast, we headed to the Fashion District. To make up for the previous night's drama, we stumbled upon Sample Sales at the California Market building.

We spent HOURS at the sales. Cathee made out like a bandit and bought tons of stuff. She got cocktail dresses, costume jewelry and other miscellanea. I was good (read:broke) and bought only a few small things.

Cathee takes a break

After the Fashion District, we stopped off in Chinatown to buy a few things for the boys.

All the shopping made us thirsty. Next stop: Galco's Soda Pop Stop. It's a neighborhood gem.

Of course, a visit with me is not complete without cupcakes. We dropped by Auntie Em's Kitchen, another neighborhood gem, for mini cupcakes.

We went home to catch up with Rob and rest for a bit {read: sat for 1 hour}. We then headed to Long Beach to meet up with our cousins at Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles.

Saturday

Cathee is a shopping marathoner. She opted to do some "light shopping" before we headed to Orange County to hang out with our cousins. "Light Shopping" = Nordstrom Rack, Ross and Michael's for two hours. She is the shopping champ.

I dropped her off with my cousins and headed home to work a photo gig.

Sunday

Rob and I met up with my cousins and Cathee in Long Beach to pick her up. We headed to the Santa Monica pier for another sightseeing stop. We took some fun photos, but those photos are on Cathee's camera (read: they'll never be downloaded from her camera)

It goes without saying that I needed a vacation after Cathee's vacation. I've never done so much shopping in such a short period of time. I'm not even sure how she got it all home.

Out-of-towners

2009-10-04T23:38:00.000-07:00

If there was a keyword for the last couple of weeks, it would be "out-of-towners". I had an old friend visit along with some new internet friends. Thankfully, all of these visitors arrived throughout the month. With each visitor, I got to introduce them to some of my L.A. favorites.

Anthonine - 9/13

I met Anthonine through twitter, where her screen name is pricelessrock.

photo borrowed from facebook

After spending months tweeting back and forth, it was fun to put a face to the name. Antonine was in town with a few of her friends from Brooklyn. They were having a mini-reunion of sorts.

We had the dinner of champions. Margaritas and cupcakes. Anthonine is among a group of cupcake afficionadas. So, I brought some cupcakes from the renowned Sprinkles Cupcake bakery.

photo borrowed from facebook

photo borrowed from facebook

Neleh & Shane - 9/21

Neleh & Shane

Neleh and Shane are old friends from college. They were in town for their friend D's wedding. Rob and I caught up with them for a margaritas (again!) and Thai food. They had a very busy weekend. So, we only got to hang out with them for a few hours before they headed back to Virginia.

For a while now, we've been dying to take Shane, who is Thai, to our fave hole-in-the-wall Thai restaurant. We were curious to see how authentic it was. The food was good enough to impress Shane. Apparently, they carried a variety of dishes that Shane hadn't had since he was a kid.

My sister Cathee - 10/24-28

We did a lot of things while Cathee was here. So, I'll save that for a separate post.

Feisty Tourist - 10/1

photo borrowed from FeistyTourist's blog

I know Feisty Tourist through Elizabeth Anne Designs Living, but this was the first time we've actually met in person. I love her blog because she is an avid traveler. She was in L.A. courtesy of JetBlue's All-You-Can-Jet Pass. She requested we get Hot Dog on a Stick and Pinkberry. I laughed when I got her email. It was like having lunch at a State Fair. I have to admit that corndogs are a guilty pleasure.

photo borrowed from FeistyTourist's blog

She was on a quest to see as many blog friends as possible and spend as little money as possible. Please visit her blog, Feisty Tourist to see her adventures around the country.

Take a peek

2009-09-30T16:11:00.000-07:00

My first photo posting is up on my other blog - The Paper Stylist. Please feel free to take a peek over there.

Return to my First Love

2009-09-24T23:58:00.000-07:00

{Image from Flickr user Mihoko Ozaki}

I received my first SLR camera when I was 15 years old. My dad was cleaning out his closet when I saw his Canon FTb still in its original box. I begged him to let me have it and he obliged. The poor man didn't realize it was the end of my would-be medical career and the beginning of a long love affair with photography. From that point forward, I immersed myself in photo classes. I took classes in my high school and through the gifted program. I became a photographer for the school newspaper and literary magazine. I was also fortunate enough to have had some of my photographs exhibited in Student Art Shows. Photography was the vehicle of self-expression that sustained me through my painfully awkward teenage years and kept me out of trouble.

{A Contact Sheet of my work circa 2000}

While in college, I decided to switch majors from biology to art. I wrestled with being a graphic design or photography major. In the end, I chose graphic design. I didn't choose it because I loved it more, but because I knew that it was something I could do without getting quite so emotionally involved. My 20s were a time when I struggled to find my own voice and balance what I wanted for myself and the expectations of my family. At that time, photography was a deeply personal form of expression and escape. I'm also chagrined to admit that it was way for me to meet guys. What guy is going to say no to a cute girl asking him to model for her? My ploy wasn't all that clever. I learned that it only brought me narcissists that were in love with themselves. Oh well! At least I had some fun;)

{Photo by Flickr user RonJe}

It was also during that time, that photography became the way I experienced life. Minute and magnificent moments have been captured by my different cameras. Photography was a constant in my life until the Summer of 2006. My Nikon D70 and all of its accompanying lenses were stolen. It was a blow and I was inconsolable. I took it as a sign that I was no longer meant to be a photographer. I took a sabbatical from photography... or so I thought.

Throughout my break, I still took photos, only I used a point-and-shoot camera. It was an challenging and humbling experience. It forced me to really focus on composition and lighting. It was also a reminder that my camera is merely a tool. It was still up to me to decide what is captured and how it is lit. It came to a point where the poor little point-and-shoot couldn't keep up with me. I finally bought a digital SLR last summer.

In the year since that purchase, I've been photographing as though my life depended on it. In some ways, my life does depend on it. The more I shoot, the more I realize how much I'd missed it. In the midst of this rediscovery, my best friend Cicely and my dear photographer friends Pamela and Neleh have been insisting that I consider shooting professionally. I'm ashamed to admit that I've been shying them off for months with the excuse that I'm only shooting "for fun". After the last couple of months of shooting, I have to admit they were right. I take my work too seriously for it to be simply just "for fun".

My photography is now a part of my professional repertoire. I am in the process of finding my specific style and niche. Before anyone jumps to any conclusions, I am NOT getting into wedding photography. I shot a few weddings in the past and am convinced that it is definitely not the best avenue for my creativity. I have much love and respect for people in that industry, but I know it is not the best fit for me. For now, I'll be shooting a lot of portfolio work in order to better refine my style. I look forward to displaying that work alongside my design projects on The Paper Stylist blog.

It's feels good to know that my first love never left me; it just took a seat on the sidelines.

A Delectable Afternoon

2009-09-15T20:19:00.000-07:00

Sepetember 13, 2009

If you've been reading my blog, you know that Pamela is my creative partner-in-crime. In the last two months, we have been happily photographing a variety of events and have been networking as much as possible. After shooting Joella's dinner party, we became friends with Michael Kay of Kitchen 12000. When we received the email inviting us to shoot Yelp's Sweet September Elite Party, we were delighted. The Sweet September Elite Party is a shindig strictly for Elite Yelpers.

The event was held at the Los Angeles Meeting & Event Center. There were several other photographers at the event. As such, Pamela and I coordinated with one another to ensure we had more well-rounded coverage of the event. Since Pamela's forte is shooting people and atmosphere shots, she photographed the servers, make-up artists, and overall party. I covered the food and its preparation.

Here are the passed hors d'oeuvres

Crustless Pizza shooters - Buffalo Mozzarella Balls in Tomato and Tomatillo Bases

Chicken Breast Cubes with Thai Peanut Sauce

Grilled Pear with Sour Cranberry Reduction and Feta Crumbles

Smashed potato medley in filo shells with red onion marmalade and queso fresco

Seared Tuna topped with Seaweed Salad and Tobiko in Filo Shells

Open-faced ciabatta rounds topped with Asian Pulled Pork topped with Mango Cole Slaw

Citrus Soy Marinated Baby Portobello Mushroom caps filled with a 3 cheese blend topped with truffle oil

Yogurt Blend topped with Pop Rocks

Blueberry, Acai, and Mangosteen Juice with candied Ginger

Since this was Yelp-sponsored event, there was some awesome swag.

Yelp Special Edition lunchboxes

Kitchen 12000 had favors made-up to look like illegal paraphernalia. They were filled with oregano, sugar, and syringes filled with pomegranate syrup

Choclates from Essential Chocolate Desserts

Here's some photos of the Kitchen 12000 crew in action.

A few photo ops with Dawson from Yelp L.A.

Here are the awesome event vendors:

Yelp

Kitchen 12000

Essential Chocolate Desserts

L.A. Meeting & Event Center

Floral Fields

DJ – Armando Jovel

Lillian Vicky, Makeup Artist – lillianvicky@yahoo.com

As always, please check out Pamela's blog for more photos from this event.

High Dollar Celebration

2009-09-08T01:37:00.000-07:00

September 5, 2009

Ordinarily, Rob and I love to eat at hole-in-the-wall restaurants. Whenever we have an occasion to celebrate, we usually head to one of our faves. This year for Rob's birthday we decided to venture outside our bubble and into the not-so-new Americana at Brand shopping center in Glendale. It's new to us.

For dinner, Rob selected

The interiors were modern with a sophisticated sense of humor. Then again, what would you expect from Philip Starke?

The birthday boy relaxes at the sushi bar.

Rob's beer

My delicious cocktail - Katsuya Fresh
An inspirited apéritif of hand crushed English cucumber kissed
w/ vodka, sake & freshly squeezed lime juice

Special Katsuya Roll

Spider Roll

A Katsuya Specialty - Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna

Hamachi Collar

Spanish Mackerel Sashimi

Hamachi Sashimi

This was only part of what we ordered. Some of the items just didn't photograph well.

Instead of cupcakes, we got

Creampuffs and Eclairs

Who says you can't put candles in creampuffs and eclairs?

Long-awaited Homecoming

2009-09-04T03:00:00.000-07:00

September 1, 2009

After an extended stay at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Brooklyn finally came home. She still has a long road ahead of her, but we're all happy that she's home. I dropped in for a visit and a brief photo session.

She slept with her momma (my cousin) Jasmine.

She also slept in her crib.

She opened her eyes for a little while...

... but she did more sleeping than anything else.

Look at the teeny, tiny toes.

Even though, she's got an East Coast name, Brooklyn tried to rep the "Westsiiide".

She gave us a look that reminded us that she's most definitely Jasmine's daughter. (Her momma has a facial expression just like this one.)

Up in flames

2009-09-02T00:38:00.000-07:00

August 28-31, 2009

When the Station Fire broke out in the Angeles National Forest, Rob and I were alarmed. We weren't in any imminent danger, but it was large enough that we could see it from our home. As an East Coaster, I couldn't look away. I had never seen anything like it. The compulsion to be an amateur photojournalist overtook me. So, Rob and I drove to a safe vantage point and I took photos a different intervals.

I started with the some shots during the day.

Plane drops fire retardant on Western flank of Station Fire - Friday, 8/28/09 2:15PM

View of the Western flank of the fire. 210 Freeway in the foreground. Friday, 8/28/09 2:15PM

The smoke could be seen for miles. It was frightening, but we were completely awestruck.

Friday, 8/28/09 2:15PM

When we returned later that evening, the fire had advanced significantly.

Friday, 8/28/09 10:25PM - 210 Freeway, La Canada High School & JPL

Friday, 8/28/09 10:25PM - La Canada High School & JPL

In the midst of watching it the hillsides burn, I couldn't help but feel sick to my stomach and saddened. The very same hills and forests that were on fire were the exact ones that had become our playground over the last couple of years. It's hard to believe that we wouldn't be taking any photos like this for a long while.

JPL trail on the way to Brown Mountain - Angeles National Forest - 2005

Angeles National Forest - July 2008

Dottie on Strawberry Peak gazing at Josephine's Peak -
Angeles National Forest - Feb 2009 -photo by Rob

Angeles National Forest - Feb 2009 -photo by Rob

Angeles National Forest - Feb 2009 -photo by Rob

Angeles National Forest - January 2009

Angeles National Forest - January 2009

Angeles National Forest - January 2009

All of the landscapes and natural areas featured in the above photos were destroyed by the Station Fire.

Snacks and Crafts

2009-08-27T23:51:00.000-07:00

August 23, 2009

I met up with two lovely ladies, Ivy and Lindsey. We had a leisurely afternoon planned. On the agenda, lunch and some craft ~~shopping~~ browsing. First up was lunch at Snackbar. We spent a looooonnnnggg time chatting at the restaurant. Of course, this was my favorite part of the afternoon. There's nothing like good food and catching up with friends.

{Appetizer: Grilled Watermelon}

{Lunch: Buffalo Burger - Manchego : Roasted Corn : Gala Apple : Red Grape Aioli}

{Dessert: Funnel Cake!}

We then headed over to the mini-market that was sponsored by my favorite group, Unique Los Angeles.

I did a lot more looking than buying, which made my bank account happy. I did, however, come away with a necklace {Thanks, Ivy!} and some cute hair barrettes.

{Oh Hello Friend}

Ivy and Lindsey check out handmade by minzer's booth

I picked up a t-shirt and a ring for my sister from this booth.

{Steppie}

I should have bought Dottie a new collar from these folks, but I totally forgot to come back to their booth.

{Sophie's Threads}

{Knicker Rocker}

{Rock Socks}

The giraffe that Ivy purchased for Joshua peeks his head out of the bag.

Angela Mesna Designs

A Special Request

2009-08-25T14:12:00.000-07:00

August 12, 2009

Sometime in July, my friend Joella contacted me to do flower arrangements and tablescapes for a birthday party she was hosting. I agreed to assist her. Then, I didn't hear from her again... until the day before the party. {Yikes!} Apparently, the party had been canceled and reinstated at the last minute. Joella needed help with the party decor and a photographer. So, I called Pamela to see if she was available to shoot. Thankfully, she was free.

{From MarthaStewart.com}

This left me with a very daunting task - conceptualize and execute decor in 24 hours. The party was for Joella's male cousin. It was a catered dinner party for 30 people in Beverly Hills. Her only request is that I use white flowers. It sounds simple enough except I am not a professional florist nor have I ever been. I'm simply a woman who enjoys playing with flowers. I scoured the internet for images to inspire me. I found these.

{From MarthaStewart.com}
{From MarthaStewart.com}

{From MarthaStewart.com}

{From MarthaStewart.com}
{Source Unknown}
{From MarthaStewart.com}

I sketched out an idea inspired by these images and ran around town. I went to Ikea, Crate and Barrel, Cost Plus World Market, CB2, and various retailers in the Flower Mart. I was a woman on a mission. I was also an unbelievably nervous woman. This was the first time I'd ever been hired {read: paid generously} to do party decor.

I got up early the morning of the party and went to the Flower Mart to purchase these:

I pre-arranged them and headed out to Beverly Hills to the party location. The caterer that Joella hired, Kitchen 12000 was already prepping dinner. Although, they very graciously offered to help me setup the tables. I appreciated the help. I was so nervous that it took me a few minutes to get composed and focused. Fortunately, the nerves passed quickly and with Pamela's assistance I was able to get everything set up in time for the party's start. Here's what it looked like.

*** Above photos were taken by Pamela Masters.
I was too preoccupied to photograph anything properly.***

Since it was such an intimate party with only four tables, I selected low centerpieces with lots of candlelight. I used flowers of varying texture to create visual interest. I became enamored with clear and mercury glass candlesticks. I found the candlesticks at various retailers.

{photo by Pamela Masters}

I also created these flower floats for the pool. Combine button mums and tealights and you have magic.

I also designed some place cards for the table settings.

{photo by Pamela Masters}

For entertainment, these two gentlemen played acoustic guitar. They were very talented. They had a great and varied repertoire. They played classics, but the real treat was when they played the theme to the Super Mario Brothers video game. Everyone was amused. They also threw in a few TV show themes, which also got a few laughs.

After setting up the tables and decor, I helped Pamela photograph the event. I focused mainly on the food. I feel most comfortable behind the scenes and I always love being in a kitchen. I feel guilty writing about another caterer, Kitchen12000 (especially since Rob is in the catering biz), but the food really did look amazing. The few bites I got to taste were divine. Here are some of my shots.

Dinner started with Sake bombs

Chef Steve Scherer preps the starter course

Starter Course: Double Prawns with Kimchi and Red Cabbage shred,
topped with a Citrus Soy reduction

Chef Michael Kay preps the Salad Course

Sous Chef Nick Bakti assists with the Salad Course

Salad Course: Marinated Cucumber Carpet with 3 Potato Hash,
topped with a Radicchio and Frise Sesame Salad

Intermezzo: Chilled Glass Noodles with Blueberry Citrus Broth and Candied Ginger

Main Course: 4 Style Japanese BBQ Sampler with Steamed Rice and Black Rice Vinegar Dipping Sauce (Marbled Beef, Chicken Breast, Shrimp {not pictured}, Ahi Tuna

Check out the blog post on the Kitchen12000 site, click here.

I think it's safe to say the party was a rousing success. Joella did a fantastic job of pulling us all together at the last minute. I really appreciated the challenge and opportunity to work on something so unique.

Even though, I appropriated some of her images, check out Pamela's blog post about the party.

Big Boy at the Park

2009-08-24T17:29:00.000-07:00

Sunday August 9, 2009

The last time I saw Joshua, he was this big and his mom Ivy was still on maternity leave.

{iPhone photo}

Pamela and I met Joshua and his parents Tai and Ivy at the Los Angeles Arboretum. I know I sound like a sightseeing pimp, but if you haven't been... check out the Arboretum. Its gardens are lush and vast. The flora and fauna are breathtaking. If that's not enough, they have wild peacocks wandering the premises.

I came to assist Pamela on a family photo shoot and to catch up with Ivy. I hadn't seen them in months and it was obvious. Joshua has grown significantly. He's now 8 months old. He sits up and has a very distinct personality.

Here are some of the photos I took.

I thought it would be funny to take photos of Joshua on a bench.... all by himself. It turned out to be a bit of challenge, but we got a few shots and I swear he was not harmed in any way nor were his parents very far. Tai was just out of the camera's view ready to scoop Joshua up.

Joshua flirted with Pamela...

...and gave his mom and me a big smile.

He played in the grass...sorta.

Then quickly realized that he did not like grass AT ALL.

Ivy brought this cute "walking" balloon. That bounces along the ground as you pull it. Here she is showing it to Joshua.

Joshua demonstrates that pigs are meant to be eaten.

A peacock decided to drop in for a few shots.

As always, here's a photo of Pamela in action.

Please skip on over to Pamela's blog to see her fantastic shots.

People surprise you

2009-08-23T01:53:00.000-07:00

It's been a rough year, but July had an especially low point. I discovered that a friend/former client had posted photos of my design work on her website without crediting me. From all appearances, I was intentionally uncredited. The text accompanying the photos inferred that the design and creation of the invitations and various wedding paper accessories was solely the work of my friend. There was a small blurb that she hired a graphic designer, but I was left unnamed. The initial work on the invitations was a collaboration between the two of us, but the design was my work. In all of my blog entries, I made sure to give her credit for all of her hard work in printing and assembling the pieces. I was stunned to see the photographs of my work with a credit for the photographer, but not for me, the designer who spent hours conceptualizing it.

My creative policy

I was a big ball of emotions. I was angry. I was stunned. And I was hurt. She was my friend... close friend even. We were heavily involved in each other's lives. I felt betrayed. I didn't want to write a horribly rude letter in that moment. I decide to wait to contact my friend.

********

In the interim, I vented on Twitter. I am aware that it was an immature thing to do, but I had enough presence of mind to not name my friend or her website publicly. I asked for advice on how to deal with this situation. The support that I received from other designers (specifically other invitation designers) and creatives was overwhelming. I was reminded that competition does not mean taking advantage of others and that most creative professionals have profound respect and admiration for their peers. A few people offered to draft letters for me. I declined these offers.

I received especially useful advice from Jennifer Berson of JenerationPR. Jennifer frequently posts info regarding media, marketing and tech info on Twitter. I have been corresponding with her for months. So, I wasn't surprised when she asked me for my mailing address. I jokingly told her not to send me junk mail and assumed she was going to send me additional info regarding copyright issues. Instead, this arrived via Fedex.

I cannot blog the package's contents, lest I get Jennifer in trouble. Let's just say that I will not have to buy any high quality hair care products for a very long time. I messaged Jennifer to thank her and ask why she sent me the package. She simply said that she felt that I needed something nice and that sometimes the people who deserve to win don't always win. I was moved beyond description. I know it was just some beauty products, but the gesture and the thoughtfulness are priceless. This little box saved me from sliding into such a low. I don't even think that Jennifer fully realized how a small thing could make such a big difference.

After receiving Jennifer's package, I was able to compose a simple letter that addressed my issues with the my friend's website. I asked to be credited or the photos removed. The photos were removed and I received a short, terse message notifying me of such. I have not heard from my friend since. I suppose is safe to assume that our friendship is no longer. I am disappointed and saddened by this, but what can you do?

A friend hurt me deeply and a total stranger lifted me up. People really surprise you sometimes.

An afternoon at the Viceroy

2009-08-21T21:52:00.000-07:00

August 4, 2009

For months, Pamela and I have been discussing some artistic collaborations. We've finally arranged our schedules and got to work. Now that are schedules are in order, we have been working like mad women! We have found that we work very well-together. This the first of many projects that we have lined up.

Jen and Jerome contacted Pamela about doing a portrait session. Jen is a childhood friend of Pamela's who she recently reconnected with via Facebook. {Gotta love Facebook} Pamela selected the Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica as the location for the shoot. She invited me along to assist and take a few pictures of my own.

I am in love with the Viceroy. The colors and the interiors are stunning. I guess it doesn't hurt that the interiors were done by world-renowned interior designer Kelly Wearstler. Here are a few of my shots of the interior.

Jen and Jerome brought their adorable dogs Lou and Lola to the shoot. They wanted some family portraits with their dogs. I was happy about the inclusion of their dogs, because as everyone knows I love to take pet portraits. Here are a few that I was able to sneak in.

While Pamela was getting this shot...

Photo by Pamela Masters

...I got this shot of the dogs peeking in on their "pawrents".

While Pamela got this gorgeous shot of Jen...

Photo by Pamela Masters

... I got this sequence of Jerome.

Lola and Lou were good sports. They were well-behaved and very patient with us through the whole shoot, which lasted 3 hours.

But even the most patient of folks, get bored.

Thankfully, Jerome's sister Melissa came along to watch the dogs and help with Jen's Hair and Make-up. Melissa was great at being both dog handler and Hair/Make-up Artist. {Seriously, if you need a Hair/Make-up person, you should give Melissa a call.}

I was able to get a few shots of Jen and Jerome.

I didn't get many shots of Jen and Jerome because... well, that's not what I was there for. I came to assist Pamela. Believe or not, I had a blast doing it. I was heavily involved in the art direction and set dressing. Pamela and I got some amazing images. Of course, it helped tremendously that we had great models and a great location. Not only are they incredibly attractive, Jen and Jerome are witty and fun.

You must see more photos of Jen & Jerome. Mosey over to Pamela's blog.

I couldn't resist snapping some photos of Pamela in action. It's intriguing for me to capture someone while they're shooting. Most people don't think that a photo shoot is work, but it is and here's proof.

This last shot is my favorite.

Mini Crafty Goodness

2009-08-20T14:58:00.000-07:00

Regular Updates are coming, but I wanted to share this info... The Unique L.A. folks have another show this Sunday.

Here's a tip from the Unique L.A. folks:

p.s. Because the Farmer's Market takes up Ivar and Selma, we recommend parking at the seven-level Arclight lot, located about two blocks down on Ivar (just below Sunset).

Nate's Escape

2009-07-31T23:43:00.000-07:00

July 21-30, 2009

Despite our 9 year age gap, my brother Nate and I are fairly close. He comes out to Southern California to visit me and our family in Orange County. Typically, he comes to visit 2-3 times a year. Because of other family obligations, he hadn't come out to visit in over a year. As such, there was A LOT of things he wanted to do and see once he made it out here.

There was a lot of shopping... although Nate did most of the buying. We discovered that shopping at mid-day, midweek in L.A. is the way to go. In four hours, we were all over town.

Map of the places we visited

On the first day, we went to Undefeated, Union, Supreme, Stussy, Hundreds, Diamond Supply, Huf, Active, and Neo39. In other words, we went to the hottest sneaker shops in L.A.

On his 2nd day in town, we went the Agenda Tradeshow.

Of course, we spent lots of time with family. After the tradeshow, we went to visit Jasmine and Baby K-lynn (Nate's nickname for Brooklyn)

Nate spent the rest of the weekend with our family in Orange County. I had some quality time with Rob.

I picked up Nate from our relatives' house in O.C. We ended up having a all-night gabfest, my aunt and uncle included. Once we got back to L.A., we did a little more last minute shopping. Again, Nate did most of the buying.

We had a family dinner at one of Nate's favorite places. Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles.

Janine & her boyfriend Joe

Nate & Jasmine

Jovan & Bella

Rob models his "Sunset" - half fruit punch, half lemonade

Once it was all said and done, I need a vacation from my lil' bro's vacation. Although, I didn't mind. When I'm in VA again, I plan to order Nate around;)

We scream for Ice Cream!

2009-07-27T23:56:00.000-07:00

Sunday, July 26, 2009

The past week was a scorcher. The weather has been un-Southern California like with temps in the 90s with humidity! We typically don't see these temps until about mid August and humidity is unheard of. Like the rest of the locals, we turned on the air conditioning and hid out for the duration. When the heat subsided, I suggest we get some ice cream. The summer heat gives me an instant hankering for a sugar cone. I suggested good ole' Baskin Robbins. Rob offered to take me to a local Ice Cream Parlor in Alhambra - Fosselman's. I love to try new places. So, we headed to the San Gabriel Valley.

Fosselman's Ice Cream
1824 W. Main St.
Alhambra, CA 91801
626-282-6533

Apparently, we weren't the only ones who thought of ice cream.

They have quite a selection of flavors. All of which they make in house.

Rob holds my ice cream while he waits for his ice cream sundae.

Rob holds up my Dulce de Leche Ice cream for a close-up

The verdict? Delicious. I would definitely head back there again. Although, I'll pass on the Dulce de Leche in lieu of one of their more exotic flavors like Lychee.

More Mariachis

2009-07-26T21:32:00.000-07:00

Friday, July 24, 2009

Rob and I were invited by a friend to attend what she called an outdoor Mariachi Show in Long Beach.

Turns out it, it was a CD release party at the Museum of Latin American Art.

Unfortunately, I was a tad under-dressed. I really hate when that happens. I had on a maxi dress with high-heeled sandals. The other women in attendance? Cocktail dresses. Our companion? Chic black outfit. To make matters worse, they were only serving beer and cheap liquor. It was bad times. The only positive, it was a gorgeous night at a beautiful venue.

We only saw the first 10 minutes of the performance. The mariachi performer's new CD was his "breakout" CD of Spanish love ballads. Our companion was not pleased. So, we exited almost as quickly as we appeared. I wasn't complaining.

While waiting for the valet to bring us our car, Rob decided to strike a pose with one of the statues.

It was still early (9PM). So, I suggested we continue with the mariachi theme. Both Rob and our companion have raved about La Fonda Restaurant, but I have never been there. So, we headed to MacArthur Park.

{photo from La Fonda website}

LA FONDA RESTAURANT & LOUNGE
2501 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90057
Phone: 213.380.5053

While en route, our companion made a reservation and inadvertently spoke to the Executive Chef. She flirted and sweet-talked our way into a great table close to the action.

I immediately ordered a margarita. Not so surprisingly, the night took a turn for the better.

{Please excuse the bad iPhone photo}

Because of our companion, we received stellar service.

I had the Chef Special - A White Fish Dish served with Shrimp. It was superb.

Rob had a Mignon en la Huitlacoche-

We ordered my favorite, flan, for dessert.

The performances were awesome. My Spanish is limited, but I understood enough to have a good time. Here's a preview of the show.

Mariachi Encore at La Fonda Restaurant from Anne K. on Vimeo.

What started off as a bad time turned into a good time. If you want to see a good mariachi performance in L.A., head to La Fonda.

Such a tease!

2009-07-23T23:25:00.000-07:00

July 22, 2009

I am a fan of Burlesque. This is not to be confused with your run-of-the-mill strip shows at seedy bars. I am not interested in any of that. I enjoy the elaborate sets and costumes that are involved in a good Burlesque show. I especially like how the emphasis is more on the tease rather than the strip part of the show.

Because of my fondness for this genre of performance, I am a fan of Dita Von Teese. I follow her on Twitter. She announced on Twitter that she was having a L.A. show. I jumped at the chance to see one of her shows. As always, I sent out the perfunctory email inviting whomever was interested to join me. Because it was a weeknight, I didn't have any takers except Pamela {who is quickly becoming my L.A. partner-in-crime} and a few of Pamela's friends. I bought two tickets "just in case" anyone else could make it. Inevitably, Amber joined us despite just having her wisdom teeth removed. {I guess a good show is worth suffering for;}

We had a great spot close to the stage, but it came at a price. We were standing right beside one of the security guys. Because there was "no photography allowed" and I'm not terribly clever, this post has no photos .

Dita did not disappoint. Seeing her perform was worth the price of admission. Her costumes and sets were phenomenal. However, as a a whole, the show was only okay. I was disappointed with many of the other acts. They either lacked polish, gusto or moxie. I won't complain too loudly. The tickets were only $30.

For those who want a peek at the show, here's a promo video.

***Warning this video contains some partial nudity. **
It's tasteful, but nudity nonetheless. Consider yourself warned.

A Girly Weekend

2009-07-20T22:50:00.000-07:00

July 17-18, 2009

I have said repeatedly that I am not a girly girl, but I am constantly being put in situations that challenge this belief. This weekend was one such situation.

Bella and Janine

This weekend was my niece Bella's 11th Birthday Party and I offered to help my cousin Janine (Bella's mom) with the party. This year's celebration was little more extensive than most. It was Bella's Golden Birthday. {Sidenote: A golden birthday is when you turn 30 on the 30th or 20 on the 20th, etc. } In Bella's case, she turned 11 on the 11th. By the time her party had rolled around, Bella had already spent the day at Disneyland with her mom Janine.

Shirts I designed for Janine and Bella

The party was at their neighborhood beach club. No, they don't live at the beach. Their neighborhood has a lagoon style pool with a man made beach.

Janine had rented a party room.

Guest Sign-in Board that Janine made

I brought a fruit from Porto's Bakery in Glendale. Bella's become a big fan of this tart. {Muhahahaha, this is my eviilllll influence.}

Bella's guests consisted of a few friends from school and some family friends

Don't even think about having some of my cake. ~Bella

One of my other contributions to the party was a photobooth. My friend Pamela and I wanted to experiment with some ideas we had. I thought the party was a perfect place to try them out.

I picked up some fabric in the Fabric District, created a custom banner, and printed pictures on the fly. Here are a few of the pics.

I also gave Bella a DIY stuffed animal kit, which I purchased from Super Buzzy. Bella has been learning how to sew.

I am fairly certain that next year's party will be a lot more low-key. We finished the night by having an slumber party with me, Janine, Jasmine and Bella.

The next day, I visited Brooklyn, my cousin Jasmine's daughter. I had great timing because Brooklyn was awake. I was able to take a few photographs with her eyes open.

It was a long and exhausting couple of days, but I had great time and was reminded how much I enjoy spending time with the women in my family.

Renegades... of the Craft Variety

2009-07-14T15:45:00.000-07:00

July 11, 2009 - Renegade Craft Fair

I am a voracious reader of craft, art and design blogs. For the last couple of weeks, blogs have been abuzz talking about the Renegade Craft Fairs. For the last couple of years, they have been hosting shows in Brooklyn, Chicago, and San Francisco. They were having their first show in L.A. I was ecstatic. It is very similar to Unique L.A., but is a little more established. They have a greater variety of vendors.

I sent an email to the other craft afficionadas inviting them to join me. Of my arty friends, Pamela decided to meet me there and bring her friend Katy. It was the first day of the show. From what we could tell, the show seemed to have a great turnout.

There were A LOT of screenprint and t-shirt vendors. These guys, Campfire Goods, were one of my favorites.

Campfire Goods

They have several t-shirts that allow people to rep where they're from. I was this.close to buying a shirt that said "East Coaster" and another that said "Southerner".

Photo by Pamela

I purchased this shirt from them. I love geeky Mac Humor.

Mary Ink

There were many plush vendors as well. Some of my favorites from Unique L.A , {I Heart Guts, Sweet Meats, and Hi-tree} were there. I also enjoyed this company, Fuzzy Ink. They have stuffed mustaches! So kitschy, yet so cute.

Fuzzy Ink

Photo by Pamela

These dolls were so cute, but all the little girls that I know are either too young or too old to appreciate them.

Lil Sprinkles on Etsy

There were also lots of jewelry vendors. I loved many of the lucite necklaces and hair barrettes. I meant to go back and purchase some barrettes, but completely forgot:(

Cara Lyndon - Vintage Jewelry and Hairpins

Adjowah Brodie of The Weekend Store

Aside from jewelry made from vintage typewriter keys, The Weekend Store had jewelry made from deconstructed watches.

Jane E. Roberti explains how she creates her jewelry
One of Jane's necklaces on Etsy

There were also a lot of great illustrators and poster artists. Berkeley Illustration had a great niche in that all of their characters had a story that was included with their print.

Berkeley Illustration

Print available on Etsy

For those that wanted to make their own goods, there were several vendors like Super Buzzy that sold fabric and kits to make your own quilts and stuffed animals.

I bought a kit similar to this one for my niece Bella.Super Buzzy

We stumbled upon these great iPod cases. They are cute and have a holder for your headphones. Why didn't anyone think of this sooner?!

iPhone Case from Mr. Poncho - Best purchase I made at the show

They had a photobooth, which we could not resist.

It was a good show. I love these kind of events because they offer many of the items at a discounted rate and you get to meet the masterminds behind some of your favorite designs and products. I had a great time.. although I wished I had brought more money.

Brooklyn's in the House

2009-07-13T22:32:00.000-07:00

June 30, 2009

My extended family has had many sorrows, but also many joys this year. We were given another reason to celebrate. After spending 4 weeks in the hospital on bedrest, my cousin Jasmine gave birth to a healthy baby girl. Brooklyn Aaliyah was born at 27 weeks gestation on June 14th. She weighed 2.1 lbs. & was 12 inches long. She is premature, but like many of the other women in our family she is a feisty little thing.

Because she was born while I was out-of-town, I didn't get to visit until a few weeks after her arrival. Here are a few of my photographs.

She may only be 2lbs and 2 weeks old, but already she's the most fashionable baby in the NICU.

Jasmine looks in on her daughter

Brooklyn smiles as she holds her mother's fingertip

Tiny Baby Yawns

Welcome to the family Brooklyn! We all can't wait until you're big enough to come home.

It's my birthday

2009-07-12T21:02:00.000-07:00

June 23, 2009 - Belated Birthday

I spent my actual birthday (June 19th) ~~slaving away~~ working on my parents' house. I had originally planned to celebrate my birthday by going to the Hollywood Bowl.

I sent out the evites. We were planning the menu. Luck wasn't on our side. The show sold out before I could purchase Group Tickets. Once that happened, I didn't have the heart to make alternative plans.

Thankfully, Rob made a few plans for us.

After picking me up at the airport, I came home to this....

...and this. I love flowers, but I love candy even more! I'm such a sugar fiend.

The next day, we went to Don Felix Peruvian Restaurant for lunch.

I enjoyed a margarita. {I know it's not Peruvian, but it was on the menu}

Rob had some Peruvian beer.

Aji Criollo - a hot sauce made with hot peppers, cilantro, garlic, onion and lime

Ceviche Mixto

Calamari

After lunch, we happened upon Tiki Ti's. For once, they were open and there wasn't a wait to get in. Tiki Ti's is one of the oldest Tiki Bars in Southern California. It's been family owned and operated since 1961.

The drink menu was extensive. I ended up asking the bartender what he recommended.

I had a Bayanihan and Rob had a Bloody Tiki.

DO NOT let the small glasses fool you. These drinks pack a punch.

The bar has a very high kitsch factor. One of their traditions is for people to write down the first time they visited Tiki Ti.

The place is filled with all kids of Tiki and Tropical decor.

After all that delicious food and drink, I literally passed out. I had a delicious nap with the A/C on full blast. I was unconscious for 3.5 hours! {I guess all the work I did at my parents' house finally caught up with me}

When I awoke, we headed out for another fave. - Ramen. I have a tradition of eating Japanese food on my birthday in honor of the city of my birth Yokosuka, Japan. I chose to eat at Mr. Ramen in Little Tokyo. Ideally, we would have gone for sushi, but tough times call for a few sacrifices.

Shiyo Ramen

Gyozas with Pork Fried Rice

After dinner, Dottie and Rob presented me with my birthday ~~cake~~ fruit tart from Porto's.

This is how I spent my low-key birthday.

Playing tag:)

2009-07-10T23:27:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I received a comment from Carlene from It's Heavenly that I was tagged! I've been reading her blog for almost a year now. {Yikes! I sound like internet stalker} This list was extra appealing because it was simple and positive.

Rules: Tag and link back to the person who tagged you. List six little things that make you happy. Tag six bloggers and let them know they're “it".

1. Napping with Dottie. I love to nap, but somehow I sleep much better with Dottie. Rob says that we're champion-nappers.

2. Taking pictures. This should be no surprise. For me, it enhances my life experiences.

3. Fresh flowers. There is something intoxicating about fresh flowers. Just going to the Flower Mart makes me happy.

4. Cupcakes. They're small and delicious. Need I say more?

5. Meandering through a good book store. I could get lost for hours in a book store and am perfectly content not buying a single book.

6. Having great conversations with family and friends. We chat in person. Or on the phone. Or via the internet. Some conversations are short. Others are epic. {Cicely and Pamela know what I'm talking about.} It's simple connections that make my life meaningful.

Here's who I tag:
1. Absentminded Oracle
2. Pamela at That's What She Said.
3. Lindsey at Indie and Oscar
4. Amy at Playing House
5. Sarah at Stinkerpants
6. Marissa at Temporary New Yorkers

Crafty & Design Goodness

2009-07-08T15:14:00.000-07:00

L.A. is finally get it's own Renegade Craft Fair. These Renegade Craft Fairs have been popping up in Brooklyn and San Francisco. This fair is not like a church bazaar or the craft fairs your elementary school used to host. It's a great opportunity to purchase some great handmade items and meet the artisans behind them.

Here's some info from their site:

The first ever Renegade Craft Fair in LOS ANGELES will take place JULY 11 + 12 from 11am – 7pm, at the California Market Center. We’ll be taking over the entire 13th floor penthouse of the Center, where gorgeous 360-degree views of downtown LA will provide the backdrop for our FREE urban art, craft and DIY extravaganza! We’re so excited, let’s say it one more time: FREE!

I will definitely be checking this out. I hope to see some of you there:)

Puppy Love

2009-06-26T15:29:00.000-07:00

June 20, 2009 - Norfolk, VA

I have known Jen & Kipp for a long time. Jen and I are godmothers to my sister's son Franky. Jen has been my sister Cathee's best friend since High School. Coincidentally, Jen and Kipp have been together since they were in high school. I even have proof.... I have photos of Jen, Kipp, Cathee and the rest of their friends getting ready for Ring Dance (Jr. Prom). I promised that I wouldn't embarrass them. So, I'll save those photos for another day. Over the last 15 years, Jen & Kipp have grown together and weathered many storms. I congratulate and applaud their commitment. That kind of enduring love is very rare.

Recently, Jen & Kipp got engaged. I couldn't be more delighted for them. I was even more delighted when Jen asked me to photographer her, Kipp and their dog Jager. Jager is their puggle and member of their family. It was touching when Jen and Kipp said that their engagement photos would not be complete with Jager. So, I happily agreed to take a few photos for them.

We headed to Waterside in Downtown Norfolk for a short shoot. Jen & Kipp even had an entourage. Jen's sister Jodi, Jodi's Boyfriend Brandon, Cathee, and my nephews all decided to tag along. The funny part? They were all dressed up "just in case" they could get in a few pics of their own. {Next time, kids, just ask me and you can have a photo shoot of your very own.} The entourage showed up for moral support, but ended up being a bit of a distraction. So, I sent them off to grab a bite to eat. {Sorry guys! You know I love you} It made a BIG difference. Here are some of the photos from our shoot.

Up, up, and Away!

2009-06-24T00:35:00.000-07:00

Doing a little backtracking... back to the beginning of the month BEFORE my trip to VA.

June 2, 2009
I love Pixar movies. This one is no exception.

We decided to see it in 3D.

at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.

I suggested going to the El Capitan as part of our tourist in our own town adventure. We started in March, but my trips put it on the back burner.

We headed to Hollywood & Highland where there was a free jazz show.

We grabbed a quick bite at

We didn't eat anything special. So, no food pics.

We headed to the theater after dinner. If you have never been to the El Capitan, I suggest you go. The theater has been well restored and its architecture is impressive. Because we went to a night show, I do not have any shots of said details. It was too dark. {A great reason to see it for yourself}

They have an organist who plays before the movie starts.

They also have a pre-movie live show. The show is a bit cheesetastic, but still fun. The theater is owned by Disney. So, expect a Disneyland-esque Show. I think the nephews or niece might have enjoyed it.

The movie is among my favorites. I cried several times and I'm not one to cry during movies. It also had lots of comic relief. A friend of mine called it an kids' movie with life-themes. I won't say any more than that.

If you still haven't seen UP, run and see it in 3D. You'll thank me. And if you're in L.A., watch it at El Capitan. You'll get a taste of the old-fashioned movie theater experience.

Labor of Love

2009-06-22T02:44:00.000-07:00

June 15-22, 2009 - Virginia Beach

My parents have lived in their house for 23 years. Twenty-three years ago, they had their house custom built. Every molding, every fixture, carpet and wallpaper was hand-picked by my mom. In the last 10 years, they have slowly, but surely updated and replaced parts of the house. They've done the major replacements - roof, windows, and A/C units. The three of us (kids) destroyed their carpet and it was replaced by wood flooring. Like any home, my parents' house has been a work in progress that is constantly evolving. What still lingered is the wallpaper. The wallpaper was gorgeous and chic... in 1986. Now, it was peeling and outdated. So, my brother Nate and I convinced our parents to let us take down the wallpaper and paint the walls. This
turned out to be a bigger undertaking than either of us anticipated.

To give you an idea of what we were working with, here are some before pictures. Please excuse the mess. My mom and I had already started prepping for the wallpaper removal.

Dining Room

Foyer

Computer Room

We thought we'd have the job done in less than a week. Supposedly, if we used a wallpaper steamer, the wallpaper would come right off. Riiiiiggghht. Not a chance. It took us 3 days to remove all of the wallpaper and adhesive from the walls. We were treated to 3 days of scraping, spraying and scrubbing. If anyone ever tells you it's easy to remove wallpaper, I suggest you smack them and call them a "blasphemous liar".

Here's some of the work in progress.

This little bit of paper was the last hold-out. It took Nate HOURS balanced on the ladder to scrape that tiny section off.

After the wallpaper removal, came the priming and painting. Nate and I suggested some modern color palettes, but it was vetoed by our parents. Dad wanted everything in Antique White. Mom wanted everything Peach. We compromised by selected warm neutrals with orange/peach undertones. Poor Dad was completely overruled.

The color palette

Because the wallpaper removal put us behind schedule, I ended up working on a large portion of the project by myself. Nate was had to go to his job and I didn't want my parents to work per se. I put in 12-14 hour days. I have never felt so tired in my life. Alleve, IcyHot patches, Epsom Salt, and Pomegranate Juice were my friends. Despite the physical exhaustion, it was satisfying and fun. I loved my parents' reactions as the job progressed. They went from being skeptical to just plain excited. My mom, Nate and I had lengthy conversations while Nate and I worked. And there were many instances were Nate and I weren't sure whether to laugh or cry at the enormity of our task. My only disappointment is that we didn't finish the job in time for my return to L.A.

Here are some photos of the nearly completed job.

Foyer

Dining Room

Computer Room

I'm pleased with our handiwork, but you're probably wondering why we undertook such a big project. Our parents did not put us up to it. They were a bit incredulous when we volunteered. As I have mentioned numerous times before, we are not a demonstrative lot. Hugs and kisses are not part of our family's emotional lexicon. If you dare say "I love you", you are met with a look that says "What is wrong with you? ". We're not unfeeling, just not showy with our emotions.

So, Nate and I did all this because we wanted to show our parents that we cared and because they deserved something like this. We thought our actions would be speak much louder than anything we could say. The job wasn't perfect and incomplete, but I hope that it spoke volumes to how much we cared. Let's hope Nate will have the job finished by the time I go back out to visit in September.

102 Reasons to Celebrate

2009-06-11T21:22:00.000-07:00

I am on the road yet again. When I had hoped that this year would be filled with lots of travel, I got more thoan I bargained for. I flew out to Virginia for my Lola's 102nd birthday. My Lola loves birthdays so much that there was no way that I was going to miss it.

This year's celebration was low-key. As much as she loves the company, Lola gets a bit overwhelmed and exhausted by the excitement. I don't blame her if I were 100+ I'm not sure how energetic I'd be. We've told our relatives to spread their visits apart. This allows Lola to really enjoy each person's company and also gives her something to look forward to.

The Birthday Girl sits and enjoys the conversations

Lola is a very spirited and lively storyteller

Instead of visits, Lola received quite a few phone calls. Each call was from a different part of the globe.

Lola's Faith has sustained her through many of life's trials and tribulations. In recent years, she has been unable to attend mass as often as she used to. Fortunately, Father Gerry Markey an old family friend came to visit. He had a mass in Lola's honor at home.

Because of her hearing difficulties, Father Markey sat close to Lola and spoke loud enough for her to hear.

Father Markey gives Lola a special blessing

Uncle Bo (Lola's son who lives in O.C.) greets Lola after mass

Uncle Bo and Franky offer to help Lola blow out her candles...

... but Lola doesn't need any help

Even Father Markey offered to help

Ethan tells Lola he has a gift for her

His gift? He tells her he loves her

Happy Birthday to my Lola, who has been teaching us all how to age gracefully!

Every dog deserves his day

2009-06-01T22:40:00.000-07:00

Melanie & Dobby as a pup
{from Khurram's personal collection}

Dobby is my late cousin Melanie and my cousin-in-law's Black Cocker Spaniel. They both used to say that he is their first child. He is the sweetest dog. He loves his ball and his sister Aalia. {In that order.} When Aalia cries, he checks on her. If she cries for too long, he goes in search of another human as if to say "this person isn't handling the situation properly." We've become fast friends. He's easily bought. I brought him a gift and scratched behind his ears. He followed me around like a shadow and is oh-so-cuddly. Although his "sister" is a doll, I thought Dobby deserved a few shots of his own.

Here are a few of my favorites.

Views, Doughnuts, Bikes, and Books

2009-05-31T01:19:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day Weekend - Day 6
I spent the night at a hotel in Lake Oswego, which is just south of Portland. My flight wasn't until 2PM. I wanted to explore Portland a little more. Surprisingly, I was up early which is not like me. I had laundry list of things I wanted to see and I was determined to see as much as possible.

My first stop was the Portland Aerial Tram at OSHU. The ride was $4 roundtrip. The tram gave me an opportunity to capture these images.

Mount Hood

View of downtown Portland

Tram on its way up

The tram ride was brief and treated me to some great views. However, truth be told, it wasn't anything to write home about. I won't complain too loudly... It only cost me $4.

Next stop was Voodoo Doughnut. My cousin Marnie and I happened to watch a segment on Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations" about this little "hole in the wall".

After watching the above clip, I was determined to find this place. It took a bit of maneuvering to find it, but I did.

The verdict on Voodoo? They were good, but so sweet I nearly put myself in a sugar coma.

Final stop - Powell's City of Books. This is a bibliophile's version of heaven. Powell's in an independent book seller that takes up an entire city block and is comprised of floors and floors of book.

If people in Los Angeles think they are "green", they have nothing on the folks in Portland. There as many bikes parked everywhere. There are bike lanes everywhere. It's a cyclist's dream. Public transportation is fantastic.

I kid and say that the folks are "crunchy granola", but they really do take caring for the environment seriously. If I was surrounded by as much natural beauty as the folks in Portland, I would too.

A quiet day

2009-05-30T00:41:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day Weekend - Day 5
Monday morning we all got up really early to drop my mom off at the airport in Eugene. It gave my mom and Auntie Lilly a little more time to chitchat and spend time together. Once we got back, we all were comatose until mid-afternoon. The only thing that revived Auntie Lilly, Khurram and I was the prospect of Khurram's and Mel's friends Dave and Idalee arriving for dinner. Dave and Idalee had graciously offered to bring dinner to us.

While Dave and Idalee finished preparing dinner, Aalia cuddled with Auntie Lilly.

It didn't take long. Aalia and her godbrother Dashell {Dave and Idalee's son} were fast asleep.

While the babies slept, the adults had an amazing dinner. The food was so good that I neglected to take photos of the dinner guests. Needless to say, the food didn't last long and we were all very happy.

Barbecue

Panko-breaded Tuna Rolls

I had a wonderful time with Auntie Lilly, Khurram and Aalia, but I didn't want to overstay my welcome. So after dinner, I said my "goodbyes" and headed back to Portland. I had reserved a room just outside the city and wanted to do some exploring before I headed back to L.A... more on that.

Along the coast

2009-05-28T16:33:00.000-07:00

South View from Cape Perpetua

Memorial Day Weekend - Day 4

Because Saturday was such a jam-packed day, Sunday was more low-key. It was my mom's last full day in Oregon. As such, we decided to go for a short drive up the infamous Oregon Coast. It was a view that I had missed during my last trip.

Aalia was so well-behaved during our jaunt the day before that we decided not to push our luck. We only traveled 30 miles from Florence to Yachats. In that short drive, we were treated to some spectacular vistas. Rather than tell you about them, I'll just show you.

Heceta Lighthouse

View from Cape Perpetua

Heceta Lighthouse

Beach in Yachats, Oregon

Sea Lions {Yes, those slug-looking things are Sea Lions}

Beach in Yachats, Oregon

Our little road trip had a purpose. Khurram wanted to have some lunch at a place that was one of his and Melanie's favorites. {Are you actually surprised that we went to get something to eat?}

Yachats River House

Chuka Ika
smoked squid salad with wakame seaweed and crisp wontons

Chinook Salmon Pate with foccacia sticks

Clam Chower & House Crab Bisque

Clam Pot
Manila Clams in a butter white wine sauce with shallots, tomatoes, and mushrooms

Parisian Ham Sandwich

Halibut Frites

Strawberry Shortcake on Puff Pastry

All this deliciousness was shared among 4 adults. Aalia slept peaceful through our an entire meal. {What fantastic manners!} Like the day before, we all lapsed into food comas. It's a rough life, I know.

An Errand, Dessert, Wine & More Dessert

2009-05-25T16:40:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day Weekend - Day 3

Saturday was an action-packed day. Khurram had an appointment with the Toyota dealearship in Eugune, which was 1 hr. away. We decided to make a day of it. So, all five of us piled into Khurram's Highlander and headed to Eugene.

Aalia waits to be put back into her car seat.

The girls- My mom, Auntie Lilly, Aalia & me- did some shopping while Khurram took his car to be serviced. I took the opportunity to teach Aalia about shoe shopping.

We grabbed some lunch at PF Changs. The food was good, but not necessarily photo worthy. Besides, we were a bit starved and the food disappeared rather quickly. The most notable thing about lunch is that Khurram had his first bout of stroller envy. The family at the table next to us had a Stokke Xplory stroller.
Cool isn't it? The $1200 pricetag put a halt to that purchase.

We went to Sweet Life Patisserie for dessert.

They have a dizzying array of dessert.

Auntie Lilly had the chocolate chip cannoli. My mom had creme brulee. I had a lemon bar.

Khurram loved his cupcake.

Somehow, after all that dessert, we decided to swing by King Estate Winery.

Even Aalia enjoyed the view... sorta.

The King Estate Winery is breathtaking.

We decided to try some of their wine.

I fell in love with their 2007 Next Pinot Noir. So delicious.

Somehow, we were tempted to eat yet again.

My glass of 2007 Next Pinot Noir.

Raw Almond Cheese with Crudites

Scallops with Pork Belly

We opted for dessert again. Read the menu below very carefully. Check out the Profiterole.

That's right. Candied bacon. We had a dessert with CANDIED BACON! It was unbelievably good. It was almost criminal how good it was.

After all the noshing, we headed back to Khurram's house in Florence where we all passed out early from our food comas.

Back Again

2009-05-22T01:32:00.000-07:00

It's been only a month since my last visit but, I was off to Oregon again. My mom was flying from Virginia to visit my Auntie Lilly, Khurram, & Aalia. I agreed to join her. I planned to be there for the Memorial Day weekend {Thursday to Tuesday} Also, I decided that I wanted to see a little more of Oregon. So, I arranged to fly into Portland and drive down to Eugene and Florence.

Day 1
I flew JetBlue out of Long Beach into Portland.

photo taken with my iPhone

JetBlue lives up to the hype of the ads that plastered around town. It was affordable and comfortable. The flight had DirecTV and XM Radio. Unfortunately, because I pulled my standard last-minute packing scramble, I didn't get to enjoy either very much. {Must learn to pack well in advance} I was completely unconscious for the duration of the 2.5 hr flight.

When I arrived in Portland, I grabbed breakfast (at 3 the afternoon!) at Banning Restaurant & Pie House. I had their Eggs Benedict. The food wasn't anything to write home about, but the service was fantastic. My coffee cup never went saw the halfway mark and everything came out quickly.

photo taken with my iPhone

I needed a nap. So, I went to the movies to catch a nap. Not so-new-release movie plus afternoon matinee equals an empty theater. I have no shame. I slept through most of "State of Play".

After my much needed nap, I headed to the Pearl District in Downtown Portland.

I checked out some shops. I was reminded that I get overwhelmed when in large book or music stores. I can never remember what it is I'm looking for. I suppose the vastness of such stores triggers my ADD.

photo taken with my iPhone

photo taken with my iPhone

After my meandering, I drove 1.5 hrs. to Eugene to pick up my mom. From there, we drove another 1.25 hrs. to Florence.

Day 2
After the long day my mom and I both had the day before, we spent most of Friday lounging around Khurram's house and passing Aalia around.

Aalia had grown since I saw her last and has gotten even more expressive.

My mom the professional granny (my sister has 2 boys) fed and held Aalia for most of the afternoon.

Aalia napped with my mom...

...and napped with her dad Khurram.

Then we all had a marathon chat session via Skpe with her Aalia's cousin Kammi and Kammi's parents GeeVee and Rachel.

Aalia hung out with Dobby (her dog) while the adults had takeout.

We had the most amazing dinner from the Waterfront Depot in Florence. It was so good that I forgot to take pictures:( That was our low-key relaxing day.

Whatcha doin'

2009-05-21T01:16:00.000-07:00

I have been neglecting this blog. So, here is yet another post filling in some gaps.

Rob and I went to the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood to see a movie. We were chagrined when we realized hadn't been to the movies in over a year.

We were among the multitudes that went to see Star Trek on opening weekend.

I loved the movie. Then again, I am a bit biased. I'm a fan of J J Abrams. After all, I am one of the few people that enjoyed Cloverfield. It doesn't hurt that I've been friends with a few trekkies and trekkers for a very long time. {Waves "hi" at Neleh}

In the lobby of the Cinerama Dome, they had a few props on display.

While I was busy working, Rob was spending his free time hiking and trekking around our local mountains.

Rob's Self Portrait using his Penatx Optio & Gorillapod

He went hiked to the top of Mount Baldy.

Photo from the hike to Mount Baldy
(Can you believe he took this with a point-and-shoot camera?)

He took our mongrel Dottie with him.

Dottie surveys the return hike- photo by Rob

Shortly after the above photo was taken, Dottie got a leg cramp and sat down. She unknowingly sat in a fire anthill. She was covered in ant bites and couldn't walk. Rob ended up having to hike the rest of the way down with Dottie on his back. {My hero!}

Although, don't let those adventure photos fool you. Those two did a lot of this...

Of course, we aren't starving. Here are some of the meals that Rob has made.

Bone-in Ribeye with Chimchurri and
baby carrots, broccolini, and red potatoes

Grilled Chicken with Massaman Curry
and Bombay Potatoes and Cauliflower

Ribeye Strips with haricot vert, crimini mushrooms, carrots and seasoned rice

Leading Ladies - Part 2

2009-05-20T00:43:00.000-07:00

With Filipinos, it is customary to call your grandma "Lola". We call my grandma "Lola Darling".

Lola Darling

I was very fortunate to grow up in household with two strong female role models. My Lola is a nurturing soul. After raising 5 children, she chose to help my parents raise my siblings and me. My Lola has been caring for me since I was an infant. When I was born in Japan, she stayed with my parents. When her visitor's visa expired, she brought me with her to the Philippines. Thankfully, I was only separated from my parents for a short time. Lola joined us when we moved to Virginia when I was 2. She was present at my siblings' births and the births of my younger cousins.

Not only did she care for my siblings and me, she was very involved with our lives. She made our favorite snacks when we came home from school and asked us about our school day. She laughed at our stories and consoled us during our disappointments. Every night, she prepared dinner for my whole family. To this day, I have not found a Chicken Adobe as good as hers. She fostered my family's love of food. Because of her, we all equate food with love. This level of caring is not limited to my immediate family. Her generosity is legendary. She helped has helped several relatives go to college and offered room and board to others while they went to university in Manila. If she was needed, she was there.

I'd also like to think that my Lola is responsible for a large portion of my personality. I'm fairly certain I got my sense of adventure from her. When I was 4, she tried to ride a roller coaster at our local amusement park. My mom nearly had a heart attack and stopped her. She was disappointed. At the time, Lola was 72. When I discovered adventure sports in my early 20s, she would palm me some cash whenever I for a trip and when I returned she'd ask me to tell her everything and to spare no details. She would sit enthralled as I explained the mechanics of snowboarding or the thrill of rock climbing. I also developed wanderlust in my 20s. I would take trips as often as my schedule and budget would allow. If I even mentioned a trip, Lola would be there with some pocket money and encouragement to simply go. Her favorite thing to say is "Why just exist, when you can live?".

Lola is also feisty and independent. On June 11th, Lola will be celebrating her 102nd birthday. Even at 100+, she still insists upon doing many things herself. If her eyesight were not bad, she would still cook. She also still has her wits about her. No detail has been forgotten. She knows the name and birthday of every family member and their spouses. Her storytelling skills have not waned either. Whenever I visit her, she tells me of our family's history and intrigues.

I am unbelievably grateful to have had her in my life for this long. Because of her, I am confident and fearless.

To my Lola, I love you very, very much. I hope to age as gracefully as you have.

Leading Ladies - Part 1

2009-05-16T15:39:00.000-07:00

This is supposed to be my Mother's Day post. However, since I believe mothers should be celebrated more often, I am posting this now... on an ordinary day.

I am confident and secure in who I am as a woman. I am not saying I'm perfect. In fact, I am far from it. I have quirks, faults and idiosyncrasies just like everyone else. I'm just at a point in my life where I am comfortable with them. I either embrace them or am trying to banish them. Perhaps it's easier to say that I'm just comfortable in my own skin. I have my mom and grandma to thank for it.

Momma Lynda

Mom and Me in Venice, Italy - 2005

In many ways, my mom is not a typical suburban mom. My mom is career woman. While growing up in the 80s in the suburbs of Virginia, there were very few working moms. Even more impressive is that my mom is computer programmer, a job that for many years was held predominantly by men. I have always been proud of my working mom. Looking back on it, she made a lot of sacrifice in order to balance career and family. When my sister and I were in private school, my mom used to postpone her lunches in order to pick us up from school. She would rush to pick us up and then drop us off at the public library to wait for her to get off of work. As a bibliophile, I was in heaven. In the midst of that rush, I doubt she ate at all. As my siblings and I grew older, my mom took a job that gave her a 60 mile commute round trip. She'd be up at the crack of dawn and home around sundown. She did this for years. I braved a typical L.A. commute for 3 years and thought I was going to lose my mind. I don't know how she did it.

The qualities that made my mom a fantastic career woman made her an atypical mom. My mom is a no-nonsense individual who is not particularly affectionate. When I went to college and left home for the first time, she patted me on my shoulder and simply said "Make us proud". {Although, the addition of grandchildren has turned her into a softie. My nephews have her wrapped around their little fingers.} This is not to say my mom is unfeeling. She just expresses herself differently than other moms. My mom's love language is gifts. While not affectionate, my mother has spoiled my siblings and I. We received our own cars when we were old enough to drive. {Note: Used Cars}We went on spectacular family vacations. Things that we wanted that were within reason we received. She made us work for them, but we got them.

The best thing that my mother taught me was to value brains over beauty. My entire childhood was filled with activities to expand my mind. I had to recite my multiplication tables in the car, read a book a week during summer vacation, etc. etc. How I looked was secondary, but not unimportant. She still made sure we were dressed "appropriately". {Appropriately = pink and ultra-girly} To this day, I am not too keen on pink clothing. My mother's greatest disappointment that neither my sister nor I were girly girls.

I guess what I'm rambling on and on about is that I'm very thankful for my mom. Although we don't express ourselves like this, I love her and appreciate everything she's done.

Spring Crafts

2009-05-06T12:28:00.000-07:00

Sunday, May 3, 2009

I went to check out Unique Los Angeles again. As crowded and as busy as it was, it wasn't as good for me as the last one. A few of the vendors I had hoped to see again weren't there. I came prepared this time, too. It works out since I probably shouldn't spend the money. So, it ended up being a nice weekend spent window-shopping.

Here are some of the vendors I did see and like.
The Poster List
All kinds of posters, not enough wall space

I fell in love with all the plush items for sale. If only I had the space for them.

Hi-tree!
I don't know what it is, but I really dig the little trees.

Sweet Meats
I'm a foodie with a weird sense of humor. They had shirts that said, "I love you more than bacon". To me, that's REAL love.

I Heart Guts
Again, I have a weird sense of humor. Something about the smiley body parts appeal to me.

Mr. Funky
Crocheted animals that are cute and I don't have enough skill or patience to make.

Kauzbots
I would have bought one of each of these if I could have. Each colored robot raises money for a different cause.

The Brightside

2009-04-30T23:50:00.000-07:00

In the midst of all the sadness over Melanie's death, we had her daughter Aalia Sabine to raise our spirits. Melanie and Khurram had given a lot of thought to their daughter's name. Aalia is a derivation of the name Alia. It means "To ascend; to go up" in Hebrew and "Noble; Sublime" in Arabic.
Sabine is from the trilogy of novels by Nick Bantock. They are both bibliophiles. So, it was no surprise that they chose a middle name from a book character. In honor of his wife, Khurram decided to add Melanie to their daughter's name. For a child so small, she's got a quite a few names. According to Khurram, he'll let her choose which names she prefers when she gets older. With all those beautiful names choose from, she's likely to want to be called "cutie" or "shorty".

Aalia Sabine was born 4 weeks early, but is doing remarkably well. Thankfully, she did not have to spend any time in the neonatal intensive care unit and was discharged after only spending 2 days in the hospital. She is only a whooping 6 lbs. 8 oz., but has plenty of personality to make up for it. At only 1 week, she already knows that when she's hungry she wants her milk IMMEDIATELY and that she's happiest when her arms aren't bundled.

She has also met a multitude of people. From her dad's immediate family, her Auntie Seema (Dad's sister), Uncle Faisel (Dad's brother), and Cousin Serena came all the way from Canada. From her mom's immediate family, her Lola Lilly (her grandma), her Uncle Geevee (Mom's brother), her Auntie Rachel, Cousin Kammi, and her Auntie Marnie (Mom's sister) came from the Philippines, Singapore, and Canada. Of course, she also met her Uncle Nate (my brother) and many, many of her parents' friends. Some of these friends have known her dad since they were children. Others knew her parents from medical school. Still others knew her parents from their residency program. Some were people that lived in her home of Florence. No matter how they knew Aalia's parents, they were there to meet her and offer their support.

edited 05.02.09: Tita Mackie, Lolo Bert's (Aalia's late grandfather) cousin from LA, who also stayed a few days with us

Aalia with Lola Lilly

Aalia is not happy about Dad's Blackberry usage

Aalia with Uncle Nate

Aalia with her cousins Serena & Kammi

While we were all together, Aalia had her Christening. There was a short ceremony after Sunday's mass.

Aalia with her dad

All of the guests who attended Aalia's Christening

Auntie Rachel, Uncle Geevee, Kammi, Aalia, Dad, Lola Lilly, and Auntie Marnie

Aalia, Dad, Cousin Serena, and Auntie Seema

Auntie Marnie with Aalia

Aalia meets her new friend Dashell.

If the photo onslaught isn't enough, here are some short video clips.

Aalia & Daddy from Anne K. on Vimeo.

Aalia & Daddy 2 from Anne K. on Vimeo.

Aaalia & Lola Lilly 2 from Anne K. on Vimeo.

With Much Love and Appreciation

2009-04-30T18:40:00.000-07:00

I don’t believe the spirit of community is limited by geography. I’ve been reminded in the last couple of days that a community can be formed anywhere and by any means. Just after receiving the news of Melanie’s passing, I posted on Facebook and Twitter. I’m not sure of what possessed me to post on those two places. I believe it was the cyber equivalent of running the top of a mountain and screaming in grief. Looking back on it, I am a bit chagrined that I posted such shocking news on such public forums. I do not, however, regret it.

I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support that I have received. Old friends who I have not seen in years have offered their comfort and support. Virtual strangers helped me book my flight and offered to buy clothes and gifts for my late cousin’s daughter Aalia. This blog was flooded with comments. All these things have been made a tremendous difference. During such a difficult time, it’s good to know that so many people care about my family and me.

To my twitter friends, thank you for listening and making me laugh in the midst of the madness.

To my facebook friends, I know I haven’t seen many of you in years, but your kindness is still much appreciated.

To the readers of this blog, thank you all for your wonderful comments. I am touched by your thoughtfulness.

To everyone, if I have not yet acknowledged your note, email or call, please know that every gesture is cherished. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Finding Meaning

2009-04-28T03:08:00.000-07:00

Melanie & Khurram at their baby shower

After receiving the startling news of Melanie’s unexpected death, I quickly booked a flight to Oregon. Her mother, my Auntie Lilly is very dear to me. Of course, I also wanted to be there for Melanie’s husband Khurram and their baby daughter Aalia. In a situation like this, I really didn’t know what I could do or say to help. What can you say or do for someone who has lost their wife or daughter so suddenly? This should have been the happiest time of their lives. Instead, they were planning a funeral. I just knew that I wanted to be there.

My brother Nate and I arrived in Eugene, Oregon at 9:30 on Wednesday night. We were fortunate enough to have flights that arrived at roughly the same time. Poor Nate had 3 layovers on his way to Eugene. In the process, the airlines lost his bag. We also ran into some problems with our rental car reservation. What’s a trip with me without a few snafus?
After much stress and anxiety, we were on our way to Florence, Oregon. We had no idea what to expect. According to Google Maps, this small, coastal town was 61 miles from Eugene and a 1.5-hour drive. We were a little perplexed as to why it would take so long to travel such a short distance. Then, we got on Route 126. It was dark and winding. We were in for a long ride. So, we talked. We chatted about how our cousin’s unexpected passing really shook us up. How could someone so young die just after having a baby? Our cousin’s death was the sort of thing that happened during our Great-grandparents era. We reminisced about Melanie and her time in Virginia with our parents. We also just caught up with life in general.

After getting lost in the dark, we finally arrived at Melanie & Khurram’s house. Despite all that they were going through, Auntie Lilly and Khurram were in relatively good spirits. We were welcomed and told that we could stay at the neighbors Ed and Marge’s house. We had originally planned on staying at a hotel, but after all the hiccups we previously encountered we took them up on the offer. At the time, I just assumed this was because Ed and Marge were Melanie and Khurram’s next-door neighbors. As it turns out, I was very mistaken.

At breakfast the next day, I discovered that nearly every out-of-town guest was being hosted at a neighbor’s home. 4 households had welcomed Melanie and Khurram’s friends and family with open arms. Some other neighbors had offered to stay at their vacation home so that their entire home would be available for out-of-town guests. The generosity of their neighbors was surprising, but did not stop there. When the news of Melanie’s death initially reached their small neighborhood, their neighbors quickly organized and mobilized efforts to help. A group cooked enough food to feed an army, bought groceries and snuck into Melanie and Khurram’s house to stock all this food. Others offered to shuttle people to and from the Eugene and Portland airports – both of which were several hours away. Many did whatever could be done to help without hesitation or anyone’s request.

This spirit of community continued at Melanie’s funeral service on Thursday afternoon. The funeral mass was held at Our Lady of the Dunes. Both Khurram and Melanie’s families were seated at the front of the church. We occupied two pews and were unaware of what was doing on behind us. The church had a seating capacity of 670. Extra chairs were brought in to accommodate people. With the addition of chairs, the funeral service was still standing room only. By many estimates, nearly 1000 people attended the funeral service. This is especially remarkable because Florence only has a population of 8,328. The funeral mass was thoughtful and heartfelt. The priest who presided over the service wrote a moving eulogy despite being a visiting priest from another parish. There wasn’t a dry eye in the church when Khurram thanked the congregation and the community for their love and support.

After the funeral service, there was a reception for family and friends. Again, members of the community volunteered and cooked a seemingly endless amount of food. I had read a short passage during the funeral mass. That coupled with my slight resemblance to my cousin, caused many people to mistake me for Melanie’s sister Marnie. I didn’t have the opportunity or the time to correct them. So, throughout the reception people shared with me how Melanie had been their doctor and how she had impacted their lives. From the many stories I heard that afternoon, Melanie had touched many lives in the 4 years she lived in Florence. Auntie Lilly and Khurram were also inundated with stories and offers to help with Baby Aalia. Melanie and Khurram’s neighbors also reaffirmed that they would continue to check on him long after everyone leaves.

Watching the sunset after the funeral service

Everywhere we turned, people were reaching out to help. None of us have ever seen this kind of community outreach. Although it does not fill the void that Melanie leaves behind, this overwhelming community support has been a great comfort to Auntie Lilly, Khurram, and the rest of our family. We know without a doubt that Melanie’s life, though short, made a difference and that she was well-loved. Sometimes, that is enough.

My cousin Melanie

2009-04-24T14:14:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: Long, rambling and emotional post ahead. It's taken me 4 days to write this.

Cousins at Grandma's 100th Birthday

I am fortunate to belong to a close-knit family. Whether you’re a relative through blood or marriage, you are family and welcomed with open arms. We make no distinctions between 1st cousin, 2nd cousins, or cousins twice-removed. This is especially true of my maternal grandma’s branch of the family. She hails from a large clan that has always had frequent reunions and get-togethers. This closeness has continued throughout the years.

Although, my immediate family and I lived in Virginia, we were in close contact with our relatives in the Philippines. Even though I rarely saw them, I knew most of my cousins. I had several cousins that were around the same age as me. Our visits with one another were few and far between. However, whenever I got to see any of them it was as though no time had passed.

One of these cousins is Melanie. Melanie is only 9 months older than me and is my second cousin. (Her grandfather and my grandmother were siblings.) In 2001, Melanie moved to the U.S. from the Philippines to apply for physician residency programs. My mother had announced that Melanie was going to be staying with them while she studied for various board tests. I was excited. At the time, I lived in my own apartment nearby. Being so close in age, I was sure we would become good friends.

Melanie arrived with her mom my Aunt Lilly. As part of her initial settling in, we took a Girls’ Trip to DC. She, Aunt Lilly, my mom and I spent a weekend in D.C. We had a wonderful time. We had dinner at some nice restaurants, shopped, and saw some museums. Melanie and I even attempted to go to some Georgetown bars, which was disastrous. We got hit on by a bunch of weirdos and called it a night.

I wish I could say that during that time Melanie and I connected and became close, but unfortunately we didn’t. We were both in the midst of incredibly stressful junctions in our lives. Melanie was studying and applying to various hospitals for residency programs. I was back in college trying to finally finish my Bachelor’s degree while working my way through school. On top of it, I was going through a particularly rough patch emotionally. Both of us were at different points in our lives– points that did not coincide or give us much in common. She was trying to further her career. I was trying to start mine. So, we did not become fast friends like I had hoped or thought we would.

Khurram & Melanie

Shortly thereafter, we both moved away from Virginia. I moved to Southern California. Melanie moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan. Melanie quickly began to reap the rewards of her hard work and it was impressive. In that intervening time, Melanie completed her residency program and began practicing Internal Medicine in Oregon, which she initially did on her own. Also during this time, she met and married her husband Khurram, who was in her residency program. I was unable to attend their wedding celebrations (they had two!), but I was incredibly happy for her.

Khurram & Melanie - Pakistani Reception

I did not see Melanie again until 2007 at my Grandma’s 100th Birthday Party. Many of our relatives had come from all over the globe to celebrate. This brought many of the cousins in my age group together again. It was at this event that many of us reconnected and bonded. Despite the geographic distances that separated all of us, we found we had many things in common. Melanie and I were finally at similar places in our lives. Our careers were in order and we were both settling down. Melanie and Khurram were newly married. Rob and I were soon to be married. This time we connected. We exchanged invitations to come visit and promised to keep in touch. Although it was unlikely that their work schedules would allow them to attend, Rob and I invited Melanie and Khurram to our wedding.

Cousins at Grandma's 100th Birthday - 2007

Melanie & I - 2007

We continued to share links to photo galleries and short messages. Unfortunately, because of conflicting and busy schedules plans to visit never quite came to fruition. At least, the advent of Facebook brought the level of communication to a new level. Random, witty quips were shared along with photos and general updates.

December 2008

This past Christmas, Melanie and Khurram posted ultrasound pictures on Facebook to announce they were expecting. I was overjoyed for them. (Truth be told, Aunt Lilly had already been spreading the good news weeks beforehand while we were in New York.) Their baby was due to arrive on May 15th. After their announcement, I anxiously and frequently checked their respective Facebook pages to keep up with the progression of Melanie’s pregnancy. I watched the progression of Project Baby as they called it through the updated ultrasound pics and the various photos of Melanie and her expanding baby bump.

Khurram & Melanie - December 2008

3 weeks ago Melanie was put on bedrest for the remainder of her pregnancy. Their baby was due May 15th. However, because of complications, they had planned to deliver their baby on April 23rd. They did as they were told and even rented an apartment that was close to the hospital. On Easter, I sent her a Facebook message asking how Project Baby was going. She replied back that she was doing well, but was bored.

Last Saturday, Melanie gave birth to Aalia Sabine in the afternoon. Mobile photos were posted on Facebook. Melanie held and nursed Aalia. Then, she felt weak. I'm unsure of the exact complications. I only know that she was rushed to intensive car where her heart stopped. For 1.5 hrs, the amazing hospital staff valliantly attempted to revive her to no avail. Melanie died later that evening from an embolism.

Aalia Sabine

When my other cousin Rhed called to tell me the news, I was in such shock that I had to play my voicemail over and over again. Even now, I still don't believe she's gone. I regret not having made more of an effort to visit or to chat more often. However, I am thankful for the time that we did have together and the relationship we developed in the last couple of years. Like the rest of the family, we all intend to be a part of her husband's and daugther's lives. After all, we're family.

Portrait of a Lady

2009-04-09T00:56:00.000-07:00

Photo taken by Cicely

I had mentioned in my Piper post that I was working my way up to people portraits. On Sunday, I dipped my toes back into the water. Aside from taking photos of Willie and Cicely together, I wanted to take some portraits of Cicely. She'd recently lost a significant amount of weight and deserved to have photographs that celebrated her success. Not to mention, she tried to do some self-portraits and they did not do her any justice at all. {They were bad, really bad}

It was a beautiful day. It was sunny and warm and a tad bit breezier than I would like. You'll see why in a bit. We headed off to Memorial Park after a very late Brunch. The place was packed. So, we found a less traveled area on the fringe of the park.

It took me a bit to get warmed up. I had forgotten how to pose people. Thankfully, she was very patient. I didn't get as many good shots as I would have liked since I forgot my flash and my reflectors. {Doh!} Most of my portraits were taken with natural light and some on camera flash usage for fill.

Here are a few of my favorites:

While I had the tripod out, we decided to take some portraits together. We've been friends for nearly 10 years, but don't have any decent photos together. I had my trusty new remote. I thought it would be simple. What ensued was pure comedy. Trying to figure out how to flatteringly pose myself turned out to be a Herculean feat. I would setup the shot, position myself, trigger the remote, and run to check how the photo turned out. Lest I forget, all this had my color commentary, which kept Cicely entertained. Most of these photos turned out like cheesetastic, High School friendship pictures. I did get one frameable photo. So, I won't complain too loudly. For laughs and in the spirit of honesty in artistry, here are some of the photos of us together.

Before anyone asks, yes, it really was that windy. I didn't not bring a wind machine with us on the shoot. I got some workable shots, but I definitely need some practice. Any volunteers?

In a blur...

2009-04-07T02:34:00.000-07:00

After Cicely and I took Willie to the vet, the rest of my trip sort of blended together. Thankfully, when Cicely and I visit one another, there are certain things that are constant.

1. We lounge around in our pajamas and watch DVDs.

2. We have a few libations.

Mango Margarita - Molina's Cantina

Presidente Margarita & Strawberry Margarita - Chili's Bar & Grill

3. We go shopping.
A trip is not complete without a little outlet shopping. Cicely's friends Sheri and Becky joined us.

Sheri

Becky

Me - I was feeling anti-photo

4. We have a nice meal.

Raw Oysters, which were in season

my fave Shrimp Etouffee with dirty rice

5. We have cupcakes.

Strawberry, Red Velvet, & Coconut

I added something new to our to-do list. Here's a hint.

I'll reveal it in a separate post.

Good bye, sweet boy

2009-04-03T21:29:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, photos lie. Or rather they can be skewed to show only a certain perspective. I was a bit concerned that I would not be able to do Willie any justice, but he looks happy and full of life in the photos I took yesterday. In reality, he was very old and deteriorating quickly. Our short photo shoot wiped him out. Willie was 17 years old. He'd been a part of my life for the last 8 years. In the year since I had seen him last, he had gone from a sprightly dog to one that struggled to go up the stairs and tripped over his own feet. He had suffered a stroke last year and he never recovered. He labored to breathe and had that raspy breathing that senior dogs sometimes have. He could barely hear and had developed cataracts. Simply put, he had gotten old and it broke my heart. Taking photos of Willie was only part of the reason for my trip to Houston. I came to Houston to say "goodbye".

After much agonizing, Cicely decided to have him put to sleep. His illnesses had become more frequent and his quality of life dramatically altered. After watching several loved ones suffer deteriorating terminal illness, she did not want the same fate for the dog we all loved so much. I asked to accompany her when she took Willie to the vet. I owed him that much.

Willie Kisses - B & W photo - Summer 2001

Willie had been with me during a particularly rough patch in my life. I had suffered a severe bout of depression and a small breakdown in my mid-20s. For days when I was trapped by my depression, Willie kept me company and gave me the unconditional affection that only a dog can give. Had it not been for Cicely and Willie, I don't know if I would have weathered that storm. Willie was also the source of hilarity for Cicely and me. We took to dressing him up in costumes for Halloween and Christmas, which he loved. He played into my less than graceful nature. The misadventures of Anne and Willie are legendary. Cicely has a slew of stories of where Willie and I got into trouble. One of her favorites is from my 27th Birthday, a story which I will recount on another day. All of these memories, I will carry in my heart.

Last night, I stayed up all night. I couldn't sleep. I spent most of the night with Willie. He sat on the the floor next to me while I edited photos and wrote on my blog. Then, I caressed and petted him until he slept. When he woke from time to time, I told him how much he meant to me. I'd like to think that he already knew it, but I thought it needed to be said.

At 9:30 this morning, Cicely and I drove Willie to the vet. After an insensitive interaction with the receptionist and Vet tech, we were ushered into an exam room. The Vet examined him and began the procedure. We said our goodbyes and left the room. Five minutes later, the Vet emerged and told us that Willie had passed. Just like that, he was gone. Or rather he is physically gone. I believe that those that we love never really die and that in some way they stay with us.

Willie, wherever you are, thanks for being one of the best dogs a girl could have.

Silly Willie Wonka the Dog

2009-04-02T20:06:00.000-07:00

I have a special place in my heart for Willie Wonka Walker. Willie the English Springer Spaniel belongs to my best friend Cicely. Although, if you asked him, he'd say that Cicely and I belong to him. I first met Willie when Cicely became my roommate in college in Virginia. When Cicely moved in with Willie, I was overjoyed. I had always been a dog person with no dog. (My parents refused to get us a dog. My chihuahua died when I was 6 and apparently I was traumatized.) I spoiled him to death. I gave him treats so often that Cicely called them "all-the-times". I bought him sweaters, which he loved. Dogs love sweaters, even big dogs. Trust me.

When Cicely moved to North Carolina, she left Willie with me to keep me company. Willie was my constant companion. I was even able to bring him to work with me from time to time. When I moved to California, Willie returned to Cicely. He never forgot me. Every time I visit her, Willie does his little happy dance and follows me around like a shadow. It's nice to be THAT loved.

I came to Houston with a specific purpose. I wanted to see Willie and a do a photo shoot with him. Cicely knew of a bluebell field near her house. We did a very short photo shoot. The shoot lasted 20 minutes. At 17 years old, Willie had very little energy. Despite his hearing loss, cataracts, and other ailments, Willie was able to muster up a few smiles. For extra entertainment factor, Willie ran into a nearby pond and I accidentally stood on a fire ant hill.

Here are some of the photos Cicely took of me in action.

Here are my photos.

Houston, you have a problem

2009-04-01T09:54:00.000-07:00

I'll be in Houston for the next 5 days visiting my BFF. We have some business to attend to and then the rest of the trip will be spent with our usual tomfoolery.

Chop, chop

2009-03-31T00:38:00.000-07:00

Up until 3 years ago, I rocked a short haircut like nobody's business. It was chin-length, razored, bobbed, dyed, and highlighted. You name it. I tried it.

December 2001

March 2005

June 2005

July 2005

December 2005

Then, wedding hair happened. We were engaged the Summer of 2006 and I became obsessed with having long hair for my wedding. Screw getting extensions put in. I was going to have a beautiful updo for my wedding. Well, the wedding came and went. I kept the long hair. I told myself that I had so many options with long hair. I could curl it. I could put it up. I could wear it straight. I could do all kinds of interesting things with it. The problem is that I did none of those things. I washed it and the put it up in some sort of a bun. I kept meaning to keep up with haircuts and highlights. Because my hair was so long, a haircut and a highlight was a half-day affair and very pricey.

I finally got the cut that I didn't have the guts to do back in October. I lopped off 10.5" of hair. For those that follow me on twitter or are my friend on facebook, this is old news and I apologize. Here is a pic of the before and after.

(Photos taken with the camera on my iMac)

A deciding factor for getting my hair cut so short is that I wanted to donate my hair. If I simply got a trim, it would have just been wasted hair. I did my research. After careful consideration, I decided to donate my hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths.

As Pantene Beautiful Lengths wigs are created, they are distributed for free through select American Cancer Society wig banks across the country. Creating a real-hair wig takes approximately three to four months, and each wig requires at least six ponytails to make. Women facing cancer can find out about the availability of a Pantene Beautiful Lengths wig by calling the American Cancer Society at 1-877-227-1596. The Society can also help callers with a number of resources providing educational and emotional support.

Do I regret cutting my hair? Not a chance. My hair grows quickly. If anyone is considering cutting their long hair or doing the Post Bridal Chop, I hope you consider donating your hair. Please see this website for more information .

L.A. Adventure : L.A. Farmers Market

2009-03-28T19:59:00.000-07:00

According to Rob, I have not really had the full L.A. experience. I've lived here for 6 years. What L.A. experience is he talking about? And then, I thought about it. Like most people that live in L.A., I have spent the majority of my time in my 'hood, which puts me in the Eagle Rock/Pasadena area. When I was an office drone, I also spent time in Marina del Rey. It was as though all points in between did not exist. There are a slew of well-known L.A. landmarks that I haven't been to. I am a little embarrassed to admit that many of my out-of-town friends have seen more of L.A. than I have. So, I'm going to try to fill in the gaps. Our first trip was to the L.A. Farmers Market on Fairfax and Third.

Here's my pictorial.

We stopped by Shine Gallery and checked out their vintage toy collection

Then, we proceeded to check out the different food stalls.

Rob checks out some of the fresh seafood

I looked at some of my faves...

After all the walking around, we stopped to get a bite to eat.

Of course, I got the fried seafood platter. It was surprisingly good. (I do not associate L.A. with good Southern-style food.)

We also had boiled shirmp served cold. (Boo!)

Rob had the Crawfish Etouffe.

I have my first check off the list:)

Piper Dog

2009-03-24T22:30:00.000-07:00

In the midst of my invitation frenzy, I took a photo break. The barrage of paper can get a bit overwhelming. I did a quick impromptu photo shoot with Piper, who I have mentioned before.

I have had a few people ask if I'm trying to get into Pet Photography. The short answer is "no". I've just been doing these shoots for fun. The theory is I'm moving my way up to photographing people. If I can get portraits of creatures that are on the move and I can't necessarily control, people portraits should be a piece of cake.

Back to Piper. She is Kevin's dog, but I think it would be accurate to say Kevin is Piper's Human. They have THAT kind of dynamic. Piper is a Shiba Inu. If I could be reincarnated as a dog, I would be a Shiba Inu. They're deceptively cute, smart, and high energy. Piper is cute, but unbelievably high strung. If Piper had a motto it would be, "Don't call me cute." For the first six months that we knew Kevin, Piper would not even acknowledge my presence. Nowadays, we have an understanding. I bring her pupcakes & other miscellaneous treats. She runs with me from time to time.

Without further adieu, here's Piper.

First, the Portraits

Then, I decided to use a ball as a prop. Piper is not a "ball dog" per se, but she obliged me for these pictures.

"Uh.. What am I supposed to do with this?" - Piper

"If you throw it, I MIGHT bring it back" - Piper

"I'll bring the ball, but not because you want it." - Piper

"Playtime is over. I'm just going to sit here and look cute." - Piper

March Trudges On

2009-03-23T21:27:00.000-07:00

iPhone photo

This month has gone by in a blur. I just now I realized that I've only written 4 posts this month. The majority of my time has been eaten up by design projects. I am grateful that Wedding Season has started for me and I have been working non-stop. I've completed some really fun projects.

iPhone photo

If there was a theme for this month (aside from Busy, Busy, Busy), it would be Sugar Overload. First, those pesky Girl ~~Crack Dealers~~ Scouts are peddling their wares. It's Cookie Time! Those persistent little salesgirls are everywhere. I thought I was going to survive this cookie season unscathed and my thighs intact. No such luck. They snagged me on the way out of REI. {The irony!}. I scooped up boxes of the Lemon Chalet Cremes and Dulce de Leche. The former is highly addictive. The latter takes like Carmel Coffee Syrup on a cookie. I had a minor meltdown 2 days later and went cookie hunting. I came home with 6 boxes.... that disappeared in a week...without any help. {I'm such a glutton!}

Cathee, Amanda & Chrisma at the Staples Center (photo borrowed from Amanda's Facebook)

My sister Cathee and her girlfriends Amanda and Chrisma came to town to watch a Laker game. They had planned a full Girls Getaway Weekend. Sadly since I'm neither Girly nor could I get away from my work, I met them for lunch. My days of partying like a video vixen are in my distant past.

Chrisma, Cathee & Amanda on their way out (photo borrowed from Amanda's Facebook)

Of course, I rounded up the usual suspects. My cousins, Janine and Jo met us for lunch along with Janine's daughter Bella and her boyfriend Joe.

In honor of Cathee's and Joe's upcoming birthdays, I made a quick trip to Porto's Bakery. {I told you this month was about Sugar Overload.}

iPhone photo

iPhone photo

We had lunch at Manna Korean BBQ. It's akin to some of the open air eateries you'd find in Southeast Asia. Here are some photos of the action

Galbi (Short Ribs) on the grill

Bulgogi & Galbi (Short Ribs)

Enjoying lunch - Janine, Bella, Amanda, Jo, & Joe

Chrisma, Cathee, Jo, & Joe

Janine & Bella

The fantastic Fruit Tart from Porto's

They have this strange tradition of spraying Champagne on birthday celebrants.
Here's the waiter shaking up the bottle

Cathee contemplating how much of the cake she can run off with

Jo hams it up

Yes, Rob and I were there. We were clever enough to stay out of the photos.

Help a good cause and stimulate the economy!

2009-03-11T00:51:00.000-07:00

I found this on Kimberly Michelle's blog and thought I'd share.

Today and for the next couple of days, you can save 30% off during the GAP/BR/ON Friends and Family event. And if you print out the coupon above (also linked here for printing ease), 5% of that purchase will go directly to TEACH FOR AMERICA.

This is a win-win. Buy a few things ON SALE, help a good cause, and stimulate the economy.

Gone to the dogs

2009-03-07T00:20:00.000-08:00

Saturday, February 28, 2009

I was first introduced to Pichu and Tico last year. My friend Natalie and her husband Greg rescued Pichu last year. At the time, Pichu was expecting a litter of puppies. Tico and his adorable littermates arrived shortly after Pichu's arrival. I wanted to adopt one so badly, but knew that there was no way we could have managed a second dog. I admire them for their commitment and patience. They went from having no pets to having a dog and 6 puppies. For those that know, puppies are A LOT of work. Newborn puppies or baby puppies as I like to call them are a ridiculous amount of work. The feedings, the cleaning, and whatnot are endless. Of course, it wasn't without its rewards. If you ask either of them, I'm sure Natalie and Greg will tell you its one of their best experiences. Aside from keeping Pichu, they decided to keep Tico who was one of the larger puppies in the litter.

Mother & Son - Pichu & Tico

I was looking forward to this shoot because I was excited to see how both dogs were doing. Rob and I had seen them over the summer, but really wanted to see how much they've both grown. I wasn't disappointed. I couldn't have asked for better dog models. They were playful, yet very well-behaved. They sat patiently. They ran around. Each dog had their own distinct personality, which I tried to capture. Time flew by and I took 200+ photos. I am pleased with the photos I got. Here are my favorites.

Tico

Pichu with her intense "throw-the-frisbee" face

It just so happens that Cheryl, the woman who found Pichu wandering the streets, also dropped by for a visit.

Pichu & Cheryl having a quiet moment

Greg and Pichu

Natalie plays tug-of-war with Tico & Pichu

Pichu & Greg

"Throw the Frisbee!" - Pichu & Tico

Pichu with her Frisbee mask

Tico contemplates the ball in the distance

Pichu with a ball

Pichu with her beloved Frisbee

Tico with a baseball

If you need proof that these dogs are in the best possible home, these photos are it.

Pichu

Tico

Thanks to Natalie and Greg for giving me an opportunity to refresh my photography skills. You and your dogs are fortunate to have found each other.

Update: 03.09.09
Per Natalie's request, here's a photo of Tico from when I met him last year. BIG DIFFERENCE.

Itty Bitty Bundle

2009-03-05T21:16:00.000-08:00

I attended Wendy's Baby Shower over a month ago. She and her husband Lior were anxiously awaiting the arrival of their son. They did not have to wait long for their Jew Nugget {their pet name}. Little Benjamin arrived on February 18.

I had the opportunity to take a few photos of Benjamin for a project that I'm working on. {This will be posted on the Paper Stylist blog.} This was challenging. I had never worked with a newborn this small ... and this sleepy. Benjamin weighed in at a whopping 5lbs. 13 oz. It took 2 separate trips and a lot of coaxing to capture Benjamin with his gorgeous blue eyes open. After taking 200+ shots, I think I got some really cute shots. Here are a few of my faves.

Bright-eyed and Alert

Sleepy

Snuggling with Mommy

Yawning

More Sleeping

Having a snack with Daddy

Benjamin will never be without any company. He has 3 cats of his very own. I couldn't resist snapping a few photos of them as well.

Congratulations, Wendy & Lior! Benjamin is lucky to have parents like the two of you.

It's Vanity and it's not Fair

2009-03-04T22:48:00.000-08:00

Friday, February 27, 2009

photo found on Flickr

Pamela and I went to check out the Vanity Fair Portraits exhibit at LACMA. In all the time that I've lived in L.A., I had never been to the LACMA. Thankfully, Pamela had a LACMA membership and we got in for free. I was excited. Vanity Fair has been responsible for some of the most intriguing and beautiful portrait photographs. Here are some of my favorites.

By Nickolas Muray, 1929; Vanity Fair, October 1929;
© Condé Nast Publications Inc./courtesy of Condé Nast Archive.

By Josef Astor, 1996; costume designed and constructed by Joseph Hutchins & Company N.Y.C.; Vanity Fair, July 1996; © Josef Astor, 1996.

By Anton Bruehl, 1935; Vanity Fair, November 1935;
© Condé Nast Publications Inc.; courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution/Art Resource, N.Y.C.

By Cecil Beaton, 1935; Vanity Fair, July 1935;
© Condé Nast Publications Inc./courtesy of Condé Nast Archive.

Photograph by Annie Leibovitz; styled by Michael Roberts.

Photograph by Steven Meisel; styled by Arianne Phillips.

When walked into the exhibit, we were underwhelmed. The prints were small and poorly printed. I am aware that it's a technical complaint, but it really took away from the overall show. One of the things I love about going to a photography exhibit is viewing large prints and discovering nuances and details that I never noticed before. The majority of prints were the same size as the magazine. If I wanted to see them that small, I would have picked up the magazine. The biggest disappointment is that it would appear that the prints of the 1930s photographs were reproductions of prints, not prints from the negatives. In essence, we were looking at a room full of copies that could have been made at Kinko's! It was disappointing.

Aside from the poor prints, the overall exhibit seemed poorly thought out. A few of the well-known magazine covers were showcased, but there were a lot of random bland photos. As a result, I was bored. This has NEVER happened in my adult life. I love photography exhibits so much that I've been moved to tears in good ones. I was dumbfounded and saddened.

If the exhibition hadn't already ended, I'd say skip it. If you didn't catch it, you didn't miss anything. If you want to see fantastic portrait photography, I suggest you go to the National Portrait Gallery in D.C.

To get the the taste of bad art exhibit out of our mouths, we did took a few photos of our own.

Sculpture Installation: Urban Lighting by Charles Burden

A candid of Pamela

In the end, the conversation provoked by the bad exhibit was well worth the trip. Thanks to Pamela for getting me in for free. {I would have kicked myself had I paid to get in.}

February Wrap-up

2009-02-28T23:43:00.000-08:00

This has been a hectic week. If you follow me on twitter, you know I have been deeply entrenched in the Eggplant War. Who knew Eggplant (color) would be so difficult to define and match?! Trying to color match a piece of colored paper and an inkjet print-out to a color digital press printout has proved to be my biggest challenge as a freelance designer. The Eggplant War has given me a crash course in vendor diplomacy, a refresher in color theory, and reminder of Murphy's Law. I have lost sleep, fallen behind schedule, and questioned my sanity. There have been many lessons learned. The most important? Large areas of dark, saturated color are NOT a good idea. I ~~hope~~ pray that my clients are pleased with the final product.

I am in the midst of creating invitation mock-ups using these gems. It's starting to look like purple is the color of the year.

I have also made a concerted effort to participate in activities that were not work-related. Here are some quick shots to give you an idea of what I've been up to. There will be full posts later.

Wendy & Lior's son - Benjamin

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) - Urban Light Exhibit

Enjoying the LACMA Papparazzi-style with Pamela

Pichu, Natalie, Greg & Tico

Pichu & Tico

Sadly, I have no photos from two different lunch dates. I discovered my new favorite Thai restaurant, Sompun Thai, with Amber. I also celebrated Ivy's birthday at Granville Cafe at the Americana. Joshua has gotten so big and I have the sore arms to prove it.

That's my week in a nutshell. I'll be back once I've caught up with work and sleep.

Unique L.A. - Spring Show

2009-02-25T21:04:00.000-08:00

Mark your calendars and tell a friend. Unique L.A. has announced its Spring Show for May 2 & 3. I attended the show in December and was not disappointed. If you love design, craft, and art, this is not to be missed. For more info, check out their website.

What's your style?

2009-02-23T15:36:00.000-08:00

I'm not always a big fan of quizzes, but I saw this one and was intrigued. It was quick. You look at about 20+ rooms and rate whether you love or hate them. The quiz didn't tell me anything I didn't already know, but it was fun to look at all the pretty rooms. I'm a home decor junkie and sucker for aesthetics. For those that want a better idea of where their tastes fall, here is the link. If you want to compare, here are my results.

Your personal style is a mix of 3 specific styles:

39% Contemporary

30% Modern Elegance

31% Vintage Modern

Contemporary

So fresh and clean! Antiques? No thanks! Vintage collections and clutter of any type? Not for you! You like your space new and sleek. Each piece is chosen carefully as though it were a piece of art, and your love of minimalism is expressed throughout each room. Furniture has clean lines and geometric shapes are preferred.

You're not afraid of color — in fact, bold color options only highlight the minimal items you choose for your home. But the key is clean. To master the minimalist interior you not only have to be selective in the few furniture items you bring into the space, you must also find a way to hide all of the real-life items as well.

Vintage Modern

Flea Market, anyone? You know you are drawn to modern furniture and interiors, and yet you don't like a space that feels cold and sterile. And who could blame you? That's why Vintage Modern is so appealing to you. Though the backdrop of the room, the walls and windows, are many times white or monochromatic, the furniture and accessories have the color, shape and texture to bring the warmth into the space.

The great thing about Vintage Modern is ease of mixing different styles in the one space. You can have a new modular sofa mixed with a great pair of chairs that your grandmother purchased in the late 1950's. The new and old work appear as though they were destined for each other. Even if you don't have time for swap meets and garage sales, so many of the mid-century pieces were so great that they have been remade and mimicked year after year.

Modern Elegance

Variety is the spice of life! And nowhere is this truer than in the design of your home. You may love contemporary, but wish it wasn't quite so cold and austere, or perhaps you're drawn to traditional rooms but you'd like to create a less cluttered and busy space. Transitional Style is here to marry those apparent contradicting designs.

And guess what? It's the contradictions that make the mix of contemporary and traditional so successful. The result is an elegant room that appeals to young and old alike. A sofa with modern lines blends seamlessly with a pair of traditional chairs. New fabrics work so well on antique pieces. It turns out that modern art looks even more exciting above a collection of traditional pieces. The room feels simple and sophisticated, elegant and hip.

If you take the quiz, please post your results in the comments section. I'd love to see where my blog friends' tastes fall.

Miscellanea and Minutia

2009-02-23T03:23:00.000-08:00

I haven't blogged in a bit. I haven't had much of a social life and the rest of my life is uninteresting. I suppose it's mostly because I've gotten caught in the miscellanea and minutia of working from home. I have always wanted to have my own business. It just seemed more fun in theory than it is in practice. I'm getting a crash course in managing the business end of things, budgeting, and conceptualizing a website. To aid in all of this, I've been buried under books about all of those topics and using every free internet resource I can find. I've also been engaged in hand-to-hand combat with a foe called "self-doubt". I find old paycheck stubs and question my sanity. Of course, I've been designing until I drop. Don't get me wrong. I'm NOT complaining. I will take this over sitting a cubicle any day. And, don't feel sorry for me. Hard work never killed anyone. I'm paying my dues. I know this will all pay off... eventually.

Here are some small tidbits about my life.

Dottie and Rob have been up to the snow again. Dottie thinks she's a St. Bernard. She LOVES the snow... until she stops moving. Then, she's a Dottsicle.

The beauty of being married to a man who cooks is that I will never starve. The downside is that it seems damn near impossible to lose any weight.

Roasted Mediterranean-style Chicken with Hummus, Tabuleh Salad, and Pita Points

Chicken Milanese over Capellini

With all this work, I'm becoming a coffee junkie. We finally pulled out the coffee maker we received as a wedding gift. Coffee that's ready at the push of a button. Piping hot. All day long. It's dangerously addictive. Of course, I had to get coffee accessories. I went to Target for a coffee filter and ended up with Hazelnut Syrup and 2 Orla Kiely coffee mugs (and then some.)

I couldn't resist the Orla Kiely collection for Target. I went to three different Targets to peruse the collection. Some of the items jumped into my cart and came home with me. I'm a sucker for brightly colored graphic patterns.

That's all in a nutshell. I told you things were a bit dull on my end. I promise to check back in when things pick up.

Change is good and time-consuming.

2009-02-18T02:41:00.000-08:00

I'm on a roll. I have been on a design frenzy. After updating the Paper Stylist, I decided to give this blog a new look.

Again, say goodbye to this...

and hello to this.
The formatting takes a bit to get used to, but it's a welcome change. If you'd like to add a comment (which is always welcomed), please click on the quote bubble in the upper right hand corner.

The other big change is this blog is moving to...

www.AnneKinLA.com

Please update your links and feeds accordingly. I promise. I'll have some real posts shortly.

A Low-key Valentine

2009-02-14T23:34:00.000-08:00

Please excuse the cheesy greeting above. Rob snapped that photo of Dottie earlier today and I couldn't resist putting a goofy thought bubble in it.

It's a Recessionista's Valentine Celebration. To be practical, we made dinner at home and watched DVDs in lieu of going out. No fanfare, No gifts. Rob made a pre-Valentine dinner. (Friday Night). Here's what Rob made...

Negimaki filled with Red Bell Pepper and Baby Asparagus
served with Vegetable Gyozas and Brown Rice

I made tonight's dinner. I cannot bake to save my life, but I can actually cook. I just don't choose to cook most of the time. {If you had a husband that could cook like mine, would you cook?} Here's what I made.

Herb-Crusted Broiled Salmon served with
Wilted Spinach Salad with Oven-roasted Cherry Tomatoes and Chickpeas

Geez... We are becoming a fat, boring married couple. Hope your Valentine's Day was fun.