After sitting around with my unfinished website for nearly two years now -- I finally decided that it's time to get back into the groove of things and really start cranking it out. I had said this many years before -- having a website somehow keeps me grounded, reminds me who I am, where I came from, and where I want to be. It helps me to be much more inclined to hold myself accountable for the things I promise to accomplish.
I guess I stopped updating my site since so much was going on... with my millions of jobs, then traveling, then buying the house and moving, and fixing up the house.... Things are finally starting to get a bit more comfortable...
...but comfortable is not what I'm striving for.. comfort is just what allows me to go and reach out for newer and richer experiences. I just hope that every year can be even more exciting and eventful than the last.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Las Tunas ramen place
Last time JT and I went down to LA, we found a little ramen house on Las Tunas that was sooo yummy.
They had the BEST enoki wrapped in beef..
Here's the view from my side of the table... jt looks 'fierce' ahhaha... I like making him pose for me.
Then I made him switch spots with me so I could get a shot of him looking 'dreamy'
Here's me:
and the yummy red bean mochi dessert we shared
They had the BEST enoki wrapped in beef..
Here's the view from my side of the table... jt looks 'fierce' ahhaha... I like making him pose for me.
Then I made him switch spots with me so I could get a shot of him looking 'dreamy'
Here's me:
and the yummy red bean mochi dessert we shared
Friday, January 11, 2008
Em moves to Seattle...
Sometimes it feels like life moves at a million miles an hour... I still can't believe Em moved to Seattle!
This is us the night before she left for the windy city for one last girls' night out...
We pounded down some lemon drops, Em called some guys douche bags, and then we called it a night hehe
This is us the night before she left for the windy city for one last girls' night out...
We pounded down some lemon drops, Em called some guys douche bags, and then we called it a night hehe
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Happy New Year!
Sherry & David, Margaret & Spark came over to celebrate the new year. It was a fun chill night of yummy food, poker, and then wii games. =)
Good times. I'm so happy I was able to ring in the new year with some of my nearest and dearest.
Here's me n sherry gettin buzzed before diggin in to our feast =P
It's gonna be an amazing year.
Good times. I'm so happy I was able to ring in the new year with some of my nearest and dearest.
Here's me n sherry gettin buzzed before diggin in to our feast =P
It's gonna be an amazing year.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Cleaning out the closet!!
I am an employee of an eBay company. Please click here to see the standards of conduct I must honor: http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/empl-agreement.html.
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Check out my ebay listings!
I've been cleaning out the closet, and have sold numerous goodies for great prices! Maybe you can find something you like?
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Check out my ebay listings!
I've been cleaning out the closet, and have sold numerous goodies for great prices! Maybe you can find something you like?
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Ouchie!
Yesterday, at the eBay gym -- I was showing Linda how I couldn't do a single real push-up.
OK, actually -- It's worse than that. I can't even do a half push up... you know the kind where you're on your knees instead of your feet.
YA... so sad! WEAK! So I attempted to do ONE, and basically what happens is once I get down, I can't get back up... I think I just don't have any muscles there. =(
I attempted a couple times after that... and still no such luck. I'm freakin weak when it comes to upper body strength.
So today, a day after that work out, my freakin armpit muscles (I think they're called the subscapularis) were killing me!
I've realized that I don't think I've really ever had to work that muscle ... which explains what I like to call my "armpit fat" issue. hehehe No matter how fit i get, from running or the elliptical machine or bikram yoga or whatever.... I always have a stubborn pocket of fat in my armpit area. grrrr!
Ok..time to start attempting push-ups more often! My goal for the new year? Be able to do 3 REAL pushups! HAHAHAHA, sounds lame but I'm serious.
Not trying to get buff or anything, just wanna see if I can fix a problem spot!
OK, actually -- It's worse than that. I can't even do a half push up... you know the kind where you're on your knees instead of your feet.
YA... so sad! WEAK! So I attempted to do ONE, and basically what happens is once I get down, I can't get back up... I think I just don't have any muscles there. =(
I attempted a couple times after that... and still no such luck. I'm freakin weak when it comes to upper body strength.
So today, a day after that work out, my freakin armpit muscles (I think they're called the subscapularis) were killing me!
I've realized that I don't think I've really ever had to work that muscle ... which explains what I like to call my "armpit fat" issue. hehehe No matter how fit i get, from running or the elliptical machine or bikram yoga or whatever.... I always have a stubborn pocket of fat in my armpit area. grrrr!
Ok..time to start attempting push-ups more often! My goal for the new year? Be able to do 3 REAL pushups! HAHAHAHA, sounds lame but I'm serious.
Not trying to get buff or anything, just wanna see if I can fix a problem spot!
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
A sweet photo session with Wendy and Alan
Just to give an intro to this post -
After so many years of being on the other side of the camera (as a model), and also producing and art directing shoots -- I decided I'd give photography a shot. I got myself a brand new Canon EOS 5D a few months ago....and I LOoooooVE it. So I've taken on photography as my new hobby. For those of you who know me, know that I take my hobbies seriously. So be prepared to see some more awesome stuff. Below are some of my favorite pics from my very first shoot ever as a photographer. My friends Wendy and Alan graciously agreed to be my very first subjects and they were SOOO awesome!!! I have some more shoots lined up with friends this month, but if you're interested in modeling for me -- let me know!
~~~
On Sunday, I spent the morning with my buddies Wendy and Alan. We drove around their neighborhood in Pleasanton and got some amazing shots. Checkout my favorite images from our shoot below. *the first and last scenery images were taken from online pix just to add a nice effect to my image slide. The rest were all shot by me!
After so many years of being on the other side of the camera (as a model), and also producing and art directing shoots -- I decided I'd give photography a shot. I got myself a brand new Canon EOS 5D a few months ago....and I LOoooooVE it. So I've taken on photography as my new hobby. For those of you who know me, know that I take my hobbies seriously. So be prepared to see some more awesome stuff. Below are some of my favorite pics from my very first shoot ever as a photographer. My friends Wendy and Alan graciously agreed to be my very first subjects and they were SOOO awesome!!! I have some more shoots lined up with friends this month, but if you're interested in modeling for me -- let me know!
~~~
On Sunday, I spent the morning with my buddies Wendy and Alan. We drove around their neighborhood in Pleasanton and got some amazing shots. Checkout my favorite images from our shoot below. *the first and last scenery images were taken from online pix just to add a nice effect to my image slide. The rest were all shot by me!
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Hairstyles for the BIG day
I've decided on going with a half-up do with a headpiece (not a crown tiara, but a nice headband type thingie). Here are some pictures I've found for inspiration. Also posted on my flickr.
The basic look - soft curls, very natural looking... I love that this look is very elegant in an effortless way
Very basic, but I like how the hair weaves the headpiece in
Modern half-up - love the slight poof in her up part.
Half-up with flowers
Half-up with headband
Formal Half-up with tighter curls
Let me know what you think!
The basic look - soft curls, very natural looking... I love that this look is very elegant in an effortless way
Very basic, but I like how the hair weaves the headpiece in
Modern half-up - love the slight poof in her up part.
Half-up with flowers
Half-up with headband
Formal Half-up with tighter curls
Let me know what you think!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
An action-packed weekend
I celebrated three birthdays over the weekend and then relaxed all day today. Here are some highlights:
Han and Elaine did an amaaaazing job throwing Em a red, white, and black cocktail party at Han's pad in the city. There were cute little appetizers, a chocolate fountain with an assortment of fruits and cakes, and cosmos of course. Em - the young-un... is FINALLY 25 which means we're officially ALL old now.
Diana, me, em, and kat
Happy bday EM!
My hair is extra curly cuz I got this new curling iron that is soo intense..and JT curled my hair for me. hehehe awww =) my own personal hair styler.
Check out the rest of the pics from em's bday on my flikr site.
Around midnight, Linda, JT, and I headed over to Suede where James was celebrating his bday too. JT and I put on our dorky animal beanies, and Linda got into full sailor costume (soooo cute!)
Happy Bday James! (more pix here)
On Sat, I woke up bright and early and headed back into the city for my first time wedding dress shopping!! It was suuuper fun -- met up with Em, Han, and Margaret, and went to 4 boutiques. I won't be posting pix here, cuz my dress will definitely have to be a surprise for everyone besides my bridesmaids and mom!
After a long day of shopping, I met up with JT and we headed over to Berkeley and met up with my buddy Eddy from the dorms. We chilled out at Bear's Lair for Eddy's first ever chill birthday.. had some beers, and hung out with some old friends.
Han and Elaine did an amaaaazing job throwing Em a red, white, and black cocktail party at Han's pad in the city. There were cute little appetizers, a chocolate fountain with an assortment of fruits and cakes, and cosmos of course. Em - the young-un... is FINALLY 25 which means we're officially ALL old now.
Diana, me, em, and kat
Happy bday EM!
My hair is extra curly cuz I got this new curling iron that is soo intense..and JT curled my hair for me. hehehe awww =) my own personal hair styler.
Check out the rest of the pics from em's bday on my flikr site.
Around midnight, Linda, JT, and I headed over to Suede where James was celebrating his bday too. JT and I put on our dorky animal beanies, and Linda got into full sailor costume (soooo cute!)
Happy Bday James! (more pix here)
On Sat, I woke up bright and early and headed back into the city for my first time wedding dress shopping!! It was suuuper fun -- met up with Em, Han, and Margaret, and went to 4 boutiques. I won't be posting pix here, cuz my dress will definitely have to be a surprise for everyone besides my bridesmaids and mom!
After a long day of shopping, I met up with JT and we headed over to Berkeley and met up with my buddy Eddy from the dorms. We chilled out at Bear's Lair for Eddy's first ever chill birthday.. had some beers, and hung out with some old friends.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Bomb in Fremont
UPDATE: My neighbor was definitely making bombs!!
I just read this article: http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_7319756
I'm really glad they were caught before anything serious happened.
~~~~
UPDATE: They arrested 45 year-old Fremont resident Steven Gilbuena and 29-year-old Yvonne Zuniga in connection with recently discovered explosives...
What I read in one article on insidebayarea.com:
It's really hard to know what REALLY went down...and whether or not the police went overboard in all of this blowing out the windows and doors of the house business... But I do think after knowing arrests were made and devices were detonated -- I feel that it's safe to go home tonight.
However, if it was blown out of proportion and the devices were truly harmless attempts at an invention -- then my heart really goes out the suspects in question who were arrested.
My brother goes jogging in the neighborhood quite often and has seen the couple who live at that house. He said they just looked like normal people hanging out in the front with their little pet dog.
So I think it'd be terribly sad if they were just a couple trying to make something of themselves. If they were truly misunderstood for simply being innovative... I think it would be a real shame.
What kind of message does this send out? I think it tells people: Don't go around trying to invent anything on your own or you might be mistaken as a bomb-maker!
It seems as though it can be risky for every day people (mechanical engineers, mechanics, or whoever) who are working on any inventions that happen to look like intricate devices... Even if they are found innocent, I'm sure people will not look at them the same way, and I'm sure it won't be easy for them to rent ever again!
It makes me wonder: Is this some kind of media propaganda that's meant to discourage people to try out their own inventions?
My hopeful thinking is that there must have been some kind of substantial evidence that these devices were indeed explosive... or maybe an annonymous tip?
~~~~
Just thought I would share this interesting story – if you haven't heard about it in the news already.
I wasn't able to go home last night because our neighborhood was evacuated. A man was caught with an explosive device in his car in San Jose – and he turned out to be our neighbor who lives two houses down from us!
http://cbs5.com/local/local_story_298183655.html
My brother is in this video being interviewed! He was at the house eating lunch at the time the neighborhood was evacuated.
They searched the house with a robot all night and had to detonate two devices – people were finally allowed back at 4:30am.
I just read this article: http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_7319756
I'm really glad they were caught before anything serious happened.
~~~~
UPDATE: They arrested 45 year-old Fremont resident Steven Gilbuena and 29-year-old Yvonne Zuniga in connection with recently discovered explosives...
What I read in one article on insidebayarea.com:
Picking up shards of glass from the driveway, John Gilbuena, the suspect's older brother, told the Mercury News that his brother was no mad bomber, but a 'tinkerer" - an electrician and auto mechanic - who drove around with his latest invention in his car: a boxed, wired-up device intended to turn on household devices by making a cell phone call.
It's really hard to know what REALLY went down...and whether or not the police went overboard in all of this blowing out the windows and doors of the house business... But I do think after knowing arrests were made and devices were detonated -- I feel that it's safe to go home tonight.
However, if it was blown out of proportion and the devices were truly harmless attempts at an invention -- then my heart really goes out the suspects in question who were arrested.
My brother goes jogging in the neighborhood quite often and has seen the couple who live at that house. He said they just looked like normal people hanging out in the front with their little pet dog.
So I think it'd be terribly sad if they were just a couple trying to make something of themselves. If they were truly misunderstood for simply being innovative... I think it would be a real shame.
What kind of message does this send out? I think it tells people: Don't go around trying to invent anything on your own or you might be mistaken as a bomb-maker!
It seems as though it can be risky for every day people (mechanical engineers, mechanics, or whoever) who are working on any inventions that happen to look like intricate devices... Even if they are found innocent, I'm sure people will not look at them the same way, and I'm sure it won't be easy for them to rent ever again!
It makes me wonder: Is this some kind of media propaganda that's meant to discourage people to try out their own inventions?
My hopeful thinking is that there must have been some kind of substantial evidence that these devices were indeed explosive... or maybe an annonymous tip?
~~~~
Just thought I would share this interesting story – if you haven't heard about it in the news already.
I wasn't able to go home last night because our neighborhood was evacuated. A man was caught with an explosive device in his car in San Jose – and he turned out to be our neighbor who lives two houses down from us!
http://cbs5.com/local/local_story_298183655.html
My brother is in this video being interviewed! He was at the house eating lunch at the time the neighborhood was evacuated.
They searched the house with a robot all night and had to detonate two devices – people were finally allowed back at 4:30am.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
eBay Neighborhoods Launch!
eBay Neighborhoods has launched, and I have to give kudos to the 'hoods' team for their awesome work!!
Check it out and hang out at your fav Neighborhood…
http://neighborhoods.ebay.com
Here is the buzz from the street...
Mashable
"The best thing about Neighborhoods is the centralized manner in which you can find products related to the group type."
http://mashable.com/2007/10/09/ebay-neighborhoods/
Techcrunch
"Visually, the neighborhood pages are an improvement from the bare-bones utility I normally associate with eBay....What would really be smart would be if eBay allowed anyone to easily take any module on a neighborhood page—the reviews, the visual product search, the discussions, or the eBay blog posts—and embed them on other Web pages like Facebook, MySpace, or their blogs."
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/09/ebay-launches-shopping-social-networks/
Check it out and hang out at your fav Neighborhood…
http://neighborhoods.ebay.com
Here is the buzz from the street...
Mashable
"The best thing about Neighborhoods is the centralized manner in which you can find products related to the group type."
http://mashable.com/2007/10/09/ebay-neighborhoods/
Techcrunch
"Visually, the neighborhood pages are an improvement from the bare-bones utility I normally associate with eBay....What would really be smart would be if eBay allowed anyone to easily take any module on a neighborhood page—the reviews, the visual product search, the discussions, or the eBay blog posts—and embed them on other Web pages like Facebook, MySpace, or their blogs."
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/09/ebay-launches-shopping-social-networks/
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
Getting rid of some old DVDs... on eBay
Over the weekend, I decided to do some Fall cleaning, and listed 17 DVDs on eBay from my old DVD collection: http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/sandswirl
A good number of these DVDs are completely new and still in the shrink wrap. Just in case you're wondering why the selection is so random, a lot of them are from back when I did entertainment PR, or from when I worked for Warner Bros. Online. Some were gifts, or duplicates from combining my dvd collection w/ JT's.
If you're interested, please go and bid! =) All the auctions are ending in just 4 days, and you can win the auction for as little as 99 cents. If you live close, I can even drop it off at your house and waive the shipping costs. Just want to reduce clutter at my new place. Thanks.
A good number of these DVDs are completely new and still in the shrink wrap. Just in case you're wondering why the selection is so random, a lot of them are from back when I did entertainment PR, or from when I worked for Warner Bros. Online. Some were gifts, or duplicates from combining my dvd collection w/ JT's.
If you're interested, please go and bid! =) All the auctions are ending in just 4 days, and you can win the auction for as little as 99 cents. If you live close, I can even drop it off at your house and waive the shipping costs. Just want to reduce clutter at my new place. Thanks.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Update!
So I finally got around to uploading all the pics that have been stuck in my camera for soooo long.
You can see what I've been up to in the last few months on my flickr site!
Here are some recaps in reverse chronological order:
We celebrated my brother's 27th bday at Vivid 'ULTRA LOUNGE' in San Jose. More pix here.
Pinky Chung came to town last weekend, and we had a girls night out at the IMPALA, then had a lil sleepover awww. More pix here
My lil cous graduated from highschool. Check it out here.
Marilyn (my college roommy) n Josh's wedding was sooo beautiful. I'm soooo happy for you two!
Posted the pix here.
We met up with Karen and Danny in Vegas, and checked out Le Reve. Amazing show =) More pix here.
We celebrated Sherry's quarter-of-a-century:
More pix here.
OH, and LAST but not least. We are slowly but surely... settling in to our new PAD! It's starting to feel homey =)
WOOHOOO!!!!
You can see what I've been up to in the last few months on my flickr site!
Here are some recaps in reverse chronological order:
We celebrated my brother's 27th bday at Vivid 'ULTRA LOUNGE' in San Jose. More pix here.
Pinky Chung came to town last weekend, and we had a girls night out at the IMPALA, then had a lil sleepover awww. More pix here
My lil cous graduated from highschool. Check it out here.
Marilyn (my college roommy) n Josh's wedding was sooo beautiful. I'm soooo happy for you two!
Posted the pix here.
We met up with Karen and Danny in Vegas, and checked out Le Reve. Amazing show =) More pix here.
We celebrated Sherry's quarter-of-a-century:
More pix here.
OH, and LAST but not least. We are slowly but surely... settling in to our new PAD! It's starting to feel homey =)
WOOHOOO!!!!
Monday, July 09, 2007
Finally moved in
We're finally moved in!
Though we're still unpacking stuff, it's starting to get better... done with most of the painting, replacing the carpets, bathroom tiles, pool and pond in backyard ... I'm seriously learning a lot about house maintenance.. It's cool being a home owner and being able to do whatever you want to a place... fixing up and personalizing... but it's also TON of work! Lucky for me, I have JT to show me the ropes, our trusty family handy man who has been here day in and day out ... and the most awesome parents and brother who have been tremendously helpful... SERIOUSLY I am so grateful. My dad's been working non-stop on our yard, my mom's been dropping by after work to help put things away, vacumn, and bringing yummy food... and my brother's been here doing all my heavy lifting and painting with us too! I love my fam so so much, they are so so awesome =)
It's been a rewarding, exhausting, frustrating, and exciting all at the same time.
Life has been completely different these days. I spend my free time painting, cleaning and lining cabinets, building furniture, putting things away, working on the pond in the back yard, watering plants, folding clothes, going to home depot ... I think I've turned three shades darker from all the labor in the sun! lol...
I've been feeling extremely unattractive these days like the sandy-monster has come to town... haha I've been randomly falling asleep out of exhaustion on the couch and waking up in the middle of the night w/ my contacts still on... skin is breaking out from the lack of maintenance... and I'm in major need of a pedicure, since I've been running around in sandals to places I shouldn't... like the rock quarries. My hands feel like sandpaper from all the sanding, painting, and rock carrying...and will probably take months of intense moisturizing lotion to repair (if even possible!!)...
BUT ... it's soooo worth it. In the short time we've had this house, I've become a piece of it -- and I really wouldn't have it any other way. NO way am I gonna let JT have all the glory! hehehehe It's MINE too! =)
Though we're still unpacking stuff, it's starting to get better... done with most of the painting, replacing the carpets, bathroom tiles, pool and pond in backyard ... I'm seriously learning a lot about house maintenance.. It's cool being a home owner and being able to do whatever you want to a place... fixing up and personalizing... but it's also TON of work! Lucky for me, I have JT to show me the ropes, our trusty family handy man who has been here day in and day out ... and the most awesome parents and brother who have been tremendously helpful... SERIOUSLY I am so grateful. My dad's been working non-stop on our yard, my mom's been dropping by after work to help put things away, vacumn, and bringing yummy food... and my brother's been here doing all my heavy lifting and painting with us too! I love my fam so so much, they are so so awesome =)
It's been a rewarding, exhausting, frustrating, and exciting all at the same time.
Life has been completely different these days. I spend my free time painting, cleaning and lining cabinets, building furniture, putting things away, working on the pond in the back yard, watering plants, folding clothes, going to home depot ... I think I've turned three shades darker from all the labor in the sun! lol...
I've been feeling extremely unattractive these days like the sandy-monster has come to town... haha I've been randomly falling asleep out of exhaustion on the couch and waking up in the middle of the night w/ my contacts still on... skin is breaking out from the lack of maintenance... and I'm in major need of a pedicure, since I've been running around in sandals to places I shouldn't... like the rock quarries. My hands feel like sandpaper from all the sanding, painting, and rock carrying...and will probably take months of intense moisturizing lotion to repair (if even possible!!)...
BUT ... it's soooo worth it. In the short time we've had this house, I've become a piece of it -- and I really wouldn't have it any other way. NO way am I gonna let JT have all the glory! hehehehe It's MINE too! =)
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