new years eve 2009

Happy New Year! This is my last post for the 2009 year, and its been a great night. Although its 435 am right now, and I have no idea why i'm still up, I wanted this to be posted in 2009 so i back dated it. We spent NYE at a friend's place, filled with tons of great food and company. What a nice way to end the stressful year!

This is my meal. Lamb, salad, wine, and casseroles. Makes my tummy happy!!

I didn't have a hubby to ring in the new year with a kiss, so i did it early with michelle!

very festive outfits to ring in the new year!

all the girlies!

chocolate covered strawberries with nuts are deliciousssss

this is my absolute favorite pic of the night. Everyone is doing their thing, socializing, having fun...
and rhett is in the background downing a bottle. he says it's root beer, but we think not!

i just love the soft lighting and the easy going friendship in this pic

we can't forget the host of the party! this is Kanin!


love the lighting..

the crowd in Time Square! the countdown begins!

ball dropping!

2010!!!!!!!! can you see the 2010 on the screeen? good timing eh?

welcome to the year of the TIGER!

Happy New Year everyone!!! 2010 has begun, and it's going to be MY year!!!! Whatever those resolutions are, keep them and accomplish them! Bar exam, here i come!

blue moon

I have some parties I may attend this New Year's Eve, but none have me as excited as watching an amazing blue moon as well!!!

A blue moon is basically a second full moon. We had a full moon on Dec 6th, and the next one will be on Dec 31, 2009. It only comes once in about 19 years, it's a rare occasion...hence the term "once in a blue moon". I will try my best to find a nice spot for this viewing. So if you are in Europe or Asia, I'm very jealous, but I hope to be able to get a viewing in the US as well!

On that note, I can't help but think of my favorite beer, which is the first thing that came to my mind. ^_^

adventure

"Adventure is a path. Real adventure - self-determined, self-motivated, often risky, forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world. The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it. Your body will collide with the earth and you will bear witness. In this way you will be compelled to grapple with the limitless kindness and the bottomless cruelty of humankind - and perhaps realize that you yourself are capable of both. This will change you. Nothing will ever again be black-and-white." - Mark Jenkins

[a blogger I follow just went to southeast asia, and she came back with new perspectives in life. I have encountered that before on all my trips, but the best and greatest one will be the one to come]

studs and bows

The after holiday sale was been wonderful to my closet. Since I do not have the stress of buying gifts for family nor friends [with the exception of 2 people], I get to shop for myself! Today, I picked up these awesome studded pumps from Zara and a Betsy Johnson number with a little bowtie that's so cute you could squeal.

I have to admit though, that i did not pick out the betsy johnson pair. My friend picked them out and made me get them because they are made by Vero Cuoio. I learned that name today and I now know that he is the maker of many fine Italian shoes including Hugo Boss. Well then, since they are $150 shoes [albiet with almost a 70% discount courtesy of macy's after holiday extravaganza], they BETTER be comfortable.

Now that I have them on at home, I do have to give him credit for picking them out. hum...i still think he just wants to borrow them for photoshoots, but we'll see if I will lend them out!

oh yes, and I forgot to mention that the bottoms are PINK!
That makes them feel even more like Christian Louboutins!

my fave xmas songs

This version of O Holy Night may be my favorite of all the versions. Celine Dion never fails to amaze me. I know I know, it's Celine Dion, but I still really like her. Her voice is vibrates through me and I have quite a long list of her songs in my faves.

o holy night - celine dion

However, nothing beats Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas Is You.


Every Christmas mass since I was a baby, I'd hear this song Hang Belem. My grandfather taught it to me as a baby and I never forgot it. It's very dear to my heart because it was the first song I learned completely and sang it all the time when I was 3. If it's not sung during Viet xmas mass, I throw a fit. I can't find a nice version on youtube, but this clip is from a church choir in Australia. It's pretty much how it would sound in church with the laity so I like it.

the holiday card

I took these pictures tonight after Christmas mass when everyone was still dressed up. Since the pictures from mass sucked, and I forgot my camera in my car, I had to make up for it at home. I love the color of the banister and the lights from the Christmas tree. Although the tree was decorated by my two youngest brothers, I thought it was quite good!

As soon as I saw this image on the camera, I knew it had to be made into a card and blown up. My brother photoshopped it and it is our official holiday card! I also want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very wonderful holiday, whether it be Christmas, Hanukkah, Eid, or Kwanzaa!!!

This is me and my dad! He's the best person on earth! As soon as he saw me set up the tripod, he was there for the first picture, making sure the framing was good for a family pic too.

he was trying different poses to change up the picture. loool


my tree!






my bros

the rebel

Last year, my 70 year old dad got a bike. Yes, a motorcycle. He brought it home, and my mum literally had a heart attack, threatened all kinds of stuff, but he held his ground and the bike stayed. It's a Honda Rebel, which isn't a light bike at all. My dad rode bikes in vietnam all the time, but they were mere Vespas.

A year later, he just got his full license to ride, and now my brother is getting into it as well [another heart attack for mum]. Tonight, he taught me the basics of the clutch, switching gears, and braking. Since I don't drive stick, this is gona be harder than I thought. I think I'll stick to the automatic Vespas or Ninjas if were to get one...

santa hat

I have many parties to attend this xmas because I'm actually in town! That means I need to find multiple outfits to wear to each event, but I know my santa hat will be a staple! merry christmas everyone!

what i'm wearing: american apparel backless bodysuit / h&m flared skirt / dollhouse platform heels / santa hat!

holiday shoes

I just picked these up from my friend who is clearing out her closet. One woman's trash is definitely another woman's treasure. They are a bit big, but I stuck extra padding on the inside, and hopefully, it should get me through the holidays without too much pain. I just have to remember to sit a lot!

I have outfits picked out for it already!

while doing my outfit shoot, i did these as well since there is so much detail to show

the side view is gorgeous


i love the bow at the front

julie & julia

I'm sick. bleh. I spent the day mosing around the mall like a zombie, buying nothing. I finally gave up, stocked up on Nyquil, and went home. I went to Blockbuster and grabbed Julie & Julia. This movie was so cute! Amy Adams is adorable as Julie and Julia Child's life in paris just brought back great memories for me. Add yummy french food, and it's a movie for me.

On the way out of blockbuster, I realized a Lee's Sandwich just opened up next door. I ran in to grab a baguette, and a small can of pate de fois. As I cozied up in my room with my baguette, pate, and french cooking movie, i felt extremely nostalgic about paris. I miss the smell of french bread, the simplicity of life, and unlimited dreams when I was in paris. I'm just glad that I'll be able to be there again this next year, and I can't wait! In the meantime, french pate will just have to hold me over..

hot pot

We drove ALL the way to Rowland Heights to have this because its the best here. It's split in the middle, so you can have two different broths going at the same time. We had a medium spicy and a crazy extra spicy one. For the ingredients inside, we ordered sliced beef, sliced mutton [lamb], tofu, noodles, and tons of veggies. Throw everything in, and we have hot pot!!!

girls just wana have fun

Mariyan and i went out to Red nightclub for her friend's birthday. since we didn't have to meet until 10, and had 2 hrs to kill, we got ready and took some outfit pictures on the half-done studio. We didn't have enough lighting, so it's a bit grainy, but i turned on the face-detect self timer for continuous shots, and this is the result. hey, girls just wana have fun.

Both of the shirts are hand me downs from my cousin. skinny jeans and sparkly tops are just so fun. mine has a jeweled neck and is almost completely backless, but i didn't get a picture of it. I'll have to do this shoot again with better lighting and the new camera.

i adore this image. i have the most retarded look on my face, and it's the candid fun shot.

i'm blurry, mariyan's clear! mariyan's blurry, I'm clear!