Yes, it's happening.

Sigh, I am indeed getting one year older. I know I have no right to complain about this as old age, but really, who wants to be 23?? Who wants to be anything other than 21?! I know, maturity and wisdom come with old age blah blah -- but youth is ever fading. So many people try and grasp onto it for as long as they can. Old women invest hundreds if not thousands in beauty products and surgery to retain their youth, or get a cheap imitation of it. SCREW GETTING OLDER!!!

As a constant defiance against aging, one of my favorite past times is to try and look as young as possible in photographs.

Case in point:



I think #1 makes me look extremely young and therefore I like that one the best. Could I pass for 8?? (PS - this is an excellent way to scare off guys)

So in true birthday-celebrating form, I decided to make a wishlist:

1) Ps (Photohsop) salt & pepper shakers. Because I would like to think of Photoshop while I'm eating.
2) Lego iPhone case. DO I EVEN NEED TO EXPLAIN THIS?? Think of all the crazy I could be building on the back of my phone! (Yes, crazy as a noun, not an adjective.)
3) Photo hanger paper clip. I like things that are things created out of other things to become new thingies. Plus they're cute. And I like pictures.
4) Bowties. I think they look charming and I would like to look charming.
5) Jeffrey Campbell 99 wedges in black or black suede. I'm a small girl who likes to be tall at times.
6) Thigh high socks. I've been having an obsession with them lately. Will take more. In all colors.

Thank you.

-Liang

P.S. In case you missed it, this post was written with an overcast of sarcasm. But only just a drizzle.

Your dream job is waiting for you!

Oh really? I didn't realize browsing the Internet all day long while eating foie gras nigiri and practicing wizardry was a profession.

I started writing the sarcastic statement above after receiving a spam email proclaiming my dream job was just lounging about somewhere, waiting for me to seize it (so long as I signed up for this website and paid a certain fee to ensure I would get a chance to realize what it is).

But as hard as I tried at being pessimistic, I realized it was actually quite difficult to list things that couldn't be a real profession, or was something that someone wasn't already doing and making a living.

Things that sound ideal which come to mind include: eating for a living (Food Network contest judges), traveling the world and eating (Anthony Bourdain), doing absolutely nothing (Kim Kardashian -- except, well... did everyone forget HOW she became famous??).

Somehow, somewhere, someone has figured out how to make money from doing something. And as nice as those aforementioned things may be to actually make a living off of, I don't think I would be satisfied. The problem herein lies within me being completely indecisive about what I want to do. I did realize as of late, however, that worrying about whether it's actually viable is just an unnecessary hinderance. There's always a way to make a living.

What we need to survive is actually pretty minimal, if you can bear living modestly.

I'm looking for the only thing that I love doing so much that I could never put it down. It's a breath of fresh air when I meet someone who is so passionate about what they do, I can't differentiate the line between when they're working, and when they're just doing it for fun.

I want to find my one thing.

The biggest part holding me back is well, me. There have been plenty of dreams I've discarded that I'm much too ashamed to admit -- and I've tried to make amends to myself by at least pursuing a career where I had creative freedom. Ultimately, your unhappiness will catch up to you as you realize your heart's just not into it. I think this past year has been my point of realization.

I keep thinking that maybe the more I pursue whatever it is I'm doing, the more I'll get into it, and be better at it.

No, I'm only more unhappy.

It's been a strange week of introspection as I analyze the impending stress and possible doom that comes with my approaching graduation.

Maybe it's not too late to change directions.

2010 Travel Recap

One of my resolutions for 2011 was to start blogging again.

Two weeks into the year and I hadn't budged one bit. Tired of mentally kicking myself in the butt, I decided to update. So voila! And I made a new banner for 2011. It's a little bit more "me" as one of my friends described it. Less sterile, more fun. Whoop!

2010

Overall, last year was a big gust of down and ups. And with only one semester of schooling left, I am having to think about the full spectrum of adulthood including career, finances and living situations.

In 2011, I would like to travel more than I did in 2010. I have no idea how I afforded to do so or how I'll afford to do it again, but here's a recap:

Shortly after returning from Singapore in December 2009, I went to:


March - New York City


April - Dallas


May - Chicago


July - New York City (2)


October - Chicago (2)


December - New York City (3!!!)


December - Las Vegas

Look at my hair growth in these photos... yeaaaaaah!!

So far lined up for 2011 includes a February trip to NYC (surprise, surprise) and an Asia trip later this year post-graduation. Not sure where I'll fit the other cities in here but definitely aching to visit the West coast and possibly some beaches! (Only downside is I can't swim, fml. Let's hope I don't drown).

Anyways, I've got a lot of catching up to do as far as blogging goes for those last three trips I took, amongst other miscellaneous things I wanted to blog about and then just sat around and did nothing (and played World of Warcraft) instead.

Be back soon.

NYC x JULY x DAY 5

Our fifth and last day in NYC started with lunch at the highly acclaimed Le Bernardin. Awarded the Michelin Guide's coveted 3-stars, chosen as a top pick from Zagat and ranked number 11 best restaurant in the world by Restaurant magazine -- this was a meal not to be forgotten.


Row 1: ESCOLAR - grilled hawaiin escolar, chilled young carrot, lime mousseline, miso sauce vierge. CALAMARI - sauteed calamari filled with sweet prawns and shiitake mushroom, mushroom froth-pistou sauce.
ROW 2: HIRAMASA - seared yellowtail kish fish, truffle risotto, spring vegetables, black truffle emulsion. CODFISH - sauteed codfish, leek and grape parfait, caramelized endives, green peppercorn mariniere.
ROW 3: HAZELNUT - gianduja cream, oregon hazelnuts, banana, honey, brown butter ice cream. FIG-BACON - caramelized mission fig, red wine caramel, hazelnut, goat cheese fondant, bacon ice cream.

I felt a bit silly lugging my giant camera into this world acclaimed and slightly pretentious restaurant, but I couldn't let this experience go undocumented (pulling out my iPhone to take photos probably wouldn't fly so well at a place like this). This was one of those places I almost wish I didn't eat at because now, anytime I order seafood at a restaurant, food snob tendencies will appear and I'm going to want to compare it to Le Bernardin.



Picked up these beautiful babies from Zara during my trip, on sale for only $35.



Took a stroll through Washington Square Park and visited Sundaes & Cones once more. Honeydew this time!


Noms. So good.


And if you haven't guessed by now, one dessert is never enough. Went to Pinkberry for the first time and chowed down some more!

And thus concludes my NYC trip! Flew out the next morning back to Houston with a suitcase that barely shut. Since a lot of people ask me how I manage to travel so much, I'm going to include a post on the logistical side of all my trips (budgeting, packing, etc.) for anyone interested. Newer stuff coming soon!

NYC x JULY x DAY 4

Started the day off with brunch at Cafe Mogador, one of my favorite eateries in NYC. Then went on a dessert rampage (hit up 4 spots), leaving me feeling like death wrapped in sugar as I rolled around New York city with an achingly full belly and taste buds in ecstasy.



Momofuku's crack pie + cereal milk soft serve is the best combination money can buy in this world. Better than cookies & cream or peanut butter & jelly, for reals.


Afterwards, went to Sundaes & Cones (again!) since, well, hey, we were in the area. This time it was lychee that took my taste buds to its happy place. And although I was already stuffed beyond belief, I struggled to swallow the last few bites as I knew my days to eat this marvelous stuff was numbered.


This is my uncomfortably full face. I also get sloppy when I'm full; note the strap hanging out -_-





Took a stroll afterwards mostly to try and digest some food before gorging some more.


Went to Chikalicious for a three-course dessert. Yes, three courses! It's like having an appetizer for your dessert AND a dessert for your dessert. Probably my favorite place on earth, sigh. This was the amuse: watermelon sorbet in a jasmine gelee.


Main course: panna cotta, toasted almonds, and something else (I forgot).


Main course #2: Fromage blanc island "cheese cake." The term cheese cake should be applied lightly as this is a fluffier, lighter and more angelic cousin to your typical variation of cheesecake.


Petits fours to top off the "meal."


Afterwards, crossed the street to Chikalicious Dessert Club for more dessert lol. This was a chilled brioche bread pudding. Never had chilled bread pudding before and this was awesome!

I could not fit dinner in that night.