happy 2013

i'm greeting the new year with side-bangs, fresh coral lip treatment, & a thrifted sweater. 

i'm slightly nervous about this new year as i will be cramming to finish my thesis this semester so i can graduate in may. also nervous because i'm not sure what i am going to be doing after. i just need to stay focused & take it as it comes.

i thought about doing a year in review like the other blogger family members, but decided against it. honesty because i'm lazy & am just starting to get sick :/

i saw blue valentine a few weeks ago for the first time. i loved it & i hated it. for those of you who saw it, what did you think?

i've been growing out my full bangs & making them into side bangs. i have my preference of what i like, but i want to ask your opinion: should i keep growing out my bangs or cut them again to make them full bangs?

i miss miguel.

lina in europe part 13: amelie's cafe

one of the things that was a "must do" for me & nicola in paris was to go to cafe de deux moulins, or "amelie's cafe" & have lunch. it is where they filmed parts of amelie (where she worked)! it was really quite surreal to actually be in the same place that amelie was. of course we had to try the creme brulee : )

wild park animals

last time miguel & i went on a walk in the park, we met this cute kitty cat. it was soooo friendly! it was puring like crazy & even started to climb & lay on my legs! haha. i liked it.

my boyfriend loves squirrels. a lot. he is the squirrel whisperer. everytime we go to the park, he always tries to get as close as he can to them. it's cute : ) can you see the squirrel in this photo?

i've been quite busy lately! first of all, i'm moving this week. (so if you have my address, email me to make sure you have the right one if you are going to send anything!) also, a lot of school & thesis stuff to work on & fun times with miguel : ) last night miguel & i watched like crazy. i liked parts of it, but it made me sad a lot of the time! did you get to see it? what did you think of it?

red & blue

 i wore the toms that miguel bought me for valentine's day today. they are red! i love them. i'm wearing pink socks in the photo trying to keep a little valentine's day with me :)

these following photos are of when we went to a european bakery & miguel bought cheesecake & some cookies. i picked out one with a red jam heart. miguel loves his cheesecake!

thanks for all the lovely comments! i think i will try to start replying with the new "reply" feature. we shall see how that goes.

miguel is coming over in a little bit & we will watch one of his favorite movies saving private ryan & drink some tea. love me some quite nights inside : )

crafts, lights, & christmas

 i attended the renegade craft fair in the city this weekend with abbie! i love going to these craft fairs : )

 the city was so beautiful

i got my first christmas gift of the year! a lovely scarf from rachel. (love me some scarves!)

 i went with my mom to celebrate her straight a's this semester at school at our favorite ice cream parlor. i love their holiday peppermint ice cream!

 rachel & abbie came to visit & see my apartment. we had coffee & dessert at the old spaghetti factory & i took them to see the best christmas lights in the city. they even had an a christmas story scene (by the way, best christmas movie ever!)!

(sorry so blurry!)

so, i finished my last paper & turned it in last week. after that, life has been a little bit of a world wind! parties, dates, visits from friends, & good food - all with a festive flair : )

i think this post has too many photos of myself...maybe i should take some down... :/

sooo excited for this!!!
love this home : )
also, my friend olivia just made a music video! check it out here.

anyways, i hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season!! i probably won't be back blogging before christmas, so happy holidays!

replies:

two birds: hello! & thank you so much : ) & i've never seen a drive-through nativity! it is pretty neat.

nicola: awww thanks!! the paper went fine. i got an a-, but it was ok...i suppose...haha.

kendra: hello! yes europe! i will be traveling around london & southern england, as well as paris! how cool that you lived in london! that would be so amazing. & i know it will change my life, i can't wait!

brynna: exactly what i thought, see the pretty nativity by the warmth of your car - perfect : ) & thanks!

jane hyunjoo lee: hehe yay! wow! kimchi tofu burrito! i had one like that from a korean taco truck in los angeles once. so good!!

tara: awww thanks! yes, that would be awesome!

mieke willems: origami is very nice : )

keetee: awww! thanks keetee!! :D

em [the writer]: for sure!! & even more fun now, hehe ; )

thewanderingballoon: hello! thank you : ) i kind of love it too, hehe

almost

this little video is so inspiring! i just keep watching it over & over again.

i've been working on my last paper (which is actually a whole study that i compiled from start to finish - concept, research, literature review, finding participants, interviewing participants, analyzing data, etc.) for the past week. it's a lot of work, but each day i'm a little closer to being finished! it is due december 13, so by then i will be officially ready for the holidays!

planning my trip to europe with nicola is so exciting. i am seriously so stoked. we will be taking tons of photos to show you all & hopefully have more to add to here--and--there!

take care fellow bloggers & have a happy weekend!

p.s. i crossed the first thing off my list today!!

replies:

liz, amy, & danica : thanks : ) i really took time to think each item on my list through.

maggie shirley: yes do need to make one of those lists! let us all know when you do : ) & flipped is uber cute ;)

sarah~mechelle: thank you & they were very thought out! yes, you must make a list too. i didn't realize that you just had a birthday!! happy birthday!

missa!: i just drove on the freeway today! so i accomplished it! hehe. & i am losing 15 pounds because - 1. this is the heaviest i've ever been. 2. i am at the very edge of almost being overweight with my bmi. it's not that i feel self conscious about my weight, but i just want to be healthy : ) & maybe we should do number 15 together...

jane hyunjoo lee: it's challenging saying "yes" to more things since i am such an introvert! ;) & yes i do avocado on toast & a smoothie for breakfast hehe. so yummy!

lizzie: oh you have to let me know when you make a list! post it on your blog!

natalie: SIX!! so excited : ) & i wanted to do 21 this semester, but the pet deposit was too much :/

kait: awww thanks kait : ) but i do have reasons for the weight loss: 1. this is the heaviest i've ever been. 2. i am at the very edge of almost being overweight with my bmi. it's not that i feel self conscious about my weight, but i just want to be healthy : ) so, one whole year to lose 15 pounds is pretty reasonable i think!

nicola: thanks : ) i feel much better now.

alexia: yes, you must see submarine! it's quite entertaining in a quirky way ;)

couch

 just a few looks into my kitchen. breakfast of smoothies & avocado on toast. delicious!

i've been sick for the past two days (even missing school!). i've been camping out on the couch drinking tea while watching movies & tv shows with the tissue box nearby. i have one more paper to write before i am done with school this semester, but i've been too sick to do anything but veg out with computer. anyways, here are a few films & a tv show i've enjoyed recently!

 flipped 

 submarine

pan am

i hope i get better soon so i can get this paper over with & start to enjoy the holiday season!

replies:

brit: thanks brit : ) it was hard choosing the frames, especially since they were a little out of my budget being juicy couture, but i really liked them so i called them my birthday present to myself : )

shelbyisms: oh my goodness shelby!! that is a lot of dinners!! i though surviving three was a lot lol.

jane hyunjoo lee: thank you! black friday shopping is tradition in my family, so missing it was not an option hehe. but online shopping at urban sounds fun!!

keetee: yes! i love the idea that we actually have certain foods that are usually on every table in america on thanksgiving : ) & i never thought of what my apartment smells like! haha i wonder now too...lol. my mom bought me all of those pumpkins & gourds for really cheap at a farm. thanks to her the apartment looked quite lovely. it would be so neat if we could go shopping together!!

tara: thank you : ) !! you are so sweet.

nicola: hehe thanks : )

make it easy: thank you! hope yours was good too!

jazzy e (hivenn): thank you! happy belated thanksgiving to you too : )

brynna: thank you!! i know...i don't think i really like this idea of feeling older. haha. i literally just finished my list & it will be in my next post : ) can't wait to see yours!

juliet winter: hello! yes, i can't wait to go there. just about to book the flat i'll be staying at in january : )

bits & pieces

can't wait to go there in january : ) (the other city language videos from ef are amazing too!)

i've discovered a couple of lovely blogs here & here (i must admit most of the links i am sharing today, i've found from the last blog!)

great post from keri smith on living without corporations

beautiful families that i would love to just go on a picnic with

cute looking film & a neat looking film

reply to everyone: i LOVED reading about the things that make you happy & am excited that so many of you are trying it on your own blog! keep them coming!
here are the lists that people have made so far:
kayleigh's list
any's list
brit's list
anastasia's list
maggie shirley's list
mayte michelle's list
& of course there are some in the comments here
(if i am missing any, please let me know! i will try to add to the happy links list : ))

p.s. happy november! my birthday month : )

tell me everything that happened, tell me everything you saw

so, i first saw the trailer for this movie when i was watching 50/50 & i fell in love with it (the trailer at least!). after 50/50 finished, i completely forgot the name for this movie & was searching for it for a few days until i found it yesterday. crazy love with anton yelchin & felicity jones. love them both & can't wait to see them together in this film later this month. 

i made banana bread mini muffins last night around 10pm. i wanted to take photos & couldn't find my camera anywhere! : ( i hope i find it soon. otherwise this blog will be lacking in photos...

anyways, i wanted to share the recipe for the muffins. i only had one banana to use, & most recipes call for at least three bananas. i finally found this recipe that only needed one banana. the muffins turned out great & were tasty for breakfast this morning : )

ok, so now i'm going to finish up the first chapter of my thesis & turn it in today. yikes. wish me luck!

replies: 

jane hyunjoo lee: awww. ok, when you see it, let me know what you think! & the sandals are quite summery! i got them on clearance, so i think they were trying to get rid of their summer clothes, etc. but that was fine by me - more sales!

sarah~mechelle: no worries! i was going to write you, but i decided to wait for the letter : ) i hope all is well with you! & make sure you get a strawberry plant that actually gives strawberries, because one time i had one that gave no fruit!

believe it

 

1, 2

life has been so ridiculously crazy. but then again, if it wasn't, it wouldn't be life, right?
i finally took photos of my apartment. but my phone is being mean & won't send them to my email. ergo no photos yet. :/
& my first chapter of my thesis is due in a week - very scary stuff! (seriously! i am basically writing a book about a project/study that i am doing all on my own. wow.)
& i really can't wait to tell you about it. but it must be a secret for now!
but i do have a happy tidbit of news...


i bought a plane ticket to london!! two whole weeks. i am so stoked. i almost can't believe it is happening. i have been planning & dreaming & wanting to go to europe since forever. it will be this january (cold! but that's ok : )) i am meeting up with nicola who has so graciously offered to take me around her land! also, we are planning to make a tiny trip to paris too!!
so, i need your help! for those of you who live in england or paris (or have travelled there!), do you have any tips, recommendations, or things i absolutely must do/see?? please let me know : ) who knows, maybe you may even want to show us around your town yourself!

also, another tidbit of news: you really need to see 50/50. i personally loved it & am planning to own it as soon as it gets released. i have had many close ones pass away from cancer & it is just the right enough of rawness, realness, & comedy (which you definitely need when dealing). 

alright, i think that's it for now. be sure to leave any trip suggestions in the comments!!

replies:

mackensie perry: totally agree with you!

nicola: you definitely must see wild target. you will love it! 

natalie, shelbyisms, & amy : thank you ladies!! : )

mieke willems: haha yes : ) travelling will never be the same.

brynna: thank you darling! wild target is definitely a "laugh out loud" movie : )

liska cole: yes i do! my sister & i just got an apartment there about a month or so ago. we will definitely try out that indian place. although, since my sister just got back from a summer in india, she is a little tired of indian food : )

carissa clark: yes i've seen never let me go! beautiful colors. & i think you've been blogging more than me now! haha.

pierre: hello! & why thank you : )

happy today

when i went home to visit my family this weekend, i found my grandmother's hankies in the backyard. they are so pretty! my mother has been going through my grandmother's things & she found all of these beautiful hankies. she hand washed them & hung them out to dry. i love finding vintage surprises : )

we had a picnic lunch out on the grass too. the days are getting so nice with chilly mornings & warmer afternoons. i love fall so much.

i've been so busy with school & life in general lately. also,....i got my driver's license!! haha. i'm turning 24 this year, & i thought it was about time i got it : ) (i really dislike driving, so i'm pretty happy with myself). 

when you are busy busy like i have been, & you are so tired at night (too tired to blog or write papers), you watch movies! & i've found some good ones : ) wild target with emily blunt (top photo) & the greatest with carey mulligan (bottom photo). i absolutely love both actresses. i loved what carey wore in the greatest & emily is always so funny! 

so tonight i am going out with my parents for a celebration dinner (for passing my driving test) & then i have two papers to write :/ aiaiai. ok that's all for now...oh i got a lot of movies from the library too, so there will probably be some more movie recommendations soon : )

replies:

nicola: thanks nicola : ) you always make me feel better!

lauren carney: hello! & thank you so much! your comment made me so happy : ) i'll be checking out your blog too soon!

little photos

these lazy kitties greet me each day & lay on the stairs to my apartment. they are so cute : )

i'm going to share with you a few random photos i've been taking with my phone. i will be showing you fuller photos of the apartment, but there are few things i have to fix before i show it to you.

i made some chipotle cornbread & used the potholders i made for the first time : )my wrinkled sheets & blankets on my new bed. i love the colors! (& all of them are vintage : ))the banana & grape smoothie i made & drank from a mason jar while sitting at my 1950s table & vintage flowery table cloth. (i love how i am trying to get a lot of vintage things!!)lunchtime at my 1970s coffee table with my vintage plate & glass & nicola's russian doll coasters : )i want to get these gnome salt & pepper shakers!! aren't they the best?oh & the first movie i watched in the new apartment was nowhere boy, a biopic of john lennon's adolescence & first band & the beginnings of the beatles : ) it was good & i liked it, although there were a few...awkward scenes... but of course i LOVED the retro feel to the whole movie : )my sister's birthday is tomorrow (the 28th). go say happy birthday to her!!

replies:

natalie: oh i wanted the iphone 4! but it was a bit too expensive for me to afford right now : ) & the pink & purple thing is nicola's coasters!

nicola: yay for your coasters!!! hehe : ) & i think it is the proper distance from my parents too!

amy: we should totally eat ramen together one day : )

naomemandeflores: hello! it definitely was yummy!

deni: hello! ooo! i'll have to check out your giveaway! thanks : )

chrischoice: hello! aww thanks : )

sarah~mechelle: i'm having a great time making the apartment my own!

rebekka seale: hello! oh my goodness how cute!! i am planning to get a kitten soon for my new apartment : )

little and big: hello! making the apartment a home is really fun! & i am so happy to hear from you : )

shelbyisms: hehe thanks shelby : )

chantilly: hello! thank you!! : )