Happy Halloween!

Halloween is quickly approaching!  Although it's not my favorite holiday, I really enjoy dressing up.  So if you may be struggling with costume ideas, I will compile a list of costumes I have worn in the twenty years of my life.  

Unfortunately I do not have the photographs for the majority of these costumes so use your imagination!

[Please note that these costumes are cute and creative- the kind of costumes that give justice to Halloween.  The only time I have ever worn a scandalous costume was when I dressed up as a Playboy bunny, but that was for a Las Vegas Hotels theme (I was The Palms), and that wasn't Halloween.]

[Also note that most of these costumes are Fall weather friendly!  Growing up in Chicago, my mom  was always sure that my attire would accommodate the chilly weather.  And although I never got to be Tinkerbell as a kid, more importantly, I never got sick from a poorly-planned costume.] 

The baby years:  

Pink frog (shown above)

Strawberry Shortcake (white bonnet, red sweatshirt, red sweatpants, white apron)

Jill from the Jack and Jill nursery rhyme: Gray vintage-inspired dress, braids, straw basket

Preschool:

Cheerleader- cheerleader sweater, cheerleader skirt, pom poms 

First Grade:

Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz: white sweater, blue plaid pinafore dress, white socks, glittery silver shoes that I wore to my uncle's wedding (I was always sad that I didn't get red shoes for this outfit, but I remember my mom told me, "How often are you going to wear glittery red shoes?" [I attended a private school so glittery red shoes were probably prohibited]).  Yay practicality!

Second Grade:

Fairy: white dress that I wore to my uncle's wedding, glow-in-the-dark wand that my mom wrapped in aluminum foil, sparkly white shoes with white tights

Third grade:

Mulan: store bought Mulan dress, hair in bun with lotus flower hair clip, red lantern prop from Chinatown

Fourth grade:

Bunny rabbit: white sweatshirt, white sweatpants with cotton balls glued on the back, bunny ears (from Easter)

Fifth grade:

Tigger: store bought Tigger skirt (with tail attached) and Tigger ears headband, orange shirt, tiger stripes drawn on my face with eyeliner

Sixth grade:

Minnie Mouse: red polka dot dress, Minnie ears, black tights, black shoes, mouse nose drawn on my nose in eyeliner

Seventh grade:

Mime: striped shirt, black jacket, black pants, black shoes, black top hat, white face paint, red lipstick, black triangles drawn under my eyes in eyeliner.

Eighth grade:

Charlie's Angels: black skirt, white-collared black top, black knee high socks, black shoes intense face

High School Freshman:

Fairy (again): Black and pink sparkly Tinkerbell shirt, black and pink skirt, fairy wings, shiny heels, glow in the dark wand

Sophomore:

Cho Chang: plaid skirt, navy blazer, white button down shirt, navy and gray tie, black knee high socks, black shoes, tree branch as a wand

Junior:

Bunny (kind of)- my friend pinned bunny ears and a bunny tail to me

Senior:

I fell out of the Halloween spirit and didn't dress up.  But I wore my "Nightmare before Christmas" shirt!

College Freshman:

Halloween spirit was still gone I think.

Sophomore:

Underage Chinese gymnast: red track jacket, red shorts, obnoxious blue eye shadow, hair in a bun with a red scrunchie, gold-wrapped medallion necklace

Junior:

TINKERBELL!  Finally my dreams are coming true!  I will be wearing the wings and tiara as pictured above in my profile along with a green dress and gold flats.

What are your Halloween plans?  Do you have your costume(s)?

a pleasant surprise

[source]

A hummingbird flew by the field today before band rehearsal, and I got way too happy.  I was literally in the middle of a conversa- HUMMINGBIRD!!! (gasps, stands up, and points).  That's pretty much what happened.

Did anything pleasantly surprise you today?

Thomas Allen

Last week, my photography class went to the library where we were instructed to find one or two photography books that interested us.  My little eyes fell upon Thomas Allen's book, and I fell in love.

 

 Allen is my perfect combination of photography, papercraft, narration, and perspective.  Who is your favorite photographer?

everything is gonna be alright. be strong. believe.

Yesterday was kind of rough...the semester has really been burning me out, and I didn't feel like myself.  Perhaps it was the Monday blues.  Actually, no, it was more like just a desperate and selfish error in judgment on my part.  Anyway, I promise I've learned from my mistake.

I think that's what I've learned the most the past few months.  I can't expect myself to be perfect.  And not just academically but in life.  I try to be the best I can be, but just because people may see me as a harmless, cute little girl doesn't mean that I'm not flawed.  I have hurt people's feelings because I have put my needs and feelings before others.  It's something I'm working on because even though "the idea of perfection is so imperfect," I still can't stop myself from wanting to atain that perfection. 

on replay: "Believe"- Yellowcard

Obama. USC.

[source]

I'm not going to attempt to see Obama's speech at Doheny at 1:30 because the line is humongous, and I don't get out of work until 1:00.  However, if you'd like to watch the action unfolding, check it out here:

http://www.livestream.com/uscannenberg

I'll admit that I screamed a few times, but it was pretty entertaining especially when I asked the monsters if they had candy!  We had stopped at McDonald's beforehand where I got a spiffy Happy Meal candy bucket.  Throughout the night, I held out my bucket and kindly asked for treats.  Some monsters were completely caught off guard and broke out of character because they thought I was giving candy to them. 

I love interacting with people who work at theme parks!  I've had funny, giggly encounters with serious, stone-cold Terror of Tower cast members.  I've received compliments and (maybe even flirting??) from Autopia cast members when I wear my Tinkerbell wings and tiara.  I've exchanged "Fight On!"s with the woman who scanned my ticket at the front gate.  When I was younger, I was told that the stuffed animal turtles in my purse were "great turtles!  Those are some great turtles!" 

That's why I always dress up when I go to Disneyland.  You'll never know what new friends you'll make!

Write a Bike

[source]

Year of the Horse

I was researching my Chinese zodiac the other day and came across some pretty neat findings....


Exciting and extroverted, vivid and animated, the Horse is the life of any party he attends. He is bursting with energy, always looking for the next place to kick up his heels and hang loose. He entertains friends and strangers alike with his humor and appeal.


Horse people are extemporaneous and quick-witted. They are quite intelligent and use their practicality to their advantage in their business and personal lives. Their sharpness makes them quick to pick up new skills and are able to handle many tasks at one time. However, this ambition can be harmful because Horse people often don’t finish what they start for fear of missing out on the next big challenge.


Self-reliant, Joyful, Outgoing, Sophisticated, Greedy, Resilient, Arrogant

(haha arrogant)

The Metal Horse loves to roam. He is self-sufficient and treasures his freedom and liberation. Any type of committed situation is sure to send this Horse running for the hills, so a stable relationship is certainly not his idea of a priority. Horses change jobs and partners frequently because of their need for adventure and their desire to tap into the unknown. This vigor and untamed spirit draws people to the Horse. The Metal Horse will make a better friend than partner because a friendship doesn’t tie him down the way a relationship does. 

(*single ladies dance*)

Horse children are chatty! At an early age these kids begin gurgling and "talking" to themselves. They love to hear their own voice and so will babble for hours without saying anything at all. Eventually, these children will make great language scholars who will excel at communications. Horse children are as independent as possible and will fight for their rights if they feel they’ve been wronged. They will also rebel if they feel justice has not been served.

Rabble rabble!  

ARIES HORSE
These Horses are energetic and love taking on new projects. They can leave behind them a trail of unfinished business. They enjoy grabbing life by the horns and are motivated, adventurous individuals.
 ----


 I'm off to do something adventurous!  What does your Chinese zodiac say about you?  Is it accurate?

[source]

notes to myself

• Clean.  And clean often.
• I spent a large portion of Sunday cleaning out the fridge and washing dishes.  My schedule has been so packed that I barely have time to clean dishes, take out the trash, organize, dust, etc.  But after all the nastiness I had to clean, I'm going to be better about cleaning my messes immediately.  This is why I don't like to procrastinate; the longer you wait, the worse it gets.  And moldier.  Eww.

• Someone is always watching
•   On Sunday, I also biked to the art school to return a Canon Rebel I had borrowed for my photography project.  It was a hazy day, and I felt completely disorientated after sleeping for (much-needed) 13 hours.  It was noon and I had to return the camera by 1:00 or else face a $25 late fee.  I normally walk my bike through my building's parking garage because I don't trust the drivers on the sharp turns.  As I was walking my bike through the entrance gate, I accidentally rammed my bike's handle into the gate arm.  It made a loud clink, and I lost my balance a little because the heavy camera makes my basket unstable.  Anyway, I momentarily struggled to mount my bike, but I was soon on my merry way.  Yet as I was riding towards campus, a security guard shouted "Hey!  Ma'am!  You!  Are you alright???"  Thank goodness I was on my bike so I could roll away from my embarrassment as swiftly as possible.

• Research more recipes.

• I ate this for dinner last night (I substituted hard-boiled eggs for the feta) with mahi mahi from Trader Joe's, and it was glorious. 

TROJAN VICTORYYYY

 

[source: Leslie]

[source: Jill Wilcott] 

i'm feeling a little under the weather.

a slow 4.5 hours of work have put me in a haze.

don't you hate when you accidentally make things more complicated than they should be?

or when you try to be helpful but instead it only makes things worse and more confusing?

i need a nap.

and cake.

8 Things I Love about Weekender:

1.  French braiding my fluties

And now we're twinsies!

2.  Shenanigans (and battle wounds)

 

3.  Boudin

and stuffing my face with a clam chowder bread bowl

4.  Stripping at Union Square

 

5.  Trojan Family love

 

6.  Endless giggles

7.  Ghirardelli!

8.  Costumes (Vegas bus, baby!)

Fin.

Parents' Weekend recap!

 

Friday morning began with Parents' Weekend Breakfast

 

While my parents went on a PPD tour around the city, I was at work and munching on leftover danishes from that morning.  We were reunited at band practice where my mom learned to 'fight on' again and my dad boldly whipped out the camcorder and attempted to identify my friends on the field.

Korean bbq dinner with my roommate and her parents that night (along with plenty of birthday songs and sass from the waiters).

Saturday: HAPPY GAME DAY!

Sunday: Irvine invasion began with madness at 85 Degree Cafe (mochi egg tarts and sea salt coffee were my favs) 

 

Fried beef buns (my mom slipped up and called them "fried beefcakes" hahaha) from A&J Restaurant

Yes, the buns were so juicy that they dripped onto the sidewalk when we bit into them.  I have never felt so civilized.

Lunch at The Balcony.  Look!  They even have monkey food!  ("mozella" sticks)

 

Shave snow is always a win. 

Dinner at Mozza Pizzeria

 

things to do:

 

1.  clean/organize

2.  sleep

3.  laundry

4.  homeworkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

5.  update blog regularly again

6.  write script

omg i just remembered i have ice cream cake in the freezer

recovering

Ok, so maybe the whole 'redesigning my blog' thing will have to be put on hold for a while. 

I had THE BEST weekend with my family.  It was Parents' Weekend, and I love hanging out and fighting on with my family, especially when I have such a pro sister who knows how to follow the band to and from the Coliseum.  Leslie, don't ever think that you embarrass me!  My heart swells with love and gratitude when I see your face in the crowd.  Thank you for supporting me so much.  We need to get our flute jam session going soon!

Food adventure pictures and videos will be posted soon.  Eventually.  For now, I'm going to curl up in a ball and catch up on much-needed rest....but not for too long because I still have lots of homework.  Luckily, black currant juiceboxes make everything better.