All Things Pearly

I Dress Like Superman Because I Can!

2011-12-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

[ 2011.12.21 ]

Well, not quite. Seeing as I am not donning a red cape with blue tights. I suppose this is a slight variant from the actual Superman style.

white lace top: Hong Kong Boutique

green cape w/ blue belt: Taobao (the Chinese eBay)

black latex leggings: LNA

black boots with gold buckle: Taiwan Night Market Street Stall

The latex leggings, knee high boots, and the flowy green cape, it all just screams superhero! The style is also very addicting. There's just something about dressing like a superhero that empowers me. It makes me feel stronger, braver, and able to take on anything in the world! Of course, dressing like a superhero also requires me to act like a superhero. But, it really doesn't take that much to act the part! Help an old lady cross the road, assist a tourist with directions, put a can of food in the food drive, or go out and serve some food to the needy. As we are nearing Christmas, it's really time to sit back and think what we can do to further others lives, instead of just focusing on our own.

Let's all be Superheroes this Christmas season and do something to help others! Are you in?

Love always,

SUPERPEARLY

High Waisted and Sophisticated

2011-12-09T20:36:00.000-08:00

[ 2011.12.09 ]

Wow, time sure flies. I know I've been absent for a while but I have a very good reason for it!

I. Got. Married.

Yup! I got married! And how does it feel like, you ask? Why, just like single life, but with an extra band around my ring finger!
Of course, I do feel some internal changes. One of those is the need to act and feel more sophisticated.
Do I dare say that I act more like a grown up now? Not yet, but at least this first outfit post back shows some sophistication!

black beret with sequins: Sirens

grey top with black rivets: lucca couture

navy high waisted pants with gold buttons: Zara

black and white crossbody bag: Kate Spade

black textured pumps: Steve Madden

black scarf: World Market

I've been digging the high waisted pants look and finally caved and bought some navy ones with gold buttons. Trying my best not to look like a sailor in tights, this is the look I came up with.
You be the judge - sophisticated? Or not quite there yet?

Speaking of sophistication, here's an incident from my journey home on the Skytrain today. I overheard these two girls' conversations (actually, they were so loud that it technically wasn't overhearing but just hearing). Within the span of one minute, there was at least 20 swear words thrown in there. Which led me to thinking, are swear words a social norm now? I've always thought that sophistication equates to eloquently phrased conversations with minimal profanity, and therefore, I limit my use of swear words to extreme situations where I cannot control my emotions. However, I've noticed that my co-workers use it regularly. Heck, my bosses even throw them around in meetings!

Is it socially acceptable now to swear in everyday occurrences and perhaps even professional settings? Is this now, also, a sign of sophistication?

Love always,

photo credits: wedding portrait - my future sister-in-law, Joanna
photo credits: outfit photos - my 2 weeks young hubby, Zen

Colours in LA LA Land

2011-10-19T11:13:00.000-07:00

[2011.10.19]

So it seems I've been away for a bit too long now. Wedding planning is taking up a big big chunk of my time. Nonetheless, I have an outfit post today of my favourite outfit from my bachelorette! Being that it took place in LA, I got a chance to rock an awesome outfit, and not just tights and boots.

There being a whole lot warmer, I thought colours were definitely appropriate. Actually, this outfit woulda been PERFECT for the colour series! It's bright, it's bold, it screams "LOOK AT ME, I'm the bride to be!" Ok, maybe not the second part, but it definitely screams "Look at me!"

Ray charles is amazing, and yes, I really did need to rock that second pose.

red bandage mini, loose grey crop top: s.y.l.k., Santa Monica

blue blazer: h&m

green purse: coach

beige cork sandals: winners

Of course, a bachelorette is really just an excuse for me to go a different city and do some exploring! There were other activities as well, but I'm really supposed to talk about those now, am I?

What would you wear for a bachelorette party?

Love always,

If the shoes fit, is it worth it?

2011-07-29T12:09:00.000-07:00

[2011.07.29]

I've bought my dress! It wasn't cheap but I ~~think~~ believe that it's worth it. Which then leads us to the next question, what about the shoes?

I've somehow picked some pretty expensive shoes as contenders. Oh Kate Spade, why are your shoes so cute?! Could I really justify spending over $100 on wedding shoes?

Contender 1: Kate Spade Clarice

image source

The gold heel captured me at first glance. My dress is ivory so this colour is perfect, with that extra splash of glam and uniqueness that I am looking for. Too bad the price tag has also got an extra glam to it. $325 for a pair of shoes, OUCH.

Contender 2: Kate Spade Ceecee in old gold

image source image source

These two are the same colour - old gold. The only difference is the pearl beading's colour. I am leaning towards the colourful beads, but the white ones are probably more classic. I've also read that the studs at the end of the pearl beads might cause a problem during the wear. Hm. I guess that's another thing to consider. These are cheaper though! $215, a whole $100!

What do you think?

If the shoes fit the bill, is it worth splurging to get the wedding shoes of your dreams?

Love always,

Bring on that Bling!

2011-07-20T09:26:00.000-07:00

[ 2011.07.20]

And now... for the big reveal...

My favourite outfit from my road trip is...

(drumroll)

The suspender shorts/Hello Kitty combo! It was not something I have previously worn and it was a little out of my comfort zone! But it framed well and it was very fashion forward. I felt very modelesque in it!

There was an overwhelming preference for the floral dress/sun hat combo. That was my second favourite. So you weren't far off at all!

In other news...

Do you see it? The new decoration adorning my ring finger?

I guess this means I'm engaged, eh? My first question was "So do you take it off at night?"

Love always,

Fashion Trip on the Strip

2011-07-13T16:06:00.000-07:00

[2011.07.13]

So I told you I was going to Vegas. What I didn't tell you was that I flew to LAX, then drove to Vegas, and drove all the way back to Vancouver. This is the second time I've done a trip like this. The good? No driving for me and an awesome room at the Venetian. The bad? Waking up at 6/7 every day. Yeah, some vacation. That's why I've delayed the posting until I've gotten a little more shut eye!

You didn't expect me to go away for that long without a recap of my outfits for you, did you?

on my nails: nubar's baby sprouts (taken on day 5, the Barielle Manicure Extender is a manicure's best friend!)

Day 1 - 1 hour speed tour on the Vegas Strip:

floral dress: bryan's

two tone crochet belt: bryan's

Day 2 - Spring Mountain Ranch National Park tour + the Gun Store:

teal tank: gentle fawn

striped shorts: billabong

ear muffs, goggles, and AK-47: the gun store

10 out of 10 shots on vitals: natural killer instinct

Day 2 - Cirque du Soleil Ka:

tribal print maxi dress: forever 21

two-tone crochet belt: bryan's

hair bun: $2 RMB hair sponge

Day 3 - Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam:

hello kitty tank: modcloth.com

purple suspender shorts: rps addict

sun hat: random hat store in Vegas

gold jewelled flip flops: guess

fob asian pose: many years of practice

Day 5 - Brake problems at Grant Pass and random open house showing:

purple tank: bryan's

purple suspender shorts: rps addict

sun hat: random hat store in Vegas

gold jewelled flip flops: guess

Day 6 - Walk along the river in Portland and flea market hopping:

floral maxi dress: barefoot contessa

wrap cardigan: yesstyle.com

sun hat: random hat store in Vegas

lime green purse: coach

gold jewelled flip flops: guess

I skipped day 4 because that was our day of 16 hour drive from Nevada to Oregon. I am pretty sure I just wore a tank and a pair of shorts. Along the ride, we saw 5+ police cruisers, a multitude of cows and sheeps, 3+ deer, and 2 road work stops. 6 days of American Chinese food later, I am so glad to be back home. Oh, Vancouver, you are truly the best place on earth.

Which was your favourite outfit? I'll reveal mine in the next post!

Love always,

Black and grey on a cloudy day

2011-07-04T23:38:00.000-07:00

[ 2011.07.04 ]

Thought I would leave you a post before I jet off to Las Vegas, just so you won't forget about me! This outfit came prior to the colour challenge series, and was quite the opposite. I wasn't very inspired to wear colours that day as it was quite cloudy, instead, I wore a fun nail polish to spice up my outfit!

black short sleeve shirt: gifted

grey drape shirt: puffy on yesstyle.com

black latex leggings with zippers: lna

black textured pumps: steve maddens

on my nails: daiso holographic 10

I looooooooooove Daiso's nail polish. I saw these holographics at Daiso and HAD to get them. And boy, was I ever glad! For $2, these apply like a dream, with surprisingly awesome holographic flashes! Looking at them made my grey day sunny, which, coincidently, is what happened that day!

Would you ever wear Daiso nail polish?

Love always,

Just a Green Dream after all.

2011-06-21T13:48:00.000-07:00

[ 2011.06.21 ]

My, my. It's been a busy month! I've neglected my blog ever since the colour challenge ended! But I am back, and hopefully will be posting more.

This last little while, we've experienced some ups and downs in Vancouver, but we're getting better, and we're still one of the best cities in the world. I've volunteered at the Richmond-Vancouver Relay for Life. It's tiring but so worth it. And, I'm coming up to one big decision in my life. We'll see how that goes.

Wicked is in town. It is one of my FAVOURITE musicals, ever since I watched it in NYC. I love Elphaba, and I love the colour green. Easily inspiring this neutral outfit. BTW, do you spot the Hello Kitty?

tank: modcloth.com

open front cardigan: yesstyle.com

green tapered pants: rps addict

black skinny belt: dynamite

golden strappy sandals: winner's

on my nails: opi silver shatter over barielle date night

The toe colour is from SPAritual from when I got a mani/pedi at She to Shic on my birthday. I am sorry to say I do not recommend it. Despite its many good attributes, my nails are too damaged since for me to have much good things to say about them.

And just to apologize for the lack of posting, here's a bonus pic of a nail polish I am obsessed with and have been so lucky to receive from my best friend C!

on my nails: deborah lippmann glitter in the air over opi i vant to be a lone-star

Isn't it dreamy?

Love always,

Day 7: A Tad of Plaid, a Whole Lot of Cowgirl!

2011-05-24T09:41:00.001-07:00

[ 2011.05.24 ]

For Day 7 of the challenge, we headed out to Cloverdale to partake in the festivities at the Cloverdale Rodeo. There were carnival rides, deep fried fair food, a petting zoo, and of course, the RODEO! Bull-riding, Barrel Racing, Horse bucking, and even sheep riding for the little ones! It was an amazing time!

Seeing as it was a country fair, of course I needed to cowgirl it up, with some colours, of course!

pink tank: suzy shier

black and purple plaid shirt: stitches

jeans: winner's

boots: hong kong

belt: unknown

belt buckle: ubc

I even dug out my good ol' Aggies UBC belt buckle for this event! Oh, to be back in school again. Too bad I couldn't find a matching cowboy hat. This outfit might not have been the most colourful, but it's an example of incorporating colour in a subtle way.

And some tractors, just for kicks!

So folks, that's it, 7 days of bright hues are OVER! I hope we have inspired you to incorporate more colours in YOUR LIFE! And as for me, well, I realize I have way too many clothes in my closet. Did you notice that I did not repeat a single item once? Time for a cull!

Remember to check out Cecilia, Cherry, Sharon, and Stephanie's blogs for their outfits from the challenge!

What have YOU learned from this challenge?

Love always,

Day 6: Flower Power with a Splash!

2011-05-23T10:00:00.000-07:00

[ 2011.05.22 ]

One of my childhood friends got married today.Congratulations, M.! So I had to dress accordingly, but still with something bright enough for the challenge.

dress: barefoot contessa
brown tasseled belt: ark clothing

fuschia tank: bryan's

fuschia cardigan: dynamite

white sandals (not pictured): shoe warehouse

I opted for my floral dress (last seen here) but it wasn't enough colour on its own. Which is why I added the nails, the tank, and the cardigan to highly the bright pink in the dress. I love how versatile this floral dress is! It's nice to have a piece in the closet that is convertible for your needs!

And if you have been following this blog for a while, you would know that a pre-planned outfit always come with a special manicure! On my nails are all OPI colours -Sparrow Me the Drama on all but the accent finger, Steady as She Rose on my ring finger watermarbled with Sparrow Me the Drama using the tutorial here, and I Juggle... Men as a shimmer top coat.

Do you have a favourite convertible piece?

Love always,

Day 5: Don't Withold the Bold Colours!

2011-05-21T18:18:00.000-07:00

[ 2011.05.21 ]

Go big or go home, they say. Which is why I chose THIS outfit for Day 5.

salmon blazer: costa blanca

teal crochet tank: gentle fawn

purple gauchos: propaganda

purple heels: the bay

I knew from Day 1 of this challenge that I would try to recreate the Gucci Spring 2011 Runway look. It just so happened that I have these colours in my closet. Hey! Why not? I love the way the jewel tones contrast and compliment each other. I guess this second try at colour blocking worked better than the first!

Would you wear bold colours like this?

Love always,

Day 4: Rules are for Fools!

2011-05-20T11:30:00.000-07:00

[ 2011.05.20 ]

Ever heard that certain colours are to never meet, except on specific holidays? Yup, I'm talking about red and green! At the risk of looking like a Christmas tree, that's exactly what I wore for Day 4.

dress: military penguin

green scarf as belt: gifted, unknown

taupe cardigan: dynamite

peek-a-boo pink lace bra: la senza

nude sling-back bowed heels: winner's

pink flower hair clip/pin: ardene's

Who says you can't wear red and green together? As long as you add some neutral pieces, and another piece that's complimentary to both colours, it could work! To tell you the truth, I kinda love this outfit! Just to give you a better look at the pink flower, I've included a close up.

Lesson of the day? Breaking rules can make a great outfit!

What fashion rules have you broken?

Love always,

Day 3: Made of Shades!

2011-05-19T11:52:00.000-07:00

[ 2011.05.19 ]

Realizing I had an abundance of purple coloured clothing in my closet, I thought it would only be appropriate that I made an outfit entirely of purple. One way to colour block is to incorporate shades of the SAME colour into an outfit.

purple firefly top: delia's

lavendar skirt: siren's

purple tights: bryan's

white hooded jacket: nordstrom rack

pink flats: modcloth.com

on my nails: opi steady as she rose

Realizing that ALL purple would make me look like a giangantuan grape (Violet Beauregarde from Willy Wonka, anyone?), I added a splash of pink via my footwear. It just so happened that this pink coordinates with the pink on the tank! YAY! That off white jacket? Well, I just like it.

I love those purple/black tights, they are subtly purple but soooo pretty!

Look, I even wore purple/lilac on my nails! Nails are a great way to incorporate colour. Skittle nails are PERFECT for Summer!

Would you try to pull off this look? Or just use your nails to add some accent colours?

Love always,

Day 2: Colour pop with props!

2011-05-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

[ 2011.05.18 ]

I guess our challenge is working, because we woke up yesterday (and today) with SUNSHINE! Long deprived of that giant star in the sky, Vancouverites were eager to bust out their Spring and Summer wardrobes! Everywhere I looked were shorts, sundresses, and COLOUR!

With my outfit being so over the top and distracting on Monday, I thought I would tone it down a bit and incorporate some earth tones. Despite my outfit being fairly neutral, I added pops of yellow with props to give it some life!

green maxi tank dress: yesstyle.com

taupe open front cardigan: yesstyle.com

bowed yellow flats: modcloth.com

bowed yellow belt: part of top from sirens

gold headband: ardene's

multi-colored scarf: gifted, unknown

shadow: Cecilia

Can you TELL who's an online shopping addict? Honestly though, I do love this outfit. I am hoping another one will trump it, but I can't really envision anything that could beat my favourite colours - green and yellow!

Three of us girls met up yesterday and took these outfit photos together, our outfits together looked like colour block MAGIC!

Cecilia, me, and Sharon (missing: Cherry)

And on a side note: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ZEN! I love you!

Do YOU have bright colour accessories that you used to accent your outfit? What's your favourite colour to use?

Love always,

Day 1: Work that Colour Block!

2011-05-17T09:48:00.000-07:00

[ 2011.05.17 ]

With Monday being rather grey, I didn't have much of an inspiration for an outfit. Grey days do not make me want to wear bright colours. Regardless, I did know that I wanted to kick off our challenge with a BANG! I figured if I get the whole self-consciousness out of the way on the first day, the rest of the days will be easy peesy!

pink blouse: guess

blue jumper dress: bryan's

silver tights: lna

black belt: dynamite

grey flats (not pictured): hong kong boutique

Poodle got a funny hair cut and wanted nothing more than my attention while we were getting this photo taken, so he ended up in the shot!

Colour blocking is one of the major trends this Spring! While I never thought I could pull this look off, I thought I would step out of my regular routine and try something different! I decided on contrasting colours to maximize the bright factor! However, I kept the rest of the outfit low key with grey neutral tones and minimal accessories (Remember, never colour block with more than 3 colours, it makes you look like a walking rainbow!). The colours alone reminded me of a 70s workout video, not exactly a bad thing! My coworker said it's still not bright enough though, go figure.

Remember to check out Cecilia, Cherry, and Sharon's blogs for more outfits with colours! And stay tuned for day 2!

Have you tried colour blocking? What kind of outfits did YOU come up with?

Love always,

I Challenge You: 7 days of bright hues to beat off the winter blues.

2011-05-16T09:35:00.000-07:00

[ 2011.05.16 ]

With Spring's late arrival this year, the Winter blues has been hanging gloomily over our heads. Instead of painfully waiting for the rain to subside and the sun to shine again. We decided to take matters into our own hands! Thus, we present to you, the 7 days of BRIGHT HUES!

image source (love love love Gucci Spring 2011 jewel tone colour blocking!)

What is the challenge?

To incorporate or wear as much BRIGHT colours as possible in 7 different ways.

When is the challenge?

May 16 - May 22, a whole 7 days (anyone else thinking Rainbows?).

Who are the challengers?

Cecilia: http://wlovingkindness.tumblr.com

Sharon: http://justjustlovely.tumblr.com

Cherry: http://www.jcprojects.net/cherry

And of course, yours truly.

How are we going to do this?

No purchases (I am going to do a self-imposed shopping ban), with only your own, and maybe your awesome friends and family (even your boyfriend?)'s wardrobes to raid! If you're creative, use ANYTHING in the house. What does that entail? Only you know!

Hopefully, we come out of this a lot less scared of colours. If you'd like to join us on this colour journey, please please please do so! I would love to see your ideas! Even if you don't want to share, I hope you stick around to witness some pretty OUTRAGEOUS colour outfits! Stay tuned for day one!

How do you incorporate colour in your outfits?

Love always,

You light up the night with brighter beauty than twilight.

2011-05-11T10:00:00.000-07:00

[ 2011.05.11 ]

A nail polish so awesome, it deserves a post (and a cheesy pun of a title) dedicated solely to it. Introducing Joe Fresh Style - Twilight, the first flake polish available to the Canadian Market. On most nail blogs, the nail polish was layered over a solid black for the best effect. Despite having flake glitters that flashes green, orange, and gold, nobody has successfully layered a green under Twilight. The end results usually ended up being very streaky. Well, I needed to try this for myself.

I began my manicure with one coat of Sally Hansen Insta Dri Jumpin' Jade (over base coat, DUH). Sorry about the messiness, my application skills has been slowly improving, I swear!

This was followed by a coat of the star of the hour - Joe Fresh Style Twilight. The results was stunning. Although at first I couldn't see the green shining through, in the sun, it was a completely different story. An amazing green under a black jelly with flakies.

LOVE LOVE LOVE! And seeing as flakies nail polishes are amazing when matte, I had to add a coat of Joe Fresh Style Matte Top Coat to see the effect. Sorry about the chipped nails and tip wear, this was after 4 days already!

The green was definitely more prominent after the matte top coat was added. But, I think I prefer the shiny! This amazing nail polish was paired with a dress I have not worn since I bought it in November!

dress: mm couture

belt: dynamite

tights: urban outfitter

shoes: steve madden

A perfect combination in my books! This dress has also become a new favourite!

What about you? What is something that you've bought recently that's WOWED you?

Love always,

None other than the big ONE.

2011-05-09T12:13:00.000-07:00

[ 2011.05.09 ]

I still remember my uncertainties a year ago, when he showed up out of nowhere, at the worst possible timing, and wanted nothing more than to be my friend. Reluctantly, I accepted. The improbability of this coupling was high, but somehow, someway, he broke down my walls. Something beautiful flourished from this chance meeting, but was it really that accidental? We don't think so.

"Coincidences are God's way of remaining anonymous." - Albert Einstein

On April 26, 2011, we celebrated our first year together. Who would have thunk?

We celebrated at the Tapenade Bistro in Steveston. Nothing extravagant, just us.

dress: forever 21

cardigan: kensie girl

tights: bryan's

on my nails: snow capped skittle nails!

thumb: joe fresh ballet slipper

index: opi what's with the cattitude

middle: hello kitty banana cream

ring: opi gigantuan green grape

pinky: sally hansen lacey lilac

snow cap: sally hansen white on

glitter: sally hansen disco ball

p.s. - This will probably be one of the only times you'll ever see my thumb. I have brachydactyly and am awfully conscious of it.

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is to love and be loved in return." - 'Unforgettable with Love' by Natalie Cole

Love always,

Navy and gold and friendships old.

2011-05-02T14:43:00.000-07:00

[ 2011.05.02 ]

I am very grateful for some very amazing friends. Friends I can pretty much tell everything to, and have been there for me since, well, since I've ever needed them. I am even more grateful for being able to spend so much time with them as we will all have to (as most people do) grow up soon.

As we often do, we went for an afternoon of bubble tea. Then, spontaneously, decided to shop afterwards. While we used to shop together regularly, it has long became a luxury of the past. It's nice to know that we have yet to lose that synchronicity as friends.

After browsing for much of the afternoon, and some purchases later (obviously including nail polishes), we wandered towards the centre of Richmond Centre, where a Children's Wish Foundation Fundraiser has stood for the majority of the Spring season.

The first flower display at the mall, it boasts a beautiful tree in its centre adorned with origami tulips. Each representing a $1 donation towards this wonderful cause.

This tree is surrounded by live tulips and bamboo sticks, creating a walk way for mall-goers to marvel at this display of generosity.

It's rather refreshing to see the outside brought in, even more when it's for a worthwhile cause!

And it was a lovely Sunday, with plenty of sunshine, and lots of warmth. Although, still not quite enough. I still had to wear a cardigan!

scarf as headband: vero moda

navy tank: bryan's

open front cardigan: bryan's (worn belted here)

jeans: winner's

gray zippered flats: unknown, hong kong

on my nails: anna sui #005 (last seen here) over butter london full monty

Using a scarf as a headband has got to be one of my favourite ways to style my hair. It gives a retro feel to the whole outfit AND it's easy.

How do you like to style your hair?

Love always,

What happens in San Diego stays in San Diego!

2011-04-29T13:37:00.000-07:00

[ 2011.04.29 ]

San Diego, our bachelorette destination. The city that brought together six girls that have known each other since university and helped create amazing memories with lots of laughter and love.

Ahh, a picture with the bride-to-be, S (see her blog here)!

Of course, what happened in San Diego STAYS in San Diego. But let's just say, there was a lot of pointing, a lot of high-fives, and a whole lot of Ryan Reynolds. Unfortunately, I can only show you some G rated pictures from our trip.

Interesting art placement as functional seats for people waiting for the bus, and some ground pepper from Urban Solace. If you ever go to San Diego and need a yummy brunch, this is a good place to go. Located in North Park, the restaurant has one of the best eggs benedict I've ever tasted!

Beautiful plants from Balboa Park. We happened upon the Earth Day Festival and ended up joining in the festivities! A bag of kettle corn, a lemonade, and a tie dye dress later, we were 6 happy girls. Thank goodness for the sunshine while we were at the park! The next day was so gloomy.

The resort we stayed at was called Paradise Point Resort & Spa. It is a private island with a stretch of man made beach, five pool areas, and separate individual suites. It was the perfect setting for the bachelorette. A tower in the centre of the resort overlooks the property, with some interesting structural and architectural details as pictured above.

We had a semi-formal dinner at Bencotta, one of the best Italian restaurants in town. The waiter even put a balsamic vinegar smile in our olive oil! I donned a maxi dress for this semi-formal affair, despite the uncharacteristic coldness in San Diego.

maxi dress: barefoot contessa

striped curtain cardigan: siren's

tasseled belt: ark clothing on main

gold sandals: guess (not pictured)

on my nails: sally hansen's disco ball over joe fresh ballet slippers

Congratulation, S.! Here's to our friendship, and your impending happily ever after!

Love always,

All in the details.

2011-04-25T10:05:00.000-07:00

[ 2011.04.25 ]

My work is full of surprises. One day I get muffins, the other I get chocolate bunnies, but nothing beats these beautiful coral tulips that put colour at my otherwise boring and bland front desk. *LOVE*

Tulips always make me happy, they brighten up the rain, dance in the sun, and smile at your through the day.

Snapped this photo at my daddy's birthday dinner. In retrospect, I probably should have snapped a picture of the satiating dinner we had at the Golden Szechuan Restaurant. If there's one thing you must try, it's the Boiling Fish in Chili. I know, the name is not particularly appetizing, but trust me, you won't regret it.

You and me. We are the perfect bobble head match.

Obviously, a girl needed to dress up for the occasion.

dress and belt: dynamite

open front cardigan and tights: bryan's

bow detail booties: modcloth.com

on my nails: sally hansen's disco ball over lacey lilac

Which details in your life do YOU love the most?

Love always,

Get your hands dirty with me.

2011-04-14T15:14:00.000-07:00

[ 2011.04.14 ]

For Christmas, my bestest C (see her blog here) gave me a date. Not just any date, but a Raw Canvas date! If you haven't been here before, you are definitely missing out! Like the Salt Tasting Room, they feature tasting plates of cheese, cured meats, and condiments, with ONE significant difference. At Raw Canvas, you can purchase a canvas and explore your creative side, with paint, wine, and good company.

With the waiter's recommendations, we got 3 cheeses, 3 meats, and 6 condiments to share. The tasting plates come with a whole baguette and turned out to be much more filling than we thought it would be. Presentation of the food on a tile reiterates the artsy atmosphere of the establishment. Our favourites? Fire roasted tomatoes, castlevetrano olives, elk and juniper salami, and the vintage 3 year gouda.

cheeses:	condiments:		meats:
vintage 3 year gouda comté arnaud reserve riopelle	organic almonds sage cranberry fire roasted tomatoes	dried organic apricots cornichons castlevetrano olives	elk and juniper salami wild boar and rosemary duck rilettes

As for drinks, you can choose between flights of wine, 3 oz, 5 oz, or a bottle, allowing the versatility of sampling wines without consuming too much alcohol or the luxury of ordering a bottle to share amongst friends.

After finishing our tasting menu, we wandered over to the painting area. Brushes, acrylic paint, smocks, and a water bucket are provided. All we had to do was let our creative side out to get down and dirty with the paint. Our final results? See for yourself.

I love the colours and texture of C's painting. Gorgeous!

Of course, I can't possibly let you leave without showing you a picture of my get up for the occasion!

tiered top: bryan's

high waisted skirt: costa blanca

pointed heels: nine west

on my nails: joe fresh style matte top coat over latté

Have you been letting your creativity run wild?

Love always,

I needed a smile so I'm a-blogging.

2011-04-11T17:16:00.000-07:00

[ 2011.04.11 ]

While usually a cheery person, I have down days. Today is one of those. So I'm blogging. Why? Because this way I can remember the happier times, and it'll put a smile back on my face. So if you need a smile on your face too, maybe my happy times will cheer you up!

On Friday, having absolutely no idea what I'll be having for dinner, I ended up at a Teppenyaki restaurant in Richmond. Despite the food not being the greatest, I had a load of fun chatting with the chef and playing with our food. He's quite a goofy chef! He even flamed up my food an extra time so I can capture it with the camera. Too bad snapper happy me took the picture too early!

Took the puppy out for a run in the yard. He's so ridiculously cute! The best part was his affinity for dandelions. He just kept munching on the flower petals! When he's not being a monster, he is SO cute!

I decided to dress up that day for work. Since we've been having amazing weather lately, I decided to make a spring outfit out of it. Oh! And the nails, don't forget the nails! They made me smile every time I looked at them. Too bad one of them peeled off during work.

ruffly top: Tokyo Fashion, Taiwan

lace high waisted skirt: modcloth.com

lace-up belt: Ark Clothing

tights: Cynthia Rowley

glasses: Silhouette

on my nails: OPI Teenage Dream, Sally Hansen Disco Ball, OPI Ali's Big Break gradient

So, on to you. What makes you happy when you're down?

Love always,

April, the month of daffodils.

2011-04-08T14:04:00.000-07:00

[ 2011.04.08 ]

It's been a week into April. You must have seen by now, the kiosks selling daffodil pins popping up in malls everywhere. A yearly phenomenon, most people wave off the kids collecting donations for daffodil pins as easily as they ignore an ant on the street. After all, what do the daffodils mean for ME?

The daffodils is a celebration, a celebration of life, of healing, of second chances. The daffodils is a memory, of loved ones lost, of battles won, of tears shed. And most important of all, the daffodils is a passion, a passion to fight back, to breaking grounds, to regain the power to live.

It's not just a little pin on your jacket, it's a blaze of passion burning in your hearts.

As a volunteer for the Richmond-Vancouver Relay for Life 2011, I urge you to wear your daffodils. Not just for April, but for always, in your hearts. I may not have been personally affected by cancer, but many around me has. As a member of our society, I am choosing to play an active part in the fight to end cancer.

Will you be joining me?

Please considering giving towards my Relay for Life 2011 goal (see link here), or perhaps the goal of someone else who is close to you.

Love always,

Beauty in the butter.

2011-04-06T17:27:00.000-07:00

[ 2011.04.06 ]

This last Saturday was so stunningly beautiful (read: the sun was out), that I really needed to go somewhere, anywhere. So, we hopped on over to Queen Elizabeth Park after church for lunch and a quick stroll.

Now if you know QE Park, you'd know where we ended up for food - Seasons.

Their butter had 'butter' stamped into it. This made me incredibly happy (I know, I am such a kid)! Although the crepe was prettier than the pasta, the pasta tasted much better! For some reason, the mushy fish just didn't sit well with either of our palates.

After lunch, we wandered around a bit while I took some not so scenic shots. Who takes pictures of construction materials at QE Park? Me, that's who.

Finally, a shot of my outfit that day just for kicks, and my nails, because I was oh so in love with them.

tan jacket: Unknown brand, China

coral shirt and colettes: Tokyo Fashion, Taiwan

leather boots: Unknown brand, Hong Kong

under tank: Bryan's

tights: Cynthia Rowley

purse: Coach

on my nails: OPI Teenage Dream over Butter London Jelly Chuffed

Seems like the sun has finally decided to co-orperate, just in time for Vancouver's 125th Birthday!

Have you been having some fun in the sun?

Love always,

Happiness is... 'post it's?

2011-04-05T16:00:00.000-07:00

[ 2011.04.05 ]

I love post-its. It's no secret. I am notorious for posting post-its on my desk top at work with little reminders and quotes on life. It's even caught on with my manager!

This has been my reminder since February, when I folded a heart out of a piece of red construction paper I had lying around.

Love is happiness. And happiness is ALWAYS better than sadness.

Whenever I see this, I remember what life is all about, and I'll have a smile back on my face.

Try it. Put a reminder where you can see it. Maybe it'll keep you happy too.

Love always,

On the sunnier side of things.

2011-03-29T09:36:00.001-07:00

[ 2011.03.29 ]

I've been looking for a creamy yellow nail polish for FOREVER. So when I saw this particular Hello Kitty nail polish, I had to have it, despite it being a hefty $12 CAD. An absolutely BEAUTIFUL colour, too bad the application left a lot to be desired. It took 3 coats to get rid of the streaks!


Hello Kitty Banana Cream source	Anna Sui Gold Sparkles #005 source

Regardless, I didn't regret my purchase. I just couldn't! The colour is exactly what I've been looking for! Paired with the Anna Sui Gold Sparkles nail polish (#005), it was the sunniest nails ever! The colour, in person, is a lot more pastel. But, doesn't it just remind you of smiley faces?

Here's the bonus - the Anna Sui nail polish has a beautiful rose scent instead of that horrid chemically nail polish smell. It's been keeping a smile on my face!

Now if only the sun would come out to play!

What's on YOUR nails today?

Love always,

We all need reminders like these.

2011-03-04T16:25:00.000-08:00

[2011.03.04]

I know we all do this, and I am no exception. We get drowned in a daily routine, buzzing about like a busy bee, and forget what matters most in life. Lately, I've been applying for school, volunteering, and working, leaving little time for myself, let alone anyone else. Luckily, my friend arranged a trip to the Downtown Eastside (the slums of Vancouver, if you may). Initially, I dragged my feet, making excuses to not head down there. Even at the last minute, I blamed the weather and wanted to back out. But, as the skies cleared, I had no excuses left. I grumbled in my head, but was humbled by a thought that crossed my head, "Hey, it's only one day a month where you give out food and drinks to the homeless. Why exactly are you so reluctant?"

As we prepped the sandwiches at my friend's house, I continued to think of ways to leave earlier so I can return to the comfort of my home. Despite being reminded by my thoughts that I need to do something more charitable for others with no desire for any compensation, I was finding myself wishing I was doing something else. When we arrived at the Downtown Eastside, I shivered in the cold and complained about not dressing warm enough, and secretly being scared of the sketchy people in the area. I was a major Debbie downer.

Yet, as we hand out the food and the hot drinks to the homeless people, we were met with wonderful smiles. People would call us angels sent from God, asking God to bless our hearts. They had nothing but good things to say about us. Here I was, being wary that they might steal my purse or act inappropriate and generally being guarded against these lovely people, but they instead were so thankful for this tiny act of kindness, something that takes only a few hours out of my month to do. I began to feel incredibly ashamed about my attitude and behaviour.

As the night went on, the blessings just kept coming. We got a prayer from one of the other volunteers, thanking us for our work. A handshake from a man who refused a pair of gloves and felt my hands were even colder than his. A beautiful song from a woman with an amazing voice and even a bigger hug. My heart, my mind was thoroughly humbled. I just got served a giant slice of humble pie in the Downtown Eastside.

I needed to remember that I was no better than them. We are all one, and there should be no discrimination. In a way, they helped me as much as, and maybe even more, than I helped them.

I really did need this reminder: Love, that's what matters most.

Thank you, Downtown Eastside.

Love always,

The rain can't stop my shine.

2010-11-09T15:32:00.000-08:00

[2010.11.09]

It's been a little while I suppose, but what's a busy girl suppose to do? It seems lately all I want to do is to add colours to an otherwise monotonic wardrobe. Besides, we all need some sunshine in this gloomy rain. Living in Vancouver, the rain is pretty much inevitable. But what's a little rain when we have ample restaurants, night life, museums, and art galleries to venture in? A small price to pay for an amazing city, I'd say. A while back, I wore this little outfit to brave the town despite the rain. Is that really a tanktop from Ardene, you ask? Yup, you're looking at the queen of thrifty herself. How else can you find 2 for $5 tank tops that have lasted me through the spring and summer?

Tank top: Ardene

Cardigan: Bryan's

Necklaces: Forever21

Skirt: Winner's

Tights: Urban Outfitter

It's raining in Vancouver again. I guess we needed it after the last burst of sunshine. To fend off some of that rainy day blues, I am donning silver nails. Just looking at them makes me smile.

What about you? What keeps you happy on a grey day like today?

Love always,

You make me smile, please stay for a while now.

2010-08-27T15:25:00.000-07:00

[2010.08.26]

image source

As my blue toenails sank into the warm brown sand, I can't help but smile at the simplicity of the colour contrast. Unknowingly, I've giggled aloud. He turned to me and asked, "what's so funny?" As I explained what has just gone through my head, and how happy it made me, he started laughing too. I pouted. "You must think I get amused too easily." Poking at my cheeks to get a smile, he laughed again. "Yeah, but that's why I love you. You big baby."

The afternoon sun blazed above us as the sea wind blew gently against our skin. We inched slowly towards the water and I squealed as the freezing sensation took over my body. Walking hand in hand along the shore, stealing kisses when there are no kids around us, I was in heaven.

5 short months ago, he wasn't even a candidate for my affections, but really, no one was. Yet somehow, someway, he's found his way into my heart and made a nest there.

I smile when I see his face beam because I am walking towards him. I smile when something I say put a giggle on his face. I smile when I can turn his day upside down. I smile, because I love.

Love always,

There's nobody quite like you.

2010-08-24T20:01:00.000-07:00

[2010.08.24]

4 days ago, it was my bestest C's birthday. 5 days ago, I rushed my ass to get her present ready. Not one for conventional gifts, does it come as a surprise that I made her gift? Remember how I made my other best friend a bouquet? I didn't stray too far away from that same idea.

Without further ado, let me present to you, the royal chocolate bouquet!

Want to know how to make it? I'll let you in on a secret... It's really easy!

1. Get yourself a chocolate mould of your choice (it doesn't have to be roses to be a bouquet!).

2. Melt some chocolate (make sure you do this in a double boiler!).

3. Fill the mould and let chill (I only have the finished product picture, sorry!).

4. Package it however you like! I used a basket, some paper cushion, cellophane bags, ribbons, and some silk leaves.

5. Admire your beautiful final product (thank you, mommy, for helping me wrap the final product up in cellophane and beautiful silver ribbons!)!

It's not quite easy as 1, 2, 3, but it's easy as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5!

I love crafts, and C loves chocolate. I loved the final product, but I am pretty sure she liked the present just because it was chocolate. Regardless, it was worth it just to put a happy smile on my bestest's face!

I love her! (Sorry for the blurry picture!)

Happy Birthday again, C! And may there be many more to come, with me to celebrate with you of course!

What about you? Have you done something fun with chocolate?

Love always,

It's always more fun to give than to receive!

2010-08-17T13:52:00.000-07:00

[ 2010.08.17 ]

So I've been away for a little while, but I thought I would just do a quick post. You'll notice the format of my blogs will be changing slightly as well in coming posts.

Onto the topic at hand...
I made these for one of my best friend's birthday using this tutorial from Dana Made It with some tweaking of my own. I decided to use ribbons instead of fabric for a more "romantic" look. It's amazing what some ribbons, lollipop sticks, and a glue gun could do.

3 hours and some hot glued fingers later, I got this:

Seen in the back: rubix cube from Cirque Du Soleil!

Next up to tackle, another art project! But it has to remain a secret because my bestest reads this! Wish me luck!

Do you make gifts for your loved ones? What have you made?

Love always,

So about all that stargazing non-sense...

2010-05-26T12:44:00.000-07:00

[ 2010.05.26 ]

I am a Christian and I have always been one. But for some odd reason, I've always been attracted to stargazing and astrology and the likes. Perhaps it has to do with my need-to-know personality, or perhaps it has to do with the fact that I hate when I am not in control, so I am naturally drawn to anything that makes me feel like I have more of a hold on my life.

I am a Gemini, the most sporadic, confused, contradicting star sign out there. And it fits me to a tee. I am the EXACT replicate of the typical Gemini on paper. I am happy one moment, and sad the next. I blurt out random thoughts and stop my sentences short because I get distracted. I get insanely jealous when I care about someone. I have a constant craving for knowledge, but rarely stick around to know it well. I start projects but rarely finish them. My life is in a constant state of chaos, but in a way, it's ALWAYS organized and calm. I have this bubbly persona, but few gets to know the darker side of me. I get bored easily, so you better keep me on my toes. But most important of all, I love easily, and get hurt even easier...

What's your star sign and does it describe you well?

Love always,

Oh, you humpty dumpty, you!

2010-03-30T14:00:00.000-07:00

[ 2010.03.30]

"Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses and all the king's men
Couldn't put Humpty together again."

Taking a break...

Love always,

Oh, you iconic Cannery, you!

2010-03-22T14:30:00.000-07:00

[ 2010.03.22 ]

The Cannery Seafood Restaurant will be closing for good on March 27th (as the city would not renew the lease with the restaurant, citing risk of security breach), and thus ends 39 years of extraordinary dining for the city of Vancouver. Having had many memories at the Cannery from my younger years, I could not let this restaurant fade without having one last hurrah. (You would think I would have been here already, seeing how I love to eat!)

For all the many encounters I've had with the Cannery, I've never actually had a full sit down meal here. My experience with the Cannery mostly had to do with its Christmas decorations. A friend of our family is the main maintenance contact for the restaurant and would always get our church's youth to help in preparing the Christmas decoration. We've wandered all over that place and have seen the most beautiful sun rises (we needed to start at 6 in the morning so to be done by the time they have lunch service!). Sure, we've had staff meals and breakfast at the restaurant, but never a full dinner.

I, by chance, got to finally experience this fantastic restaurant. While food was not the greatest, the view and the service was superb. It's always nostalgic when you visit a place so dear to your heart. Heck, that Cannery Queen sitting out front? My brother painted that thing!

As always, the location is incomparable to any other restaurant of the genre. Just look at that view! The dock where patrons can park their ship while having dinner was built by some other people from church too!

The restaurant even featured my name on their menu (even though I am sure it was only on my table's menu)!

And just look at these beautiful plates of food (not gonna to lie, their dessert was superb)!

A final look at the restaurant...

And the view... (see that raccoon at the dock? It was rather curious!)

One last goodbye, Cannery, thank you for the last 39 years of service!

You are irreplaceable!

Have you had any great memories at the Cannery?

Love always,

Oh, you sparkly nails, you!

2010-03-18T13:00:00.000-07:00

[ 2010.03.18 ]

Sometimes, a spontaneous urge to make myself feel good would arise. One of those moments jumped at me a few days ago. So, despite the fact that it was midnight and that I needed to go to bed. I decided to make that nagging feeling go away. Unfortunately, I chose a pretty time consuming pampering process - nails.

After our pampering session with Emily, I went out and bought some nail polish (including base and top coat), so I had some in stock already. I decided on a dark red colour from Sally Hansen. The whole procedure took me until 1:30 am in the morning! The SO thinks it has a tinge of purple in it though. What do you think?

(I know my hands aren't very pretty and my nails are funny looking, but I blame it on the condition Brachydactyly. Hey, Megan Fox has it too. No shame!)

On a side note, the nail polishes lined up together says "stronger", "faster", and "hard". Made me think of Daft Punk's Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger and the daft hand video right away. Fitting, no?

What have you done to make yourself feel good lately?

Love always,

Oh, you sweet tooth, you! (Cupcake edition)

2010-03-15T09:57:00.000-07:00

[ 2010.03.15 ]

I love to bake cupcakes and often find myself sitting around thinking up new flavors combinations. There's just one problem, I don't like sweets! I know, I know, it's a travesty, but I was just never brought up on sweets. The most cupcakes I could eat in a sitting is one! It's bad news for me (because I do ever so adore cupcakes!) but GREAT news for my friends and co-workers! Seeing as I can't really only make one cupcake at a time, my friends and co-workers get the leftovers. They get sweets and I get guinea pigs, see how the equation works?

Last night, it was my friend M's surprise birthday party. So, for the occasion, I made... (wait for it)... CUPCAKES! I was a little lazy so I used a box mix, but usually I would use a chocolate cupcake recipe. One of the recipes I've used before is this one from All Recipes. Sometimes I would combine the cocoa powder with hot water first to make sure it's melted, it tastes less powdery that way.

I hate it when cupcakes are generic, so I decided to put a little surprise in the middle... a marshmallow! It's easy too! Take a corer, take out the middle, and stuff a marshmallow in! Remember to let the cupcakes cool a little first or else the marshmallow will melt completely and you'll have to stuff another one in (trust me, I speak from experience)!

I love buttercream frosting (mostly because it tastes like ice cream)! For this frosting I used:

1/2 cup of butter
2 cups of icing sugar
2 tbsp of milk

Cream it together, add some food colouring, and you get this lovely pink mess! Spread it on, add some sprinkles (I used hearts <3), and VOILA, beautiful delicious cupcakes!

Om nom nom!

Have you fed your sweet tooth lately?

Love always,

Oh, you pleasant Mount Pleasant, you!

2010-03-08T11:26:00.000-08:00

[ 2010.03.08 ]

My workplace is located in the heart of Mount Pleasant in Vancouver, an eccentric part of the city that has great food, a tight knitted community, and lots of freedom of expressions. Whilst relatively close to Chinatown and the DTES, bordering on the edge of East Vancouver, this area has become the place to be for the young and hip. Recently, the community has been charred by two great fires, shutting down various businesses that represented the heart and soul of Mount Pleasant. Most Notably, Slickety Jim's Chat N' Chew. Yet, the community has continually join together against adversity, growing to become an area with an exuberant amount of potential, talent, and great thrift shops. It's no wonder young professionals are flocking to join in the buzz.

I, too, have become enamoured with this community for the reasons listed above... and so much more.

There are wonderful quotes and quirky signs.

There is a girl with flowers, a man with a book, and even another feeding a pigeon!

I smile when there's a smile in my coffe, rain on my cup, and heart shaped pastries filled with surprises!

And let's not forget about the candy hearts on the parking meter or the chairs sunbathing!

Some days, there are even bikes in primary colours all in a row, shoes in the sky, and a secret doorway!

But there's really nothing I love more than a playground framed with daisies, a bare branch in the sun, or a picturesque bench that looks like it came out of a Disney movie!

What do you love most about your neighbourhood?

Love always,

Oh, you True North Strong and Free, you! (part deux)*

2010-03-01T23:31:00.000-08:00

[ 2010.03.01 ]

Dear friends,

I thought I would take a moment to highlight Canada (I am having a major Olympic Hangover).

I know we just made history here in the Olympics with the most gold won by a single country, an amazing feat that will be remembered for decades, but I would also like us to remember the other significant moments of history that Canadians have already created.

We were the army that nobody believed in or respected when we claimed victory in Vimy Ridge (in fact, our soldiers were ridiculed for their lack of experience). At a time when the Japanese were invading Hong Kong, our soldiers were there, risking their lives to protect those that lived there (Thank you, without you, I might not have been born). At a time when the Canadians were only supposed to be peacekeepers in Bosnia, they have had to engage in combat when chaos broke out between the Croatians and the Serbians, and until recently, largely unrecognized by the UK. Even as recent as the Haitian earthquake, when our troops was one of the first (if not THE first) to be deployed to Port-Au-Prince.

As a country, we have always been able to overcome adversity. We not only serve our own, but have always been one of the first to provide aid. We are the nation that have welcomed whomever with wide open arms whenever they need us.

THAT is why I am proud to call myself Canadian, because we live to love, not just ourselves, but all those around us.

Thank you.

*I will minimize the crazy patriotic posts after this.
**My SO is a history buff and his dad is a retired reservist, hence the knowledge. I've never taken a history class in my life!

Love always,

Oh, you True North Strong and Free, you!

2010-03-01T10:00:00.000-08:00

[ 2010.03.01 ]

Dear Canada,

Thank you.

I was a mere immigrant in your land when you took me in and made me a citizen. Growing up in the busy hustling city of Hong Kong, you introduced me to "please" and "thank you". You made me see that there are "seasons" in a year. You showed me that with a little hard work, anything is possible.

Thank you.

Thank you for proving that you can overcome any adversity. Thank you once again for showing us that you can do ANYTHING. Thank you for reminding us that you will continuously make history. Thank you for re-igniting the Canadian dream.

Thank you.

It's not just about the gold, or owning the podium, or even winning hockey. It's about throwing an event to remember, being able to make fun of ourselves, making history, and moving on. It's about taking EVERYONE in and making them one of our own.

Thank you.

Thank you for reminding ME of what exactly Canada is about. Sitting in the BC Regiment Drill Hall, I took in Canada's victory with soldiers and veterans. I took in Canada's moment at the most patriotic place with THE most patriotic people in Vancouver. When that puck went in, tears welled up in my eyes as the place EXPLODED in jubilation. There was cheering, singing, and even an air raid siren. I would have wanted nothing more than to celebrate this amazing moment with those who've fought and are continually fighting for our country.

We've done it again, Canada. We've made history. We've overcome. Just like we did at Vimy Ridge, when nobody thought we could claim victory. We've done it.

It's about time the world remembered what made Canada great.

Thank you.

Love always,

Oh, you hockey town, you!

2010-02-26T15:43:00.000-08:00

[ 2010.02.26 ]

Hockey's a pretty big deal in this city of ours. So when the Olympics rolled around, you can imagine the excitement around town. My academic advisor from UBC got this gem from someone else in the office and posted it on facebook. I, in turn, have decided to share this with you. Enjoy!

"Our Father, who art in Vancouver, hockey be thy name.
Thy will be done, the gold will be won, on ice as well as in thy stands.
Give us this day our hockey sticks,
and forgive us our penalties as we forgive those who cross-check against us.
Lead us not into elimination, but deliver us to victory.
In the name of Canada, the hockey team and all its fans. Amen."

Yeah, we love our hockey in Vancouver. Hey, after all, Hockey is CANADA's game.*

Go Canada Go!

Are you cheering on your team?

*FYI: I'm not, by any means, trying to offend any other nation.
** Will have a more lengthy post after the Olympics. I'm too busy trying to cram everything in still!

Love always,

Oh, you amazing DTES, you!

2010-02-18T10:30:00.000-08:00

[ 2010.02.24 ]

Update: A link to the Hastings Folk Garden's facebook group - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=308494804862&ref=nf

[ 2010.02.18 ]

I tried to do a bunch of photowalks prior to the Olympics, because let's face it, trying to walk through anywhere downtown right now is near impossible, let alone getting good angles and beautiful pictures (with my little digital camera that is). Besides, the Olympics coverage from major social media blogs has been plentiful and resourceful, so I've refrained from discussing the Olympics aside from my mentioning of the Torch Relay in Richmond (which moved me to tears and thus requisites chronicling).

This photowalk was from ~2 weeks ago with my friend Dave. We decided to walk around the controversial DTES and Chinatown, to get in touch with our heritage, and to take in the situation in the DTES. As always, we took some photos (really, isn't that the point?). Did you know there is Jimmy Hendrix shrine in Chinatown? Yeah, I didn't either.

We travelled down towards Hastings Street, I was hoping to get a good shot of the iconic sidewalk heart artwork, but the amount of poverty and suffering we witnessed was starting to get me down.

That's when we discovered this hidden gem - The Hastings Folk Garden.

As both of us have graduated with an Agroecology degree from UBC (a degree that no longer exists), we are especially drawn towards community gardens. While aware of the prevalence of community gardens in the DTES area, we did not expect to find that which awaits us at the Hastings Folk Garden. A stark contrast to the run-down state of its surrounding buildings and two doors down from the Insite safe injection facility, the garden was filled with styrofoam hearts with encouraging sayings.

The soil has been moulded into letters and shapes, most notably at the entrance, where a heart and the word "FAITH" resided.

Adorned with a clown nose, Dominique Henry buzzed away in the garden. She's busy transforming the garden into a women's refuge place in preparation for the Olympics. Jumping onto a bucket to compensate for her height while painting a board, she happily told us that this will be a great opportunity to showcase the issues in regards to women safety in the DTES.

The boards she was painting will be used to showcase prose and poetry written by local DTES writers. An area has been set up at the back of the garden to provide the women in the DTES with a temporary roof over their heads. All around the garden, there are beautiful quotes and powerful symbolisms.

In her colourful outfit, she was like a fireball as she worked alongside her father, who introduced her to this community garden. The two of them made a great team, and you couldn't help but get infected by their positive attitude.

Standing amidst styrofoam hearts aplenty, small seedlings erupting from the earth, and small rocks painted with the words "faith", "hope" and "love", I couldn't help but feel a tinge of hope myself.

DTES may seem like a "slum" to those of us that don't live in it, but there are some local individuals with a cheery outlook that are dedicated to the welfare of DTES all the same. No, they don't complain, and they don't cause trouble, they just continuously toil away to change the image of DTES, our DTES, a little bit at a time.

And that's when I realized something, something that has kept the DTES so tight knitted all these years, something that has been in front of us all along. That which makes a community is not exquisite dining halls, high end boutiques, or celebrity sightings. No, the heart of the community is the people in it: those wonderful, amazing individuals that continually make a difference in others' lives.

Have you experienced DTES's community strength yet?

Love always,

Oh, you sappy fool, you! (tutorial included!)

2010-02-15T11:45:00.000-08:00

[ 2010.02.15 ]

Every year, so far, the SO (read: Significant Other) and I have not spent very much on each other on Valentine's Day. This year was no exception. Inspired by Katie Sokoler, a freelance photographer/street artist from Brooklyn, I took one of her ideas and made it my own. If ever you're stuck for a gift idea, this one would definitely be a cheap and easy way to make people smile.

Begin by snapping pictures of yourself (they are really easy too, I shot these on my digital camera using a self timer). I pieced together 3 shots of myself for the second picture. Print out 8 (or more) of the one where you are blowing kisses and one of the second picture, hole punch the pictures (I forgot to do this until AFTER I glued on the hearts).

I had some felt lying about (left over from my Christmas project) so I cut out a bunch of mini hearts, and "i love you".

Stick the mini hearts (I used superglue, but that left a smell and a white residue) to the pictures, begin with one and increase until the page is full. Likewise, stick the "I love you" where you want it to go.

Tie a ribbon on, and voila! A beautiful flip book showcasing your love to your loved one.

I decided to wrap it using a felt piece I had and held it in place with a simple ribbon. The kitty cat heart was a cut out from an old calendar. I used it as a gift tag. Simple, reusable wrapping to make your gift look even more glamorous!

Happy belated Valentine's Day!

What did you do for your loved one?

p.s. - the SO made a paperweave card and wrote me a letter. *swoon*

Love always,

Oh, you Olympics fever, you!

2010-02-12T09:56:00.000-08:00

[ 2010.02.12 ]

It seems like only yesterday when it was announced that Vancouver has gotten the bid for the Winter Olympics 2010. There was so much time still to prepare, and nobody fretted. Eventually the countdown clock was erected, but there were still three digits on the clock. The construction began as parts of our city changed before our eyes. The merchandise arrived at the Bay, and for the longest time, was left untouched. There wasn't really all that much hype. In fact, sometimes it seemed like people barely cared. Everywhere in the media, there were only reports of the negative impact the Olympics is having on our fair city. Did we really even want this thing here?

Now, on the morn of the Olympics opening ceremony, there is no number left on the days portion of the countdown clock, merely hours. The entire city has suddenly come alive, abuzz with locals and visitors alike. Every corner you turn, there's a Team Canada sweater, or t-shirt, or jersey. Despite all the nay-sayer's protesting, we, as a city, have come together, to show our support for our country. And it seems that, I, too, have finally caught the Olympic fever.

I am normally not one to participate in big events. Heck, I've only been to a concert twice in my life. Yet, somehow, someway, the patriotism has kicked in, and I am doing all that I can to show the world the beauty of our lovely city and my support for my country! Of course, the shopaholic tendencies also kicked in, and it seems I've acquired quite a few things Olympic.

The all important torch bearer mittens was the first Olympics thing to come into possession:

Followed by the Team Canada Cowichan Sweater (not made by Natives :().

And the newest addition, the Vancouver 2010 Mascot Action Figures!

Here's a list of suppliers in Canada if you're looking for them: http://www.happyworker.com/mascots-vinyl-figures/where-to-buy/

Happy Olympics Day, everyone! Go! Canada! Go!

Have you caught Olympics fever yet?
(Only 8 hours until it officially starts!!!!! I am all decked out in my Olympics gear, are you?)

Love always,

Oh, you Olympics flame, you!

2010-02-10T12:08:00.000-08:00

[ 2010.02.10 ]

It's 6:30pm on a Tuesday night. Normally, I would be home, stuffing my face full of delicious authentic Chinese cuisine. This particular night, however, I was swimming in a sea of people, trudging my way towards the Richmond Ozone.

People in red congregated at the entrance, awaiting their turn to enter the celebration. As per usual, there was the shoving, the line budging, and the toe stepping, but there was also conversations, jokes, and laughter. At one point, some kids even broke out in song.

Making our way through the crowd, a dragon breezed pass us while people paused to take pictures with the mounties.

Our path abruptly stopped at the entrance to the running tracks in Minoru Park (or the Ozone). The tracks, the bleachers, the area in front of the stage, everything was already packed. As far as the eyes can see, there were waves upon waves of mini Canadian flags and mini neon Olympic torches. Children were perched upon their fathers, lovers pressed against their lovers, and friends cuddled close together. While relatively close to the corridor that Rick Hansen will be passing through, we were already too late to get a decent spot. We ended up sandwiched between a group of Dutch and a group of friends, located directly in front of the CTV set up.

A countdown began on the stage, and a poorly chosen emcee mistakenly address us as Surrey, BC. This blunder was followed by some less than spectacular entertainment. The crowd began to chatter amongst themselves, their spirits faltered. The once roaring cheer began to dwindle as the emcee fought to keep the crowd interested. There was dancing, painting, drumming, and music, yet none of it seemed to capture the audience's attention. Perhaps it was because the entertainment is beginning to sound like a super long commercial. Left and right it was RBC this, Coca Cola that. At one point, the emcee declared the music remix to be the RBC remix while a Coca Cola ball was bounced around in the crowd. 7:30pm rolled around, soon followed by 8:00pm, still no sign of the torch. The crowd's patience is waning, after all, we didn't come here for one giant advertisement. Occasionally, a mountie or a cadet would walk along the corridor. A loud cheer initially sounded, but even that has died down. False alarm after false alarm, this celebration was beginning to feel like a dud.

Suddenly, a thunderous roar took over the entire Ozone. The CTV camera focused on the corridor, as the feed goes to the big screens by the stage. The man of the hour is finally here, Rick Hansen, breezing through in his wheel chair, is proudly displaying the heart and soul of the Olympic games - the flame. Hands went up the air, whether it be a camera or flags cheering him on; everyone has joined together to celebrate this historical moment together.

(above two images courtesy of the SO)

More applause and cheer ensued as the cauldron at the main stage was lit, but quickly silenced as music came through the speaker. The crowd, the racial differences, the horrid entertainment, the advertisement, none of that mattered anymore. Hands were placed over hearts, uniformed bodies raised their hands in salute, 15,000+ people joined together to sing our national anthem - Oh! Canada.

In a city where the main population were immigrants, me included, we belted out our country's beautiful song in unison. At that moment, I realized that all of us have the same flame burning in our hearts, for this city, for our country. The Olympic motto - with glowing hearts - have never seemed more true.

The anthem soon came to an end, voices hushed and the music faded. That's when I noticed that my eyes have involuntarily welled up while a solitary tear fell down my face.

Love always,

Oh, you pampered girls, you!

2010-02-08T11:30:00.000-08:00

[ 2010.02.07 ]

If you know me, chances are you know that I am very low-maintenance in terms of skin care, cosmetics, and the likes. So imagine my enthusiasm when my bestest, C, asked if I wanted to go to a makeup party (yes, that was sarcasm). However, because it was a girls bonding night, I decided to go through with it (with a smile, no less). Boy, was I pleasantly surprised!

One of our friends from UBC, Emily Yu (see picture below), has recently taken on a new endeavour as a consultant for Arbonne.

She begins with a spiel about Arbonne, which I rolled my eyes and ho-hummed through (sorry, Em!). I've had a really bad experience with another Arbonne rep from before, so excuse my non-immediate reception of said brand! If you haven't heard about Arbonne before, it is something along the lines of Mary Kay and Avon, with consultants providing information about the brand and products at various gatherings or parties. Arbonne provides a bunch of different party themes - i.e. Spa party, makeup party, skin care party, etc.

After the introduction, Emily let us try one of the products from the Arbonne Aromaessentials line, Awaken. This is an exfoliating sea salt scrub which acts to remove dead skin cells (which, coincidently, was the present the host of the party received for hosting the party). Interesting, I thought. The scrub felt nice against my skin but did not blow my mind away (I did get a sample of it as a free gift at the end though, we will see how I feel about it after a few uses).

Next, we washed our faces to prep for makeup application. This time, it was a product from the FC5+ line, the Hydrating Cleanser and Freshener. For someone that does the minimal for her face, this was a nice and welcomed change. It felt nice, but it also made me wonder what other brands could offer my face. Emily addressed this issue soon enough, Arbonne's products are environmentally friendly, safe, and very high quality. Hm, all the things I tend to look for. That's a plus.

Finally, we move on to the makeup. Ah, something I actually use and am familiar with! We put the Virtual Illusion Makeup Primer on our face (did you know it's a must so that make-up does not clog up your pores? I didn't!), and off we go! Emily began by checking which foundations we need. I was a W7, what does that mean, you say? I have really dark skin! The texture of liquid foundation - Line Defiance Makeup was super soft. Even the powder - the Mineral Powder Foundation was nice and smooth, not cakey at all! The best part was that they both had an SPF of 15, perfect for protection from those harmful UV rays.

After the foundation, we played with some contouring products - the bronzing powder from the befoRE Sun line and the mattifying powder from the FC5+ line. I really liked these as they do a very good job highlight your cheekbones and define the jaw lines, but at the same time, not something I would use every day. With that in mind, and the fact that I have bronzer at home, I passed on these two products.

Next up, the Audrey Eye tutorial! Using liquid liner (which I usually hate), we lined our upper eyelids, add the eye shadow accordingly, and voila, beautiful eyes (with mascara, of course, what are eyes without beautiful lashes?)! What I was most impressed with was the Virtual Illusion Liquid Eyeliner and the Dual Volume Mascara. The liquid liner was smooth and easy to apply and the dual volume mascara really highlighted my lashes. For someone who has not learnt the art of fake lashes, these are very beneficial in accenting the eyes and pumping up your lash volume (hence why I bought them both!). C bought the Lash Enhancer which enhances lash length through application twice a day at the root of your lashes (which I also wanted, but having already spent too much money, had to forgo).

The Audrey Tutorial

The application... ... the result

The best deal, of the night, however, was the brush set. At $48, it was a steal! We used the brushes for our makeup application, and they were incredibly soft. They have synthetic hairs, which means they will be easier to take care of and won't fray. If I didn't already own a few brush sets already, I would have gotten one! (I know I said I don't use much makeup, but it doesn't mean I don't like to buy it!)

At the party as well, was Emily's friend, Opttie, a licensed aesthetician. She was giving out manicures for free.

My friend S got hers done in a pretty pearly (me!) pink colour, while I got mine done in a sparkly black (the SO doesn't like it much, but I love it!). This being my very first time to get a manicure, Opttie really made me feel comfortable! And just look at those gorgeous nails!

I am really glad I caved in and gave this party a chance! While I was apprehensive at first, I did end up having a fabulous time! Thanks again, ladies, for a wonderful Girls Night In!

Have you been pampered lately?
(If you ever want to book a party with Emily, email her @ emilyhtyu@gmail.com - yes, that was my plug for my friend!)

Love always,

Oh, you pretty lanterns, you!

2010-02-04T16:17:00.000-08:00

[ 2010.02.04 ]

I had a dinner date last night with my friend M who is on Summer holidays from her schooling in Australia (yeah, I wish I went to school there too). Dinner plans were made for 8:00pm. I get off work at 5:30pm. Which means that I had a total of 2.5 hours to kill!

Knowing me, what else would I do but wander around the city?

I've long wanted to snap a few pictures of the LunarFest 2010 lanterns downtown, but have yet to have time to travel that-a-way. So I made a special (okay, not that special, seeing as I would have gotten off at the same stop for dinner anyways) trip to Granville Street to check out these "lantern trees" I've been hearing so much about.

As I was ascending the elevators at Vancouver City Centre, I hear music coming above. What do you know? A band was playing!

I stood around for a bit, trying to figure out where to start. I guess taking a picture of someone else taking a picture of LunarFest was as good a place to start as any!

There were a lot of people hanging out and taking shots of the lanterns, so I decided to only take shots there were semi-interesting (to me, at least). So forgive me if I don't have a very comprehensive list of the lanterns (and also for the picture quality, because as mentioned before, I don't own a SLR). For some reason, my hands were real shaky last night, so I hope the pictures turned out alright. Although, I do hope I can provide you with a varied perspective of these lanterns. Let's let the pictures do the talking, shall we?

I thought this couple was so cute (they were standing around for a long time, too bad I couldn't get a picture of them smooching!)...

Oh yeah, and there were these giant cut outs of people doing sports. I guess it's to showcase the sports in the Winter Olympics (happening in our neck of the woods, only 8 days away!!!!!)...

After the not-so-eventful photowalk of LunarFest (which really didn't consist of that much walking since it was only one block long), I decided to wander towards the direction of dinner (we went to Toratatsu on Denman, so I had a way to walk!). I saw a courtyard beside the Shangri-La and found another enchanted forest, who knew there were so many in Vancouver?

And a tree on an island on top of a building? Way too cool!

I decided not to chronicle my dinner this time around, I was too starved and waaaaay too tired from all this adventuring!

Have you checked out LunarFest yet?
(It's running til February 28 if you are looking for something to do!)

Love always,

Oh, you darling mommy, you!

2010-01-28T12:41:00.000-08:00

[2010.01.28]

So, this last Sunday was my dear mommy's birthday. And let me tell you, it was nothing short of spectacular!

This year, I decided to forgo getting presents that she won't enjoy, or going to a restaurant with overpriced food. Instead, the Significant Other (hereafter referred to as the "SO") and I planned an extensive Greek dinner for her. When I say extensive, I really do mean extensive, as in everything you would get in a Greek restaurant extensive.

Although it was really hard work, I really didn't mind, because my mommy is most deserving of this amazing feast. In my eyes (and honestly, aren't all mothers spectacular in their children's eyes?), my mother is the most incredible person alive. With a stature of 5 foot even, she is the toughest yet softest person I have yet to meet. She started her life abandoned by her own mother, living day by day with her sick grandmother, barely scraping by. As a child, she's had to beg to make ends meet. There were no playgrounds by where she lived, only a cemetery for her and others in these unfortunate circumstances to play hide-and-seek in. Not that she really had time to do that anyways, she was busy taking care of her grandmother and doing chores. Living in the slums of Hong Kong, she had to begin working at the age of ten after her grandmother suffered from a stroke. Going to school was a norm for others but a luxury for her. While other children whined and moaned about their heavy load of homework, she was wishing she could do hers instead of painstakingly putting plastic flowers together in order to reach another deadline at the factory. No, my mother might not have had the toughest life in Hong Kong (in fact, most people from Hong Kong during that era had to live through similar scenarios), but she does have the most incredible strength I've ever seen. She endured this time of hardship all on her own (I think part of it can be attributed to the discovery of God in her life) and still maintained a positive attitude. She never holds a grudge, laughs through negativity, and has all the love in the world to give. Sure, we have arguments once in a while and we might not always get along, but I love her, with all my heart, and there's no other person in the world that could replace her.

But I digress, let's place our focus back on the food, shall we? This meal consisted of Greek salad, hummus, tzatziki, pita bread, rice pilaf, roasted potatoes, and souvlaki (yeah, EVERYTHING!). Of course, I can't take all the credit for it, the SO did do a fair share (especially barbecuing!).

There was so much food (I think I over-estimated!) that we had enough for all our lunches the next day! After dinner, we got together for everyone's favourite - present opening time! My dad got her a digital camera/mp3 player (yeah, don't ask me how it works), my brother got her a book - "The Juicing Bible" (mommy's really into healthy living), and our cousin got her the hand and nail cream from The Body Shop.

Although, my brother's girlfriend's present was the best - a tiramisu cake! Delicious!

While this birthday dinner was not a fancy schmancy fete in a sophisticated restaurant, I think my mommy enjoyed it a lot more than when we did the whole over-the-top deal. She didn't want a expensive dinner or a name brand purse; all she wanted was us, her family.

Have you celebrated a loved one's birthday recently?

Love always,

Oh, you deliciousness, you!

2010-01-25T11:10:00.000-08:00

[2010.01.25]

In light of "The Main Event - East Meets West", two of my girlfriends (C and J) and I decided to indulge in a little bit of fine dining (at discounted prices, of course!). We chose The Chaise Lounge as our destination and went on our little food adventure.

As is the trend with most Vancouver restaurants, The Chaise Lounge has a simple and modern facade.

The interior is warm and whimsical, though I can't say it's very different from most decors I have encountered. Nonetheless, it's quaint and cute and just what we three girls needed.

C and I had a cocktail each to start, she had the "Gotta Try Mai Tai" (which, admittedly, you gotta try!) and I had the Gorgeouisie (which I couldn't pronounce, and still can't). Pretty, girly drinks for a pretty, girly date!

While C and I opted for the whole nine yards and to satisfy our carnivorous tendencies, J was much more lady-like and decided upon the mac-and-cheese (a vegetarian dish, no less!). Much catching up and silly blunders followed, though I would never divulge such intimate conversations!

At long last, the food has arrived. We began with the generous portion of short ribs (which I hungrily dug into prior to realizing that I should take a photo of it). The meat was soft and flavourful, with the roast garlic and celery root puree complimenting it perfectly. Needless to say, our plates were sparkling clean within minutes!

Next was the main event (haha, see what I did there?). For some strange reason, C and I decided to order the same thing on "The Main Event" menu - the Lamb Shank. The meat was perfectly cooked, falling off the bones (though I barely tasted the cinnamon, it was still quite delicious). We were most impressed by the honey glazed carrots, sweet and melt-in-your-mouth texture, I almost thought they screwed up and gave us yams! This dish was also accompanied by the roast garlic and celery root puree (which, I am starting to realize, goes VERY well with red meat).

J's mac-and-cheese was good (notice I said good, but not great). While it was delicious in its own right, it was lacking the truffle oil taste J's been craving. So while C and I polished off our plates, J only finished about one thirds of hers. Although, in its defence, the mac-and-cheese came in a very generous portion and was quite heavy (as most mac-and-cheese are).

After some more catching up and reminiscing (all three of us went to high school together), it was the moment we've all been waiting for (especially C, as she's the chocoholic of the bunch) - dessert! The dessert for the prix fixe menu was the Chaise Chocolate Taster. Without much of a description, we were very anxious to see what this surprise dessert would be.

After careful deliberation, we derived it to be a white and milk chocolate mousse with whip cream, garnished with strawberries. While not incredibly creative, it was good. Although none of us cared too much for the white chocolate (it was too sweet!), we unanimously agreed that the milk chocolate was delectable!

The service was beyond expectations, and our waiter was so cute and adorable (in a toddler kinda way, not so much a crush kinda way). Oh, and did I mention part of the proceeds from our meal went to The Greater Vancouver Food Bank? For thirty-five dollars, what more could I ask for? Good friends, good food, and all for a good cause! I will definitely be doing this again next year!

Have you had any fine dining experiences lately?

Love always,

Oh, you beautiful city, you!

2010-01-20T10:00:00.000-08:00

[ 2010.01.20]

Ahhhh, Vancouver, one of the most livable cities on Earth. If there's one thing I love to do more than anything, it is to adventure in this beautiful city of mine (yes, that's right, I said mine. MINE ALL MINE!) Despite its misgivings, you know, the rain and the gun fights and what not (no biggies right?), Vancouver is one of the most diverse cities in the world, and there's always something new to be found.

This last weekend, the sun graced us with a rare appearance. Seizing the opportunity, I went on one of said adventure with my friend Dave. With cameras in hand (him with his beautiful Nikon SLR and me with my dingy Fuji digital camera), we went on our photowalk. While I often wander the streets of Vancouver in search of hidden gems in the city, it has not occurred to me that other Vancouverites might not venture into the "armpits" of Vancouver so to say. Going beyond Cambie Street on Hastings Street is almost taboo, and anywhere further than that into the Downtown East Side is bound to be filled with homelessness, drug dealers, and all sorts of dangerous scenario. Such was the case with my friend Dave. Apparently he has never travelled further than Gastown, believing the area to be bland and filled with criminal activities. I, of course, set out to change his beliefs!

We started out in the comfort zone: Granville Street, and found a very talented marching band performing and raising funds.

Further down Granville, we decided to pause and take a picture of the re-erected Birks Clock. Do you notice the difference in time?

I enticed Dave into Gastown by suggesting that we go check out the re-erected "W" at the Woodwards, but not before we stop by The Cambie and take a photo of the interesting artwork beside it.

Finally, the long anticipated "W"! You can't quite see it, but the lights are shimmering on the "W"! I love iconic structures!

We decided to check out the building itself and I chanced upon this picture within a picture (I've included a photo of the normal glass art for comparison sake).

And even though this spiral staircase leads nowhere, I absolutely adore the images it creates (can you tell which way is up or down?).

Along the way, we discussed street art and character buildings. While walking by Victory Square, we saw a Lebanese restaurant, spawning a conversation about Lebanese cuisine and mediterranean food. And by chance, we found a quaint little record shop.

I just could not resist this shot (I'm a sucker for silhouettes!).

Afterwards, we began travelling back to the comfort zone, leading us to library square. The sun has began to set, and I caught the sun peaking through the buildings, and framing this man.

We attempted to get to the top of the Library Square and into the courtyard; unfortunately, we got lost. But we did find the "Special Collection" area of the Library and saw some pretty amazing pictures from Vancouver's past. At this point, we were in dire need of coffee and some rest. We decided to head to Cafe Artigiano to get a coffee, and headed back to Robson Square to check out the rink. On the way, we found an enchanted forest, and a beautiful view of the cityscape.

Arriving at the rink, we found a skater practicing her flying techniques, too bad the picture turned out blurry.

Along the stairs, they were laying down some pretty cool art appliques.

We walked over to the stage and found a band playing jazz music.

We were even treated to an impromptu dance performance!

All in all, a wonderful adventure filled with discovery of new things that we haven't seen before.

Vancouver's Downtown area has often been labelled as a "glassy" and "cold". I believe I have at least successfully convinced one person that if you know where to look, and are not afraid of testing your limits, you will be able to discover the Vancouver that is full of character, culture, and diversity.

Have you ventured outside of your comfort zone lately?

*Oh yeah, if you want to check out some better quality photos shot on the same adventure, feel free to wander over to my friend Dave's flickr page. I'll even throw in a picture of him as a bonus!

Love always,

For the Love of Haiti...*

2010-01-14T09:51:00.000-08:00

[ 2010.01.14 ]

As we all know, the situation in Haiti right now is absolutely devastating. If you haven't had a chance to donate towards this cause and are not sure where to go, there is an amazing website called Partners in Health (http://www.pih.org/inforesources/news/Haiti_Earthquake.html) with updated news about the conditions in the area and ways in which you can help.

Here's a short passage from the website:

"Currently, our greatest need is financial support. Haiti is facing a crisis worse than it has seen in years, and it is a country that has faced years of crisis, both natural disaster and otherwise. The country is in need of millions of dollars right now to meet the needs of the communities hardest hit by the earthquake. Our facilities are strategically placed just two hours outside of Port-au-Prince and will inevitably absorb the flow of patients out of the city. In addition, we need cash on-hand to quickly procure emergency medical supplies, basic living necessities, as well as transportation and logistics support for the tens of thousands of people that will be seeking care at mobile field hospitals in the capital city. Any and all support that will help us respond to the immediate needs and continue our mission of strengthening the public health system in Haiti is greatly appreciated. Help us stand up for Haiti now.

 If you are not in a position to make a financial contribution, you can help us raise awareness of the earthquake tragedy. Please alert your friends to the situation and direct them to this webpage for updates and ways to help."

Let's do our part and spread the love!

* I really have nothing witty to say, and was only hoping that my limited number of readers will contribute to this great cause to help those in need. If you are hesitant, remember the people from all around the world that are in Haiti that were affected, including and not limited to - Canadians, Chinese, Americans, Brazilians, etc.

Other charities recommended by The Vancouver Sun includes:

A coalition of CARE, Oxfam and Save the Children (www.thehumanitariancoalition.ca) 1.800.464.9154
Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (www.devp.org) 1.888.664.3387
Medicins Sans Frontiers/Doctors Without Borders (www.msf.ca) 1.800.982.7903
Mennonite Central Committee (www.mcc.org) 604.850.6639 / 1.888.622.6337
Red Cross (www.redcross.ca/helpnow) 1.800.464.9154

Have YOU donated yet?

Love always,