Wanna arm wrestle?

Swim

2011-02-16T17:26:00.001-08:00

Best Card Ever

2010-10-27T21:02:00.000-07:00

We received this wonderful hand illustrated thank you card from our uber talented neighbor Rachel. See if you can decipher the gift we gave her.

3rd Anniversary Dinner @ Hatfield's

2010-10-05T23:43:00.000-07:00

B and I quietly celebrated our 3rd anniversary at Hatfield's. Although the new location is situated only half a block from two of our favorites (Mozza & California Chicken Cafe), we've never eaten there. Everything was delicious and the service was excellent. The "Croque Madame” especially stood out and consisted of yellowtail sashimi, prosciutto, sunny side up quail egg, and grilled brioche. I'm hoping they will have a special pre-fixe for New Year's Eve.

5 Seconds to Eternity

2010-10-01T06:12:00.000-07:00

Everyday I make the commute from LA to Cerritos. Some days I exit the freeway still driving like a maniac and probably tailgating my friend's parents down Carmenita. Rush hour is pretty much nonexistent on the surface streets but there are enough cars to provide a peek into suburban life. The license plate frame for one particular blue Dodge truck proclaimed the driver as the "Mayor of Truckville". Next to it was a white mini van with amber tinted windows. In the back sat two young boys, their silhouettes played like funny shadow puppets. Both boys held a small tennis racket. As we waited at the Taco Bell intersection, one boy began bouncing the racket on his head. The other boy subsequently followed. After about 5 seconds (probably an eternity in children time) they started hitting each other's big round heads. Another 5 seconds passed and they began to push one another's face against the racket net and I think laughing or perhaps grimacing. The light turned green and the mini van lurched forward. Reset. Like shaking the Etch-a-Sketch.

La Poissonnerie

2010-09-02T23:40:00.000-07:00

I never got around to posting any picture from our belated honeymoon last year. Here is a picture of La Poissonnerie with all its seafood goodness.

Beyond Beauty, Paris

2010-08-19T00:56:00.000-07:00

This September will be my first time attending Beyond Beauty - a trade show for the beauty industry. It'll be nearly a year since our last trip to Paris and we are fortunate enough to be returning so soon. We'll be renting a little apartment in Le Marais this time. The pictures online seem nice and and more affordable than a fancy hotel. Besides, I can't imagine eating out for an entire week or going without my own coffee every morning.

Not Your Career Minded

2010-08-19T00:07:00.000-07:00

I've always been fascinated by how many of Bill's friends came to be so happy in their careers. These individuals are good at what they do, respected by their peers, and, on most days, love their work. For a while, I had mistakenly believed that it was dumb luck or simply because they were older and had time to figure everything out.

Turning 30 this year hasn't really made me feel any different except that the creeping sense of urgency to accomplish something, anything amazing... is now my daily torment. I was reading recently about how it's important to listen to your gut, to believe in yourself, and to surround yourself with people who will support and propel you forward. This all sounds like elementary bullsh*t but more and more I've been thinking that we've played it wrong. (I say we because I know I'm not the only one that feels this way.)

I imagine young Bill and his friends running blindly forward... at times stumbling, broke, and drunk but almost always doing what they liked and what was fun. On the other hand, it seems like it's been the opposite for me. I chose a career and am working towards loving it. I'm appreciative of all the opportunities my family business has provided for me, but I want to fall in love with work. I think that's the best way to give back to the company.

Finals Game 1

2010-06-09T14:30:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture B snapped at the Lakers-Celtics finals game 1.

the Sea

2010-04-13T00:19:00.001-07:00

Bill surprised me with tickets to Corinne Bailey Rae's kickoff concert to her North American tour. It was a benefit concert for KCRW held at Vibiana, a former cathedral near Downtown LA. CBR and her band were amazing live! Her sophomore album, the Sea, is on heavy rotation and it gets better and better each time I listen to it. Here we are in the front row! Now I owe Bill 2 great concerts....

Guangzhou/Taipei

2010-03-22T22:51:00.000-07:00

This is going to be a running summary. We can now fly directly from Taipei to China. This change is relatively new and cuts our travel time in half. Unfortunately, dad and I both missed our first flight ever. We rebooked on China Southern. It smells like feet on the CS planes. Not recommended. Got seated next to a young man who cried because he left his girlfriend in Taipei and missed her already. Dad called him a baby.

Guangzhou seemed a little safer this time around. The streets near a cluster of our facilities have been paved and electricity is now available during the day, everyday. Our driver didn't carry a machete, although I'm sure if there had been a collision, punches would have been thrown. Minimum education requirements had been bumped up to middle school for many regions but it's still very common to see kids working throughout the city. Very sad. The income disparity is still quite large. The average wage of unskilled labor is approximately US$200 a month.

We stayed in walking distance to Beijing Lu. Despite the median wage rate, everyone shops all the time. We walked into a Chinese fast food chain called Kung Fu. It was yuck. They serve the type nutritious stews that my mom would make if we were sick or had menstrual cramps. Here we are walking around on a Tuesday night. I couldn't help wondering if all these people had to work the next day.

We spent the 24hrs in Taipei mostly with family. My cousins took me to the Shilin Night Market. I ate a bunch of stuff. I'm not sure what most of it was but it was good. We live next to the BEST salty soy milk and "yu tiao" breakfast joint. They also make dumplings, baos, and rice bombs throughout the day. There's still a flourishing gyaru trend transplanted from non other than Japan. In general the girls look cute. The only problem is that they all look the SAME. Flamboyant blond hair with bangs and makeup with falsies and extra wide enlarging contacts that blow out the iris area to cartoon proportions.There's also some phenomenal vegetarian food. If you're into it, Evergreen Vegetarian Restuarant is excellent. All the monks eat there. It's not s tourist spot but it's nice. My favorite places to eat, however, is in the basement level of department stores and at the main train station. Good and cheap! I heart Taiwan!

For Your Consideration: March 2010

2010-03-19T00:24:00.000-07:00

What I'm into right now. Clockwise from the top left. BookBook hardback cover for the MacBook. Bill (always...duh)! Trays by iBride. Chanel daily UV care. Learning Chinese. Dual tip browpencil by B&C Laboratories. Ballet shoes with NikeAir technology.

Too Much of a Goose Thing...

2010-03-17T01:38:00.000-07:00

... can be bad. This is a restaurant bathroom in downtown Guangzhou. Upon finishing our meal at the restaurant, a nice young lady came over and placed a lovely floral centerpiece on our table. I was told later that the floral centerpiece was used most commonly as a code that payment for the meal had been completed. This was an elegant and subtle way for the staff to quickly identify dine-and-dashers.

Canadian Cousin's Olympic Apology

2010-03-05T00:54:00.000-08:00

Canadian Cousin: Did you guys watch any winter olympics? It was a huge party up here for the past two weeks. Tons of canadian pride which was super unusual but really fun.
B: We did watch some Olympics, it was pretty cool. Although the closing part with a bunch of people jumping around with snowboards looked like a mess. How’s the fam??
Canadian Cousin: Glad work is going well...regarding the closing cerimonies, I appologize on behalf of Canada for that embarassment. I was in disbelief of that production entirely... Especially the giant Mounties and the nickle back performance.

Happy Birthday Oto!

2010-02-21T10:22:00.000-08:00

Our little pup turned 1 year old this week. We celebrated with lengthly visits to the dog park and a new tunnel toy. Oto! also got some special pupcakes. The first one was plain and the second one was served with peanut butter frozen paws ice cream for dogs and garnished with a sprig of mint and fresh blueberries. Oto was born February 18, 2009 and is a red sesame shiba inu. He was the only boy and has 3 creamy sisters of the same litter. Oto! has an exclaimation mark in his official name and looks just like his dad Acheles while his sisters look like their mom Briseis.

Rachel & Mike

2010-02-10T21:57:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture of our wonderfully awesome neighbors Rachel and Mike. Rachel is an artist, chef, and chocolate connoisseur. Mike is a basketball coach and is the nicest guy.

Flowers for K

2010-01-26T00:05:00.000-08:00

Time to get the creative juices flowing. I woke up on Saturday and decided to take a trip to the L.A. flower mart. I haven't been for years and forgot how much fun it is. Regular market hours start at 6am for the general public and admission is $1-$2. Here's a picture of the small centerpiece I made for K's 30th birthday dinner.

Breathe and Count to 2010

2010-01-19T23:37:00.000-08:00

Since the crash, I've been worried about work and am glad that 2009 is over. Lately, I've been thinking a lot about the future of the company and often worry about what lays ahead. My very wise friend J once said that sometimes the people needed to grow a company aren't always the same people that have been with the company. With much apprehension, I've come to realize that I am the growth inhibitor. I may not be smart or creative enough to maneuver through this phase... and it freaks me out.

Recently a horrible customer yelled, among a flurry of irrational insults, that I would never be my father. What a miserable b*tch. This was not the first time that someone had tried to berate me because of my position as either a woman, an Asian American woman, or simply for being unapologetic.

I'm fully aware that in business, it's about relationships, and sometimes you have to give a little to get a little back. I get it. The same people who try to impress upon me the memories of the "good ol' days" are probably also the same people that would have kicked my dad when he was down or taken advantage of his good nature, underestimating his generosity as a weakness. So, I say no. Not no thank you - just NO.

It's true, I will never be my dad, but it's time for me to step out and define my time with the company. At this point, It's hard to have confidence in my decisions. I leave work everyday disappointed in myself and drive away from the office with a lead foot, feeling as if I'm fleeing. I'm not certain what is next but know that I can't do it alone.

I'll feel better in the morning.

Cooking w/ Amanda

2009-12-17T17:19:00.000-08:00

Bill's dad and step-mom Kathy gifted me a cooking lesson last Christmas and I finally used it this past weekend. Despite the rain, Chef Amanda showed up at our house at 12pm and we cooked until 4pm. Chef Amanda started her cooking career in Manhattan and also is an expert in vegetarian and macrobiotic menus. Read more about Chef Amanda here.

Each private lesson includes 4-5 dishes and I chose all entrees. Since I didn't grow up eating a lot of meat, I also lack any real knowledge of prepping or cooking it. Here's what I learned to cook:

Saffron Mussel and Lobster Chowder
Pork Tenderloin with Cognac-Mustard Sauce
Striped Bass or Snapper en Papillote with Fennel and Shallots
Beef Medallions with Caramelized Onions

The pork tenderloin turned out the best and the chowder was a close second... although I picked it thinking it was lobster bisque. I also learned to cook a live lobster and flambé with cognac. I'm happy to report that I still have my eyebrows! It was a great experience and I'm definitely thinking about taking some of her other group cooking classes.

Fall Obsessions

2009-11-08T22:29:00.000-08:00

At my neighbor's house last week she offered me a taste of a sizzling chocolate bar and I nearly ate the whole thing when she left it on the table. It's chocolate with bacon and pop rocks that simulates the crackling and sizzling of bacon cooked on a hot stove. The texture is fun and lovely!

Speaking of fun and lovely, I had a great time tonight with my UCLA roomies. It was an early Thanksgiving potluck and S brought this game called Sequence. It's so addictive (and so simple)!! I can't stop thinking about buying and playing it.

I need this: Momofuku Cookbook

2009-11-06T16:43:00.000-08:00

There is a free recipe on the Amazon preview!

Cheap Thrills

2009-10-24T01:46:00.000-07:00

Here is Oto! playing with a rubber band that once embellished a box of chocolates from Jean-Paul Hévin, Paris. Watch how he flicks it and then looks confused.

I need this: QB's Treats

2009-08-23T23:15:00.000-07:00

Rice crispy treats filled with ice cream!

Surf & Sand

2009-08-17T23:22:00.001-07:00

Here are some pics from July's mini vacation at the Surf & Sand. I love how different cities have different colored sunsets. In Laguna, there's always this beautiful amber glow.

Bathroom Inspiration 2

2009-08-14T13:28:00.000-07:00

This is almost the same size AND layout as current bathroom! I'm gonna try to work in some pretty wallpaper like this.

a Jag for Dad

2009-08-13T13:20:00.000-07:00

Like many people in their generation, my parents have been green since.... well since forever. Everything was/is reused and recycled. Everything was/is salvageable. A pair of supermarket flip flops could last, give or take, 5+ years. My dad, in particular, is a modest spender. He's frugal with his personal expenses but always generous with us.

With Simon's return home, my dad finally sold the ol' Mercedes whale on Craigslist. This was the perfect time to do a little car shopping. With the much appreciatted assistance of friend extraordinaire Joel, we surprised my dad with a beautiful Jaguar XF in vapour grey.

He was definitely shocked and funnily a little mad that we spent the money on him. After the initial shock passed, he got really into it and is now loving his new ride. This was one the funnest experiences!

The Next Bath Thing

2009-08-07T12:25:00.000-07:00

Minus the peacock, this is what I would like to do to our Southwestern style bathroom. We probably have to tone down the modernity a little... but I'm loving the dual showers! Hopefully it won't take long to save up for this project.

College Bill

2009-07-22T15:00:00.000-07:00

Here are 2 pictures of Bill as a freshman in college! In the second photo he actually has grey hair... he pulled a Anderson Cooper but before Anderson Cooper.

Oto looks pretty

2009-07-16T15:00:00.000-07:00

gnarly in this picture. I probably shouldn't post it publicly because people may not want to pet him anymore. Believe it or not, the two of them were actually playing when this picture was taken. The golden retriever pup and our little guy Oto were running and wrestling together at the dog park. Another interesting thing about this picture is that both subjects closest to the camera are blurry but there is a dog in the distance in between the two dogs. It looks like Oto is eating a little tiny black dog!

Here Comes the Sun

2009-07-14T23:33:00.000-07:00

Trouble Makers

2009-07-02T15:36:00.000-07:00

This is both hilarious and wrong. Just their faces alone is definitely some kind of contraceptive... Read more about the campaign here.

Oto & Friends

2009-06-25T00:10:00.000-07:00

Oto is socializing a little better now. Here he is at his weekly puppy play group. It was especially funny to see Sunny the friendly white lab take him by the leash!

While You Were Out

2009-05-27T13:22:00.000-07:00

Important phone calls and issues came up and I just wanted you to know.

Message left on my desk by genius child of co-worker.

Desert Wedding

2009-05-19T12:32:00.000-07:00

Our friends Eileen and Mark were happily married this past weekend at the newly renovated Ace Hotel in Palm Springs. It was a very personal, well styled, and fun wedding with surprisingly delicious food. Mark and Eileen are a beautiful couple and you could literally see the love. How lovely!

After the Commute

2009-05-05T00:06:00.001-07:00

Our little garden at dusk.

Sweet Meat

2009-05-04T16:54:00.000-07:00

Simon and Carrie gave us passes to Unique Los Angeles at CalMart this weekend. There were some vendors that we've seen before and many new ones including Sweet Meats. We got the plush hambone for Oto.

Oto!

2009-04-13T14:53:00.000-07:00

Meet our new pup Oto! He's a red sesame color Shiba Inu. Oto was born on February 18th and is now the newest edition to the Hebinski-Yaoser family.

Cow Ring

2009-03-31T07:19:00.000-07:00

These rings and brooches on the Helis Etsy shop are so cool.

Puppy Time!

2009-03-29T23:30:00.000-07:00

Bill and I found a Shiba Inu puppy this weekend! We'll be able to pick him up in about 2 weeks. This will be my first puppy and I am SO EXCITED! Now we have to think of a name. Here's the little guy at 3 weeks.
Here he is at 6 weeks.

But w/ Better Push-Up Bras

2009-03-17T00:28:00.000-07:00

Although I've already seen this movie like 5 times,
I still kinda want to watch this.
Dreamgirls in South Korea.

Breaklight Saving Time

2009-03-09T19:06:00.000-07:00

OMG I love daylight saving time.

My commute home tonight was under 30 min! This is ludacris!

On the freeway at 6:41
Off the freeway at 7:02

Whole Wheat Strangers

2009-03-02T22:13:00.001-08:00

My favorite American supermarket is by far Trader Joe's. I shop there at least once a week and the closest location to me is situated in West Hollywood in a somewhat Russian neighborhood. It's generally crowded and often people are jockeying for aisle space and curiously, for the food as well...although I've never seen an item out of stock. It's a lively crowd and generally people are pretty nice. Often when I go on my own, I meet a new market buddy. Here are my favorites.

A few weeks ago, while contemplating the tomato sauce, I heard someone say, "Why do you walk around like you're scared?" Not realizing the man was speaking to me, I ignored the question but then felt a tap on my shoulder. It was one half of what turned out to be a very nice gay couple. The man continued, "Why do you slouch like that? It looks ugly." We exchanged a couple of sentences and then they proceeded to help me pick out their favorite tomato sauce and other grocery items.

Yesterday, while standing in the check-out line, the very good looking boy/man in front of me turned around and let me know that he went to Berkeley. I was confused and looked down to see if I was possibly wearing some UCLA gear that might have prompted the man to volunteer that information. Politely I replied with my collegiate credentials and then he proceeded to tell me that he was on the college golf team.
Me: Oh, OK. You look like an athlete
Him: Yeah, I was the fullback.
Me: In golf?
Him: Well... yeah... or in the other sport.

Better Than Your Car Alarm

2009-01-31T01:30:00.001-08:00

I saw these on Design Sponge this week and was impressed with the simple genius of these anti-theft lunch bag.

The last 90 days

2009-01-19T23:28:00.000-08:00

Some things I've learned in the last 90 days.

Roscoes IS pretty good.
It's great to have my brother and sisters back.
Shelling a live carb is pretty gross.
Chronic clubbing couples are doomed.
Being courteous to Neenah was better than socking her in the face.
I don't know what people mean when they refer to first, second, or third base, but I pretend that I do.
Sometimes things that seem urgent aren't really. Relax and get some perspective.
Radio killed radio. I'm really sad that Indie 103.1 is no longer on the air.
Clocky is a terror.
Sonicare is crazy awesome.
Barack Obama!!
That Green Light song by John Legend makes me want to wiggle and boogie.
Shepard Fairey may be the Keith Haring of our generation.

Sunny Day

2009-01-19T22:52:00.001-08:00

On what was possibly our last day with Sunny, we decided to treat him with a day at the Leo Carillo dog beach. On the way to the beach he thoroughly enjoyed sticking his head out of the window and seemed most comfortable at 75mph. We had a great time and it was fun to watch Sunny explore and react to his new adventure. He didn't take to the water immediately, and even tried to hold on to Bill like a kid, but eventually started surfing the waves. He slept in the back seat the whole way home.

Andrew (Always) on Duty

2008-10-14T23:50:00.000-07:00

My friend Andrew is probably one of the funniest guys, but who knew he was this artistic? Here is a custom made postcard from A+A. It shows their pillow cases indicating if they will be on/off baby duty. Despite all his man talk, I have feeling he will be putty, especially if the baby is as pretty as her super model mom Amy. Congratulations Andrew, you are now officially (always) on-duty. Now flip that pillow case over!

Mass Market Murakami

2008-10-01T22:41:00.000-07:00

I heard this a while ago and was recently thinking about Edward Goldman's brief review of Takashi Murakami's most recent exhibit at the LA MOCA earlier this year. Click here to listen.

Driving Miss Carrie

2008-09-30T23:41:00.000-07:00

Simon and Carrie are on their way back from Philly! Their 10-day drive includes several stops at some classic American landmarks. If you haven't checked out their blog recently, you can see pictures from their cross country adventure. They also have this satellite tracking device that allows you to see the path they took.

Photographing Phood

2008-09-30T23:10:00.000-07:00

Vegan Yum Yum has an nice entry about photographing food. I've always wondered how she cooks and takes pictures at the same time. Like when you have your hands in the puff pastry, who's taking the pic? Lolo makes veggies look good and muy delicioso.

On Affordance

2008-09-29T23:50:00.000-07:00

Bill ordered Kenya Hara's new book, Designing Design for me. I read a few pages each night and found these few sentences interesting.

"...we shall realize that we sit right in the center of the future, as it reveals itself to us little by little, from within every aperture of our ordinary life. The idea that new things will come crashing upon us from afar, as waves begin in the distant sea, is an image that belongs to the past.

At the same time, the idea that technological innovations sweeps over the entire planet and shapes our daily lives is also an illusion. Technology will bring forth new possibilities, but it is still only an environment, not creativity itself. The question is how to use human wisdom in the new environment afforded by technology."

Junior Bill

2008-09-18T22:39:00.000-07:00

You Know You Want One

2008-09-17T23:29:00.002-07:00

It's a Slanket - a blanket with sleeves! Because you may want to play with your toy top or eat gum balls whilst keeping warm with your comfy fleece blanket.

A Full Moon Over Yogurtland

2008-09-17T23:29:00.001-07:00

Bill and I went to try out the new Yogurtland near our home. Right as we sat down outside to enjoy our bucket-o-yogurt we saw a young man jump out of his car and walk towards the driver's side of a black baby Bentley which had stopped half in the right turn lane and half in the parking lot of the Yogurtland plaza. Apparently the Bentley was blocking both the right turn lane and the only entrance/exit to the plaza. Several cars started honking and more people get out of their car. It's pretty common to have road rage in LA but I've rarely seen people exit their vehicles. After a few minutes, with much maneuvering, the cars move around awkwardly clearing both the right turn lane and the plaza driveway.

Half-way through, we heard a screech and a loud TH-THUMP. It sounded like one car had rear ended the car in front of it. Everyone turned towards the sound only to see a man amidst the line of cars. I hear myself say "Oh my god!" A car had hit a man running across the street. Cars in both directions stop as another customer runs into the street to stop traffic to help the man onto the sidewalk. He seemed dazed and kept asking about his keys, which had flown out of his hands.

I think the guy was running to Yogurtland. The weird part was, Yogurtland is located on a corner with a streetlight where you can cross safely. He was maybe 20 ft from the pedestrian crossing. For some reason he decided to play it like Frogger. What's the big rush? It's Yogurtland. I'm sure they're not running out of fro-yo any time soon. The man seemed OK, but everyone watching had a heart attack. That man is very lucky.

Wow-zza

2008-09-09T12:32:00.000-07:00

Joel, Bill, and I had a decadent dinner at Mozza Osteria last night. It was the most unique Italian fare that I've ever had. Each dish was very distinct with a well balanced mix of traditional flavors in simple but new combinations. Here is a run down of our meal.

Antipasti
Grilled Figs wrapped in pancetta with dandelion greens
Burricotti with radicchio, spiced walnuts, honey & fried rosemary
Burrata with bacon, marinated escarole & caramelized shallots

Primi
Fresh Ricotta & Egg Raviolo with browned butter
Maccheroni alla Chitarra with guanciale, early girl tomatos & spicy pickled peppers

Secondi
Grilled Beef Tagliata, rucola and Parmigiano with aceto balsamico
Crisp Duck al Mattone with pear mostarda & Brussels sprouts

Dolci
Panna Cotta di Vaniglia

Exit Strategy

2008-09-08T16:56:00.000-07:00

I bought my freedom this weekend.

Better Luck Next Time

2008-09-03T17:02:00.000-07:00

Planning for our high school reunion has been pretty fun because I get to work with Doris. For the most part, the planning process has been relatively pain free. Doris has been the force behind contacting people and increasing attendance. She volunteers diligently and is awesome.

I'm feeling a lot discouraged right now because of some complaints from people. I'm not sure why people who don't care enough to help out, care enough to make it point to make you feel bad. It's disheartening.

I tried my best to coordinate something nice, but if the bar at Cerritos Lane was sufficient, why didn't anyone speak up in the beginning? ~~It's sucks prepping for the event now.~~

Doppelgangers

2008-08-27T17:44:00.000-07:00

Doris and her friends keep laughing at me. It makes me cry at night.
Sculptures by Yue Min Jun, SF MOMA

Thinking of You

2008-08-15T17:47:00.000-07:00

Bill is in Sweden right now for work. Since I can't go with him on most of his trips, I've asked him to take more photos to share with me. This one came today.

Start Posen

2008-08-01T12:34:00.000-07:00

As of today I've retired my yellow Marc Jacobs bag and replaced it with this lovely Zac Posen Daisy handbag in turquoise. The Marc Jacobs bag will be going into rehab and repurposed at a later date. Now I have to be really good and not ruin my new bag. Note to self, grilled corn should not be carried in one's purse.

Hebner Brigade

2008-07-28T17:04:00.000-07:00

If you know Bill, you know he loves to be in the water. Here he is ripping it up, as portrayed on this t-shirt, a cool little tribute to his bodyboarding days.

What the Nagi Noda

2008-07-25T14:58:00.000-07:00

I usually enjoy meeting new people. It's fun to meet friends of friends or just anyone really. Generally people are pretty fascinating but man, I wish I could climb into the head of art director Nagi Noda. She's responsible for that poodle fitness video you couldn't stop watching but besides that little gem, has a very interesting collection of work you can view on her website.

Cafe Gratitude

2008-07-18T09:03:00.000-07:00

My friend Mark took me to a great raw restaurant in SF and I haven't had a chance to ask him for the name until recently. Cafe Gratitude has several locations. Mark and I ate at the one in the mission district on Harrison street. I can't remember exactly what we ate but was pleasantly surprised that the food was tasty and filling.

Oh Crap

2008-07-16T22:39:00.000-07:00

For this year's Cosmoprof trade show, our company stayed at casino New York, New York. It was nice upgrade from the Excalibur. After taking a nice shower the last night before leaving, I reached for my pajamas that were resting on the speckled granite sink counter-top. Instead of grabbing the pajama shirt resting at the top of the pile, I pulled on the pajama bottom and watched as the pajama top fell into the hotel toilet. I tried to pull out the pajama top but it had already soaked up much of the water in the toilet. Yuck.

Soup-er Shower

2008-07-09T16:22:00.000-07:00

Some of you know of Bill's peculiar showering habit. One day I came home to find a empty can of Campbell's soup sitting on the bath tub rim. Not being able to figure out how the can had come to be perched so precariously next to the shampoo and conditioner, I asked my husband.

Me: How did this get here?
Bill: I was cold
Me: When?
Bill: When I was taking a shower.
Me: Is this a white people thing?

I'm tempted to leave a Molly Coddle Soap in the shower.

Bill is the mac

2008-07-01T20:53:00.000-07:00

I love my husband! I came home last night to a new Mac and found that Bill had already completed the necessary software updates, registration, and thoughtfully loaded the newest version of CS3. I love this ~~computer~~ man.

Plushidermy

2008-06-12T17:14:00.000-07:00

My formerly local craft store & second home, Tall Mouse, is holding their first craft fair - Handmade Brigade!

I'm bumming though because I've haven't been able to make it to any craft fairs this year and am also missing Renegade Craft's first fair in SF because of a trade show. On the bright side, one vendor attending the craft fair in Cerritos is T&A Friendly. Creators of stuft acquaintances - a line of plush taxidermy animals. So cute and morbid!

You! Me! Dancing!

2008-06-10T22:34:00.000-07:00

Tuesday night mini dance party!

Goodnight!

Hello Newman

2008-06-02T22:05:00.000-07:00

About a year after Bill and I started dating, his ex-girlfriend Neenah began seeing a guy named Wil. Neenah and Wil moved into a house two doors down. Tina & Bill. Neenah and Wil. So weird. To make things even more awkward, they bought a blue Land Rover knowing that, at the time, Bill was driving a green Land Rover. I really can't stand this chick. She is my Newman in this unwelcomed Seinfeld parody. I don't understand why she would choose to move so close to us.

It seems like the only time I bump into her is at the end of a run when I'm all sweaty and wearing mismatched running clothes. I'm not sure if I'm suppose to be nice to her but I really don't want to be. Usually I bite my lip and say as little as possible.

After a short run Saturday morning, we literally ran into Neenah & Will (again) on the sidewalk. She asked if we had any left over flea medication. Her husband Wil promptly answered "Probably not honey, Bear's been gone for a while - why would you ask them that?" We said that we would look but probably didn't have anything. Stupid Neenah in her $5 knock-off Dior sunglasses then replied with "You guys use that cheap stuff, that cheapy cheap stuff - oh we don't want that."

Huh, what just happened? God I wish I could think faster. I mean why would you ask someone to give you something and then proceed to call them cheap. The more I think about it the more it pisses me off. That was passive aggressiveness at its best/worst right?

OTB

Threadful

2008-05-30T12:25:00.000-07:00

Here is a great article from Inc. magazine about college dropout entrepreneurs, Jake Nickell (left) and Jeffrey Kalmikoff, the creators of Threadless. If you're wondering exactly how successful they are, the company pulled in $30M last year off of t-shirt sales alone. Jealous much? I know I am.

If you like them now, wait till you see their next step in user innovation consumer websites and products. The two are launching an entire range of products including posters, prints, handbags, wallets, & dinnerware under the brand Naked and Angry.

The Ring Keeper

2008-05-15T23:41:00.001-07:00

I totally forgot to post about this little item I found last weekend. It's a ring holder! Place your rings here before washing the dishes or putting on lotion w/o worrying that you'll forget where you've placed them or that they may slip into the sink drain. Available for $10 at Anthropologie.

Stamp of Approval

2008-05-13T23:51:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid, I used to love collecting stamps. I was a stamp nerd. I didn't really know much about stamps but liked them because they were pretty little pictures. Often the stamp celebrities are unknown to me and sometimes I take the time to learn about the subject but I never really understood how or why a particular individual, duck, plant, or scene was chosen. This summer, the USPS will be debuting a sheet of stamps recognizing Charles+Ray Eames! How cool. I think these will be my favorite stamps besides the two blue birds on a wire and the teddy bear stamps.

KATHLEEN!

2008-05-09T10:22:00.000-07:00

It's always fun to hang out with Kathleen. I love hearing about her different auditions and during our last dinner together, we discussed her appreciation of TV shows like the Apprentice and the Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious. We also talked about commercials and how Bill and I would possibly freak out if we ever saw her in a commercial. I mean, I don't know what we would do with ourselves. It would be so exciting. To prepare for this event, we started looking for her - just in case.

Bill and I became more aware of Asian-American women in commercials on TV. We started by saying "Kathleen could totally do that." Now we just yell "KATHLEEN!" at any sighting of an Asian-American woman in any commercial. This should be a drinking game or something.

You can see Kat performing in Miss Saigon now through May 18th at the Redondo Beach Performing Art Center.

George's Garden - May 2008

2008-05-02T00:25:00.001-07:00

Here are some pictures of my dad's garden. It's been almost 3 years since he started his garden and we have an interesting variety of plants. Clockwise from top left: succulent (aeonium decorum variegata), fig leaf, baby apricots, mystery plant, lemon leaf, mango blossoms.

24-Hour Pot Dealer

2008-04-28T10:38:00.001-07:00

I love the ceramic ware by Jonathan Adler. The store always has interesting pieces and the latest addition to his line is part pimp, part apothecary.

Drive-By Spitting

2008-04-24T10:21:00.000-07:00

I was pulling out of the gas station on Tuesday night when a man spat on my car. I was circling around to get to the exit and waited for the man's car to back out of a parking space in front of the quickie-mart. When his car was fully backed out and because we were traveling in opposite directions, our driver's side windows were next to each other. The man gave me a dirty look and spat on my car. I said "WTF?!" and he said "I hate the French!"

So weird. BTW that man spits like a girl.

Christine & Alex's Maui Wedding

2008-04-13T19:03:00.000-07:00

Here are pictures from our friends Christine and Alex's Maui wedding. We had a great time there and are so happy to have been part of such a beautiful event. Congratulations!

(Sorry I was sick for most of the boat ride to Molokini & Turtle Town... and for barfing on the boat.)

I Don't Cook Anymore

2008-03-28T18:15:00.001-07:00

I just eat this everyday.
A trucking company from work messed up and tried to win back our business with a 6-ft burrito. It's common knowledge that giant burritos foster good business relations and world peace. Everyone enjoyed the over-sized treat. C'mon guys! At least play like your not impressed until they bring out the tub of medium hot salsa!

For Your Consideration: Stockings

2008-03-24T23:42:00.000-07:00

It's not quite cold and it's not quite warm so it hard to decide what kind of socks to wear. Luckily, Hansel from Basel makes this decision easy. These stocking are too cute to pass up. I saw these at Creatures of Comfort but they are also available online at Chocosho.

Almost Famous

2008-03-11T23:16:00.000-07:00

About a month ago Bill and I stumbled across these Swedish made chairs while searching for breakfast early one Saturday morning. I love the curved top rail. The lines are reminiscent of Hans J. Wegner's legendary Wishbone Chair although ours is not quite as elegant. The chairs were in sad condition with layers upon layers of tacky fabric hot glued to the seat and cushion. The next day we visited the fabric district and picked out a nice fabric to recover the chair. At work, I cut and shaped a new cushion for the seat. Because the fabric we chose was so rigid and had no give whatsoever, Abel, our talented upholsterer helped me pull the fabric down tight. Here it is - refurbished with a new cushion and upholstery. It just needs a little bit of oil to shine away the nicks and scratches.

Food for Your Skin

2008-03-11T12:39:00.000-07:00

We all know that a healthy diet equals a healthy body and skin, but it's hard to determine what foods are better for you. Researchers have published a new paper that evaluate the association between nutrient intake and skin aging appearance in over four thousand women (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2007; 86(4):1225-31). Long article short, here are the results:

Higher intake of Vitamin C and linoleic acid is associated with a lower likelihood of a wrinkled appearance, dry skin, and skin atrophy. Higher fat and carbohydrate intake increased the likelihood of a wrinkled appearance and skin atrophy.

You know where to find Vitamin C. Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid and can be found naturally in many vegetable oils. Think salad dressings.

Bacon vs. Tofu

2008-03-10T15:45:00.001-07:00

Here's another one from Accoutrements. Apparently, tofu's alter ego is a French man. Mr. Bacon vs. Monsieur Tofu

Best of Both Worlds

2008-03-10T14:11:00.000-07:00

What the?! Who thought of this? You are a freakin' genius my friend. Sarsaparilla Gummy Mustaches.
This company also makes those elusive bubble gum cigarettes. Awesome.

Portrait

2008-03-03T22:01:00.000-08:00

Thank you Hanie, Patti, Katie, and Baby Lauryn!
Also, Jason, Howard, and Bill for hanging out.

Who's having kids?

2008-02-26T22:40:00.001-08:00

This is what you're going to get from Bill and me.
Zombie Bear w/ removable intestines.

Anatomic

2008-02-25T22:17:00.000-08:00

Handmade in the UK, these accouterments by Paraphernalia are wonderfully strange and creepy.

The Lady Jane

2008-02-23T23:19:00.000-08:00

When Bill's not home I tend to wake up early on Saturdays. There's no one to tell to to go back to sleep and so I don't indulge.

I usually fill the morning with errands and today I had 2 especially nice errands. A birthday present was waiting for me at the post office sent from Bill's dad and step-mom. After I picked up my little box I headed over to Sweet Lady Jane to order a cake for next weekend.

While chatting about the cake selection, Sweet Lady Jane herself came and made some suggestions. Jane invited me to sit and have some coffee with her as she wrote up the order. It was a simple layer of lemon curd to the coconut cake and Lady Jane was very accomodating. It's what makes a Saturday morning so pleasant and a small business so charming.

For Your Consideration

2008-02-21T17:52:00.001-08:00

Favorite snack for the moment is Annie's Homegrown Sour Cream and Onions Chedder Bunnies. They are a California based company who uses organic ingredients - no additives or preservatives.

Bill and I heard about Java Logs a few years ago but just never got around to buying any. Made from used coffee grinds, these logs burn cleaner and the flame is so much nicer too.

Sparkly skimmers from Target's collaboration w/ Converse. Available now for $29.99

President of What?

2008-02-15T12:30:00.000-08:00

Last December, Bill and I traveled to Taiwan with our families for a second reception. Bill's family stayed at the Shangri-La Hotel in Taipei. After running some errands one morning I went to meet Bill and his family back at the hotel. While my dad and I drove our VW Westfalia van towards the hotel, we noticed that there was a squad car on every corner 3 blocks out.

I jump out of the van and go to the lobby to wait for Bill to come back from a quick coffee run. There's a lot of people in the lobby and everyone is waiting. I was pacing back and forth when a man asked me very nicely to sit down. I took a seat near the elevators and surveyed the scene. I realized that each person was standing/ sitting in a very specific way and that everyone had an earpiece. No one moved. I was the only one walking around, eating the candy in the lobby, tapping on the coffee table and etc.

Tina: What's going on?
Agent: We are waiting.
Tina: For what?
Agent: The President
Tina: (Long Pause) The President of what?
Agent: Of Taiwan (Dumbass)

All of a sudden a flurry of black tinted Mercedes arrive at the hotel entrance. Everyone stands up straight and the hotel staff fall into an organized line to greet the President. A car door opens and the President strolls through the front entrance. He bows slightly to the greeters then walks swiftly by, towards the elevators. My hand comes up and starts waving. I think I'm the only one waving... waving and grinning. The President looks at me, nods, then continues to walk into an awaiting elevator. In a matter of seconds the secret service seem to disappear.

Bill, Ryan, and Mr. Hebner push their way through the revolving doors with some fresh coffee in hand. In a loud whisper I say:

Tina: "I just saw the President!"
Bill: "The President of what?"

Cheer Up Charlie

2008-02-13T22:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day!

Here are some delightful desktop wallpapers via Pixelgirl

Patterns

2008-02-11T13:19:00.000-08:00

Get Your Craft On

2008-02-02T12:13:00.000-08:00

Doris, Bill, and I had the best time at Craft last night. Thanks for coming out Doris! We split the meal family style so the three of us got to taste a little bit of everything. We tried to be adventurous and ordered dishes that sounded interesting. Here is what we ordered.

First Courses
Australian Beef Wagyu Carpaccio with Falafel
Quail & Huckleberry
Pork Belly & Madras Curry

Main Courses
Petrale Sole & Pomegranate
New Zealand Blue Bass & Black Trompette Consommé
Australian Wagyu Beef Cheek & Onion Confit

Desserts
Peanut Butter Cup with Peanut Brittle & Caramel Sorbet
Roasted Bosc Pears, Maple & Rosemary
Sampler: Red Apple Sorbet, Almond Teeccino Gelato, Sarsparilla Gelato, & Maple Bacon Ice Cream

The food was fabulous. The pork belly was my favorite appetizer. The meat was slightly crispy with a sweet crackle finish. It reminded us of the pig candy we had at Lou's. We also loved the Maple Bacon Ice Cream. It was vanilla bean ice cream with a swirl of maple syrup and real bacon bits.
Like Gramercy Tavern, the check arrives accompanied with a muffin. It was a carrot cake muffin and it was delicious.

Leave Your Shoes Outside

2008-01-30T23:16:00.000-08:00

Here are some beautiful rugs by Angela Adams. I guess this is what happens when you really love what you do.

Orange

2008-01-28T22:37:00.001-08:00

Catalogue Choice

2008-01-24T13:19:00.001-08:00

Tired of unwanted catalogs arriving in your mailbox? Catalog Choice was featured on NPR last week and is a free service that helps you manage unsolicited paper catalogs.

As Good as They Look

2008-01-23T13:27:00.000-08:00

Bill came back from Barcelona and brought back some nice gifts. Among them were a set of 6 espresso cups and saucers from Vinçon, a tea tray, and some beautiful chocolates from Bellart Chocolatier.

Photomerge - Concrete Pour

2008-01-19T00:46:00.000-08:00

Here is my first attempt in using the photomerge function in photoshop. The perspective is all messed up! hahaha... the workers look stretched and trollish.

LA Face w/ Some Oakland Bootie

2008-01-18T08:56:00.000-08:00

My friend Ju Yon is a petite girl with some fabulous junk in her trunk. I think it's from all the reading and studying and stuff. Too bad I don't do enough of it... so I'm going to have to cheat.

Bubble Buns Padded Boy Shorts w/ removable foam pads. The website claims that it will give you realistic baby-got-back booty.

Vee

2008-01-17T17:21:00.000-08:00

Early this week, we were informed that the body of our friend Veronica Ruiz was found in the hills of Mount Tamalpias. I was really hoping that Vee had gone on a spontaneous vacation or trip and that she would come back and be alright.

Bill and I first heard of her disappearance while we were in Taiwan. We searched the internet for news and came upon an article where Vee's mom expressed concern about Vee being cold at night. I'm not sure why this sticks out in my mind.

My heart feels heavy and I'm very sad about Vee's passing. I spoke to my dad and he said that sometimes people are unfortunate not to have someone beside them when it is most needed. I'm not sure if it is an absence of fortune or misguided fate but I can't seem to understand.

Vee is loved and will be missed.

Customers I Love to Hate

2008-01-08T15:28:00.001-08:00

There are certain customers that I absolutely cannot stand. They are the ones that just reek of BS and walk into your office like they own the place. I sink low in my chair to hide behind my computer screen but they are always doing something stupid so that you're forced to interact with them.

The one that came today makes unfunny jokes, checks the contents of the fridge, and strolls into the wood shop despite the large signs that state its a prohibited area. He is doing this and asking for freebies all in one breath. It's hard to hide my irritation and still he persists. He's so annoying that you're willing to do anything so that he'll shut the hell up.

Arrrrggghhhhh...

Cooking for the Holidays

2008-01-04T18:34:00.000-08:00

Here is an example of some holiday treats that Bill and I made.

Bacon wrapped almond stuffed dates.

My favorite gingerbear cookies was plastic surgery bear (top left) and one-eye cross dressing bear (top second from the right).

Wiide Awake

2007-12-18T00:16:00.000-08:00

The last few days have been a haze. I got sick last Thursday night and have been sleeping since then waking periodically to use the bathroom and take my medicine. I think I've overslept because I can't seem to fall asleep now and my water tastes funny.

I remember Bill bringing me some soft aloe tissue and a pink donut. I felt good for a couple of hours on Saturday and Bill offered to drive me around to shop for Christmas gifts. The highlight of my time awake was taking a picture with Hunky Santa. Not the real one though - just the cardboard life-size version that the Beverly Center has scattered all over the mall.

The best part of the weekend, however, was that we got a Wii! We didn't think it was that hard to get but after visiting numerous stores for 2 weeks, Bill finally got one by standing in line at 6am at the ghetto Circuit City near our house. When I finally woke up we played the Raving Rabbids game until I fell asleep again. It was so fun. The Wii was suppose to be our Christmas gift to each other but since he bought the whole system plus games, I don't know what to get him. Good thing online shops are open.