Five Things - Chicago & Michigan

[The Chicago Theater]

A family reunion was due ever since my cousin announced her pregnancy back in October. I couldn’t be happier seeing everyone again during my week vacation in the US. Chicago reminded me a lot of New York, but definitely has a special thing of its own; I’ve never seen so many tall skyscrapers! As for good ‘old Michigan, it felt like home. Put aside the little drama with a certain evil step aunt, I have not had this much fun in a while. If there’s one thing I learned during this trip is that my cousins definitely bring out the good and bad in me whenever I’m with them (lamp post/ stripper pole haha). I already miss my beautiful niece and my big family. A week was not enough but I am looking forward to see everyone again when they’ll come to Montreal next year.

[Chipotle - Hands down, BEST BURRITO EVER]

[Sunset at Tunnel Park Beach, MI]

[Baby Amillia smiling in her sleep :*)]

[My new baby]

Glowing

My mom can be cooky at times, but when it comes to skin care that woman (and I hate to admit it) knows her stuff. For the longest time growing up I noticed how a lot of people would compliment my mother for her youthful complexion and having no stretch marks whatsoever after giving birth to three kids. One of the biggest stereotypes about Asian women (aside from the notion that we are meek, timid creatures who are 'apparently' wild in the bedroom) is that we never seem to age, or age at a much slower rate than the rest of the population. I used to laugh it off whenever I hear about it, but after paying a very close attention I couldn't agree more. When my mother was pregnant of my brothers and I she would make herself a turmeric and coconut milk paste that she used to apply everywhere on her tummy. Not only is turmeric an excellent source of anti-oxidant it can even out your skin tone and soften your skin making it glow and smooth. While I'll have to wait a few more years to try out her recipe I have decided to work on my own concoction. It's really easy to make and most of the ingredients can be found at home or a local grocery store.

Turmeric and Sugar Scrub

You need:
- 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 cups granulated (or raw) sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon turmeric powder

Mix all the ingredients together and apply the scrub everywhere over your body. Leave it on a few minutes before showering. You don't need to apply body lotion after drying yourself because the olive oil will moisturize your skin. The turmeric can stain your skin a little bit, but it will blend nicely with your skin tone making you look tanned. Do this once every two weeks and I can guarantee that your skin will be smooth and you will glow :)

Letting Go

Chasing Nothing

It’s not that I think you’re not important when you don’t have anyone, because I don’t. I truly don’t. I believe you can never really know what you want in someone else until you know yourself – completely and wholly - when you only have yourself to rely on. I know far too many people who are in relationships of comfort – because they don’t want to be alone. And it’s sad, because they rely so much on this social institution for validation. I am proud to say I have dealt with loneliness, and I’m not afraid of it. I am not afraid of my independence and I am not afraid of my own company. I have become a strong, level-headed person because I have had such a long time to consider myself, my surroundings and my feelings with a clear head, one that is not muddled by the fog of a relationship and love. For these reasons I am glad it’s taken me this long to find someone, because I think when it happens, I’ll be able to handle it and make the most of it.

But fuck, sometimes I just get sick of being lonely. I get sick of having to rely on myself and my imagination for any kind of deeper mental or emotional stimulation. It’s getting to a point now where, I’ve had way too much time to think. My heart is forming cobwebs because the people I met, the experiences I’ve had so far, just aren’t cutting it. I think my imagination has had far too much time to become so specific in designing what my heart wants, I’m scared reality is just never going to compare. How can it? I never really gave it a chance. I’m torn between wanting only the best for myself and impatience. How much longer is it really going to take?

I feel like it’s impossible because I’ve made it impossible. I want magic. I want to feel such an intense pull towards someone it’s like our worlds just crashed into each other, changing them and me and everything I thought I knew. I want fireworks, and butterflies and magnetism, something tumultuous and huge and exciting and new. I want something to pull me out of myself and my head and my over-analysis and make me feel again, because I’ve forgotten. And I don’t think I can get it back on my own. But I’m scared I’m waiting out for a super unrealistic ideal that I’ve created for myself. I’m scared I’m chasing nothing. And every day it’s getting harder and harder to have faith in myself and everything I believe in.

Five Things - Summer

[Tanning outside on a beautiful day.]

With an extremely busy weekend coming its way, i'm already half way done packing for my week trip to Chicago. I'm more than excited to see my family again and even though its a short stay, a little gateway outside of Montreal is really needed. I'm in the process of slowly enjoying my summer since exams are over and i'm quite surprise that i find time to do all the things i wanted so far. I do have to say that advance meticulous planning makes everything better. Hopefully i can be as calm as i am right now when the semester start at the end of August.

[Bright summer lacquers from Essie: Mint Candy Apple, Haute as Hello, Cute as a Button]

[Summer read (and new favorite book): One Day by David Nicholls]

[Special delivery from Vancouver BC. Thank you Rosalind xoxo]

[Coral ethnic pattern maxi skirt/dress from Olivia]

Blueberry Boy Bait

I literally grew up in the kitchen. At the tender age of 3 I was already going through the cupboards, pulling out bowls and random dry ingredients because I was imitating whatever my mom was doing. Little did I know I’d find myself being able to understand the mechanism of chopping and stir-frying; it soon became a passion of mine. Nothing makes me happier than to be able to cook for friends and family. It’s weird, but it’s the one skill that I have which I’m not afraid to show off and be confident about it. Till this day I’m grateful that my mother had given me her talent.

After spotting this recipe on one of my favourite food blog, Smitten Kitchen, I couldn’t resist sharing. It’s pretty easy to understand why. Rumour has it, this treat was blessed with its great name back in 1954 when a young girl stole the show in a junior Pillsbury Bake-Off after announcing her treat was named for the effect it had on boys (aww)

You’d think Boy Bait would consist of a top sirloin, gravy and some seriously creamy mashed potatoes—but you would be wrong. After putting this recipe to the test, I was pleasantly surprised to find the name yielded said results. It’s buttery and rich. And it was consumed in just a few sittings by the men in my household. I have yet to test these out and see what my friends think but I’m not surprised that this Blueberry Boy Bait is a certified crowd pleaser.

Recipe is found here. Enjoy!

Resort 2012

According to the black book of fashion I'm a bit late when it comes to talk about Resort Collections (still recovering myself from post-summer class exams.) but i couldn't marveled enough at all the showcases presented last month. The whole season of Resort (or Cruise like some boujie french dame would call it), in theory at least, is about fashion escapade - finding that perfect maxi dress to wear at the side of the pool while vacationing somewhere on the islands of the Seychelles. While i like the simpler idea of the young and the cute making like snowbirds—that is, skipping the rowdy city and hitting the beach or the country side, more and more fashion houses are wrapping themselves in the vacation impulse. Here are a few of my favorites...

Yves Saint Laurent

Gucci

Bottega Veneta

Diane Von Furstenberg

style.com

Blogging Basics

"I hope that this blog stays with me and follows my adventure into -gulps- adulthood." - 10.27.08

October 27th will mark Bonjoo Tea 4th anniversary. Really? 4 years already? It feels like it was just yesterday when outta boredom i decided to start this stupid thing called "blogging" (which til this day i still find the word unappealing) without thinking that i would have stuck with me all this time. I still can't believe how far i've come. The idea was simple; i wanted to be able to share my thoughts with the world. And i did.

Truth to be told, i've never liked writing. But in my early pubescent years i've discovered that a pen and a paper would be the closest thing i'd hold close to my heart. Being confined in my own thoughts during those years, what started as naive rants in journal entries slowly turned into a religious practice of pouring my heart on paper until words flooded at the tip of my pen effortlessly. I had found (without sounding too mantra-ish) inner peace with myself. Today, i still get that sense of reassurance whenever i publish a new post because whether you like to think of yourself as being an individualist, deep down you that there's at least one person out there that can relate to you. Like i wrote in a few post back, i've hinted that i'm working on some new stuff to develop this "baby" of mine. I really want to go back to the fundamental basics of what this blog was meant to be about. Knowing myself, i will probably not update every single day but in order to be active regularly, i've decided to have theme-like posts according to the day the entries are posted:

Monday - Inspirations: Whether it's quotes from people, a line from a favorite movie or random ideas popping in my head while i'm in the shower, these entries will be about everything and nothing. I'd like to think of it whatever is my cup of tea (pun intended), i'd share that with the world.

Tuesday - Beauty: I'm no beauty guru, but when it comes to primping and taking care of oneself i have acquired a few knowledge in that department (And this coming from a girl who used to smear her mom's expensive red lip stick all over her face when she was 4. Winning!)

Wednesday - Fashion: The word says it all.

Thursday - Food: My passion for culinary delicacies goes wayyyy back. I simply love cooking and from now on, i'll get to share a few recipes and show off my skills. Have i ever told you that my sandwiches are THE bomb? Yes, my future boyfriend will be very proud of me.

Friday - Favorites: Because I think it’s oddly more acceptable to complain about the trivial things that bother you than it is to take note of special little moments throughout the day. Until there’s a word that describes those simple things that make you smile, Fridays posts will consist of a list of 5 things that made me happy throughout the week.

Saturday - Lifestyle: People, places and things. Pretty much a glimpse of my everyday life in the city.

Sunday - Nostalgia: Not only it's my favorite word, but somehow (and I don't know why) I tend to sink into my deepest thoughts whenever i let myself reminisce about the past and/or whenever i think about the future. These entries will be the uncensored version of my verbal speech; up close and personal.