3.31.2010

i'm back

 at this blog

http://sillyfaery.livejournal.com

2.11.2010

dear (great firewall of) CHINA

OH SNAP!



*chewy  1         *china  -20

9.22.2009

NY Fashion Week

Just got done checking out NY Fashion Week on nymag.com. Here are some of my faves!



Anna Sui



BCBG Max Azria



Generra




Marc by Marc Jacobs



Marc by Marc Jacobs



Marchesa



Tibi

All photos taken from New York Magazine


9.21.2009

photo shoot

Recently we decided we should take our wedding photos in Shanghai. After all, it IS the place where we had met, lived in and shared many memories.

We didn't want a local photog studio, and definitely didn't want to stand outside Starbucks on Hengshan Road taking cheesy pictures we've seen a million couples do. Neither did we want a pricey freelance laowai photographer, or underpay friends. So after researching wedding photographers / studios, freelance photographers and friends, we finally picked one with the right price and style.

Even after enquiries, we still felt that it was too early to take the photos, so we're going to do it next spring.
However, being the little excited bunny that I am, I started daydreaming about the locations and shoots.

These are my ideas... J doesn't know about my excitement and he will definitely think me crazy. BUT BUT BUT i definitely do want to try...


  1. shot on roller skates. I had the most memorable (and well-documented) kiss on our first roller-disco party
  2. next to the wall of graffiti he took me to on our first "date"
  3. shot of us in the Bears' jerseys. he got me into the crazy sport and fantasy football no less.
  4. barefoot in the park (I was thinking Cercle Sportif, Xujiahui park, or People's park) -- think ice cream, bubbles, picnics and bicycles
  5. view of the Bund, taking that old junk across the Huangpu river
  6. cobblestones and alleyways (Taikang road or Moganshan galleries)
  7. jumping shot in a rock concert
what a crazy mix.
i doubt any studio will be able to accomodate that.

Musings on Mondays

i love mondays.

i wake up to watch a football game. and then i head down to my yoga class. When I come home, make myself (or cook -- gasp!) lunch, spend the rest of the afternoon reading blogs, surfing the web or do something crafty. I feel like I accomplish so much on a Monday.


fried rice for lunch today


This morning I awoke to very good news-- Bears vs Steelers 17-14. And watched the 2nd quarter of the Giants and Cowboys game. I had to miss the 2nd half (which was the more exciting half) to go to my Ashtanga class.

I felt especially good in class today because I suddenly became aware of how much I have improved. I realised after 3 years of practice that with each practice I become more and more aware of the different parts of my body, how to isolate and work each muscle, build core strength and flexibility. As i attempted the bridge pose today I felt a big stretch on my lower back. In the past, that was not a good sign, because that meant I had overstretched and would be plagued with a back ache in the next few days. But, these days, that pain (or rather, ache) is just a gentle reminder from my body to take it easy on that pose. Not only do I not get that backache, I realised my lower back muscles are much stronger.

In the past, when I do forward bends and folds, the back of my knees would hurt bad. I have come to realise that is overextension on my part and is very bad on my knees. Now, i've figured out that if i tighten my thigh muscles (which was what I was supposed to do in the first place) the pain disappears and I work the right muscles at the same time.

I am constantly astounded at how much I gain with each yoga practice. Even after 3 years of practice I still find out something new about my body each time. I am determined to keep this practice even after I stop attending classes. Now I just have to work on my discipline. The mind is so weak and it always manages to talk me out of practice.




On another note:

Crafting on a Sunday, I decided to whip out the pattern (courtesy of Spool Sewing ) I kept for a long LONG time. Using scraps of cloth (mostly from J's shirts) I made two stuffed birdies! Still not perfect, I'm wondering how to stuff the birds without them looking too lumpy... I will make more! It's really fun and it doesn't require a machine! I think that was the reason I started on it in the first place. I was too lazy to lug my machine out and looked for the easiest craft I can manage on a sleepy Sunday.

Ta-daa!

9.19.2009

Visa Blues

So J went to the American Consulate to attend the immigration visa talk and found out that the whole process takes 8-10months.

We started scrambling and getting our act together to start applying for one.
Step 1: Application for petition for alien relative.

I hate how countries use the word "Alien".
I hate how many steps and how long this process takes.
I hate all the paper chase.
I hate how much money this is costing us.
I hate how all the instructions are so vague (or the more I read them, the more I doubt I'm doing them right)

Yesterday was the start of the whole thing. One week to go before I get my notarized Chinese documents. One week more to get the translation. And then the photos. Oh yes, I had better start assembling the photos that prove our marriage genuine. Oh yes, I forgot the photos were all gone when my external hard disk crashed.

I need a huge dose of positivity now.

9.13.2009

To-do list:

so i occasionally come across things that seem really fun to do but haven't had the opportunity to try. does that count as spontaneous when you finally do it?
anyhoo, here is a list of "spontaneous" things i would like to do when i DO have the time. i have been listing them in my head for the longest time. here's putting them down before i forget.

1. making home-made bubble solution and setting the bubbles free in the park!
2. shop for an exquisite chinese tea set
3. shop for cute dinnerware (but i can always make do with MORE!)
4. take the open-top doubledecker that takes you on a scenic tour of shanghai
5. (recently discussed) ride our bikes to the beach somewhere in Shanghai
6. Happy Valley (when free of glitches and deemed safe)
7. camp outdoors!


that's all for now. eeps. i need to catch up with ACTION!

on another important note:

my very FIRST wedding anniversary is coming!!! maybe i can incorporate some of the things on my list into the celebrations!