in love and war

I Moved...

2011-11-23T12:36:00.000-07:00

Please find me at my new domain: www.inloveandwar.ca

A change is gonna come

2011-11-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

Photo by Jon Le

BIG changes are in store for In Love and War. Without giving away too many details, I will be making the switch from Blogger to Wordpress. After 5 faithful years of using Blogger as a host for my personal blog, it's time to move on to something with a better platform and more customizability. I've been conversing via email with my friend, graphic designer Josh of JiveDesign, for the past several weeks about my vision and dream for the new blog space, and I have to say I am ecstatic with the results.

~~The URL will stay the same, so you can still find me at www.inloveandwar.net but everything will eventually be moved over to Wordpress.~~ This will be my last post until we officially LAUNCH. Until then.

Signing off,

UPDATED: So I lied. I purchased a new domain, therefore this blog will stay as is until the domain registration expires in April 2012. Stay tuned for the unveiling of the new domain in just a few days!!!!!!

Forever and a day with you

2011-11-14T10:32:00.000-07:00

1. Sunset while driving on Deerfoot | 2. Yogen Früz at Chinook Centre | 3. Wings and bubbletea at Bubblemania on Friday night with Josh and his girlfriend | 4. Dinner and drinks at Cilantro on 17th Ave with Crystal | 5. Lunch at Vero Bistro in Kensington with my wonderful bridesmaid, Lily and childhood friend, Alyssa | 6. Mango cheesecake with mango gelato | 7. Tea time at OoLong Tea House in Kensington with Lily | 8. Beautiful pashmina shawl that Lily bought for me during her amazing trip to Nepal | 9. Bridesmaid dress shopping at Frocks Modern Bridesmaids | 10. Chinese buffet at Tai Pan Peking Cuisine with Mr. and Mrs. Holter | 11. At First Alliance Church with Crystal | 12. A picture of us to complete an amazing weekend together

Getting to know the fiancé

2011-11-10T22:30:00.001-07:00

Photo by Perspectiveye.com

You probably won't recognize this dorky tone. I'm Fiancé. By no means am I a creative writer. If you want a technical document, I'm your guy. Need an engineering package written? I got a guy for that. I'm the mastermind behind the Carrie Amp, so you can probably tell that I'm a sweetheart. More seriously though, I'm an electrical engineer graduating from his sixth year at the University of Alberta this December, and I love audio. I am deeply entrenched in the headphone segment, hence the Carrie Headphone Amplifier. I'm that kid who grew up eating whatever he wanted and got away with it because of his natural athleticism. Please don't hate me. I'm also that Asian kid that played piano for 13 years starting from age five.

I also dance. I spent the better part of my adolescence watching videos (this is before YouTube existed, mind you) of people popping and locking. I'm not out of place in a dance, and I probably dance too often, eg. in line at the supermarket. I was the pimply kid watching himself dance while in the shower. I know. I'm honestly not this awkward on the dance floor.

I've also had the opportunity to travel lots. I've been to Paris, LA, Australia, Vietnam, and Calgary. Look at that. I've been to more places, but I don't want to sound douchey. I'm just saying I'm fortunate to have parents willing to take me places.

My favourite TV shows are Arrested Development, Scrubs (up to season 5), 30 Rock, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Office (US), Futurama, The Inbetweeners, The League, and lately, Sex and the City (man, women are as dirty as men). I think it's important to know what kind of TV shows people watch because it gives you a bit of insight into their taste and preferences. This is where I'll lose popularity, but I don't like shows like Prison Break, House, 24, and Lost. How I Met Your Mother used to be entertaining, but I just stopped caring how Ted met his baby mama. To borrow one of their analogies, the "never-ending drum roll" is really annoying in music. Get it over with.

That's a bit about who I am. You'll learn more as I do more guest posts, but that's a start. I'm so cool.

Moon pours through the ceiling tonight

2011-11-06T00:29:00.000-06:00

(stylemepretty.com; julietelizabeth.com; photogen-inc.com)

Lots of development since our last wedding update:

Fiancé was in town last weekend for another full day of wedding planning on Saturday. We had our second cake tasting appointment with Simply Sweet, which went really well. So many delicious cake flavours from chocolate brownie to red velvet to lemon swirl. We talked a little bit about portions and design but not in any extensive detail. We actually have another cake vendor to check out next weekend before we make our final decision. Can't wait to eat cake at our wedding. Besides dancing, it's probably THE best part about the reception.
After lunch with fiancé and our bridesmaid, Thy, we meet up with the wedding administrator at our ceremony location. We went over some paperwork, signed some forms, and talked about the importance of also preparing for marriage as well and not just the wedding day. It's easy to get caught up in all the ribbons and flowers of wedding planning but at the heart of it, it's really about getting ready to spend the rest of our lives together. Either by making little decisions about invitation colours or talking about where we're going to live after the wedding. All of wedding planning amounts to something bigger, and that is marriage itself.
Then it was on to bridesmaid dress shopping with three of my girls. Overall, it was a fun experience. We were able to find dresses for each bridesmaid for a good price. I haven't placed the orders yet, but we'll probably do that before the end of the year. I can't wait to see it all come together, with the dresses, hair, makeup, shoes, and accessories.

Even though it was a long and jam packed day, we had a lot of fun getting things done together and with our bridesmaids. We're pretty close to confirming all our vendors for the wedding, and come 2012, there will be lots of talk about details, details, and MORE details. What song should I walk down the aisle to? Should we have a round or square cake? Will fiancé wear a navy or grey suit? I love talking about all the fine details of our wedding, and I can't wait to reveal everything on the big day.

Until the next update.

The best way out is through

2011-11-05T00:53:00.000-06:00

(flickr.com)

I've been feeling sorry for myself lately. Pathetic, I know. But I can't seem to get over myself long enough to realize that everything is going to be okay. My run of bad luck won't seem to give me a break, and even when things seem like they're getting better, something comes out of left field.

What I need more than anything is a break from my responsibilities. With so much on my plate, I'm having the hardest time coping with all the stress and anxiety of things that are out of my control. Normally, a good weekend of rest or a personal day off from work will do the trick but I'm not suffering from any lack of sleep or feeling burnt out. I'm just overwhelmed by everything I have to do, but don't have the courage or heart to attack it.

No matter how strong we believe ourselves to be, sometimes life gets to the core of us and reminds us just how human and frail we truly are. It's okay to show a little vulnerability, cry when it hurts, and feel sorry for ourselves. "Sometimes it's not what you accomplish; it's what you overcome."

A vintage kind of love

2011-10-26T11:47:00.000-06:00

(www.twigsandhoney.com; stylemepretty.com; ashleymaxwellphoto.com; adelineandgraceblog.com)

Vintage themed weddings have become incredibly popular over the years. Traditional weddings with black tuxedos and tacky bridesmaids dresses seem like a thing of the past. Now the possibilities of having a personalized wedding that reflects the couple's style and personalities are endless. I wouldn't consider myself a "vintage" bride by any means, however I absolutely love the inspirations that comes from old and antique things, like a precious teacup from your grandma's collection or an old bible from when you were a kid. Everything from letterpress printing to mason jars to old typewriters to vintage gold accents adds so much character and charm to a wedding. But what I love most are the lace wedding gowns with the gorgeous backs and perfect silhouettes.

There are so many lovely details in a vintage inspired wedding but when it comes down to it, your wedding has to reflect who you are as individuals and as a couple. Although it's very pretty to wear a juliet cap veil like Kate Moss, if it's NOT you, why would you wear it? In planning your wedding, I think it's important to stay true to who you are. It's so easy to get distracted by pretty and trendy things but you have to keep in mind that your wedding isn't all about how great it looks. It's about the couple, the relationship, and ultimately about two people joining their lives together. I think weddings are a fancy way of showcasing all the elements that make the two of you a unique couple. If you've never used a typewriter in your life, why would you have one at your wedding? To some extent, these items are there for decor purposes but there's a difference between what looks good AND applies to you versus what's there because "I like it and it's pretty." All I'm trying to say is your wedding day should be consistent with your interests, your passions, your likes, your personality, and your style. More importantly, it should represent your relationship together, all your dreams, your experiences, your commitment, and your love.

For Jon and I, when talking about our dream wedding and everything we want it to be, we often end up reflecting on our relationship, how far we've come, and remembering the things that has gotten us where we are today. We think about the people who has helped along the way. Our friends. Our family. We talk about technology and social media, and how that has enabled us to communicate through the years. We love our iPhones. We love Google. We laugh about things like TV shows that we love or funny moments that we share when it's just the two of us. We dream about building a life together and things we want for our future home like a big tree in the backyard with a birdhouse. It's those little things about our relationship that no one really knows or sees, but it's what makes our relationship. We hope to make that apparent on our special day.

C.

Discover life on earth

2011-10-25T00:38:00.000-06:00

These pictures were taken a little over a month ago and I forgot I even took them but I figured they're too good not to share. Back in September, my brother and I went to the Calgary Zoo to celebrate our birthdays. We first went for brunch at Cora's Breakfast and Lunch (the new location that opened up recently at Sunridge Mall) and then spent a lovely afternoon together just walking around, taking pictures, and checking out all the incredible animals. I felt like a kid again. It was a very fun and special way to celebrate my birthday this year. Even more so because I got to share the day and the experience with my dear and precious brother, Billy.

Brings back memories of primate taxonomy.

Butterfly garden.

All of these seasons passing me by

2011-10-23T00:56:00.000-06:00

Wearing BCBGeneration top, Joe Fresh wool shorts, cardigan, belt and tights,
Marc by Marc Jacobs earrings, and Aldo over-the-knee boots.

Wedding update:

Our wedding date is set. All I can say for now is we're getting married next summer here in Calgary, Alberta. I remember when we first got engaged, one of the first questions people asked was when were we getting married. Uh, I don't know, he just asked me to marry him yesterday. Between making phone calls, changing our Facebook status, and soaking up all the joys of being newly-engaged, picking a wedding date was probably the last thing on our mind. I guess people get excited for you and want to know when the wedding will be but how many people settle on a wedding date the day after the guy pops the question? Makes NO sense.
Our ceremony and reception venues have been confirmed. One word of advice: book BOTH venues AT THE SAME TIME. Before you even pick a wedding date, do some research on venue options, of course, after giving some thought to what kind style you want for your wedding. Then decide on an ideal date and see if both venues are available. To save yourself some money and grief, secure both venues simultaneously. NOT one before the other. We made the mistake of booking our reception venue first and then started looking in our ceremony site afterwards, only to discover that is was unavailable. Unfortunately we had to swallow some cost to have our initial wedding date changed to a new one in order to have our first pick for both venue location. In the end, we got what we wanted. Both locations will be kept secret until invitations go out.
We recently received the full resolution files for our Connection Session with our wedding photographer, Gabe. I can't wait to share the images with everyone! Click here to see the teaser in case you missed it the first time.
We're also working on Save the Date cards which we hope to send out by next month. Let me just say I couldn't stop smiling when I saw our first proof this past week. It's amazing how a piece of stationary can reflect and embody a couple's relationship in such a powerful yet creative way.

I realize I've been writing a lot about weddings in general but hardly about my own. I guess I spend a lot of time talking to my fiancé, our planners, and our wedding party about the wedding that I forget to share it with my readers. Will definitely try and keep up with regular updates regarding the wedding. Hope you guys aren't sick of all the wedding talk just yet. Thanks for reading. :)

Let me sing among the stars

2011-10-19T20:50:00.000-06:00

Fly Me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra

(stylemepretty.com; ashleymaxwellphoto.com; kissthegroom.com)

It goes without saying that your wedding day is one of the most joyous occasions of your life, but it's also an incredibly tough event to plan. Considering how stressful weddings can be, it's surprising that couples even make it down the aisle. There's so many little details that need to be discussed and difficult decisions to be made. Then there's the big financial burden on both you and your financé, AND you're not even married yet. Probably not a good way to start off a marriage: fighting about finances or disagreeing on what colours the napkins should be, etc. I can attest that it's not all bad. In fact, it's GREAT. Planning your wedding with your best friend is truly one of the greatest joys of being engaged; at least, this is true for me.

I'm starting to think that wedding planning is a small window into marriage. When you're single, you make decisions based on your own interest and benefit, e.g. what to eat for lunch, what school to attend, what career path to pursue, etc. When you're engaged, you have to run all your decisions by your partner. It's no longer all about YOU; it's about the TWO OF YOU. You simply can't make decisions about the future (or the wedding) without consulting it with the other person. Marriage is a partnership. All of the decisions that you make, whether big or small, like buying a house or picking flowers for your centrepiece, you should make them together. Hence, both of you should be involved in EVERY aspect of the wedding.

But even the most easy-going and flexible couples will bump heads when there are so many options to choose from and fine details to consider. It's okay to disagree, but how you communicate and deliberate is more important. Since a wedding is such a delicate occasion and you want everything to be perfect, when your partner says NO to a $20,000 wedding cake like Kim Kardashian, OF COURSE you're gonna feel upset. Who wouldn't? But it's not the end of the world. As long as you can talk through it and reach a reasonable compromise, you will still get the wedding cake you've always dreamed of. Wedding planning really tests your relationship. It challenges your patience, your wants, and even your hearts to some extent. But who better to share all that craziness with than your best friend?

Wedding planning isn't all glitz and glam. It's a really stressful process, and it involves a lot of hard work. But if you're planning it with the right person, it's a very fun and special experience. At the heart, it's nice being with someone who cares about the same things you do. My fiancé, he gets it. He sees the importance of having the perfect wedding dress. He agrees that wedding decor should be a priority. He was actually the one who said that having a wedding planner would save us a lot time, money, and grief. He cares about music, photography, and even all the little details of our stationery. I'm so lucky to be planning my dream wedding with someone as awesome as him.

Always wear fabulous shoes

2011-10-16T01:47:00.001-06:00

(stylemepretty.com)

When I think of modern day wedding shoes, what immediately comes to mind is Jimmy Choo, Christian Louboutin, and Manolo Blahnik. Many brides are choosing designer brands for their wedding day footwear for style, elegance, and luxury. But beautiful red soles aren't reserved for only the classic and sophisticated brides; it's also popular among the rustic and vintage brides. It's every girl's dream to own a fabulous pair of designers shoes, so why not purchase a pair for your special day and afterwards wear them to the office, church, and dancing? I know designer brands aren't cheap and you want to be smart with your money, so if you're gonna splurge on an expansive pair of Jimmy Choo's, make sure you can wear them again and you can work them in with the rest of your wardrobe. Consider it an investment; something you spend a lot of money on now but will get a lot of use out of years and years to come. After all, it IS you're wedding day - it's okay to spend a little.

When it comes to style, I only have one rule: absolutely no closed-toe shoes. Maybe it's just me but I don't think the classic pump looks quite as good under a wedding dress. Too formal for my taste. I much prefer something with exposed toes like an elegant pair of strappy sandals or the timeless peep-toe pumps. There's something more appealing, more sexy about open-toe shoes. They're also perfect for any type of destination, whether a beach ceremony or a backyard reception. As for colour, the possibilities are endless. Everything from nude, blue, silver, pink, glitter, and EVEN black. I love the idea of tying your shoes in with the rest of your wedding colour(s). But the most important thing of all is your wedding shoes have to complement your wedding dress and accessories. Everything has to work together; not against. With all the options out there, it's not easy finding the perfect pair of fabulous shoes with just the right amount of style and comfort but it's worth the time and energy you put into doing the research, trying out different brands, and finding what's right for you.

I hope you've enjoyed reading these posts. As a bride, I know the fun and frustration of finding the perfect wedding shoes and although the initial cost is hard to swallow, I can reassure you that it's worth every penny. I can only speak for myself when I say, "Do what makes you happy, and never settle for anything less but always within means." Bottom line, your shoes should not cost more than your dress. :)

Diamonds are forever

2011-10-13T21:44:00.000-06:00

Smells so sweet like autumn in the air

2011-10-11T22:03:00.000-06:00

Wearing Talula top, J Brand pants, House of Harlow 1960 necklace,
Marc by Marc Jacobs earrings, Forever 21 ring and Nine West boots.

Isn't it gorgeous this time of year? I wouldn't trade in the 4 seasons for a year of summer. Even though we get everything from snow, wind, rain and sunshine, I would take all that than go through life not knowing what it's like to feel the crisp autumn air against my skin. I always find the change of seasons to be refreshing. It's a reminder that even the smallest things that we have no control over can bring us so much pleasure and comfort, like a breeze on a hot summer night or warm sunshine on a cool autumn morning.

Aside from adjusting to the cooler weather and preparing my fall/winter wardrobe, life has been rather calm and ordinary. It's a nice change of pace. I use to crave the hectic lifestyle. Always keeping my hands and feet busy. Now I'm more interested in spending a quiet evening at home, which is often far and few between. I like the freedom of being able to watch endless hours of TV without something hanging over my head, or just simply writing a blog post to collect and release my thoughts. I even love the joy of playing games on my iPhone during those sweet hours before bed. Life seems so much more tangible when you're able to just slow down, breathe deeply, and enjoy each moment.

Right down to the shoes

2011-10-09T18:26:00.001-06:00

(stylemepretty.com; phi-style.com)

Times have changed, and gone are the days of satin white pumps. Nowadays, brides are moving away from the traditional look of wedding shoes, and opting for something that's a little more modern and stylish. Brides are now picking out shoes that not only reflect their style but also their personality. And isn't that what it's all about? Having both your personalities shine through on your wedding day? From the flowers to the linens to the music. Everything right down to the shoes.

I'd have to say the second most important thing about your wedding outfit is your shoes; of course the dress is number one. Even though your feet will mostly be under a big white dress on your wedding day, it's important to give just as much attention to what you wear on you feet as what you wear on your body. It's a long day. You're gonna be on your feet for most of it. Walking down the aisle. Standing there to say your vows. Posing for family photos. Mingling with your guests. And ultimately, DANCING. You want your shoes to be comfortable but still make you look and feel super sexy. Best of both worlds.

First and foremost, you HAVE to be able to walk in your wedding shoes. It's so basic but it has to be said. Why would you buy shoes you can't walk in? WHY? Second, you HAVE to feel comfortable in them. Nothing is worst than having painful shoes ON your wedding day. You have to consider the height and arch of the shoes when buying. If you've never wore 5 inch heels before, I would NOT recommend trying it for the first time on your big day. VERY bad idea. All in all, you want your shoes to fit right and feel great. Even if you had the nicest pair of Christian Louboutin shoes, if you can't last all day in them, they are no good to you.

Take time to consider your wedding shoes. They really are big part of your day. Plus, when the night is over and you have a moment to sit down and take everything in, the last thing you want to complain about is how much your feet hurt.

Stay tuned for Part II on style, brands and cost. :)

Can't see the stars anymore living here

2011-10-06T23:56:00.000-06:00

(instagram: inloveandwar)

Instagram has been around for awhile, and I know I'm late to the party since I only recently downloaded the app but now I'm addicted to instagraming all my pictures. I actually take quite a bit of pictures with my iPhone, as you can see, but I never end up posting them because they always seem so dull and lifeless. I love using instagram because it's a fun and easy way of making not-so-interesting pictures seem a little more intriguing. I know using filters is a cheap way of making bad pictures look good but who wants to see high quality pictures of recycled pop cans and a bowl of pho anyways? I don't always post my instagram pictures on Twitter or Facebook, so if you have an account, feel free to follow me @ inloveandwar.

Here's a look back at September. Even though a lot of things went wrong, when I look back at these pictures, I'm reminded of all the little things that existed in spite of all my troubles. Like a perfect cup of Joe on a Thursday morning or enjoying a hot bowl of pho thai lan with my fiancé. Even the simple pleasure of watching the leaves change colour with every passing day was seemingly enough. September is and will always be my favourite time of the year, but just like life, September isn't perfect and things do fall apart at the worst time but you have to learn to let go and look forward to other months. Like October. November. December.

With a new month upon us, I'm excited about thanksgiving –long– weekend. Looking forward to eating turkey, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. Also, spending quality time with the family, watching more episodes of Boston Legal on DVD, and shopping for fall/winter essentials. Should be an awesome weekend. Stay warm, and eat lots of pie.

I'll mark off each day with a cross

2011-10-02T23:29:00.000-06:00

(unknown source)

You've probably noticed by now that I often update my blog –somewhat– frequently for a short period of time, and then just suddenly stop without any warning or explanation. As you might recall, I was initially really looking forward to the month of September and although I was able to keep up with blogging at the beginning of the month, I just couldn't continue with it during the latter weeks of September due to crippling stress and anxiety.

Without going into too much details, I was dealing with a tough situation that was beyond my experience and knowledge. It's challenging to try and figure out a solution to a problem you've never dealt with before, only to realize how unequipped you are to deal with these real life mishaps. So you find yourself feeling stuck, helpless, and ultimately defeated. It was a dark and scary time in my life. The experience of feeling so frail to the core was haunting and paralyzing.

But "this too shall pass." And it does. And it has.

In the midst of all the fear and uncertainty, I'm grateful to my family for their unwavering faith and strength. Although they also experienced the same stress, I couldn't have gotten through it without them. I also received a lot of support and encouragement from some of my co-workers which made it a lot easier to come into work everyday. But through the lows, the sleepless nights, the crying, the rants, the hopelessness, my fiancé was always there for me. Life can be so unkind but it's reassuring to know that you have someone who will carry you through. My fiancé is my rock, and I can't imagine going through life's ups and downs without him.

With all that said, I hope to resume blogging hereafter. Thank you for your patience with me while I sorted things out in my life. It feels good to be writing again. Thanks for reading.

"The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering." - Ben Okri

Take me to that old familiar place

2011-09-25T23:33:00.000-06:00

(December Sun Flickr)

"Perhaps one of trouble’s greatest "side effects" is that it teaches us that life is rarely the way we want it to be; rather, life is simply the way it is. And we are simply the way we are. What we need is the desire to look for the gifts in ordinary and extraordinary experiences – and the wisdom to accept ourselves as we are. With this more expansive perspective of life, we begin to accept things and people for the way they are. We become less judgmental, more kind and loving. By accepting ourselves, others, and life as not being entirely okay, we become more okay than ever." - Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

May you never take one single breath for granted

2011-09-15T23:51:00.000-06:00

Sometimes these birthday post just ends up being a reflection of how awesome my life was when I was X. This year, I wanna write more candidly about how grateful I am to be celebrating another year of life. As I'm getting older, I'm realizing just how fragile life can be. 22 was the year I lost my grandma and a dear friend, both from tragic accidents. I was deeply saddened by the death of talented singer and songwriter, Amy Winehouse, and it was devastating to see Jack Layton, Canada's NDP leader, lose his battle to cancer. So now when I think of birthdays, I can't help but think about life and death.

There's something about growing older that makes you fearful of losing your own life, or even worst, losing someone you love. I think about my parents, my siblings, my friends, and above all, my future husband. When you get to that point in your life, where you make a commitment to spend the rest of your life with someone, your greatest fear becomes losing them. You become so much more aware of the consequences of your decisions and the affects it will have on your life and theirs. When you're young and single, you only have yourself to think about. But if you're like me, newly-engaged and prepared to grow old with your soulmate, you have someone else's life to consider and think about it. At the heart, I wanna grow old with my baby, and every year that I get to blow out another candle on the birthday cake, I'm gonna cherish and be grateful for.

My only wish this year is to live to celebrate many more birthdays with those I love. I'm so grateful for my life, my family, my health, my career, and most importantly, my love. When you take away all the glitz and glam of birthdays, like the shots, the cake and the presents, you realize you have everything you ever want and need. That is life itself.

And I'd give up forever to touch you

2011-09-12T21:11:00.000-06:00

Cause I know that you feel me somehow

(Perspectiveye Photography)

Our AMAZING connection photos by Gabe of Perspectiveye Photography. To see the FULL POST, click here. Also, feel free to leave a comment on his blog and check out more of his work. Trust me, you will not be disappointed. :)

We are once in a lifetime

2011-09-11T23:45:00.000-06:00

- Switchfoot, Needle and Haystack Life

1. H&M dress, House of Harlow 1960 necklace; photo by Jon Le | 2 - 3. Eating at Rice For King on Macleod Trail South. | 4. Lunch with my favourite ladies, Lily and Alyssa, at Earl's Downtown. They also meet my fiancé for the first time. :) | 5. Taking an early evening stroll in Prince's Island Park and dreaming about having a place along the river. | 6. Pumpkin Spice Latte are back! Just in time for Fall. | 7. Grace and I. At Starbucks on Sunday afternoon for a meeting with a prospective DJ.

Look into your heart and you'll find the sky is yours

2011-09-09T08:03:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday, everyone!

Jon and I are preparing for a full weekend of wedding planning. This evening we're gonna be heading out for our Connection Session with our official wedding photographer, Gabe of PerspectivEye Photography. There is so much to be said about Gabe's work, but I think his images mostly speak for themselves. When we first stumbled across his website, we were instantly blown away. It's obvious that Gabe can take a good picture, but more than just being impressed by his skill, we were deeply moved by how beautifully Gabe captures the connection and intimacy of each couple. Down to each wrinkle in the clothing or hair flowing across the face, Gabe really displays the deep connection between his couples. It's an intimacy only understood by those who've experienced it themselves. It speaks to the physical connection of love between two people, like the love of a grandfather and a child, like that of the father of the bride and his baby girl. Some of our friends don't get it, but it's a little known form of body language. Gabe gets it.

His images are so tender, so breathtaking, and most importantly so natural. Everything we want and hope for when we dream about our engagement and wedding photos that will last a lifetime.

Also, Gabe is the man. Incredibly smart, funny, and witty. He keeps it real on Twitter.

We're also gonna be meeting up with our wedding planners (YES, WE HAVE WEDDING PLANNERS) for dinner and drinks on Saturday evening. It's more of a casual, get-to-know-each-other-better kind of meet. Of course there will be wedding talk but it's mostly a time to connect more with our planners and for them to know us more as a couple. Should be good times. On Sunday, we have an appointment with a potential DJ for our wedding reception. Not sure what to expect but seeing as both Jon and I LOVE music, we should have a lot to talk about.

It's gonna be HOT this weekend so stay cool and wear sunscreen.

All you need is love

2011-09-08T23:13:00.000-06:00

The Beatles

House of Harlow 1960 necklace; Danielle Faith earrings

The biggest day of your life

2011-09-07T08:13:00.000-06:00

Tiffany True Love

So when you tell people you're engaged, immediately they ask about the wedding. "So when are you getting married? Where? How many people? Have you found a dress yet?" More than asking, people always weigh in on what they think YOUR wedding should be like. So of course you do your best to receive their suggestions with a polite smile and not take anything too seriously.

I often hear people say it's only one day so keep it simple, don't make it too big, and most importantly, KEEP IT CHEAP. Because after all, no one will even notice. WRONG. Contrary to what others believe, think or say, I believe your wedding day IS the biggest day of your life. You're marrying the person you're gonna spend the rest of your life with. I mean, having babies is a pretty big deal too but without THE ONE, how will you make babies? Seriously, people. Wedding day = PRETTY BIG DEAL.

You only get ONE DAY, so why not make it BIG (and I'm not referring only to the number of guests)? Why would you settle for anything less than all you've ever dreamed of? You only get one chance at this, so I say do it right. Seriously, how often in life do you get to celebrate your relationship with all your family and friends? I would bet not very often. So why not make it worthwhile because you'll never get an opportunity like this again.

Don't get me wrong, marriage is so much more than just the wedding day, but I just want to put out there that I think it's important to make your big day special. At least for Jon and I, we've come along way in our relationship and we have so many people to thank for our success. If we wanted to keep it simple and cheap, we could just go to City Hall and tie the knot, but we want to make it memorable and meaningful, both for us and our guests. Your wedding day will go down in history. People will be talking about it for years and years to come. Your children and grandchildren will want to know all the little details. So make it what you want, have no regrets, and don't be bothered by what others have to say.

Appreciate the simple brilliance of the greats

2011-09-06T21:32:00.000-06:00

Our first purchase together as an engaged couple: a vinyl record album for our future home. :)

The innocent can never last

2011-09-05T20:23:00.001-06:00

wake me up when September ends

She loves to hide.

She also loves to play.

Here she's trying to get a chunk of dirt out of my shoes.

Meet Agent Jack "Tiger" Bauer, the latest addition to the Lê family. Call me crazy cat lady but I am totally in love with her. She is so much fun to play with, and I just love having her around in the home. Unfortunately, my fiancé has terrible allergies to cats and he suffered a lot of this past weekend just so I could play with her and still be close to him. Now if THAT isn't love, I don't know what is. He is incredibly selfless like that. Honestly, if I could keep her for myself, I would. She is the most precious little thing.

I just got back yesterday from spending the long weekend in Edmonton with my fiancé. I love weekends together: catching up with friends over drinks and dinner, shopping for clothes and shoes, spending an evening at home watching It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and eating Papa John's pizza, buying new music, and Sunday afternoon naps. Simply a perfect weekend to start off an exciting and eventful month ahead.

I still can't believe it's September, though. Where has the time gone? In any event, this is my favourite time of the year. I love watching the leaves change colour. I love the transition from summer to fall fashion. I love reaching another year in my relationship with my fiancé. I love the hype of back to school even though I'm not longer a student. Most of all, I love growing older and celebrating another year of life. September has always been a special time in my life, and I'm looking forward to the days and weeks to come.

So happy together. ♥

So close to reaching that famous happy ending

2011-09-05T12:41:00.000-06:00

My fiancé put together an amazing video of our proposal. I still get emotional whenever I think about it, and watching the video for the first time brought back a flood of feelings from that beautiful August day. It's worth watching to the very end. :)

Moments fall upon me slowly

2011-08-27T13:52:00.004-06:00

Wearing Joe Fresh sweater, sunglasses, & belt, TNA shorts, Aldo necklace and bangles.

Nothing I love more than summer weekends. 2 days off work, plus 28 degree weather, and time to catch up on life. It's been awhile since I've had a weekend to myself, so I'm just enjoying this lazy Saturday that I have to relax at home and to attend to things I've been neglecting.

Speaking of neglect, I know I haven't been keeping up with my blog lately but I promise this will change since summer is coming to an end and life is beginning to slow down again. Now that all the engagement festivities have pass, WEDDING PLANNING is in full swing. So much to share. Definitely stay tuned for updates.

On a different note, I decided I'm going back to buying CDs instead of albums on iTunes (at least for now). For the past few years, I've been purchasing all my music on iTunes and of course listening to them on my iPod. But I realized while driving home one evening that I do most of my music listening in the car, and for some strange reason, I just prefer using CDs instead of plugging in my iPod. With that said, I picked up Adele's 21 album recently and it's been playing in repeat. Favourite tracks:

Rolling in the Deep

Set Fire to the Rain

Lovesong

Someone Like You

Turning Tables

If only I had a 6 disc CD changer as well. That would be THE DREAM.

What have we always said is the most important thing?

2011-08-21T09:00:00.003-06:00

George Michael: "Breakfast."
Michael: "Family."
George Michael: "Family. Right. I thought you meant out of the things you eat."
- Arrested Development, Season 1

Brothers.

Our parents.

Jon's family.

My family.

Matt and Cindy.

Future brother-in-laws. :)

I made these centre pieces myself. Yellow roses (my favourite), hydrangeas, and freshly sliced lemons.

SO. MUCH. FOOD.

Our moms.

+

Dinner at The Keg.

Jon and I are now officially engaged according to Vietnamese tradition. Last Saturday, Jon's family traveled down from Edmonton bearing gifts to ask my parents for my hand in marriage. It was a very short and sweet ceremony. We exchanged some gifts, said a few heartfelt words, and ate A LOT of food. Although we mostly did this for our parents out of honour and tradition, it was really nice having our two families join together to celebrate our engagement and welcome each other into our new families.

We wanted to go to the Calgary Zoo to spend the late afternoon together but we got there an hour before closing, so there was no point. Couldn't decide on anything else to do in the city, so we drove an hour to spend the evening in Banff. Plans of hiking turned into a steak dinner at The Keg and a walk around town. All in all, it was a fun-filled day with more engagement bliss, good food, and quality bro time. If last Saturday was a glimpse of what life will be like in the Lê family, then I am excited about the future.

She puts the colour inside of my world

2011-08-13T23:39:00.001-06:00

What started out as our typical summer time photo shoot turned out to be the most romantic and intimate proposal a girl could dream of. My boyfriend (now fiancé) planned the whole thing perfectly, and even some unplanned moments added more magic to the beautiful day.

We usually plan these photo shoots together, like location and outfits. In the past, we would just pick a date and then ask my sister to follow us around with a camera. This time, my fiance just took the lead on the planning and I just went along with the plan. He asked his brothers, Chris and Josh, and his good friend, Andy, to take pictures for us, while his other good friend, Charles, videotaped the whole affair. Believe it or not, he didn't tell anyone he was proposing, not even his brothers, so we all thought it was just another regular photo shoot that we often do (see here).

We spent the day revisiting places where we spent a lot of time together while dating (i.e. downtown Calgary, Stephen Ave, Starbucks on Centre St and 9th Ave, Prince’s Island Park, and Crescent Hills), and also locations where we previously did photo shoots. The day felt very normal and relaxed, as normal as it can be when you have an entourage of 3 photographers and a videographer following you around the city, taking endless snaps of you at every angle. What made it feel like just another day was the fact that we were doing things we normally do like picking up coffee to start off our day, stopping for indulgent food along the way (i.e. hotdogs on Stephen Ave), and hanging out with family and friends.

We ended off our shoot on Crescent Hills, just as the sun was beginning to set beautifully in the mid summer sky. As we were getting ready to wrap things up, my boyfriend looked at me with the most humbling eyes while holding my hands tightly and I knew right then, "This is it. He's really doing this."

With my face lighting up and my heart pounding out of my chest, he slipped his right hand into his blazer pocket, and he dropped down on one knee. Everything around me began to fade as I stood there looking down at the most incredible man in the world telling me how much he loved me and how he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. I could feel my heart bleeding with love and joy that I didn't know I could feel as I gently replied "yes" to the most famous and beautiful question of all time, "Will you marry me?"

He carefully slipped the ring on my finger, and immediately after he got to his feet, he embraced me in his arms for what felt like an eternity. With my arms tightly locked around my baby and my face buried in his chest, I could feel light tears rolling down my cheeks because I had never known love like this before. As he rested his face on my shoulder, I could hear little cries of happiness and I just knew that he felt the way I did. When you come back down from the clouds and realize that your dream is now a reality, it finally hits you that you're engaged to your best friend and that there is no greater feeling than knowing that you have found the one.

In love,

Photos by Chris Le, Josh Le, and Andy Tran

Location: Crescent Hills, Calgary

Lucky I'm in love with my best friend

2011-08-11T02:02:00.003-06:00

Our last photo shoot as boyfriend and girlfriend.

Photos by Chris Le, Josh Le, and Andy Tran.
Location: Downtown Calgary, Stephen Ave, and Prince’s Island Park

Did you sail across the sun?

2011-08-07T23:09:00.002-06:00

"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality." - John Lennon

I'm engaged to the most wonderful man in the world; my best friend, my soulmate, my love.

Date A Girl Who Writes

2011-08-05T22:58:00.000-06:00

(flickr.com)

"You'll be a lucky man if you find her. She's the one with a journal in her hand, a notebook in her purse, scrap paper in her car, and pencils in her back pocket. She's always scribbling something, praying it won't evaporate before she gets it down onto paper. And because she's always scribbling, she's always looking down, and that's why you never noticed her before.

If you're lucky, you'll find her at a library or in a park or at a coffee shop or in an airport, drinking coffee and watching people or typing furiously at her computer. If you see her looking at you, look back and wait.

If she looks away she doesn't want to be interrupted and she doesn't want you to notice her, so pretend you don't. But if you can get her to look at you and not look away, she wants to talk to you. She's targeted you, pursuing you, inviting you. Once she catches your eye, once she hears your voice that first time, she begins her profile. She's the one who will have your character in 10 seconds and have you completely profiled in 10 minutes.

After two weeks she'll know you better than you know yourself.

If you catch her muttering to herself, don't feel awkward, she's talking with the characters in her story, probably arguing about what happens next.

Don't lie to her because she knows. She can see it in your eyes, hear it in your voice, sense it in your energy field. She pays attention to every detail of your every word and if you're not careful, she'll ask the question that strips your lie away and you'll be humiliated.

So tell the damn truth.

If something is wrong, you may as well tell her because she'll figure it out. When something is wrong, you may as well tell her because otherwise she'll jump to the most absurd, most outlandish, most creative but ridiculous possibilities anyone could ever come up with, and when the truth comes out and she tells you what she thought, you'll remind her she's crazy, and she'll remind you that she knows this because of the voices, and you'll both laugh and hug and go on with life.

It's easy to shop for a girl who writes: office supplies like sticky notes and pencils, calendars, and especially beautiful journals will bring her immense joy because she knows that blank paper is the beginning of a new person, a new life, a new world. And holding that blank notebook in her hands lets her feel the power she knows exists inside her soul.

If you find out she's upset, don't ask her why, just let her cry until she hands you her journal and goes to stand by the window until you finish reading her most recent entry. She could never tell you what was wrong with her mouth because her soul is in her hands. Once you read that entry, skip back in her journal and read the parts about you, because if she handed you her journal and walked away, it means she wants you to read it. She wants you to know that she dreams about becoming your only love every night, and that she has the whole thing planned out.

Then once you know the plan, carry it out. She'll play along.

She'll write the wedding invitations, and the baby announcements, and stories for your children. She'll write you letters in your lunch every day and put sweet sensual notes on your pillow in the evenings. She'll ramble on and on as you take long walks along the beach and tell you all about a world that doesn't exist, and people who were never born and will never die and whom she loves as much as she loves your children, because her characters are just more of her children.

Don't feel like you didn't help create them because chances are, if you love a girl who writes, there's a piece of you embedded in every hero, and a piece of herself in every heroine. You can sleep at night knowing that even after you both die, you'll both continue to live together in everyone else's minds through her books and stories, and you can live a thousand nights in stories that never end."

- unknown

Bánh Xèo

2011-08-04T22:58:00.002-06:00

I made the one on the left, and my boyfriend on the right.

Every time I visit Edmonton, my boyfriend's father makes it a point to get us all together to enjoy at least one home-cooked meal. He loves to cook, and he likes to teach people how to cook. I remember last summer he taught us how to make pad thai. This past weekend he showed us how to make bánh xèo (Vietnamese filled crepe). To my amazement, it wasn't all that hard. Just lots of prepping. Usually cooking is a chore, but I had a lot of fun learning to make something new and spending time with my boyfriend and his family. Food is a family affair at the Lê house, and it's a nice feeling getting to be a part of that.

C.

What a friend I've found

2011-08-03T23:55:00.001-06:00

Thy

Jen

Grace

No matter how busy life gets, it's important to always take time out for friendships. This past weekend, I had the pleasure of meeting up with some amazing girlfriends who I haven't seen in awhile. Over food and coffee, we talked for hours about life, relationships, school, work and everything in-between. Times like these I wish conversations could go on forever. I love spending quality time with quality people, and I am so blessed to know such wonderful girls. I have a special place in my heart for each of these girls, and they are all so dear to me.

It seems to me that as I get older, it becomes less and less important how often you see or talk to your friends. Even how far or near they are becomes trivial to the friendships. It's really about the connection you have with them; how comfortable you are with each other, how easily you can relate, and how you can just pick up right where you left off whether it was just last week or last year. It's amazing how your connection with your friends can dissolve time and distance. I'm so grateful for the friendships that I have.

Thank you for taking the time to listen, care, and understand. You girls have the most beautiful hearts!

With love,

My Sister's Wedding

2011-07-28T23:16:00.000-06:00

Here are some of my favourite pictures from the big day:

My awesome cousins from Norway.

My cousin from Boston.

Cousins.

Life keeps on moving

2011-07-28T09:56:00.000-06:00

I think it's safe to say the dust has finally settled. Since my last post, my sister got married (yay!), I moved out of my old place, and I'm back at work. To say I was busy these past couple of weeks would be a complete understatement. Even though it was intense and stressful, everything worked out in the end. It was a beautiful wedding. My sister looked absolutely stunning in her wedding dress, and you could just tell how happy she was all day by her radiant smile. I still can't believe my big sister is married but I'm glad she's found someone special to spend the rest of her life with.

My sister now resides in Ottawa with her husband, and although my family and I are happy for her, we're also deeply sad to see her go. She is a big part of our family. My parents, Billy and I all have a very close relationship with my sister, and she means so much to each of us. Without her, our family feels incomplete. - We miss you everyday, Pepper and we're always praying for and thinking of you.

But of course, life continues even after someone you love leaves. I've been hard at work packing and unpacking, and settling into my new temporary home. It was an exhausting past week moving everything in and organizing all my stuff again but things are coming together nicely. As for work, it feels good to be back in the office and to be back to a daily routine. When you're gone for a week and a half and people start to notice you're not there and tell you they miss you when you return... now that's a cool feeling. I love my workplace.

In other news, I'm heading up to Edmonton for the long weekend to spend some time with my boyfriend, his family, and some awesome girlfriends. I didn't leave the city at all during my time off, so this will be a nice break for me. Maybe I'll even take some pictures and post them. Maybe. I suck at being a photographer.

And I'll leave you with this, a picture of me and my boyfriend at my sister's wedding:

Best boyfriend ever.

I got soul, but I'm not a soldier

2011-07-11T10:34:00.002-06:00

Wearing H&M top, Joe Fresh pants, and Nine West heels.

Just popping in to say I'm still alive and breathing. These past few days, I've been trying to find a balance between working fulltime, planning a bridal shower, spending time with extended family, and keeping my sanity. With less than a week to go before my sister's wedding, things are about to get even more crazy. But a good kind of crazy. I will be missing in action for the next little while. Will resume regular blogging once the dust finally settles.

Be right back,

The Carrie Amp by Jon Le

2011-07-07T22:51:00.000-06:00

This post is so long overdue but better late than never, I always say. My boyfriend designed and built a do-it-yourself (DIY) headphone amplifier, and named it after me. So sweet, right? He's awesome. Here's a little more about the amp and how it works, written by my boyfriend himself:

Since headphones can require a lot of electrical power, a headphone amplifier provides the necessary voltage or current for headphones to properly reproduce its input signal. I designed and tested it, and I distributes the printed circuit boards to audio DIY enthusiasts around the world who build it with electronic components obtained online. It is designed to fit into a tiny little metal box, which makes it the perfect laptop companion for audiophiles on the go.

The digital-to-analog converter (DAC) takes the computer's audio signal from the USB, which is a digital signal, and changes it to music, which is an analog signal. This process occurs in every computer and CD/DVD/BD player, where the digital information needs to be changed into analog signal. The difference between digital and analog is that digital signals occur at a limited number of signals (0V, 1V, 2V), whereas analog signals are continuous waves that can be an infinite number of voltage signals.

Think of digital signals like stairs. Suppose a wheelchair-bound person wanted to go to a concert. He wouldn't be able to take the stairs without a ramp. A digital-to-analog converter would be like a device that fits overtop of the stairs to turn it into a ramp. Headphones are like the wheelchair in that the digital signals (stairs) aren't compatible with it unless there is a converter that turns them into continuous analog signals (ramp). Headphones and speakers work purely on analog signals, and always need a digital-to-analog converter to play digital audio files. Hence, a DAC is necessary for headphones to play digital files like MP3s.

Some of the challenges in designing an amplifier like this is being efficient with such low power and space. The quality is quite high for the space, size and power available. The Carrie Amp has a good balance of these three factors.

Till the sun grows cold and the stars grow old

2011-07-06T23:10:00.000-06:00

Braided by my sister.

Where there is food, there is life

2011-07-05T21:37:00.001-06:00

Dinner at Mango Shiva on Stephen Ave, Downtown.

A light starter.

Braised Lamb Shank.

Tabouleh salad.

Garlic naan.

Butter chicken.

Lunch at Seoul Korean BBQ on Macleod Trail.

Kim chi.

Shrimp, mussel, and squid.

Beef and short rib.

Some pictures from this past weekend.

I count my life in years

2011-07-03T23:00:00.004-06:00

Wearing Ecote top from Urban Outfitters, TNA shorts, Aldo bangles, F21 necklace and BCBG pumps.

Happy 2 years to my blog!

I have a tendency to chronicle my life in years (e.g. birthdays, anniversaries, et cetera). So often, we let the months and years pass us by without taking the time to reflect on how far we've come since the beginning. I remember when I started out, I had hardly any readers, I wanted to write about everything, and I was super nervous about having a public blog. Two years later, I feel I've found my niche in a sea of bloggers.

It takes time, even years, to develop and refine a blog. For my own blog, it's gone through countless changes; everything from layout, title, url address, and content. I think I've matured a lot as a writer, and more so recently, I feel my writing has become more transparent and honest. It's scary putting yourself out there and sharing yourself with others in such a revealing way but it's actually very liberating and satisfying to publish something that others can read and also relate to.

But the best part of all this is finding my voice through my writing. This blog has really helped me to discover who I am. There's something strangely therapeutic about writing out your thoughts. It's the act of thinking, feeling, understanding, and processing all that's existing inside your head and within your heart. I believe that's what makes it more that just a blog. It's cheesy to say but thank you to everyone who has contributed to this blog, in one way or another. Whether by simply having a conversation with me that inspired a post, or by taking pictures of me so that I can keep my non-reading readers interested. Most importantly, thank you for allowing me to be myself in such a way that has been both humbling and rewarding.

Your blogger,

Also, I created a Twitter account for my blog. Click here to follow me for updates on new blog post and general happenings.

Central Vietnam Spicy Beef Noodle Soup

2011-06-29T01:48:00.001-06:00

Raw beef bones.

Beef and pork bones, yellow onions, and lemongrass.

Banana blossoms.

Yellow onions and lime.

Freshly cut cilantro and green onions.

Bún Bò Huế

I started cooking for myself shortly after I moved away from home when I was 18. Nothing fancy, though. Just simple dishes like pasta and stir fry. When you're living on a student budget, you can't really make elaborate meals. I kept up with cooking on a weekly basis despite my busy school schedule. I did my own grocery shopping, I packed a lunch everyday, and I tried my best to always eat healthy. Even though it's easier to eat instant noodles everyday or save time with fast food, I chose to cook my own meals because I grew up learning the value of food and money. It's expensive to eat out all the time and also quite unhealthy, so cooking for myself made the most sense to me.

It wasn't until last year when I moved home from university and started living with my sister that I started learning how to cook more. Cooking isn't really that hard for me. It's just a matter of learning how to make things according to specific steps and ingredients. Cooking is mostly time consuming, and sometimes hard work but fairly simple. The only time cooking becomes difficult is when I'm lazy or busy. Cooking isn't just something you do once a month; it's a lifestyle. It takes patience. It takes energy. It takes time. For me, it's been a learning process. In the beginning, I wasn't very experimental but now I'm trying to cook new dishes and different types of cuisines. For example, last weekend I slaved away in the kitchen for nearly 3 hours and cooked a big pot of authentic Vietnamese noodle soup. Of course, my sister taught me how but I did all the work. So proud.

I owe a lot to my sister who has taken the time to teach me how to cook and show me everything she knows. I'm not super confident about my cooking and I'm very shy about others trying my food, but my sister has always been very supportive and encouraging. We have a lot of fun cooking together. My sister is an excellent cook, as well as my mom who taught her how to cook, and if I become half as good as they are one day, I have a good life ahead of me and so does my future husband. :)

Photos by me.

There's a world out there that we should see

2011-06-27T00:28:00.007-06:00

(photogen-inc.com)

Spent a refreshing weekend with my favourite person in the world. Aside from the typical things we love to do like taking naps, walking around the mall, drinking coffee and watching tv, we decided to try out some new-to-us eateries in the city. I'm no food critic but here's my review:

Spoon Me on Kensington Road NW: First off, I like hanging out in Kensington Village. It's a very trendy and vibrant part of the city. Lots of people all the time and lots of quirky little cafés and shops. As for Spoon Me itself, it was okay. I had the Green Tea frozen yogurt with fresh strawberry and blueberry toppings with some gummy worms. It tasted fine. Nothing exceptional. Actually, a little too cold for my sensitive teeth. Also, the service wasn't great and the directions to self-serve wasn't clear. The place was practically empty and the air conditioning was too cool. Sounds like a lot of complaints but that was my experience. I think I'll stick with Yogen Fruz.

Tubby Dog on 17th Ave SW: I've heard a lot about Tubby Dog and I've been meaning to try it out for the past year. Finally had the opportunity to go this weekend with the boyfriend. I tried the A-Bomb and my boyfriend ordered this month's special, the Juno. I really enjoyed my hotdog. Perfect mix of potato chips and bacon, topped with cheese, ketchup and mustard. Oh so good. My boyfriend also enjoyed his hotdog but he said it could do without the syrup. We also ordered some baked yam fries with sweet chilli sauce for dipping. Overall, it was a really good experience. Very casual and laid back feel to the place. Fast food. Friendly service. Will definitely return.

Una Pizza and Wine on 17th Ave SW: We meet up with a good friend for dinner this evening at this fairly new pizza restaurant in Calgary. Actually, we tried to get a table on Saturday night but the wait was an hour long and they don't take reservations. Between the three of us, we ordered the Swiss Chard and Sausage pizza. For my first time trying gourmet thin-crust pizza, I have to say it was pretty good. Plus, they seem to have an impressive selection of wine but I don't drink wine so I can't really comment further. The restaurant was a relatively small space with nice lighting and good music. Tight seating. Casual servers with retro hair. Pleasant atmosphere for dining and conversation. Will definitely return.

Next time the boyfriend is in town, we're gonna hit up Jelly Modern Doughnuts, Big Cheese Poutinerie, and Eat! Eat! restaurant. Gone are the days of always eating at Boston Pizza and Moxie's Classic Grill. We're making more of an effort to try new things and in doing so, we're also learning more about our city and places. As Jon would say, "we're so cultured, baby." At the end of the day, beyond the good food and good times, it's really nice having someone to share life experiences with.

Until next time,
C.

P.S. I would have taken pictures but nowadays I just like to carry my camera around to add weight to my bag.

To be nobody but yourself...

2011-06-26T22:31:00.000-06:00

And it was all yellow

2011-06-21T21:08:00.155-06:00

Wearing RW&Co. pants, Zara top, Joe Fresh belt, and Nine West heels.

Some might think that dressing for work everyday is an easy task, but it's actually quite the opposite. In my experience, it's a challenge to try and find balance between personal style vs. professional standards. When you work with other professionals and clients everyday, like myself, you can't just wear whatever you want. Sheer tops and short skirts? Yeaaah. I don't think so.

But that isn't to say that you can't look stylish and still look professional. Sometimes all it takes is a little bit of mixing and matching. Maybe something trendy with something classic. Maybe something flashy with something simple. Maybe something bold with something plain. It's really about figuring out how to incorporate your own personal style into every boring business casual outfit. In the case above, I'm still staying with the current trends of bold colours while looking semi-dressy in a classic pair of black pants. If only everyday was this easy.

Oh, and 8 hours in 4 inch heels? No big deal.

Speaking of work, here's a playlist of light tunes I like to listen to while I'm typing away at my computer and mindlessly doing paperwork:

Use Somebody by Laura Jansen (Cover)
Paperweight by Joshua Radin
Come Away With Me - Norah Jones
Gravity by John Mayer
Always On Your Side by Sheryl Crow Feat. Sting
Hackensack by Katy Perry (Cover)
Bring On the Wonder by Sarah McLachlan
Always Remember Me by Ry Cumming
Yellow by Coldplay

A life without love

2011-06-21T19:31:00.001-06:00

... is like a year without summer.

The way you make me feel

2011-06-20T01:16:00.005-06:00

- Michael Jackson

(last summer; photo by Thua Hoang)

My boyfriend and I have been dating for close to 3 years, and over the course of our relationship, things have constantly changed. I remember when we first started out, we were always so serious about everything. Kind of like when you're first getting to know someone and you have all these pressing questions that need an immediate answer so you can determine whether or not this is something worth pursuing. You know, questions about life, school, career, marriage, traveling, interests and dreams. Of course not everything lines up with each other, and it can sometimes make or break a relationship, but once you're able to move pass all the questions, and find some balance between understanding and compromise, things become –somewhat– easier.

I would say for the first year and a half of our relationship, we had a lot of figuring out to do. In other words, lots of fighting, ups and downs, and near break ups. But once we got over all that, we started having more fun in our relationship. Now we laugh all the time. We make silly jokes. We poke fun at each other. We keep it real. It's kind of like reaching a comfort level in the relationship where you can just simply be yourself because you know that the other person gets you. It's nice to be at a stage in our relationship that's more relaxed and effortless. I always have so much fun with my boyfriend. We enjoy each other's company, and we rarely get bored of being together all the time. It's a reassuring feeling knowing that he feels the same.

There's a lot of stages to go through in a long term relationship but if you can stick it out through the good time and bad times, being in a relationship with someone who you feel safe with and who deeply cares about you is truly one of the most rewarding life experiences. Even though there are many challenges and trials to overcome, relationships are totally worth it when it's with the right person.

C.

P.S. the above picture makes me laugh.

Blackbird

2011-06-16T00:25:00.003-06:00

... singing in the dead of nights.

Take these broken wings and learn to fly.

This train don't stop there anymore

2011-06-13T00:18:00.007-06:00

Elton John

Wearing Zara top and skirt, and Nine West heels.

My sister is my primary photographer. She's the one who takes almost all of my outfit pictures and she's the talent behind all my photo shoots with my boyfriend. She's not some self-proclaimed photographer nor is it her hobby but it's something she's naturally good at and she also does it for me. She's my number one fan whose been there since the beginning with endless love and support. Sadly, she'll be moving to Ottawa in fewer than 6 weeks (because she's getting married) so I will be without a photographer thereafter (at least until my boyfriend moves to Calgary). Even after all this time, my sister still pokes fun at me for taking outfit pictures, and we laugh about it all the time because that's what sisters do. I'm definitely gonna miss this when she's gone.

Speaking of photography, I have decided not to pursue it as a side business. Back in the fall, I mentioned on my blog that I wanted to expand and develop my photography portfolio, but after much thought and consideration, I realized I'm not crazy passionate about it like those who do it professionally. I'll admit it, I'm an amateur. I have no training and no education in photography. I've always had an artistic ability in me, but other than that, photography has always been a hobby that I've been fortunate enough to practice and develop over the years. I'm nowhere good enough to have a photography business.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's great when people can take a hobby, something they love and turn it into something more. But then there are a lot of people out there who think they have talent and run with it and don't realize that it's just not working for them. I'm just saying not everyone has to turn something they're good at into a business, which is something a lot of people have suggested to me. To tell you the truth, I don't enjoy taking pictures of people anymore. I used to but now I just prefer to take pictures of places and things. Admittedly, I also like having my picture taken, but most of all I like sharing my pictures with others, especially through my blog. It's fun for me, and I'd like to keep it that way. Plus, I already have a fulltime job and a career that I love. Why would I give that up to try and be somebody I'm not in a sea of photographers? I always say, do what you love and love what you do. For me, I know what my passion is, and I'm gonna stick with that.

C.

Photos by Thua Hoang.

And I'm hanging on a moment with you

2011-06-10T23:24:00.001-06:00

Wearing Forever 21 top, SUPRÉ tank, TNA shorts,
Joe Fresh belt, H&M tights, and Aldo heels.

It's been a busy work week to say the least. Everything from office renovations, meetings, former coworker's farewell, group counselling, individual sessions, and a 2 day family violence training. Although it's been a rewarding week, I'm just glad it's over. I love thinking about nothing while driving home on a Friday afternoon with windows down, music blasted and sun blazing. Just leaving it all behind. Let the weekend begin!

Sweet dreams are made of these

2011-06-08T00:51:00.003-06:00

Wearing Joe Fresh pants and cardigan, SUPRÉ tank, and Nine West heels.

My last outfit post like this one was taken back in December. Man, it's been a long time. Feels good to get back in the alleyway/sidewalk to take outfit pictures again. Reminds me why I love it and how much I miss it.

The fashion trends lately reminds me a lot of my junior high days. Back then I loved wearing army green, anything white, and bright colours. So now that these trends are making their way back, it just feels like so me. When the cool kids were dressing in all black, I was the one with the white jeans. I can still remember that one army green shirt I wore with just about everything. And bright colours like yellow and green? Again, SO me. Not to mention yellow is my favourite colour. If you know me, you'll know I'm quite bubbly, outgoing, cheerful and down-to-earth, so you can see how my personality is also reflected in the way that I dress.

It seems I had more of a personal sense of style back then. I mean there was no such thing as fashion blogs in the 90's to tell you what to wear or how to wear it. Internet was still dial-up speed so you couldn't really easily access fashion websites like style.com to tell you about the latest trends. So you kind of had to make sense of it on your own and develop your own personal style without outside influence. Back then, you just know what you like and you go with what you know. Nowadays, personal style seems less authentic and very unoriginal. But I believe those who have a strong sense of style also have a strong sense of self because after all style is about knowing who you are.

C.

"In hindsight, my initial love for fashion was about hope and evolving to become the type of woman I wanted to be: strong, confident and feminine. I always loved the idea of dressing up--my wardrobe and how I present myself reflecting how I feel on the inside. That is what I do for other people now. I give women the means to express themselves and be who they are and who they aspire to be, and I think there is a real beauty in this." - Rachel Roy

Personal vs. Professional

2011-06-06T23:38:00.001-06:00

(flickr.com)

Having a blog is kind of a funny thing, especially a public one. It's basically like having an online journal where you share thoughts and pictures of your life with –mostly– anonymous readers. I started blogging long before it was even called blogging, and I've been doing it for so long that I hardly even think about it anymore. It's simply part of who I am. It's my thing. It's what I do. It's what I enjoy. It's what I love. I write. I share. I inspire. I create. I blog.

But blogging is only a personal hobby. It's not my passion. It's not my job. It's not my life. As a counsellor, I don't often talk about my job on my blog due to professional boundaries and limitations so I'm always very careful about what I say. I can only say so much without saying too much, which is why I generalize everything and I come off a little vague sometimes. But it's only to protect myself and my career. Even though blogging is kind of a personal thing that I do on the side, it is also a very public thing that is accessible to anyone and everyone. But due to the nature of my career, I have to be very strict and private about my life, which –again– is kind of funny cause I have a public blog. It's a paradox. How can I be myself by writing candidly while still be a counsellor that's hush-hush about my personal life? Up until now I just try and write each post with discretion. Say only enough to make sense but not too much to get me in trouble. But despite efforts to try and keep my blog a secret from coworkers and the like, it is what it is, right? A blog is a blog.

Needless to say, my career is very important to me and I never want to do anything to jeopardize my current employment or future career, but blogging is part of what makes me who I am and quite frankly, what makes me a good counsellor. It's a creative outlet for me that helps me process and think. It's helped me to gain a better understanding of myself and others, and it's given me more perspective on life and human nature. It's a constant battle, though; trying to figure out how to engage in personal interest without it interfering with professional standards. Sometimes I feel like the only one in this dilemma. Nonetheless, it feels good to get this off my chest. With that said, I will stay true to me and continue to write from the heart.

Your counsellor-by-day and blogger-by-night,

Your smile is like a breath of spring

2011-06-04T19:20:00.000-06:00

Wearing H&M maxi dress and Aldo bangles/bracelet and wedge sandals.

"The expression a woman wears on her face is more important than the clothes she wears on her back." - Dale Carnegie

Photos by Thua Hoang.

All I Have

2011-06-03T01:02:00.001-06:00

"Why do we let the one thing we don't have affect how we feel about all the things we do have? Why does one-minus-a-plus-one feel like it adds up to zero?" - Sex and the City

I'm perfectly lonely

2011-06-02T23:49:00.003-06:00

- John Mayer

(unknown)

I attended The Fray concert here in Calgary the other night. When asked by others who I went with I simply replied, "myself." The reaction? Mostly surprised but I could also sense a hint of pity in their tone of voice. In today's culture, it's unusual to hear about people doing things alone and it's normal to assume that people have company when they are traveling, eating out, watching a movie, going to a concert, et cetera. But for me, the latter is far from true.

I often find myself alone. When I was in university, I would spend endless hours just studying by myself. Almost 2 years ago I traveled to Australia, again by myself, for 4 months. And today, it's not uncommon to find me in my own company at a concert or Vietnamese restaurant. I sleep alone and I wake up alone. Loneliness has become so immersed in my everyday life that it has somehow become a part of me. Even though I'm surrounded by people all day, at work and in my home life, I still feel strangely alone. However, contrary to most people, I actually enjoy my solitude. I've come to appreciate my own company and being alone with just my thoughts.

It's only when you are alone, you are able to truly be yourself. There's no one around to impress. There's no explaining or misunderstanding. There's no pretense. No facade. No secret. Just you in your most raw and vulnerable state. You can think your thoughts. You can feel your feelings. You can be you by just being you. Of course not everyone can do this with the same ease and confidence as those who are have master the skill of being alone, but then those who are comfortable and secure in their own solitude truly knows what it means to have a relationship with themselves.

C.

Related post: Passion for music, learning, and making a difference

Take me beyond this ordinary life

2011-05-30T20:26:00.003-06:00

(Wolfgang Tillmans)

I've been thinking a lot about ordinary life, which I like to refer to on my blog as "everyday life." What is it about the ordinary things in life that seem so boring and unappealing to others? I mean, why does life have to be constantly exciting and fun for others for take interest? And is life any less exciting if all you're doing is peeling carrots or reading the newspaper? For example, on Saturday night I talked on the phone with my boyfriend for 2 hours, yesterday I spent the afternoon pulling weeds out of my lawn, and later tonight I'm gonna head to the pool for an hour to de-stress. Nothing terribly exciting, like going clubbing or traveling to Australia but it is in fact "real life," is it not? And without these ordinary things that we do everyday, what would make up our lives?

It seems to me like people are always trying to find some deeper meaning in life by doing something extraordinary to compensate for their discontent with their boring-same-old-same-old-everyday-life. But will adding more excitement to what you do make your life any more rich or lively? There's something truly fulfilling about finding enjoyment in the dullest of times or pleasure in the simple things. For me, all my pleasures are homey ones: the warmth of your laundry when you first pull it out of the dryer, the smell of an earl grey tea, wearing no makeup, having my boyfriend there when I wake up from an afternoon nap, watching reruns of Sex and the City on tv every night, and walking bare feet on freshly mopped floors. Such boring and ordinary things that makes life seem real and tangible; not just some distant idea waiting to happen.

This is not to say that you should live life with apathy and never do anything out of your comfort zone. But what I am saying here is to enjoy every minute of life, whether dull or exciting. We can't all live extravagant lifestyles where every second we're doing something new and adventurous, but we can find happiness and satisfaction in the little things that we do everyday. Cause afterall, it's those ordinary things and moments that gives life its meaning.

"Always do the common things in life, uncommonly well."

Can you imagine no first dance

2011-05-29T23:16:00.000-06:00

... freeze dried romance,
five hour phone conversation,
the best soy latte that you ever had

and me?

Only yesterday was the time of our lives

2011-05-23T23:57:00.003-06:00

(all photos by me)

I'm back from my mini-vacation. I have to say, Vancouver second time around was pretty darn awesome. Unfortunately, I didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked but when you're having fun and in good company, spending time behind the viewfinder is the last thing on my mind. I tweeted most of my activities but here are some highlights for those who missed it: catching up with Lily until 4 am my first night there, bike riding along the seawall, Fresh Market at Granville Island, eating McDonald's on a bench along Granville Street, shopping at Pacific Centre downtown, steak dinner at Glowbal Grill on Hamilton Street, drinks at Granville Room, brunch at Subeez on Homer Street, Vancouver Art Gallery, watching Bridesmaids, enjoying desserts and reading at Ganache, and of course Lily's 23rd birthday celebration at Sanafir. We spent all our time in downtown Vancouver and mostly did ordinary things that we enjoy like eating, shopping, and walking. We took life at our own pace, very slow and easy with with no strict timeline or schedule. All in all, it was a really nice getaway for me; sunny and light rain weather, getting to visit Lily in her home-city for the first time, meeting new people, relaxing, and gaining more perspective on life and people.

Until next time,

A city I've never been

2011-05-18T11:25:00.002-06:00

(photo by me)

If you follow me on Twitter (and if you don't, you should), you'll know that I'm heading to Vancouver for the long weekend to visit my best friend, Lily of Bleed For Fashion for her 23rd birthday. Although I've been to Vancouver before, this trip feels like my first. When I was there 2 summers ago, I had a very limited experience of the city, so I'm looking forward to seeing more this time around.

More than that, I'm excited about using some vacation days to enjoy some time off work while still getting paid. One of the many perks of working a fulltime job. It's that time of year when so many people seem burnt out and in desperate need of a break from all responsibilities and commitments. For me, this break couldn't have come at a better time.

With that said, I'm gonna finish packing, head off to work, and be on my way to Vancouver tonight. I hope everyone in Canada has a lovely long weekend!

If you're lost, you can look and you will find me

2011-05-16T00:15:00.007-06:00

If you fall, I will catch you
I'll be waiting
Time after time

Love this performance audition by Javier Colon of Time After Time on The Voice. Classic song.

She acts like summer and walks like rain

2011-05-11T00:27:00.004-06:00

Wearing Zara top and skirt, H&M clutch and sunglasses, Aldo necklace, and Nine West shoes.

One of the greatest things about my boyfriend is his genuine interest and support in what I love to do. For example, fashion and photography. He was there with me when I bought my first DSLR camera, and he bought me my first zoom lens shortly thereafter. Needless to say, he's been very invested in my hobby and he's provided me with endless support and encouragement in my development as a photographer. More than that, he's always believed in me. Even if I was the worst photographer in the world, his confidence in my ability and talent has given me confidence in myself.

As for fashion, he's always been the best listener. He pays attention to what I say and makes an effort to remember what I say about the latest trends in fashion. He lets me shop in his closet and he accompanies me whenever I wanna go shopping. At the heart of it, he cares about what I care about and he makes me feel safe about sharing my interest and passion with him, no matter how lame or deep. To an extent, especially when I started out, I felt really silly about taking "fashion pictures" of myself and posting it on my blog. At risk of seeming self-absorbed and totally ridiculous, I was always worried about what others would think but with my boyfriend's constant support, I've able to continue doing what I enjoy with more comfort and ease.

So when you put fashion and photography together, along with my so-called model self and my photographer boyfriend, you get these amazing images above. It goes without saying that my boyfriend is also a super talented photographer. I still feel camera shy even when my boyfriend's shooting me but he makes it so much fun and enjoyable. He's always pushing me to greater heights and challenging in new ways. At the end of the day, regardless of what we do, whether it's something he enjoys or something I love, we have fun together and that is what makes life so much more exciting and meaningful.

Your amateur model,
C.

Photos by Jon Le.

She listens like spring and she talks like June

2011-05-08T23:52:00.005-06:00

Wearing Zara top and skirt, H&M clutch and sunglasses, Aldo necklace, and Nine West shoes.

Part II coming in a couple of days. Stay tuned. :)

Photos by Jon Le.

The scars of your love, they leave me breathless

2011-05-06T20:56:00.003-06:00

Rolling in the Deep by Adele

Photos by Jon Le.

You make it easier when life gets hard

2011-05-05T23:32:00.001-06:00

My apologizes for the lack of posting. Somewhere between last Thursday and today, I was hit with a million things to do. Starting with last Friday: I went to that conference I mentioned in my last post, which was fascinating and intellectually stimulating as well. And then there was the Royal Wedding and me on a Friday night with my eyes glued to the television watching highlights of the wedding on 3 different channels. On Saturday: I attended the fundraiser event which went really well. I love finding myself in a place I've never been, around people I don't know, and in conversations that never end. On Sunday: church, family time, and packing*.

And then there was Monday: the start of a new work week, cooking, and updating my blog**. On Tuesday: I went shopping after work and here's a life lesson that will show up on my next credit card bill: never shop when you're upset. Also known as retail therapy. Spontaneously went out for bubble tea with a close friend later that night. Always good to talk and be there for a friend in need. On Wednesday: slept in, worked, and watched American Idol and all new Law and Order: SVU when I got home. And today: I volunteered at the Helping Hands Tea serving coffee and tea to some wonderful elderly women who have volunteered their time over the years to make Worry Dolls and blankets for many women and children where I work. It's always amazing to see and meet new people who are making a difference in their community through volunteer work. Truly inspiring.

As for tomorrow, I'm taking a long overdue personal day. It's getting harder and harder to concentrate on work when the weather is so nice and I'm constantly preoccupied with personal plans. So much to look forward to in the weeks and months to come. Starting with a visit from my boyfriend this weekend. Also very long overdue but the timing couldn't have been more perfect. With everything that has been going on as of late, my boyfriend just makes everything easier when life gets hard. And when he's not here, ice cream works well too. :)

So for now, I'll be taking -hopefully- a very brief break from the wonderful world of blogging and getting back to real life. Be back Sunday (after the boyfriend leaves) or Monday, at best.

Cheers,

*more on this later

**I updated the "About Me" section of my blog and also added some new labels: New York and Boston. Still working on labels for some other places that I've traveled.

All this emphasis on youth—I don't buy it

2011-05-02T00:21:00.002-06:00

he said.

"Listen, I know what a misery being young can be, so don't tell me it's so great. All these kids who came to me with their struggles, their strife, their feelings of inadequacy, their sense that life was miserable, so bad they wanted to kill themselves… And, in addition to all the miseries, the young are not wise. They have very little understanding about life." -MORRIE, Tuesdays with Morrie

Passion for music, learning, and making a difference

2011-04-28T23:52:00.010-06:00

(unknown source)

"Travel to a new city. See more shows: musical, art, concerts, and theatre. Start a photography business. Save money. Be responsible. Work hard. Give more. Drink less coffee. Re-watch old movies. Be respectful of others. Never stop learning. Cry. Laugh. Have fun. And enjoy life!" - me at 22

One thing I wanted to do more this year was see more shows. Since last year around this time, I've seen: John Mayer, The Phantom of the Opera, The Canadian Tenors, Carrie Underwood, Sarah McLanhlan, and Joshua Radin. Next up: The Fray. I'll be seeing them live in concert at the Jack Singer Concert Hall at the end of May. I'm so excited. My seat is 4th row, centre; so close I can see them breathe. I was first introduced to their music by an old friend who heard their first single "How to Save a Life" on Scrubs, and I've been a fan since. Their first record was the soundtrack of my life during my first year of university, and their second album played in-repeat the summer my boyfriend and I spent together.

Here are some blog titles inspired by lyrics by The Fray:

Trust Me: Here today, gone tomorrow, You need me less than I need you

Look After You: Be the one I'll always know

Ungodly Hour: Tomorrow finds the best way out

Heartless (Cover): Somewhere far along this road

And tomorrow I'm attending a work conference on clinical psychotherapy and mental health disorders, presented by internationally acclaimed workshop leader, Dr. Shawn Shea. We're gonna be tackling the answers to two elusive and controversial questions: What is the nature of happiness? and What is the nature of human nature itself? More than that, we'll be learning about practical strategies and techniques for transforming stalled healing and new methods for uncovering problematic personality disorders such as borderline, narcissistic and antisocial, which applies to my work with domestic violence, suicide prevention and mental health disorders. I'm sure no one else is interested in this stuff but for me it's what I live and breathe, and part of professional development is learning about new theories and practice.

I was also invited to an exclusive fundraiser event this weekend for the Global Enrichment Foundation, an incorporated non-profit organization that provides opportunities for women to empower themselves through education, health, wellness and economic opportunities. The purpose of the event is to create some awareness around the issues and needs of women in Somalia, the poorest nation in the world as of 2010. There are numerous ways for us to give back and make a difference in this world, and when people I know have a heart and passion for something, I want to be there to support them. More personally, though, I am passionate about the issues of women in this world and in my own community, and I believe that's reflected in the work that I do everyday. "Invest in a woman and change a life, a community, a country and the world." - Global Enrichment Foundation

Live life with passion.

C.

You're 22; what do you know about life?

2011-04-27T00:27:00.004-06:00

- Sex and the City

What is it about age that defines who we are? We're always too young or too old to do something or to be somebody. For this reason, we allow age to dictate how we should live our lives instead of following our instinct and going with what feels right. We often deny ourselves of what we want because we're afraid society will judge us if we're not age-appropriate for what we want to pursue. For example, you're too old to have a music career or you're too young to get married. Whatever the case, we hold ourselves back from really living life according to our own timeline.

For myself, I've always been very mature for my age. So much so that people would often mistaken me for much older than I actually am. I've learned to grow up fast and that's okay because it's made me who I am today. I'm content with where I am in life and the speed I chose to get here. I'm always had this yearning inside of me to be older. Like life would somehow happen for me once I reached a particular age. And then I realize that life is what happens as you age.

Although there are some guiding principles to the concept of age (i.e. children shouldn't be allowed to watch x-rated movies), life should be lived freely regardless of your age. So what if you decided to go back to school at 50? You might not blend in with the rest of the crowd but at least you're doing what you want. And who cares if you fall in love at 16? Even though they say young love don't last, you should still follow your heart. That's not to say that you should be careless and reckless about your life because age is nothing but a number. Age has nothing to do with maturity, and I think maturity is the key to a lot of life decisions (i.e. going to post-secondary, buying a car or house, traveling, getting married, or having kids).

I guess what I'm trying to say is this: you should feel free to be who you are without feeling bound by your age. I struggle with this a lot because admittedly I am young and therefore I find myself out of place in a lot of areas of my life. But I'm learning to let go of other people's judgment and forget how others may see me and just live life at my own pace.

Related post: Some hearts just get lucky sometimes

No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn

2011-04-24T23:12:00.003-06:00

I'll never know how much it cost

2011-04-22T23:32:00.005-06:00

to see my sin upon the cross.

Tonight's Good Friday service reminded me of what Christ experienced when he was in this world. Sometimes I think I have it so hard and I always feel like it's me against the world, but when I stop to really think and reflect on who Christ is and what he went through, I realize how small and insignificant my life is compared to the life that Christ lived. Jesus was betrayed, mocked, and denied by the world, yet he never sinned and remained blameless and pure. Christ took on the world and conquered all opposition.

I often complain and curse about how others have wronged me, and naturally I start thinking about ways to take revenge but because of what Christ has done and the examples that he has set, I know I'm called to live in the same Way and Light. But it isn't easy. I struggle constantly with the pains and disappointments of how others have treated me, and the deep burns and betrayals of others is not easily forgiven. But instead of acting with a vengeance, casting blame, and habouring resentment, I ought to forgive in the same way that I have been forgiven when Jesus paid for my sin on the cross.

I don't know how Jesus did it, but all I know is I want to be more like him and live life with the same love and forgiveness. There is a lot to learn about how Jesus lived his life and what kind of impact he had in this world. For me, Jesus is my ultimate role model and when my life is rooted and reflected in Christ and his teachings, I know I can overcome the world as well.

I'm like a bird, I'll only fly away

2011-04-19T23:20:00.000-06:00

I don't know where my soul is
I don't know where my home is

Some words I wish I never said

2011-04-19T00:34:00.003-06:00

Have you ever been in a situation where you wanted to tell someone how you felt but feared that you can't cause they'll resent you, hate you, or stop speaking to you? And then you consult with family and friends about what they think and ask for advice on what to do. Should I? Shouldn't I? Often times we're conflicted with the decision of what to do because we're afraid of the consequences. Yet we can't seem to live with the painful reality of how we feel. So what are our options?

I have come to the conclusion that there are only two ways to approach this dilemma; tell that person how you feel or make peace with it. Anything in-between such as living a lie or being angry will affect no one else but you. But easier said than done, right? I realize that telling someone how you feel involves a lot of risk and it takes courage because you could possibly damage the relationship and lose someone you love. But if you don't take the chance to be honest with yourself and the other person, you have to deal with the repercussion. You begin to habour feelings of resentment, hate, and frustration against this other person, and all the while, they're simply going about their daily lives without any knowledge of how they've hurt, disrespected, or wronged you.

But what if you just can't bring yourself to tell that person how you feel? Then you need to make peace with it and move on. In other words, let go. Again, easier said than done, right? Absolutely. I've had my share of personal battles and tug-a-wars with the heart, contemplating endlessly on what to do and coming up with nothing in the end. No answer. No direction. No hope. But there was always some peace to be found in all the darkness and pain. We always have choices in life, but when we feel like we've run out of choices, peace is something we can always choose. We can be honest about our feelings, admit them, talk about them, write about them, but if nothing more can be done, we have to learn to let them go and be okay with that. We can't control everything that happens in life and we certainly can't control how others make us feel.

Of course the decision between the two options is never easy. For me, it's always better to go with telling someone how you feel. It's scary and heart wrenching but incredibly freeing. You don't have to carry around a heavy burden or deep secret. You don't have to live with such painful and hopeless feelings. You don't have to pretend, act or lie. When it's all said and done, you took a chance and put yourself out there. How they response or react to your confession is entirely up to them. At least you did your part by being honest with your feelings and that's all you can really accept responsibility for. As for choosing peace even under the most excruciating circumstances, you can begin to heal your soul and find solace where it hurts.

Forever will never be long enough for me

2011-04-18T00:27:00.001-06:00

Happy birthday, baby. Here's to many more years and growing old together.

The wonderful world of fashion blogging

2011-04-16T23:50:00.005-06:00

(weheartit.com)

When I was first introduced to fashion blogging about 2 summers ago, I was instantly captivated by it. Like so many others, I became obsessed with fashion. I was constantly thinking about outfits and taking pictures to showcase on my blog what I was wearing with other "fashion" readers/followers. I wrote about fashion like I was some sort of an expert in the field when in reality I knew very little. I spent countless hours on style.com reviewing the latest spring/summer - fall/winter fashion shows by designers whose names I could barely pronounce. I talked about fashion all the time like a self-proclaimed fashion blogger who lives and breathes fashion (you all know who I'm talking about).

I was really taken in by the world of fashion blogging, and I would be lying if I didn't admit that I wanted to be a part of this world. At least this was me when I started out. In retrospect, I had fun exploring fashion and being creative with my style, but there were times when I let it get to my head, spent too much money trying to keep up with trends, and lost a sense of self trying to obtain more than I needed.

Thinking more honestly about this subject, I realize fashion blogging is really not who I am. I definitely enjoy it and I have a lot of fun taking pictures, but I'm not crazy passionate about it like some people. I'm getting older now and my lifestyle doesn't allow for me to keep up with it like I use to. Of course there will always be some element of fashion on my blog and I'm not saying goodbye to outfit post completely but it will no longer be a major focus on my blog.

At the heart, I still have a very deep love for fashion. To me, fashion is art, and as an artist myself, I appreciate the art of design and the work that goes into handcrafting an individual garment. I may not be a high-end fashion gal, nor do I own a bunch of designer goods however you don't need fancy shoes and purses to know about fashion and respect it for what it is.

C.

Life or Something Like It

2011-04-15T21:08:00.005-06:00

When I first started this blog almost 2 years ago, I wanted to write about life. At that time in my life, I was entering my last year of university, I was still in a fairly new relationship, I bought my first DSLR camera, and I was moving to Australia for 4 months for a senior internship. It was definitely a time of transition and adventure in my life, and I wanted to use a blog to share my life experience with others. Since then, a lot has change. I graduated university, moved back home, started my career, but more than that, I've done a lot of growing up.

Although writing about life will always be relevant and I'll likely never deviate from that but I feel like I'm at a different stage in my life and my original blog title no longer feels fitting. When I settled on "Life or Something Like It," I thought I was going to stick with it until the end of time but now I realize how unrealistic that can be for someone like myself who is always changing and evolving.

After much thought and contemplation, I decided to change my blog title and url to "In Love and War." I'm still figuring out what this title means to me but there's something about the contrast between these two powerful words that really resonates with me. All of life seems to be this constant battle between good and evil, love and hate, happiness and sorrow, wins and losses, and ultimately life and death.

So welcome to inloveandwar.net - Please stay with me as I explore this next blog chapter in my life.

Love,
C.

"I've fought many wars in my time. Some I've fought for land, some for power, some for glory. I suppose fighting for love makes more sense than all the rest." - Priam, Troy

Weep not for the memories

2011-04-10T23:33:00.002-06:00

I Will Remember You by Sarah McLachlan

Just taking a brief break from regular programming to write about what I like to call "everyday life." In other words, just day-to-day stuff that I do that has very little to do with deep thoughts, feelings, or ideas, which seems to be all I write about these days.

So after work on Friday, I met up with my sister at the bridal salon for her first dress fitting and mine as well for my bridesmaid dress. They just have to take in a few inches here and there, cut a little bit off the length, and everything should fit to a t once done. Roughly 3 months until the wedding so lots to do from now until then.

I also had an appointment that afternoon with my branch, and without going into too much details, my personal line of credit has been approved! Another big step towards adulthood and more financial responsibility.

Friday evening, I accompanied my sister to the Alberta Child Care Professional Awards of Excellence event at the Westin Hotel in Downtown Calgary. My sister was nominated for the Urban Out-of-School Child Care program. Unfortunately she didn't win but she was a finalist out of hundreds of nominations throughout Alberta which is really outstanding. She, along with many others, were recognized and acknowledged for their hard work and dedication towards early childhood education. The work that she does everyday is truly making a difference in the lives of children and families within our communities, and as a result is creating a better today and tomorrow. Cheers to my sister for her development and success in her career! I'm so proud of her.

And today, we celebrated my mom's 47th birthday! My mom lost her mom in mid-November of 2010, so whenever I think of birthdays, I'm reminded of what a blessing it is to grow older each year and to be able to celebrate another year of life with those you love. Life is truly a gift and we're lucky if we live old enough to see our children have children. I love you, grandma and I miss you everyday.

Next weekend I'll be heading up to Edmonton. I've been itching to get out of the city for a while now so this visit couldn't have come at a better time. Can't wait to make the long and lonely drive and to see my boyfriend and some good friends again! Have a good week, everyone.

Nothing is original. Steal from everywhere...

2011-04-09T22:36:00.002-06:00

(unknown source)

How come I wasn't invited?

2011-04-08T01:33:00.003-06:00

"I'm not even gonna get mad anymore. I'm just gonna learn to expect the lowest out of the people I thought the highest of." - iDefineTruth

There seems to be this reoccurring theme in my life where "friends" tend to not invite me to their birthday parties and sometimes wedding. For some unknown reason, its happened to me on more than one occasion. I'm not sure what to make of it, though. Honestly, how do you make sense of not getting invited to numerous events that you thought for sure your friends would invite you and then they don't?

Sometimes I understand why I'm not invited. Other times, I'm completely dumbfounded and then hurt and then resentful. It's not so much about not getting invited but more about the message that it sends. Basically, how you feel about your friends is not the same way they feel about you. It makes you realize how little your so-called friends value your friendship and your time. When you come to grips with this reality, you begin to notice how one-sided those friendships were/are and how it was always you pursuing them. It just goes to show who truly cares about you and who doesn't.

Regardless of people's intentions, forgetfulness, or reason, it still hurts to be excluded. But you have to learn to get over it (or write about it), and move on. Life is too short to let something like this get you down, and take it as a sign that these people aren't worth inviting to your own personal events/parties.

Related post: Jenny was a friend of mine

Change isn't good or bad; it just is

2011-04-05T01:15:00.008-06:00

- Don Draper, Mad Men

People have very mixed feelings about change. Some believe it's good while other believe it's bad. Some have trouble accepting change while others completely embrace it. Regardless of what you think or how you feel, change just is. Sometimes it's hard to recognize change when it happens. Other times we choose not to see it for whatever reason. Whether we like it or not, change happens as we continue to grow and learn more about ourselves. Part of that growth is getting real with yourself, and sometimes that requests you to be honest about things you would rather not confront.

I believe change is a good thing. But for some reason, over the past 6 months, I had been overly critical of the change that was happening in my own life. In particular, I had noticed that I was becoming more of an introvert. Not saying this is a bad thing, but different than how I'm use to defining myself. Most people know me as the fun, outgoing, life-of-the-party, social butterfly, attention lovin', talkative type of individual. But the truth is I was becoming more withdrawn, very shy, quiet and reserved. I felt incredibly awkward in a crowd of 3 or more. I had no interest in the lives of others or getting to know new people. I felt misunderstood, socially awkward, and at times invisible. Believe me when I say this feeling was new to me. I've always had a very big and bold personality so even now it's a little strange reflecting on these changes in me and realizing how uncomfortable I had felt in my own skin.

Before coming to this realization, I thought there was something wrong with me. Like I was some sort of a snob for not wanting to talk to people. I couldn't quite put my finger on what had changed in me but I was always aware of how I felt. Acknowledging my feelings and allowing them to just be, I began to see a different side of me. Initially I thought it was a side of me that I didn't like but now I understand that my personality trait had changed. I've become more reflective and analytical. I value one-on-one time with individuals more than being in a big crowd or party. I talk less and I've become a better listener. I'm okay with being alone and sitting in silence. I guess all this is consistent with becoming a better counsellor as well. More on this later.

In the end, I've learned that change can be a good thing if you allow it to be. A lot of wasted energy is spent on self-hate, analyzing and criticizing who we are because we're trying so hard to be like that guy who has all the love, attention, and fame that we want. And not enough time is given to nurturing who we are and who we want to be. Even after all these years of being completely comfortable with who I am, with all my imperfections and insecurities, I'm still learning what it means to accept myself the way that I am, whether I'm an extrovert or introvert.

Yours truly,

P.S. I write too much. Thanks for reading. :)

When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep

2011-04-04T00:23:00.003-06:00

And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone, but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
-Coldplay, Fix You

2011-04-02T14:10:00.004-06:00

(weheartit.com)

the beginning and the end

2011-04-02T00:39:00.004-06:00

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." - Revelation 22:13

To begin this new series of blog post about the change and growth in my life over the past few weeks and months, I will be talking more honestly about my faith. More than a year ago, I started drifting away from my relationship with God and the church. For the first time in my life, I felt as though I had lost my way and regardless of how hard I try to find my way back, I had lost hope and faith.

I felt abandoned by God. But in the midst off all my confusion and pain, God never changed and neither did His promise. It took a long time to come to this realization but I can honestly say that I have found my way back to Christ, who is the reason for my change and growth. I'm beginning to take a closer look at myself and identify who I am more deeply in Christ. I'm challenging myself to be more of who He wants me to be and care less about what the world expects of me.

I'm not saying I'm perfect and I realize that my relationship with Jesus has only recently been repaired but I feel good about getting back on track, especially in my prayer and devotional life. It's a constant struggle, though. When you've gone astray for so long and you become use to living for yourself and your selfish desires and ways, it's hard to give that up and walk with Jesus everyday. But it's worth it.

I wanted to share all this because my faith is the foundation of who I am. Without understanding who Christ is in my life, you will never fully understand the depths of my heart and soul. For me, Jesus is the beginning and the end in my life, and if I'm gonna write about life, it has to start with Him.

Filled with empty words

2011-03-31T01:28:00.009-06:00

(photogen-inc.com)

Believe it or not, I often find it difficult to express my thoughts into words and sentences because sometimes all the right words can't form a sentence well enough to articulate what you're trying to say. Even now, it's a struggle. If I weren't so particular about the way that I write and if I wasn't so self-conscious of what others will think, I would probably be a loose cannon with my words.

So how do I cope with this madness as a writer? I hate to admit it but I'm a linear ~~thinker~~ writer. Meaning I like to start from the beginning and arrange my thoughts in a straight line so that they are clear and that they make sense. I'm pretty sure this is how I survived writing university papers but beyond that how I'm able to express and share my thoughts with others without sounding foolish and incoherent.

With that said, tomorrow's post will start at the beginning*.

Stay tuned.

P.S. Thank you to my readers for the warm "welcome back" comments. I was beginning to wonder whether or not people still read this humble little blog of mine. It still amazes me that people care enough to read what I write. I sincerely thank you!

*In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understooda it. - John 1:1-5

Just one of those days

2011-03-30T06:18:00.003-06:00

(jackandrubyphotography.ca)

There's something really comforting about reverting back to the old and familiar. With that said, it feels good to go back to a darker blog theme but more than that it feels good to be blogging again. Without intending to I took a month long break from blogging for no particular reason. In retrospect, though, it was a period of reflection and growth in my life. Allow me to elaborate and share more in the days to come, so stay with me as I give this blogging thing another try.

Your blogger,

P.S. I couldn't sleep so I decided to do something productive with my time instead of laying there restlessly thinking about sleep. I do most of my thinking and reflecting during the dark hours of the night when everyone is asleep and I'm alone with nothing but my empty thoughts.

2011-02-25T23:15:00.006-07:00

(photogen-inc.com)

"We are always getting ready to live, but never living." —Ralph Waldo Emerson

Cinderella Man

2011-02-21T15:17:00.004-07:00

"In all the history of the boxing game you find no human interest
story to compare with the life narrative of James J. Braddock."
-Damon Runyon

"I know that these days not everybody gets a second chance." - James J. Braddock

(ropeofsilicon.com)

"And this time around, I know what I'm fighting for." - Jimmy

"Yeah? What's that, Jimmy?" - Jake

"Milk." - Jimmy

Nobody said it would be easy

2011-02-18T22:12:00.006-07:00

no one ever said it would be this hard
- Coldplay, The Scientist

(unknown source)

What I love about Fridays:

- the fact that it's Friday and it's the end of the work week

- less people at the office

- leaving work a little early

- sometimes going out for lunch by myself*

- late afternoon nap

- watching back-to-back episodes of Say Yes to the Dress

- not cooking and eating bad food like McDonald's and instant noodle

- watching a movie (last Friday I watched The Social Network. Awesome movie. Highly recommended)

Even though it's the long weekend, it's gonna feel like an ordinary weekend for me but with Monday off. Other than some plans to see some friends, I'll be hanging out at home under the covers or in front of the tv. Unlike my boyfriend who's jetting off to the East Coast for reading break with his brothers**. As I type, he's probably close to landing in yyz***. He'll also be hitting up Ottawa (my sister's future home) and beautiful Montréal where the French writing on a sign has to be bigger than the English writing, or so I'm told.

*Yes, I like to eat out by myself. Sometimes it's nice to get out of the office and just eat lunch away from everyone and everything. But the self-conscious me can't help but wonder what others around me must be thinking when they see me by myself.

**Josh Le, better known as the raw denim guy who found out that wearing unwashed jeans for 15 months tested normal for bacteria. They even talked about him on ABC News. Watch his interview with Discovery Channel here.

***Toronto

Anyways, I'm gonna watch Despicable Me, eat chip and dip, and stay up late. Just another Friday night at home.

C.

Mr. and Mrs. Draper

2011-02-16T22:25:00.003-07:00

(vf.com)

Love Mad Men.

Music's biggest joke

2011-02-16T00:03:00.004-07:00

I hate to be a critic but based on this year's Grammy performances, nominees, and winners, I have to say it was a bad year in music. Don't get me wrong, I love music by Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Rihanna, and Bruno Mars but let's keep their songs on the radio and off the Grammys stage. No one wants to see Rihanna and Drake get it on while singing, "What's my name?" Or Katy Perry prancing around looking like a plastic barbie singing, "Teenage Dream." Keep it classy. All I'm sayin'.

If there's one good thing that came out of the 53rd Grammy Awards, it would be this tribute performance by John Mayer, Norah Jones, and Keith Urban dedicated to Dolly Parton:

Caught in a bad romance

2011-02-15T00:44:00.006-07:00

(weheartit.com)

In consistency with my absence and lack of posting, I did not hold true to my promise of updating my blog. My explanation this time is lost of interest in social networking. Whether it's blogging, twitter, or facebook, I'm just not as active on these sites as I use to be. I'm sure this is only a phase but until I get over this dry spell, you can expect my updates to be quite sporadic.

Sometimes I think I have a mild case of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) during the winter months. Lately I've been feeling very blah about life. No interests, no motivation, and no energy. Life has been so boring and uneventful for me. While others are looking forward to the long weekend and making big plans for reading week, I'll be spending another weekend here in the cold city. I hate to think about the months ahead, but the hope of seeing spring again is the only thing getting me by. Summer is always on my mind, and I can't wait for the season to return, for the days to grow longer, and the trees to turn green.

In great news, I'll be heading up to Edmonton the first weekend of March to see Sarah McLanhlan in concert. I'm so excited. It's gonna be amazing to see her sing and play live while sitting 13 rows away from the stage. This is as good as it gets. I'll also be going to the Joshua Radin concert that same weekend but in Calgary. If you're not familiar with his music, here's a list of my favourite songs by him:

The Fear You Won't Fall

I'd Rather Be With You

Closer

Paperweight (Feat. Schuyler Fisk)

Sky (Feat. Ingrid Michaelson)

What If You

Everything'll Be Alright (Will's Lullaby)

Winter

As I mentioned in a previous post, I was looking for a part-time job. It hasn't really worked out for me and at this point, I’m not sure that it will. I'm undecided if I wanna keep trying or just give up.

And... for Valentine's day, my boyfriend drew me this picture on his iPhone:

Look familiar?

Too cute, right? I hate to say it but I have the best boyfriend in the world. :) On this day and every day of the year, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world because of my man.

Okay, enough cheesiness for one day. I'll be back... who knows when. Until next time.

Miles from where you are

2011-01-28T23:41:00.008-07:00

Outside my window.

I know, I suck at this blogging business. I always hate to explain my absence because the reason is always the same.

I've been feeling a little bit stretched at work so I decided to take a personal day today. It felt great not having to go into work, and having the day off to attend to other life matters. First on my list is finding a part time job. I don't wanna go into too much details about my financial life so to put it simply, if you want nice things in life, you have to work hard for it. Sometimes that means taking on a second job, giving up your weekends, and doing something you don't wanna do. In the end, if it makes living a little easier, creates less stress and hopefully not add more, and you get what you want, it might just be worth the sacrifice of time and sleep.

And speaking of which, I should probably go to bed. Good night, world.

Here today, gone tomorrow

2011-01-22T19:28:00.005-07:00

Photo by: Jon Le

Spent the afternoon enjoying tea lattes and hot chocolate with my boyfriend at Gratitude Cafe in Kensington Village. Simply a perfect Saturday with my baby.

Life is like topography

2011-01-19T23:38:00.003-07:00

"Life is like topography, Hobbes. There are summits of happiness and success, flat stretches of boring routine, and valleys of frustration and failure." - Calvin, Calvin n Hobbes

Cause all that's waiting is regret

2011-01-18T23:52:00.012-07:00

(flickr)

I love sleeping. It's one of those guilty pleasures in life for me, but in the words of John Mayer, "there should never be guilt in pleasure." If this was actually the case, I could easily sleep my life away. Regardless of how much or little sleep I get, I always have a hard time getting out of bed. Like this morning, I must have hit the snooze button more than 5 times. Pathetic. I know. If only I could woke up when my alarm rings the first time, maybe I would feel less rushed in the morning, arrive early for work*, drink less coffee, and feel better about my overall start to the day. Just maybe.

In other news, I booked an appointment for later this week with my branch to do some financial planning. I'm hoping to change my everyday banking plan, upgrade my credit card, and (maybe) set up an RRSP account. I'm looking forward to sitting down with someone to go over all this stuff that I know nothing about. I'm 22 with a steady job and income, therefore I figured it's time to get serious about my finances and start investing in the future. Man, I sound old. I also need to get educated and informed about taxes. So anything that has to do with tax breaks/tax benefits/tax free, I am all ears. As you grow older, I think it's important to keep a close eye on your money and be wise about how you spend it. Which brings me back to my new year's resolution, save more and spend less.

This week's iTune downloads:

Drops of Jupiter by Train

More by Usher

Grenade by Bruno Mars**

Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri

And if you need something to do, cut some rope. What I like to do on my coffee break and when no one is watching. And by no one, I mean the biggest loser I know.

Am I the only one who hasn't seen Black Swan? If only movie tickets weren't so expensive. I always complain about prices and money now. I seriously am old.

I ate two oranges today. What did you do? Vitamin C is my secret to fighting sickness. Not really a secret anymore. I didn't take a single sick day last year. Now what does that tell you? Either my secret is working or I'm making stuff up.

Anyways, I should stop before I start sounding incoherent and random and weird. Thanks for reading.

*I'm never late, just for the record. I don't wanna give off the wrong impression about my professionalism.

**Initially I wasn't crazy about this song, but I really like the line, "Tell the devil I said "hey" when you get back to where you're from." Sometimes a cheesy line like that is all it takes to get me hooked. Much like Taylor Swift's Back to December. Terrible song, lyrically weak, but I like how she sings, "I go back to December all the time." Now you have grounds to judge my choice in music.

Mad Men

2011-01-17T20:27:00.002-07:00

(amctv.com)

Love the characters, the fashion, the dialogue, the era, and the City.

Did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there?

2011-01-16T00:31:00.001-07:00

I probably don't need to point out the fact that I haven't posted anything in almost 2 weeks because I'm pretty sure my readers/followers/stalkers have noticed. If you know anything about me, you would know I tend to disappear like this without any explanation or warning. Sometimes I lose interest in blogging/social networking. Other times, I'm going through a bad case of writer's block. Most of the time, I'm just busy with what I like to call "real life." Whatever that is. When someone figures it out, please let me know.

I had every intention of telling you about my holiday break but it all seems so irrelevant now that's it's mid-January. Where has the time gone? I suppose it's also too late to talk about new year's resolutions. But... if you must know, I would like to save more, spend less, and sleep early.

As for work, I survived my first 2 weeks back. It was a bit of a slow start but things are picking up. I have to say, it's refreshing to be back in the office after the long break and resume a normal day-to-day schedule. In particular, enjoying that first cup of coffee every morning.

And what is up with this insanely cold weather? -20 but feels like -30. Makes me not what to do anything or go anywhere. For this reason, I have been hibernating at home watching endless hours of Mad Men and eating a lot croissants like nobody's business. A little indulgence never hurt anyone.

So this brings me to the end of my post. If the above picture is true then I best be getting to bed. So much for "sleeping early." Maybe tomorrow. Thanks for checking in and staying with me despite my frequent absences as of late. You guys are the best.

Your blogger,

Baby, it's cold outside

2011-01-03T10:18:00.011-07:00

Photos by Chris Le and Josh Le.
Location: Edmonton, AB

NYE

2011-01-01T13:03:00.003-07:00

I hope everyone had a safe and happy new year's eve. Here's to 2011.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

2010-12-25T16:13:00.003-07:00

The Hoang Family.

Our Christmas Tree.

Although its been said many times, many ways

2010-12-24T15:52:00.003-07:00

(weheartit.com)

Merry Christmas!

I'm excited about Christmas, but what I'm most looking forward to is some time off from work, quality time with family, seeing my boyfriend again, and catching up on sleep. As you get older and the years and weeks begin to pass you by, you value time more than anything. It's amazing how busy we can get during this time of year and while so many of us are caught up in the events and festivities of Christmas, all I want is a little rest. With that said, I'm gonna end this post and get started on my holidays. I hope everyone gets a chance to take a break this season, and to reconnect with family and friends.

Be safe. Be merry.

Love,

Play On

2010-12-20T23:20:00.002-07:00

Carrie Underwood is an extremely talented singer and song writer. I love watching her performances on tv/youtube but I have to say she's even more amazing live. She has the most incredible voice and her songs touches my heart in a strangely meaningful way. I'm a lover of all genre of music but because of Carrie Underwood, I love country music a little more. If you missed her on tour this past year, you certainty missed out. Lastly, I have to give credit to my boyfriend for introducing Carrie Underwood to me and my sister. Thanks, baby!

Before appearing on stage.

Opening song: Cowboy Casanova.

Some Hearts.

Just A Dream.

Mama Song.

Before He Cheats.

And here's a list of some other favourite songs by Carrie Underwood:

What Can I Say
I Know You Won't

So Small
Jesus Take the Wheel
Quitter
Wasted
Temporary Home
Lessons Learned