for example, starbucks in tokyo seem to have more tea varities than ever found in the states. or this cool coffee jelly drink that reminds me of boba/bubble tea. i’m totally trying that soon. sweet <3

oh – that foodspotting website is cool! lots of stuff to look at and ponder about. many food adventures ahead for me!

while searching around, i stumbled upon this site  - it is so fun for me mostly beacuse  i have wanderlust. so i daydream a lot about being a jetsetter, world traveler. oh, and also because they have some interesting ideas in general. such as this water “bottle” that is easy to carry around, fold up, BPA-free! or perhaps you think your passport needs some (surface) personalization.

the shop is a bit expensive – you can often find similar items at target or amazon for less. though, i cannot vouch for the designer items at flight001 or the case for quality (target partner brands suck at quality sometimes). related to this, i cannot really justify buying most of the items on this site. nothing is all that necessary aside from government documents and some luggage when traveling - but i can see how some of these trendy items can be fun to have or give as gifts.

also, the flight001 website has an entertaining page about flight facts.

babo is described as follows:
Babo will protect you. Having a bad day? Someone giving you a hard time? Babo’s got your back. What Babo lacks in mind power, he makes up for in love. He’s everybody’s best friend. He will stick with you to the end and when something scary happens, he will send you a nice greeting card from wherever it is he runs away to. A very curious, mischievous creature, Babo may need some guidance and parenting, so make sure to bring him with you to as many places as possible. Leaving him at home is fine, but please put all cookies and money on the highest shelf.

to me, babo is not “real” but “the babo spirit” is very real - seeking adventure with loved ones, enjoying snacks, pure heart, and good fun. innocently always wanting to be a part of it too~

adbentuuuures~!
quickly drawn by josh

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i recently read his entry about “the career conundrum.” basically, making a passion into a career – good thing? bad thing? both? it takes me back to when i was in graduate school and we talked for a few hours regarding intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivations as well as true altruism (no such thing exists to me). i would love to believe in such a purity – a pure love for one’s art and career. a happy balance is nearly impossible it seems. there will always be compromise and no, i don’t think it’s “selling out.” don’t get me wrong there.

i’ve been thinking about this for myself for a long time. photography (and packaging design) is a hobby i love. i wouldn’t mind doing it all day. but for myself. it’s very quite selfish. i love to take photos of whatever i want, whenever, however. maybe what i love is independence and the idea of freelance. but i am not at liberty just pick and choose projects. i have to take anything i can. and i will certainly do it well (self belief and hard work, yeah!!). but if i imagine myself getting regularly hired and paid for photography – meeting deadlines, fitting what i produce into the client needs, becoming “commercial” if you will – will i get burned out like a match? can i really have longevity in it without becoming bitter or somehow resentful? loving my craft comes easy, even during frustrating moments. but adding a big extrinsic motivation such as pleasing others, recognition, money, etc. will probably fade out that wonderful “intrinsic” spark…..

……..right?

sawtelle blvd., santa monica, california.

obviously, you can use it as a straw. it’d be pretty with colorful punch or bright yummy lemonade!

if you’ve seen my previous blog entries, you know i’m a pinwheel princess (haha).

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flattered, but my face-skin has many problems not easily seen by others – including minor broken capillaries. but no one really gets up in your grill and inspects your face so it’s fine to some extent (haha). i know it sounds stuck up to spend so much interest and money into skincare but i am truly concerned with having healthy skin and aside from your genetic material, there are things you can do!

i could go on and on about skincare stuff.

*please see your dermatologist for personal skincare regimens if you have skin problems! this is just a blog…..if you cannot afford to see a doctor,  i suggest you do extensive research before investing in a skincare line.*

1. DRINK: stay hydrated. simple. you really don’t need to spend money on bottled water. just get a BPA free water bottle and you should be good. i have dry skin on my t-zone area and living in dry  southern california doesn’t help. i have to make sure i drink enough water to benefit myself from inside out.

2. DIET: obviously, what you eat effects your body, including your skin. try to eat clean, healthy, foods. a balanced diet is a good diet. greasy, oily, fast foods too high in fat and sodium is terrible for your heart and eventually, will show on your skin. once in a long while is fine but eating natural, “real” foods is better for you and cheaper too – i don’t think i need to reiterate this that much - science and nutrition has told this to the masses over and over and over…..so, try it out: vitamin A for example, is often pumped into folks with severe acne (pill form). on a moderate level, you can find great sources of vitamin A in orange-y foods such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and squash. when cooked right, these are delicious!! and so much more wallet-friendly. but please do eat a balanced diet (based on your personal needs and health), don’t be excessive in one kind of “super food.” that’s a terrible idea for very logical reasons.

3. EXERCISE: do i really need to explain this one? okay, fine. i forget the benefits sometimes too. i can get pretty lazy about working out but sweating it all out and doing some good workouts can really help your body and your skin. it’s a hollistic approach – lopsided remedies never work and if they do, not for long periods of time. so get in the habit of an overall good health and perhaps take a buddy or two along with you for support and a morale boost. this should hopefully balance your stress level too.

4. HABITS*: okay…….it’s been proven that smoking harms skin. if you smoke, sorry, i obviously can’t help you quit but i suggest you consult a professional and do what is necessary and important to you. another bad habit i have seen that harms skin is tanning. please don’t abuse tanning! a healthy amount is hard to gauge so please ask your doctor and always under-do it if anything. ALWAYS WEAR SUNSCREEN – rain or shine!

*sidenote: birth control pills can often  help clear acne in many people. please do some research and find the best pill for you. it doesn’t work well for everyone and you have to use exactly as directed. first and foremost, see your OBGYN!

5. CLEAN: keep your pillow, clothes, hair, steering wheel, keyboard, etc. clean clean clean. bacteria/dust and all the nasty stuff definitely gets on your face. you dont have to be a neat freak, just use common sense and do a monthly clean and wash of all the things you touch on a regular basis. i’m not suggesting you clean all your doorknobs everyday or something – that is on a pathological level. addtionally, and a general good health tip, frequently WASH YOUR HANDS. don’t be gross….

6. WASH: similar to “CLEAN,” try being proactive and wash your face. if you are SO IMPORTANT and TOO BUSY (hehe) and you have to choose only one time of the day to wash your face, always do it before bed! always! why would anyone want to rub around in their own filth – yuck! think about all the pollutants that land on your face throughout your day – yeah, gross – and you’re going to rub it into your sheets and pillow?  nothxbai. i use a lot of Arcona products. they are paraben and mysterious-chemicals-free. they don’t clog my pores or make me feel tight or sticky. the products are EXPENSIVE but i save money in other areas like food and gas so it’s worth it to me. i use their berry bar soap, white ice moisturizer, toner (keep reading), and protecting sunscreen (keep reading). these products help my skin stay clean and balanced. Pangea Organics is also carries some great products. PLEASE do not hesitate to ask these companies for samples – you never know how your skin will react. you can even stroll around department stores asking for samples. if they act stuck up about it, just move along.

7. EXFOLIATE: you don’t necessarily have to exfoliate everyday, but a couple times of the week is good. this is so your pores are cleaned out and none of the gunk is left behind and simply masked up with makeup or lotion. clogged pore = dirty. sometimes i will use masks to help me but not often – it depends on the type of skin you have. if i exfoliate too much, my skin gets dry. same with masks – too many uses and i start to see dry flakes. ew. i am currently trying a sample of Origins Modern Friction, it’s a bit too strong for me so i have to use less of it less frequently, otherwise, it really does get rid of some yucky stuff for me.

8. TONE: before moisturizing, use a good toner to help balance your skin. this also helps you slough off some of the dirty surface skin. it feels refreshing too as i mentioned, i use Arcona’s cranberry toner. i really like it. it’s gentle but effective for me.

9. MOISTURIZE: this is very important for the health and balance of your skin. it’s sort of a personal decision when choosing the right moisturizer for you. it’s best to research products - some products make my skin too oily, some make it dry, some don’t do anything at all. it helps to use a balancing oil once in a while in addition to moisturizing. here is an example. for me, moisturizers are a key part of my skincare regimen.

10. PROTECT: it’s very important to use a good sunscreen. try to pick a sunscreen that won’t clog your pores or feel too heavy/slimy on your skinn to avoid having dirt and other grossness stick to your face. i would go with something in the spf15 – spf30 range. protect your LIPS too with something like burt’s bees products or a natural lip product. like i mentioned, Arcona has a decent protectant one should use in addition to a gentle sunscreen to help keep your skin healthy and young.

IMPORTANT NOTE: always read the ingredients to each skincare product you use. prolonged use of some chemicals can cause damage to your skin, itchiness, red spots, etc. STAY AWAY from parabens and thalates!

well, i hope that was informative!
oh, and no, i’m not some spokesperson for Arcona or Pangea.
i WISH they would pay me to use and rave about their stuff!

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plain plywood + colorful paper = great lines and furniture! i want those stool chairs…….

*sorry for the crappy photos. i used my iphone at the time =T

not sure about the seafoamy green color….but the design fits in with the line (wood cap, mix of aztec/indian design)

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