I am munching on pita chips in this post.

Here are the tasty homemade morsels!

Last week, there were some pita breads in the fridge verging penicillin mold making stage, so I cut the halves into triangles, sprayed them with some cooking spray, sprinkled them with brown sugar and cinnamon, and slapped them in the 400°F oven for eight minutes. Viola. PITA CHIPS. I will no longer buy four dollar bags at Target. Because I can make these healthy muchiessss. I guess sprinkling the sugar on them cancels out any healthy in these but oh well. Pardon the sucky iPhone picture haha. I finished the entire ziplock bag of them. Sheesh, it was a sandwich size bag, alright?? Plus, I’m going running in the morning!

In other news, sixteen more days ’til I head back to campus for the year. I am really really excited to familiar faces again! After you live with and see the same people for a certain amount of months, a certain routine develops. Like who I eat lunch/dinner with, who I sit with in the library to do homework, which dorms I go visit on a daily basis, and et cetera. I’m also ready to stop living out of the Sterlite boxes!! I can feel the potential this year has. I really think I started out on the wrong foot last year. Not this year. I shall remain focused and confident in being able to ride this wave. Hopefully my first year will be the only egregious bump in my studies…

Since summer’s almost over, I asked my boss when would the last day for me to come in, and she said that I could continue in the fall. Haha any normal person would probably get super excited and accept immediately, but I find this summer’s experiences to be lackluster. I wrote letters to citizens and drafted proclamations, and sorted emails. I’m sure there’s more to the communications office, but I can’t say it’s my cuppa tea. I am really grateful for all I’ve learned about the importance of having an amazing communications team as the mayor. Those people really do their job well!! I’m inching towards perhaps volunteering at the hospital this fall in the OB/GYN unit. The hospital is always understaffed, and I still find excitement to exist in being a doctor. However, I was watching an episode of Boston Med yesterday and a resident at the hospital ended up splitting with her boyfriend four months after filming of the episode ended. The other couple stayed together because one was a resident and the other was an intern. Neither has time for each other so no complaints about spending time for each other exist haha. Funny but not really. I want to have a life, you know? As much as I don’t want to admit it, I do wanna be one of those white picket fence types. 50s housewife-esque almost. But with all the rights. I love kids and don’t mind be maternal. I like baking and cooking so that’s another check. I’m not so sure about the cleaning part though… rich husband = maid. Right?

Plenty of time for any actual need to think about a household though. OH, by the way, I’ve had the biggest urge to attend a wedding for the past month!! I probably just need a night to dress up and go out :/ Here’s yesterday’s outfit of the day! Another work outfit!

J.Crew cardigan, black dress from Target, GAP studded skinny belt, Nine West stilettos, and Ray Ban Clubmasters

Pet Peeves

Due to a particular instance that occurred late yesterday night, and still has me in bed all peeved this early morning, I’m going to attempt to fight the effects of it by blogging about it. Here are some pet peeves of mine in no particular order. And yes, the first one is what inspired this post.

1. When talking on the phone to me, do not hold a conversation with a person in the room with you. I didn’t answer your phone call to listen to you converse with another person. I took the time to pick up your call, so have the courtesy to converse with me.
2. I don’t like it when people pronounce Iraq “I-RACK” and Iran “I-RAN”. That’s how George W. Bush/ignorant people pronounce it. It’s “EE-ROCK” and “EE-RON”. Do you want me to shove you in that category?
3. Justin Beiber
4. I hate it when girls act like they own everything and that everyone should fall to their knees everytime they come into the room. For example: One time I very obviously made an effort out of respect to say hi to a girl I have no inkling of like for and she blatantly ignores that greeting and acts as if I wasn’t standing next to her saying hi.
5. What drives me absolutely insane is when a guy looks at a girl like they are a piece of meat. No, that will not help you get into my pants. Go prey on some slutty chick. You two probably deserve each other.
6. Ridiculous sounding abbreviations. Abobo for abortion. Apropro for appropriate. You know those, right? Sure, I use probs, but it’s usually in text messages and light conversation. I know I’ll be called out for being hypocritical, but the key word in this peeve is “ridiculous,” kids.
7. The acronym LOL. Are you really “laughing out loud”?
8. Platinum blonde hair and a spray-on tan/tanning bed tan. Self-explanatory.
9. Cigarettes. Haven’t you seen lungs of a smoker? Don’t you realize the smoke I inhale from your cigarette does more damage to me than it does you?
10. I am not a fan of the hippy braided headband/wrap around the forehead.
11. People trying to tell me that I’m basically a white girl really pisses me off. I want you to spend an hour with my family and then see what you say.
12. The words “nationality” and “ethnicity” are always used the wrong way. People, nationality is the country you were born in, e.g. America for me, therefore making me AMERICAN. Ethnicity is what your mommy and daddy gave you- your genes. So my mommy is Malaysian and daddio is Chinese, making me Malaysian-Chinese.
13. Nickelback
14. Kids who commit to a political party because their parents vote that way.
15. OVERSIZED T-SHIRT + LEGGINGS + UGGS are NOT an outfit. Get that into your brains, girls.
16. The inefficiency of jails and amount of government money they suck up.
17. Hummers

Life as an Intern.

Maybe I just got lucky, but being an intern isn’t as horrific as all the television shows make it out to be. I’m actually sitting here at the moment with nothing to do since all the letters and proclamations are up to date. I did get my ID picture done today, and geez louise, those cameras never forgive. I look like my eyes are closed. Typical Asian [insert victory sign here]. I start the morning with perusing the local newspaper and looking for notable people to commend on their endeavors to make Memphis a better place or their great representation of the city. Then on behalf of the Mayor, I write them letters of commendation.

But no papers to deliver, no boss yelling at me, no piping hot coffee to juggle. Nope. The only complaint is the freakin’ air conditioning. It’s either a refrigerator here or muggy like it is outside.

OHHH we just set up for a meeting for a multi-denominational coming together of pastors discussing upcoming projects pertaining to the religious community in Memphis. Mmmm coffee smellz. OHHH and now I’m sitting in the small conference room in the mayor’s office, which has a spectacular view of the river. No big deal.

I wish this was my conference room...

Hmm. What to blog about since I am extremely bored out the frame? It’s only 2:53, and I’m here until 5. Grrr. I’d be really happy to file some paper work for you guys- anything to break the monotony of this :(

OH I was going to talk about office attire troubles. So my bed was a ransack mess yesterday, since I was looking for a skirt that doesn’t exist anymore. Either that or it’s in the hamper somewhere… Anyways, here’s a picture of what I look like today:

J.Crew top, Ann Taylor Loft skirt, Nine West stilettos

But I went through all my bins (yes, I live out of bins for the time being, as a college student) of clothing early this morning (aka 12… 1… ya know) and made a pile of office appropriate attire. I realized that my skirts were either too short or too long. Good thing pointy-toed heels are good for elongating the legs when long skirts get to making my legs stumpy looking. So my Ann Taylor Loft skirts are now coming to good use. I find it very hard to incorporate colour into office wardrobe. First off, I don’t even wear a lot of color. I stick to black, grey, and navy. Safe conservative colours. Which is funny, since I am the furthest thing away from conservative in the political and conventional mindset.  And much of my office appropriate attire is also more fall/winter focused. I think it’s just a lot easier to throw on some trousers and a nice sweater than having to go all out with the skirt, top, and heels. Gr.

ANYWAYS. Peace out.

Dealing with Grief

I’m in one of those moments where I am thinking about other people and how they are able to feel the way they do and how sometimes I feel like a robot.

A couple days ago, one of my closest friend’s uncle passed away. Her mom called me on the phone asking if I wanted some company at my house- I was really confused. I could hear someone making that gasping, hysterical you usually hear when: a) someone is laughing hysterically at their mom calling their best friend or b) crying hysterically out of pure loss and grief. Her mom didn’t realize that her daughter hadn’t told me about her uncle’s death. When she did, all I could conjure from my mouth was, “I’m so sorry, my condolences.” The girl crying due to situation “b” is the same girl who had tweeted earlier all happy go lucky about whisking me away to go do some retail therapy. Although my grandfather and an uncle died a couple years ago, I never cried for them. Sure, I’ve gone to temple while in NYC to pray for them, but no strong memories lay embedded in my mind enough to trigger tears in the sheer amount that I heard through my cell phone.

In the last 24 hours, thoughts have passively floated within the confines of my cranium. Thoughts regarding my inabilities to say the “right” things, my inability to connect at some level with family death, and how maybe I am putting too much thought in this as people deal in different way. I find myself to almost avoid having to bring up the issue to my friend. I avoided calling her and only hoped that my other friend would give her a ring and talk it out. I made sure to tell her that I loved her though and can only hope that will make her day a little easier.

So I can only conclude that time cures everything and although everything might hurt like a mofo at the moment, it will all come to a calm eventually.

Baking Endeavors: Cinnamon Rolls

When I get bored, I bake. Earlier this week was soft pretzels (I’ll share the recipe with pictures some other time), and now it’s cinnamon rolls. This recipe was unique in the sense that vanilla pudding is used in the dough. This is the second recipe using yeast that I am attempting. I’ve never been fond of yeast, actually. In my mind, all sorts of exaggerated things could go wrong (i.e. globs and globs of dough engulfing the kitchen, a dough that refuses to rise, or a dough rising too fast/slow), and it takes forever. I am impatient. Gr. OH YEAH. I doubled the recipe because a packet of yeast would be double the amount needed in the recipe, and I didn’t want yeast lying around. Anyways, Here’s the recipe from Kayotic Kitchen, followed with pictures and my thoughts of the final result:

The Dough:

2 tbsp warm water
3 tbsp butter, softened(2 oz)
4 tbsp instant vanilla pudding mix
1/2 cup warm milk
1 large egg
1/2 tbsp white sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups + 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 1/4 tsp instant or active dry yeast

The Filling:

1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
2 oz chopped up walnuts (I omitted this. My siblings are picky eaters!)
2 or 3 tbsp butter, melted

The Frosting:

4 oz cream cheese (half a brick)
4 tbsp confectioners sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp milk

The Process:

1. Mix the yeast and warm water together and set it aside.
2. Beat your egg in a bowl and set it aside.
3. Microwave the milk and softened butter in the microwave for approx. 30 seconds- just to get the butter melted and combined.
4. Pour the yeast mixture and egg to the mixer bowl, along with the sugar, salt, and vanilla pudding. Mix until combined.
5. Pour the milk and butter mixture. Mix until combined.
6. Add the flour and mix until well combined. At this point, stop this mixer and cover the bowl with a kitchen towel or cloth and let it rest for a good 15 minutes. The dough should look sticky, so don’t freak out. I took this 15 minute lag time to wash all my dirty bowls haha. If you are adding walnuts to your rolls, chopping those would be a good idea.
7. It’s now time to knead the dough. The blog recommends 8 minutes, which during that period the dough should form into a ball. If it doesn’t, add flour by the tablespoon until it does!
8. If using active dry yeast, set the dough aside under a kitchen towel to let it rise an hour and a half.
9. Lightly butter a tray and preheat the oven to 350°F.
10. Roll out dough onto a floured surface and shape it into a rectangle.
11. Lightly brush it down with the melted butter and then sprinkle the nut, cinnamon, and brown sugar mixture onto it.
12. Now roll it up and press the seams so nothing bursts open while baking.
13. Cut into inch and a half pieces and line them up in the pan. A little room should be allowed since you will have one final rising before baking.
14. Allow the rolls to rise for an hour and a half before baking at 350°F for 15-20 minutes. I baked mine for 16 minutes, because I like my rolls soft. Some people like crispy- adjust time accordingly!
15. After rolls have cooled (I like mine slightly warm, so a little melty-ness of the frosting is okay), mix all the frosting ingredients together and pour on top of the rolls. Enjoy.

Outfit of the Day

So again, I don’t know if this will be a regular post I’ll make since I’m either too busy to snap a picture or at home, hence no need to dress for society. However, I will try to take a picture whenever possible to show everyone my style and what I’ve learned works for me.

Today’s outfit was worn to school, where I had a meeting with Career Services. Nothing to important, so I just went for a casual polished look. The only two pairs of shorts I have are daisy dukes and make me feel skanky sometimes, so I made efforts to change this. Lo and behold, the GAP had some on sale. Many of the things I buy you’ll probably not be able to find after a while, because I nearly always buy clothes on sale. I think the only things I pay full price for are Vans and bras/underwear. A little TMI… Anyways, these shorts are the shit. They are labelled “boyfriend fit,” allowing for the thigh part to be loose enough to cuff. Uncuffed, they are burmuda shorts. I cannot do burmuda shorts. They make my legs look stumps and cankle-y. But cuffed, they are friggin’ amazing. Folky embroidery embellishes the shorts around the pockets and the jeans are sturdy yet soft. I love them. I paired it with a charcoal shirt purchased at AE at a very very very steep discount. Oh the ballet flats too. The ballet flats are actually a replacement pair for my other GAP pair, which are way past their prime. The leather was better quality on the old pair though. That day was an adrenaline rush sort of shopping day. No worries ’bout the shirt, I am sure you can find the shirt in the same colour at various retailers- nothing too special. I noticed though that the tee contained modal, which is a cellulose fiber from beech trees, as I am informed by Wikipedia. It gives the tee a very soft airy feel to it. I like. Quite eco-friendly too. Cotton + modal = nice. The finishing touch was my teddy bear necklace! It has movable limbs and rhinestones on it’s black enamel vest. It’s one of my favourite pieces of jewelry, and I haven’t found anything like it yet- unless you count the Swarovski store, in which their version is wayyyyyy too bling for me. I like my knock-off (?) of theirs. My sister took this picture for me while I drank my morning Earl Grey haha.

American Eagle top, teddy bear necklace from Francesca's, GAP shorts, GAP ballet flats