tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39483375377792382342024-03-18T20:08:47.635-07:00something other than lawYinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12116653582514198995noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948337537779238234.post-19358296253846465402009-07-28T22:42:00.001-07:002009-07-28T23:23:03.695-07:00for miss lauren...Look what came in the mail! It's seems like a very large envelope from <a href="http://www.boxcarpress.com/">Boxcar Press</a>!!!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363753598288042242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH330-pFEdC_wUwzYD711oY7qgW6ySHTEJLvBqE2zdfImKZNBpowOa0V55kMqaYtLa5YaE_VGooGOVVXIsdjIpdh4RivvDG2eCdVktHrhN8_avlwacAK_Hr-fV_OPn046_SWoRvlxWOEjT/s400/envelop+1.jpg" /> Let's open it!<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363754505862606962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7uQsZdkdS1zp5iQgjeYFggEZt3QAyaJbfFtyrkLA04EqrZG2idQspzSYfWV_HuuVX44Q8TUfsWNN93k2oqIzUK71ZxfDoc_RAJzpm4z7UJVeIu7bBqK_F72LGOQmMDfOZiL5xauJzPnL/s400/opening.jpg" /> I'll unwrap it carefully...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifaRZuDR4fp-X1JZAC8ehovcouu-1ifIs37QcTs7OmtYLhyk0VLuW5lohSaAuK68JvznJKsLvtrwyrwNiZRXvLxJaghpo926RES0ZB2a1Xo_UcnxS3LOMK2cysp8j4CxjQunEho9dmaqxA/s1600-h/wrapping.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363755420982202466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifaRZuDR4fp-X1JZAC8ehovcouu-1ifIs37QcTs7OmtYLhyk0VLuW5lohSaAuK68JvznJKsLvtrwyrwNiZRXvLxJaghpo926RES0ZB2a1Xo_UcnxS3LOMK2cysp8j4CxjQunEho9dmaqxA/s400/wrapping.jpg" /></a>WHY IT'S MY LETTERPRESS PLATE FOR MY WEDDING INVITATIONS (which you lovingly designed for me)!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0tuNsO9SGmXcOZVnjsB4zb6a_pFipeL5ofpTHAlF7s6PijD5YWgfXtpoNanPqKZcQaipMStAxdLQie6RfQeVGahdKtHAf2KMxs1s-_hpeeHQ8iAxoMdwKNXvPX0JtiediBr0RHN0vsxY/s1600-h/plate.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363756070319899042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0tuNsO9SGmXcOZVnjsB4zb6a_pFipeL5ofpTHAlF7s6PijD5YWgfXtpoNanPqKZcQaipMStAxdLQie6RfQeVGahdKtHAf2KMxs1s-_hpeeHQ8iAxoMdwKNXvPX0JtiediBr0RHN0vsxY/s400/plate.jpg" /></a>Here's a close-up! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7njUUu53xdWJalmrFPqOY3VO8ObmiwTwC8oAVj7qh1CffrPrPPm4_ksacttvKcmahiotFEX_utvo47qA27AnMxTy0tpeUQKCvObw2MmKfcefYTBfGjyyIdgL33GefOeMtfXSdZL2HD_u/s1600-h/closeup.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363756795381959474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7njUUu53xdWJalmrFPqOY3VO8ObmiwTwC8oAVj7qh1CffrPrPPm4_ksacttvKcmahiotFEX_utvo47qA27AnMxTy0tpeUQKCvObw2MmKfcefYTBfGjyyIdgL33GefOeMtfXSdZL2HD_u/s400/closeup.jpg" /></a>It's absolutely perfect, thank you so much! Now on to building the press... <p></p><p>[For my long neglected blog-o-sphere friends, hello! Unfortunately, the day after my last post I started one of those real grown up job which hardly affords me time to read blogs, much less write my own. However, in that period of time, I did become engaged to sweet Mr. Blog, who surprised me with a trip to <a href="http://www.napavalley.com/"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Napa</span></a> and proposed on the balcony of <a href="http://www.frenchlaundry.com/">The French Laundry</a>. Us newly engaged:<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363760977795524882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRo7DWkco9jKgxneuApYWuzhFENu9zDNb_TkmpgwwgUtFq2u6k7_oo28xVG4S-__0FVSH7Inw6fGdo3QYWjJx_d39aQVEeNU2q6JMhwg8MeZ52KnhHI-kELWGlSRrD070j8kN9IkfUauG_/s400/IMG_1166.JPG" />A blurry picture of the ring:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLhLD1LeQRcenlBarVO60rspxQ_T6x1PZKR3E0KSaQi6ObYDVOLX5KMbdROaZ6E784jYs3ECifhfA-WHRgJ4nSvOPo4bhhxg8gTtBq4j9HCD0z8PBhM5sEwJ6gUitaZ9b1uDCNCgtgEMJ/s1600-h/IMG_1183.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363761619208737810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLhLD1LeQRcenlBarVO60rspxQ_T6x1PZKR3E0KSaQi6ObYDVOLX5KMbdROaZ6E784jYs3ECifhfA-WHRgJ4nSvOPo4bhhxg8gTtBq4j9HCD0z8PBhM5sEwJ6gUitaZ9b1uDCNCgtgEMJ/s400/IMG_1183.JPG" /></a>A much better picture of the ring - I love how the diamond floats in the setting:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9TukZHVnKy2BIUcG5QI03goGQu1mTUCWWJs_NKAUo73tM9tbTRiXJf3Q9_eLQC8y5w-eBbvYaAkTZ12gPED2yunN9qYNyaRvTwfp1I-zbyZzLABSGRp4_8UV56yFMX7PhgBQOXNDT0a3y/s1600-h/Ring2.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363762350825690322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9TukZHVnKy2BIUcG5QI03goGQu1mTUCWWJs_NKAUo73tM9tbTRiXJf3Q9_eLQC8y5w-eBbvYaAkTZ12gPED2yunN9qYNyaRvTwfp1I-zbyZzLABSGRp4_8UV56yFMX7PhgBQOXNDT0a3y/s400/Ring2.bmp" /></a> Now on to more <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">lawyering</span> and wedding planning! Cheers!]</p>Yinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12116653582514198995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948337537779238234.post-89639210448699174242009-02-12T17:51:00.000-08:002009-02-12T18:04:18.303-08:00Today is my last day at workI will miss:<br /><ul><li>the anonymous person who brings in <a href="http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/home/index.jsp">Bath & Body Works</a> products</li><li>Tuesday lunches from the <a href="http://www.lamag.com/">LA Mag</a> best <a href="http://www.lamag.com/article.aspx?id=10542">noodle places</a> to eat list</li><li>3:00 pm <a href="http://coffeebean.com/">Coffeebean</a> runs</li><li>teatime</li><li>being able to park near the building</li><li>the gym downstairs (which I never use)</li><li>the amazing legal team</li><li>the amazing staff</li></ul><p>Thanks for a good run!<br /><br />Upcoming plans:<br />A navy reunion<br />An Oregon reunion<br />An early Valentine's Day celebration<br />THE disco party of the year<br />... and my new job, starting Tuesday.<br /><br />Have a great weekend everyone! </p>Yinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12116653582514198995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948337537779238234.post-78129872686519860032009-02-04T14:22:00.000-08:002009-02-04T14:33:42.840-08:00Sucker eatingI hate getting up early in the mornings.<br />I'm not that fond of waiting in lines.<br />I don't particularly like <a href="http://www.dennys.com/en/">Denny's</a>.<br />I don't like pancakes.<br />But I am a complete sucker for free food.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299072036175534354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLdJaU_pbwpI7k7gxTa4Wqu2h8q8B3_NOYxJm1E8nNWelThSDGIho3QmKuv37TZerCk04fVqs6YHI62ju_oA3mZqVfdxfn1Fgp-Ale8v-2_7LT1bV2TtagyGH9qdZyVNiUdBkf9a6b0fB/s400/Dennys+1.jpg" border="0" />So, yesterday, I woke up at 7:30 in the morning to stand in line for my <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2009/02/03/news/companies/dennys_breakfast.fortune/?postversion=2009020411">free Grand Slam</a> at Denny's before work.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299072193763360450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitIfq7V7CyAvKNyP-WKCrkobP_yrW8KCSi07filrJHyw40sX6uP0rchbVS0_l-JIZEuht4gVfzJ4FuoyhBLb5sXNHk4Y3Tq6fXecwgXXRXrFYJa649tOVqVOSGK6P5J4Igdz5zP_J16anE/s400/Dennys+2.jpg" border="0" />It was still totally worth it.Yinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12116653582514198995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948337537779238234.post-10903116275756628772009-01-26T12:26:00.001-08:002009-01-26T12:28:12.416-08:00Moo<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRNq92teIUpdCwDiXe6m0yxaMarVoDAD02fMLubKB58ttdNdwQhJ4xmHr-7tOzjjUVvp2Uy8pDNkh5yr8QUAmzyOUtaJC-Abh20Rww3cnvAHBIn2IBNbiEs27rM1QeP73bPHvk5Tcd3wy/s1600-h/Ox.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295701848518860290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 383px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRNq92teIUpdCwDiXe6m0yxaMarVoDAD02fMLubKB58ttdNdwQhJ4xmHr-7tOzjjUVvp2Uy8pDNkh5yr8QUAmzyOUtaJC-Abh20Rww3cnvAHBIn2IBNbiEs27rM1QeP73bPHvk5Tcd3wy/s400/Ox.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Happy Chinese New Year!</strong></span> </div>Yinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12116653582514198995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948337537779238234.post-1314268046139294192009-01-13T10:34:00.000-08:002009-01-13T13:35:09.934-08:00Ringing it in, NYC style<div align="center">Some of these people we know; a lot of them, we don't. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290870411659436098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 5px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHz7jq1FWUp8opPxujFiPjmCHQJgW_UFr4PbI844NEQ1alVe01e_RLObcR6Dwq8Xtfar8IMnPAcwsZmK9gcshs8rz_wQvJfjo-q6Hm5REum16DuOnVcbjaNuA1nf0huRo_Pz3sVTP6nfqV/s400/ChasFrank.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290871014086688098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 5px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAe4UbejdTSAoAv4rpxVNmdQsKvoSfhkcGpKwx_q8fvzDtMwpVN4T-RqzS7L-wAt066DVajwpvlCNTGJzeQLJDSR3-ddiM4jgZMvYHSC9uWgSbUdygo4TvHKrn69G77IseVr0R4pkmwHxg/s400/IMG_1879.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290892286194849122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 5px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmusqoGYKORxuNs9ST4eYHWC7qp8vz7tsb7EXjNf8hoLHyzGO-t0guOUwKz2dsAtvJ_mTtrdf7F12o_oLA10KzQqI646ev5kNgRUj_FAdLcOYTgxuuJJScLgc7-XsWavKiX3QxCgsN1Qz/s400/IMG_1884.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290892482344362130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 5px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftsn4W0A1ReVX9htMY5-pCO9CaKqHdngWG842tlVU9EkEiuD7oDY5xJAm8LDmFOnOOnTwGF-FDSANQiBN6V5bKH3my-m4Jry3dlG0Z2fTGeUnkc4ujAonSXljrXpAU2l2z95sE4gyRxIb/s400/IMG_1881.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290893379642352818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 5px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKioJsas4bUEc_0V-OmYAPB6ubmkmbWjrKQAYqcZ0iQk-f5TXypryOeLvDi_IXj9TicbniLKo-5WfPQbB4sxIaXzLPznWueoiyvMb7FoLOpQY0oYe06duv96wuc5xuIWGMaTcGvxC8He8/s400/IMG_1891.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290893737553247330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 5px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9rXDkpM5W9nup4SE6y7UIu2Byysd8lo5kS5Kvpk_nAK8MoirjLD7ZO3nhoNyL9BBZgtFL2JJplmuremsLqHLRl81bYAvSZYntAFr3D3panwq5loD7_dZjc_qFOldsEerq5hF05FclLaG/s400/IMG_1892.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290893075562370546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 5px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBeQdlL8SF16oS_x56P_dDlZNUykBla9URzf629nQApVwG4rURCbbJtiEl2FnfRf_jyGdaD7kBzpJO-rnIOMkYbHnm6OBV5rf0I-dxWrwsHbN9sfd6F-DEb4qc3DPJVCP8S6ffmhlRtUL/s400/IMG_1893.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290891941315566786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 5px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DjW62YaEFlJf4nuEJzdARa8dGl_A1-T0gY-bv_zn9unkf6X_Rve_6lKXp0M9quvqMGwp3sIPHb5r6eNARZv-MryDC3xvGRM0M8HFUtXojqTjZVhtJSK6i0cmayEBsRDrrroIgWA57sjy/s400/IMG_0869.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290871500424748914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 5px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FgjeFPLfG4KbGY8XOqm_GMVYpHGuTgRIHxtHtdp-PwcUZpvNxXG_CPEElO2UxZmSlNm-66-WN74VUMtU8S3KvUPOM5mRPNuEDCQ2Ofrc6ylOptxWtTcjKi_Yv4ybMen-S7GvZ0BYUirp/s400/IMG_0863.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:180%;">Happy 2009, everyone!</span> </div>Yinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12116653582514198995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948337537779238234.post-79695781090992403062008-12-09T11:00:00.000-08:002008-12-09T18:56:31.849-08:00That really cool thing I did...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguynpBJBkNJQZNA7SFCZ629gttcXXVjEew3vVby-9orb74VIIFC_pEM-kxhyycSrdRqGgpIpaHYJB8oWtx_dVedoO2YzvowAv78ylysAvcF31D65J6JhdFkp_NId-QTZgNjf8HhEwb60wX/s1600-h/Tree.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277889738696317074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 86px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguynpBJBkNJQZNA7SFCZ629gttcXXVjEew3vVby-9orb74VIIFC_pEM-kxhyycSrdRqGgpIpaHYJB8oWtx_dVedoO2YzvowAv78ylysAvcF31D65J6JhdFkp_NId-QTZgNjf8HhEwb60wX/s200/Tree.JPG" border="0" /></a>Last week, I went to a <a href="http://friendsofatwatervillage.org/blog/Fact_Sheet_309124850_std.pdf">neighborhood tree lighting</a>. There were carolers and cookies and cocoa and local choirs sang and the high school marching band performed... it was very, very sweet.<br /><br /><div>I know this probably doesn't sound like a super cool thing, but in Los Angeles, it's hard to find a neighborhood with that sense of community and it was really nice being a part of it. </div><br /><div>Okay, who am I kidding?! As cool as the community at <a href="http://www.atwatervillage.org/">Atwater Village</a> is, the COOLEST part of that ceremony (and of my whole entire week) was that I got to meet <a href="http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/press/article/0,,DIY_13703_3793650,00.html">CATHIE</a> & <a href="http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/press/article/0,,DIY_13703_3793651,00.html">STEVE</a> from <a href="http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/shows_dcrj/">CREATIVE JUICE</a>! (I'm using a lot of caps right now because just thinking about it excites me!).</div><div></div><br /><div>Meeting them was such a great experience! They are just so nice and sweet and friendly; just like they are on the show!</div><br /><div>[and in case you don't know what I'm talking about - <a href="http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/shows_dcrj/">Creative Juice</a> is a fantastic show on <a href="http://www.diynetwork.com/">DIY Network</a> featuring crafts, art, recipes and other generally fun lifestyle tips. It's like <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/">Martha Stewart</a>, but more hip: it's the <a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/index.jsp">Urban Outfitters</a> to her <a href="http://www.jcrew.com/index.jsp">J. Crew</a>. I love, love Creative Juice!!]</div><br /><div>Here is Cathie, Santa and myself (Cathie and her sister were Santa's helpers for the evening):</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277891513928779650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6eQZj-OSOKxEkSwa34nGBR4qpxg_qs621kTy7tQoP02n08PuC5UYkAZRZOvjamS3Kbj4H5IANB51HXQEajVFaNh1TBccQc9Cp799hya1-UrsJjB3-5O4rwj9X0AQGGTmFYNCFheNiCqH/s400/IMG_0802.JPG" border="0" />A picture of the three of us (you like how I say that like we're friends? =P):<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277892280676645538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSg7hllSCXIPrL7zgkNUZIiJRgLhUlI7QpgN4xMc5fuxM1ENGYinT8bKZSJcOTY1DAqYldcydrjVK5Pz3t_1NAOXnPlZsSJH_yR_ePnelDcOWj2UEcSS2YThc3RqN4xRauk01p7SpljtSD/s400/IMG_0804.JPG" border="0" />And here's an extra picture of Steve and me (because as cute as he is on TV, he's even cuter in person, lemmetellya!). He's officially dethroned Ty Pennington on my list of favorite TV crafty men (yes, I have a list... don't you?).<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277892798596238594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 295px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZPBoaGqRcDF4Ryu3hnTmDFhTpjeCVA9xWzIK9vP72bqPLgDJxYguHq5NBh0Xwn0sjXPwc1sbBtDZK89M5RFbfwOpiqqw8IoLV-esnzLUnZ3KiJcjT7Xujy_6p33qxFbIqSPIleu0MF59/s400/YinSteve.JPG" border="0" />Seriously, highlight of my week!<br /><br />But coming in at a close second: last week, I was also sworn in to the State Bar of California - yay, me!Yinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12116653582514198995noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948337537779238234.post-17112889606369965812008-12-05T00:01:00.000-08:002008-12-05T00:01:00.708-08:00Me love COOKIE!<div>My contribution to <a href="http://scrappyjessi.blogspot.com/">Scrappy Jessi's</a> 2nd Annual Cookie Swap are delicious, ooey, gooey, chocolatey, minty cookies that are perfect with a tall glass of milk. I unfortunately do not have any pictures of these cookies, but they look just like <a href="http://www.silviasweetdelights.com/cookies/chocolatechocolatechip-cookies.htm">these cookies</a> from <a href="http://www.silviasweetdelights.com/">Silvia's Sweet Delights</a> (so I'm borrowing the pictures for drool-inducing purposes)!</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276110190121215106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 250px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAMSxL_d8AKrpjTpQnGJM7ult8ea227e1kdP1hETu2UlD-Q4DXR4hZz2DXGMusSQLOtSz8J3cZau6X_8Jq0Y0iHeoN7FcTNqEjWp5PeCH5m_NWsIuuXzsBDp4Yibg1tbE5EORo58KcMXN/s400/Cookies.jpg" border="0" /> <div></div><div>Now, without further ado, the recipe for <span style="color:#000000;">my <strong>SUPER EASY chocolate peppermint cookies</strong></span> (I know, I know... they don't even have a real name...):</div><br /><div><strong>1 box of Devil's food cake mix</strong> (I know, a mix is cheating, but I'm not using it to make cake, so it's not really cheating)</div><div><strong>2 eggs</strong></div><div><strong>1/2 cup of vegetable oil</strong></div><div><strong>1 tsp. of peppermint extract </strong>(adjust to taste)</div><div></div><br /><div><strong>Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all the ingredients together to form a dough. Roll dough into balls about 1 inch across (you can adjust the size depending on how big you want your cookie). Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and flatten slightly with your thumb. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes (I prefer 10 minutes because the cookies are still soft in the the middle). Cool on a rack. </strong></div><br /><div><strong>Enjoy!</strong></div><br /><div></div><div>[note] This is a modified version of a cookie recipe that my friend Pam taught me ages and ages ago back in my Oregon days (her version wasn't chocolate or pepperminty). You can use any cake mix, any flavoring, and any mix-ins with this recipe. My other favorites are <strong>spice cookies</strong> (from a spice cake mix), <strong>lemon cookies</strong> (yellow cake mix + lemon extract) and <strong>s'mores</strong> (devil's food cake mix with mini marshmallows rolled in the middle; the whiteness of the marshmallow shows through cracks in the chocolate and creates a cool looking effect). </div>Yinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12116653582514198995noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948337537779238234.post-41870329323539484282008-12-04T11:17:00.000-08:002008-12-04T13:16:59.406-08:00Mexico: the highlights<div align="center"><strong>[Secrets Maroma Resort]</strong></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276032511323211250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmP1XpL8Ibxbl4UVigk0xnSBzc7ct-ckNs-zZlXNH-3V0TKGK0iPUA2NqEExx9Kgrh7JOnGJTTn0rUi1-dXxZzeWHKJyQF8z2i3Ar4qBrGdZnWQavG_LIt9S3ZbgK_O-1d0MQFDVxCqcR/s400/Resort.bmp" border="0" />The resort is beautiful! When you arrive, you're greeted with a wet towel, glass of Champagne and a warm "Welcome Home!" (I <em>wish</em> my home looked like this!) (Also, there's no way our pictures will be as good as the professional ones, so you can check out their website <a href="http://www.secretsresorts.com/maroma/">here</a>.)<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>[The staff]</strong></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276040168219122706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXrVxlD4yV1uVKn0m0LShqmYxZryd3XOajtbgd9Ye9WpQTKoxIGUe0-7lTC8uFWUy3qaw9yeQDdxHUo_NoI2QZ1b8D7-7pDezB451T3KkXLE_WxjT-WGM3uvrENEaPdv1DBayQqyvUeib/s400/Staff.bmp" border="0" />The staff work so hard to ensure that every single guest has an amazing time. Not only was the service always with a smile but they really took time to learn our names and make us feel at home. Thank you Oscar, Lucia, Johnny and everyone else at Maroma!<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>[Swim up pool]</strong></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276036021840559858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis13VGPKenP5WmMtH_tDNCTGDeDXBAzIxFpZLUTveODgWlTpL07_-FnM_XOWbWsZ8e2hKGHpeTqk4r_w-zOvakpBZBSehzRd8tlECucXPF5dnKGVj85kDgkNxnjJ3r6El8YHr6UlkyiUJx/s400/Room.bmp" border="0" />The back door to our room opened to our own swim up pool. We never actually used this because we were too busy running around to different restaurants the whole time, but it was really beautiful and kind of cool to have.<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>[Dinner x 2 x 4 nights]</strong></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276032671074125042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIEpeH87Q56kwXYt9TH5QBBpn1e1aQR-jklcMSzY3qNpUbpl2-rE9-DmAI1YcPTbctPiveqrHBzFDmp2Jet9oPijLlIrKffvvEheIJFmp2D5CAV5A3vXEjIGLdqZ6lOf_MrXvwfqRs5YC4/s400/Food.bmp" border="0" />Because food is included with the room (yay for all-inclusive destinations), the resort really could have just served us canned ravioli on a paper plate - but they didn't. There are seven restaurants at the resort along with daily BBQs at the beach, a poolside grill and 24 hour room service. A lot of time and effort was put in the decor and ambiance of each restaurant and into the preparation and presentation of the meals. Since we were only there for 4 days, I forced Mr. Blog to eat two dinners every night so we could sample all the food! Mm mm.<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>[Breakfast buffet]</strong></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276034081042941554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0wvYICZnv19K1jt-nEtvAc_4Qnq5e68ClT08mQNUXd-TRn6_xcvFChOSY8vPCs8b7qLaiBSHQcDmGXAjmuNPlONIZtXPcF4mGkbO5qvEktPOlAWhVZXwoq0gcwv_veKL6T118Bdzlyw0/s400/Buffet.bmp" border="0" />Note the staffed omelet, waffle and crepe bars. Also pictured: juice (with 10 different freshly squeezed beverages) and Serrano jamon and smoked salmon bars. Not pictured: mimosa and bloody Mary bars. It was ridiculously good.<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>[Tea]</strong></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276035033798454930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCgRzQEq0Eyn_P43ypxxLr9Nvw8BQGt0Lgtwj-SurMLCp2WwtcWGbzdgElLWcDElLo9gSDkem14Jk6OnQd0ayfZu-FuWahhUSGWpOd8uk3LtLgAJCqgxlbazamc-sBe9uXfaF3xz-scoDW/s400/Tea.bmp" border="0" />Every afternoon there was formal tea service in the Rendez-Vous bar (which was a perfect snack between lunch and dinner #1). They also served this amazing Mexican coffee cocktail flambe (yes that was a very long name I just made up) which is made by pouring various liquors between two ladles over an <em>open flame</em> so that your drink is burning as it's served to you. It takes about 10 minutes to make each one and just watching the ladies work made me sweat. Those coffee ladies work <em>hard</em>!<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>[Mr. Blog playing on three winning volleyball teams]</strong></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276041809930525106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YPfh3E1JFfu1p5XD4moq0kgHNyBUmMcCyoE3Sw9SeuSqamJrKgMUpVXEbHgfcSjQbB_HBxQUr68gi6rMjOU-ZqDySD58j3tX3kZG69uWnJe15_KrMIVqCymXHM1N5feXDfIJR8PqvcgW/s400/Volleyball.bmp" border="0" />The resort schedules games and activities all day long, so Mr. Blog was able to work off those extra dinners I made him eat. I cheered him on from the sidelines where I sipped my pina colada.<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>[Cocktails x ∞]</strong></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276038093118024386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFiq7BSnRpWX3-ZpXljsyQ1UkCoEF3cjCSpfOHTEjBWqar4z5MkK5DJ-7nBBKF-48ZbOtn3rD05ZEhr-jUJVgFz-Zv2VoSzxbdTBqlYzOH4qusJtMpwO2oDbqzm0vBcRlpL2aG3MUGeKMB/s400/Cocktailing.bmp" border="0" />Like the food, unlimited cocktails were included in the package. Fun-ness ensued.<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>[Mr. Blog dancing]</strong></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276041024388563570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMu56mx_LT_66-UiIPyvchJ9DmHrgA8dCxlk9WvSCv8cvyaK0Re0GLWqPywMo-zYnxBShA6wwYuuL_CJK8M9wqSClpfcmFo2nk_hvaJa5jQHoCF_3Q9ijVdO1qZkDOOgiQ_qIoGAhXAiIp/s400/Dancing.bmp" border="0" /> That's my baby!<br /><br />and the best part of our trip<br /><div align="center"><strong>[a little us time]</strong></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276041155536062066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhKohyphenhyphen6eNPl_ErR7P8mWAomBI2nKJaaQjtwfryNvB1LY3Edcnay7iHmDrRZw8B0FVpG3JNNRIJ1tk9jen4NK_v3ibBmgsv62Qw84zYJJJFxB19o4kr7OL_hczVAQRiGw51vLGxv9RwaAA/s400/Us.bmp" border="0" /> Thank you Mr. Blog, for celebrating my bar passage with me; thank you for knowing back in June that I would pass and booking this trip; thank you for believing in me, supporting me and loving me, <em><span style="color:#000000;">always</span></em>.Yinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12116653582514198995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948337537779238234.post-58808095251410116832008-12-03T10:49:00.000-08:002008-12-03T12:25:59.903-08:00Tagged at homeWell, well... I was welcomed home from the Mayan Riviera (pictures coming soon) by a little tag from <a href="http://bloggedy-blog-blog-saucy.blogspot.com/">Miss Saucy of Bloggedy Blog Blog</a> (who just celebrated 500 posts! Congratulations!).<br /><br />So... having been tagged, here are a few random things about moi:<br /><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><em>Un</em></span>: I eat. A <em>lot</em>. I eat more than Mr. Blog.<br /><br /><em><span style="color:#000000;">Deux</span></em>: I collect pigs (banks, stuffed, toys, books, <em>anything</em>...) because they're my Chinese zodiac sign. They've taken over the apartment (sorry, Mr. Blog).<br /><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><em>Trois</em></span>: When I was three I could speak three languages: Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese and a third Chinese dialect. I've forgotten two of them and learned only English in the mean time; I'm pretty sure this means I digress with age.<br /><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><em>Quatre</em></span>: I won a medal for being good at math. I use to wear it around the house. I'm cool like that.<br /><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><em>Cinq</em></span>: I love instant ramen noodles and I am very, <em>very</em> particular about how it's prepared <span style="font-size:78%;">(boil two cups of water with the broth mix; boil noodles in that mixture for 2 minutres 45 seconds with the lid off so some of the water evaporates; drain noodles by tilting pot over sink so that most of the broth is gone but there's still a little in the bottom; put half the noodles in a bowl; cover with slice of processed swiss or pepper jack cheese; pour rest of noodles and hint of broth on top; stir and enjoy).</span><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#000000;">Six</span></em>: I can watch episodes of <a href="http://www2.warnerbros.com/friendstv/container.html">Friends</a> and <a href="http://www.mtv.com/onair/daria/">Daria</a> over and over again... for pretty much eternity... and not get sick of them. I love those shows.<br /><br /><em><span style="color:#000000;">Sept</span></em>: When I'm concentrating really hard on a task, I stick my tongue out... just a little, to one side... It amuses Mr. Blog.<br /><br /><em>Et voila!</em><br /><br />The ever talented <a href="http://bloggedy-blog-blog-saucy.blogspot.com/">Miss Saucy</a> also nominated me for this little gem, which I happily accept.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275660148101743554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 231px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOF4mnb9mlTMlvCzhNO4kddUrOYLZpqLRluNd8mNGG3OQ_q3bHIZrmfdrCVYXfiTM-TOUALW7u_nXFRIJxrTzxeg52tcoMluGXwvILF3-ZyLmZx01iZCDSJ_L-fF629qQOBcgM5R7zodK7/s400/superior_scribbler_award.jpg" border="0" />And in the spirit of the Superior Scribbler, I'm passing this award on to 5 very talented and inspirational bloggers I admire (also, you 5 have been tagged for the random fun above!):<br /><a href="http://llaurenb.blogspot.com/">Lauren</a><br /><a href="http://scrappyjessi.blogspot.com/">Jessi</a><br /><a href="http://eliseblaha.typepad.com/golden/">Elise</a><br /><a href="http://www.yarnagogo.com/blog/">Rachael</a><br /><a href="http://craftamor.blogspot.com/">Kelly</a><br />[<em>applicable</em> <em>rules</em>: (1) Link back to me for nominating you. (2) Nominate five other bloggers and link to them on your blog. (3) Post these rules.]Yinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12116653582514198995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948337537779238234.post-37714701343654861502008-11-26T22:22:00.000-08:002008-11-26T22:22:00.486-08:00We're off to MexicoBe back in December!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272864011942415842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 360px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 270px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8PEE6QL_zvc-K1f9cuBgPfrOC7c1adxrbTXVMqRJ5R7CCWveFt5j5K34WID1uAVAtxMp-UB-23qfiq47QkogXtF4evw5eQTmMMWSrLH44nFLfwqnSiIO-_KrgHdCCtxoyytHKQVDd7xy/s400/secrets-maroma-2.gif" border="0" /> <div align="center">[<a href="http://secretsmaromabeachresort.com/default.aspx">photo</a>]</div><br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#000000;">Have a happy and delicious Thanksgiving everyone!</span><br /><br />(and if you're not roasting your own turkey, here's a <a href="http://creativetechs.com/tips/tip_resources/PaperCraft-Turkey/Papercraft-Turkey.pdf">fun alternative</a> - found via <a href="http://swissmiss.typepad.com/weblog/">SwissMiss</a>)Yinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12116653582514198995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948337537779238234.post-7078104018011786322008-11-26T10:00:00.000-08:002008-11-26T10:00:00.987-08:00You know it's the holidays when...<a href="http://www.beverlycenter.com/scc/5576.html">Hunky Santa</a> comes to town (or the local mall)...<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272870743551954482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 195px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXVwXmrKC0vO4kf8yew_72-MYvEd2AhcY-HLA6c6vPeq1-Ee63Xz563XC11_IMY0jXhfOkuj1gcOh-bN4RS9lb6MmJeYeKOmxfVAt5wv49gzqRzdrSAI0lkdFiobBDM200jFATzol2EJc/s400/Hunky+Santa" border="0" /> <div align="center">[<a href="http://www.beverlycenter.com/scc/10074.html">photo</a>]</div><br />[from his <a href="http://www.beverlycenter.com/scc/14854.html">bio</a>:<br /><em>"He is the son of ol' St. Nick. He is personable, friendly, gregarious, funny, approachable, warm, articulate, confident, unpretentious, easy-going, fit, handsome and has a smile that can light up a room"</em>]<br /><br />So hilarious and kind of ridiculous; but, to be fair, if Hunky Santa is up your alley, you can visit him Friday, Saturday & Sunday nights at the <a href="http://www.beverlycenter.com/">Beverly Center</a>.<br /><br />(also to be fair, that is a picture of Hunky Santa 2006, <a href="http://www.bravotv.com/Work_Out/season/3/bios/view_bio.php?trainer=greg">trainer Greg</a> from <a href="http://www.bravotv.com/">Bravo's</a> <a href="http://www.bravotv.com/Work_Out/season/3/index.php">Workout</a>; this year's Hunky Santa is <a href="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/around_town/shopping/Meet_Beverly_Center_s_Hunky_Santa___If_you_didn_t_know_about____LA.html">Eli Wilhide</a> of <a href="http://www.tonyrobbins.com/marketing/strategy/eli_wilhide.html">Tony Robbins fame</a>.)Yinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12116653582514198995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948337537779238234.post-71449198170570297502008-11-25T21:50:00.000-08:002008-11-25T22:17:38.620-08:00Stickerpalooza<div><div>Look what finally came from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/">Amazon</a> (it took over a week even though the warehouse is about 40 minutes from my apartment): <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272841294292890002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3AK-QI5G443U7d-yvkpns-qVLF72FyPF6Zw2DJ5QeBfO514DIX4coqKEtDJ2GjG16_ZOg80XNk1Yl60gk5SQPqGrrcosVHKpNVT8fNTzbiJuXWRSuft8ReTLQKZ_uVZ0mHkyZBgj1s_n/s400/IMG_0671.JPG" border="0" />My <a href="http://www.xyron.com/enUS/Products/2_5__create-a-sticker__Permanent_Refill.html">sticker maker refill</a>! The best part is... it <a href="http://yinzin.blogspot.com/2008/11/blog-o-help-please.html">FITS</a>! As it turns out, the Create-a-Sticker is the same machine as my Magic Sticker Maker! (<a href="http://www.xyron.com/enUS/Home/default.html">Xyron</a> would have made my life a lot easier if it didn't change the names of its products!) <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272842002194723170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLFvQwTRvtc3etNAbGI0iWgf4nEvmyjML8E4YT515ojupdEoTEb_x9-18t0Y1ZMNAgzn2WTd8se8mhyphenhyphenETKqyCLe8i5TBBP7kjCjTcaaEJECruUsvXaur6Jpa3xAUrojGcLTHmpW8snjla/s400/IMG_0670.JPG" border="0" />I have plenty of shows on TiVo so it's sticker assembly time tonight! (One of which is <a href="http://www.nbc.com/Heroes/">Heroes</a>; is anyone still watching it? I'm trying but the constant time jumping is really confusing me!)<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272843308602209202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHw_ChdkYHHQgOrzKiufylaeCznuBzVpC0xric48fg4n4xflvjOT3IVidwfDLaaUa1IkVucEXwbvYevRFn7M3EWN7XpSe6yBwwp0ARGIL02Cw7K1F-DQz_i8m8nqtKzx2jbCUfh3Nlve6/s400/IMG_0621.JPG" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div>In other news, Mr. Blog won this pie in a raffle at work today. Mmm, my hero.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272840741380937954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUv_Jw57sU63itajnUM3hgdNhRZy_AKDpR_8AFF_00xriQGaTwdIo6QOEImK2YGRQ2797u-HkgNpgiIoIAARofNyexy5CvO0-nZ-Z6_x_h8ITdK24F1wyOQKgL7EVZhzFfBKe-3U4Fsbn/s400/IMG_0675.JPG" border="0" /></div></div>Yinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12116653582514198995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948337537779238234.post-47248742948557270642008-11-24T12:52:00.000-08:002008-11-25T22:17:32.080-08:00Last Minute Thanksgiving: An illustrated storyMr. Blog & I won't be in the country for Thanksgiving, but he still wanted a little turkey and stuffing (and cranberry and beans and yams and potatoes... etc. etc.) so we decided to have a small dinner this weekend for the two of us (the inner-hostess in me wanted to have a big celebration, but when we came up with this idea last week I was still convinced I didn't pass the bar so I just assumed I wouldn't want to see people this weekend).<br /><br />I went to the store to buy a turkey breast and thigh, which together cost $12. The whole turkey in the next freezer was only $11. So, I bought the whole turkey (of course).<br /><br />In light of the fact that: 1) there was no way we could eat a whole turkey; 2) it's very hard to cooked that many side dishes for two people; 3) I did pass the bar and was up for being social, we decided on Friday to host a (very last minute) Thanksgiving on Sunday.<br /><br />We made all the food; our friends brought all the wine and it was a fantastic evening.<br /><br />A crudite tower (and its friend beer):<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272334927874875938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVeZkEQIlJW5uTQVjldxKIZaDCYwpUCQzQC5irw_pnHCMUnY_5git3bfKx5RDxfDNTbLfmNM8MKHZQQg-Tpd-C2y5eUhzsp8q88yM-stlIG6k4DrZ4CyKRgrrnGHVbx5oeo3wNRMLWf-b-/s400/IMG_0657.JPG" border="0" />Boys watching football and a lovely lady smiling for the camera:<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272334514337570882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypbpq84Oo2wZtjJYxQ_HM9SUPt2PKf1RpYXwV8T9-HJF1TfKd2Xa0XwXXTssEx2Jwlq2_hyphenhyphenMyo3R_kGC8RQ9m-yxFoiz5dcJEqO1RSxh9s2pMbvjoOEz0oVhPjO7cCOBGoQLrXIrM_-0b/s400/IMG_0655.JPG" border="0" />The Turkey:<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272335994126998834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_iWyoxDobnu6O42LywFLO7O9xNStht8_jXwNu1VoF44pOxeCV3AakvytiM9VA1GJJyldRRqmbVAFGvWp0iHehsIerbSGR0dPd21AqW1TgKVLeNiOcq37evurB-fSXlY7ALdyXXfyFazO/s400/IMG_0661.JPG" border="0" />Friends (and fellow bar-passers - congrats!):<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272335374195602130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzeg5hm9NvVaPHgtLRoZ8vDj-hlwb-WGNiNRHbopYS8S-YL4rbL5P-A57_YVecnhRdWzYXMW6xkzZdodmcGFW43QG6irIFHzy86-hJpz1X7lL6nT1IMhV-fdXR0OPzROSdw36tTHo8EVly/s400/IMG_0659.JPG" border="0" />Mr. Blog working hard and me enjoying myself:<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272336408432368738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTmSPMD_v_rDxwwN2pVeQwlhY66uhzOg30WDomr2gWT-kNbvgN5Fylp8yX9sDNJRKToanqh0OhlfSLqf22fw5W0ub2lE24V2IHzA2HTIIry0DTUR4M2ktKNSbm2hKPVxqNBtfzHeMY9Pv/s400/IMG_0662.JPG" border="0" />Eating:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEwdF3w6Wn8RhJ8pKgblmVhMUpii1MNVmyx_RcBMAvzStry_0q5kbL7LGTiz9R6ReZsEUIRLOa4HhZOJ1atglCGPJSZaJx1cGpstuSmCjCNUQN3f-T8aHncMsslvSLdWDK48svtP2238Y/s1600-h/IMG_0666.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272337919226702498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px; WIDTH: 95px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 126px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEwdF3w6Wn8RhJ8pKgblmVhMUpii1MNVmyx_RcBMAvzStry_0q5kbL7LGTiz9R6ReZsEUIRLOa4HhZOJ1atglCGPJSZaJx1cGpstuSmCjCNUQN3f-T8aHncMsslvSLdWDK48svtP2238Y/s200/IMG_0666.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatiCBsN0GPddzfXwHVONNvQSmvWbCcAwAzOI8jSLrdev_8GkCk6nAOzcFPwSIBfWN1j671iS4Y_GFOfBGyA7edwHKHKwILDXQBxZywB-NdN_hAde12ft3-Q71koQGGH1a61FjelWjEzVB/s1600-h/IMG_0668.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272338284022265282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px; WIDTH: 168px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 126px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatiCBsN0GPddzfXwHVONNvQSmvWbCcAwAzOI8jSLrdev_8GkCk6nAOzcFPwSIBfWN1j671iS4Y_GFOfBGyA7edwHKHKwILDXQBxZywB-NdN_hAde12ft3-Q71koQGGH1a61FjelWjEzVB/s200/IMG_0668.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tEtAY3Sq3FM6CvoUpyW9cxUhVooAkHRzWvSDs0wx8sbFpPWiK8et4NkFaWVJceG0JqmpuLcJP4Y7NT2tfXdjHBtgPD3YkvVxB4pW3192PLsjMXvaOm6e7q4FbCvWu3AvqfRAViriY6J3/s1600-h/IMG_0667.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272339328643825282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px; WIDTH: 95px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 126px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tEtAY3Sq3FM6CvoUpyW9cxUhVooAkHRzWvSDs0wx8sbFpPWiK8et4NkFaWVJceG0JqmpuLcJP4Y7NT2tfXdjHBtgPD3YkvVxB4pW3192PLsjMXvaOm6e7q4FbCvWu3AvqfRAViriY6J3/s200/IMG_0667.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Our table:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufEriG8wR3Wh5bs7HcKGIzTa9VBwTizGcoYpK0Uh7eUwCxivDwP5hsA-e9rZE_ayzCUlF03-KNSrNXU-FegeNAGRdiIUYQ7ZFQwyyWyzzW6sjvC40jXYijvAedxErZbYzkC7E6BCNoQAT/s1600-h/IMG_0664.JPG"></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272342168605456194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDz04_UnxzwD5rhoR3DCNR2eJ5G0IrTm_xIxypB1THN9hMyAytkZ44Pqn5kMF28ZWI1xm0z283_lhH8Yi4ZUx3YM6w2f2syU7AoeDz46GAuGxngP4GSQftgU2Lk01Zyw9TkbK5Rwd9C4l/s400/IMG_0664.JPG" border="0" />And, in case you're wondering, the dishes are: (clockwise from the big turkey platter)<br />1) Roasted, brined turkey with grilled baby eggplant and persimmons (on a bed of spinach)<br />2) Cranberry orange sauce<br />3) Stuffing (from the box!)<br />4) Mixed green salad with apples, gorgonzola and spiced walnuts (with orange dressing)<br />5) Mr. Blog's special whipped yams topped with mini marshmallows<br />6) Corn pudding<br />7) Green bean casserole<br />8) More stuffing<br />9) Scalloped potatoes with Gruyere<br />Not pictured (where the empty potholders are): gravy & spicy collard greens<br /><br />Mr. Blog also made a beautiful pumpkin pie from scratch (with bourbon whipped cream!) but we promptly ate that up without photographing it.<br /><br />Thank you, dear friends for sharing the night with us and a big, big thank you to Mr. Blog for being my co-chef.<br /><br />Oh, as I'm writing this entry: turkey & fixin's to my left; gravy & cranberry to my right. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMZsmUzP5B010W99Xgku_ZQojNI24jRon4WqQwN3Snr1DXFA1R8FQw6tL4h4WxcGgQOZ22zKkq6WzFsptlfw5wZe0EwYEqVV3NBa6fxauj84OolbL8mnUwOeSFiExqkRHtJfDuUAF-NrN/s1600-h/Leftovers+L.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272344353247114642" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px; WIDTH: 186px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 138px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMZsmUzP5B010W99Xgku_ZQojNI24jRon4WqQwN3Snr1DXFA1R8FQw6tL4h4WxcGgQOZ22zKkq6WzFsptlfw5wZe0EwYEqVV3NBa6fxauj84OolbL8mnUwOeSFiExqkRHtJfDuUAF-NrN/s200/Leftovers+L.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmHnzSYsoI7mvZIHNklkKBrUR17kECZK8wB7QJpf6Juypiswg6IDwd-uB7IioGW-FLKuXR1p3emGoeWJU8rU6S3AjRXhta3hx0-CbD-mQIscTyPsYfRsCzj4S2AMnvCYzLrKqu2P591lq/s1600-h/Leftovers+R.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272344628572005346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px; WIDTH: 186px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 138px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmHnzSYsoI7mvZIHNklkKBrUR17kECZK8wB7QJpf6Juypiswg6IDwd-uB7IioGW-FLKuXR1p3emGoeWJU8rU6S3AjRXhta3hx0-CbD-mQIscTyPsYfRsCzj4S2AMnvCYzLrKqu2P591lq/s200/Leftovers+R.jpg" border="0" /></a>Mmm.Yinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12116653582514198995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948337537779238234.post-10789046531863092562008-11-22T11:53:00.000-08:002008-11-25T22:17:32.081-08:00Friday: Before, during and after<strong>Before 6:00: Nervousness maximus </strong>(cartoon by Gary Larson)<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272323426177004802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 363px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8sj1N9FGAaz8HQ36oL_vaGuUF3ReqhvosxortzhbsBswd5jENz5ihFw683CXzHpq2b38-TczaLO4X27vVK5_agOUsYxU1l-_C-W6bK7cAY8U5DCg8DqqXR0lLGIHyD2k8tf6MshpKtl9/s400/nervous_dogs.gif" border="0" />I've known that bar results are released Friday, Nov. 21 at 6:00 since before I took the bar, but even with that type of notice there was no way I could prepare for the feelings I would experience that day. All last week I hardly slept, and would drink gallons of coffee to function during the day (it was not a pretty sight).<br /><br />My friends realized I was going insane, and this arrived for me Friday morning.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272325106361708226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrc91iss9vpCIMf1Y4Cw9ZZ9mof_TZzuEJJT7Bl5hh2zYjOxcsEp28tBm4tx_7t5umpag4C15VLdZGWJYK6KLDfUJRAP7eB-bXY7ISsjU42U0viOM3pVyN3JbUX14wkgJgUdLZjnfP0lE/s400/IMG_0648.JPG" border="0" />It was a sweet, sweet package from sweet, sweet Lolo. Just to remind me I'm Wonder Woman!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272325685569407842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjure3LNoIMGmANNrir4jiEvIG3BV6gKLJQwdvwu0Tpb4o56yP9p2HJQspnnjw7xJ084t6zrrz2sxVJL4zcF3kLvRTVxX3sOWir9DO2OJKHyAZ9T0tmbPQ-6E2BhFjVLQXCSSxKKBLkD9Vs/s400/IMG_0649.JPG" border="0" />THANK YOU! THANK YOU! It was the perfect break from what I had been doing (rocking back and forth in front of my computer, giggling nervously and constantly refreshing the results page just in case a glitch caused the list to be published before 6:00).<br /><br /><strong>During 6:00 - 6:30:</strong> Logging on, gasping, re-reading, confirming, jumping, crying, hugging, calling, mom screaming, texting friends, waiting, cheering - exhausting.<br /><br /><strong>After 6:30: Brainlessly amused</strong> (cartoon by Gary Larson)<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272326107882891346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 330px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSib_5OmaEd0vrjhgs9KbMthpEDoyR5wG6GwcVUrN9LXDY5oKWx-9RAi-piFAoFvU7rrinVaCGNmsSwdYtOCzYrXFfjtuRat7evsgfeFrWpufbh5DrXflBTcoE6dnTtmdcDiZH6B7Sjb4G/s400/Far_Side_101901.jpg" border="0" />I'd expended most of my energy for the day rocking back and forth and jumping up and down, so I was pretty tired by the time the celebration phase rolled around. Also, I'm way too old to go out and down an endless stream of cocktails (but props to all my friends who did!).<br /><br />So, Mr. Blog took me <a href="http://www.lepetitbistro.us/">Le Petit Bistro</a>. They have *amazing* pate (smooth, rich and very flavorful) if anyone is interested! Mmm mm! Mr. Blog had their endive salad which he thoroughly enjoyed. I started with the roasted beet salad with baked goat cheese - it was melt in your mouth. *drool*<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272327489061036626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0TQDZAiV40wQ2C2vMdGK5-iWZ4yt0CJdrOn8ylVel7wuIm0HGEBBPxLSW-JF-xOnL5bNpyTOOjJvJuW7l0Uw4xsheyphoFvYOEipOWCfQKMLcbzbvkZUpchefM0XopTyNl3enoC37Lyt/s400/Bar+Food+Franch+Seafood.jpg" border="0" />This is my seafood stew which had a delicious creamy, saffron broth that was perfectly spiced (some places really overdo the saffron which irks me). <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272327134466606738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtA27VaPpDXEMx4MxHcdS-_eGVSo-ywwxMTJaPnTMR5bHhAgOzhSwjn8qcdwvVPWBjcSxu9i0RqNG7WvQlpYWmrKS4kkh6BYagUlYdKHbvNp_jdhIOayQ3nM5-IVvfKY5snUStwN07cOU/s400/Bar+Food+Franch+Duck.jpg" border="0" />Mr. Blog & his crispy duck (with a hint of orange) over wild rice. Mmm.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272326779492242930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYi9fGpD1e6ndElhpgUERI1iNljWF-UBzfr1CWfH3ZwMlNHMGMfXLS7JD25ymccXEcLTzR95Uv80NUCif00y7bP4bJ55rHed0a4Tm0jWonvwjVFvwpnqp64X7LHhr6tR1BGZgXpPto3z5/s400/Bar+Food+Franch+Dessert.jpg" border="0" />Mr. Blog surprised me with Champagne and chocolate souffle.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272328258133520306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdKcV1_E9tLBD2Ahwz5xbQ3-QOTHZq44wODy7VC1r0O3dzn6gGJGnWh85bg4fmtEoEX6_t46P6frUO3xVOmMGzGTUkNy95RDKPBRfykWv5xxfTgp74M9jnNvJRj0EwhBg-TyRS7jsT-Hx/s400/Bar+Food+Franch+me.jpg" border="0" />Then we visited some good friends, sipped more champagne and called it a night.Yinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12116653582514198995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948337537779238234.post-234783050229890842008-11-21T18:48:00.000-08:002008-11-25T22:18:09.509-08:00um, I passed the bar.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwEwQ9ZXD-3aWVjkhQIvo6cdmoS2ZA44qfv8FF8y35arfhmTo-9gLnSZgzFxtJxusOaGBhVobzT3myZhRi9eyKYp5cfCVJ4K85ECjaMVrJIod3Z4q_zan1yJicXhaHIUY3XdnFlzAEIcy/s1600-h/Yay.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271308792154238530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 64px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwEwQ9ZXD-3aWVjkhQIvo6cdmoS2ZA44qfv8FF8y35arfhmTo-9gLnSZgzFxtJxusOaGBhVobzT3myZhRi9eyKYp5cfCVJ4K85ECjaMVrJIod3Z4q_zan1yJicXhaHIUY3XdnFlzAEIcy/s400/Yay.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Yinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12116653582514198995noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948337537779238234.post-32539962085234447062008-11-21T12:31:00.000-08:002008-11-21T12:37:45.990-08:00Wreath Prototype #2<div>Same materials + a lot more time =</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271211917474996770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabO7YWNKa0me99dg11IHN_PcxX4gVruZH6gjO8iv6LtpgpEJubIX6fHIYHwwOXNWClUT4mbi5nLTEgKZAL8Dml1-NuGDhf948_orZoo1nMj9Jb-uXSQfJ7VJ6gD_XL7QHWI3dmvIjbdRa/s400/IMG_0646.JPG" border="0" />I like it. I'm going to make more.<br /><br />=)Yinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12116653582514198995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948337537779238234.post-36409924131165276532008-11-20T12:16:00.000-08:002008-11-21T12:37:45.991-08:00The power of paper<div><div><div>This is the first holiday season that I haven't been a student which means that instead of dealing with finals around this time of year, I have time to decorate! With this Christmas being the first anniversary of the first Christmas Mr. Blog & I spent together, I decided to go with a paper theme. </div><br /><div>File folder + paper plate + cheap scratch paper</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270839072381882770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdvn8VwME1vgZAn46X0y2WvZ3Zf4fZP9IE1pFMnQjDEuQRV4l8Ytn9tdmPZ3wlD0rpgnN0Kq5kUkiYRPoIcZz_TCP6gqiIGv_-_g6oixsWJ6nmCikfaGYvUHyR5Y7p44ywDQ1vWzlnZDZ/s400/IMG_0642.JPG" border="0" />Add scissors + tape<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270839200544080722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNSJLav4ogdqPIp0BOZ28kdTCD_VQgA04-RDRw3z6qHER02WPf-UaSwhAnu1BusDRlv28gmGfhGuQjmf_LvK7_bGzYJJBKMSsdqTk8bTFb5cdK1gCQNlw7VnC8Ossz_k3lsuYva2GfRgW/s400/IMG_0643.JPG" border="0" />Equals <strong>Wreath Prototype #1</strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270839376695607938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCL3rA-tridm3p6BjDU2aNUQxo-Xf27d65WA2BzZUSYDRSSWIh42bdrgx7Nsy2ALE1Lmgk-Y1GKxIyWcZKm1gHmf60Mw6www3ktfANMSYTrD2yl30lYu1AlYpQ8CgBnphPxFi3ccFk-3ht/s400/IMG_0644.JPG" border="0" />I feel... okay... about this project. I like the fullness and dimensions of the wreath and the mix of holly leaves & pine, but my brain is really hating the look of the scratch paper. Even though I know in the real version of this wreath I'll use a richer, dark green paper for the holly leaves, I'm visually distracted by the pastel so it's throwing off my judgment.<br /><br /><div>I think I may sit on this one for a while. </div></div></div>Yinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12116653582514198995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948337537779238234.post-61513855703163936962008-11-19T10:20:00.000-08:002008-11-19T10:35:45.202-08:00Product placement<div>Last night I came home from work to discover there was no parking on my street because this was happening on my block: <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270437685059172642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSeIeMJX8Y8TOLm8OTq40dbWTmbywnuYPnlKYoIldHdmLHsXoaL7_4mpEBSijbZyLFAEduKOlBGyeBvqubxd15i-gGqf_rWre1WOJX_MChyphenhyphenSPlWHsqFFLzS5fNaFz5lGFC0rrl3gJBOrzk/s400/IMG_0637.JPG" border="0" />If you can't tell from my superb photography skills, there were at least 10 trailers parked in front of (next to, around the corner from...) that house and it was all lit up and surrounded by cameras. </div><div><br />I deduced that it was a filming of some sort. I saw a production assistant rushing by clutching 4 very large, very full bags from Target. I asked him what they're filming.<br /><br />"Oh, a commercial for Wal-Mart." </div>Yinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12116653582514198995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948337537779238234.post-78853864855149245222008-11-16T12:36:00.000-08:002008-11-19T10:37:27.766-08:00Going GreenThis is Mr. Personality. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270132677320833202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 251px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3GBF-YHPe8vtejcGr3cGMCjXwyiM6UrUTkYcF0CywmI8rrCe09-aBGQMAztFseByioISVBNgRgAIUO4Il3aXaIpmxwAI1LBRsvc73K9uqr07pDogxdHCiM9wiSVFlCpHyybTcEBfHD2G/s400/Audi.jpg" border="0" />(Sorta... The Mr.Personality that we know and love is actually midnight blue, but I didn't have any pictures of him on my computer... this photo is from <a href="http://www.germancarblog.com/2006/08/audi-a4-cabrio-audi-s4-cabrio-prices.html">here</a>)<br /><br />Mr. Personality been with our family for several years now and we adore him. He's strong and fast and goes vroom, vroom. Sadly, he's returning home to the dealership in a few months, so yesterday Mr. Blog & I went out to find a replacement personality.<br /><br />We're adopting her.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270134125436572434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJbygFxYuIlBgpCvsxcbJZtCm9c1H3by_9rI6rzBWx07sITb9dh-JHO6Dt33G-dzhlWde7Ao0Ax0I28LWCdWi4gnVrePgd-cCbU1rSODDm8isAclgG5Cz7C3q9JbPZrWROw4EGIJdNmBF/s400/Lexus.jpg" border="0" />(yes, that's actually her!)<br /><br />She's sweet and cute and her little <strong>hybrid</strong> engine purrs like a kitten. I luhve her. We're picking her up in a month. =)Yinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12116653582514198995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948337537779238234.post-20857588612309194792008-11-13T10:21:00.000-08:002008-11-19T10:41:21.507-08:00Christmas Card Prototypes[<em>spoiler alert for those who care what kind of card I'm sending them this Christmas!</em>]<br /><br />I came up with this card last night:<br />The outside (it's very boring, but wait for it...)<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268231792847469250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNKVstu4nC0PWpgcbbz7YIVINHDVripGZNKaFyRE-2uVw9kJgGMHAwbio4D4kqVBbCf-i6T6MZvWcefTSDOmRH_ZcI9J_cLM9-oMRWrUw8DjKLmwJsDo2iyIaR06xPfJhLrLawKgXMD80/s400/Christmas+Card+1.jpg" border="0" />The inside for text (yes, yes, still boring... keep waiting...)<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268231994689265410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 362px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7f48iko33Ei4ho20QAvR0DCwLTRkp2T4jO7yVQGSfIrpm0i7x-X7asAf1ZtdELuY38gPuYMSl2_pcEHfUcDAQEVuTqZ1D5BH9-UJUstKSX3e_4Otuq9E0DwjDkwGXI7stI3NO1LsBMCz/s400/Christmas+Card+4.jpg" border="0" />It comes with these extras (do you see where I'm going with this?)...<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268232201764031858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 291px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_CFm9fQPGOGVrkcWhp052zsPVK_q9_hAribPOJUihcjI9VGkxMjXe29NdfL0pe84YohqrHTWiyMK8xBgVyT7JYiTOwPRBDVPkdlLga8KDuEbsDMR3m4LOn_Hs_EiC2YLBG4nEzgiVZOS/s400/Christmas+Card+2.jpg" border="0" />to make this!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268232395493225522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 378px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8k7Lu7n2Xlh__2y_iAL93lSHxMZ7UaWS8nKx9BX62vaxTohevVvgR9M-zvux-dZ3baCikFaj5Ohk_fH3pohtdHEyf7ZwaqNa-zQ2pAiCAhm_QQ-72a_dodeS_fISxlGslmDCHTkWYta2W/s400/Christmas+Card+5.jpg" border="0" />It's a gingerbread house in card form all ready to be decorated! I may tweak the shape little more (but I'm pretty limited since I want the whole card to fit in the standard envelop that the "roof" part came in) and look for a more gingerbread-y colored card stock, but otherwise I'm quite happy with the outcome!<br /><br />I also spent today designing these cute candy decals (which is kind of a pain to do on <a href="http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/publisher/default.aspx">Publisher</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ms_Paint">Paint</a>; I think I need to invest in <a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator/">Illustrator</a>!) to run through my <a href="http://yinzin.blogspot.com/2008/11/blog-o-help-please.html">Xyron</a> so there will be a sheet of stickers that comes with each card for the recipient to use to decorate the house!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268233163160889810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 235px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuxKXKowRgXBnxTWyEpw8Fe2LllI179d45PvtlaCkc4Uw9KTEQQsThoosGpg2_aFoSa8X-7kFFLDKbCFqfY583dCpFFcSQm4Cm8JTXN4orgsXsM3eL6ZEUvAcSPuq18zYmSvRrIuFKB_V/s400/Christmas+Card.gif" border="0" /> I plan on making a big batch of these, so watch your mailboxes friends; one of these is coming soon!Yinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12116653582514198995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948337537779238234.post-81899556695043916022008-11-08T16:00:00.000-08:002008-11-19T10:37:27.767-08:00SurrealLast night Mr. Blog and I went to two house parties...<br />in separate parts of town...<br />with unique ambiances...<br />and different crowds...<br /><br />but both with valet parking.<br />When did that become the norm in home entertaining?<br /><br />In other odd news, I just order $100 worth of confetti and Iowa defeated Penn State.Yinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12116653582514198995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948337537779238234.post-1831520302439021992008-11-05T11:16:00.001-08:002008-11-19T10:37:27.767-08:00BittersweetOne <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122586244657800863.html?mod=special_page_campaign2008_mostpop">big step forward</a> for America [<a href="http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2008/03/the-lets-give-obama-a-new-middle-name-contest/">photo</a>]. I am proud.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265255662996108466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 256px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZHhT1gpqNVjurpceY3Gl5R6Xj26bXF6flppu_RpJ-GuFT4hWnr0NnlcNUskUB_8OPsWLp7Jp6AxQfRxYCfYi3GWo7kdqEES8auHziuCk4gCDpCuLw5VOiZjzAxNraFLowmoK0TjeJR5M/s320/Obama.jpg" border="0" />One <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/05/BA3B13UM7K.DTL&type=politics">big step backward</a> for California [<a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/10/yes-on-prop-8-g.html">photo</a>]. I am ashamed.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265257377331569282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 190px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8SNXKaIDDdypcqBUSUj2els8EEUKGU1CVLRkGxi6SaJtQShJPlJs9MrUX2gN8lKrUMAbggN2uRqiDWC6Ny9XBb6fY5QqGyalVj5RBpD4rZ9Bi2LsLKznJpe0_3KjFqpel2wmBQhXuB4Dc/s320/Prop+8.bmp" border="0" /><br />I cried mixed tears.Yinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12116653582514198995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948337537779238234.post-36423102550907199622008-11-04T11:51:00.000-08:002008-11-19T10:46:07.135-08:00I voted<div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264892954815380578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbVJd5FPOPUfMwpv0V3i9SKuT0ncAHhWjsU_AruWiAP3jsikrSIcUQcBGZFFml-Y_pOL0lHYDcvKirOnm59WOD3mRlajFLA_S9sWQhBHtB_W03ITkyphUPqLT6SZnWBWmariTT5c3v5zRY/s320/Vote+2.jpg" border="0" />It took two and a half <strong>hours</strong>...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264892759582460802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUyKGVS5sxKBc-tWGFmywZ-S5vPn9-Vkc-CMRWVOBbWi1An4tr31ZBIRMQiQY3ymB3gXkuhtobyP6GM8MpFOVsTFaTZWbaPPkRFVjHEYPXFz-kj7JAXEeVmqSASYV9SCCuxB9NMyutRKj2/s320/vote+4.jpg" border="0" />but Mr. Blog and I participated in the great democratic process we call <strong>voting</strong>. </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264893296409252722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqOX8UzDs6wjrvWk8Nm2Kw-2PF8jQzXx_ZntADYKAgsxdF7blvrRS9LmYlQKyT1QJT1Gwgu7tORJ4Xk87n_bxqToE1RmdljemKgmD78wk9B2nahrtteDU66dBz92mZjWnVQApAvqNRiDO/s320/vote+5.jpg" border="0" />I celebrated with these adorable <strong>cupcakes</strong> at work.</div>Yinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12116653582514198995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948337537779238234.post-90063211504797153982008-11-01T20:00:00.000-07:002008-11-19T10:37:27.769-08:00Homecoming 2008Dear University of Southern California,<br /><br />Thank you for seven wonderful years of education, friendship and football. It is with great honor that I come home.<br /><br />Love,<br />me<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264551403079874994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8mrEboe9PLuWHXQRcjl994rHz_Ayq9kACzJ7EkBVVLwH821ci5eCE-Ibg1cQ8-9uwWJncOBirpoWCPpWBJQzjk2odJEC2WDGaWymdaKiVVW0dCp-1iy3I-huui5o74fGAN-g9xCXB2tF/s400/IMG_0580.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264551749694468898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUnGXewnsJw0_-1E3xozKfcewu5gK8QMPz7OujAbHl8-EfIwYC-cHkdsqW9a6D2XItY1VPFJVDr323VRugXWtUSdCxVswGFkasw-3jlJGl6N0SxnOH-0Dd15VfwfyLT6qMhS8T4_pWfXh/s400/IMG_0583.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264552156421331826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjplqTfXAU6kpNOn4VD_PjJ_JwPWuQdmOUoshUP-4oyT2GhzO41shkVIDVRCk0AeajBcVVKok1lU3gOuTO6lNEEG1AwowJ_AIsl1WOTa14ppjfV0W_cIFhHI-KrPb1tXFuMKOZTc3plx5Mz/s400/IMG_0584.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264552642262228450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09C-9gpuSvILynHijOtADacK26EAN82BXMnMlCeWNWbsgsW_iYCTZP7pawgmZp-QQt46efuPnB-ljQQ1pCzP8ixJMf7lZyBV4U5XaF7ly8bP2M1xPAH8soQh4DWwcLaiG-z5g-q1a7OI2/s400/IMG_0585.JPG" border="0" /> </p><p>PS - Other thanks goes to: </p><ul><li>The ladies of Alpha Phi for an extreme case of <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=revertigo&defid=3025190">revertigo</a></li><li>The University of Washington for <a href="http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=283060030">not scoring</a> once</li><li>The weather system for warning us there would be 20% chance of rain but not specifying that it would be pouring during the homecoming rally</li><li>The people who come up with the football schedule for scheduling this game on the day after Halloween and thereby only allowing me and Mr. Blog 5 hours of sleep</li><li>Texas Tech for beating UT in a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9DQ9YgeOio">heart-pounding game</a>, even if it meant leap frogging USC in the <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/BCSStandings">BCS rankings</a> (and a very special congratulations to my favorite Red Raider, Kristi)</li></ul>Yinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12116653582514198995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948337537779238234.post-66208706028509639082008-11-01T19:00:00.000-07:002008-11-19T10:41:21.508-08:00A West Hollywood HalloweenIf you're not familiar with the <a href="http://www.weho.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/DetailGroup/navid/339/cid/1974/">Parade</a> in <a href="http://www.weho.org/">West Hollywood</a> for Halloween, every year the city of West Hollywood closes down Santa Monica Boulevard on the 31st to let people walks up and down the street to admire each other's costumes. Imagine a normal parade... with thousands of people... in really fabulous costumes... at night... all drunk... It is not a G-rated event - I've gone for the last few years and I always see at least 7 uncovered male organs and 3 people passed out in gutters.<br /><br />Mr. Blog dressed up as a Scotsman this year. To fit in with the West Hollywood crowd, I crafted a fantastic male member (made of nude boxers, quilt batting and yarn) for him to wear under his kilt. I'm actually quite proud of this project because it's probably the best thing I've ever made; actual (very drunk) gay men thought it was the real deal! I'm not including any pictures because they are all hilariously inappropriate and I don't want to offend anyone (even if no skin is actually showing).<br /><br />My <strong>friends</strong> before going out. Our amazing host threw this party despite suffering trauma from being robbed at gunpoint the night before. Big hugs for bravery!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264543605878106946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hwKAgR_p4JceFYsBHm9NGwcs2bed4P1EEwdv1nm59c3Lnoyc4NwvsNXWmSXnlrEyWo3bvggAhs44zwiXBIKIygd7nRdPH4EJ6bDKrVyCVfkGgqbZz1J0GXrB3NLhseOGm57GVlLd6loG/s400/IMG_0558.JPG" border="0" />Four of us went out together and true to my past WeHo experience, we all lost each other. Oh well; here are some <strong>strangers</strong> we meet on the street (they were all very friendly)!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9ntB0f3TFywZJLzZZ0Wju_-kOvFEY8BO6U3fStZ9Y4IDI9C5SNFuXesDC4yaX8wfSUnNA3BZF9vQpRwLuguP6b37xdPQjLxiKj5Q3knwDyn735qXjFFj3lCImVfbN0vI5mtHP8dorTPg/s1600-h/IMG_0574.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264545353042403842" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 185px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 247px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9ntB0f3TFywZJLzZZ0Wju_-kOvFEY8BO6U3fStZ9Y4IDI9C5SNFuXesDC4yaX8wfSUnNA3BZF9vQpRwLuguP6b37xdPQjLxiKj5Q3knwDyn735qXjFFj3lCImVfbN0vI5mtHP8dorTPg/s320/IMG_0574.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnjniM17TOBIykCldmOHK5gu33yYewGPnX2eojqUxr7R0FWo_6v6UjIq-zsx_TsrTl3h0s4kgcpT3hK9eD8xKbYEKfENGxHMKkK3hCzNMbCiyOFDZ27nQzkyvtW_vgVpjGf3OM06PLvYK/s1600-h/IMG_0569.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264544954204675554" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 185px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 247px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnjniM17TOBIykCldmOHK5gu33yYewGPnX2eojqUxr7R0FWo_6v6UjIq-zsx_TsrTl3h0s4kgcpT3hK9eD8xKbYEKfENGxHMKkK3hCzNMbCiyOFDZ27nQzkyvtW_vgVpjGf3OM06PLvYK/s320/IMG_0569.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Mr. Blog and a <strong>twin</strong> he found.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264546321701969186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaXxKkTsS49TiceNz7LpGkz8t71G-BilIkvURW76tY_2HHIo8mJ6K6kcDKEzdY5ILYQpYxSLM9slwKqsjQofeN0pEslLg5UXHSSXcVcpogYALbwE3BQyh5LlxYYUB6kygr8aOmmkHveBL/s400/IMG_0570.JPG" border="0" />My whole <strong>costume</strong> (minus the hat); I'm at a <a href="http://losangeles.citysearch.com/profile/3625/los_angeles_ca/beverly_nak_won_restaurant.html">Korean restaurant</a> because I was hungry from all the walking. We showed up at 3:45 am and the place was PACKED! There was a 25 minute wait for take out! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264546745450313954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWPLuy_sMyxZd4JjKuIzvFBeYb1tGnVqGikUPzZm2wr7bCNYAqHsJASTtIWUV4vLjWQcPzvCbncDFZaF43nOIsG5_t7fv-AMpgJz17AxxiIlvT1IvYsXAU0RVM6_u6_XsbhxdvQzQDB9GC/s400/IMG_0579.JPG" border="0" />Mr. Blog and I finally got to bed around 6 am. Hah.Yinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12116653582514198995noreply@blogger.com1