To those who love eating at bakeries,

My roommate and I were on this pescatarian and no sugar diet for a little over three weeks this month.  Of course, there were some exceptions.  On Friday December 23rd was my last day!  I didn't have a problem not eating meat.  However, I had been missing my scone and pastry eating the most.  

I was so excited the other day to eat an Orange Currant Scone or a Raspberry-Walnut Scone at La Farine.  I was daydreaming about the scone. My boyfriend and I took our usual walk down to Piedmont Avenue and they were closed!  They were closed for the holidays.  I was so mad.  I opted for Sconehenge scones at the grocery store.  The scones were not as good.  I did find out that La Farine is open now. Thank goodness.       

The next day I ventured to Arizmendi to get an oat scone and they were closed too!  They don't open until the 2nd of January.  I am very very sad.  This is my go-to place since it opens early and is in walking distance from my house.  

Tomorrow I may make a personal stop before work to get a scone at La Farine.  

In desperate need of a scone,

My-Linh

P.S. One of my New Year's resolutions is to make scones.   

To those who have a sixth sense,

There is positive energy shifting in the air for me.  I can sense it.  Sometimes when you know that something is not right for you it pushes you to move forward to find something else that is right for you at the moment.   It's quite exciting even though you may not know exactly what's going to happen.

I also figure that if you take time to care for yourself in a nourishing way positive things will happen too.  This little bit came about because last year I had a bout of sadness and just going through the motions of life without even thinking correctly.  I had to shift my train of thought and life style.  With some changes my sixth sense is slowly coming back. 

Placing confidence in my senses,
My-Linh

P.S. I am reading The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand and I really enjoy it so far even though I am only one seventh of the way through it.  Tilly is the one who recommended it to me ten years ago and a friend recently purchased some of Ms. Rand's books.

To those who read before they go to bed,

The other night I decided to read one of my journals from 2003 before I ventured into dreamland.  My best friend Tilly gave this beautiful antique looking green journal to me for my birthday and she jotted down a lovely note.  She pointed out that one of her achievements in life was/is our friendship.  We have been friends for fourteen years!  I thought that this was a different way to look at life in terms of accomplishments.  

Missing my friend Tilly,

My-Linh

P.S. I have some plans to create a small studio in my bedroom.  Sometimes you have to make due with what you've got. 

To those who have an art studio,

I am jealous that people have studios!!!  I don't have the space that the Wriston Art Center once provided for me during college.  I don't have the open outdoor space that Franconia Sculpture Park spoiled me with.  I don't even have a mini studio in my bedroom which has given a bit of sanity in my previous living spaces.  

So silly and stupid, I have my art supplies tucked away in my little closet, under my bed and in drawers that have been recently organized by my lovely roommate!  It's a bit frustrating.  I have to figure out something because my creativity may vanish.  I really don't want that.

Going to do something about a studio space,

My-Linh

P.S. My inspiration at the moment, In The Make.  My current small project is a birthday postcard for my brother.   

 

If you neglect 

your good qualities and virtues, 

you will cease to be of value 

to your friends and neighbors.  

Soon,

no one will seek you out 

or bother about you. 

~ I Ching

Those things in our psychic body 

later manifest 

in our physical body.

~ I Ching

Dear Friend,

The above quotes are my two favorites.  I try and remind myself everyday of them.  

The first one creates a stability in valuing the art that I make.  Sometimes I question and doubt my good qualities and I shouldn't.  Also, this quote reminds me to live in moments of my moral beliefs.  I have these beliefs of who I am and who I want to be.  Life is full of challenges that poke at your beliefs to see if you are capable of living up to them.  Of course, everyone makes mistakes. 

The second quote really hits home for me.  I am a constant thinker, thinking about my worries, analyzing if I made the right choices and festering over uncontrollable happenings.  My thoughts have manifested themselves in my neck and shoulders and it feels like I am holding my world on them.  I always struggle with letting go of my thoughts.  I do think of happy things as well that include writing, reading, hanging out with people I love, doing things for my friends and eating food.  My body language and my being is completely different when I think of happy things.  I do think that both negative and positive thoughts are there to push your forward into action.

Being observant,

My-Linh

P.S. I am making carrot cake for Thanksgiving.  I have yet to perfect this recipe.  Exercising has really helped in releasing my tension that I carry.    

To those who relish in alone time,

The lights and heat were on when I got home which led me to believe that someone was home.  I entered my house kindly shouting my roommates' names.  I walked through the house wondering if they were pretending to sleep.  I found no one but a quiet house waiting for me. 

I am a person who loves alone time.  I have always been able to entertain myself.  Alone time is a place where mindfulness begins and it's a reminder of who you really are. 

My messy room is calling my name.  I usually like cleaning my room when no one is around. 

I turned off the heat and some lights.

Reveling in time,

My-Linh

P.S. The Art Opening was quite the event.  People enjoyed themselves and artwork was sold! 

Dear Art Opening Go-ers,

Last night I gathered my artist friends for an art meeting to discuss the art opening I will be hosting at my house.

One artist is from high school. We use to take painting class and play softball together. Another artist I met at Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, Minnesota, as an intern. One is my sister's friend from college and former painting student of mine. A women was volunteering as an assistant while I was teaching art in east Oakland. Another is an old co-worker and friend.

We had such a fun time chatting away about the opening and art. After I graduated from college I thought that art wouldn't necessarily be a part of my life as much but I still create time and energy to making art. It makes me feel really good about my life in that I make it a priority in my life, art making that is.

I need to get working on my art,
My-Linh

P.S. I am reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett and I just can't put the book down.

To those who fancy a nice salad,

As I mentioned before, I spend a lot of time preparing my lunches for work. It makes the day a little brighter. I usually include a salad and I always eat with a festive cloth napkin.

Yesterday, two of my co-workers seemed to be eyeing my food. They asked me if I could make them salads for their lunches next Friday! What a nice compliment. They also requested to have a colorful cloth napkins as well. Plus, my co-workers are going to pay me. I guess my creativity also goes into my cooking.

Excited to make salads,
My-Linh

P.S. My artist friends and co-workers loved my forgotten cookies. They are not my favorite because I am not a big fan of meringue.

Dear Fig Lovers,

Figs are in season! I had never eaten a real fig until I came to California. They are a nice surprise! Before coming to California, I sure had my fill of Fig Newtons that's for sure. This afternoon I made fig spread with black pepper and toasted sesame seeds which I have never done. It was quite fun and relaxing on my day off.

Usually when I cook, I alter recipes to fit my taste, needs and what I have on hand. I only made a third of the amount of what the recipe called for. I had to because figs were a bit expensive at Whole Foods and what if I ended up not liking the fig spread.

I am my mother's daughter and so is my sister. My mom loves to cook and does it so so well. Keep in mind, she follows no recipe. It seems as though my sister and I both itch to find an exciting new recipe to attempt to liven our meals. Her latest: pickled vegetables. My latest: corn bread muffins.

Eager to pack my lunch for tomorrow, of course, it will include the fig spread,
My-Linh

P.S. I have been waiting for months to get Heidi Swanson's Super Natural Every Day (cookbook) from the library! I got the fig spread from her Super Natural Cooking cookbook.

To those who enjoy reading the newspaper,

My sister spoke with my dad the other day. He asked, "So, how is Linh with getting me my newspapers? They really make me happy."

The next day, I got out of bed and got ready to bike to China Town for my dad's newspapers. My reward was a baked pork bun and no headache trying to find parking. My dad's reward 4 Vietnamese newspapers.

It was a nice adventure.

Enjoy reading my newspaper horoscope,
My-Linh

To those who stop and smell the roses,
Last month I went to the Rose Garden near my house. The roses were in full bloom and fragrances! There were so many roses with all colors and smells that I became excited jumping from rose to rose to see the beauty in all of them.

It amazes me to see that nature can create rich beautiful colors!

Walking slowly to smell the flowers,
My-Linh

Photo of a Rainbow Sherbet Rose.

To those who make their room their own,

Very recently my room had been a hot mess of messes due to working 6 days a week and attending two classes three days a week. Clothes and shoes everywhere. There was even a small little path where things were pushed to the side and my door had to be closed if guests arrived. It was beginning to be too much.

Lately, I have been making some progress on my room. One day picking up all the stuff that was on my floor. Another day going through papers. And yesterday evening, I vacuumed my floor rugs, organized, and sorted through things. I had so much fun. I am definitely a keeper of things but I am getting better. My inspirations entail purchasing Anthology Living with Substances and Styles magazine, re-doing my room as a summer project and having a garage sale in a couple of weeks.

I even have a little display area on my dresser that I plan on changing when I feel like it. I really like changing things up frequently. It keeps me on my toes.

Excited to enter my room,
My-Linh

To those who move at their own pace,

Last week I went to the Oakland A's versus the Minnesota Twins baseball game and right off the bat I noticed that my sister walks quite quickly! We were walking through the stadium at her pace and I was taken at back about how slow my pace was/is. I asked her why she needed to walk so fast and her immediate response, "This is what I have been dealing with my whole life," referring to my slow-poke-sally pace. Oh dear!

Although my pace is slower than most, I must say my pace is a good pace. I really like looking at things and my eyes are out for what people are eating, what smells good and where my next snack might come from and plus I like to people watch.

Always going at my pace or trying to,
My-Linh

P.S. The Twins won 4 to 3!!!

To those who love flowers,

I love this time of the year because everything is in bloom! There are so many different colors and types of plants. I am one of those people who stop and smell the flowers.

I decided a couple of months ago to buy flowers every once in a while and I love it. I'll place them around my house but I like them in the kitchen because I spend a lot of time there in the morning eating breakfast and drinking tea.

Looking forward to purchasing roses,
My-Linh

P.S. I might have to start buying plants instead because they last longer.

To those who love eating sandwiches,

For today's lunch, I made homemade guacamole, just a single serving because I only had one avocado. I put it on Milton's multi-grain bread with turkey, mayo, and farmer's cheese. As a side, I cut up a Jazz apple and squeezed fresh lemon juice over the apples and to add color I neatly placed some giant blackberries in my pyrex tupperware.

I am trying not to spend too much money during my lunches for work and I have been quite good. With trying to save money, I definitely spend quite a big portion of my morning making my lunch. It gives me calmness and excitement to know that I have a fabulous lunch waiting for me.

Love making my lunch,
My-Linh


P.S. I never got my act together to run the relay marathon. I hope you're not disappointed.

To those who have an alias,

I wanted to create my own alias name for quite some time and a few weeks ago a name popped into my head. The name is "Lenny!" I love it! I ordered a pizza for pick-up and used Lenny. It was so much fun.

I am excited to use it again. However, when I used it the other day to order a soy latte the person said "Lani."

Yours,
Lenny

To those who love soccer,

Do you remember when I wrote about recording all the the 2010 World Cup games for my dad and I wasn't getting very much sleep?

Well, I sent them off and he has been in soccer heaven. He strategically watched all the games he wasn't able to watch and somewhere in there threw in the final game. Then he watched the games he had already watched live. He has left me messages about how he stayed up until 5 in the morning memorized by soccer. Oh dear, he even noticed that I missed recording two games that were very important! But that's life dad, I am not perfect.

Eagerly waiting for the next World Cup and the 2012 Olympics,
My-Linh

P.S. Now he has a flat screen tv! I also have some tennis matches waiting to be mailed.

To those who love to make their own cards,

One of my goals for the 2011 year is to make artwork outside of printmaking class. This needs to happen.

Last week I wanted to make some sort of collage because it has been a big interest. I did not end up making a collage, however, I made some beautiful cards for the coming Lunar Year. It will be the year of the Golden Rabbit.

Making the cards gave me such excitement! It has been quite fun to be creative and see a neat product.


Loving my handmade cards,
My-Linh

P.S. I still have to make the fitting envelopes to the cards.

To those who love running,

So, I am going to be running a marathon relay with three other friends. I haven't done any training. Six miles will be my leg of the race. I have never ran this much before at one time but I think it's possible. I am actually pretty excited about it. It will help me get into better shape.

This will support one of my New Year's Resolutions of exercising more. I think that this year will be the year where I will have the discipline to actually achieve everything that I set forth to do. My categories include focusing on health, money, and art!


Going on a run tomorrow,
My-Linh

P.S. What are you resolutions?