0 | 11.9.2011 | 8 months agoIt was just one moment that will forever be remembered. A day when the ordinaries became heroes. Thank you to all of those who have sacrificed and are sacrificing their lives to allow us to live.
1 | 14.8.2011 | 9 months agoThis year marks the 10th anniversary of 9/11. It has already been 10 years, and construction had gone underway since 2008 to build a memorial area on where the World Trade Centers once stood. The 9/11 attacks, one of the most devastating event the world has witnessed, is something people will never forget. There will always be scars, but with the unveiling of a memorial the architect, Michael Arad, hopes to bring closure and create a space where people can come and remember their loved ones, those who were never found, or just reflect.
Based on the video, this place seems very serene and calming. Giant one acre waterfalls represent the Twin Towers. Names of all the victims carved along the bronze panels. Trees planted all around.
This place will be a great tribute, and I hope it will bring a bit of comfort to all of those who were affected.
Someday, I will visit the memorial.
1 | 28.7.2011 | 10 months agoIt’s a shock. I didn’t know she had passed away.
Kelly Pham UCLA alum, ambitious, out-going, and kind is someone I had the chance to meet back in 2009 during VCN. Even though I didn’t know her as well as others, and only through VCN, I remembered as the drama director she was very determined to carry out her vision of how she wanted her plays to be and actors to perform, she was always laughing, very enthusiastic and loud. hehe Word had spread around the facebook community and this is how I found out that recently Kelly’s life was taken away in a drunk driving.
It really is a great loss and just too early. Her life was just beginning and now she will never be able to find her dream career, start her own family, do all the things she has been waiting to do, or even share those precious wisdom people usually acquire as they age. It’s just really sad.
Kelly I really hope you rest in peace.
1 | 27.6.2011 | 11 months agoSo the summer is here and that means for free movie screenings! Yay! hehe
Recently saw a movie that will be coming out Fall 2011 called The Three Musketeers. It was an awesome movie! If you’re a fan of Pirates of the Caribbean and Sherlock Holmes then you would love this movie. I do find the story about the Musketeers to be super interesting, and that’s partially why I went to watch it, besides it being free of course. I would totally have paid to watch this movie, and I think I will once it comes out to theaters!
On another note, will be seeing another screening tomorrow. Some sort of action drama. A few big names, synopsis was a bit unclear so we’ll have to see how it goes!
Since we’re still on the topic of movies! I am county down the days for Harry Potter. Cannot wait! hehe
Hope everyone is having a good summer so far and keeping cool.
3 | 22.6.2011 | 11 months ago
Summer is here! That means all those highschool seniors have just graduated. A couple of my cousins are officially highschool graduates now and are going to college this fall, where has the time gone? hehe I wanted to give them super original/special lei, so I decided to make them.
Congrats to my cousins!
2 | 15.5.2011 | 1 year agoWell Friday’s series finale brings an end to the long running show Smallville. Ten years of stories depicting Clark Kent and his journey towards becoming the world’s superhero.
A two hour episode filled with remembrance, the strength of love, and good ol’ bad guy butt kicking it leaves with an ending that is both satisfying and complete. Even though I have to admit, I am not a die-hard fan of Clark’s teenage years, even skipped through those seasons, I have watched every episode since his transition from college into the real world. The story is deeper, even the cinematography developed and giving it a different darker feel to it. The evils Clark fought with in a way was more realistic and had a purpose.
I am sad to say I will miss Smallville, it was a good story. To finish with a finale that gave its audience a glimpse of the superhero Clark is destined to be, we realize this is the path he took to become Superman. Clark donning his red suit, surpassing his trials, defeating the ultimate evil, saving the world from destruction, and still able to keep up his dorky appearance, this show will surely be missed.
Goodbye Smallville
0 | 3.5.2011 | 1 year agoCelebrations, cheers, happiness. It is sort of interesting to see this all happening. To be that happy over a death, this is a bit strange. But Osama Bin Laden, the terrorist, the man behind the 9/11 attack, infamous ruler, a coward is probably an exception. After a decade of searching, May 1, 2011, will forever be remembered as the day US Navy Seals found and killed Bin Laden. In this case it’s okay to say I am relieved and happy that he is gone, but to think there are still followers and people out there who are determined to carry out Bin Laden’s cause, it is still a scary world.
Anyways this is a victory and I would like to show my gratitude and appreciation for all the men and women out there who risk their lives everyday to provide our life.
Thank you.
Oh, one more thing, to all those people thinking that Bin Laden’s death burial was inappropriate, just think of all the people he killed (from 9/11 and his own country) do you think they had a proper burial? Did people care enough to speak up for them, why are people so miffed over what happens to Bin Laden? The victims, THEY are the ones who deserve a proper burial.
0 | 25.2.2011 | 1 year ago
Please VOTE for me (just click on the picture)
Winkflash offers a weekly photo contest and I’ve submitted a couple of times before. This week’s theme is “Lucky Shot,” so I decided to submit something that I took last summer. I would have thought it was a floating dead leaf until it stopped…ooo it’s a BUTTERFLY! Nature is sure surprising!
THANKS! =)
30 | 23.2.2011 | 1 year agoI spent the whole day searching online for those supposed secret Starbucks drinks. I am not a coffee expert, or a Starbucks expert but I do go from time to time. Even though Starbucks does have a menu, I am THAT customer who stands there and stare until I can figure out what drink to get, and then fumble through correctly ordering it. Sigh how embarrassing…
Anyways I guess I am putting this list together so I can order something different for once, and one-up my coffee game. I’m tired of playing it safe! hehe But now my problem is trying to figure out what most of these mean, and how in the world would I even order? Do I just state the name, or do I have to say 3 pumps of that, a shot of this, and swirl it till you get it right? Well I guess I’ll be figuring this out for a while (scratch head)
So I’ll post my list here, if anyone is interested…(be aware, not all are known, some are seasonal and it might even piss off the workers if you’re spitting out nonsense hehe)
*sorry if there are spelling errors, or if I have duplicated any drinks…too much to go through and perfect it =/
1. Crunchberry/captain crunch: Basically this drink is a Strawberry and Creme Frapp with toffee nut blended in. It’s supposed to taste like Captain Crunch cereal (which is why some people call it the Captain Crunch frapp).
2. Tuxedo/ zebra frappuccino: This is white and regular mocha blended into a nice frappuccino. However at the Starbucks I got it from they said they added some black coffee to it…hmmmm….
3. Red tuxedo frapp/ bloody penguin: This is a white and regular mocha frappuccino with raspberry syrup.
4. Blended strawberry lemonade: A pink/strawberry lemonade slushie with the class and refinement of Starbucks ;).
5. Cake batter frappuccino: You can get this as a vanilla bean frappuccino with almond flavoring or you can get what I got which is a vanilla frapp with cream syrup.
6. Chocolate cream frappucino: Chocolate, chocolate, and MORE CHOCOLATE! This is a chocolate frappuccino with more chocolate syrup and chocolate chips blended in!
7. London fog: Nice, hot earl grey tea with pumps of vanilla syrup in it.
8. Cookie and crème frappuccino: Vanilla frappuccino with chocolate chips blended in.
9. Biscotti frappuccino: Any frappuccino with a biscotti blended into it (charges for biscotti do apply).
10. Nutella latte: Cafe au lait (coffee with milk, but ask for a misto) with two pumps (at least) of mocha, caramel, and hazelnut. I suggest asking for no foam.
11. Three C’s Latte: Cinnamon Dolce Latte with the recommended number of pumps of mocha and caramel.
12. Chocolate Dalmatian: Hot white chocolate mocha with java chips and vanilla/hazelnut syrup.
13. Chocolate Pumpkin: Pumpkin Spice latte (seasonal) with (two) pumps of mocha.
14. Raspberry Cheesecake Frappuccino: White mocha frappuccino with raspberry syrup (2 recommended)
15. Snickers latte: Three pump caramel brulee with nutmeg powder caffe latte with peanuts.
16. Neapolitan Frappuccino : Strawberries n Creme frapp with vanilla bean powder and (two) pumps of mocha
17. Strawberries n Creme frapp with vanilla bean powder and (two) pumps of mocha
18. Chocolate Turtle drinks (modification to any drink): add mocha, caramel and toffee nut
19. French Vanilla drinks: Two pumps of vanilla and two pumps of toffee nut added to a drink of your choice.
20. Ghetto Chai Latte: Chai tea misto with two tea bags, half cinnamon and half vanilla syrup and extra foam
21. Dirty Mocha: hazelnut toffee nut white chocolate mocha drizzle caffe mocha
22. Mint Mocha: Peppermint vanilla chocolate powder caffe mocha
23. Caramel High Rise: caramel drizzle expresso con panna (these are getting complicated…)
24. Berry White Mocha: raspberry light strawberry strawberry (that’s not a typo…) white mocha
25. Cinnamon Rooibos Tea Latte
26. Pomegranate Vanilla Oolong Tea Latte
27. Campfire Mocha: Expresso with two pumps of vanilla (possibly) topped with mini marshmallows and chocolate chips
28. Marble Mocha: White and dark chocolate with caramel: White and dark mocha with (three) pumps of caramel.
29. Caramel Appaccino: caramel capaccino with a hint of apple
30. Toffee Nut Cappuchino
31. Leche de coca
32. Passion tea lemonade (passion tea apple juice): apple juice instead of lemonade, half pumps of raspberry syrup, and half pumps of classic (choose lemonade or apple juice)
TIP: A favorite frappe ask for whip blended into (rich and creamy)
33. Gummie bear: passion ice tea with half the sweetner melon and half of it is raspberry (grande passion iced tea sweetened with 2 pumps melon and 2 pumps raspberry/ passion iced tea to the first line, apple juice to the little under the 2nd line, raspberry pump (4 for venti), add ice then shake
34. Marble Mocha macchiato: white chocolate, milk chocolate, espresso, milk
35. Strawberry apple juice frapp: 2 shots of raspberry (raspberry apple strawberry medley)
36. Venti passion tea lemonade: 2 pumps melon, 2 pumps raspberry, 2 pumps orange
37. Sexy april: coffee with chocolate lemonade and raspberry syrup
38. Winter wonderland: mix of caramel, vanilla bean, and peppermint
39. Chuck Norris: white mocha, toffee nut, hazel nut
40. Iced coffee with white mocha, plus whip cream on top
41. Snickers frapp
42. Freckled redhead: strawberry and cream frappaccino with chocolate chips
43. Lemonberry dream: strawberry lemonade frap with a shot of cream bas and whip cream
44. Grasshopper: peppermint, white mocha green tea latte/ the frappuccino add java chips
45. Banana split: strawberries and cream frappuccino with banana, java chips, a pump of white mocha and pump of mocha
46. Match monkey madness: tall size whole milk in the frappuccino blender, four scoops of matcha powder, 2 scoops of protein powder, a banana and venti scoop of ice
47. Hot chocolate, 5 pumps, breve
48. Neopolitan ice cream (grande size): strawberries and cream with 1 pump mocha, and mocha sauce in cup and on top
49. Iced coffee with toffee nut and breve
50. Passion tea: (lemonade/apple juice): with dark cherry/classic syrup
51. Pikes place roast with either mocha or dark cherry
52. Snickerdoodle (grande size): 3 pumps white mocha, 3 pumps cinnamon dolce, soy milkd, whipped cream with cinnamon dolce sprinkles
53. Venti iced coffee, sweetened with half and half, 3 pumps classic, 3 scoops vanilla bean
54. Apple pie: half soy milk/half apple juice to appropriate size line in pitcher, steamed together, sugar free caramel pumps for size, topped with cinnamon dolce powder/ 3 pump chai when tall, apple juice, no water, whipped cream and caramel sauce on top
55. Grande fried ice cream frappuccino: start with cream base, 1 shot each of cinnamon dolce, caramel and vanilla. Mix and add whipped cream and caramel sauce on top (very sweet)
56. Tea mistos: a tea bag, half steeped in water, with half steamed milk (ask for foam)
57. Earl grey/ vanilla roibos/awake tea latte: any as mistos. The roibos and awake (English breakfast) tea lattes are sweetened with classic syrup, while earl gray tea latte, also known as london fog, gets vanilla
58. Swamp juice: green tea lemonade and matcha powder (can add sweetener)
59. Green tea frappuccino with banana
60. Oreo milk shake: double chocolate chip frapp with white mocha sauce instead of the usual mocha
61. Apple chai infusion: chai syrup with steamed apple juice
62. No water chai: pumps of chai concentrate with steamed milk, creamier
63. Upside down caramel macchiato: 1 pump less of vanilla syrup, caramel drizzle, espresso to melt the caramel, and steamed milk to distribute the espresso and caramel evenly throughout the drink
64. Protein latte: add protein powder to the milk before steaming, slight vanilla flavor to it
65. Vanilla bean cappuccino: vanilla bean powder added to the milk before steaming
TIP: Adding whip to your frapp before blending: much fluffier texture
66. Vanilla bean frappuccino with caramel drizzle
67. Caramel macchiato frappuccino: vanilla bean frappuccino with 1 scoop less of vanilla bean powder, an affogato shot (shots of espresso added on top of a frapp) and caramel drizzle
68. Passion iced tea lemonade: half strawberry juice and half lemonade, sweetened (sometimes extra pump), 1 or 2 pumps of raspberry
69. Venti shaken passion ice tea lemonade with extra pump of raspberry sweetened with light ice
70. Hot tall awake: 1 bag, 2 pumps of classic, and a shot of espresso
71. Grande 7 pump chai, 2 pump white mocha, no water, whole milk chai
72. Eggnog chai: 1 pump peppermint, tiney tiny pump of gingerbread
73. Twixx frapp: grande mocha frapp cream based, ask for caramel sauce on the walls of the cup and on the whip cream
74. Venti soy caffe vanilla frapp with soy and 2 pumps of peppermint
75. Chai crème frap with cinnamon dolce, 2 pumps caramel, shot of espresso, with chai sugar on top
76. Swamp water: iced venti black tea lemonade, 4 pump classic, 4 pump raspberry, 2 scoops matcha, splash of strawberry
77. Zebra hot chocolate: hot chocolate with vanilla
78. Tappaccino: steamed milk and tap water with caramel
79. Nutella frappucino: tall, crème base, 2 pumps mocha, 1 pump hazelnut, and blended with whip cream
80. Horchata frapp: milk, crème base syrup, pack of brown sugar, free pour cinnamon and nutmeg
81. Layered frapp: 1 tall vanilla bean frap, and 1 java chip frapp pour slowly in grande cup alternating layers
82. Dark cherry mocha frapp
83. Mocha frapp with raspberry
84. Cinna bon: white mocha sauce, cinnamon dolce, steamed milk
85. Milk tea: ventil black tea with 10 pumps of classic and half and half
86. Iced black tea latte: tea up to the middle line, milk to the top
87. Cinnamon toast crunch frapp: cinn dolce cream frapp with tons of dolce powder
88. Andes: soy white hot chocolate with peppermint syrup
TIP: any frapp sub the ice coffee for the roast and some combination of cream and base and reg
89. Chocolate cinnabon frapp: venti ½ cream base ½ regular base, ½ pump mocha, 2 pumps white mocha, 2 pumps cinnamon dolce whipped cream and cinnamon dolce powder blended in
90. Heath bear: grande cup, 3 pumps toffee nut, some caramel sauce on the bottom, pour in one shot, then milk, then whipped cream, a little more caramel sauce and a shot over the top
91. Peaches and cream: 2 shots espresso, ½ cup steamed milk, 1 shot peach, 2 tablespoon Ghirardelli white chocolate, 1 shot caramel
92. Blended strawberry green tea: green tea instead of lemonade with a splash of apple juice
93. White hot chocolate with cinnamon dolce
94. Cherry mocha mousse: 4 pumps mocha, 6 pumps dark cherry syrup, charged with whip 3 times
95. White mocha, 1 pump of hazelnut, with cinnamon dolce whip cream
96. Caramel apple pie frapp: 1st line cream base, 2nd line apple juice, 2 pumps cinnamon dolce, whipped cream, caramel sauce, and cinnamon dolce powder blended in
97. Green tea frapp: sub the vanilla for classic or raspberry
98. Crème brulee latte: short/tall size, combine heavy whipping cream 3 scoops vanilla bean powder, 1 pump vanilla syrup, 2 pumps hazelnut syrup in a pitcher and steam (create foam. While that is going put 1 shot espresso in another container combine 1 oz strayberry puree with 2 pumps raspberry syrup and ½ pump peppermint. Swirl caramel sauce in with the steamed heavey whip and stir couple times to distribute caramel. In cup pour in the espresso, then heavy whipping cream, topped with layer of foam, pour about ½ oz of berry mixture straight down middle top with light drizzle of caramel sauce (almond works better, but discontinued syrup)
List combined from http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/02/starbucks_secre.html, http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=19236524651#!/group.php?gid=19236524651&v=wall, and http://coffeeloveronamission.tumblr.com/
0 | 11.2.2011 | 1 year ago
VOTE FOR ME! hehe I submitted a photo for a contest, 2 winners will be chosen one with the most vote and one the judges will choose. I know there are a ton of prettier photos, you can vote for them too but remember to vote for mine! =)
Just click on the picture, and in “search” type shave ice
0 | 10.2.2011 | 1 year agoI know I said that I will be posting recipes along with any tips that might help anyone who wants to explore the world of baking, but I’ve been very out of it with all the holidays, one after another it just distracted me. By the way, Chúc Mừng Năm Mới! Happy New Year! This year is the year of the Rabbit. That’s me! =) Hopefully it’ll be a good year for me, full of luck and happiness!
Anyways on top of all the eating and family gatherings, I’ve also been working on setting up a more official blog showcasing my pictures and recipes I’ved experimented with, so it’s sort of an updated version of this (eventhough I haven’t done much here hehe) Once I get that going I’ll make sure to link it here, then maybe I’ll just use this blog to randomly talk about things. What do you think?
K, I’ll be back!
0 | 2.1.2011 | 1 year ago
First attempt at a new french macaron flavor
Raspberry apple macaron with nutella pastry cream (left over from cream puffs I made)
Harder than I thought: requires more attention, less heat, longer cooking time, easily browns. Well must work on it then!
This is suppose to be the new food trend of 2011. Watch out cupcakes these tiny sweets are going to smash you to pieces! hehe
HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE!
0 | 24.12.2010 | 1 year agoI am adding this to the LIST.
My friend, Nan, told me about this annual celebration.
Yee Peng Lanna Festival in Thailand.
Beautiful, magical, amazing, incredible
0 | 28.11.2010 | 1 year ago
It has been one crazy week. I’m glad it’s finally over, and things are dying down a bit… well till Christmas comes around the corner! hehe
Thanksgiving turned out fantastic! The whole family came together and ate some ham and turkey (which was very moist) with all the traditional trimmings, and it wouldn’t be a proper get-together with some Vietnamese dishes. hehe
Anyways the stuffing I made came out to be pretty tasty, very glad! I think it had to do with the sausage I used. Meat always makes things taste better.
Dessert was definitely a success! Got raved reviews =) I did a last minute swap out and made a pumpkin roll using Libby’s recipe. First time doing a roll and nothing broke. woohoo! I still have a lot of left over pumpkin puree, thinking of making one for myself since I wasn’t able to try it, it sure looked good yumms
After that giant meal, went off and did some black friday shopping- all day and all night! Definitely seems like the only time of the year when Walmart becomes a giant maze of carts and boxes, Target’s line is as big as Disneyland, and when a pair of awesome boots disappear right in front of your eyes. Oh well, I guess that’s what you get for shopping on black friday. hehe
Well hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family!
…can’t wait for Christmas =D
0 | 22.11.2010 | 1 year ago
Ready, set, start turkey!
hehe just a typical fridge: veggies, milk, food, and turkey in brine
Helped mom prepare the turkey today for our Thanksgiving feast! yummers hehe
(thanks Savory Sweet Life for the idea, placing the turkey there definitely saved a lot of space!)
