Just Ask!

Ask and you shall receive.

I asked and this is what I got. :)

A few folks have inquired how I am able to experience all these new, exciting opportunities. In all honesty, all I really do is ask. 

For instance, one of my goals is to open (or be a part-owner of) a couple of successful restaurants. So a while back, I contacted a restaurant owner, who I eventually found out was the master of an entire restaurant empire, and asked, "How do I get going with my goal?" Fast-forward back to today, and now he's my favorite mentor and a good friend. And he has given me the priceless opportunity of meeting other folks in the industry as well as be a part of his floor team for his new restaurant (open to public starting today). [Check out kevinEats for his experience at the restaurant.] 

Of course, once the asking has been answered with an opportunity, you don't just receive and idly sit there grinning like you did something to deserve it. You get up and kick ass. You gotta be a go-getter not with just words but also with actions. Hiiiya!

<3Y

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In other news: 

-Hosting a private event tonight with guest speakers: Craig Robinson (Pres of KNBC TV), Ronald Litzinger (Pres of Southern California Edison), Jeffrey Kightlinger (CEO of The Metropolitan Water of SoCal) and Connie Tang (Pres of JAFRA). Stoked to hear stories and advice directly from the CEOs and Presidents. We're overbooked at 270 people! 

-Heading to SF this weekend for work. Hope to fit in a visit to Apple headquarters! Also going to try stopping by my favorite tea shop.  

-My team is hosting a APEX Cares Volunteer Appreciation Mixer, February 17. If you're seeking quality volunteer opportunities or interested in meeting people that share the same passion for helping others, join us at Fu-Ga in Little Tokyo! RSVP here. 

-Putting together an Asian American Bloggers Conference, February 26th at CBS Studios (it's gonna be fun). Open to public! RSVP and more info here. 

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p.s. I can't wait until I wrap up all my upcoming events. Need sleep. And yoga. Stat.

Children and Parents

"Dear Scarlet, Today you didn’t talk to me for 20 minutes after I cut your mickey mouse pancakes into bite sized pieces."

The Dear Scarlet blog, which has become my favorite blog of all time by the way, makes me so friggin' excited to have kids. To explore the world through their eyes and to introduce them to all the wonders of life will be freaking fantastic and mind-blowingly mesmerizing.

Which reminds me... My mom keeps a diary, in an unassuming notebook with a cover adorned with softened images of white and pink flowers, that I've seen around since middle school. Maybe she's had it for longer and I didn't really notice it until I was in middle school, but what I do clearly remember is that around that time, she told me that she was writing in it so she can share it with me one day. 

Since then, I've seen it laying around on my mom's nightstand and I still see it to this day whenever I visit home. But you know, I've never stopped to take a peek. I'm just waiting until the day she wants to share it with me. And I can't wait.

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P.S. I also can't imagine just how much my parents love me. I am lucky. I should call them.

Fly

via National Geographic

Dear world,

I'm just gonna put it out there, in case someone else in the world is on the same wavelength and desired this as much as I do and would like to try it out with me or in case my future awesome boyfriend wants to surprise me with the most wonderful experience, my dream is to fly* one day.

<3Y

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*Hang gliding is close enough I suppose.

Need a Vacation

In the very real imaginary cave of Pause, they ate cookies*, danced like two awfully uncoordinated, highly excitable 5-year olds, ate more cookies** and fell asleep to the soft lullabies of Al Green.

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*first batch from jamaica's cakes
**second batch from levain, of course

Bibimbap!

Teacher: "What is your favorite food?"

10-year old Yulree: "Bibimbap. I would be bibimbap if I was made of food."

via Seoul Eats

Cliffhanger

There are people in your life who know parts of you that most people don't know, such as your family and your best friends. I'm sure everyone can relate.

Well, just recently, one of these folks came back into my life after having disappeared for 8 years.

Do eeeet

"Some people have ideas. A few carry them into the world and make them happen." - Mercer 

Let's make it happen.