Because summer-time is the time to pursue random interests. . . Yesterday I tried my hand at candy-sculpting. It was fun but sticky. In my ambition, I thought it would be fun to make a marzipan Shampoo:

Heather, who lived on my floor sophomore year, invited me to tea one day last semester, and introduced me to Teavana teas. They're loose leafed, and come in cute little tins in lots of delicious flavors. I ended up at the Stanford Shopping Center on Friday evening, when most of the stores were closed. I had planned on looking for a Teavana at some point while in Northern California, but it found me first =).


I got a bit of the Rooibos Caramel tea and a strainer. I waited to get a cheap teapot set from the Asian Mart. And on Saturday evening, I treated myself to the ritual of smelling the caramel tea as it seeped, and sipping it slowly with some Petit Ecolier biscuits. I have to say that it's the best tea I've ever had.

Happy discoveries: reflecting on the things that I've discovered I love in the past year:


Black Ink (store at Harvard Square)
Verilog
Penang
spicy food
salmon and cream cheese roll
Azumanga Daioh
sewing
the color pink (I used to dislike it, heh)

haven't gotten around to putting up links to my other sections: it seems like they would clutter the pinkness =/


but here they are:


Archives
Girl
Site
Goodies

new layout? you like? very pink, yes? apologies if it hurts the eyes, but it fits my mood =)


inspired by miwaku no neko ruumu by the brilliant green. the song makes me happy. very happy. i've been getting a lot of musical inspiration lately. i've been listening to coldplay's new album "x & y" while at work, and while drawing. i find it very refreshing. (though not pink-- probably blue).

It's so cute when people bring their children to work. Especially when they are two tiny girls with blonde curly hair. That speak French in little, soft voices and call their father "Papa". ^_^

Last Thursday, I made a trip to the Mountain View Public Library. Although they did not have the Hitchikers's Guide, or any of the other books that I wanted, in stock, I was very pleasantly suprised by what they did have: a rather large Anime DVD collection, an even larger manga collection, many CDs, and a Japanese children's book section. I expect to make many many trips to this place ^_^. And it is an adorable building, with many pretty trees and a little park around it.


This weekend was a lazy one. I spent Saturday catching up on household (or apartment-hold) errands. I managed to kill my laptop in the evening, trying to watch Breakfast at Tiffany's, but revived it on Sunday. Sunday I went fruit-shopping at the local farmer's market and brought home blueberries, peaches, strawberries, and boysenberries. I got inspiration to work on my Happy Berry purse, and finished a wing of which I am proud ^_^. And a fleecy case for my iPod mini.

On Sunday, I went to San Francisco with Victoria, who lives in the area ^_^. The morning was spent in Haight-Ashbury, browsing through cute little vintage clothing stores. I bought a pair of blue sneakers which I adore <3. Then we took a bus to Chinatown, picked up some dumplings, and searched for stationary and clothing stores. I've been looking for a halter Qi Pao for a while, and remembered seeing one last year. But so many of the clothing stores there look the same >_<. We gave up on the clothing store and instead spent lots of time in a Hello Kitty/stationary type store. There were so many cute things ^_^. We fawned over the cute origami instructions: I bought instructions to make little food: tamago, shrimp, and salmon nigiri, creme brulee + a cherry, ice cream, and pancakes with a slice of butter. We also went to the store where I got the sheep purse last year that I've lost (points to girl on left holding sheep purse). But no more sheep purses ;_;


I am still wanting the halter Qi Pao. Maybe royal blue? red? gold? baby blue? I think I remember the street now--- maybe I'll have to go back.

Phil called this evening from his arcade at home to say he had won the skiball jackpot and asked what kind of prize I wanted. After he described all of the available stuffed animals, I picked out a large lion. Hehe. He's so cute.


My apartment is looking more and more furnished. I went to the IKEA in Palo Alto to get some simple furniture. It was such an adventure! The store is sooo big and the furniture is so much to my taste. I got a double futon, some bunny bedding, a table, a little bookcase, a table, and an abstract paper lantern.


So, even though it is IKEA furniture, reputed to be easy to assemble, I've been having the hardest time with it. I was telling some of my co-workers this, and they laughed. I mean, just because it's hard for Amy to put together, that doesn't say much, does it? So one co-worker came over to help me with a table and had trouble with it himself. He had to come again the next day, with a power drill to put in some pilot holes. He brought his wife and 1 and a half year old along. His wife was sweet and pretty, and his little girl really cute. They brought me to a Japanese restaurant, and the saba was delicious ^^.


The wireless in my apartment is really iffy--- it makes me sad.


I made clay gwumps the other day. One sitting, and one sleeping. I brought them to work as part of National Bring Your Gwump to Work Day. The national event that I um... made up =). They sit on my desk and are quite well behaved.