Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Oreo | 06


(photo taken: February 4, 2014)

This happened two days after my 18th birthday (86 weeks ago according to Instagram). I never had a dog. The only pets I had were fishes, my dad killed them after heating up their fish tank, a turtle, which I accidentally killed when I was small, and a hamster, eaten by my brother's hamster along with my other brother's hamster. So as you can see, interesting stories for blog posts, but I have had bad luck with pets! This happened after leaving a friend's house. I was walking with J (for the sake of "privacy"), and we saw this dog across the street. I'm not sure what dog it was, let's say it was a pitbul, one of those "mean" and "tough" looking dogs. So naturally, we were afraid of the dog. We kept crossing streets trying to avoid it, but it kept following us. After a while, we realized that he was such a sweetheart! I fell in love with him, and at first he was with J, but after a while he wouldn't leave my side. So instead of taking the bus, we decided to walk and see how far he'd follow us, and it was a good while! We tested him so many times, he'd stay with me if J would walk away, but if I left or I would stop walking he'd stay by my side. By this moment he won my melted heart! We went into a little store to try to get him some water. He had no tag so we didn't know if he was a stray or if he belonged to someone. We reached a park and decided to go there with him. He wandered around for a sec., but managed to get back to us, look at him being such a natural posing and stuff! After trying to call him different names, we realized he listened to Oreo, so that was his name. I was really considering walking all the way home (waaay more than an hour walk) if he didn't leave my side. But after leaving the park, he left us. I'm not gonna lie, my heart broke and we tried waiting at the corner and went around trying to look for him. He wasn't in sight. I was pretty sad, that was one of the sweetest moments I've ever had with a random dog! I remember that night I kept wondering if he had a home or if he was just in the streets. And that's my story of my temporary dog. Other people might not look at it as a big deal, but I've always wanted a dog! And the fact that we were so afraid of him in the beginning and he ended up being such a sweetheart, I don't know. To this day I still get happy but sad thinking about little Oreo!   

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

2 Blog Posts, 1 Day | 05


(photo taken: August 5, 2015)

Happy National Coffee Day everyone! I so wish I could be like my brother, able to drink any coffee, experiment with it, know my coffee. Unfortunately I'm a weenie...or at least my body is! I've been testing out different types of coffee, from different places, and lately the side effects have gotten worse. I used to be able to drink coffee without a problem, daily! It all started summer of 2013 when I was working at UCLA. Every morning before going in I'd buy myself a cup of coffee. But senior year it started hitting me with the "crash effect". I'd buy a caramel coffee from 711, and by second period I would feel sooo tired and just wanted to nap! Then the crashing stopped, but palpitations started. And sometimes I still have them, my heart just starts racing. But now it's mostly headaches or feeling light headed. I know for a fact that coffee gets me dehydrated, but I guess I just can't handle my coffee! Chose that picture above (go look at the picture right now) because I love "coffee" or "espresso" art, but deyuuum did it taste horrible! Didn't even taste like coffee, had some other flavor. And I guess I had to mix it, because at the bottom sat all the caramel syrup. I didn't mix it because it was filled to the very top, plus I wanted to keep the cute image. But now I know better! I'll just TRY to stay away from it! If only we could get Starbucks' Valencia Orange back...

Santa Barbara | 04





(photos taken: Thanksgiving weekend 2013&2014)

I'm not gonna talk like I'm those people who travel a lot, but my favorite city I guess to visit is Santa Barbara! The first time I went with the family was when I was about 7 or 8, and I fell in love with it! I loved the beach, I remembering seeing UCSB from the distance and I said I would one day be in that school...look at me now. It wasn't until 2013 that my parents said we'd go on a little vacation for Thanksgiving to SB, and I was beyond excited!!! And of course I fell in love with it all over again, and the same in 2014! That's where I first tried the hamburgers at The Habit and they're SO GOOD! I was a happy camper once I found out there was one at USC, close to home (': I loved walking by the beach, my family and I rented those bike cart things where everyone peddles, we got stuck in the sand and I had to push it out lol 





















Aside from loving Santa Barbara, the place we stay at is super cute! It's a little inn, but it's location is perfect! Just a few minutes away from the beach and a few minutes away from their shopping center or "downtown" I guess. Aside from being very clean and stocked with utensils in the kitchen, there's a pool, a jacuzzi, laundry room, annnd...COMPLIMENTARY BREAKFAST!!! So we always head downstairs in our pjs, get breakfast (they have cereal, toast, pastries/scones, fruit, eggs, tea, coffee, yogurt, etc.) IN OUR PJS, and have it either in the lobby or in the patio. Usually the patio since the mornings are fresh and beautiful!






2014 we went out to discover things outside of "SB". We went to a cute little town, Solvang. It's a Danish little place and it's people and everything in it is so nice! Picture above is a trolley that gets moved around by horses (obviously), and it gives you a tour of the town so you get to see everything there. There's performances as well, folk dances. Chocolate was amazing! I just didn't get to taste the HOME MADE ICE CREAM! And without a doubt we had to go to the Chumash Casino! It was my first time there and I loved it! We ended up going twice, lost money but I don't mind because I had a great time! My mum and boyfriend and I still go sometimes, although the ride up there would get me nervous because of all the turns! I really like the vibe at Santa Barbara! I hate Thanksgiving (always did as a child) but I look forward to it because I know we'll head there! And a bigger plus, the streets are Spanish names! Would I live there? YESSS, why not! But I'd also like to live in San Francisco just because I know it doesn't get too hot there, but I'll save that for another blog post! Looking forward to Santa Barbara in 2 months!!! 

Monday, September 28, 2015

Football Season | 03


(photo taken: November 6, 2013)

I was unsure whether to post this or not because I know it might upset someone, but I just decided to go with it. After all, this was one of the highlights of my senior year! And before I keep going on...

DISCLAIMER: Be careful what you say or do in high school, cause one little thing can turn into a huge thing and rumors always spread. 

Well back to my story, thanks to my best friend (white shoes in the picture above), football season my senior year was memorable! We were water girls (best water girls in history cough cough, lol) and it just turned out great! I wish sooo bad I could have been there the first game of the season, but instead I was at a Miguel Contreras game. Well anywho, despite of what people say or think, I got into it because I thought it would be an amazing thing to start off and end my senior year! What better way to enjoy the football games than being right there and going to all of them? Especially with your best friend (': So that's what made me wanna join. And although it would REEK of sweat and you would feel the humidity during practice and at games, it's something I miss! From practice, seeing sunsets at the field, eating with them before the games (which btw the food was never good), to being there each and every game, rides back to school were fun when we'd win! But when we'd lose, it was the LONGEST ride ever! And that one time we didn't have water for the game so we had to bust a mission to buy gallons and water bottles at the 99c store, then having to get help to carry them to school since the carts wouldn't move! Ohh, let's not forget taking the water gallons from the office to the field, and always leaving a trail because the water would spill. OHHHHH let's not forget when the water spilled, EVERYTHING including the ice! The memories and laughter! And I wouldn't have had it any other way! I don't care what people say. People hear a piece of information and blow it out of proportion! But that season along with the human of best friend I have, is a great memory to look back on! 

Sunday, September 27, 2015

O Postive | 02


(photo taken: October 25, 2013)

I don't know why my eyes are shutting down so early tonight. But anywho, I guess I should have put a warning sign in case anyone with a sensitive stomach sees this picture...YOLO, I'm sure you guys have seen worse! Sooo, the first time I ever donated blood was April 12, 2012, not sure why I still remember the date perfectly well. I'm not gonna lie, I was scared because I didn't know if I would faint afterwards or I mean come on, NEEDLES! I went through it, signed up, got called for a little test of my iron level, blood pressure, and temperature. Followed by some questions online, and then I was ready to GO! I was pretty nervous, I didn't wanna look like a fool and feel light headed or cry! But thankfully everything went well! I definitely stayed laying a while just to be on the safe side, but I didn't feel any negative side effects! Afterwards I went to the table filled with snacks and downed a lot of water, I'm telling you I really didn't wanna seem like a weak person lol And ever since then, every time there would be a blood drive at school, I'd always be there! I've been lagging on appointments. Mostly because I have problems regarding my pulse or my iron level, so I decide to relax a while. But I encourage people to try donating blood! Yes I know, needles aren't great. But with that little pinch, you can save up to 3 lives! To me, that second of "pain" is SO worth it, because it's for someone who is probably fighting with pain 100 times worse, and fighting for their life! I also received letters in the mail saying where my blood was shipped to, and who it helped. It just feels great knowing that not only are you just helping someone else, you're saving a life! It's also a pretty ignorant comment when someone says they need blood too and giving away blood isn't good. Obviously people with that point of view have not been informed or don't read. You regain that blood quickly, fresh new blood! So, I mean I know it's not everyone's favorite thing to do. I know people would rather go to a movie, out to eat, go for some coffee, than sit down answering whether you've accepted money or drugs in exchange for sex (yes, they ask you that). But it'll be amazing if more people decided to TRY and donate blood! You never know when you might need a blood transplant (heaven forbid), remember: what goes around, comes around. And a second of pain is worth saving someone's life! 


Saturday, September 26, 2015

Summer 2015: The Spheres at MacArthur Park | 01


(photo taken: August, 24, 2015)

Personally, and I know many people can agree on me with this, MacArthur Park isn't at it's best. It's only at certain angles (like the picture here) that it does look nice. I don't want to sound harsh or anything, but if you would just take out all the homeless people, all the drunk people, clean it up, it would have a MUCH better appearance. The park itself is not hideous. With a fountain in the center, a beautiful view of downtown, and now the colorful spheres, (which will unfortunately have to go soon), the park looks great. I don't know who in particular to thank for this amazing project. It would have been great to volunteer in the making of these spheres, but it was too late. But whoever thought of this idea, to those who made it possible, a HUGE THANK YOU! It really gives a different perspective, and every time I walk home a smile forms across my face because for the first time in a looong time, it looks really nice! It'll be sad to see these spheres gone and have the lake empty, but it'll be for a great cause: taking them into hospitals and elderly homes! And I hope they get to enjoy it as much we did!