((little fat notebook))

Wedding celebration!

laelene Post in lifestyle glimpses，

08 August 2015

A year ago today, Panda and I got married in a small civil ceremony at the LAX courthouse. Our parents and his brother were there for the quick and simple event. For the past year, we thought about putting together a “real” wedding but it just didn’t appeal to us. Ultimately, we had an open invitation to any relatives who could come and spend the day with us this year. My aunt and cousins, plus his uncle, aunt, and cousin were able to make the trip.

We totaled 13 people and spent the day taking pictures, driving, and eating. The restaurant we chose wasn’t my first choice (Nobu Malibu was) but it turned out to work pretty well. Japanese food might not have been to the taste of much of the party, but more general seafood certainly was. All I wanted was an oceanside view and we were right on the water, which is a lot better than I expected. I figured we’d have a giant table in the middle or back of the restaurant, away from windows, but we were right on the edge!

All in all it was a great time and just the simple sort of thing we wanted. 🙂

The DSLR plunge

laelene Post in lifestyle glimpses, photo blog，Tags: cameras, gadgets, photography, pictures, technology

07 August 2015

I finally made one of my long-time wishes a reality with the purchase of a Canon T6i bundle! I’m really excited about this and very pleased with the quality of images I’m seeing already. Funny enough, my dad had his eye on the very same one so we ended up both getting the bundle at Costco. For the longest time, I told myself I’d get a DSLR once I tried my hand at some manual settings on my regular camera. I did play around with the options, but not as much as I wanted. So I let many years go by before I decided to go ahead with it because I keep dreaming of the awesome photos I can take and I want to have something nice to vlog with.

At first I was going to look for a used or refurbished T3i, which seems to be what all those YouTubers use. But when I found that the price wasn’t nearly as cheap as I’d hoped, I figured I’d be better off getting a nicer one in a bundle. The idea of an extra lens and battery, along with some other accessories, really appealed to me. Turns out I like brand new things that are well put together for me. I’ll pay for the niceties and all just so I can experience that awesome fresh out of the box feeling. My dad’s the same way.

We both eagerly tore into our respective boxes and played around with setting up and using our cameras. I didn’t even get a chance to use it in daylight yet, but I’m very impressed with what came from the dim night lighting that looks soooo much better on this camera. I certainly wasn’t used to such good shots coming from low lighting like that. Call me a happy camper!

My first subject was Molly and I got an awesome string of shots of her walking!

The items on the kitchen counter looked great in the photo, far better than with the naked eye.

I’m very pleased with this camera and I can’t wait to try some outdoor nature shots.

Cat vs pizza box

laelene Post in video blog，Tags: behaviors, boxes, cats, food, pizza, videos

05 August 2015

We don’t get pizza much, but when we do it’s almost guaranteed that our food will be crushed by the cat. She also happens to enjoy destroying the box… #lifewithcats

cat crushing pizza box from Mary Qin on Vimeo.

cat ripping cardboard with teeth from Mary Qin on Vimeo.

Writing confidence

laelene Post in general blog，Tags: blogging, work, writing

03 August 2015

Writing is one of those things that I like to do for myself. No pressure to have a certain tone, no topics I need to stick to. When there are more guidelines, I get stressed and I have very little confidence in what I produce. Just replying to emails at times is a strenuous process that requires a ton of revisions.

Funny enough, I managed to get into marketing and sometimes need to produce content. It’s often emails sent en masse to partners, but also includes landing pages, presentations, and the occasional blog post. It’s the emails I dread most. Week after week, we come up with new topics and I need to create a piece around it. Something that will get the point across yet include all the details we need to share. I breathe a sigh of relief every time this is finally completed and scheduled.

While I’ve gotten better about going ahead with confidence, I still wonder each time I send out my initial draft whether the team will come back wanting to completely rework it. Instead, I’ve found that almost every single time there are minor tweaks, but no major overhauls. I’ve received some nice feedback from these and over time I worry less and less. I just can’t get to the point where I consider myself a great writer. I don’t think I ever have, nor do I think I ever will.

When I write for myself, it doesn’t matter how good or bad I am. All that matters is that I get to express myself the way I choose to. Anything that comes out is me, so there is no wrong. But when I write for others, there is so much room for judgement. For whatever reason, even as I receive praise, I can’t quite accept it. I just feel like a farce. Each success is another slip under the radar. One day I’ll be found out: I’m actually not a very good writer at all.

I began reading Lean In and so far many things have rung true for me. One of the points that Sheryl Sandberg made was that she too felt like a fake. So perhaps it’s the woman in me, the one who has been struck by imposter syndrome and doesn’t feel worthy of being a good writer. I’m trying to overcome that, and luckily I’ve received plenty of positive feedback lately to help me along the way. I was rather surprised when my manager praised my writing style, saying I had a way of writing the way I speak and coming off very friendly and amicable even if delivering bad news.

My manager works remotely so most of our interactions to start were via email. When he first met me in person, he expressed the warmth and cheerfulness he saw in me. I had not really noticed that about myself and oftentimes I still don’t really see it, but I’m glad that’s the impression he gets. All that laboring over email replies must have paid off! So maybe I am a good communicator after all.

Whatever the case, practice brings improvement, so I will have to keep on doing. At work, my manager had asked me what I like and do not like to do. Of course the one thing I said I don’t really like had to be the one thing he decided I should try more. Can you guess? Yup, it was writing. So now he has me managing a few new projects where I need to take control of the content and get it produced by a team I work with. I like working with the team, but putting together the copy to use is such a pain. I do recognize this as a learning and growing experience though, so while I don’t look forward to it, I will still work on it diligently. I may not like how I do it, but I hope that my effort comes through and I end up getting a lot better.

In search

laelene Post in general blog，Tags: career, future, passion, thoughts, work

01 August 2015

I’ve been watching a bunch of YouTube videos for the past couple of weeks (yeah, I’m only like 10 years late to the game). While much of what I’ve seen is inspirational and/or thought-provoking, it’s actually made me rather sad. So many people talk about doing what you love, being passionate… and they seem to have it figured out. They’ve been driven to do the things they do from something deep inside. They know what they just can’t live without. They know their passion and they embrace it.

Meanwhile, I have struggled. There are plenty of things I am passionate about: business culture, sustainability, animals, technology. I’ve considered career paths in each, but I struggle with seeing myself completely devoting my life to any one of those. So perhaps I’m not approaching it correctly; perhaps I should be considering how I can balance the many passions I have. That’s not easy though, since if you want to excel at something, you really need to dedicate a lot of time and energy to it. And then I get caught up in the little details, like how I want to avoid working in an office because I love being outside or how I want a somewhat predictable yet flexible schedule so I have more control over when I work. Am I asking for too much?

I guess I’ve been stumped all this time because there might not be something out there that is consistently outdoors at least 20-40% of the time, doesn’t generally require early mornings (or any mornings), allows for and might even require periodic travel, and is pretty stable. The criteria for a job that would be ideal might not be attainable. Then again, I’m probably focusing on the wrong things. After all, when you’re passionate about something, all those other details seem to fall away.

So there it is again, that idea that you need to figure out the passion of your life and do it. If only it were so easy for me to decide what that passion would be. Others make it seem effortless. It’s the thing that they’ve loved since childhood. They don’t even need to think about it. They just start talking about it and their eyes light up, they smile broadly, and they could go on for ages. When I think about what my passion might be, the ones I’ve thought of never hit me like a lightning bolt of inspiration. I haven’t thought, “I must do that. My soul needs that.” That’s sort of the moment of enlightenment I’ve been hoping for.

One of the videos I watched today mentioned the things that come naturally. Everyone has talents where things appear effortless. Mine include being cheerful, sharing, noticing details, and (over)thinking. If you count those as talents. They are certainly the traits I have that come naturally, without a conscious effort. I wish I had a more concrete talent like being artistic or being athletic. Those are easily translated into some type of work that you can pursue. But how does something like ‘being cheerful’ tie in to work? I can apply my skills to any job I have, but are any of them something I can do in and of themselves? Not really.

I envy the people in the world who just know what they want. They may not have had an easy time pursuing their deepest heart’s desire, but they had a goal and direction. I feel like I’m in the center of a glob, with too many spokes leading me outward toward the edge. Which one do I choose to go with?

Have you had this sort of challenge as well? What do you think would help?

Treatsie July 2015 review

laelene Post in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: boxes, candy, cookies, food, licorice, pictures, products, reviews, snacks, subscriptions, toffee, trail mix

29 July 2015

I spent a good hour playing with the cats outside before discovering this box at my door! What a nice surprise for the week.

Treatsie is $15 per box + $4.95 shipping and comes with artisan candy from 3-4 brands. That means about 6 or 7 different flavors of treats. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral link program to earn store credit. Use my referral link to get your first box FREE!

Shotwell Candy Co Tennessee Toffee Trail Mix: I couldn’t tell if it said coffee or toffee when I opened the box, so I’m glad it was the latter. But then I noticed it said trail mix and I was unsure again – I’m not generally a fan of trail mixes, but I hoped the toffee could help overcome that. I was surprised at the look when I opened the package – chunks of what looked like caramel that had bits of fruit and nuts in them. There’s one strong flavor that I’m not into – I think it’s either almond or cherry. Otherwise, this is a fun treat!

Anya’s Licorice in Cherry, Mango & Strawberry: At first I thought these were fruit leathers, but they’re somewhere between those and the licorice I’m used to. They’re soft and full of fruit flavor. Quite good! I don’t know if I’d ever crave them, but if I wanted snacks for a road trip or hiking, these are nice to get a burst of sweetness.

Wackym’s Kitchen Salted Caramel & Margarita cookies: These are nice crunchy cookies that aren’t greasy, so they feel light. The salted caramel is a very strong flavor, great for those who like a lot of taste. The margarita has a light lime flavor and is more refreshing. These would be great with tea!

These products were pretty tasty, even if some have flavors that don’t always appeal to me. It’s cool that they have a recipe on the other side of the card this time. I had no idea vanilla could be added to lemonade to help with the acidity. Pretty cool! What snacks do you like from this box? To get Treatsie, sign up with my link and get your first box free!

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Escape Monthly July: New Orleans Box review

laelene Post in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: boxes, candy, eye pillows, food, guides, lip balms, pictures, products, reviews, seasonings, skincare, subscriptions, sugar scrubs

26 July 2015

I think this box came a lot earlier in the month than I’m used to. Either that or the month has been going by super quickly. I haven’t had a chance to try most items yet, since quite a few involve the kitchen and I’m great at procrastinating there. 😛

Escape Monthly is just under $40 per box (with code for 20% off your subscription – see end of post) and comes with a variety of food, home, skincare items themed around a city/region. Each box comes with a guide for that area. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral commission program.

(click to enlarge and read full messaging)

This felt eclectic and fun, with quite a mix of products. I love the purple, which is the best color!! I’m not sure what the random little spoon is for – maybe it goes with the seasoning?

Here’s what came in the box:

Frommer’s New Orleans day by day guide – This is new and I don’t think I’ve gotten one in an EM box before. I’m curious to see how different the style is and what I’ll learn. Panda is so intrigued by New Orleans and I’m hoping this guide will show us awesome ways to enjoy the city without partaking in alcohol and parties. It’s funny since what they’re known for is not our scene, but he really wants to go.

New Orleans voodoo doll – I’m glad I read about this, because I had those crazy media portrayals in my head and I thought, “Why would I want to use one of these? I don’t want to harm anyone.” Just goes to show how ignorant I was. I liked reading about how to use it to bring healing and goodness to someone’s life. I think it’s important to set intentions and visualize your goals, so a voodoo doll can be useful for that. I might not believe in the superstition of it, but it’s a good exercise to get me thinking about what positivity I want or what negativity I don’t want.

NOLAS Blue Like Jazz Sugar Scrub – I’m a little confused if this is a lip scrub or general skin scrub. At first I thought lip scrub because I’d just gotten some from another box and my mind was on that track, plus their logo says “lip and soap” on it! But then after reading the instructions, there’s no indication that it’s for the lips. I guess I’ll just use it like a normal scrub then.

Mardi Gras magnet – It must be serendipity that I got a magnet in my favorite color. I love how it looks and am more than happy to add it to the other on my fridge. This reminds me a lot of Venice, so I think I’ll see similarities when I go down to New Orleans. Since there’s a string on it, this would also make a good ornament for a future tree.

NOLAS Mint Julep lip balm – I’ve got a huge stash of lip products I’m working through. This will be added to my collection and pulled out when I next need a simple lip balm that will be hydrating and no fuss. I like to have a plain(ish) lip balm, a tinted lip balm or lip gloss, and a bright lip color in rotation at any given point.

Bocage Candy Company pralines – I tried a piece of this and couldn’t really taste anything. It was just sweetness that sort of melted in my mouth. I was surprised at how quickly it fell into a powdery consistency when I was expecting something more crunchy. Maybe I’m just not used to how these are supposed to be.

Cafe du Monde beignet mix – Oh I love beignets! When I was reading the box, I thought it said “Makes 4 French doughnuts” and I was surprised and disappointed at that. But then I reread it and realized it was “Makes 4 dozen French doughnuts.” Thank goodness! That’s plenty and more. I do wish they’d include a bit of powdered sugar, since that’s not something that I have at home.

Pat O’Brien’s Hurricane cocktail mix – This is the one item I’ll need to give away since neither Panda nor I drink. Perhaps if I take it to the office my coworkers will make use of it in subsequent happy hours in the kitchen. I’m sure someone would like to try making cocktails!

Red Stick Spice Co BBQ Shrimp Seasoning – As soon as I opened the box, I got a whiff of this seasoning. I can totally imagine getting seafood with this type of flavor and I really need to get around to cooking with it. I love shrimp and I’m looking forward to how this seasoning will make them taste.

Spa Wraps eye pillow – I would have thought something like the magnet would be bonus item, but this is awesome! I enjoy spa treatments and tools for relaxation. I can use this to cool down my eyes and face after a long day, or to help shut out the world for a little bit.

The party vibe was all over this box and I’m glad a little bit of relaxation was in there too. I like the diversity of products and slightly higher quantity too. What products from the New Orleans Escape Monthly box would you want too? If you want to sign up, be sure to sign up for their newsletter to get a code for 20% off the lifetime of your subscription.

I haven’t seen the next destination posted yet! I’m hoping for something abroad like Thailand or Hungary.

If the world could be like us

laelene Post in general blog，Tags: opinions, thoughts, wishes, world view

24 July 2015

There’d be less judgment.

We’d get to do what we want, without sideways glances or raised eyebrows.

Openmindedness would fuel our way of life.

We wouldn’t constrict ourselves to “acceptable” standards to avoid scrutiny.

Empathy would drive our understanding and decision-making.

We’d be comfortable expressing ourselves as is.

Assumptions would not be made.

We could each thrive in what makes us feel happy – in what feels right.

Petit Vour July 2015 review

laelene Post in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, body butters, boxes, creams, cruelty-free, deodorants, facial toners, lotions, nail lacquers, organic, pictures, products, reviews, skincare, subscriptions, vegan

21 July 2015

More great products to help you through the hot weather. I can see each of these contributing a healthy summer glow.

Petit Vour is $15 per box (or as much as $30 for international subscribers) and comes with vegan beauty, skincare, and other personal care products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards free boxes (email contact@petitvour.com to say I referred you if you sign up!).

Nubian Heritage Mango Butter – Well, mango isn’t typically my thing but the scent is this is amazing. The consistency is a bit grainy at first and then when I let it melt on my skin and rubbed it in, it was very hydrating. It absorbs nicely to leave behind soft skin without greasiness.

Luxe de Mer organic rosewater toner – I love the cooling tingling that I get from applying this. It makes me feel so refreshed and confident that my inflammation will be soothed. It smells wonderful too!

routine. de-odor-cream – A clay deodorant? That’s cool! I thought it was powdery when I saw it, but it’s a nice creamy texture. I didn’t need much to rub in and it felt nice. I haven’t ever really needed deodorant, so I’m sure this will work for any perspiration I might have.

Aila nail lacquer in Doolish – Coral is a great summer shade. I do have some similar ones so I might share this (or my others) with someone. This nail polish is easy to apply, though you definitely need two coats to get a nice solid shade throughout.

I’m a fan of these products and will definitely consider repurchasing some of them. The only reason I’d trade the nail polish is because I have coral shades already, but we’ll see. Which of these items do you like most?

[This post mentions a referral program. Signing up and emailing contact@petitvour.com to say I referred you helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]