Day 31 - A picture of yourself

I must say, I felt like I've been doing this 31-day photo challenge for much longer than a month.  Actually taking the time out to think about each of the topics for the day and putting it down into words has made me really reflect on my experiences, the people in my life, and what truly matters to me.  I would encourage others who haven't done this to try it out.

We are the same people that we were yesterday, but sometimes we forget the details of our everyday lives.  And slowly we grow as each day passes by, until one day we look back, and realize just how far we've really come.  At times like those, it's a nice surprise when you can look back and discover your old self again.

Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss

I miss the lovelies who made this past year the best year of my life <3

Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile

hehe.

Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of

http://www.fantasyworld1.co.uk/new/buy/cock-roach-costume

I do not like roaches, and if I see one, I would rather run than try to face it.  If I spot one and there is no one else around to get rid of it, I throw shoes at it because I like to keep my distance.  My future husband better be a man about roaches and get rid of them for me.  This is a very important quality, almost dealbreaker level, that I look for in a guy.

Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member

My cousin and I at graduation!  One of my favorites!

Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you

My real friends, not just the tv show :)  I was going to copy and paste my friends' pictures in this, but I am about to go shopping, so no time!!!  I just finished my CPA tests, hopefully for forever!!!!!!!!!

Day 25 - A picture of your day

STUDY STUDY STUDY for CPA!  42 hours until lift off or complete fail.

Tell the World I'm Coming Home

Goodbye, Austin...

I just moved home today, and yet, I can still remember my first day of moving into the dorms almost 5 years ago.  It's been a great ride!

On a funny note, I saw that my dad bought the movie, The Last Airbender.  I asked him why, and he said he didn't, he bought Avatar...almost but not quite hahahaha:

Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change

http://library.thinkquest.org/07aug/00499/version2/poverty.htm

I wish I could change poverty.  As often reminded by former news reporter Marvin Zindler, "It's hell to be poor."

Poverty is a little boy who wants the luxury of a toy truck for Christmas.  It's a plain, teenage girl who looks in the mirror and wishes she had makeup to wear.  It's the reality that the privilege of education can only exist if you have a means to survive day to day.  There is a big difference when you go to work to make money to spend and when you go to work to feed your family.

Poverty is something that some of us know nothing about, and others know all too well.

Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book

A simple, elegantly written book with a lot of depth:

The Little Prince

by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

"All grown-ups were children first. (But few remember it)."

http://www.generationterrorists.com/quotes/the_little_prince.html

Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at

http://girlfromthehills.wordpress.com/2010/07/30/that-friday-feeling-singing/

I wish I were better at singing.  It's a gift that everyone can understand and relate to, and it's a great form of expression.

Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget

Warning, this is going to be a decently lame post because I want to remember all the good times I've had, and I usually learn a valuable lessons from the bad times.  Thus, something I wish I could forget is the time I spent trying to play QWOP, which is also referred to as the hardest game in the world.

I tried to play this game after my cousin sent me a link to it.  IT WAS SUCH A WASTE OF TIME!  I got maybe 5 meters in on my best shot, which took me probably 15 minutes.  Even so, this still makes for a conversation topic, assuming your conversation is headed down in flames and you would rather be talking to a rock...

Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel

Hawaii!!!  I want to go snorkeling, see a volcano, attend a luau, and whatever else there is to do here!

I also think it would be awesome to go to Dubai because it's so modern, and I definitely am sold by the palm tree shaped islands.  It doesn't take much for me to want to go...

Day 19 - A picture and a letter

www.utexas.edu

Dear Texas,

It wasn't love at first sight, or even second sight.  But I knew when I made the decision to go here, it would be a good one.  I have never regretted it since, and my past five years here have been greater than I ever imagined.

My earliest memories of the campus were orientation.  There were the cheers, the midnight prowl, and of course, the experience of staying in the infamous Jester dorms.  I remember feeling nervous and so small walking around the 40 Acres with so many people around me.

Things have changed since then.  Somewhere between my first days as a bright-eyed freshman and my last days in class, I've grown to love it here.  Below are the lessons that I learned each year:

Freshman Year:  I met so many intelligent, fun, interesting people that were different from me.  Free food and t-shirts were common, and in fact, became an expected part of my weekly routine.

Sophomore Year:  I realized that classes were a lot easier my freshman year, and I had more free time back then than I realized.  While I treated my first year as a buffet, trying to sample all of the activities and organizations around campus, my second year was more like dinner at a sit down restaurant.  I focused my time on certain people and groups and developed those bonds even deeper.

Junior Year:   Finding time to hang out with friends, keep up with school, do extracurriculars, and recruit for internships is possible, but some of these facets of my life had to take the back burner.  This was the first time I started seriously thinking about my life beyond college.

Senior Year:  Everyone said Junior year classes were the hardest.  I kept telling myself that for three semesters straight, but each semester, the classes just got more difficult.  The fall semester of my senior year proved to be the most challenging one, but thankfully it went downhill from there.  This was a turning point for me, and I began to see my time in school as very precious.

Super Senior Year:  Making time for friends and getting to know people you were not close to before or never thought you would click with is what I valued most.  It's as if we're at a turn in the road where we can see for miles down the past road we just took and also for a distance up the road that lies ahead of us.  And in trying to savor that moment where I wanted to take the whole view in, I wanted to explore the city and campus again as if I were a freshman, but this time with a plan and focus.  I can truly say that I lived up my time here, and I would do it again if I could.

I will miss the opportunity to learn new things and be challenged and taught by professors whose brains are filled with knowledge.  I will miss the countless hours of playing volleyball with friends and strangers alike.   And most of all, I will miss the people who made my time here the best time of my life.  Thank you, Texas, for everything.  You're in my heart forever.

Hook 'em!

GRADUATION!!!

It's so hard to believe...Today is my graduation! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity

My biggest insecurity is talking to a new group of people and not knowing what to say or coming off awkward or boring.  As I get to know people more, I open up more, but I don't have a commanding presence when I walk into a room full of strangers.  I really admire those people who can talk to anyone and make others open up, feel comfortable, and never have a loss for what to say in each situation.

Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently

Health is something we often take for granted.  As my parents and my friends' parents get up there in age, though, I feel the importance of it more and more.  Life is not just about money or about having a glamorous lifestyle.  Remember to love those around you while they're still here.

Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you

I'm going to have to use a default today:  Oprah.

Adjectives that describe Oprah:  generous, active, rich, successful, charismatic, queen of the world, etc.  She can do anything.

A common question is can success be bred?  Can greatness be raised?  I do believe a person's upbringing greatly influences a person's future.  There are exceptions, of course, where we see giants rise from humble backgrounds.  But for a regular person like me, I don't feel like I was born with the characteristics of a superperson.  An article, which I highly recommend, by Adam Bryant came out a month ago discussing the qualities that he noticed CEO's commonly shared.  The five qualities listed were:

1. Passionate curiosity.
2. Battle-hardened confidence.
3. Team smarts.
4. A simple mind-set.
5. Fearlessness.

Now, this is not the end-all-be-all list of characteristics one needs to succeed in life.  As I go through the traits, though, I can understand how the people who thrive, at least in the business world, can fit them.  So, can someone like me, who is lacking in 3 or 4 of these areas, learn how to embrace these qualities and turn them into strengths?  Currently, I feel like I have too many worries holding me back.  I worry what others think of me and looking like a fool.  I don't like confrontation and want to avoid the consequences.  I am risk averse and would prefer job security over a huge leap of faith...

I'm sure if Oprah were here talking to me now, she would gracefully acknowledge my fears, hold my hands, and give me inspiring advice.  Damn.  She's good.  As I start this new phase of my life, my first goal is to push myself to continue to grow and be a little more fearless.

Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die

Among my bucket list of things to-do are the following:

Go hang gliding or parasailing:  I'm too chicken to do skydiving or bungee jumping.  I feel like I might have a heart attack or forget to breathe.

Learn to golf:  I want to play a full 18 holes and hopefully get a decent score...whatever that may be.  Michelle Wie, you are my inspiration :)

Explore more exotic cuisines:  You have to eat anyway.  Might as well make it interesting!

Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without

She's like my older sister.  She's headstrong and beautiful.  I've always looked up to her, and she's been there for me when I needed advice and encouragement.  If it weren't for her, I would have never gone to New York or had the same college experience that I've had up to now.  Thank you, L.

College Times

"Always remember to slow down in life; live, breathe, and learn; take a look around you whenever you have time and never forget everything and every person that has the least place within your heart." --Anonymous

Time is so precious.  I remember my freshman year microeconomics professor, Geraci, explaining the concept of time going by faster as we get older.  Imagine that you are 10 years old.  One year seems to pass by so slowly because that is 1/10th of your life.  When you are 60 years old, though, one year is 1/60th of your life.  I'm only 22, but I feel the years starting to fly by as I pass more milestones throughout my life.

I just took the last exam of my college career this morning.  I can't believe it.  I'm officially done with school.  The nostalgia is finally starting to hit me.  Many of my best memories were made here.  In many ways, it feels like a last kiss.  I'm not ready to say goodbye, but I know that time will not slow down.  All I can do is smile wistfully upon the past and live as though the greatest years of my life are ahead of me.

Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist

Either you love her or you hate her.  I just happen to like a lot of her songs.  This was the album I played on loop when I went through my first break-up.  She's a very talented songwriter, and her lyrics are what speak to me.  The most recent song I've heard of hers that I really like is "Last Kiss".  Below is a cover that I really like of "Last Kiss," sung by another one of my favorite artists, Boyce Avenue, and Megan & Liz:

Day 12 - A picture of something you love

http://www.techdreams.org/general/earth-is-running-out-of-helium-birthday-parities-may-not-have-balloons-in-future/4413-20100823

When I saw this photo, I fell in love with it.  It embodies so many things that I love.  It reminds me of first love and the butterfly feelings you get when you like someone.  It reminds me of chick flicks/romantic comedies.  It reminds me of youth and all the carefree feelings that go with it.  And it makes me smile.

Day 11 - A picture of something you hate

I'm sorry. I tried, but they're just not meant for me.

Photos courtesy of:  

http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/enlarge/durian-fruit.html

http://absolutelyfobulous.com/2010/02/15/dormitory-gas-leakage-linked-to-durian/

Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most ****** up things with

I believe L would be offended if I did not name her as the person I do the most ****** up things with.  There is no one else, hands down, that I would pick, though.

L and I have known each other for years, but we just became close over our last year in college.  I feel like I've known her forever, though.  We're very similar in some regards in terms of values, upbringing, and education, but she's definitely a lot more adventurous than I am.  She has the curiosity of a cat with infinite lives.  How many people do you know who would go up to a random stranger and ask him if he was wearing girl's jeans?  She has the heart of a traveler, making plans to study and vacation overseas after graduation.  She also has the makings of a shopping addict, but lucky for her, people don't view girls who like to buy things as a problem; they just view them as fashionable.

L's helped me grow so much and live up my senior year more than I ever could have imagined.  We've had many great memories together, but one of my favorites was us hanging out on a random night.  L was trying to study, and I was on the computer chatting with some friends.  She had shown me Rain's new music video (jump to 1:50 for some baby-making music and sexy dance moves), and she told me to send it, along with specific instructions, to the friend I was chatting with, who happens to be a guy.  Although he might not have enjoyed it as much, we were dying of laughter for almost half an hour.  Below was our chat:

me: my roommate wants you to see something

friend:  uh ok

me: make sure you close the door to your room and turn off the lights

friend:  what?  haha

me: make it full screen and stop everything else, just for 3 minutes

  you can jump to 2 min in if you want

  you have to do it okk?

  promise?

friend:  fine

me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wx2lnZ_WjkA

friend:  omg its this guy,,,

  they have korean videos at 101..

me: yeah, but did you watch THIS video?

  you have to watch it

  don't just listen

friend:  i am

  ok done?

  wat about it

  other than they placed his head on my body...?

me: how did you feel with the lights turned off and the door closed?

friend:  my light was already off and door was already closed

  nothing jus normal

me: and if that is your body, can we please video chat and can you show me that move...with your head not in the picture?

friend:  nope! haha

  what were u guys trying to get at?

me: we're just looking out for you

friend:  jus another lame video by guy

me: if you do these moves, you can get any girl you want

friend:  they might think [omitted, but use your imagination] or having a seizure!

me: and the reason the door was closed and the lights were turned off was so you could see the full effect it would have on the girls

  people who have seizures don't move that smoothly

  and you did watch the video in the dark with the door closed...

friend:  i told u...my door has been closed and i only had my desk light on this entire time

  I've been talking to u

me: it's ok, it'll be our little secret

friend:  omg

  wth was in that thai tea or is this freaky M…?

me: omg i'm dying over here

  that was so funny

friend:  ?

  im confused

  wat was so funny

me: seeing how you would react

  hey, will you give these same instructions to your roommates?

  but don't tell them that we sent it

  just tell them

  from you to them

friend:  why>

me: to see how they would react?

  trust me, it's very entertaining

friend:  no im too mature for such silly games  haha

  il give u their gchat and u can do it

me: no, it's not the same

  you have to do it

friend:  nope!

me: over gchat

  tell them to stay in their rooms

friend:  i refuse to be a pawn for ur entertainment

me: and copy and paste the exact same thing i sent you

  no, you can enjoy it too

  you won't know until you try

friend:  M u have way too much time on ur hands

We also told my other friend to watch the video and do the same thing, but he said he was in the middle of playing poker with some friends.  We told him to turn off the lights and watch the video right there with his friends, then.  To our dismay, he didn't.

The chat may not have made much sense, but the absurdity of our night might have been noteworthy enough for even Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to take interest.  What a night.

Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most

No brainer.  My parents through and through.

"Making the decision to have a child – it’s momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."  -- Elizabeth Stone, Reader's Digest

I know the love my parents have for me is greater than anything I could ask for or deserve.  They have always been there when I needed them and my safety net even when I didn't ask for it.  No matter how old I am, I will always look to them for guidance.

Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh

There are many things in this world that make me laugh:  cute puppies, embarrassing stories, tickles, etc.  I also have a thing for dry humor, nerdy/clever jokes, and lame punch lines as illustrated below:

www.angrylittlegirls.com

I also really like the comics at theoatmeal.com :)

Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item

My most treasured items are my memories and the photos that captured them.

Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day

I know, I know, what am I, 7 years old?  I admit, though, I would love to trade places with Kate Middleton for a day.  There's just something enchanting thinking about it.

Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory

Union Square in NYC

The picture I chose for Day 5 is one I took of Union Square in New York while I interned there last year.  It is not the most interesting picture, and it is definitely not one that resembles the New York we usually see on tv, but this photo is the epitome of my experience there, which was one of the best experiences of my life.

My time in New York helped me grow so much, learn to be more independent, and make me want to experience as much as I can during this lifetime.  I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to live in the city for a few months and enjoy this great place to its fullest.  It would take forever to list all of the things you can do in NY, but I've listed some of the places that I enjoyed most and would recommend for people to visit if they ever came to NY:


Places to Eat

1. Halal Cart on 53rd & 6th - My favorite food in New York was the chicken and rice from this cart.  The white sauce on top was really spicy, so I only asked for a little bit.  If I had lived closer to this cart, I would have probably had it 2 times a week.
2. Shake Shack - Burgers and fries are so good.  Good enough to wait an hour for, although I prefer it when there's no line!  Burger Joint, which is located in Le Parker Meridien Hotel, is also a good place to go, but I would still recommend Shake Shack first.
3. Crumbs - There's a cupcake place called Crumbs located on the SE corner of Union Square.   I lived about half a mile from Union Square, so I would walk there at least twice a week and stop by and get a cupcake.  My favorite was the Black Forest cupcake.  The inside was moist, and the chocolate was heavenly when I had milk to drink on the side.
4. Magnolia's Bakery - People rave about their cupcakes here.  While I still prefer Crumbs' cupcakes, I do agree that people should try Magnolia's cupcakes as well and make their own decisions.  I do, however, love Magnolia's banana pudding.  It's one dessert I would go out of my way for.
5. Mamoun's - This place has been around for decades, and I can see why.  The falafel and the chicken kebob with hummus were my favorites to get here.
6. Crif Dogs - New York hot dogs are famous, and this was the place to go to get one.  I remember I was craving a hot dog once so I bought it from a vendor when I was walking near Grand Central.  Such a disappointment.  After that, I would only go to Crif Dogs if I ever had a craving for hot dogs.
7. Ramen - I ate at a few different ramen places while in New York, like Momofuku, Men Kui Tei, and Ramen Setagaya.  The most popular place is Ippudo, but I never got around to making it there.  The ramen at these restaurants are much different than the instant ones I'm used to making at school.  The noodles are thicker, and the ingredients are a lot heartier in terms of meat and vegetables.  I am still partial to my instant Nong Shim Shin Ramyun, though.
8. Artichoke - This pizza place was only three blocks from my apartment, so it was really convenient.  I love the thin crust New York style pizza.  This place only has 3 or 4 varieties of pizza, but I usually got the margherita pizza.  There were also more well known pizza places, John's Pizzeria and Grimaldi's, which I tried to go to, but the lines were so long at both of them that I gave up and ate somewhere else.
9. Banh Mi Saigon & Paris Sandwich Bakery - When I was craving Vietnamese food, I would go to Chinatown with my cousin and get banh mi from Banh Mi Saigon.  This little shop had a jewelry counter in the front and a banh mi counter in the back.  Then, we would go to Paris Sandwich Bakery and get $1 green tea waffles and sit at the tables there and eat.  I miss those waffles.
10. Kun Jip & Wonjo - I loved the Korean food I ate while in NY.  It was probably one of my favorite types of food to eat while I was there.  The restaurants were always busy, so I always made a reservation beforehand.  Kun Jip was a smaller place that I ate at with one of my friends who was attending NYU Law at the time.  It was good and reasonably priced.  I also ate at Wonjo with my mom and cousins when I first moved up to NY.  It's a Korean barbecue place, and I remember the sauce on the pork being so tasty.  This place was a little pricier, but I think it's worth it.  It makes me hungry just thinking about it.
11. Ellen's Stardust Diner - This diner is located on Broadway, closer to the theater district.  The waiters and waitresses all sing and perform while you eat.  It's a very family-oriented and touristy type of restaurant, which is not a bad thing.  The atmosphere is fun, and it's a good place to try at least once.
12. Ashiya - We paid $35 on a Saturday night for all you can eat sushi and sake bombs.  We had to make a reservation, and while the sushi was pretty good, I enjoyed the upbeat, energetic atmosphere the most.  I remember people throughout the restaurant having a good time hitting the tables to make the sake shots fall into the cups, laughing and talking loudly.  It might not be for everyone, but if you know what you're getting into, it's a pretty good deal.
13. Russ & Daughter's - I walked 15 blocks to get their bagel and lox a few times.  The salmon is extremely fresh, and the simple meal left me feeling satisfied.
14. Devon & Blakely - I worked at Two World Financial Center, and if I ever bought my lunch, it was usually downstairs at D&B.  It's a normal soup, salad, sandwich shop, but I've never seen this chain down in Texas.  Anyway, my go-to meal would be the Blackened Chicken Panini, toasted, with chips.  This is more of a recommendation for a quick meal for regulars, and not so much for tourists.
15. Lula's - This place in East Village serves vegan ice cream and desserts that actually taste good.  I went here a lot with my cousin because he's allergic to dairy products.  Although I probably wouldn't come back here if I were only visiting NY for a short time (it's out of the way), I have really good memories of spending time with my cousin here, eating cold ice cream sundaes on cold nights.

Places to Visit
I made notes on when admissions were free to certain areas.  Can you tell that I love discounts/free stuff?

1. Times Square - Great view during the day,and amazing to see all the lights at night.
2. Statue of Liberty - Take the Staten Island Ferry for free
3. Brooklyn Bridge - It takes almost 30 minutes to walk the bridge, but most of the time when I went with friends, we only walked halfway, took pictures, then turned back.
4. Financial District - The area includes Wall Street, Ground Zero, Battery Park, Merrill Lynch Bull, etc. but you'll have to do some walking to see it all.  If you're going to the Brooklyn Bridge anyway, you're practically in the financial district, so I would recommend to visit both at the same time.
5. Central Park - I was so amazed by how green the grass was, especially after getting used to the urban landscape for a few months.  This park is huge and so lively with people walking around, playing, or sunbathing.  It was cool to recognize some of the locations, such as the fountain in Friends or the scene from Enchanted, that I've seen in movies and shows before.
6. Metropolitan Museum of Art - If I could only visit one museum, I would choose The Met.  I spent hours in here.
7. The Cloisters - The Cloisters is a museum and garden that focus on the medieval time period.  It is far north, up near the 200's, and the atmosphere is very peaceful and quiet around there.  Because The Cloisters is a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I was able to pay to see The Cloisters in the morning and use the same pass to get into The Met in the afternoon.
8. Museum of Modern Art - Free on Fridays
9. Columbia & NYU Campuses - These two campuses are located on different sides of Manhattan, and they each have entirely different feels.  I personally liked Columbia more, but NYU was in the middle of everything.
10. Brooklyn Botanic Gardens - Free before noon on Saturdays
11. Lincoln Center - Free Thursday night performances
12. St. Patrick's Cathedral - Beautiful architecture.  I preferred going to a smaller church near my apartment, though, because there were too many people at St. Patrick's for me to feel like I was really going to mass.
13. Top of the Rock - You get to see NYC from high up on Rockefeller Center.  The Empire State Building is a popular building to go up in as well.  I don't know which one is better because I only went to Top of the Rock.
14. Macy's Flower Show - Only in April
15. Broadway Shows -  I love musicals.  So far, I've really enjoyed Phantom of the Opera (I saw twice), In the Heights (with Corbin Bleu), and Avenue Q (Off-Broadway now).
16. Shopping in SoHo - Although 5th Avenue is known for its fancy stores, which I think are worth seeing, too, my favorite area to actually shop in was SoHo.  There are a lot of boutiques that sell either special brands or off-brands at very affordable prices.  I went almost every weekend to SoHo just to window shop after the weather got a little warmer.
17. H&M - I seriously went to at least 6 different locations in Manhattan because anytime I was walking around and I saw an H&M, I had to go inside.  The largest location, and my favorite one, is on 51st & 5th.  It's right across the street from St. Patrick's Cathedral, and I remember going there after church!  This particular H&M is the largest one I saw with 3 stories.  Great selection for men's clothes as well.
18. Uniqlo - This Japanese brand store is located in SoHo.  They have smaller sized clothes that fit really well, and I tend to like the material they use.  I remember buying 3 shirts of the same style in 3 different colors from here because I liked it so much.  I never do that!

I've been writing for over an hour now, and I know there are many other places that I've forgotten to include on these lists.  Coincidentally, it's been exactly one year since I came back from New York.  I flew back on May 5th last year...I can't believe it.  I truly loved my time in New York, and I know I'll be back one day!

Day 04 - A picture of your night

A typical weeknight...facebooking and semi-studying.  Please excuse the messiness.

Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show

I don't think I can have just one favorite show.  Some shows are so different that they're not comparable.  Here are my Top 3:

Glee - A tv show about a motley group of high school students, doing what they love.  I love musicals and comedies, so this is one of my favorite shows of all time.

Devil Beside You / Why Why Love - I've mentioned these two dramas in previous posts, but my favorite Asian Drama cast plays in both series.  Mike He, Rainie Yang, and Kingone Wang have a special place in my heart.  I think I let myself get lost in these dramas, and I rooted for the characters.  Definitely a great escape if you're ever looking for one.

Project Runway - This is my favorite reality show.  I've watched all 8 seasons, and I hope they keep them coming!

Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest

"My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw.  All I am I owe to my mother."  --George Washington

My mom has been the shoulder I cried on, the blanket that kept me warm, and the coach that pushed me farther than I thought I could ever go all throughout my life.  I thank God for her everyday, and even though I am considered a young woman now, I will always see myself as her baby girl.

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with ten facts

As I mentioned in my last post, my theme for the month of May is to do the 30-day photo challenge.  We shall see how this goes.

Day 1 asks for 10 facts about myself and a photo.

1. My favorite color is blue.
2. I am usually shy around a group of new people.
3. I love chocolate.  My favorite is milk or dark chocolate.  White chocolate is a bit sweet for me.  One of my favorite snacks is the Lu Petit Ecolier with a biscuit on the bottom and chocolate on the top.
4. I want to design my own house one day.  I'm not an architect or an interior designer, but I used to read the Homes section every Saturday and Sunday when I was smaller, looking at pictures of houses and floor plans.  I am also very intrigued by tiny apartments/houses that are nicely decorated and cleverly planned.  (This isn't my style of apartment, but I love the creativity!)
5. Laughing keeps my heart feeling young.  Listening to funny stories and jokes are the best.  I don't care if they're corny, dirty, long, or short.  Here's one just for fun:  How do you make a tissue dance?  Put a little boogie in it.
6. Tetris is my favorite video/computer game.  I also get sidetracked by unproductive games like Cake Mania, Angry Birds, and Tapfish as well.  On a similar note, I enjoy doing crossword puzzles, word search, and logic puzzles or brain teasers.
7. I like watching fireworks.  I think they're romantic, and they're special because they only happen on special occasions.
8. Dogs > Cats.  I'm definitely a dog lover.  I have one dog named Brownie who's 14 years old.  She's a Welsh Corgi mix, and she's my little girl!
9. My favorite tv shows are currently Glee and Modern Family.  I used to watch Ugly Betty and Lost, but those have finished airing.  When I have time, I want to watch the following shows which have been recommended to me by various people:  Dexter, Fringe, How I Met Your Mother, Arrested Development...The list is never-ending.
10. I agree with the saying, "It is better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all."