a week of great sleep and if Michael were a cat

I love Fridays! Though it makes it extremely difficult to get through the work day. This week Michael and I have been sleeping very well, because on Monday morning this arrived!

We got a new king sized bed! Granted we can't fit anything but the bed in our room, nevertheless it's great! So excited to sleep in this weekend!!!

Also, this week Michael has been sending me Blaire photos while at work. Do you guys see the resemblance between Blaire and Michael?

 They like to sleep in on the mornings.

 They both get the wide-eyed look from time to time.

And they both enjoy tea time!

Birthday with the Armfields

I know, this is like my third post about my Birthday, but good news is it'll be my last post about it! So bare with me it will be very brief!

Opening my gift from the Armfield rents!

Since Michael's parents were in Palm Dessert during Cristine and I's Brithdays, they were so sweet to take us out this past Saturday to celebrate at Bis on Main in Bellevue. Here are a few photos:

Squeezing in for a photo with Tim at the center!

 

The Californians of the table!

 

Another wish!

 It was so fun and a night to remember, and as always the food at Bis on Main was absolutely perfect!
Thanks to the Armfield/Peter family for my gifts! They were all so truly thoughtful and I'm so happy to be a part of your lives!

Great wine, chocolate, a framed photo of Michael and I, and an Amazon gift card to buy books on my Kindle from the Peters! Thanks again!



Gorgeous earrings from Mr. and Mrs. Armfield! I love them!

And to add, here's two other photos from my weekend:

 

Blaire trying to sneak in nap!

Signs of Spring on my run in Volunteer Park

 Happy Monday everyone!

Tamura

Michael and I usually have "Friday Night Date Nights," but because we're going out to dinner on Saturday night to celebrate mine and Cristine's birthday with their parents, we decided to move date night to Thursday this week to avoid eating out two nights in a row.

Lately we've been frequenting the same places so we decided to go somewhere new. Michael found this sushi place in the Eastlake area called Tamura. If you haven't noticed already, Michael loves sushi. For sushi, we usually go to Nishino's, but Tamura might have to be our new go to sushi place. They had more options for nigiri and rolls, not to mention a cocktail menu that I enjoyed.

What made it very exceptional was the perfect size bites, the great cut of the fish, the tasty rice, and the right amount of wasabi.

 If you can believe it, I never ate Nigiri until Michael introduced it to me. I was always a roll person, but now I'm absolutely hooked!

Michael really enjoyed their dessert too, housemade millet mochi with sweet beans on top. The dessert was a little on the savory side making it perfect for him.

Aftwerwards we came home and watched 'American Hustle.' If you haven't watched it yet, I highly recommend it. It was entertaining and kept me on my toes. I wasn't sure how it would end!

Sacramento Timelapse

This morning I stumbled across this Sacramento Timelapse from Justin Majeczky on Vimeo, illustrating my hometown! I loved it so much I wanted to share it on my blog!

And in exactly two weeks, I'll be waking up in sunshine and eating mom-cooked meals (aka food heaven).

Sadly, this little guy will have to be left behind for the trip!

Kitty Profile

Blaire doing what he does best: lounging!

April Fools

Anyone else get pranked yesterday? Here is my failed attempt at trying to pull off an April Fool's joke on a whim with a text message to my sisters:

 

To my credit, I kinda fooled my sister Oanh. Normally we don't do pranks on each other, so I thought they wouldn't notice what day it was. Then my oldest sister texted me this after trying to turn my joke back on me:

 





 

It kind of worked, so I'll give her props for that one.

 

I definitely miss my fambam! Just about two more weeks until I fly out to California to see them :D

the added scene

I split my revisions into three parts (chunks), the standard beginning, middle, and end. During my read-through the transition from the beginning to the middle felt awkward. I knew I would have to add a scene there to depict a turning point. I tried tackling it yesterday, but couldn't get out what I wanted to convey without making my MC sound overly dramatic. Needless to say, I didn't get much done yesterday.

Fast forward to now, as I write this: I finished it. It took me a long while considering its short length, but I am over the moon with it! Revisions are rough, but when you're able to find a gem like a successful scene that really ties up the story, it makes it all worth it. Now going into the middle chunk of revisions. Hopefully I can dig up some more gems :)

Keep on writing everyone, keep at your dreams, because the process is so worth it.

Book Review: On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

I rated it 5 out of 5 stars.

Overview: “Long live the King” hailed Entertainment Weekly upon publication of Stephen King’s On Writing. Part memoir, part master class by one of the bestselling authors of all time, this superb volume is a revealing and practical view of the writer’s craft, comprising the basic tools of the trade every writer must have. King’s advice is grounded in his vivid memories from childhood through his emergence as a writer, from his struggling early career to his widely reported, near-fatal accident in 1999—and how the inextricable link between writing and living spurred his recovery. Brilliantly structured, friendly and inspiring, On Writing will empower and entertain everyone who reads it—fans, writers, and anyone who loves a great story well told.

Review: I have never read any of Stephen King's books. This was my first. You see, I can't do horror or anything remotely scary. I'm such a big baby when it comes to that kind of stuff. Last week, however, I was perusing Barnes and Noble's writing section when I came across this book. I've always heard about what a great writer King is so I picked this one up relieved that it didn't have anything that would freak me out.

After the first few pages, I could see what all the raving was about. He is no doubt an amazing writer and because I knew little about him, the tales of his childhood to adult hood were extremely captivating. I gave it five stars because I was hooked all the way through, reading it in just two days. It had a great story feel and down to earth advice with a unique perspective. It's a book that I'll constantly refer to and continue to be inspired by. This is a book that every aspiring writer should read or anyone who has a dream and the courage to chase it.

Post Birthdays

This week has been crazy busy, making the weekend very much needed! On Friday, Michael took me out to Nishino's for dinner, one of his favorite restaurants. As usual the sushi was excellent and the dessert insanely good!

Green Tea Tiramisu

Afterwards we went to Ballard for Cristine's Birthday celebration where I discovered a new go-to drink: Tom Collins. It's so refreshing, just like lemonade.

Me, Michael, and Cristine

The next day was super laid back. We finally did some grocery shopping and spent the rest of the day working on personal projects--revisions for me, web design for him. Michael was sweet enough to set up my very own writing space in our apartment.

Manuscript, laptop, notes, pens, and music. Everything I need.

Afterwards we headed to Cristine and Tim's for a family get together with the Armfield cousins and their rents.

Being goofy during the game time!

Sunday was cleaning day with more work on my revisions. I'm a quarter done with draft three, but it was the easy part. I anticipate difficulties as I head to the middle chunk of the story. It's great tightening the story and connecting everything cohesively. Tons of hard work, but worth it. 

Only one more month until my workshop and my beta readers get to read M2! Just thinking about that gets me all nervous and excited. The whole time working on it, it's always been about doing it for myself. Now with revisions, it's all about making it come alive for the reader, hoping that they can get lost and in love with the story I've been dying to share.

To close, here are a two other goofy photos I found on Michael's phone that should have made it to my Whistler post, if I only knew! Here's to another week of life!

strawberry daiquiri after 5 hour snowboarding lesson

hiding in my scarf because Whistler is c o l d 

23 Birthday Wishes

Hazelnute Cake with a Chocolate Ganache and an Orange Cookie

 Another Birthday for the books! Thank you to everyone who sent me Birthday Wishes via text, social media, phone calls, cards/gifts in the mail, and most of all by simply thinking of me. It's so comforting to know that although I'm away from my California home, I am not far from your hearts.



My first Birthday in Seattle was definitely one to remember. My co-worker and friend was sweet enough to take me out to lunch and after work Michael took me to my favorite spot in town, Bottlehouse. We drank great wine and ate great food which always makes for a good time.

Best board I've had so far! Wild Boar, Cheese with Truffle, and Wine Soaked Irish Cheese

Recommended flight by our server. It was absolutely perfect.

 

The staff was amazing and knowledgeable as always with great recommendations for us to try. They were kind enough to put a candle in my dessert so I could make a wish and complimentary glasses of sparkling wine to celebrate.
 

Afterwards, I had this unexplicable craving for mac n' cheese (weird I know), so Michael and I got some on our way home and relaxed for the rest of the evening, and sometime around 9:37 p.m., I fell asleep (I guess I am getting older if I can't stay up past ten!).

Cheers to another year and hopefully another Birthday Wish come true!

Whistler Weekend & Birthdays

For the past week I've been sick with a very viscious cold right before my Whistler weekend. I was majorly bummed and still am since I'm still constantly coughing and sneezing. Nonetheless I toughed it up and off to Whistler I went. I was really out of though, so sadly, I don't have too many pictures to post, so I stole a few from Cristine ;)

Photo Cred: Cristine

Can you see me?

Before hitting the slopes! Photo Cred: Cristine

While at Whistler, I tried snowboarding for the first time by taking a 5-hour lesson. It was extremely fatiguing since my body was drained from recovering, but a lot of fun at the same time. I fell a lot as expected. Hopefully it'll turn out to be a new hobby next season, that way winter won't be as much as a bummer!

Later that night we went out for drinks in the village before dinner. Somehow Michael got this weird/creepy photo of me:

 After dinner and more drinks we met up with Michael's friends. By the time we got back it was the next day and Cristine's Birthday! Unfortunately I really dropped the ball on the whole photo thing :(

The next day Michael, Cristine, Tim, and I had a quick brunch before heading back home. The trip was a quick one, but very memorable.

The past few days I haven't done much. Just the standard resting and binge watching that accompanies a cold. Yesterday Michael and I ended up going out to dinner since we were out of groceries. Below is a photo of my last dessert at the age of 22:

Ginger Cheesecake at Tallulah's

And today, I'm 23. It's funny how you don't really feel any different. Nonetheless, 22 was a great year. I fell in love, got a job, I moved, wrote a manuscript, and did some traveling with Michael. It was also a difficult year though being away from my family, putting down my dog, and living in a new place. I am extremely lucky that my family have been supportive and understanding, and that the Armfield's have been extremely welcoming.

I'm not sure what to expect of being 23, except that I find the number 23 very awkward. I can only hope that it's another great year filled with happiness, health, love, and new adventures.

Writing Update: Reflections, Read-Through, & Revision Notes/Process

One year ago was my first day post-college. I remembered the strange sensation I had after completing my last final. Excited and so afraid of what was to come. I didn't really have a sound plan. I just knew that I wanted a break. So for about three months after I simply wrote, hoping to complete my first manuscript. I had this silly notion that I could break out into writing with this one book straight out of college. Maybe that happens for some people, but that didn't happen for me. My first novel I worked on centered on a very depressed protagonist. Being so wrapped into it, I, myself felt depressed. And the farther along I got into the manuscript, the more doubt I had in my silly notion. The doubt made me feel like I was just playing out something that would never happen.

A series of life-changing events followed that I won't get into, but once those three months were up, I put that manuscript away, got a full-time job and moved to Seattle to be Michael and to start a new life. I stopped writing for a long while through this transition. For once, attempting to write filled me with dread and anxiety. The doubt continued to plague me, even though I wans't aware of it.

After awhile, I started to miss writing. My dream of being a writer, no matter how much I tried to stifle it, never went away. So one day I printed out my manuscript, went to a cafe, and read it. I didn't even get past page 30. It was truly awful. I knew then that this wasn't the manuscript that would take me where I wanted to go. Sure it was disappointing, but it was also a realization that 1) I still wanted to be a writer and 2) it was time I got over the dread and anxiety.

So I started on a completely new idea, M2, printed out the second draft and read it. Though it needs tons of work, I can say that after my read-through, I was not disappointed. I was proud. This was such a change compared to my read-through of M1. M2 had a story I was falling in love with. M2 had characters I cared about. And last of all, I enjoyed writing M2 and continue to do so despite the difficulties.

I'm now making tons of revision notes too take me into my third draft. There's still a lot of work ahead, but I finally feel like I'm going somewhere with it.

Book Review: Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer

Rated 5 stars out of 5

Overview:

Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard.

In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.

Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker—unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

Review:

Cress is probably my favorite out of the three books so far. Meyer definitely picked up the pace on this one with such a great plot line. Not to mention, the perspectives of all the characters were all distinct, making it enjoyable. Meyer definitely took the time in this book to show character growth. The character Cress as a new edition to the gang was very delightful. She definitely represents the romantic in all of us and her relationship with Throne was very interesting to see. I love how Thorne's character got more of a spotlight in this book, his anti-heroism just makes him more of hero without him realizing it. As for Cinder, we finally see her step us as a leader and accept her responsibility as a revolutionary. And of course, Kai's growth as a selfless emperor.

I've enjoyed this series so much, I can't believe I'm going to have to wait another year for Winter!

Book Review: Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles #2) by Marissa Meyer

Rated 4.5 stars out of 5

Overview: Cinder is back and trying to break out of prison—even though she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive if she does—in this second installment from Marissa Meyer.

 

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother, or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana.

An NPR Best Book of 2013

Review: Just like I finished Cinder in two days, Scarlet was no exception! Meyer brought everything back beautifully. Though I down rated it .5 due to the fact that I'm not too much of a fan of Scarlet and Wolf, these two new characters were interesting of course, but they were nothing compared to Thorne and Cinder. I liked watching Cinder and Throne's friendship grow more than Scarlet and Wolf's. Nonetheless, it was still a great story and it was thrilling to read how Meyer wove the Little Red Riding Hood tale into the plot line. The Lunar Chronicles has been such an entertaining read for me. It's been such a while since I've read such an awesome series!

Book Review: Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1) by Marissa Meyer

Rated 5 stars out of 5

Overview: Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Review: A retelling with a neat twist, you won't be able to put this book down! I mean, a cyborg Cinderella? Yet Meyer does it well with such engrossing writing. Though you already know the fairytale of it, you will still be surprised with all of the worldbuilding and enthralled with the characters. I read this in two days! As I write this review, I'm already starting book #3 in the chronicles. I'm that hooked. So why five stars? Well for one, the writing was great. Very fluid and clear in its details which is a must since this is set in New Beijing in the future. Second, though it's a classic fairytale, Meyer brings novelty in to it with cyborgs, an evil Lunar Queen, and Kai a new emperor (move over Prince Charming!). Third, I thought the pacing was very well done keeping the tension close enough to keep you reading.

If you pick this book up, you will not regret it.

So, it's been a week...

Since I've read or worked on my M2. It kind of feels... weird. I was thinking about it this morning and was suddenly overwhelmed. I lost a week of writing time! I could have been farther along if I had just kept writing. These were my thoughts as I stood in line this morning at Starbuck's waiting for my coffee. It took me a half a minute later to realize that my thoughts were nonsense. There was a reason I was putting distance between my story and I.

I needed to see it with fresh eyes.

Palm Desert

This past weekend I got to relax in the sun! It was amazing and I already miss it! Michael and I visited his parents there and enjoyed our time immensely! Next year, we will definitely have to do longer than four days. I won't go into too much detail in this post, rather I'll just post photos below! It was a good time of relaxing, eating, reading, spending time with the Armfield's, and a nice break from my manuscript!

Our first time on a plane together :)

Flying close to Mount Rainier

California! Such a change from Washington

Palm Desert!

Backyard view where we stayed .

Panoramic

Michael's parents took us out to La Spiga where we enjoyed this dessert! YUM.

Getting ready to watch the sunset! Photo Cred: Denise

Michael enjoying beers.



Being goofy at Arnold Palmers



I just get too darn excited when it comes to desserts!

Many thanks to Michael's parents for making this trip happen and Michael for taking me with him :)

Hoping you all had an awesome weekend. More book reviews to come!