A Sneak Peek Into the Future

Zoë and her friends had a play date at Disneyland yesterday.  This had been planned weeks ago and the girls had been talking about it ever since they first learned about it.  They talked about what they were going to see, which rides to go on, what to wear.  At first they agreed to all wear princess outfits, but with the sweltering hot weather, the idea was nixed (although Zoë and a couple of her friends did show up in a Belle gown, they quickly changed out of it).

 

 

After we got there, the girls took over, deciding amongst themselves where to go first.  After each ride/show, they would come together and plan what to do next and then present their “decision'” to us.  They would take off by themselves.  They chatted non-stop.  It was so cute seeing them together.  Seeing that pic above, I could almost picture them as a group 8-10 years from now –taller, out on their own, still chatting away…

 

 

Josh came along, too, and he was a good sport about being the only boy amongst the girls.

 

No-Bake Chocolate Squares

Josh came home last week with a jar filled with a couple of No-Bake Chocolate Squares that they made at school.  Those of you who know me know that I am not much of a dessert person and that I usually prefer savory over sweet.  But I’d wanted to have a bite, because Josh made them.  They were SO good!  I had to hold myself back from gobbling up the whole square (because we wanted Chris to taste them, too… and the kids had split the other one between the two of them).

 

 

Lucky for us that Josh brought back a copy of the recipe.

 

 

It was really easy to make.  I decided to use my Valrhona chocolate to make this, because after trying Valrhona for my other recipes, I am just spoiled for other brands.  I skipped the cherries and the nuts and made the squares with just biscuits and rice krispies.  So, um, not exactly something you’d serve to somebody super health-conscious… but really, you could go off that diet for a day, couldn’t you?  Because this is so good and you know that you will eat more than one square, you will just have to run those extra miles or swim those extra laps, but it will be worth it!

 

If it weren’t hot, I would have dipped my finger right in there!

 

The kids helped lick the bowl clean.  Can’t let Valrhona chocolate go to waste, can you now?

 

Go give this a try this weekend.  Your family will love you (more) for it!

 

First Cut

I’ve always trimmed Zoë’s hair.  It was easy enough.  But her hair is getting a tad too long now and with the summer months coming up, we agreed to have at least two inches lopped off.   I figured now that she is 6, she is old enough to sit through a proper shampoo, cut, and styling at the salon.



She thoroughly enjoyed the experience.  Zoë said her favorite part was when they gave her a little massage on her head during the shampooing.


 

The Creativity Project | Street Photography

I think this might be my favorite theme to date.  I love street photography.  I love playing tourist right in my backyard.  I am not a very shy person and have no qualms about approaching strangers and asking if I could take a picture of them.  I have nothing to lose; all they could do is say no. 

 

{A truck driver taking it easy while waiting for the delivery guys to come back.}

(Enjoying their bowls of noodles)

 

Most of the time, though, people do say yes and those times are golden. Not only do I get to photograph them, I also get to chat with them a bit. For that very brief period, you somehow find a connection. Smiles and greetings are exchanged, little tidbits shared. I find these random connections so refreshing.

 

{These guys let me take their picture and then proceeded to rib each other about how ugly they look.}

 

Sometimes, I simply stand there in full view, eye on the viewfinder, just letting people come into range and clicking when I think I get something good in the frame.

 

{Crossing in front of Sogo, along Hennessy Road}

 

 

 

There are plenty of times, though, when I rely on my zoom lens and shoot from afar.

 

{The guy by the delivery truck was idly chatting on his phone.}

 

{A tai-chi master leading his followers.}

 

{Shooting the breeze…}

 

 

 

{Veggie stall owner checking a bunch of greens}

 

I like ducking into alleys and little side streets and catching whatever ‘life’ is going on there.

 

 

 

Most of all, though, what I love about going out to the streets with my camera is capturing people doing what they do, going about their day.

 

{Reading the paper while waiting for his order}

 

{Watching the traffic go by while finishing up a ciggy}

 

 

                    

If you’ve never played tourist in your own town/city, I would urge you to do so.  You will see things in a new way, I promise you.   (More photos from my photo walks around Hong Kong here.)

 

Go on and head over to Katherine’s blog (Most People Exist) and check out her street photography and then follow her link to the next one in The Creative Project’s circle.  You will be seeing glimpses of life on the streets from different places.  Do visit us on our Facebook page and share some of your street photography, too!

                       

Serendipity is Sweet -- Finding Serendipity -- The Long Road to China

My 6-Year Old

{ A long overdue post }

 

Zoë celebrated her sixth birthday three weeks ago… It is only now that I have a chance to do a post about it.  She was SO excited about turning six.  On Mar 31st, during bedtime, she was beside herself.  I’d asked her why and she said, “Because tomorrow is April and my birthday is in April!”

 

 

In many ways, she is quite the “big girl” now.  She is more than halfway through first grade and is doing remarkably well.  She showers herself, packs her own bag.  While she still enjoys some ‘younger’ music, she loves music by Train, music from High School Musical, and music from Glee.  She bobs her head to the beat and would sing along when she listens to the music.  She loves all things sparkly and glittery.  

 

 

Zoë’s gotten a bit ornery, yes, and she’s being a bit more the pesky little sister to Josh than she was before.  With Josh, it’s like she has a sixth sense regarding which buttons to push. BUT… when she’s sweet with him, it kind of evens up the times she winds him up.

 

 

At the end of the day, though, she is still the sweet, happy little girl that she’s always been.  Quick with a smile that lights up her face and that makes you smile right back.  Quick with a pout that both amuses and exasperates me.  She has her diva moments, but thankfully, they are all short-lived. 

 

 

She still loves to snuggle and cuddle with us.  She still gives us endless kisses and big, huge, tight squeezes.  Although she is looking more “big girl” these days, she will always be my sweet baby girl.  Always.

 

 

Nothing I write here does justice to how I really feel about Zoë.  She evokes in me all sorts of mommy-feelings: love, pride, tenderness, awe, wonder, exasperation, amusement, thankfulness.   She is my everything-girl.

 

 

Finding Pretty

It feels so good to go out and just see.  I just came back from a photo walk with my friend and I feel great!  I so needed that.  You guys were right; I needed to go out more.

The weather was still a bit cool.  There was no sun.  BUT.  Because I was intent on finding some beauty around me, I did.

In the unlikeliest of spots.  On the ground, in a rain puddle.

Pretty yellow blooms that have fallen from a nearby tree and have landed in the puddles.

As soon as I’d come off the ground after getting low to take these shots, I was smiling big and I did not care who might have seen the goofy grin I must have had on my face.  I’d found pretty!

Finding My Mojo

I haven’t really picked up the big-girl camera for a while.  What little photos I have taken lately were mostly taken with my phone.  Even my Instagram uploads have been few and far between. 

The weather has been wet and not bright.  I have been busy with this and that.  If I let myself, I could come up with a thousand excuses why I haven’t been taking more pictures. 

(Photo taken by Yon Chung)

Do I still love to take pictures?  Yes.  I miss taking photos.  I realize that if I want to carry on doing that, I need to make time.  I need to prioritize.  Candy Crush or taking pictures?   I have a photo walk scheduled with a friend later this week, so hopefully, I will get my mojo back. 

Because I have not taken a lot of photos lately, I’m sharing instead a photo that another friend took of me earlier this year.  You know that I haven’t taken many photos if I put a picture of myself in a blog post (!).  What started as just a simple photo walk turned into a fun portrait session.  She was really great at making me feel more comfortable in front of the camera and we had a good laugh over some of the poses we did.

What do you guys do to get your mojo back?

Rediscovering Junior Fiction

I remember how mature I felt when I’d moved beyond the Sweet Dreams and the Sweet Valley High series.  I would read only ‘serious’ books by ‘serious’ writers, even though some of those books bored me to tears.  I would finish them, since I’m one of those who has to see a book to its end.  I would smile indulgently when I would see the younger kids read ‘junior’ fiction.  I’ve moved on, I would think smugly to myself.



Yet here I am now, not only reading junior fiction, but actually rediscovering the joy of reading them.  My friend recommended to me Fablehaven by Brandon Mull and I am a bit surprised at how hooked I am.  It’s not even a genre that I usually read… but hooked I definitely am. (You could read more about what the book is by clicking on the picture below.)



I’d originally wanted to read it because (1) I know my friend and I share the same taste in books and (2) I know this is something right up Josh’s alley and I wanted to read it so that I could discuss it more intelligently with him.  Josh hasn’t read it yet, but he said that he’s intrigued when he read the back cover.  I told him he could have his turn after I finish the book.

What was the last junior fiction book that you’ve read?