Listening to: 'A Life That's Good'

Being from Texas, there are a few country songs that bring me back. Started watching Nashville recently. Really liked the storyline between Deacon and Rayna. This song and 'Sanctuary'; the feels.

Visiting My Old High School

 Took the bus down Friday night and got in super late, looked at our old art with Jenny, woke up in New York and took another bus down to Boston to ride the old red line to Natick.

Visiting Our Old High School

This post is dedicated to Jenny Lai and her unique, positive vision for herself and everyone around her. We met living down the hall from each other at our arts boarding high school in Natick, MA. We'd have dance parties in her room, hang out in practice rooms, explore together. She always knows what I need, often before I do. My first time in New York was with her to scope out whether we'd want to go to college there. If I hadn't gone with her, my life might've been really different. I think it's definitely high time we went back to our roots- 12 years later (last time was freshman year of college).



Walnut Hill School for the Arts feels like a secret gem, tucked a short ride on the metro away from Boston. A little oasis for arty high schoolers from all over the world who knew what they wanted to do with their lives, or so they thought. As background- I used to want to be an opera singer. My dad loved classical music and supported my yearning to be on stage. My siblings and I all took piano lessons already, so I started doing my vocal scales on the keyboard after practicing the same songs they were. I knew I didn't want to stay in Texas forever, so I presented the idea to my voice teacher, and made a tape. When I found out I got a scholarship, I presented the idea to my parents. To their credit, they let me go with some conditions, like I wouldn't date anyone, and continue to go to church every Sunday. And I followed those rules. Once I got to school, I met some great friends. To this day Jenny and a few others are still very important to me. I admire and am inspired by them a lot. Halfway through my Junior year, I had a very serious talk with my dormitory parent/ surrogate advisor/ birthday twin Ken Tighes, who said he saw me sketching every night and if that's actually what I wanted to do for college- I should start making my portfolio right away. If he hadn't helped me move to the Art Department, my life would have been (again) very different. To go back to this place and reminisce with these people was very special to me.







I remember being fifteen: hanging out in the grass snacking, sneaking into the campus center at night to drink chocolate milk, and painting for hours in my art studio space. Getting to see Jim Woodside, who was head of the Art Department and has only grown more and more into his role since I was a student, and his granddaughter Juniper, was incredible. His daughter Ruby is so great and Becca who hung out and walked around with us.



This whole trip took around 24 hours total. Took the bus down Friday night and got in super late, looked at our old art with Jenny, woke up in New York and took another bus down to Boston to ride the old red line to Natick. Ate some McDonalds but also really good tacos at a place called Southwest Grill, both inside South Station. After the afternoon walking around, we got dinner in Cambridge at Kimchi Kitchen and then I uber'd to the airport to get back home to Baltimore Saturday night. I almost teared up at the most perfect cup of coffee Mark had waiting for me when I got into the car: warm milk with honey mixed in, and fresh hot coffee poured over it.

An Ode to IHOP

There's a place in my heart for the International House of Pancakes. Doesn't matter what location (for the most part). My favorite one is where I'm constantly trying to convince Mark to take us as a reward for a good morning workout after the gym.



The best brunch- when I close my eyes and imagine my go-to order at IHOP: steak tips and eggs (poached, cut them in half over your hash browns and drizzle a little hot sauce over that mmmhmm), the neverending coffee, and pancakes with sprinkles on the side, with whipped cream on top.



I put my favorite dream breakfast aside this week, when I heard that a new type of french toast debuted, using Kings Hawaiian Rolls. If you've ever put that fluffy goodness in your mouth- I understand you. So I tried the bacon, sausage combo with that new french toast with strawberries and bananas. This is an unapologetically focused description of just how much I value these ideas and breakfast executions- keep doing you IHOP.

Weekend Hiking at Ricketts Glen ❄️

Spent this weekend camping with Mark's family at Ricketts Glen State Park. It's one of the most beautiful places I've seen, with over 22 waterfalls and 13 acres out a few hours from Baltimore, in Pennsylvania. We did this same trip in April last year, when it was warmer. This time, there was still snow on the ground, but it was nice to see the woods in a different way, and feel the crunch under our feet.



Mark and I love road trips, and had stocked up on three different brands of bottled tea (honey green tea and half tea half lemonade varietals), beef jerky, and Gardetto's (the only brand of trail mix that doesn't need spin-offs- it's perfect). The hours pass quickly with the radio on intermittently and some dancing, sometimes a podcast, and enjoying the scenery.



We drove along the Susquehanna River for a while, which empties into the Chesapeake Bay. It was early morning, so the sun was just rising, and you could see a little fishing boat here or there on the water. The sun dappled the road ahead of us, and we couldn't resist taking a few photos of the open horizon. Lots of cute little houses out there and farmland. Some antique stores. When you finally get to the park- there's a very steep road right before getting to the campgrounds- so if you ever go, it can be a surprise.



The cabin had electricity and running water. I never grew up camping, so a few tips I've learned through Mark's family are- keep a burn box (of items that can go in the fire), and a recycling box (plastic water bottles mostly). Set the thermostat to 60, because it'll get more than hot enough in the rooms- and pack extra socks.



We walked to Lake Jean for a bit, then did a hike that was around 7 miles through the trails. Had dinner and played a card game called 'Mille Borne' that I really enjoyed. Mark's mom makes meals that I wonder at because of the volume and variety that are still safe enough choices for 8 people.



There are so many memories that I don't write about, but I just get the feeling this was an important one. I was drawing on some of our experiences from the year before to inform how to pack and what to expect- and I expect I'll do the same referencing if we make a trip like this in the future. And if anyone reading this has more information or finds the above useful, all the better.

New 'Home is Where the Heart Is' Greeting Card

The saying 'home is where the heart is' couldn't be more true. It's always been one of my favorite quotes, and I enjoy making type treatments that form an image, like this. After testing out different materials and ways this could print, I truly believe this is the best way to share this message, and hope you or someone you love enjoys it as well.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/602419189/home-is-where-the-heart-is-greeting-card?ref=shop_home_active_1

'When I'm all alone or in a crowd'

In a quiet place or where music's loud

If I'm on the road, or in the other room

That's how you know, I'm thinkin' of you



When the flowers bloom, when the leaves turn brown

when the sun is hot, when the snow falls down, down

when the clouds are gray, and the sky's are blue

that's how you know, I'm thinkin' of you



You're always the first and the last thing on this heart of mine

No matter where I go or what I do, I'm thinkin' of you.



http://youtu.be/INkvQpjfrHY

(dierks bentley, 'thinking of you')

Storm King for our Birthday Last Year

'Whip, whip

Run me like a racehorse

Pull me like a ripcord

Break me down and build me up

I wanna be the slip, slip

Word upon your lip, lip

Letter that you rip, rip

Break me down and build me up



Don't wanna be the parenthetical, hypothetical

Working on something that I'm proud of, out of the box



Whatever it takes,

'Cause I love the adrenaline in my veins,

'Cause I love how it feels when I break the chains,

I do what it takes.'



https://youtu.be/gOsM-DYAEhY









I want to be friends with the youtuber who commented this under the video,

'I let my goldfish listen to this, Now he's a shark.' 

California Weekend | Cinequest 2018 & Seeds

Mark and I went to California this weekend! The purpose was to see my sister, and attend the ‘Seeds’ film
premiere at Cinequest Film Festival. Made it into San Francisco Thursday night and had dinner at ‘wonderful’
a really delicious Hunan Chinese restaurant in Millbrae. Her boyfriend knew the
menu well- we had a great time. I’m very proud of the life she’s made for
herself there and was happy to celebrate an early birthday with her. 

Friday we walked around the pier and Ferry Building Marketplace. Ate breakfast burritos and hung out before catching the Caltrain to San Jose. It was a smooth, quiet ride. Got off in Sunnyvale and were able to meet Mark's friend who works at Apple, and see the campus! It's so crazy and beautiful- got lunch together and took a little tour. From there, we Uber'd (my referral code is andreac2181ue and if you use Ibotta- QSABWBM for $1 off all Uber rides) to the Fairmont Hotel, and started festiva-ting.

Seeing everyone from the film who was able to come, was so great. I think the premiere went well - it was Saturday at the California Theatre. Really grateful to Owen and Younny Long as well as the whole cast and crew, for making the experience possible. Here is a review by Fanboy Planet, http://fanboyplanet.com/cinequest-2018-seeds/ and an article by Screen Anarchy http://screenanarchy.com/2018/03/seeds-exclusive-clip-thriller.html

Thank you to Wearaway, Salon Three Sixty One and Kevin Johnn for helping me feel confident and beautiful. (I meant to try out Stylebee but the timing didn't work out- if you want to- my code is achen25 for $20 off!)

And most of all to Mark for being the string to my kite, the tree to my vine, my rock, everything- all the things. I love exploring together.