happy 101 award!

The lovely Tara B. from Little Girl Big Closet sent the 'Happy 101' award my way, which I'm so happy to receive! Also, I didn't get a chance to snap my OOTD before I rushed out the door and left a wake of destruction behind me. Yeah. I was running late. Sigh, but I guess that's what happens when you're hit the snooze button in your sleep! I love it when my unconscious self tries to sabotage my conscious self. And by "love," I mean hate.

Anyway - this award will have to do for my post of the day. Thanks again, Tara!

Here's how it works: List 10 things that make you happy (then go do at least one of them!). Then tag your 10 favorite bloggers. Be sure to tag the one who tagged you!

1. My friends. I'm not the kind of person who has a lot of friends, but the ones I do have I love to pieces. Even though a lot of us don't talk on a daily (or even weekly) basis because of school or work or whathaveyou, whenever we meet up, it's like we've never been apart. Whether we're going out for drinks or staying in with a movie, I always enjoy seeing them!

2. My family. My family isn't really close, but that doesn't change the fact that when I see my parents and brother and sister happy, it makes me happy.

3. Food.

my giant gyro plate at Greek eatery Niko Niko's. YUM.

Oh man, I love to eat and nothing brings a smile to my face faster than seeing some really delicious food headed my way. I am game for nearly anything, and there is little I enjoy more than finding new restaurants to try and new dishes and flavors to sample.

4. Shopping. Or, more specifically, finding something really awesome, whether it's a top, skirt, dress, jeans, or shoes. When something just looks great in the dressing room, that is a happy time for me! And anyone who reads this blog (or encounters me more than 5 times) knows that J.Crew and Anthropologie have a special place in my heart. And in my wallet.

5. Travelling.

with a friend in New Zealand

There are so many places I've been, so many places I want to go to and so many places I want to revisit. I've been fortunate enough to have a family that took me along on many an overseas adventure, as well as to have had the opportunity to study abroad (see above picture).

6. Dolphins.

at the IMAX theater. not a real dolphin, unfortunately.

I've always loved dolphins and whales, ever since I was a little kid. I wanted to be a whale trainer all the way up until high school. I only changed my mind after inner conflicts of the ethics of marine mammal parks began troubling me, but that's an issue I won't expand on here.

7. Singing.

I don't have much vocal prowess, but what I lack in talent, I make up for in enthusiasm. Anthems of choice? Any Bon Jovi tune.

8. Music. I love music, and I love going to shows. The best concert I've ever been to was The Walkmen's show in a tiny venue called Walter's on Washington. It was crowded and hot, the music was loud, and I reeked of cigarettes and beer afterwards. It. Was. Awesome.

9. Successfully doing something that no sane person would do.

abseiling in the Blue Mountains in Australia

Let's look past the fact that this is a horribly unflattering picture of me and focus on the fact that I'm about to walk off a cliff. BACKWARDS. And out of my own free will. I'm not normally a daredevil, but sometimes the mood strikes me to do something completely insane. And luckily, so far they've all worked out okay for me.

10. Finally, the Boyfriend.

He's only had the Boyfriend title for a few months now, but we've been friends for a long, long time. He's my fellow adventurer, my partner in crime, my papa bear, my love, and all those other fluffy things that taste like marshmallows and clouds and singing baby angels. And he goes shopping with me. Out of his own free will. See? Love.

Here are the lovely folks I'm passing this along to:

e. from i'd wear it

GingerSnap from GingerSnap's Daily Fashion Post

tippy from tres tippy

Maria from Infinite Whimsy

Dina from My Superfluities

Summerilla from Sum Sunshine

Angelina from Angelina's Cafe

Rosemary from Ro Ro Ro Your Blog

Ro from In Search of Ro

Lisa from Respect the Shoes

I tried to tag those who I didn't see tagged in other posts. Visit them, they're all awesome!

EDIT: I'm adding in sarah from a life more exciting. Because I can!

I'm sure you really want to know allll about me.

You don't? Well, then... uh, carry on. There will be an OOTD post later this evening.

Thanks to Stephanie from The 200/365 Project and Marisa from According to Moi for giving me this award, which requires me to regale you all with information about me. I know you're psyched about this.

The 35 Questions:

1. Where is your cell phone?

On my desk, approximately 5 inches away from the keyboard I'm typing on RIGHT NOW.

2. Your hair?

I straightened it today. It's naturally coarse and wavy. It seems "Typical Asian Hair" (read: silky and straight) avoided my head like the plague. Thanks, genetics!

3. Your Mother?

Is amazing. She's judgemental (I can never be skinny enough for her), paranoid (evidently leaving the house at 8 p.m. is cause for concern), and a whole lot of other things that drive me insane, but she IS my mother and I adore her.

4. Your Father?

Doesn't like me too much, ha! But I know he loves me, even though he gets mad at me when my flight gets delayed on the way home. (sorry I can't fly the plane faster, dad)

5. Your favorite food?

Chocolate. I LIKE IT A LOT. And Vietnamese food. YUM. Ever had pho? You should. If you don't like it, there's something wrong with your mouth.

6. Your dream from last night?

One of my friends from college trying to get me to eat some grapes. Which is pretty tame, considering I've had dreams involving dinosaurs, tornadoes, and invisibility before.

7. Your favorite drink?

Milk tea tapioca. If you've never heard of it, you need to find a place that sells bubble tea in your area IMMEDIATELY. Go. I'll wait.

...

You're still here? FINE. You can go later. Next question:

8. Your dream/goal?

I'm going to echo Stephanie here and say that my goal is to "be happy wherever my life ends up." Brilliant answer, Stephanie! Isn't that all anyone really wants?

9. What room are you in?

The office at work. Pretending to be working. Teeheeheehee! (no really, I'm taking a break. I just got some assignments done) (you don't believe me, do you?)

10. What are your hobbies?

Cooking (badly), playing guitar (badly), singing in my car (badly), shopping (bad for my bank account, at least), SLEEPING (I do this one very well)

11. What is your fear?

Ghosts. It's like I'm still 10 or something. Maybe if I had a proton pack by my bed, I wouldn't be so freaked out after watching A Haunting on the Discovery Channel.

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years?

Somewhere awesome, doing awesome things with awesome people.

13. Where were you last night?

At the playground with the BF. 'Cause we're cool and hip like that. (we're not cool and hip)

14. Something you are not?

Not afraid of ghosts. 'Cause I am.

15. Muffins?

Of the pistachio variety, if you don't mind.

16. Wish List Items?

A sweet apartment with affordable rent. Can Santa cut deals with landlords?

17. Where did you grow up?

Outside the city in what used to be a relatively rural area. They now have a Wal-Mart there. (!!!!!!)

18. Last thing you did?

Read this question. And now type this answer.

19. What are you wearing?

See outfit of the day post that will come later.

20. Your TV?

My laptop is my TV. HOORAY FOR HULU!

21. Your pets?

3 goldfish: Barnaby, Petri, and Waldo.

22. Your friends?

Are good people and I adore them.

23. Your life?

Is progressing.

24. Your mood?

Impatient. I WANT THIS DAY TO END. Is it 5:00 yet? (no, it's 11 a.m.) (maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!!!)

25. Missing Someone?

Yes.

26. Vehicle?

Nigel, my Mazda6. Now complete with bird poo decoration, thanks to the City of Houston's resident pigeons.

27. Something you're not wearing?

A feather boa. (that's for tomorrow, obviously.)

28. Your favorite store?

J.Crew. And Target.

29. Your favorite color?

Green.

30. Last time you laughed?

A few minutes ago when a coworker mentioned reading about three guys who emptied a swimming pool and filled it with beer. Classy. ("Fer-git the keg, just go'on over to the ol' beer pool.")

31. Last time you cried?

Sunday night. But the crisis has been resolved!

32. Your best friend?

Is super. Hence, is my best friend.

33. One place you go to over and over?

The bathroom. HA! (I have a weak bladder) (which makes road trips kinda hard)

34. One person who emails you regularly?

The BF. I email him everyday to complain about being bored at work and he responds! He's a keeper.

35. Favorite place to eat?

Tan Tan. Delicious Chinese food. Houstonians, make it a point to eat there at least once. Try the House Special Rice Cake. It's basically a fried dough omelette. How could you go wrong? (hint: you can't)

Fin.

Thanks again to the lovely ladies who gave this to me! I'm passing it on to the adorable e. from i'd wear it and ever stylish Angelina from Angelina's Cafe, because I don't think these lovely ladies have been nominated before. Go visit them!