Category Archives: Connecting4

Just the four kids.

A Little Bit of China.

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While We were on errands around our neighborhood a few days ago we came across this small vender selling some traditional Chinese Flat Bread. Since so many people were waiting for this toasty snack we figured it must be good. So we “placed” our order, paid about 20¢, and enjoyed this salty treat on our way back home!

Living in China leaves you with so many new experiences, discovering new foods is one of the major adventures I have found while living here. You can buy flat bread, fruit, popcorn, or even Cotten Candy while walking down the road on a nice evening. I have gotten to discover so much from living in China, it is definitely a blessing being able to live in this foreign place.

Resurrected Ideas (But maybe just for these 5 minutes)

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I felt a mixture of nostalgia and embarrassment as I went through my middle school sketchbook yesterday.  But in some ways these forgotten ideas and simple sketches have the power of suggestion for the future.

 

It is powerful to review the old and make revisions.

But it’s also powerful to realize, maybe some things in the past should be left there.

Six Piece Style Collection

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Reporting from Texas here: I am having a hard time believing that I’m actually back in America again after two years! When I returned I discovered that my grandmother had her cave-of-a-laundry-room transformed into a delightfully styled one! I was so inspired with the style and all the individual pieces that I just had to share some of the pictures!

1. A adorable Spoon Fork painting that my grandmother found at a antique market (antique markets have some serious hidden treasures!)
2. A framed vintage paper doll – one of five framed in her laundry room. Love it!
3. A little wooden desk with a slide up cover
4. (Just had to take a picture of this) Uniquely shaped wooden light switch cover (none of that cheapy plastic stuff!)
5. A little straw hat that was hiding behind the door
6. Old wicker basket





Summer Food

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Since coming to China, I’ve been eating like crazy.

Here are some foods you MUST try:

Korean:

Korean BBQ Pork.  Not quite barbecue at all, more like deep fried heaven. With a side of sweet and sour sause.

 

Kimchi. My favorite korean vegetable. The spicier, the better!

 

Korean appetizers. An assortment of all the best, and you don’t even have to pay for them, Korean service win.

Chinese:

Chinese “Zongzi”. Bamboo leaf rice dumpling. Filled with all kinds of surprises.

 

Soup Dumplings “Xiaolongbao”. Traditional dumpling with a twist. Caution: the soup you are about to drink is extremely hot!

Western.

Pastries. Who doesn’t love brownies, cheesecake and eclares.

 

Blended Coffee Drink at Coffee Factory. Best cold coffee drink I’ve tasted in a while. Maybe the best ever.

 

Cappuccino. Frothy goodness. Add a pack of sugar for the perfect balance of espresso and sweet.

Finals Week

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The dreaded week of final exams has begun. Final Exams week is almost here and I’m sure everyone will agree that the weekend before the “battle” is always the worst. I woke up somewhat late this Saturday morning and started studying. The only thing that keeps me going is the thought that I only have to get past these 4 days of torture and then I’ll be on my way to America! Family, good food, green grass, outdoor swimming pools… the list is endless! There are no words to express just how excited I am to see my relatives as well.  But for now, I better stop thinking about that and start focusing on school work… Wish me luck on my finals!

Sources: From Ignant

I’m Lovin’… Sunglasses

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Sunglasses add a whole new aspect to an outfit that are not only useful but can be totally stylish if you wear them right. Unfortunately, last week on my Spring Trip I didn’t have any sunglasses (pictures of my adventures coming soon!) and I will admit it did get a little sunny at times. So with the summer season around the corner, shopping for some new sunglasses isn’t a bad idea. Although sometimes they can get pricey, sunglasses can be your best friend! Personally, I adore the Red Apple Sunglasses from Mod Cloth (#4) because they are so creative – and to tell you the truth I am not one for small lensed sunglasses – so these are perfect for me! Hope you’re summer is starting off fabulously with beautiful a pair of sunglasses!

Sources: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight

 

iphone Pictures/Spring Trips!

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Here are some pictures of what’s been happening lately.

Each spring our school provides a class trip to different parts of China, on these trip we sight see, experience Chinese culture, and eat a ton of Chinese traditional foods. The time has come once again for each class to head out on their Spring Trip. So, to make sure I am fully prepared, I went shopping today for some of my favorite snacks to bring along – as a back up, if you know what I mean!  Snacks are a definite must when going on spring trip – to quote myself, “a trip is not a trip without food”. I am so excited to have the oppertunity to visit NanJing, a city in China regarded as one of the most famous cities in China because of it’s extensive history.  This ancient city was actually the Northern capital of China and later was attacked by the Japanese in WWII. I’m anxious to discover the adventures NanJing holds for me. Wish me luck on my travels!

My Little Brown Pocketbook

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My little brown pocketbook traveled over 680 miles, from ShangHai to Tianjin China, before it came to me as a gift. For many months I disregarded it’s small brown pages, however one day, when I was feeling especially artistic, I started scribbling a few designs in it. I found that brown paper coupled with black pen gives the whole drawing a new, interesting feel. I am extremely pleased with how my sketches have turned out! Below is a gif of a few of the pages in my little pocket sketch book! Enjoy~

PS: If you enjoyed perusing my little brown notebook as much as I’ve enjoyed filling it’s pages, please leave a comment and I’ll try to upload some more soon!

I’m Lovin… Navy

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My outfit today, a navy polka dotted sun dress from Forever 21, was my inspiration for writing this post. This dress is one of my favorites because it is so light weight and comfortable – a perfect sun dress for the summer months. Let’s face it – life just wouldn’t be the same without sun dresses, especially when they’re polka dotted!  My favorite part of this “I’m Lovin” is definitely the patterned backpack; I’ve been needing a new bag for months now, and I just haven’t found one that fulfills all my requirements – ie. big enough – but not to bulky, stylish, comfortable, and it just has to be me.  For any fans out there who want to send me a surprise gift, you know what to buy!

Sources: one, two, three, three, four, five, six