Highlights from Birthday Week

1. Indulged in a fabulous and relaxing reflexology massage to the Triple Tree Center
2. Had a great birthday dimsum brunch with my parents, brother and Jacob at Kim Son
3. Showed Jacob this great vegeterian Indian buffet off of Hilcroft
4. Creativity sessions: Mother Theresa quotes, art therapy sessions, and listened to an art therapy podcast
5. I heart books: purchased "Me Before We" and started re-reading "French Women Don't Get Fat" and "The Ignatian Workout"
6. Sweating by butt off during two yoga classes
7. Two total athletic conditioning classes
8. One fast (very fast) three mile walk with the boyfriend (I have three more runs/walks until I get my 20% Lululemon card from BON.)
9. Total Athletic Conditioning Classes (fun with jump ropes, burpees, pushups and jumping squats)
10. Riding my bike to meet with friends for cold beer and pizza
11. Making a green smoothie for the first time. Yum!
12. Indulging in an after-work manicure and pedicure
13. Quiet meditations (sitting still sessions and walking medition)

Dreams for the Weekend
1. Wrap my head around plans for four special events
2. Relax with friends and beau
3. Easter Mass with my brother
4. Indulge in some reading
5. Creativity sessions: more artwork, more painting, and more fun

Snapshots of Spring Blooms

Sometimes, you just have to surround yourself with fresh flowers. I've placed these right on my windowsill so I can see them while I'm reading and relaxing in bed. For $4 a pop, you can't go wrong with them. The purchase reminds me of all the bright yellow daffodils I saw at Waitrose while on holiday in England. They were just such a sweet pop of color on such a gloomy wintry day. Luckily, I am blessed with warm weather and lovely blooms on my windowsill, bedside table, and bathroom.


During March, the azaleas come out to bloom for a short season (almost 2-3 weeks). For me, it's one of the biggest signs that spring has finally come. They are nice to enjoy all over town, and I especially like them on the running trail.


I was a little heartbroken when I saw that this orchid bloom fell off Jacob's plant. :( The plant for the last few months had one bloom going on strong and another one sprouted out of nowhere. Then, bam! it just fell right off. Funny thing about it though - a week's later the plant now has three blooms and a few more buds. Sometimes we have to shed some things in order for us to grow.



Here is the rest of the lovely orchid plant. The petals are so unique. And even though it has been a challenge to keep up with it, I think its beauty makes it all worth it.

My Sanctuaries of Rest and Beauty

As you may already know, I love a nice soak in a hot bath at home. It is one of the nicest things I can do for myself after a long day. But, sometimes, I need a change of scenery and need to utilize the help of others. Like a good girlfriend who will honestly give her opinion on a dress purchase or a life decision, you should have your own dream team of people and a place to go to get rest and feel rejuvenated.

First things first... Is taking care of yourself a priority? Do you firmly believe that taking care of yourself will make you stronger? I know as a woman that may sound a little weird since usually a lot of women are so focused on giving themselves to a lot of people and they forget about themselves.

I also think your mother can set a good example of investing in yourself. It was my mom that took me to meet a make-up expert at the Clinique counter. And, she was also the person who took me for my first pedicure and eyebrow waxing. She knew that she had to teach me to look after myself and she was there to show me how.

Also, do you have a place to go to relax, to beautify, and to get rest?

When I was in Paris, I read about these places called hammams. Unfortunately, I ran out of time and didn't get a chance to make an appointment. When I returned to Texas, I realized that I didn't have to wait for another vacation to indulge in a spa moment. So, I did a little bit of research and tried to take advantage of what I had here in my own city.

Tony at King Salon: Since my hair is thick, unruly, and Asian, I need to rely on someone who understands me. And, Tony is my guy. I've been going there for years and most of my female relatives go there too. He just knows how my needs to be cut, and fortunately for me, I just pay him $20 for my hair cuts. This sure as hell beats the $75 over-priced haircuts I was getting at a fancy salon inside the loop. Tony's haircuts grow out well too, and I'm never disappointed. A haircut can make a huge impact on your look, and if cut properly, you shouldn't have to spend a lot of time trying to flatten it, shove product in it, or blow dry it to perfection. After getting a Tony cut, you should wash it, dry it, and put a tiny bit of styling wax and you're done.

Reflexology massage at Triple Tree Center: If you are willing to drive out to Chinatown, I think this is definitely worth the trip. Before this visit, most of my massages consisted of a membership at Massage Envy and the occasional chair massage at Whole Foods. The only problem was the amount of money I was spending. $55 per hour on the table or $1 a minute in the chair. It was too pricey for me to indulge in this.

My parents started getting their massages in Chinatown and told me that they were pretty affordable and good. So, I figured if my parents trusted these people, I should give it a shot, too. So, I paid a visit to Triple Tree Center and got the 60 minute massage for $30 dollars. (Yes!)

So it is a little bit different from your traditional massage. You walk in and sit in a chair that reclines flat. You keep your clothes on. So, I wore a tank top and leggings. You put your feet in a hot warm bath while a very strong Asian woman works on your ears, head, neck, shoulders and arms. Then, you remove your feet out of the bath and she massages your legs and feet. And in the end, she will work on your back and the backs of your legs. It is amazing! And, it is so much more affordable. If you do a lot of workouts or get stressed a lot, I think this is a great alternative to the pricey massages.

Mani/Pedi: I don't have a favorite place for this, but lately, I've been visiting Avalon Nail Salon right on the curve of Shepherd because they have always been consistently nice to me and their work has always been pretty precise. I like coming here right when they open. There usually isn't a line and you can relax in their spa chairs. They also do a very good job massaging your arms and legs and really like to exfoliate. As the warmer summer days start to come, I look forward to coming here. So, I'm not ashamed to wear my flip flops and sundresses.

Facials at Naked SkinCare & Waxing: I've been trying to add this in to my beauty regime. I really don't do much to my skin, but I felt like it was finally time for someone to give me some useful advice on how to take care of my skin. I decided to give this place a try. I thought the experience was very relaxing. Who doesn't like getting a dose of aromatherapy, facial massage, exfoliation, tingly mask, and moisturizer? I don't know if I'll come very often, but a friend of mine recommended that I should at least go seasonally.

Sauna and Hot Tub at the Gym: So, this is another way I've been unwinding lately. After a few laps in the pool, I love sitting in my gym's hot tub. I am usually the only one in there. It's a good way to melt away the aches in my muscles, and afterward, I like to finish off with some time in the dry heat sauna.

Weekend Review

1. Saturday Night was spent with good friends and the boyfriend. Before we met up with our friends, we enjoyed a very delicious meal at Jeannine's Bistro. I love moules frites. It was so good I had to write about it on my food blog!

2. We checked out the French Fete at the Museum of Fine Arts. I have t
wo museum memberships (so I can take a guest), and it was nice to finally go to one of the MFAH parties. This party did not disappoint! There was music, macaroons, a crepe stand, and off course a bar. As a member, you can walk up to the front of the line (apparently non-members had to wait 30 minutes to an hour - yikes!) and get complimentarey drink tickets. And, we were also able to see the Impressionists exhibit that is in town from D.C. It was very fun to look at art in a late night party atmosphere. Afterward, we had a wonderful after party drink at 13 Celsius.

3. Volunteerwork! I spent Saturday morning helping out Dress for Success with one of my good friends. (We actually met through volunteering many years ago!) We had a massive amount of sorting to do. I wish I had that much determination to sort out my own closets! It was also nice to enjoy an outdoor bbq on the lawn after putting away so many donated clothes.

4. Yoga! My goodness - yoga was very very very sweaty and challenging. I'm glad that I am able to challenge my body, and I can actually tell that my upper body is much stronger. I can do push-ups and burpees with less effort, but wow, Sunday class was a tough one.

5. If yoga is my challenge, swimming is my cooldown workout. I had my own lane at the gym and had the hot tub practically to myself. Love it when the aquatic amenities are not crowded. Doing freestyle and breaststroke is a great way for me to relax. And, the sitting around in a hot tub is the icing on the cake.

6. Got a facial at Naked SkinCare and Waxing! It was so relaxing especially since I never ever get facials.

Future Goals: Minimize my wardrobe and supplies. I have way too many clothes, and spring cleaning is a much needed project in my life. Since we are done with the first quarter, it's time for me to review my goals and see if I'm on track. Start thinking about future projects like career, races to run, volunteer work, and incorporating more "down time."

Highlights from this Lovely Spring Week

1. Meditations are getting a little better. I was able to try out morning medications each morning! Some where I simply sitting down quietly with my timer and some where I would play a song and listen. It can be challenging to sit quietly with yourself especially when your mind is racing with lots of deadlines.

2. Daily Cardio: I am glad to report that I've been working out more often. I think the hardest part of getting over some time off from exercising is just starting back over again. I have now logged in 16 runs at BON! I did two crossfit workouts, and went to yoga twice this week. I am looking forward to swimming and running this weekend.

3. Productivity: Sometimes it can be hard for me to just put my racing thoughts aside. So, I've been working with my planner pad and timer. I set out my MITs and place a timer for 45 minutes. I just put my head down and get to it. I pick one project at a time and cut out other distractions. This method has been working well because I give myself 15 minutes breaks for personal time or going for a walk outside.

4. Spent a lunch hour with a cappuccino at a bookstore. I adore reading through magazines. One of my favorites is Lucky. I like looking at their different fashion ideas for spring. That's where I snapped this cute photo of an adorable yellow dress. It gets me excited for warmer weather and getting to wear light, airy clothes.

5. Also, spent an evening doing a Bed Day. It was nice to pamper myself by planning not to do much of anything. I watched "The Kids Are Alright" and was highly entertained.

Bed Days Rock!

In Kimberly Wilson's "Tranquilista: Mastering the Art of Enlightened Work and Mindful Play," she talks about having a Bed Day. Basically, there are no rules for them, but just to have the intention of staying in bed. I think this idea sounds absolutely luxurious especially when you've been busy taking care of things all day or you had a tough workout at the gym. It's a great way to unwind and relax.

Wilson also leaves some tips in order to make Bed Day a sweet success. I've put down the ones that I find helpful for me.

:: have comfy clothes
:: brew a pot of tea
:: light candles (I have this fancy candelabra for six tealights!)
:: place laptop or cell phone nearby so you don't have to get out of bed!
:: water, books, journal and of course, the trusty planner pad
:: books, magazines, and other sources of inspiration
:: the intention to lose track of time

I am so excited about declaring the rest of my night a Bed Evening. Now it's time for me to indulge in a Netflix, sip some tea, and relax.

My Do-Gooding Adventure: Fairy Godmother Project

One of my intentions for Lent was to seek out opportunities to serve others. And, last week I had the opportunity to help out The Fairy Godmother Project at Define Studio. I got an email from the studio announcing that they would be canceling two Saturday classes so that The Fairy Godmother Project (FGP)could host their annual Shopping Day.

FGP collects donated dresses from all sorts of places (perhaps a mother donates her daughter's old prom dress or a former bridesmaid gives away her old dress). Then, the organization takes these donated dresses and gives them to girls who need a dress for prom, graduation, or any other special occasion.

The Friday night before the shopping day, we got to sort out the donated dresses. Sifting through clothes with other volunteers can be an incredibly entertaining ice-breaker. For instance, one lady next to me picked up a gold dress with sparkles and asked for an opinion. Needless to say any outdated, stained or inappropriate dresses were placed in another pile. The cool thing about the project is they also have a resale shop. So if they end up with nice evening gowns that don't end up being matched with a girl, they will put it in their store and the proceeds go back to the nonprofit. By the end of the evening, we were prepped on how to personal shop for the girls and had the place set up like a cute little boutique.

Since we were providing these girls a boutique experience, I showed up wearing a nice black dress and heels. It was so fun to meet the girls I'd be helping. There was huge range of emotion: excitement since it's the end of senior year, fun because this is probably the first time any of these girls tried on formal dresses, and awkwardness since a lot of them were definitely out of their element. I'd forgotten how much our opinions on what looks good changes over the years. Not only were they able to pick up dresses for prom and graduation, but they also had free hair and make-up consults and got free shoes, handbags, make-up bags, make-up, AND accessories. These girls were very excited and so grateful.

It was so fun to spend an afternoon "shopping" with these young ladies. And, I'm sure they look forward to wearing their selections in the coming weeks.

My next do-gooding adventure will be with Dress for Success this weekend. Hopefully, it will be another enjoyable time of service.

Photo Courtesy of seanmcgrath on Flickr