All posts in: Life

29 Dec 2021

2021, in 6 Minutes

It’s hard not to feel slightly emotional when looking back on 2021, right? I never felt like there was a separation between 2020 and 2021 – only two long years and as an individual incredibly stretched thin. I woke up this morning wondering if it wasn’t even necessary to have New Years resolutions. How can we set such goals when we don’t even know the state of the world in a week? In any case, I’m trying to remain hopeful. I always love these yearly recaps, but then I finish them feeling exhausted. Yes, I recognize that the video was also under 7 minutes.

17 May 2021

Beauty for Breakfast Pt. 39

If there’s anything that truly saved me during the pandemic it was the combination of Mighty Patch’s Micropoint for Dark Spots and Invisible+. My face wasn’t used to having a mask on along with everyone else! Essentially this further trapped the oils on our face underneath our pores, but once the maskne hit, I quickly found a solution. For years, I sampled different patch products never quite landing on a favorite. Along the way I learned about Hero Cosmetics and its founder, an Asian-American woman named Ju Rhyu. I did some internet research from their Instagram and reviews and found that products were easily purchasable through Amazon or at my local Target.

Within a couple of months, my maskne was clearing. For everyday use, Invisible+ is what I frequent the most. For the pesky ones, a combo of the two products works best. Sold at an affordable price point, I can’t say enough good things about Hero Cosmetics and it’s the one product I boast about the most. Plenty of product I’ve tried promise “invisibility,” but none quite like this. And if patches aren’t your thing, might I suggest using silk masks?

Hero Cosmetics is a brand I’m keeping my eye on. Since the release of the patches, it seems they’re exploring other avenues for skincare too!

16 May 2021

Moving Forward + Mask Wearing

Even as the country started re-opening, I never rushed to be first in line for anything. Whether it was outdoor or indoor dining, I was fine waiting until I was comfortable to take that next step. The CDC has been rather inconsistent so when they announced that fully vaccinated people can go without a mask, I had reservations. Retailers I follow on Instagram quickly came out with their own post that they still require masks indoors. Clearly, not everyone was comfortable with this change.

When asked how this would be enforced or verified, responses were “it’s an honesty policy.” Doesn’t it remind you of how individuals who committed anti-Asian hate crimes said it wasn’t racially motivated and people accepted that? When has an honesty policy ever worked? A rebuttal is that despite being vaccinated and continuing to wear masks, it signals that there’s something to be concerned about. I’ve learned from this whole process that no one will ever be on the same timeline. After traveling in Asia the last few years, I’ve observed that mask wearing is normalized as part of the culture. It signifies that one is being courteous to others or even protecting those around them. A friend mentioned to me that Americans sees masks as something to be cautious of. In television and movies, we see villains and robbers wearing masks to conceal themselves because they have something to hide.

You’re either up to no good or you feel like a piece of cloth is infringing on your freedom and rights. As we move forward, my concern is that because many Asians don’t find it discomforting to wear, they will continue to do so. It’s the kind of behavior that might continue to trigger the anti-Asian hate crime that we’ve been hearing about. And that brings this full circle to what we’ve seen in the last year. People don’t like to be told what to do. They want to be in control and they want those around them to behave the same way as they do. It’s never ending, isn’t it?

14 May 2021

This Weekend:

I always pull up the last time I wrote this post so as to not have any duplicates, but was surprised that the last time I told you about my weekend was February! Admittedly, we’ve been pretty absent with Yow Yow! in recent months. Between getting vaccinated, socializing more, working later and returning to some normal parts of life, it gets hard to juggle. That being said, Yow Yow! has always been my first love. And for pieces that I’m more passionate about, it doesn’t make sense for them to live on Instagram or TikTok.

The good news is that we’re getting our second dose this weekend so I’m anticipating that I’ll be out of commission for most of it. I’ll either be well enough to be productive in writing or too sick and only consumed by my television, we’ll see! Since we haven’t gotten the dose yet, I’m getting a head start by writing this post:

What We’re Watching: Navillera

I started this show around the same time I was finishing Vincenzo and had heard great things about it. It’s the first K-drama that I’m watching that has less than 16 episodes in the series. It’s a slower pace of a series than I’m used to, but lovely at the same time. I’m into the budding friendship that blossoms between a young troubled dancer and the man who lived a life never getting to pursue his dream of being a dancer. Since I’ll be resting all weekend, it’s the perfect time to binge watch the rest of the series.

What We’re Listening To: ENHYPEN – BORDER : CARNIVAL

For our second dose, Kevin and I are taking a road trip to Sacramento and while he can expect a BTS playlist of some sort, I like to mix it up by bringing in the rest of the family. ENHYPEN is a group under Big Hit that I’m new to, but enjoying all the same! Their latest drop – BORDER : CARNIVAL has a somewhat punky edge to it that intrigues me.

What We’re Wearing: [Oak + Fort T-Shirt Dress] – $38

An impromptu shopping trip led me to Oak + Fort’s Hayes Valley Boutique last weekend where I spotted this dress and a few others. I’ve always been on the fence with t-shirt dresses or rather pieces that are shapeless. While they may not do much for my figure, they are the comfiest and easiest pieces to style. As good as form fitting looks, it doesn’t always feel great when you’re wearing it. This t-shirt dress came at such an affordable price and felt like a blank canvas that I could do a lot with. Even though you can’t see it, it comes with pockets and a slit on one side.

What We’re Eating: Revolution Winery & Kitchen

Since we don’t spend much time in Sacramento, it’s a good opportunity for us to explore a few spots particularly in the food and coffee realm. We’ll be with a local tomorrow so I’m excited for their recommendations!

08 May 2021

Spring Cleaning

I recently went through an incident at a home that made me realize how much junk I’ve collected over the years. By no means would I ever consider myself a hoarder, but I did have receipts and unopened mail from 2019. Maybe we just call that being an irresponsible adult, I don’t know. Whatever the case, we end up keeping too much laying around that we don’t need.

As my company decides on returning back to the office, I’ve done a bit of re-evaluating with my closet. The pandemic year didn’t result in buying no clothes at all, it just meant a redirection in the pieces I was purchasing. I took a long and hard look at my closet. Even though I was home for the last year, I still didn’t touch 70% of the pieces that I owned. I’m clearly someone that looks at pieces as if they have sentimental value, but I needed to recognize that these pieces could go to a more loving home. I’ve filled two large shopping bags and tomorrow, they will be off to the Goodwill. I know in this day and age, many people consider re-selling pieces, but I honestly don’t have the patience. Once I’ve made the decision to part ways with something, I want it out of the way!

Spring cleaning, however, doesn’t just mean clothes. In the coming weeks, I’ll be figuring out what else I can part with. I also view spring cleaning as a time for fixing things like a window that I haven’t repaired or to find someone online to service my boiler. Windows, I feel, is an integral part of a home’s exterior appearance, and keeping it clean and sparkly is definitely a bonus for those who pass by your home, or visit it! Exterior window cleaning is something that is best handled by professionals, and if I do decide to get my windows cleaned, I might need to reel in experts like the ones at Aqua Pro! Everything is still undecided at the moment though, but I would definitely consider it. And while I’m at it, I also need to acknowledge how dirty my lawn and outdoors are getting. The grass hasn’t been mowed in forever, and there are leaves everywhere, even in the gutters. I looked online and found a company that can provide Gutter Cleaning Fresno services, now I just need to find a similar one in my area who can come and do the job for me.

I have also been considering taking some extensive cleaning measures, in ways such as getting the carpets professionally cleaned, to possibly having the floor re-waxed and varnished. A friend of mine recommended potentially looking at Peoria carpet cleaning services, to see if I have any companies that offer similar services in my local area. I have also been considering some possibly reputable floor waxers to help with making the floors look brand new!

It’s not the most fun adventure to be embarking on these days, but in the long run, my future self will thank me for it!

24 Apr 2021

Dose 1

In the weeks leading up to my appointment, I watched as friends of mine and people I followed receive the vaccine. For some, it was emotional. Others announced their victory across social. Not often mentioned, I could feel the relief on the other end. I felt like I blinked and my experience was over. As someone documents much of my life in video these days, I didn’t even have time to think. The auditorium like setting in Sacramento was organized chaos, but in the best way. The experience itself reminded me of going to the DMV, but you can just tell that everyone had positive spirits.

Other than my arm hurting for a couple of days after and feeling discomfort trying to sleep, life hasn’t changed much. It’s easy for me to become social again and believe it or not, we have trips that we are looking forward to again. I never thought this day would come. However, I can’t shake the feeling of how much different life was for us a year ago. I’m looking forward to what’s ahead and I hope all of you will do the responsible thing and get vaccinated yourselves as well!

11 Apr 2021

Blog Roundup

  • In A Role Reversal, Asian Americans Aim to Protect Their Parents From Hate [NY Times]
  • Michelin-Starred Ju-Ni Opens An Outdoor Omakase Counter [SF Eater]
  • 13 Sports Films You’ll Love Even If You Don’t Like Sports [Life Hacker]
  • Where to Stream the 2021 Oscar Films [W Magazine]
  • “We Already Belong”: A Conversation with R.O. Kwon [NPR]
  • America Ruined My Name For Me [The New Yorker]
  • After Working at Google, I’ll Never Let Myself Love A Job Again [NY Times]
  • These Are the 5 Deadliest National Parks [Outside]
  • How Do People Even Find Drug Dealers? [VICE]
  • Why the First Thing You Drink In the Morning Absolutely Shouldn’t Be Coffee [Well + Good]
  • The 10 Most Crowded Cities in America – and the 10 Least Crowded [Mental Floss]
  • The 26 Coolest Airbnbs in California [Green Wedding Shoes]

10 Apr 2021

Saturday Notes

Even though I’ve spent time on more thoughtful pieces lately, I notice I’m posting on Yow Yow! less. It’s a combination of day to day life, work, exploring video, but a chunk of it is preparing myself to go back to a normal life. Combing through posts from last year and revisiting them on Yow Yow! the photos feel far. This photo was posted last July of Cafe Noe’s opening and it feels like ages ago. Back then, it was weird that restaurants and coffee shops were even considering opening up in a pandemic. But they felt what all of us felt; a desire to return to normalcy. I still recall stepping into this cafe and thinking ‘what a great spot to work at on a weekday from a booth.’ With no end of the pandemic in sight, I wasn’t sure when I’d get the chance.

These past few weeks have been a frenzy of ‘have you gotten the vaccine?’ ‘How and where did you get it?’ I’m still grasping that we lived in this world for a year. And as excited as I am to return, a part of me will miss this life. The slower pace and minimal obligations and in general, full accountability and responsibility for just myself. I’ll admit that while I was comfortable with not overexerting myself during this time, I felt the FOMO of watching my own friends continue with their lives. To see them reach new milestones while I was on pause by choice made me feel unaccomplished. While there wasn’t a standard for all of us, I constantly wondered if I could be doing more.

It’s human nature to measure your success with those around you. And as we exit this part of our lives and enter a new chapter, I just hope that I can remember how nice this time could be. That there will always be an option to pause.

31 Mar 2021

Let’s Talk About “Where Are You From?”

The people who ask this question are all the same. They think they’re asking because they see themselves as a curious individual. In their head, they’ve already got you pegged for where they think you’re from and it can’t possibly be from America! You’re not Caucasian so that’s just impossible because what year are we even living in? They wait on bated breath for your answer because once you say where, they’ve got the perfect response. Are you ready for it? They can say “hello” in that country’s language. Wow so cultured. They once met someone that is the same ethnicity as you. And they just looooooove the one dish that everyone knows your country is known for. “So do you like, make pho at home also?” “Oh my god, that’s so interesting.”

Meanwhile, I play this tired out scenario in my head. Do I give them what they want or do I challenge them and say that I was born and raised in North Seattle. Why is it that the latter answer is never good enough for them? The other thing that irks me about this question is that it always comes from someone that you don’t care about. They come from small interactions with people you only encounter briefly. Why ask a question that you know will go nowhere? That you don’t realize that I will try and get out of immediately. Obviously the people that ask lack social awareness – that’s not even a question, but why do they all have to be so god damn tacky? 

Chriselle Lim said this in a much more polite manner, which is that we know the people who are asking are well-intentioned 95% of the time. Unfortunately for you, our lives have been littered with this question asked by people who were not and because of that we shut off. We’re triggered and we don’t want to answer this anymore. I already have a plan for the next time it’s directed at me which is to pretend that I didn’t hear it. If that makes you feel awkward and uncomfortable, imagine how I feel.

26 Mar 2021

A Golden China Beach

We are now past the one-year mark of being in a pandemic. I look back on this time and remember how rare it was for anyone to be outside initially. My neighborhood, typically crowded on normal days, was a ghost town. As months went on, taking daily walks and being in outdoor spaces became the norm. It was a good opportunity for me to even spend time in areas that I wouldn’t have otherwise. Having only been to China Beach a couple times before, I finally had a sudden urge to drive there after work one night as the sun went down. I was by myself and it was freezing so it wasn’t the picture perfect experience I envisioned it would be. But I knew, despite that, I couldn’t have this experience in Seattle – being less than 30 min away from a beach and walking on real sand.

As things start to look up for everyone post-pandemic and we go back to normal, a small part of me is going to miss these moments of calm. Who or what will remind us that when we don’t have much to do, we can just drive out to the beach for a quick stroll?