The Catty Times

School "Diversity" Celebration?

2012-01-29T10:36:00.000-08:00

Culture Fair. Multicultural Night. Diversity Celebration. Every school has one, I'm sure. It's a night that is put together by the PTA, when the community gets together, everyone brings food from their own ethnicity, and kids sing songs of peace or sing songs in other languages. Kumbaya, right? Hmmm....

This year, our school's "Diversity Celebration" was cancelled due to the snow. As we are looking to reschedule, one of my colleagues sent an email out to the staff addressing this celebration. This colleague is also Filipino, and she asked the question, "What is a Diversity Celebration?" I'm usually not one to chime in on race/ethnic/cultural sensitivity talk, but just that single question really got me thinking. And throughout my thought process, I've realized that 1) it's actually more important to me than I thought, and 2) it's a much deeper issue than we make it out to be.

At surface level, some sort of cultural celebration seems great. We all think that a diversity celebration is a great way to get to know the different cultures in our community. We all think the kids are learning about how important it is to accept each other's differences. We all think we are learning about each other. But are we really? Let's get past the surface. Here's what I find as I dig a little deeper.

These days, diversity and inclusion in a school is an expectation, just like homework and attendance are expectations. Just like how at home, keeping the dishes clean is an expectation. Are you going to invite people over and have a couple of drinks because somebody at home washed the dishes? Everyone else who lives at home acknowledges and appreciates that the dishes are clean, but a whole celebration is unnecessary. Now, say you didn't wash the dishes for a whole year, and finally you washed the dishes, so you had a big celebration for it. What would your friends and family think? Weird, right? Why? Because common knowledge assumes that washing dishes is expected and to have a celebration for it is just kind of bizarre. So, let's apply that same concept to diversity as an expectation. If we are teaching each other about the value of diversity in little ways each day, the children and community can acknowledge and appreciate it, and having a whole night dedicated to celebrating it is unnecessary. If we don't teach about diversity every day and then finally have some sort of celebration, we are doing ourselves a huge disservice and giving ourselves a false sense of celebration.

Furthermore, what message does a diversity celebration send? Is it like a "Yay! We have people of color at our school!"? or "Let's try this food. It's different." As a person of color myself, these messages feel more isolating than inclusive. It's sending an "us vs. them" message. Frankly, we cannot learn about each other as people through food and song. It's just too superficial. Also, past attendance has shown that during the night celebrations, there is less diversity as many families cannot attend. So, these lead to my essential questions:

1. What is diversity?
2. What are we celebrating? Why?
3. Who is it for?

Question 3 is interesting. As I was having this diversity conversation with another colleague, a white man, he said, "Well, Cat... Have you ever read Sh*t That White People Like? It's just a list of what white people like, and diversity is one of them. It makes us feel good." This is a guy who keeps it real. He has lived in different parts of the world, married a Japanese-American, and I feel good about going to him about this stuff because he keeps it real. I approached another colleague, a black man who also keeps it real, married to a bi-racial woman, and he shared that he has always felt kind of uneasy about a diversity night. "Notice how I've never gone?" he asked. He went on to say, "I'm not going to tell them to not have it." Alright, fair.

So, is the idea of a diversity night backfiring? Assuming that diversity night is to celebrate the diverse group of people in our community, but is not reaching out to everyone, is it truly diverse?

Really, I could continue on, but don't want to be overbearing. Like I said, I didn't realize it was this important to me. Maybe it's because I'm meeting the expectation everyday, so a celebration seems unnecessary. Maybe it's time to look at our curriculum and classroom structures and ask ourselves "How am I reaching the diversity expectation every day?"

Vote for Ardon and Give to Charity

2012-01-26T18:28:00.000-08:00

Ardon just entered a remix contest. He revamped a song called All Around the World by Theophilus London. The remix that gets the most votes wins $1500, and if Ardon wins the grand prize he wants to give 100% of the proceeds to a Charity: Water. To learn more about Charity: Water, go to http://www.charitywater.org/, and don't forget to check out Ardon's remix and vote for him. Visit his blog and get more details at http://waystyles.tumblr.com/.

I'm Not Not Frugal

2012-01-26T18:09:00.000-08:00

A few months ago, I posted about whether eating in or out is more econoic for me. The debate has been running through my head for years, yet I continue to eat out meal after meal. I'll cook a meal at home every now and again, but for the most part my meals have been prepared by somebody else and served warm right to my table, ready for me to dig in. I haven't been sure how it works out for my wallet.

Surfing the web, I came across this piece. This makes me (and my wallet) feel a bit better.

Eating IN v. Eating OUT

Antique Bathroom Update

2012-01-21T21:59:00.000-08:00

As the city thaws out, the cabin fever is slowly going away. But all the home ideas that have been spinning through my head all snowy week long still linger. My bathroom in particular has been haunting me since I've moved into my condo 3, almost 4, years ago. After spending so much time snowed in and looking for inspiration, I finally found my bathroom style. Well, after spending so much time researching home decor, I realized how much little accessories can add up. Even little prints and picture frames can get so expensive. So in order to get my bathroom decor fix, I had to get off the computer and actually start digging. I hit up the antique store across the street on Westlake and Republican and just started looking around for whatever art they had. I knew that whatever I found would be authentic and unique. It took two trips. I went yesterday by myself, found some good stuff and slept on it. I went again today with Tin and G to get a second and third opinion, because I didn't want my bathroom to continue haunting me. After playing around with a couple of pieces, I cashed out. Lucky me, all the pieces I purchased were 50% off, so not only were they beautiful, authentic, and unique, they were super inexpensive! I'm always down for a good deal, but this was really a steal. Now the bathroom that has haunted me has turned into my little urban oasis.

Before: "Let there be Peace." Blah. Yeah, great message, but I have no idea why I bought this. Well, actually it was $9, so I thought I'd go for it. When I put it in my bathroom, it wasn't what I expected it to be, but I kept it anyway. It was better than having an empty wall.

During: I used my paper grocery bags to outline the frames so I could manipulate them on the wall. Heavens knows how many holes I would have made in that poor wall had I not done this. You should see my other walls. Yikes.

After: Voila! So glad to have an antique shop across the street, where I bought the 4 larger frames. I wanted to play off the blue wall color. After putting the 4 frames together, I felt like I needed a 5th one. I just so happened to have an extra black frame and a picture I had taken in Hawaii, with the clear blue water. That became my 5th frame, which seems to go pretty well with the other four. Best of all, it was free!

Here's what it looks like as a whole bathroom. Quite honestly, sometimes I feel like I don't know what I'm doing when it comes to style. I just know what I like, and sometimes it takes a while for an idea to transfer and come to life. This wasn't exactly my vision, but I'm really pleased with the way it all turned out. I'm especially excited that I was able to find these particular pieces, and that I didn't have to spend big at a big box store. I like that each piece has unique charm and character, and they all look like there's a real story behind them. And it was all very budget friendly. Big impact for little cost. What's better than that? There's still quite a bit of wall left, so I may just add on if anything else catches my eye.

2012 Deep Freeze Day 2

2012-01-20T09:53:00.000-08:00

The snow angel I made in the parking lot across the street.

Cabin Fever symptoms Day 2:

Flipped and rotated my couch cushions.
Re-arranged my closet.
Organized my mail.
Organized the refrigerator. (That was when I realized I REALLY hit rock bottom.)
Shopped online for new home decor and made a few purchases.
Ardon came back, and I was so excited!
Scraped the layers of ice and snow off my poor car that hadn't been driven in 2 days.
Ardon and I drove around the block.
Ardon and I took a long walk around the city.
Made grilled cheese and tomato soup.

Out of the entire week, I'd gone to work for 2 hours. I'm so glad the worst is over. Now the news is warning us of urban flooding. The snow is melting and the rain is coming down. Yikes.

2012 Deep Freeze

2012-01-18T21:25:00.000-08:00

9th and Harrison, South Lake Union, Seattle

School was out today "due to inclement weather conditions." Stuff has been coming down from the sky all day long--snow, rain, big flakes, small flakes, snow/rain mix, or freezing rain. On top of that, we have been in freezing temps all day long, so it's sticking and turning to ice (which also means that school is out tomorrow as well. I'm certainly not complaining.).

Ardon stayed the night at the hospital last night, and is stuck there again tonight, so I've been home alone all day long. Actually, G, Devan, and Jasmine picked me up earlier this morning in G's Subaru and we muscled the car through the snow to have brunch at CJ's. We were determined. After that, we all went home again since it was really starting to come down, and we didn't want to get stuck anywhere. I've been home by myself ever since. It's kind of funny how I suddenly become much more domestic when I'm stuck at home. I have been quite busy today just doing things around the house. I am feeling major cabin fever, and here are my symptoms:

1. Hung up new picture frames on the wall.
2. Re-arranged some home decor.
3. 6 loads of laundry washed, dried, and folded.
4. Hand washed the dishes. (I know, right?)
5. Started packing for the Philippines trip, which is in a month.
6. Dusted off my snow boots, bundled up, and walked 4 snowy blocks to the grocery store.
7. Cooked chicken adobo.

Ironic how on a day with nothing to do, I get everything done! By tomorrow, I'm sure the symptoms will be much worse.

Ch-ch-ch-CHIA!

2012-01-11T19:12:00.000-08:00

In preparation for my first half-marathon (it's not until June, but you know. . . ), I've been reading Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It's about the author's quest to find the secrets to eternal running. He is fascinated by the Tarahumara people of the Copper Canyon of Mexico because of their endless ability to run far and long distances. He sets out to find the Tarahumara to learn more about their culture and what it takes to be such amazing runners. One day, while in the Copper Canyon, McDougall begins to tire from a long day of foot travel in the heat, even with more trekking to go. A native notices his exhaustion and offers him a drink that they call iskiate to boost his energy. McDougall describes this drink as "home-brewed Red Bull." He later learns that it's also known as chia fresca, or "chilly chia." It's a drink made of chia seeds, water, sugar, and lime. And after downing the iskiate, he felt completely rejuvenated with enough energy to go much further. Sounds like a magic potion, right? I was inspired to go on my own little quest to finding these chia seeds.

Apparently chia seeds are packed with lots of nutrients to help energize the body. McDougall writes that "a tablespoon of chia is like a smoothie made from salmon, spinach, and human growth hormone." He goes on to describe all the different nutrients that are in chia seeds. As I continued to read, I just kept thinking, "I gotta get a hold of these chia seeds!" Now this is all new to me, but of course these little seeds have been around forever. They sell them by the package on Amazon, you can buy packs at certain grocery stores, and, yes, they're also used to grow "pets."

I was at the Thriftway down the street from my school in West Seattle, and I walked over to the refrigerated shelf to grab a Perrier, and I caught a glimpse of these bottles labeled Mamma Chia. I looked closer and I could see little seeds floating in the bottle. I thought, "No way! Did I just find the magic potion?! Can I, too, be a Tarahumara?!" I forgot about the Perrier, and reached for the Mamma Chia instead. I turned the bottle around and read the label. Eureka! I cashed out, brought it home, and saved it for the next day. Morning came, and rather than stopping at Starbucks on the way to work, I popped open the Mamma Chia bottle. I drank half the bottle during breakfast, and saved the last half for lunch. I must admit, I was feeling good! My energy level was up, my mind was clear, I wasn't shaky, and I didn't crash. Nor did I get a caffeine withdrawal headache, which I was really afraid of, so I was really glad to not get one. Did I mention that they taste great?! Before taking a sip, I didn't really know what to expect. Was it going to taste like medicine, or have more of an earthy taste? Will they be crunchy, or hard to swallow, or what? It turns out that the drink is totally delicious (especially the raspberry passion flavor) and the seeds go down really easily, kind of like strawberry seeds when eating strawberries. They just add a little bit of texture.

I've been drinking Mamma Chia for the last 2 days and have felt really good both days. As a matter of fact, I've got a bottle right next to me right now. I'm fueling up before I go to the gym (22 weeks before the big run!). For any runners out there, be a Tarahumara and get a hold of the iskiate. It's all about the Mamma Chia.

Talagang Pinoy!

2012-01-08T11:15:00.000-08:00

Got these little Tagalog tees for the kiddos. I couldn't help myself. There were so many others that I wanted to get them, but I didn't want to go crazy. These were my top 4.

Isaac: Kuya means big brother

Mia: Maganda means beautiful

Xavier: Pogi means handsome

Roman: Bunso means last born.

Here they are! Goodness, aren't they just so stinkin' cute? Ay sus!

Writing About Reading

2012-01-05T18:55:00.000-08:00

The great thing about having a whole bunch of smart family members in the education field is the abundance of resources that we have amongst each other. My sister Tin and I have had many many conversations about teaching literacy. Over the summer, I shared with her that one of my goals for this school year was to get the kiddos better at writing about their reading. She recommended this book Notebook Connections by Aimee Buckner. It's all about getting children to think critically about the books they read, and writing down their thoughts. After reading it by the pool in Vegas in July, I was really inspired to go into my classroom and teach them these different strategies right from the start of the school year, so we could build good notebook habits. Unfortunately, my school didn't have the kind of spiral bound notebooks I preferred (I know, I'm picky!), so we had to put an order in, and it took until November for them to arrive.

Now that I've started to implement these strategies into their reading time, the quality of their journal writing has shown good progress, and it's only been a little more than a month! Reading is such an abstract skill. It's not like writing and math where we can see exactly all that we know. Having the children journal about their reading has helped turn reading from abstract to concrete. The strategies that I've learned from the book and used in the classroom have allowed the children and I to actually SEE what the children know about their books, and how we can challenge them to dig deeper. In addition, they really ENJOY taking time to journal about their reading.

For any reading teacher out there, I highly recommend this book. It's an easy read, with high leverage strategies. Get the kiddos writing about their reading and watch them take off!

2011 Year in Review

2011-12-31T09:24:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year's Eve, everyone! I can vividly remember last New Year's Eve, my cousins and I standing around my kitchen island and toasting at the end of the countdown. We told each other that it's "our year." We say that every year. So, has 2011 really been my year? Sure! It started out pretty difficult, but as the year went on, everything just kept getting better and better and better. Here are some of my highlights of 2011.


February: We said good-bye to our beloved and sassy Grandma Mary. We know she's partying it up up there.

February: I cut bangs and still have them. Yes, it's a highlight.

March: 5 days of Maui, baby!

June: Finished my first year as a 4th and 5th grade teacher, after 5 years of teaching K/1, AND I earned my professional certificate. It was quite a stressful career year, which is probably why there are no big highlights for April and May.

July: Met Mario in Vegas for one mission--see Celine Dion!

August: rented a house on San Juan with the cousins. Epic 3 days together.

September: Mom turned 60, and lookin' good.

October: Signed up for my first half-marathon. Stay tuned in June for how the "Rock 'n' Roll" went.

November: Ardon threw a surprise party at my place for my 30th birthday. He's awesome. And OMG I'm 30?!

December: Christmas with the family. A highlight of every year.

That was it for 2011. Bring on 2012! It's gonna be my year.

Merry Holidays!

2011-12-25T21:41:00.000-08:00

From our family to yours!

Non-Resolution Resolution

2011-12-21T17:00:00.000-08:00

As we near the end of 2011 and ring in the new year of 2012, it's time to re-evaluate life and figure out what to resolve. For many (myself included) it's a time to start a new diet, work out regimen, clean the house more, or to cut something out cold turkey. For others, it's more financial--shop less, eat out less, and for Seattlites, brew coffee at home.

The truth is, I really suck at honoring my new years resolutions. For me the resolution lasts for about 3 weeks, then I'm over it. Lent rolls around and for 40 days and nights I'm back on it until Easter. Yes, working out, eating better, or saving money could all enhance my life, but let's face it. . . They're all pretty torturous. In addition, they are all things that I've gotten better at over the years ("gotten better at" doesn't mean I'm totally good at it yet). So, what is something cool that I can call a resolution? This year, I'd like to take a new approach. . . Add something to my life that will bring me even just a lil' bit of joy, almost like the non-resolution resolution. Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of things in my life that bring happiness--I have an amazing family, wonderful friends, my health, a great career, a beautiful city condo, and a truly incredible boyfriend. Really, I couldn't ask for more. But I know there are other things out there that can just help me keep balanced. What can I do to enhance my quality of life, or increase my happiness and decrease my stress? It could be something like take more baths, go to more happy hours, always have a fresh bouquet of flowers in the centerpiece vase, or write in a journal.

So, what is my non-resolution resolution?

Cat Picardal's 2012 Resolution: explore Seattle more. In the last 8 years I've found all my favorite spots--restaurants, parks, shopping--and have enjoyed all that downtown and Capitol Hill have to offer. But I know there's so much to this city that I have yet to see and experience. 2012 is the year for me to live like a tourist.

Another Goodie

2011-12-08T09:56:00.001-08:00

Couldn't help but smile when I opened this one up from Mar. Oh, Romano...

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New, Improved Condo Christmas

2011-11-27T11:11:00.001-08:00

My decorating philosophy is that there are no rules in decorating. By no means am I a home decorating expert. I hardly decorate, but I like to think I have some sort of style knowledge. For me, it's pretty simple. If it looks good, it looks good. I don't think I have a particular style. I'm not "modern," or "global," or "shabby chic." Most of the time, things will just catch my eye and it's a must-have (and I'll wait for it to go on sale), so I'll find a place for it at home and put it together in some kind of aesthetic way. The aesthetic part is something I'm continuously learning more about as I add more to my home. Sometimes less is more. Other times more is more. It's all about making the most of your home and creating a space that you can look forward to come home to.

After living in this flat for a little over 3 years, I have learned that decorating a home happens little by little. You gotta live in it a little bit to figure out what works for you. It's actually been quite some time since I've tackled any home decor around here. After a while I don't even notice what things look like anymore. I have just realized that it's usually around the holidays that I like to re-evaluate my living space, and this year I gave the living area focal wall a bit of a make-over. All it took was 3 new pieces that I bought, bringing out a few old pieces I forgot I had, a little bit of re-arranging, and voila!

Before. Christmas 2010

After. Christmas 2011

Notice how last year all the books were standing, just like they are at a library. A couple of weeks ago they were still standing like that. I pulled out a book I wanted to look through, and all the other books went sliding off the sides of the ledge, including the heaving books on the left, which knocked over the vase, which then went falling like Humpty Dumpty down to the cement floors and shattered in a million pieces. (I know. I know. I should have known better than to leave books free standing like that. It was bound to happen.) One vase down and a solution to the books really kick-started this little project (or maybe it was just my excuse to update things around here). Who says books have to stand up?

They're Baaaack!

2011-11-22T12:03:00.001-08:00

One of my favorite times of the year is here! I'm so stoked for this season. Go, Dawgs!

Choppin' it up

2011-11-13T08:07:00.001-08:00

Ardon just chopped up a song called Playing House by Active Child. Here is the original.

A music company hit him up and asked him to make a quick video to showcase the MPC (the machine he's using to press all those buttons to make the beat. I have no idea what it stands for.), and after a suggestion from a friend, he decided to use the sounds from Playing House to make the beat. The end result is pretty dope.

Here is Waystyles on the MPC with sounds from Playing House by Active Child.

Little Stinker

2011-11-11T23:30:00.001-08:00

Got a message from Mar. I opened the message, and this is what I saw with a caption that said, "Hi, Auntie Cat." Every single time I look at it, it makes me giggle. Oh, Romano. I love these kids.

Grand Theft Auto

2011-10-31T23:12:00.000-07:00

Went for a run around Green Lake with Josh and David and this is what we found when we got back to the car. They took my purse with all my essentials in it--wallet and phone. What a pain. It could have been way worse, but it also could NOT have happened. I really would rather have spent the Halloween night with the family, celebrating my dad's birthday and trick-or-treating with the kids... But I had to deal with this. Spent a good portion of the evening (3 and a half hours) on the phone with a handful of companies. I look forward to when this is all done.

Adios, Viaduct

2011-10-24T18:42:00.000-07:00

Long gone are the days that are made easier by driving through a beautiful scene--the Puget Sound on one side, the city skyline on another side, and Mt. Rainier in the distance. Each way, I was reminded of how picturesque Seattle is and how lucky I am to live here. Ok, maybe I will still be able to drive along the water, but I will miss my original Alaskan Way Viaduct.

Typical

2011-10-22T09:49:00.000-07:00

I was looking through some old pictures this morning. And it came to my attention that Ardon and I just aren't that couple to pose and be cute. We're just that way. We have quite a lot of us both smiling for the camera, and they're beautiful (If I say so myself), but I think these pictures show who we really are. Here are just a few of "US". So typical. Cracks me up.

Let's Rock and Roll!

2011-10-18T21:05:00.000-07:00

I just registered for my first half-marathon. Mar and David will be running with me, and I'm super excited. The Rock and Roll Marathon series will be hitting Seattle on June 23rd, 2012, so my calendar is marked and I'm counting down the days. The only thing left is to get my booty in gear!

Fantastic Reads

2011-10-16T08:47:00.000-07:00

Earlier I blogged about my students' reading targets. Naturally, during the lesson the question was asked, "Miss Picardal, what's YOUR target?" My reply was that I wanted to open up my mind to reading fantasy fiction. Since I was their age, I was never a big fan of the genre. One of my students passed this Rick Riordan series to me. This has changed my reading life. I am now a big fan of fantasy fiction.

This series is a modern day series, written for children, but has even greater appeal and reaches out to young adults and almost-30-year-olds like me. They are stories of a middle school boy named Percy and his journey to finding out who he really is, and along the way has to battle the dark side of the Greek Gods. But with every battle, he finds clues about himself, and gets closer to finding all the answers.

Did the Media Stumble with Steve Jobs Coverage?

2011-10-15T09:34:00.000-07:00

"Last week America lost a man who changed the world. If you assume I'm referring to Steve Jobs, the Apple founder who passed away last week after a lengthy battle with cancer, you'd be wrong. I'm actually referring to Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth."

www.huffingtonpost.com/keli-goff/rev-fred-shuttlesworth-dies_b_1004303.html

Armenian Pancakes

2011-10-15T09:31:00.000-07:00

ArmenianPancakes (Jack Johnson Remix Mini Mix) by Waystyles

Meal Deal

2011-09-28T20:04:00.000-07:00

In the 7+ years that I have lived downtown, I cannot seem to find a system for grocery shopping and cooking that works for me. My grocery lists usually consist of snack items--fruits, veggies, bread, eggs, milk, and cereal--but that's really it. I'd really love to cook more, and I have the time to do it, but for some reason it just never seems to work out.

I am single little lady in a city full of great food. Every so often, I will feel the urge to cook a good meal. The problem is, when I cook a meal, I more often than not have so many left overs that I end up eating it for every meal the next couple of days, and will still have left overs. Unfortunately for single people, recipes don't add up to just one serving. Fresh packaged meat, garlic bulbs, bundles of parsley, and blocks or bags of parmesan cheese aren't sold for just one person. Even after I have used some to cook, there is so much of it left that no matter how much has already been cooked, there is still quite a bit left that ends up sitting in the refrigerator and goes bad. Not only do the individual ingredients go bad, but there are so many left overs of the left overs that I have cooked, and that ends up going bad too. (Just like the leftovers of pasta and all the remaining ingredients I've had in my refrigerator from at least a week ago.) So my solutions all these years have been to either just eat snack food or restaurant hop all day.

Lucky for me, the city of Seattle is full of delicious food. Asian, Italian, organic, seafood, it's all so delicious here. I'm sure I have been to enough places that I could Yelp about almost any place. But has it been good for my wallet? In this situation, I might as well just ask, "What's the lesser of the two evils?" Cooking food to only throw a good portion away, not matter how hard I try? Or eat out frequently?

I really may never know the answer as long as I am single. I'm sure one day when there are more mouths to feed, the cooking at home will be much more routine and economical. But for now, I guess I'm going to have to just keep trying to find out. Don't mind if I do!

Miss Picardal's Readers' Workshop

2011-09-17T19:10:00.000-07:00

I just read my old post from this time last year, and I gotta say, I was one stressed out little lady. I felt like I had all these things going on in my life and in my head, that I didn't know which way was up. Now that the dust has settled, and I had a whole summer to recover from quite a shaky year, I think I'm starting to find my mojo again.

As part of my reading program this year, I wanted to kick it up a notch. We started out the year setting goals for ourselves as readers. I did the lesson last year, but found that it wasn't so powerful. So in order for their reading targets to hold more meaning, the children did not just write it down on a sticky note, only for it to un-stick and fall to the floor and be swept away by the janitor; the children turned it into a project. Now all their targets are posted on the wall, and will help remind them throughout the year where they are headed as readers. Not only are their targets helping to steer them in the right direction, but it makes for pretty cool wall art!

Well, Hello There

2011-09-12T23:19:00.001-07:00

Ardon and I went to my good friend Jonathan's and his now wife Rachael's wedding. Isn't he looking so handsome? I am one lucky lady. The ceremony was on Bainbridge Island, so we took a ferry ride out there. It was such a beautiful day that day, that taking the ferry was quite a treat. The city was gorgeous as we pulled away from the dock.

Happy Labor Day!

2011-09-05T18:33:00.001-07:00

Edmonds Beach

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Summer Fever, Literally.

2011-09-03T19:55:00.001-07:00

Home sick with a 102 degree fever. Worst timing ever, but thankful that I have somebody to hold down the fort. He's kind of wonderful.

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Sunday Funday

2011-08-28T19:39:00.001-07:00

Dinner at Mom and Dad's house is always entertaining. We watched Roman take his first steps. What a special moment to have watched together.

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Bye Bye Blackberry

2011-08-25T22:05:00.001-07:00

In an effort to save on monthly cell phone spending, Ardon and I switched carriers, from T-Mobile to Sprint. Along with a new carrier came our awesome new phones. We both got the EVO 4G 3D. I also downloaded the Blogspot app, so I'm just trying it out.

I feel like I've betrayed my Blackberry, which was so good to me. It's like switching from a MAC to a PC. It's a whole new world, and suddenly so fascinating.

The hardest part in switching phones is getting used to the touch screen. I miss typing at lightning speed on my Blackberry keyboard. I'm just going to have to play with my EVO more so I can practice. Aside from getting used to a touch screen, this phone is pretty amazing.

Out with the old and in with the new.

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I Reap What She Sews

2011-08-18T19:17:00.000-07:00

Nobu's Boutique on Roy Street
My "fashion doctor's" office

I have made a new best friend! My tailor at Nobu's Boutique and Alterations!

It's no secret that I'm a short lady. My 4th and 5th grade students are as tall, if not taller, than me. When it comes to shopping (one of my favorite things to do), I can find sweatshirts, t-shirts, and sweaters that fit me pretty well. I can take them home and wear them right away. Dresses, blouses, and pants are a whole other story. In order for those garments to fit me and look somewhat normal, I need to hem, take in, and/or take up.

To find somebody to do that on a regular basis can be a difficult task. It really is kind of like finding the right doctor, dentist, or hair stylist. You have to find the one just right for you. After going to a few tailors around the city, I finally found the "fashion doctor" who is just right for me. I have been going to her for about 2 years now. I can take anything to her, no matter how complicated (and boy have I given her some really complicated pieces), and she will get the job done. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be able to wear a lot of my clothes properly.

I just picked up a pair of pants and dropped off 2 more dresses today, and when I walked in she smiled and was quite excited that I was there... Almost like I was taking my dresses to my own grandmother, except she's Korean.

Janitor?

2011-08-09T23:11:00.000-07:00

Just last week, my parents gave me the set of keys to their condo. Since I live so close, it's really easy for me to check their mail and grab anything else that they want or need and bring it to them in Bothell. After adding their keys to my chain, I noticed how many freaking keys I have! It looked like my key chain belonged to my school janitor. Amazingly enough, just like my school janitor, I need and use every single key that is attached. Does one little lady really need all those keys? Apparently so! I tried to eliminate a some from the chain and leave them at home, but I couldn't do it because they're all necessary. Well, at least they're harder to misplace now.

Beats, Rhymes, and Life

2011-07-31T20:45:00.001-07:00

Ardon and I and a couple of his friends went to the Metro today to watch Beats, Rhymes, and Life: A Tribe Called Quest Documentary. Initially, when Ardon extended the invitation to me, I really didn't know if I should go. I've heard of the group, but I don't listen to them. If I do, it's not on purpose. I maybe have heard their popular stuff on the radio, but I don't own any albums, I didn't know their names, I wouldn't go to watch a show, I just wasn't a fan. Not that I didn't like their music. I just didn't know much about them.

The movie turned me into a fan. Director Michael Rapaport does an amazing job of documenting the group's musical and personal journeys. It gave me good, profound insight into their music, their evolution, and them as people. Whether you're a fan or not, this is definitely worth seeing.

Vegas Day 3 of 3

2011-07-23T14:02:00.000-07:00

We had to get up at 3am to be out of our room at 4 to check out and make it to the airport. Mario's flight was at 6:15 and mine was at 7. Our Vegas trip started and ended in the blink of an eye. Celine Dion with my best friend was a trip to remember.

Treasure Island, Las Vegas
July 20, 2010

Treasure Island, Las Vegas
July 20, 2011

Vegas Day 2 of 3

2011-07-22T20:47:00.000-07:00

Because we had such a short stay, we had to squeeze tons of fun into one day. Sun, swimming, shopping, dim sum, and CELINE!

Since we're "old," and didn't go out the night before, we were able to wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed at 7:30am just in time to be at the pool by its 8am opening. On our way to the pool we stopped to get coffee for a little boost like true Seattlites.

We laid out in the 108 degree heat and dipped in the pool for about 4 hours.

Mario decided to start his fun a little early. There's nothing better than a nice, cold margarita poolside at 10:30am.

By about 12:30, we went inside and got ready for the day. First stop: Fashion Show Mall to hit up the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. Yes, I gave in. It was actually really great. I knew what I wanted to get, and there were NO CROWDS! Quick and painless shopping!

Dida picked us up at Nordstrom and took us to dim sum where we met up with Auntie Babes too. A Vegas trip is never complete without seeing Dida.

After dim sum Dida dropped us off again at our hotel, where we took a quick nap before hitting the town to see our girl Celine! The show was at 7:30. We arrived at Caesar's Palace at about 6:45. Before going into the Colosseum, we stopped at the Celine Dion store where Mario bought a mug and I bought a T-shirt (that Ardon totally makes fun of me for). We knew we had to get something. This was a BIG night for us!

7:30 rolled around, and we were sitting at the edge of our seats. The curtains went up and Celine started singing, and we were in heaven! Call me crazy, but I cried for about the first 20 minutes of the show. I don't know why! I wasn't alone in tears, though, because the two middle-aged Southern women sitting next to me were crying too! We loved every second of it. The show was spectacular to say the least. We highly recommend it!

After the show we were hungry and exhausted. Our minds were telling us to go out and have fun, but our bodies were telling us otherwise. We went across the way to Serendipity 3, but saw that there was a lengthy wait, so we ended up going back to the hotel where we ordered room service instead.

By midnight we were down and out... because we had to wake up three hours later...

Vegas Day 1 of 3

2011-07-19T23:27:00.000-07:00

Operation: CELINE DION

Last June 2010, Mario and I saw that Celine Dion was back in town. To say we were ecstatic would be an understatement. He had me at "Celine Dion." Without hesitation, we instantly bought tickets. We were beside ourselves knowing that in just a couple of weeks we were going to see the show of a lifetime. As we started to pack our bags, we had a conversation that sounded like this... aaaaand Playback!

Mario: Kitty... Kitty... GUESS WHAT?! (Eyes bulging as he's looking at his calendar)
Me: What?...
Mario: We booked our ticket for July 20th, two-thousand ELEVEN!
Me: Shut the f**k up...

aaaand Scene! Yeah, apparently, we didn't do our research and bought our tickets FOR THE WRONG YEAR. In typical Mario and Cat fashion we made the most of the situation. We finished packing our bags, hopped in Mario's Honda Civic, and road tripped it down to Las Vegas anyway.

So here we are a year later. We're back and, at long last, we are going to see Celine Dion! Here are the adventures so far. Vegas, Take 2, aaaand Action!

Arrived in Vegas at 5:45pm. Temperature 106 degrees. I waited for about an hour for Mario to arrive. He flew in from Toronto at 6:50pm.

We cabbed it to the hotel together, and on the way witnessed a filming of "Cops" or something.

Finally got to our hotel, Treasure Island. We scored a sweet deal when we reserved. We got 2 free buffet tickets, 2 free lunch meals, free WiFi, and free access to the amenities.

After hours of traveling, we freshened up and took our free tickets and big appetites downstairs to the buffet!

Now, I don't know if it's food coma or just pure exhaustion, but it's almost midnight and I'm blogging... in Vegas. Need I say more? As Mario so brilliantly asked, "When did we become old?" To end a long day, shower and sleep.

C'mon Sun!

2011-07-14T12:32:00.000-07:00

We're in mid-July and THIS is what we're working with? We hit the 80s two weeks ago, and haven't gotten much warmer than that, and now we're back in the 60s. Did we peak too early (or in my opinion WAY too early)? I want my summer!

I can remember 2 summers ago when Seattle experienced a major heat wave and we had 90-100 degree weather for a good two or three weeks. Last summer was another hot one. That's what I love about Seattle--we get all 4 seasons. This year... not so much.

Oh, Mr. Golden Sun, please shine down on me!

To 'Sale' or Not to 'Sale'

2011-07-12T10:58:00.000-07:00

That is the question. It's the sale that every woman knows about, the sale that many women save up for. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is undoubtedly one of the biggest sales of the year, especially here in downtown Seattle where it all started. All the hottest trends for the Fall are debuted at a less than original price, and everyone wants a piece of it. The store even hires extra staff just for the sale itself. Opening day is like letting the female shopper floodgates open.

I, myself, am guilty of being one of them. Don't get me wrong. I didn't stand at the doors before opening hours with my hands tapping on the glass like many shoppers do. I'd wait a day or two or three before hitting the trenches--when the crowd has gone from chaotic to ridiculously crowded. You see, over the years I've become much more strategic about it. When I was younger, I'd just go on day one of the sale and spend hours in the mayhem and come home exhausted. Gradually, the strategy has become to evaluate my wardrobe and see what I "need" before arriving at the sale so that I have a goal, rather than aimlessly wandering amidst insanity. I get what I want and go, with minimal exposure to the chaos of all the crazy shoppers. Even then a 3-item shopping list can last at least 2 hours. These days, I don't even want to be around the manic shoppers. I'm sure I can score some great deals, but the crowd... Just the thought of it makes me want to take a nap. Then again, I am on summer break and I am not pressed for time. However, it does become quite brutal waiting and waiting and waiting for a dressing room, getting a shoe size, cashing out, etc. And it's not just the crowd that is my big con, but there's also this: year after year, I end up buying some items that are not even at sale price. So why even go?

Well, you go because you can get a really good deal on really nice things! It's that simple. Nordstrom is known for its quality. Quality merchandise and quality customer service, and 999 times out of 1,000 they will deliver. You also go to get a good look on what's going to be big in the fall, and you get it at a reasonable price. On top of that, they're one of the only stores that carry my tiny shoe size. We all know that's a BIG pro.

So... do I go?

Well, I guess the true question is: What's more valuable? My time or money?

Park Hoppin'

2011-07-10T12:42:00.000-07:00

Lucky me, I'm on summer break and we FINALLY have hot summer weather. With the sun out, I don't want to miss out on a single ray. Because we all know that in Seattle, it'll go away in a jiffy and for a long long time, so I gotta soak it up now. It has been so beautiful around the city, and it made me realize that I live in prime location to enjoy it all. All I have to do is, grab my sunglasses, Kindle, iPod, put on my flip flops and start walking. I'm so lucky to be within walking distance to a number of awesome places where I can bask the wonderful Seattle sun. Here are a couple of my faves. You bet I'll be walking all over this town to find more great places.

Lake Union Park, 4 blocks away from home.

Olympic Sculpture Park, Broad and Western

International Fountain, Seattle Center

Westlake Park, Westlake Center

I Miss Them

2011-06-30T02:31:00.000-07:00

I've been tossing and turning in bed for about an hour now, and I've noticed that a lot of my thoughts tonight are about my grandparents. Honest to goodness, one of the reasons I'm up is because I thought I felt Grandma's presence. I don't know if it really was her, but I felt something very Grandma-esque. Then totally by chance, just a second ago, I logged onto Facebook and my most recent update was from my cousin Leanne. She posted an old picture of them and a wrote caption about how they'd be very proud of the way we've carried on their legacy (or something to that affect).

I just miss them. This is my first summer without either of them, and I miss them. You know, I think they might miss me too. Maybe Grandma did come to say hello in spirit tonight. Maybe all the dragonflies I've seen flying around lately are Grandpa. I even got into my car yesterday, and a dragonfly was in there before I was!

I'm so grateful to have had them in my life.

So many fond memories in this house.
I called them so much I still remember the phone number to this house.

This picture cracks me up. It's so cheesy, but Grandpa is so into it.

This is one of my favorite pictures of them. They were always so silly and so affectionate. Look at Grandpa's big old smile, and I can tell Grandma is laughing. I can hear her laugh just looking at it.

I Heart NY

2011-06-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

Six down, 44 to go!

Last day of school

2011-06-21T21:01:00.000-07:00

Hanging out on Capitol Hill under the sun on the last day of school. School's out for summer! It's time for cousin chill sessions.
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Hoping for Dragonflies

2011-06-04T20:09:00.000-07:00

I spent the day with the cousins down in Tacoma today. Tan came home from Virginia on Thursday and it being one of the prettiest days of the year yet, we thought we would all get together and BBQ at G's house. Tan was outside on the deck, firing up the grill as always, when I decided to join him while everyone else was cooling off inside. We were sitting talking about his life in Virginia when suddenly a little baby dragonfly came flying between us. I said to Tan, "Dragonflies always remind me of Grandpa because whenever he would see one, he would catch it and show it off." We quickly re-focused the conversations back to Virginia. Then I went inside, helped prepare food, everybody ate, and we watched some TV.

The sun was still shining outside on the deck. Feeling full from all the BBQ, I went to back out onto the deck all alone to bask under the sun. As soon as I sat down, the little baby dragonfly came flying back. It circled around me, and landed on the elbow rest of my chair, its whole body facing me. It made me remember Grandpa again. Then I had a thought. Maybe this is Grandpa coming to say hello. I looked at it for a moment, it had fluttering iridescent wings, a bluish-green body, and copper eyes bulging from the sides of its face. I took the moment in. We sat on that chair under the sun, enjoying each other's company for a few minutes, and when it was ready, it flew away. In my head I thought, I hope I see you again.

Aw, Shucks!

2011-06-03T20:43:00.000-07:00

Roycee came into town for a couple of days. (Ardon has been so excited about Royce being here ever since Royce told us he booked a ticket.) Of course he was here to visit family. He arrived on Wednesday and spent the day with my parents, and then we all met him for dinner at the Villas' house. A BIG added bonus was that there were a couple of DJ events that was able to attend with Ardon on Thursday. On Friday, I had to go to work (I have no sick days left after Maui), so Ardon and Royce hung out while I was away. I swear they can hang out all day. They made a little pit stop at Costco where they did some shopping and ate some $1.50 hot dogs. As I was leaving work, I called and they had specific directions for me: "When you get home, look at the island and open the refrigerator." Not knowing what to expect, I rushed home. When I got there, I stood at my front door with bulging eyes and a dropped jaw. I guess they had some fun at Costco, all for me! I have no question that these guys love me. They spoiled me rotten today!

"Look at the island" A Wii Fit! I've been thinking about getting one for so long! Now I have one, and I love it.

"and open the refrigerator." A whole case of Izze Soda, my fave! If you haven't tried it yet, you MUST.

My surprises are so awesome, the perfect end to a wonderful week.
Here are some more Roycee highlights. His stay was way too short!
It's always a treat to have him around.

Mom and Dad picked up Royce at the airport and they went directly to Jollibee.
"Your Jollibee here is so clean!" -Royce.

Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee. Ardon and Royce at Skratch Lounge cuttin' it up. Thursday was full of DJ-ing. Classroom by day, Baltic Room by night.

Gatewood Skratch Lounge

2011-06-02T23:24:00.000-07:00

Royce, Ardon and his friends Mito, PJ, Beau, Eric, and Simon hauled their turntables, mixers, speakers, and cords galore to Gatewood to teach the 4th and 5th graders the basics about being a DJ. The kiddos learned a little bit of history, some different types of scratches, got to ask their questions, and even got to get on the turntables and try! They were so engaged. For some, it ignited a bit of a spark and, as their teacher, it was truly exciting to see. The part that cracked me up the most was that all the kids went to each of rock star DJs with a pencil and paper and asked for their autographs. It was a win-win situation. This was surely a great day at school.

Here's a little sneak peak of their scratch session.

Open Sesame

2011-05-22T13:05:00.000-07:00

I opened up the sectional in an effort to switch things up a bit in the living room. I'm not quite sure if I really like it yet, but I think I'll try it out for a while.

Inspirational

2011-05-18T23:29:00.000-07:00

GrindING!

2011-05-14T20:22:00.000-07:00

During Ardon's senior year at the UW, he was the UW concert coordinator. He would organize the all the concerts and shows, and make sure all the artists were well catered to. Today in an interesting turn of events, Ardon got to be the artist that was being taken care of!

Today was the UW grand finale of the school year concert--the annual Concert on the Lawn. One of the performers today was the rap duo Clipse. I know them best for their rapping in Justin Timberlake's first solo single, "Like I Love You." (I was a Justin Timberlake FANATIC back in the day.) Clipse also has quite a bit of popular work on their own, like the song from a couple of years ago called "Grindin." Anyway, they were set to perform today. However, their DJ missed his flight and couldn't get to Seattle in time for the show, so the UW called up Ardon and asked if he could spin on stage with Clipse.

So, at 2:15 today Ardon and Clipse hit the stage in front of hundreds, if not thousands, of people. The sun was shining, the audience was feeling it, and the music was bumpin (and I got to munch on snacks backstage). Not a bad way to spend a sunny Saturday.

So many people during their performance. It was such a nice day.

If you click on the picture, you get a clearer view of the stage. There's Ardon on the left behind the big speaker. For a last minute gig and not having used the software before, he was pretty solid.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week

2011-05-14T19:44:00.000-07:00

Teacher Appreciation Week was the first week in May. Of all the presents and cards I received, this may be my favorite gift. An essay from Asher. He's stolen my heart.
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Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T08:21:00.001-07:00

To all the mothers who I love in my life, Happy Mother's Day! I give you all many props for what you do, day in and day out. With everything you have on your plates, there should be a Mother's Day every month. May you all feel loved, appreciated, spoiled, and rested today. Most of all, know that your children are better people because of you. Enjoy your day today. You deserve it more than you know.

Happy Birthdays!

2011-05-04T23:09:00.000-07:00

Two of some of my favorite people in the world just so happen to have back to back birthdays--May 4th and May 5th. This means the month of May will forever be a little bit more expensive (don't forget Mother's Day too!). I don't mind one bit. I love them too much to not spoil them. Happy Birthday, Ardon and Mia!

Ardon: Quatro de Mayo birthday. Our first picture together. August 6, 2008. I remember it like it was yesterday.

Mia: Cinco de Mayo birthday. Our latest picture together. People say we are very alike. I like to think we're both awesome. Here we are in Maui, baby!

Biggest News Since 9/11

2011-05-01T20:29:00.000-07:00

It's all over the news. The American Military captured and killed Osama Bin Laden. While this is long overdue to capture him, I can't quite figure out how I feel about killing him. I am a little uneasy with the idea that our entire country is celebrating the fact that we have killed somebody. Don't get me wrong, I am fully aware of the absolutely terrible and hideous tragedies he has caused. There is no question that this man has evil in his soul. But I keep going back to the principle that two wrongs don't make a right. Aren't we supposed to love our enemies too? Does this make me any less American?

The Eyes Have it!

2011-04-26T17:01:00.000-07:00

I've been wearing make-up since 8th grade. Over the years, as any woman who has worn make-up for a long period of time, I've learned what works and what doesn't work on my face. There are a lot of facial elements that go into finding the perfect products for your face: your complexion, your skin type, your sensitivity factor, etc.

While I've found a lot of products for my make-up regimen that I love and am loyal to, I have struggled since day one to find my perfect mascara. In the morning my eyes would look cleanly lined and lashes neatly brushed and coated. By the end of the day, I'd have dark smudges of mascara under the outer corners of my lower lash line. Smiling a lot during the day would cause the mascara to smudge throughout the day =) In my lifetime, I have gone though a many many waterproof and smudgeproof mascaras (almost everything under the sun under those categories) and still the smudges would appear by the end of the day. At first I thought that maybe it was my eyeliner, so I switched from regular eye-liner to a smudgeproof eyeliner, and that helped a little bit, but the mascara seemed to be the culprit... until last week.

During my relaxing and sunny spring break here at home in Seattle, I took a little stroll downtown and went to Sephora to pick up some blush and mascara. I grabbed my blush, the one that I love and buy all the time. Then I started browsing the mascaras. As I looked around, I kept saying to myself, "I've tried that one. I've tried that one too... and that one. Oh, yes and that one." Then I finally approached the Dior shelf and came across the DiorShow Iconic Extreme Waterproof Mascara. I have tried other Dior mascaras that were almost what I wanted, but still needed a little more staying power. I like the Dior make-up line, so I thought I'd try it since I haven't yet. I came home, showered and did my whole make-up routine, ran some more errands, cooked dinner, and chilled out. When I looked in the mirror at the end of the night before going to bed, I noticed that my little eyes were smudge-free! I thought to myself, "Well, I didn't put my make up on in the morning and go all day with it. I wonder if it will stay up again tomorrow." The next day after wearing the mascara all day, I was still smudge-free. This is the real deal. Not only did it hold stay smudge-free, it also holds the curl! I've worn it for a whole week, and haven't experienced smudges yet!

My eye-lash dreams have come true! For any Asian women or any women out there who suffer from the outer-lower-lashline-smudge, this is the greatest investment and I HIGHLY recommend it. One little, tiny disadvantage to this mascara is that it takes a little bit more scrubbing off than any other mascaras that I've tried, but it's a very small price to pay for all-day stay. If you want to stay smudge-free, go for the DiorShow Iconic Extreme Waterproof mascara!

Even the brush is cool. They look like regular little bristles, but they're actually skinny, small rubber bristles. When you take the brush out of the tube, you'll find there's the perfect amount mascara on it. No clumps of excess come out of the tube with the brush, so your lashes don't clump either. I tell you, it's my perfect mascara! If I could marry this mascara, I would.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

2011-04-21T10:26:00.000-07:00

This past Monday was Grandpa Perfecto's 86th birthday. Every night since that night, I've had dreams of him and Grandma Nory. The first couple of nights, something really sad happened in my dreams where I would start crying, so I woke up to myself crying. We hear about crying yourself to sleep, but I've been crying myself awake. It actually kind of put a damper on the rest of my day. On the other hand, this morning I woke up a in a better mood since my dream with them was much happier.

After Grandma Nory passed on my 22nd birthday in 2003, I would occasionally have dreams about her. Grandpa Perfecto would always tell me that when I dream of her, that means she's visiting me. If that's the case, I guess Grandma and Grandpa are visiting me. They can visit me in my dreams all they want. I really miss them.

Cheers to you, Grandpa Perfecto. May you be silly, loveable, and wise forevermore. Give Grandma big hugs and kisses for me.

Breakfast With Champions

2011-04-21T03:10:00.000-07:00

I spent Tuesday morning babysitting "The Circus." Never a dull moment. I love those kiddos.

Diagnosis: Miserable

2011-04-11T17:53:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday, I remember climbing into bed feeling unusually achy all over my body. I thought maybe I was just really exhausted. I woke up in the middle of the night still achy, but shivering, and got up to get a couple of extra blankets and turn up the heat--something I've never had to do before. Friday morning, I had very low energy and on my lunch break went to the nurse's office to check my temp. The thermometer read 101.6. Thank heavens for Ryan, Rachael, and Josh volunteering in the classroom that day, or else I would not have survived. Later that night my temperature peaked at 102.7. I have been bed ridden ever since I got home that afternoon, but I have no idea what I have. I just know that I feel pretty crappy. The symptoms change daily, but no real improvements. You name it, I got it.

- 24/7 headache
- post-nasal drip
- painful throat
- episodes of uncontrollable coughing
- diarrhea (TMI, I know)
- lost my voice
- cold sweats
- plugged ears

Did I miss anything? At this point, does it even matter? Crossing my fingers for a speedy recovery.

Hail No!

2011-04-06T20:17:00.000-07:00

Today my team and I went on a field trip to the Cedar River Watershed. Until last week when we began planning for the trip, I had never heard of this place and had no idea where or what it was. All I knew was to dress warm and wear good rain boots.

After a 45 minute bus ride to North Bend with about 60 children, we arrived to our destination. It turns out that it is a beautiful little pocket of the great Northwest. The Cedar River Watershed is an ecological preserve that is source of drinking water to more than a million greater Seattle area residents. It is a pristine natural area that stimulates and calms all your senses. We hiked the trails in the mountain, saw waterfalls, the river, and lots of different trees. We heard the birds chirping, felt the dirt under our feet, smelled the trees and the water. I never knew there was a such a place that existed so close to home.

While the watershed was amazingly beautiful, the conditions were pretty rough. Because we were at a high elevation, there was snow, hail, and strong winds. Not only did we hike for about 45 minutes, but we also ate lunch outside. Needless to say, we were cold and wet. The wind was so strong it was blowing the pea-sized hail sideways, so it felt like a thousand bullets hitting my face all at once. I hiked a good portion of the trail backwards against the wind. While the kids were freezing and drenched, they still hung in there.. It was pretty brutal, but the kiddos really enjoyed being out there and taking all that it had to offer.

I would really like to go back when the summer weather comes, and walk around to truly enjoy the surroundings. But one thing that I'd miss in going there if it was sunny would be the rain drums. In a courtyard between facilities, are big bongo drums strategically placed to catch the heavy raindrops and make music. As we stood there and listened, we could hear that from the different branches, each raindrop fell at a certain beat. And all together the drops were falling to create a repetitive rhythm, like a song. It was quite inspiring to see and hear music made by nature.

Kusina Pilipina

2011-04-02T15:29:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been craving comfort food, food that reminds me of my childhood days at the dining table in our old Oakbrook house. For many people comfort food is mac and cheese, meatloaf, and apple pie. For me comfort food is Filipino food--a hearty, savory meat dish drizzled over a little hill of warm white rice. My mom cooked it, my dad cooked it, my grandparents, aunts, and uncles cooked it and would drop off some their food at our house. It just takes me back to when we all lived within walking distance of each other. My sisters, cousins, and I did not grow up helping in the kitchen, so as we've all entered adulthood, Filipino food is not found on our stove-tops very often.

Living on my own, I've relied on cooking the simple but tasty foods including pastas, baked salmon, salads, and quesadillas. With my busy schedule, it just seemed to work. Then I realized, if my mom and aunties can cook Filipino food with their busy schedules, working and parenting, I can totally do it as a single girl in the city! It wasn't until just a couple of years ago that I attempted to replicate my childhood classics. With help from only the internet, I decided to take a stab at one dish. Since then, I've added one more Filipino dish to my repertoire each year. And each time I make them, it gets easier and tastes better. Here's my short list. In another couple of years there will be more, and someday my children will think of Filipino food as their comfort food too.

- Pork and Vegetable Lumpia
- Tinola
- Adobo
- Kaldereta

Maui Day 4

2011-03-31T12:19:00.000-07:00

Chillin in the hotel with the fam. Xavier is wearing Mia's sandals. Little Mia and Big Xavier.
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Maui Day 3

2011-03-30T00:38:00.001-07:00

Mia and Isaac in Wailea.

Maui Day 2

2011-03-29T00:29:00.000-07:00

Ardon is the coolest cat on the beach with his t-shirt and backpack. He can only introduce parts of his body at a time to the sun. Poor guy.

Maui, Baby!

2011-03-27T14:34:00.000-07:00

ALOHA! Day 1

March Sadness

2011-03-20T18:35:00.001-07:00

My Huskies lost today. It was a tough battle against UNC, and I would have loved to see them play in the Sweet 16, but we just couldn't pull it off. Between biased refs, our careless turnovers, and a controversial finish, we were simply out-played today. The Huskies had an incredible season this year, and gave U-Dub fans a reason to show purple pride. They have restored my hope in Seattle sports, and I can't wait until next year. Here's my tribute to my dawgs.

Back in Business

2011-03-17T20:54:00.000-07:00

Before. January 2011

After. March 17, 2011

Back in December, the roof in my office leaked after the snow and the rain came pouring down. I walked into my classroom one morning and found debris and puddles on the floor in my office. Weeks later, district maintenance men shoved/dumped everything out of my office, and into my classroom, and sealed it all off. It was an absolute disaster and it continued to stay disastrous for months until yesterday, hoping that somebody will come in, fix it, and put it all back. Since they dumped everything, I hadn't been able to find anything I needed, I had no desk space, the children couldn't find books they wanted to read, and it seemed like they didn't care about a messy classroom. It was keeping me up at night. Earlier this week, I found out that we are now more uncertain about when it will be fixed. Apparently, the repair costs are higher than expected, so now they have to "bid it out." The good news is, the exterior is repaired, and the source of the leak has been addressed. Now the drywall in my office is the only thing left to fix. Chances are, it won't get done anytime this year because of budget cuts. Yesterday, I hit my breaking point. I'd had it! I wanted my classroom back! So, I got in the zone. I spent 3 hours after school last night, two hours before school this morning, and another 2 hours after school today sorting, organizing, purging, and just getting my classroom back together. And it feels good! I told my custodian that if he hears from them, please tell them to not come back until the summer. There's no way I'm going to go through this process again. I'm back in business and I'd like to stay that way.

Cold Blooded!

2011-03-15T21:05:00.000-07:00

THIS is what college basketball is all about. Last Saturday, my alma mater beat the Arizona Wildcats for the Pac-10 championship. It was one of the most nail-biting, exciting, jumping out of my seat and all around my condo, best basketball games I have ever watched. University of Washington Huskies are Pac-10 champs! This clip gets me every time--perfection. I am so hyped to watch Isaiah Thomas and all of them play again on Friday against Georgia in the NCAA tournament (6:30pm on CBS). I'm wearing my purple and gold all week. GO DAWGS!

Ain't That the Truth?

2011-03-13T21:39:00.000-07:00

希望 (Hope)

2011-03-11T17:07:00.000-08:00

I hope and pray that the families that have been devastated by the earthquake and tsunami across Japan and the Pacific find the strength to overcome this tragedy. This morning, as a class we watched a bit of footage, and their reactions were so sincere. They had such empathy and their hearts really went out to those people who have been affected by the disaster. We took a moment of silence this morning to send good vibes their way. It was the very least we could do.

What's Cookin'?

2011-03-09T20:15:00.000-08:00

I like to pride myself on my baking skills, especially my cookies. I also like to think I have a knack for cooking sometimes. I have established a few greatest hits. Notably my baked salmon, roasted veggies, special quesadillas, Tinola, and these days Adobo. Also to add to that list is a little Italian concoction I created a couple of years ago. I have no name or nickname for it. This dish remains nameless. However, folks that have gotten to taste it have given me rave reviews. It's one of Ardon's favorites. He has suggested that I blog it, and I thought that was a good idea. I hadn't made any for a long while, and made some for dinner tonight!

Ingredients Straight Out of the Bag: 6 large Crimini mushrooms (in the brown paper bag), a jar of your favorite red sauce, Farfalle (bowtie pasta), a package of sweet Italian sausage, 2 small zucchinis, flat leaf parsley, basil, garlic, and Peccorino Romano cheese

As the pasta (about 6 handfuls of dry Farfalle) is boiling in a pot, heat up a large skillet, coat the skillet with olive oil and throw in 3 cloves of minced garlic and all the mushrooms chopped. Let the mushrooms sweat a little then throw in all the zucchini chopped. Add salt and pepper. When the veggies have cooked a little bit, add the Italian sausage to the pan. Let all the sausage cook through. Add the red sauce, turn the heat to low, and mix it all around. When the pasta is done, use a spoon with holes in it to scoop out the pasta and add it directly to the skillet with the sauce and veggies. Mix everything together. Add a handful of parsley chopped and a handful of basil chopped. It should all look like this. . .

Plate some for you and your guests. Grate fresh Peccorino Romano over the top and serve.

Enjoy!

To Infinity and Beyond

2011-03-05T13:31:00.000-08:00

Art by Isaac Villa, age 4

Gray Matter

2011-03-03T20:46:00.000-08:00

I'm loving my new hairdo. I really enjoy how light it feels and how easy it is to maintain, and that I can wash and go and still leave home with confidence. Be that as it may, I just discovered an epic downside to my new locks... I can see my gray hair way more! In my bangs alone, there are 2 stark white hairs screaming, "HELLO! YOU'RE STRESSED AND AGING!" Even more devastating is that Ardon pointed them out to me.

We were walking around Target and he said, "Whoa, you have a white hair."

I was already aware that I had one in my bangs, and I said, "I know."

With wide eyes, he leaned in closer to me, ran his fingers through my hair and said, "Cat... Cat, don't hate me. Please don't hate me, but look." I turned around and looked in a mirror. He pointed out another white hair in my bangs! I stood there agape staring at myself in the mirror. In my head I was thinking, "I have two in my bangs, and about 5 others that I know of! Before I know it, I'll be salt and pepper all over."

A part of me really doesn't mind it because I think I'm aging gracefully. This is not to say that I'm old because I truly am a little youngin'. I'm barely 30 and I've my entire life ahead of me. I'm actually looking forward to turning 30 this year. Everyone I've spoken to has said that they became happier people when they hit the milestone. If that's true, bring it on!. Just don't let it show in my hair...

New 'Do!

2011-03-01T18:51:00.000-08:00

No pair of scissors have touched my hair since last June. After butchering my hair back in 2009, I've been obsessed with growing my hair out (thanks to my bestest friend Mariano who, after I butchered my hair, continuously sent me pictures of me in high school and college when my hair was uber long, and reminded me of how luscious is can be, and has all the while been monitoring its progress by measuring the length of my ponytails), and I refused to trim even a single strand. I trimmed it once last June and that was it. Because I (and Mariano) had been focusing so much on length, I'd completely overlooked the whole style aspect, and finally realized.... Eh, I ain't lookin' too hot! Even Ardon said he was going to say something about it had I not gotten it done soon enough. If Ardon says something, then it must be pretty bad because he never gives his input on anything fashionable! It was really time. Ergo, the evolution and inspiration of the new 'do.

WAY BEFORE: September 2009. Short and sweet. I liked this look, but missed the long hair after about 2 months.

BEFORE: February 20, 2011. Seeing this picture was my turning point. After about a year and a half of growing it out, it was time for massive reshaping.

THE INSPIRATION: Actress Catherine Bell. I like her easy-breezy, trendy, face-framing bangs. Not too blunt and severe, but soft yet funky.

AFTER: February 25, 2011. Voila! Fresh from the salon, here I am! Hair done by Sarah B. at Vain in Belltown. It feels so much lighter now that I don't have so much dead weight on my head. And surprisingly enough, I think my hair looks LONGER! It's a win-win! (Please disregard the mess in the background. It's the laundry room/walk in closet.)

Sadness Flies Away on the Wings of Time

2011-02-26T09:34:00.000-08:00

Today my family and I honor Grandma Mary and bid her farewell. We will remember her for her grace, spunk, humor, and integrity, and her legacy will live on forever. The matriarch of our enormous family has joined all our loved ones in heaven.

Smuggling the Goods

2011-02-24T11:29:00.000-08:00

Babysitting Xavier for the day, I showed him how to open and close his Lightning McQueen car. Later on, after I gave up on searching for my glasses, we went to play with Lightning McQueen again, I and found this. I'm pretty sure Lightning McQueen didn't take them... The little stinker!

Yes, my glasses are in pieces. Don't worry, they're supposed to do that because the temples are interchangeable. I purposely wear them when babysitting because I know this can happen. =)
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A Lil' Pick Me Up

2011-02-13T21:30:00.000-08:00

When it rains, it pours. Within the last couple of months, I've experienced some of the most challenging times--one thing after another. Just when I think things are starting to come together, a force from above decides to throw another curve ball. Lately I've been searching for a sign, a little understanding and inspiration. Sometimes I come across little snippets that inspire me. Here are a couple of them that have stuck.

You will never find time for anything. If you want the time, you must make it.
- Charles Buxton

The word 'happiness' would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.
- Carl Gustav Jung

In the end, everything will be OK. If it's not OK, it's not the end.
- John Lennon

Shared joy is double joy. Shared sorrow is half sorrow.
- Swedish Proverbs

Remember you will not always win. Some days, the most resourceful individual will taste defeat. But there is, in this case, always tomorrow - after you have done your best to achieve success today.
- Maxwell Maltz

I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.
- Thomas Alva Edison

As I re-read them all together, it looks like I've been down in the dumps these days. Au contraire, mes amis. Yes, there have been obstacles, but I like to think that I've just been getting stronger.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY XAVIER!

2011-02-06T09:11:00.000-08:00

As they all say, "I can't believe how fast time goes by!" And true enough, it's amazing that he's already a year old. For his big birthday bash, Tin asked me to make a little cake for him--one that he can dig into and get super messy with. So, here's the big debut of my cake baking/decorating. It's chocolate cake with chocolate-buttercream filling, and lemon-buttercream frosting. And of course I had to put my "secret ingredient" somewhere in there too.
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Where's the Stage?

2011-01-28T20:41:00.000-08:00

I haven't picked up a guitar in a long long time. I heard this song and fell in love with it, and then thought, "I wonder if I could play this on the guitar..." So, I picked up the guitar, and started strumming away. An hour later, I'm ready to hit the stage! Look out, Jason Mraz.

Home Sweet Home

2011-01-26T18:05:00.000-08:00

I've just noticed that there are a couple of things that have become part of my evening routine for the last couple of weeks. I've developed a few little obsessions. I need my fix of each of these every day after I come home from work.

Reruns of Law and Order SVU on USA. Each episode is like a mini-movie. Detectives Benson, Stabler, and Tutuola are so bad-ass.

I love love love sugar snap peas as a little appetizer before dinner. I can eat them forever. They're sweet, and crunchy, and bite size.

My K.N wool socks that Mar got me for Christmas. As soon as I get home from work, I change into my sweats and put on my wool socks. They are uber cozy on my feet.

The Roof! The Roof!

2011-01-19T22:14:00.001-08:00

The Roof is LEAKING! After all the snow and rain, our 102 year old school building is really starting to show its wear and tear. The roof in my office leaked, and I came in last Tuesday morning to find plaster and puddles covering the floor in my office. It was so bad that it also leaked all the way down to the basement below me. This Tuesday, I came into the classroom and found everything in my office spewing into my classroom and the whole office sealed off with plastic. Maintenance men have been in and out of the classroom, asking questions, tapping, pounding, blasting the fan during instruction, and pulling things apart. I've had teachers and principals come in and observe me, and I couldn't help but apologize to them for all the mess. Apparently, I've been really patient, and one of the maintenance men gave me a Starbucks gift card as a token of appreciation for my patience. I just think it's his way of saying, "Hang in there. I don't know when we'll have this done."

Hello, LA!

2011-01-18T18:29:00.000-08:00

Ardon and I spent this past weekend in LA, where the sun was hot and the breeze was cool--a nice departure from the 4 inches of snow that fell in Seattle the day before we left. Ardon was there for a massive music convention called NAMM. I have no idea what it stands for, but I do know that any and every electronic/instrument/gadget company that has anything to do with music was represented at this convention, which was held at the Anaheim Convention Center. So, while Ardon was working, I was hanging out with Auntie Becca, Bess and Royce. And, of course, like any other trip to LA, I ate my ass off. Here are a couple of my greatest hits from the weekend. I highly recommend all places.

Donahoo's Golden Chicken in Pomona. The skin on the fried chicken has a really thin but crunchy crust. The rolls are buttered to perfection, and the fries are a nice, steaky addition.

Madanzsae Korean BBQ in Lakewood, where you become the chef. We grilled strips of beef, pork, and squid. Tasty and fun.

Pink's Hot Dogs in Los Angeles. Do I even need to say anything about this place?

Millions of Milkshakes, West Hollywood. I had a Snickers/Rolos milkshake--SO GOOD! I also had a sip of Royce's Nutella shake. I think I'll order it next time, because there definitely will be a next time. Also, the people watching is fun, as it's located in the heart of a very colorful nightlife.

Bamboo Bistro in West Covina. The last couple of times Ardon and I have visited LA, we've always had our last meal of the trip here. Filipino buffet. Enough said.

I Should Get Paid.

2011-01-11T17:19:00.000-08:00

I was shopping at Metro Market, and came across these little baggies that were selling for $5.99. This is what I did as Christmas presents, but I bet mine tasted better AND were more adorably packaged. Career change, maybe?
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What's Going On, America?

2011-01-09T11:39:00.000-08:00

After the shooting in Arizona, this is what Keith Olbermann had to say. It makes me frustrated with our politicians, and sad that politics has come to this point. Politicians should NOT be targets for violence, and civilians should NOT be dying because Republicans and Democrats cannot see eye to eye.

It's the Thought That Counts

2011-01-04T13:07:00.000-08:00

"Here's a late Christmas present for you, Miss Picardal."
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3 Kids. 3 Hours.

2010-12-30T12:05:00.000-08:00

10:30am - Mar dropped off the kids. Curbside in front of my building.

10:35am - turned on Toy Story 3. Roman woke up. (That's what's happening in the picture)

10:45am - Mia was so over the movie. She wanted to play Bingo instead.

11:00am - Mia was over Bingo. She wanted to play with Isaac's Lightning McQueen laptop, which sent both kids into a frenzy. Auntie Cat came up with a solution--Let's draw! So, I got out all the markers and drawing paper, and they drew and drew.

11:30am - Auntie G and Uncle Ryan arrive! Yay! Auntie G feeds Roman.

11:45am - Started baking oatmeal chocolate chip cookies with the kiddos. I should have taken pictures of how they came out. Such funny shapes.

12:00pm - Mia started itching because I didn't know she was allergic to milk chocolate, and I only gave her 2 chocolate chips!

12:15pm - The kids ate lunch.

12:30pm - Mar came back and brought lunch for the rest of us. Gave Mia some Benadryl for her itching. Auntie Cat felt so bad she didn't know!

2pm - The Villas go home.

Whew! What a day!

I got my mojo back!

2010-12-19T23:04:00.000-08:00

I haven't baked in a long while, but with holiday festivities in full swing, I've been baking more than Betty Crocker herself. At first, I was a little rusty, but 2 batches later, I got my mojo back... Now I'm a baking machine!
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That's a Wrap!

2010-12-11T19:27:00.000-08:00

I just spent about 4 hours gathering, boxing, wrapping, tying, and labeling almost all my Christmas presents. I decided to try out online shopping this year, and it turned out to be quite successful. I'm still waiting for two more presents to arrive, but everything is purchased! This is certainly a first... I NEVER get my shopping done before the winter break starts. My tree doesn't look so sad and lonely anymore!

I put my parole at my window. It looks pretty awesome from outside. Thanks, Dad and Mom for passing this on to me. I love it. Ardon thinks I now have the dopest window in the building.

It's a Condo Christmas

2010-12-06T23:19:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year to bring good cheer!
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Winter... Or Fall Wonderland

2010-11-23T09:39:00.000-08:00

All by myself. Snowed in. Cable is down. The streets are glass, yet the city is gorgeous. So I sit, listening to Christmas music passing the time writing my Christmas cards, sitting by the window enjoying the view of a snow capped city and a cold Lake Union. Not so bad.
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Happy Feet!

2010-11-08T19:30:00.000-08:00

Attention all ladies! Forget Band-Aids or sticky inserts. I found the answer to avoid blisters when your shoes rub up against the bone right above your heel!

I was rushing around this morning looking for the sticky inserts to line the inside of the back of my shoes. I couldn't fine them anywhere. I thought, "Well, Band-Aids are going to drive me nuts and fall off after 5 minutes. That's why I bought the inserts in the first place." So while looking for my inserts in the medicine cabinet, I came across my skin glue. I figured it dries smooth and kind of rubber-like, so I thought I'd give it a try. I applied some on the inside of the back of my shoe where it would rub up against that bone and cause a blister... And it worked like a charm! All I had to do was paint it on, give it about 5 minutes to let it dry, so I packed my lunch and loaded the dishwasher while I waited. Then I put my shoes on and was on my way! I reapplied a little bit during my lunch hour just to make sure that I really wouldn't blister, but I think I could have gone without the second application. I wore my shoes for about 10 hours today, and am blister-free!

I highly recommend this to anybody who loves wearing that cute pair of painful flats. I will definitely keep a bottle of skin glue handy, not just for when I get deep cuts, but to also make fashion more comfortable.

I give myself props for this little discovery :)
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Nerds and Gorillas

2010-11-03T22:14:00.000-07:00

Ardon and I just celebrated three years of being an item. Time flies when you're having fun. I can still remember the night we met. It's such a classy story, really. It was around 1:30am and I was pretty wasted coming out of Tia Lou's with my best friend Stephanie. We were walking toward the hotdog stand when we heard somebody yelling "Stephanie!" from across the street. Next thing I remember, this funny looking guy with a big afro and glasses ran up to us. Stephanie introduced us, and in typical Ardon and Cat fashion, our first words to each other were spoken in a Vietnamese accent. I had him at "What doing?" Three years later, here we are... still conversing in Vietnamese accents.

If there's one thing besides me that Ardon LOVES, it's music. Being with him, I've learned so much about music--making music, local music, the music business, producing, scratching, and so much more. I can see why he loves it so much, and we enjoy going to shows together, whether big or small. I have also learned to love it all. Music is music and it's all good.

So in celebration of our splendid three years together, we had a two-day celebration. Our actual anniversary date fell on a Monday, so after work we had a lovely dinner at List in Belltown. The following night we went to the Gorillaz show, and opening up for them was N.E.R.D. It was so dope. (I've also learned to say dope after three years.) We really enjoyed the show. Ardon, especially, was giddy like a little boy throughout the Gorillaz set. It was a wonderful celebration with a wonderful dude after three wonderful years. Cheers to many more!

Pharrell and N.E.R.D rocking the stage.

The Gorillaz set up was awesome. Definitely cool to watch.

Do They Have to Grow Up?

2010-10-30T16:56:00.001-07:00

Isaat.

"Quirks McGee"

Hanging out at Grandma and Grandpa's house, and Mia climbed over Isaac's legs.

Isaac: OW! Mia, you hurt my yegs. Auntie Cat, my yegs hurt.

Me: Mia, you hurt your brother. Can you tell him you're sorry?

Mia: Sorry, Isaat.

Isaac: It's okay.

Mia: I yuv you, Isaat.

ASB Card

2010-10-26T15:41:00.000-07:00

At 28 years old, I still get an ASB card. Too bad I probably look exactly the same as when I got my first one issued at Saltars Point Elementary.
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X Man

2010-10-23T21:34:00.000-07:00

6:30 pm to 9:30 pm and still going!

Auntie Cat wore him out. Shouldn't it be the other way around?
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Pumpkin Patch!

2010-10-17T14:02:00.000-07:00

There's a GI Joe and a peacock hunting for pumpkins.
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4th Grade Science!

2010-10-12T19:20:00.000-07:00

I had to go out and get 40 crickets for science class. We're studying ecosystems, and the kiddos got to add crickets to the terrariums they built. It was quite the experiment.
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Stressed Out

2010-09-26T17:33:00.000-07:00

This is what I have on my plate:

2 days after G-Pa's funeral, I headed back to work.
New grade, new team.
At school from 7am to 7pm at least 3 days a week.
At least 3 meetings a week--before school, during lunch, or after school.
27 sassy students in my class.
Going to school one Saturday a month to study for my Professional Certificate (Pro Cert) in order to keep my job.
Working on my Pro Cert a couple of hours a week.
Regularly taking work home, even after I said I refused to do so.
I haven't been trained in 4th or 5th grade science yet, and I need to find time to do that after school on top of everything else.

Work has been consuming my life. I knew this would be a challenge, but I didn't think it would be a life-changer. So far my weekend has consisted of calling parents on a Friday afternoon to tell them about their childs' behavior in class, babysitting until 11pm, only to wake up the next morning to go to Saturday Pro Cert class from 9am to 4pm, taking a nap, grading papers, waking up on Sunday morning and writing papers for Pro Cert and planning lessons for Monday so that I'm not crunched for time in the morning because I have a meeting. I can't seem to find a balance like I did when I was teaching kindergarten and 1st grade. I want time to be with family without having to SQUEEZE it in. I want time to myself without having to SQUEEZE it in. I want a break. Something's gotta give.

What did I get myself into?

WE DID IT!

2010-09-21T22:30:00.000-07:00

Ardon and I finally took the plunge... WE ATE AT JOLLIBEE! We knew we wanted to find an off time during the weekday to go in order to avoid all the Filipino chaos, so we drove down to Tukwila tonight after Ardon got off work. Since the opening of Seafood City about a month ago, I've been hearing about how it's so much like being in the Philippines. I had to experience it myself, and just like everyone said... it's just like being in the Philippines! As soon as I walked in, I felt like I was in the Philippines. We arrived at Seafood City at around 8:30pm, and it was poppin like it was in the middle of a sunny Saturday. The place was bursting at the seems with Filipinos pushing carts, carrying around baskets, up and down the aisles, behind the counters, everywhere. Playing on the overhead speakers was a Tagalog ballad by Sharon Cuneta. I saw pan de sal on one end and tsinelas on another end of the store. We exited Seafood City and entered Jollibee and there were WAY MORE FILIPINOS! We were determined to eat. After about 10 minutes in line (which I hear isn't bad), we ordered our meal--spaghetti and chicken joy combo and a peach-mango pie. It was delicious as expected. After we ate, we stopped at the bakery and bought some chicken pan de sal and other pastries that I can't wait to bite into. I'm already looking forward to going back to eat my Yum!

Staying Connected

2010-09-19T13:12:00.001-07:00

I haven't been to the Philippines in 4 years--a record for me. I've gone at least once a year from 1993-2006. Every so often Ardon will ask about the Philippines, and we'll talk about it for a little bit. Today he asked me about the indigenous people of the Philippines. I told him about the Igorot people and that they live in the mountains. He asked to see pictures, so I did a little research online and showed him some pictures. I stumbled upon a couple of cool things. I found a photo blog of the Philippines that captures the small parts of the everyday lives of Filipinos. I think it's a fun way to keep up with the Philippines (without having to watch TFC). I also learned interesting factoids about Igorots.

Made out of pine wood, nails, bearings, and hinges, this scooters is powered by gravity and inertia and can travel up to 80 km/hour on a downhill ride. I want one! Unfortunately, they're not available online.

Batek (tribal tattoos) are a symbol of beauty for women and a symbol of strength for men. Some women would walk away from the tattoo process because the pain is excruciating and the swelling would take 2 weeks to heal. Those who chose to not decorate their bodies were considered weak and a bad omen for the community. Over the years, Batek has become a lost art.

Lucky Us

2010-09-17T17:28:00.001-07:00

My students and I are so fortunate to be at a school that is located so close to the Puget Sound. Just a couple of blocks west of Gatewood is nestled a little wonderful place called Lowman Beach. At the beginning of the year, the students submit their walking field trip permission slips which is good for the whole year. So we are free to walk to the beach whenever we want. We took a little stroll down to the shore at the end of the school day in celebration of a successful first full week of school... And an introduction to our ecosystems science unit that starts on Monday. Maybe we'll just spend the whole science unit at the beach!...
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I Gave In

2010-09-12T19:45:00.000-07:00

Ever since I started teaching, I made a vow to myself to not bring my work home with me. Work is work. Home is home. Well, for the first time since my first days as a teacher, I brought my work home. It's a Sunday evening and I'm sitting at my dining table reading over tomorrow's lessons, grading papers, and making labels. It had to be done. I will not let this become a habit. Oh, if only teachers got paid for overtime...
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