My love for the Olympics, me visiting sites of the Vancouver Winter Games in 2010.

This guy. <3

It's that time again... time for the Summer Olympics. I la-la-la-lovvvvvvvve the Olympics, especially the summer games, I think it's because I have no real connection to the winter games (come on, I'm from Hawaii, ice palace is the closest thing we got). The summer games has basketball, soccer, indoor and beach voleyball, track & field, gymnastics, and my favorite... SWIMMING. I'm excited to cheer on my man Michael Phelps and his quest to become the greatest olympian EVER! Get it!!!!!! I know Ryan Lochte is the favorite now (the guy is ALL OVER THE PLACE).

I feel like London was my chance to actually watch the Olympics in person. I remember when it was announced and David Beckham showed up in Beijing. I thought there's your 4 year goal, get to the Olympics. But life happens, and here I am, blogging about the Olympics instead of watching it as it happens. I know Rio is out of the question, but hey 2020 I'm shooting for you, hopefully in Tokyo or somewhere in the states. Last night's opening ceremonies was the first time I didn't watch the opening ceremonies from the start (I started watching somewhere near Micronesia). It made me miss working for the sports department, being "forced" to watch the Olympics because what else is there to watch in the middle of summer other than MLB?!? This year I'll be working throughout the games, unable to watch my favorite events and athletes, thank goodness for Twitter, Instagram, and phone apps.

I can pinpoint my love for the Olympics to 1992. Prior to that I do not recall much, I don't remember Mary Lou Retton or Greg Louganis. My first memories start with the Dream Team in Barcelona, I'm not sure what basketball lovin kid wasn't watch the greatest group of NBA players on one team take on the world. I can't believe that was 20 years ago, makes me feel real old. 1996 in Atlanta brought the Magnificent Seven and Michael Johnson, I was so obsessed with gymnastics that year. In 2000 it was all about swimming and Ian Thorpe. I think that was the year I also took notice of our US Men's Soccer National team. 2004 started my love for Mr. Phelps, and my bitter disappointment of our men's basketball team (seriously BRONZE?!?). In 2008, it was about Michael Phelps again, Shawn Johnson, and Natasha Kai and women's soccer. It was so cool seeing someone you knew, actually in the Olympics! I can't wait to see what unfold's at this year's games!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh hello there. It is nearing the end of July, the last few weeks have been a whirlwind. Found a new apartment and roommate, sadly I'll be leaving my beloved Wedgwood for Greenwood (which is really close to Greenlake! Yayaya!). Also you are reading Northgate Nordstrom's newest BP. Personal Stylist, how bad ass is that promotion. I'm super excited in my new role, and I am definitely up for the challenges that this job entails. I'm nervous but looking forward in growing with this company. We are currently in the middle of Anniversary Sale, and I am dead tired. But I told myself I need, need, need to update this blog, for the sake of all 3 of my readers.

Day 3: Expect the Unexpected
For those who are close to me, know that I am a planner. I'm that girl who loves to write everything down in my trusty Moleskine planner, which I carry with me 24/7.  I love itineraries, lists, planned events, r.s.v.p.s, reservations, especially when there are a million things I want to do or accomplish in a day. So when I didn't get reserved tickets for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon beforehand, I simply 86 listed that from my to do list. But I think the comedic god's were smiling on me on this day and blessed me with one of the best days of our trip...

• The day started out with a morning walk to Grand Central Terminal.
• I had to get in a Serena Van Der Woodsen moment, standing at GCT, fresh off the train from boarding school.
• Then it was off to Thomas Keller's Bouchon Bakery, I think this is the closest I'll get to the famous Napa chef for awhile, so I had to take it. And it. was. amazing. So amazing that I went twice on this trip.
• The day was supposed to be a shopping/Chelsea High Line day. But an impromptu trip to the NBC studio store to check out FRIENDS memorabilia led to some guy asking us to ask Kathy Lee Gifford and Hoda a question on the Today show. A spot on national TV, so down.
• On a whim, I asked the concierge about tickets to LNJF (late night with Jimmy Fallon), and he gave us stand by tickets number 48 and 49 (I for sure thought we were not getting in), but he did say if we wanted to see Jimmy practice his monologue it was free, and some guy would be passing out tickets in 10 min. SOLD.
• After some shopping, we returned to NBC studios for monologue practice. I was in heaven, I've been a Jimmy Fallon fan since the SNL days, dream come true. After monologue practice, there was only a 20 min wait until we had to see if our stand by tickets could let us into the taping, so what the heck, we've already wasted most of our day, let's go for it.
• Ughhhhhh.... long line, it's hot, and this is a lot of waiting. I really don't think we are getting in, just about ready to give up. And we just found out tonight's guest is Captain America himself, the devilishly handsome Chris Evans. Oh well it was a good run.
• "They have to let us in, we are young, exotic asian looking," I jokingly say. Waiting, waiting, and more waiting... feeling hopeless. Then we are approached by some guy holding a clipboard, "Do you guys like Tom M.... and Ben Harper?" I didn't get the first guys name, but I pretty much yelled, "I LOVE BEN HARPER." Startled, the guy says, "Great, we need people to stand in back of him on stage, while he performs, you guys up for that?" Uhhhhh, yeah we are! We. Are. In. 
• The taping went great, you could totally see us on TV, Jimmy did a comedy bit that he went into the audience, so there are some great shots of me and Wen (see instapic above of Wendy). Chris Evans, hot as ever. Performing with Ben Harper was Tom Morello, guitarist from Rage Against the Machine, (holy moly, floored), stood directly behind ?uestlove, from the legendary Roots band (double floored). Best day of my life (after seeing Nick Jonas on the first day). 
• After the taping, still couldn't believe what happened to us. We went back to our hotel for dinner. Then for dessert, we headed to Magnolia Bakery for cupcakes and pastries. And decided to people watch beneath the lights of Times Square on the famous read Duffy stairs. It was the perfect ending to the most awesome blessful day.

True story.

Oh P.S. totally saw Giuliana taping the beginning of E! News. Starstruck, but not as starstruck as seeing Nick Jonas. ;)

Manhattan Views

The BK

 

 

 

 

Day 2, Brooklyn

• Early morning, full day ahead. Nice sunny weather perfect for sightseeing.
• Wendy and I walked the Brooklyn. Amazing views of the bridge, Manhattan, and Brooklyn, overcrowded with people. 
• Hung out in Brooklyn Bridge Park, and ate ice cream at the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory.
• Took the subway back to the city.
• Walked from Union Square to Washington Square Park.
• Fell in love with Greenwich Village and NYU campus. James Franco teaches a course? Sign. Me. Up.
• 7 p.m. reservation to see Ground Zero. The new towers are amazing as are the ginormous memorial pools. It brings back so many memories of Sept. 11. The memorial and the buildings aren't finished yet just a reminder that we are still rebuilding over 10 years later.

Sunrise views.

  

 

Sunday bloggin twime. Finally, finally working up that seniority and was scheduled a Sunday off. HOLY MOLY! So to celebrate a blog for you all (as in all three readers). Over a month later and I am still on a New York City high. There is just something about the energy, and everything is completely true in Jay-Z's song, Empire State of Mind... "New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of, there's nothing you can't do, now you're in New York, these streets will make you feel brand new, these lights will inspire you..." You feel like everything is at your finger tips. You feel motivated to get out there and see everything the city has to offer. It really is one of my favorite places in the world. Here's why...

yellow cab, gypsy cabs. the energy. subways. central park. the upper east side. street art, street carts. architecture. bright lights. BROADWAY. fooooooood. museum mile. brooklyn. shopping. high fashion. new fashion. brick roads. the high line. hip-hop. hustle bustle.

Day 1. SEA--->JFK, Midtown explorin
Highlights:

• Took a red eye, got in JFK at 6 a.m.
• Breakfast while I took photos of Tiffany & Co. 
• Stood in line at Al Hirschfeld Theatre to get tickets to How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. 
• Bought my Metrocard.
• Met up with Wendy and her friend Shaun, and his friend Dave. 
• Visited Bryant Park for the first time. A little paradise in the middle of midtown.
• Went to the New York Public Library, saw the reading room, that photo is of me and Wendy on the staircase that Carrie stood on in Sex and the City the movie.
• Oh, ran into Nick effing Jonas. Shit just got real. Best day of my life.
• Burgers and fries at the Shake Shack. Two thumbs up, but overly crowded.
• Saw How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Impressed with Nick Jonas, pretty entertaining but not as epic as Rent.
• Bar hopping in the Lower East Side.
• Pau, it was a hella long day.

Next up... Day 2. Brooklyn Bridge mission.

Wow it's May, where did April go, oh that's right April was spent doing what I do best, travelling! First trip on the agenda... good ol San Francisco. My mom and her sisters were taking a sister trip to visit my cousins Chels and BJ's newest addition to the Agbayani family, my second cousin Kaimi. I decided to tagalong for a few days, spend some quality time with the ohana.  We baked, sang karaoke, shopped, and best of all just talked story. It was nice to be surrounded and spoiled by my mom and aunties.
My Auntie Alda lives in Vacaville, which is an hour away from San Francisco, so I didn't get much time in the city. But we did go to Napa to eat at Mustards Grill, which was amazing. My mom and I shared the Mongolian pork chops with garlic mash and it was delish. On our way to Mustards we passed by the French Laundry, I can't wait for the day I'll be able to eat there! Hopefully one day with my parents and sister, or Priya, it has to be with someone equally excited about ridiculously amazing food.
My only day in the city was spent shopping in Union Square, hitting up Nordstrom and Marc by Marc Jacobs. We also visited the ferry terminal market in Embarcadero, one of my favorite places in San Francisco. Got my salumi cone from Boccalone, I love, love, love cured meat!!
My trip was short lived but it was just the little break I needed. Next up... New York City.

 

Photos above are from me and Wayne's photog field trip to Gasworks (one of my favorite places in the city) taken with my Lomo Mini Diana! I have always, always, always wanted a Diana camera and luckily the one we had at work went on sale, as did the film, I bought 12 rolls. These shots were my first roll and they came out pretty awesome, if I do say so myself. I love playing with the overlapping, I just have to remember to adjust the focus for each shot and work on keeping a steady hand. I can't wait to see what kind of marvelous photos I'll take in New York City.

Well, well, well it is April already and spring is in full swing. The days are longer, thanks to daylight savings time (which I don't fully get the concept of, I'm totally blonde about the whole why is there daylight savings and how does it work), and lately >knock on wood< we have had a string of nice weather days. Seriously, I had consecutive days of jogging this past week, it was wonderful. But it's not GOD awful hot, the air is still cool and when the sun shines it's nice. Living in cold damp weather for the last six months really makes you appreciate the nice sunny days.

I'm off to San Francisco bright and early tomorrow morning. I really should be sleeping and not typing this but, I have that I'm going on vacation excitement flowing throught my blood, despite only being off for three days. I'll take whatever I can get. I can't wait to see my family and my new cousin, every year a new cousin arrives. Hopefully I can squeeze in a quick visit with my little Michelley. We always try to make time to see each other whenever the other visits. I call it our annual reunion. It makes me grateful to be able to be still great friends with old coworkers, I met Michelle when she was just finishing up her junior year of high school, back then at the bong we were still hiring high schoolers. We bonded over ballet and Rent. :) After 8 years working at Billabong I have gone through many, many, many coworkers, some of them bad, but most of them super duper awesome. The best thing I got out of that job was the lifelong friends I've made. Speaking of Bong friends, Rossy and I have discovered that our parents are friends from way back when. I knew that he lived where my Aunty Dee-Dee lived in Aiea back in the day, we always used to joke how we could've been friends waaaay eariler if we knew this. Now realizing that our parents are good friends makes it almost like we were destined to become friends. lol.

Other random thoughts of the moment:
-EXACTLY 20 days until NYC with Wen. Poor girl is letting me do the planning, she doesn't know what she's gotten herself into.
-DAMN YOU Jimmy Fallon, I didn't get tix.
-CatPaint App for iPhone, download it, you won't regret it I promise.
-I'm kind of over DrawSomething, it's eats my battery up. That lasted like 1 week.
-Obsessed with strawberries, the grocery stores near my apartment seem to always have it on sale.
-Saw Hunger Games with Wu/Woo, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it, team Peeta for life. But Gale is so damn hot.
-Trying NOT to get into The Voice. After getting into American Idol for one season and the person I wanted to win didn't even get into the top five (yes the blind guy from season after David Cook), I gave up getting into competition singing shows, it was too much work and I'd just get frustrated. But The Voice has some substance and the newly single Adam Levine is easy on the eyes.