the 20 list / start cooking Chinese food. done.

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This one was on the list because I knew I needed to start cooking Chinese food someday but just needed the motivation to.

While I haven’t cooked as much Chinese as I would’ve liked to, I’ve definitely enjoyed the few dishes I made. And my family has been (I hope) pleasantly surprised, that this girl can actually cook Chinese food haha.

After all, I’m still very much Chinese at heart and this Chinese girl always needs her Chinese food in the end (:

P.S. You just might expect a slight deluge of posts this week as I work through whatever I can of the twenty list with my birthday just around the corner!

Lately

Lately: It’s been quiet around here, I know. I’ve been busy catching up on random important things. Add to that the fact that my computer died last week. So I’m making do and hoping it gets fixed soon.

Source: joythebaker.com via Amelia on Pinterest

Last week: I made this banana walnut chocolate cookie cake from Joy the Baker – two times round! I was so distracted by how yummy it smelled and looked that I didn’t take pictures. Mine was without the cast iron skillet and ice cream. But, it was just as gooood. So you can just salivate over this delicious cookie cake made by Joy herself!

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Yesterday: It felt like Christmas had come early this year because I got my shipment of scrapbooking supplies from Two Peas in a Bucket. Happiness. I can’t wait to start creating with these (:

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Today: Making tons of lists to keep my head straight. Also, trying not to stress out over how behind I am on Project Life and how much catching up I need to do.

What have you been busy with lately?

Only one more day till the weekend! (:
xo.

Oh, August

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My exam is over, life is full, and I am happy.

This isn’t to imply that I haven’t been happy. But it’s just nice to not have to be worrying about exams and things anymore. At least for a couple of days (:

So, I’m off to write plenty of lists of things I need to do/organize/plan post-exam, catch up on blog reading, scrapbook, enjoy whatever is left of being twenty, and just chillax-ing for the next couple of days.

Life is good, albeit imperfect nor easy. But God is good.

I hope your week is amazinggg.
xoxo.

Almost there

Only two more days to practice. My nose is doing weird things. I can’t wait for this exam to be over.

I think I’m (probably) letting all this stress get to my head.

Oh, self.

Source: thesthetic.tumblr.com via Amelia on Pinterest

All this stress + hard work is going to pay off.

Everything’s going to be all fine.
Just you wait and see.

Feel the Spirit: London 2012

Source: blog.imbreannarose.com via Amelia on Pinterest

We’re definitely well into the Olympics, with being more than halfway through and having less than a week to go until the closing ceremony.

While having to practice for cello exam hasn’t afforded me time to catch as much of the Olympics as I would’ve liked to, I’ve loved whatever I’ve managed to catch of it – my favorite events now are probably gymnastics and synchronized diving + swimming (:

I love everything that the Olympics represents: patience, determination, perseverance, excellence, hard work, courage, strength, healthy competition, dreaming big.

I think the Olympic Creed says it best:

“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.“

Love that last line.

I hope you’re embracing the Olympic Spirit as much you can while it lasts!

Hello August

August pretty much means we’re well into the second half of twenty twelve.

And I’m starting August off reminding myself of this:

Source: tumblr.com via Amelia on Pinterest

Well, hello August, I’m going to make you a busy one in a really good way (:
And I think I’m ready for whatever August is going to bring.

Let’s do this.

CHA summer 2012 favorites

CHA Summer was so last week, I know.
(For those of you who don’t know, CHA stands for Craft and Hobby Association, is held twice yearly and is where new products are released.)

But I couldn’t help but share some of my favorites from the new releases – time to start saving money for all the pretty paper goodness! Plus some lovely embellishments and stamps, of course (:

First up, American Crafts: I’m absolutely loving these American Crafts collaborations with some amazing designers – Dear Lizzy and Amy Tangerine are definitely all-time favorites!

From Dear Lizzy, 5th & Frolic

Patterned Paper

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Gold foil vellum, Pow! Glitter patterned paper, and Ruffled Crepe Paper.

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LOVE the colors of these – I can totally imagine using them on everythingggg.

Amy Tangerine Ready, Set, Go

Patterned Paper

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Stamps and die cut bits, yes please!

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Another daybook to store all those memories (:

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Studio Calico outdid itself this time with three new collections, complete with mists, wood veneers, mistables, and their newly released Handbook.

Year book Patterned papers

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School was so two years ago. But I still think the colors and shapes on these are great! I especially love the pie-chart patterned one on the top left.

We all need another date stamp, don’t we?

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And more wood veneers. Perfect.

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Crate Paper

Sleigh Ride Patterned Paper

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These are three papers I can especially imagine using on my Christmas cards this year!

Acorn Avenue Patterned Paper

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At first I thought I liked the On trend papers the best of Crate’s three new collections, but then I realized that I liked Acorn Avenue better. But honestly, they’re all really good (:

It’s so hard to pick favorites,  I tell you. But these are some of the ones I especially can’t wait to lay my hands on. I bet you can’t tell that I especially love patterned papers and stamps, haha (;

Here’s to an amazing week!
xo.

Never give up.

This morning, I woke up with the sudden realization that it’s already Thursday.
I guess it’s one of those weeks that passes by way too quickly.

And with one day and two weeks to my cello exam, I’m reminding myself of this:

Source: behappy.me via Amelia on Pinterest

After all, if you think you can’t do it, the battle is already half lost.

I need all the prayers/motivation/practice I can get.
I can do this.

Brown butter dark chocolate chunk cookies

brown butter cookies

I made this awhile ago. I know, I’ve been bad at posting about things I’ve made in a timely fashion.

While this one doesn’t actually count towards the twenty recipes on the twenty list, I had so much fun making it anyway. Talk about a yummy chocolate chip cookie – this was it! I used regular semi-sweet chocolate chips instead of dark chocolate. And I used this recipe!

Ahh, here’s to a good week ahead – full of happy things and good food (:
xo.