a mighty good year

2013, you were one GREAT year. Challenging, adventurous, stimulating, inspiring, loving, and beautiful...definitely one of the best yet.

In January I could have never imagined that I'd be sharing 90% of the year's highlights below. Every new year brings new experiences and opportunities and seeing them unfold one-by-one is truly a thing of beauty. Every challenge you overcome, every time you say 'yes' instead of 'no', every time you let your self get out of your comfort zone (personally, professionally, and physically), they're all worth recognizing and celebrating.

So cheers - cheers to reflecting on and celebrating the journey had while looking forward to the adventures that await. Have a very happy new year! xx.

2013 Highlights

Launching Ring Cozy

Getting married in Colombia + exploring it with friends

Being featured by Cuyana

Going off the beaten path in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Photographing the beautiful bags by KAYU

Stay-cationing in KL

Ditching the glasses and getting LASIK

Fishing in Phu Quoc and riding like a local in Saigon, Vietnam

Celebrating one year of living in Kuala Lumpur

Jetting off to Bali for the weekend

Getting married again in Alaska and exploring the Last Frontier

Launching the Love Malaysia Collection with Gin & Jacqie

Snorkeling in Redang Island, Malaysia

Learning to cook our new Malaysian comfort food at LaZat

Park strolling in Bangkok

Exploring and eating in Melaka, Malaysia

Falling in love with Rio De Janeiro in three days

A dream trip to Takayama and Tokyo, Japan

Loving and leaving our flat in KL

Posing for the camera for lasting memories of our time in KL

Road-tripping to Sedona via Historic Route 66

Wrapping up the year with a cozy cabin getaway

a cozy cabin christmas

Hi guys! How have your holidays been? We spent our Christmas in the mountains just outside of LA and it was perfect. We booked a great little cabin via Airbnb, rented a car, and loaded up on firewood and groceries for plenty of cooking, drinking, and snacking. The plan was simple: relax and indulge.

Other than driving ten minutes to Lake Arrowhead for a brief visit, we stayed cozied up inside with a roaring fire (Joe is a great Boy Scout) and ate whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted. Christmas Eve dinner was just right but the food highlight of the holiday was my batch of Colombian buñuelos. I made them for Christmas in London but last year we sadly had to go without the traditional fried cheese balls of goodness since the cheese we needed simply didn't exist in KL. However, it only made them taste that much better this time around, especially since I got to share them with my family! My sister, brother-in-law, and nieces joined us on Christmas Day, just in time for my girls to help me roll the maza into little balls. After tamales and buñuelos, my nieces and I did Christmas arts and crafts and roasted marshmallows with Tio Jojo using sharpened branches he collected. Needless to say, those girls were two very happy campers!

And so was everyone else. Joe had been happy since we arrived because he finally had an excuse to use the hatchet I bought him three Christmases ago (couldn't take it to London with us) while my sister and bro in-law were happy to kick up their feet and relax while Tia Mu (me) entertained the girls with activities.

It was absolutely perfect. The family time, the quiet time, the nature time. I can't think of a better Christmas gift than the gift of an experience with the ones you love. So happy.

blog c'est slow

Hello, is anyone there? Yes, yes you are. I can see the visitor counts in the dashboard and you've been coming back, it's me who's been astray.

I think that I have officially moved into the slow blogging category where instead of sticking to a set schedule and forcing myself to blog even when I don't feel like it, I'm focusing on my offline offblog life, enjoying it, and taking care of business without guilt. I still constantly think of things that I'd like to share and photos I'd like to take but I'm going to use my month of transition as the excuse for absence. Since we moved back to LA and it's been busy and by busy I mean happy. Happily working, happily hanging with friends and family, and happily wearing cozy layers in crisp 50 degrees weather.

Now that we've been here for a solid month I'm starting to get asked how it feels to be back, if it's strange, or if I miss anything. The answer to the latter two is yes. It feels strange to sometimes view things and people through foreign eyes and notice subtleties that I never would have had I never left. I've had moments where I felt like an outsider with deja vu - places and people are familiar but something has changed and it's not the same. I know I've changed so even if the city or familiar faces haven't, the fact that I have changes everything.

Brief moments of reverse culture shock have been the main 'strange' things though. Like going to a college football game and seeing how intense the tailgating scene gets (custom branded trailers anyone?), preferring to eat with chopsticks instead of a fork, catching the smell of curry from an Indian restaurant and feeling like 'home', or even just being around Asians and feeling more at 'home'! It's the little things that have made me pause and recognize the re-adjustment I'm actually going through. I was driving with a friend yesterday and she said "you drive like a Malaysian" which really means "you're a shit driver". And she should know - her family is from Malaysia. I laughed so hard when she said that because even though I never drove there, it somehow rubbed off on me. And in a twisted way, I took it as a compliment.

Yes I miss Malaysia but besides missing the food and nearby travel destinations like crazy, I'm doing great back in LA. I'm getting a ton of work done, exercising and eating well, using public transportation and loving it (though I do rent a car as needed for meetings), and my hair is as calm as it's been in over one year. I'm sure you ladies can commiserate with equating a small amount of happiness to the volume and frizz in your hair ;)

So yeah, all is well. I may not be blogging like a blogger should but that's okay. This should be a fun space for me (and you) to come to, to share adventures and creative nuggets, not something that is forced just for the sake of feeling current. I do Instagram and Pinterest often so if I'm not here, I'm there. And to you who are still here, still reading this, I'm thankful for you. You make this whole blogging thing so much more than an online journal. Gracias amigos.

photo: LA street c'est chic, snapped in Arts District Downtown LA

for everything...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. It's been a while since we've been in the Sates for the holiday season so today I'm taking extra note of the things that have made our lives so full, wherever we've been in the past three years!

I'm thankful for our family and friends who have supported and encouraged our adventures every step of the way along with those who made every new experience more colorful and memorable. The well being and health of all of these special people, and the technology that let's us stay connected regardless of geographic location, are high on the gratitude list.

Sitting in our new apartment I feel so blessed to have a roof over our heads, a kitchen with food to nourish our bodies, and all the simple comforts that we sometimes take for granted on a daily basis. Looking back, we've been so fortunate to have several homes that allowed us to feel safe and comfortable in new environments. So many great memories!

And last but not least, I'm thankful for my beautiful man and partner in life: Joe. He makes every day the best day ever just by being by my side.

I hope you have a relaxing and fun weekend sharing special moments with the special people in your lives. Gobble Gobble!

small touches

Happy Monday, guys! I'm so excited to be writing this from our new home. We moved in several days ago and It feels so nice to be somewhere that we can call 'ours' for the time being. It's just what we were looking for - furnished and wired - so all we had to do was unpack our bags and buy groceries. Yes, it was the easiest move-in ever and I definitely made sure to enjoy it.

Enjoying it was easy as we've been in and out of our storage unit, making room for what's coming in from KL, and taking what we need from it right now. I took advantage of the shuffle to grab a few small items like a vintage ceramic dish and pair of votive candle holders to place around the apartment along with a few stones I brought with me. The latest addition (the big green one) from Sedona is perfect, as is the heart-shaped red rock we picked up during one of our hikes. They're so pretty and I like the idea of them holding positive energies...Joe makes fun of me but I don't care ;)

Since it's Fall, I also had to bring a few pumpkins into the mix. Pumpkins were hard to come by in London and KL (the rare ones were crazy expensive) so I reasoned than I had to have them when I saw them on sale for less that $1. I was right. They're already doing their part in making our living room look a little less sterile.

When it comes to making any place a home, little touches go a very long way. And right now, I am thankful for every.little.thing.

blue & sun for the jet lagged

Hello from LA! We arrived to bright blue skies and plenty of sunshine with a side of cool breeze, just how I like it. It's been a whirlwind of couple of days between settling into our current crash pad, running errands, attending a wedding, looking for a new temporary apartment/sublet, seeing family, and trying to get a solid night's sleep. I have never been so off before - jet lag usually hits me on the way back but since there's no return this time maybe I'm getting it all upfront. All of sixteen hours of it, making my eyes look and feel like I've been partying for days.

I'm hoping that this week brings a bit more calm and order to my schedule, emphasis on hoping. We leave for a mini road-trip to Arizona on Thursday for another wedding so if I can get just three days of productive work time (and good sleep) I'll be a happy camper. I'm happy now but very tired, definitely looking forward to feeling refreshed and on top of things again. Until I get there, please keep those blue skies and that shadow-play sunshine coming!

last day, lasting memories

It's Wednesday morning in KL and I'm writing this as we zip up our luggage and get ready to go to the airport. Though one and a half years flew by in a blink of an eye, I leave feeling 100% fulfilled with our experience. It was quite the adventure with its many ups and downs but man did this place steal my heart.

London was a good teacher but in this jungle town I feel like I've really grown into the person that I'm meant to be for the next chapter of my life. That goes for us as a couple, too. There's nothing like experiencing changes, challenges, and moments of joy together to keep you on your toes and ready to take on the world.

I also leave with a very happy heart when I think about the beautiful friendships we made with locals and other expats who call KL home. They are wanderlust and adventurous just like us and I know that this is not goodbye, rather a 'see you later'.

One of those friends is the witty and talented Clare, who took the amazing photos above. I'm so thankful that she was able to capture these moments of Joe and me at KLCC park by our apartment just before we left. We don't have any photos like this as the ones we take ourselves usually only feature our heads and an outstretched arm in the frame! Such great keepsakes, thank you Clare!!!

Alright it's time to go ... see you later, KL. You were a treat.

a temporary home to love

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Hi guys, I hope you had a nice weekend! We spent ours doing a major Fall Cleaning in preparation for the move today. It went well - a little off schedule but everything is ready to go until we meet again.

But before we gave away the plants, removed art from the walls, and sorted everything for the movers to pack into boxes, I made sure to take a few snaps of the living area that we made home for one and a half years. Do you remember this post when we just moved in and this one with our decor plan? I hate to say it - because it's an annoying cliche - but it feels just like yesterday. I can still remember Joe saying "let's get stuff up on the walls, it won't feel like home until we do" and little by little we did. Little by little we filled our home with pieces that made us smile and gave us comfort. You really can create a home that you love wherever you are.

With just some light cleaning and the final walk-through to do tomorrow, we're almost home-free! Not homeless though as we're staying at a hotel in the city until we depart on Wednesday. It's already proving to be a great idea, having a 'break' from moving before the long flights home. A big pat on the back for that one ;)

Okay KL, last few nights -  let's make them ones to remember!

words worth repeating / 42

Next week will mark our third international move and when I stop to think of what the universe has given us in the past three years, I still can't believe that it's all happened. Moving to London, South East Asia, and all the travels in between - it all began by getting out of my comfort zone.

Leaving that comfort zone of my hometown was the best thing I could have ever done. No matter how hard I may cry at times because I miss my family, or how many things get lost in translation when trying to live in a new environment, every day and moment has absolutely been worth it.

Leaving my comfort zone repeatedly has led to feeling more open and confident to taking news risks and seeking new experiences. Open to making life happen rather than waiting for it to show itself. For example, if you had told me three years ago that I'd be living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia I would have said "Kuala wha???" - I had no idea that the city even existed! But once you start opening doors more and more tend to appear. At that point the decision is between turning the doorknob to see what's on the other side or choosing to ignore it and stay in the same hallway you're standing in.

I've been stretched so far out of my comfort zone that it's hard to imagine going back to my original shape. I like the new irregular shape that's been molded by everything I've seen and experienced, both the good and the not-so-great. There's a lot of life to be lived so whenever I start to feel anxious or worried about what's next I remember this: the rewards for letting yourself feel uncomfortable, awkward, or scared are worth gold. Just step out and keep going.

When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone? Took a new job, started a new business or hobby, moved homes, or traveled somewhere unfamiliar?

and we're...

Happy Monday, guys. I've been waiting to make a proper 'move' announcement and with one and a half weeks left, it's safe to say that LA will be our next stop! A temporary stop, that is. We have two weddings to attend, a storage unit to sort out, and I could use some time on the ground for Ring Cozy. We love LA but we're not ready to actually move back. Maybe we will one day, maybe we wont ... we're still itching to experience new places. It'll be great while we plan for the next adventure because being close to familiar faces and things is always helpful during a transition. Who knows where we'll be in a few months, but for now, I'm excited to make my first home home again!

let the countdown begin

How is it Friday again?! This past week flew by with half of it spent in Tokyo (felt like LA in the photo above) and the other playing catch-up at home. We're officially in countdown mode for the move and I'm trying my best to not feel overwhelmed. I'll write more about that later, but now I'm looking forward to a fun and productive weekend, doing what needs to get done, and enjoying one of our last 'free' days as KL residents.

Today we're sorting what we're keeping from what we're donating, and I'm making dates with friends so we can have a proper goodbye. There's plenty of work ahead, but as I like to tell the procrastinator in me: everything eventually gets done. With the clock ticking away, I'm just going to have to believe that.

I hope you have a great weekend. I'll be back next week to share highlights from our trip to Japan!

comfort food to-go

In Malaysia, food is everything. Food is the center of family and friend gatherings, celebrations, and everyday conversation. It's such a hot topic that even while you're enjoying a meal, you're already discussing what and where your next one will be. Malaysians are serious about their makan-makan - or "eat-eat" - and we've happily joined them, full bellies and all.

But now that we're leaving Kuala Lumpur soon, we've been loading up on our local favorites like roti canai, nasi lemak, char kway teow, beef rendang, chicken curry, and pandan flavored treats. What will we do when we can't simply walk down the street to grub on our newly adopted comfort food? The only option is to make it ourselves!

Enter LaZat, a local enterprise offering Malaysian home-cooking classes set in a typical Malaysian home nestled in the trees just outside of KL. I took an Indian cuisine class with them last year so when Joe said that he couldn't leave Malaysia without learning how to make his beloved beef rendang and curry chicken, I knew exactly where to go.

From the moment you arrive, you feel like family. Owner Ana and home-cook chefs Sue and Saadiah are warm, welcoming, and are equally excited to learn about where you're from (and where you've been) as they are to share their passions and skills in the kitchen. They take great pride in using fresh ingredients and have a way of making even the most intimidated wannabe-cook feel at ease. Everything for the day's menu is pre-measured and pre-arranged, laid out beautifully on woven straw trays and decorative dishes.

As soon as I saw (and smelled) the colorful and fragrant spices, I was ready to get down to business, work that mortar and pestle, and heat things up in a traditional brass wok. We spent the next few hours switching from watching how it's done to getting it done all while teasing our grumbling stomachs every time the wind picked up the aromas coming from our stove tops.

All of that teasing was worth it. We had our grand feast in the end but the true beauty was in the process. The simple things like remembering that some of the greatest food takes the longest time (patience is key), learning that it's okay to throw in whole spice seeds, rather than ground or crushed, and realizing that for any meal to be Malaysian, it probably has to have a decent dose of coconut milk (yum and yum).

Now that I'm a LaZat alum, I'm excited to take the confidence I got there and bring it into my own kitchen. I'd love to push my boundaries beyond olive oil and salt and pepper and get more creative with spices and herbs. I took a baby step a few nights ago while making applesauce and I was quite proud of my small kitchen victory. Instead of adding ground cinnamon for flavor, I let the apples boil and reduce with whole cinnamon sticks, a few star anise, and lemon juice for preservation. The results? Amazing. The Malaysian recipes we learned have a bit more to them but I think I'm on my way to being able to prepare the dishes we've come to love. We have a brass wok ready to go so the next step will be to buy a mortar and pestle. Hopefully we get a chance to use it before we have to pack it in a box but regardless where that box ends up, we'll know that we have the tools to satisfy our cravings and makan-makan our honorary Malaysian hearts out.