beam me up

My first full weekend back was appropriately spent playing tourist at the Petronas Twin Towers, binge watching the first two seasons of Scandal, and sharing in a special baptism and brunch with friends.

This photo from our night out kinda says it all for me right now ... I'm in complete awe of our experience here. Seriously, the opportunity to live somewhere so different is something that I pinch myself about every day. There are some changes ahead for us so if you find me a bit emotional and/or in awe of everything, it's coming from a place of immense gratitude, reflection, and anticipation.

Cheers to a great week ahead!

aaanndd i'm back!

Three bags, three different crash pads, five rental cars, and too many miles in a car (and in the air) ... this girl has left LA and is back in KL! It's so good to be home. I arrived yesterday morning and have been unpacking and re-organizing everything in between hug and kiss attacks from Joe who can't seem to believe that I'm actually here.

It was a great two months in LA though it was certainly a different kind of visit than I've had before. I was focused on work versus play so I left feeling shocked that for the first time in a loooooong time I didn't go to a single Dodger game, a show at the Hollywood Bowl, and - gasp - not even a flea market. The first two are a very sad thing for an Angeleno to admit and the third one is just sad for me personally (see this if you're new to the blog). But, if I had to be away from Joe for so long I had to make it worth my while and that worth was all about pushing Ring Cozy forward.

The moments that I did take to be with friends and family were few but really treasured. I had missed their hugs, their smiles, their way of "knowing" me. It's pretty awesome to feel that there's a group of people somewhere else in the world who love and care about you regardless of seeing you once in a blue moon. There were definitely moments where I wanted to toss the expat towel in and be back with familiar faces. Like the one day I went wedding dress shopping for two of my friends and had so much fun doing something so girly. But then when I remember that everyone is so busy with their own lives now that I probably would see them just as often as I do now, I don't feel so bad. It wasn't uncommon to go months without seeing certain people when I still lived there nearly three years ago. We're traveling more, focusing on family, getting busier with work ... it's a rare treat to just call someone up on a random day/night and say "let's do X and Y" and have them actually be available, or willing. If you're under 25 and reading this...enjoy it while it lasts!

Now back in KL I've been welcomed home via texts and emails by the friends I've made here. They're a part of a different chapter in my life and I'm so thankful that they fill the pages with new and amazing experiences. They remind me why I love being an expat: the simple fact that albeit challenging, you can make a home and build a community anywhere you are. I can't imagine anything more comforting than that. It's so good to be home.

missing home from home

Hi guys, checking in from LA where I'm really missing the blog. I miss taking photos, I miss using this space as a creative playground, and I miss sharing things with you!

Work has been all consuming - which is a great thing because that's what I'm here for - but I'm longing to fit in more time with family, friends...and my camera. My whole work smart and not harder thing is hard to do when there are so many unknown variables at play. It's getting better though with just three more weeks to go and a to-do list that's feeling less daunting with every new thing that I learn and every step that I take.

It's been nice to be back here, in my second life as I've been calling it, but it's just not as fun without my man by my side. A place doesn't feel like home without him, even if it's my very own hometown. That being said, I'm doing my best to make the time that I have here count, make things happen, and am enjoying the ride with bumps, missteps, and small victories along the way. It's all part of a greater journey...

I hope that you've been awesome!

back in it and at it

Hello old friends, it feels like it's been ages! Two full weeks have passed and I'm now adjusted to life back in LA, for the summer at least. I'm staying with our friend in Hermosa Beach so I'm being spoiled with ocean breezes and evening walks on the sand. It's amazing how much I didn't realize what a luxury it is to just walk for pleasure. Not much of that happens in KL since the max outdoor activity time is often fifteen minutes before meltdown. I'm really loving being outdoors with a cool breeze, it's such a treat.

I'm slowly getting back into old habits like picking up the LA Weekly to see what events are happening but other things that where once beyond habitual - like driving - feel completely foreign. I really don't miss driving at all. In fact, I can't believe that I used to like it ... that LA part of me is definitely long gone! One thing that I need to get back into is hanging out with friends. I've gotten out of the habit of checking in for casual get-togethers so as my work schedule becomes more clear, I'm looking forward to getting social again and playing catch up.

So far so good though. I'm getting things done, making progress, and enjoying the odd feeling of being a quasi tourist in my own hometown.

I'll be back later this week with photos from our quick visit to Alaska - the colors in the landscapes just kill me.

Have a great week!

gone summering

Well, not really. We're off to LA today and though I'll be there for the rest of the summer, I definitely won't be summering the entire time - this girl has some a lot of biznaz to take care of!

Of course there will be some pleasure mixed in: attending a wedding, visiting the in-laws in Alaska, catching up with friends, and sneaking in play time to indulge in a So Cal summer.

Part of me can't wait and another part is seriously sad to leave my home in KL. It's strange to feel like my first home (LA) is not my main home anymore. For the first time since moving, I'm thinking of all the things that I'll miss in Malaysia rather than anxiously looking forward to everything in LA. Of course I'm crazy excited about getting face-time with my favorite people, and eating my heart out with the foods I often crave, but home is really where the heart is and my heart is always with Joe (cue cheese ball alert, I know) who will only be there with me for a bit. The extended stay is necessary for what I need to get done, and I know that it'll be great and totally worth it in end in more ways than one, I'm just being a total love sap.

So, LA - my first home and love - here I come!!!

Photo graphic by Ana Maria Muñoz

D is for Dad

It's Father's Day this weekend and I'm wishing that I could give this man a big hug and a kiss. My dad is the best and I miss him like crazy! Here we are the morning of Joe's and my wedding day, cutting bougainvillaea for the flower arrangements. There's nothing that my dad didn't do to make that week and day extra special.

Without the fam around to celebrate with, I'll keep busy prepping for our trip to LA next week and indulge in the fact that I'll at least get to be with my sister and nieces real soon. It's tough when the people you love are spread out all over the place so I'm definitely learning the art of quality over quantity ... buuutt ... I'll still always take as much quantity as I can get ;)

Have a great weekend!

words worth repeating / 39

It's been a while since I last shared words worth repeating but this quote has been very present in my thoughts lately.

The Kickstarter project for Ring Cozy didn't make it so I've had to slightly re-strategize my plan of action. Everything from production, sales, orders ... I've had to re-think it all but I'm perfectly at peace with it. Just because something didn't work out it doesn't mean that it wasn't a success in its own way. I learned a lot from the experience and it gave me even more amo to make my product and business happen.

The support I got from you guys, friends and family, and people who were new to Ring Cozy, was awesome (THANK YOU!). In doing Kickstarter I got the word out, made new connections, and set the wheels in motion for a great next couple of months - definitely not a failure in my book!

So now that the pressure of reaching a giant funding goal is off, I can focus on the work to be done while I'm in LA this summer. My to-do list is already a mile long but I like it that way. It means action, progress, trying, failing, trying again, dealing, and DOING. That's the key here, just keep on DOING and eventually something will stick.

Have you ever gone through something that took a few (or a lot of) times to get it right? Personally or professionally?

one year in lumpy land

This time last year we packed up our home in London and moved to what we lovingly call Lumpy Land. Kuala Lumpur was definitely culture shock after living in LA and London but one year later, I don't feel like such a stranger anymore.

To round up the anniversary I thought I'd share bits of what I love about this place and the things that I could do without.

Let's start off with the bad things. I could live without ...

• the lack of pedestrian right-of-way and safety considerations from motorists. the reasons there are so many overpasses in the city is so that pedestrians are taken out of the equation completely, i'm sure.
• the illegal/bribed buses that blow nasty smoke onto everyone on the sidewalk as they clank by.
• the lack of consistent walkable sidewalks. every building owns the property all the way to the street so each block can be totally different. some developments opt to go without proper sidewalks altogether.
• the fact that I walk 1,000 times faster than most locals and it makes a regular trip to the mall to run errands feel like a game of pac-man just to dodge everyone.
• litter that eventually gets packed between the new "nice" landscaping and fences on the street. i know that litter is a problem in most places in the world but london was so on top of it that it spoiled me.
• illegal taxi drivers who take advantage of tourists and charge RM10 or RM20 when it's really a RM3 ride on the meter. never ride with a driver who won't take you on the meter - they're jerks.
• mosquitoes gone wild after a really heavy rainfall.

As you can tell, most of my pet peeves have to do with getting around the city by foot. It's just that KL is small enough that it could be a really walkable city if they wanted it to be but, unfortunately, city planning and pedestrian safety are just not happening. To its credit though, there have been many city-center sidewalk improvements since we moved here so I'm thankful for that...can't hate on them too much now.

Now on to the things that I love about living in KL!

• the lack of street laws that allow us to jaywalk wherever and whenever we want.
• the warm and friendly locals who, when introduced personally, act as if you're family.
• the predictable afternoon thunderstorms that fill the sky on a daily basis. such a great show.
• wearing sandals and summer clothes while it rains because it's so warm out.
• fresh fruit and veggie juices available everywhere. it's almost unforgivable if a restaurant doesn't offer them.
• the standard script from new and friendly taxi drivers that goes like this: "where you from?", "you stay here?", "you work?", "you married?", "have children?".
• learning to enjoy spicy food. unlike the american version of spicy (which is really just hot) the indian and malaysian versions are more flavorful.
• drinking out of coconuts like it's no big deal.
• seeing giant green rain trees and furry looking palm trees everywhere you go.
• the way so many expats from around world call this place home, too. most are here with kids who are getting the experience of a lifetime.
• the sweet security guards in our building who barely speak english but always greet with a smile and are helpful when needed. thank god for universal hand signals.
• the little grocery truck that parks on our street two times per week for a pop up market.
• the street food that is so plentiful and yummy even though half the time i have no idea what i'm ordering.
• the fact that i now often point with my thumb over a fist (think bill clinton giving a speech). that's how the locals do it so i figured i should too, out of respect.
• driving down the highway and seeing a buddhist temple, a hindu temple, and a mosque all within thirty seconds.
• hearing the calls to prayer throughout the day even though i have no idea what they're saying.
• seeing the parade of colorful prints worn by local women on their traditional head coverings and dresses.
• the craftsmanship that is so exciting for a foreigner like me. my taxi driver laughs at me every time i get excited about a rattan store or talk about wanting to learn how to paint batik.
• the fact that living here can often feel like we're living on vacation (climate, scenery). my wardrobe has definitely started to reflect this.
• the way joe looks so relaxed on the weekends when we can just be outside in the warm weather, wearing flip flops, year-round. having a nice pool certainly helps.
• meeting incredibly good and solid people who we now call friends. so thankful to be carving-out a social circle.
• and most of all, i love joe for being patient with me as i figure out this new place, how to live in it, and enjoy it.

i can see clearly now...

Did I mention that I was getting LASIK eye surgery? Well yes, I had my eyes did on Thursday and wow, I can't believe what technology is capable of. Not yet 24 hours after staring into bright laser lights and smelling my burning eye balls (the brochure forgot to mention that pleasant part) I could see perfectly clear through distances that used to be a big blurry haze. I was a bit scared to go under but with rave reviews from others who have had it done and logical statistics provided by Joe on the higher risks of simply wearing contacts, I was sold.

I've never had any type of surgery done let alone really considered anything cosmetic (aside from a boob job but I can't bear the thought of something foreign in my body!). In this case, getting LASIK was purely a lifestyle choice. I was so sick of pushing my glasses up on my sweaty nose while working out and having to swap out my prescription sunnies to my regular ones whenever I walked indoors - or worse, keeping the sunnies on and straining my vision through the dark lenses while inside. Had my eyes been more receptive to contacts I might be fine but after three hours of having them suctioned onto my eyes I would inevitably take them out and reach for my trusty glasses. And as for maintenance, is it just me or is it nearly impossible to keep glasses clean? I feel like I had a phantom toddler with sticky fingers just smudging up my glasses all day long. I could never keep them clean enough. So yeah, I'm thrilled that I took the leap and went for the surgery!

I've spent the past five days resting my eyes and going a bit stir crazy. Can't really go outside when it's sunny, have to keep the apartment kinda dark, can't watch much TV, and especially can't be on the computer for too long. I never realize how much I look at a screen all day between my laptop, phone, iPad, and TV...it's a bit sad really but I guess it's also a reality of working from home.

Since I couldn't do much with my eyes, I let the ears have it with podcasts by Monocole's The Entrepreneurs, Here's The Thing, Studio 360, and TED Talks. As anxious as I felt at times to get back to working smart, it was nice to just lay there and listen to interesting conversations and discussions. Not listening while cooking dinner or writing emails...just laying there and doing nothing else. I highly recommend it. Speaking of, I should get off of the computer and give these new old peepers a rest ;)

This photo was taken using a fun Optrixx Looking Eye I bought at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, CA. 

smart vs. hard

Growing up all I ever heard people say was "work hard, play hard" and it was usually in the context of working crazy hours and then raging on the weekends to let off some steam. I've never jived with that philosophy. I don't like working crazy hours and I certainly don't like bottling up my free time and energy for an explosive few days. In fact, when I did work at a job that consumed too much of my life I left it and got another one that gave me the freedom to have lunch with my family and leave work at a decent hour to meet Joe and friends for happy hour. It was life changing...like, ohhh so THIS is what happy hour is?!? And to top it all off, I got paid more.

I'm constantly seeking ways to meet my ideal lifestyle balance and leaving my first job (which was awesome so it wasn't easy) was the biggest lesson in learning that I have full control over my life. Now that I'm working on launching a new product and business, I want to be mindful of how I spend my time and energy so that I can stay excited about my new venture and not get burnt out. There's a lot to do and a A LOT to learn but I'm doing it all step by step, day by day, all while doing my best to work SMART versus HARD.

The concept of working smart is fairly new to me so this made me really happy to read. Things can get done just as well or better when there's focus rather than more time, there's no need to slave away for the sake of "working hard". For that reason I'm trying to be very conscious of how I organize and schedule my action items every day so that I know I can accomplish them within a few hours instead of being overwhelmed by a loooooong list that looks impossible to tackle. You know that feeling of crossing off to-do lists? I live for that. So, if you're like me and have an evolving lists of things that need your attention, here's what's been working really well for me lately.

I've started to keep my long lists in two separate notebooks (one for work, one for personal) and whenever I think of something that belongs in either, I write it down in their respective notebooks. Every morning I look at both and pick at least three things from those long lists. Then I write the selected items onto a smaller piece of paper (a short list) and post it above my laptop to reference throughout the day. That gives me my day's action items that I am 100% sure I can complete and feel good about. I pick them based on urgency and relevance. Some days it's strictly work and others I mix in more personal things like doing laundry, paying bills, etc. As the day goes on, I cross completed items off of the short list and at the end of the day (or next morning) I cross those same items off of my long lists. Little by little the long lists become MUCH easier to swallow!

This system has really helped me focus so that I can enjoy my free time and not think about all of the things that need to be done at home/work. There's a master list, after all, no need to have them swimming around in my head! Now even if we go off to play and I still have some work to do, it's all good. For example, last Friday when we went to KK I woke up at 5am to correspond with my USA contacts for two hours before leaving for the airport and then got back online for three hours that night at the hotel while Joe slept. I got work done and still had fun in between...no stress at all. I wonder if this will come in handy if/when we start a family? The kids part definitely seems like hard work!

So what do you think about working smart vs. hard? Have you found something that works for you? Would love to hear how you maximize your work and personal life or the steps that you're taking to get there!

the i do's + the fiesta

We had seriously discussed eloping somewhere fabulous in South East Asia but as I sat in my parents' room, doing my hair and makeup and looking at family photos, I couldn't have felt happier to be getting ready to say "I do" at our finca with friends and family by our side.

The only thing we needed to make that happen was the groom and officiant (aka my dad). Joe and my dad had left for a quick errand and hotel guests pick-up when the car broke down with everyone in it. Meanwhile at the finca, it started to rain. Long story short, they made it back just half an hour late, the clouds parted, and the sun came out. Everything from then on was perfect.

Joe made his grand entrance with the donkey from next door and ponchos in tow (not traditional or symbolic in any way, he just wanted to feel like Juan Valdez). And I walked out wearing a dress that we bought while on holiday in Melbourne and my favorite Spanish espadrille wedges. I wasn't even going to try to top the donkey entrance.

We said our I do's, smiled, hugged, and kissed a whole bunch. For dinner we feasted on the best tamales in the world and enjoyed an impressive thundershower while sitting in candle light. Then finally, it was time to bring out the Aguardiente - Colombia's drink of choice. As the shots settled in and made us feel all warm and fuzzy, my aunts surprised us with a traditional Colombian musical group that brought everyone to their feet. Joe and I even had an impromptu "first dance" which involved a lot of jumping around and twisting and turning. It was pretty amazing considering I usually have to beg and plead with him to join me on the dance floor (how quickly marriage changed him).

The rest of the night was flat out fun. We had the best time. With our friends and family present, and of course, plenty of Aguardiente to keep the celebration going...we couldn't have asked for anything more. A simple I do accomplished.

back to reality

Hi guys, how have you been?!? After two weeks of resting, exploring, eating our hearts out, and enjoying friends and family in Colombia, Joe and I are back home in KL and are still smiling from it all. Not counting a stomach bug that put a few of us out for 24 hours (mine was longer, unfortunately), everything was amazing. I can't wait to share bits of the adventures and of course, the wedding day, with you all as soon as I catch up with work and stuff on the home front. I just spent a good part of the morning re-stocking our kitchen and cleaning so that I can sit at my desk with a happy belly and a happy/tidy home. I'm definitely ready to get back to reality but I'm silly excited to re-live the trip through upcoming posts :)

PS. Flickr caught a bug while I was away too and they removed a ton of images from my blog (as you can tell). Working on fixing it...sorry for the eyesore.

not so little anymore + adios for now

While looking at these photo booth pics with my family and Joe that I have placed around our home, I thought "wow... I'm not so little anymore". Packing for our first trip to Colombia together thinking of the celebration and fun that awaits, I couldn't help but also think of how crazy life is as you get older and experience the many chapters of life. One by one, you write each sentence and paragraph with every action you take. Before you know it, the school chapters are done, work and career ones begin and forever get revised, love stories develop - some flourish and some don't - and family remains the constant thread throughout. The book of life is one neat novel, isn't it?

I'm excited to head out today and continue Joe's and mine's story together with a special wedding day. That plus some holiday fun with friends and family will surely make the next two weeks fly by...I'll be sure to stop and smell the coffee beans in the midst of it all ;)

Will see ya back here later this month when we return but until then, you can catch me and our Colombian adventures on Instagram and Twitter. Vamonos!