Exhaling Life

It is my word, civility. Merriam-Webster defines it as courtesy, politeness, a polite act or expression, and training in the humanities. Civility for me means exercising humanity with mindfulness towards others and our sphere. It is such a beautiful word, and I miss it. Not the word, but civility among us. I've been thinking about it quite often, even before former President Trump won the election and his return to the White House became inevitable. It was heartbreaking to watch such a hateful man win this nation's presidential election.  Photo by Logan DeBorde on Unsplash I am not concerned about his plan to deport unlawful residents of this nation. I am concerned that I will be targeted in a massive sweep as a Korean so I will be carrying my United States Passport Card, a federal government issued identification, as proof of my U.S. citizenship. Is it inconvenient? Not at all. It is the size of my California Identification card.  Unlawful residents. I rarely use undocumente...

Chic and ferocious are two words I aimed for the last LookBook of the year. Rather than focusing on the holiday season, I wanted to focus on us. Who we are, our expression, our sense of style... None of that should be swift away for commercialized holiday cheers. I also pulled forward two pieces from Style LookBook: November 2024 . Alo Yoga Quilted Perfection Puffer and Teddy Blake Gigi Stampatto 13" are style staples that can effortlessly transition from this winter season to beyond.  Blending everyday chic with urbanista's attitude, below are curated pieces for this month's Style LookBook : [TOP, BOTTOM LAYER] ALO YOGA Ribbed Defined Long Sleeve Bra [VEST, TOP LAYER] MARANT ÉTOILE Alisa Gilet [SKIRT] Farfetch De-Pra-Mini-S3 Skirt [BOOTS] BLONDO Sierra Waterproof Over the Knee Boot [BAG] TEDDY BLAKE Gigi Stampatto 13" [COAT] Grab-and-go on extra cold days... ALO YOGA Quilted Perfection Puffer ps: While all items are curated by me, I earn commissions from retailers ...

I get that a lot... Aren't you lonely? Should I be lonely? I live alone. I travel alone. I eat alone, even at the finest restaurants. I go to bars alone although it's rare. I go to the opera alone. I see plays alone. I go to concerts alone. Not always alone, but I am comfortable with being alone... Go, seek, and do it alone. When something I want to do pops up, my instinct is to do it. I rarely have that moment when I am like... I need to find someone to do it with. When I invite others to join me, their presence isn't often required unless you know... It requires a minimum of two people. Rare, but it happens. Lunch for a party of one at Kinkan That word, alone, is misleading. Isn't it? Perhaps, it is how we've been taught to understand that alone means lonely and thus unhappy. Is it unhealthy that I prefer a company of none, often a book at restaurants, rather than a human?  I advocate that it is healthier than developing intimate relationships with an AI. Perhaps,...

It is simply named Afrutada, a feminine noun in Spanish that translates to fruity in English, to honor the origin of white guava in the cocktail. The cocktail is gently sweet with a refreshing tartness. It is the perfect cocktail to enjoy a lazy afternoon with when you have white guavas in hand. MIX IT UP!  In a sixteen fluid-ounce glassware half filled with small ice cubes, add below in the order listed: two slices of white guava one slice of lemon two strawberries, halved two twigs of peppermint one can of Q SPECTACULAR tonic water , 7.5 fluid ounce a half shot of vodka a hard squeeze of another lemon slice, discard this slice Stir and mix with a bamboo straw and serve.

Casual chic with a glimmer of sophistication, this Style LookBook narrates a day of urbanista effortlessly conquering her day. [TOP] ALTUZARRA Grainge Cashmere Open Neck Sweater [JEANS] FRAME Le High High Rise Straight Leg Jeans in Calvin [BOOTS] FRANCO SARTO Jasmine Block Heel Boot [COAT] ALO YOGA Quilted Perfection Puffer [BAG] TEDDY BLAKE Gigi Stampatto 13" ps: While all items are curated by me, I earn commissions from retailers on purchased items. pss: Items shown are not shown in scale.

It was back in January. I wanted a proper afternoon tea with a book, so I made a reservation for one at The Living Room in The Peninsula Beverly Hills. I sat with Hanya Yanagihara's A Little Life and indulged in a lovely afternoon tea until I was surprised by a parade of cakes. I realized that every table was celebrating a birthday, and not another table was being occupied simply to enjoy the afternoon tea. I pondered and smiled at the reminder that I don't save good china for special occasions. Afternoon Tea at The Living Room Special occasions... Those words lingered in my mind. The only thing guaranteed in life from the first breath to the very last breath we take is death. Birth and all the days we lived seem almost infinitesimal compared to today, our present. To quote Eleanor Roosevelt, "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That's why it is called the present." I like that saying, the best present is the present. There are days ...