I decided at 3:30 this morning that I wanted to go to Manhattan beach and have breakfast.  By the time I realized how bad this idea was I already showered and dressed and got myself on the freeway, but once I got to the restaurant at 5:30 in the morning it proved to be an excellent idea, there were plenty groups of odd couples, friends and lonely old men sitting at the restaurant and me.  Perfect!   

I ordered Oeufs Pain Perdu, and a baked onion soup( both my all time favorite) and read until it was light enough outside and went for a walk on the pier.  I was surprised to see surfers out so early but apparently there were strong waves this morning.  Listening to the sound of ocean is one of my favorite thing to do and it can be so rewarding once in a while to be a little spontaneous and do things as I like.

Euro Pane Bakery makes amazing macarons.  I bought two of each flavors today!

one thing I will always have in my wardrobe is this denim skirt from UO.

but Kelly doesn't care much for it.

I found this tiny little tea cup with saucer last weekend while walking around vintage shops.  I think it's perfect for little jewelry like rings and stuff.

It's been pouring all day but feels strangely sunny.

Random pictures of home, #2

♥It's been raining for the past several days, I never took film pictures in cloudy weather before but they came out ok.  The pharmacy where I had my photo developed accidently printed out all my pictures instead of just putting it on a CD so they gave them to me for free.  The color is not the same, the printed version is prettier.  I love colors.

♥While I was driving today, I saw a brown little dog that looked just like Kelly who was lost in the rain, I thought I should drop it at a dog shelter so I turned around as soon as I could, but I drove along the same street for a couple of times and didn't see it again.

Random pictures of home, #1

inspiration and ideas..

I came across this wonderful blog and instantly fell in love with its photograph.

photo via the blue hour

I'm having another major closet clean-out today, it's rainy and cold outside, but warm and comfy inside. :)

In northern China where I grew up, dumpling is almost always a staple at holiday dinners and friends/family get-together. I don't think the taste is any more special than other Chinese cuisine but it is rather labor intensive and is almost always synonymous with hospitality and special occasion. The filling I used tonight was pork with mixed vegetable and some Chinese spices, but really anything goes from shrimp, fish, crab to any kind of red meat or all vegetarian.

pretty top

couple of my film shots, I love my canon AE camera.

lovely things that make me smile...#1

Last night I dug this Betsey Johnson dress out of my closet. It's the most ridiculous impulse shopping I've done, an expensive dress that I knew I will never wear. But oh what lovely dress, I am rather in love with the idea of it, and I derive so much pleasure every once in a while when I take it out just to have a look at it.

a day pack with fun started with

beautiful weather

walking around exotic pet shop and visiting used book stores( I bought a set of vintage cookbooks!!!), I loved seeing the turtles, but I kind of felt sorry for a lot of the reptiles that got locked up in small glass cage.



lunch proper.

followed immediately by cup cakes and coffee, and

I've never seen Cirque du Soleil before til tonight so I'm begin to suspect what other goodie is out there that I'm missing out. This was such a fantastic show!