IT'LL BE OK!

happy birthday christine!

2011-07-31T11:39:00.001-04:00

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTINE!!!!

do you have a sister?
mine pinches my cheeks and squishes my face when she adores me.
she also sits on me and strongly grabs my limbs leaving her fingerprints when she's mad.

we like to sing together. for example, she'll sing the rap part of Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass" and I'll sing the chorus.
(maybe we'll show you one day in a youtube video..!!)

so.. yes we have a weird yet unbreakable sisterly bond, to say the least.
she's moving up to NYC next month to pursue her cobbler aspirations.
canNOT.wait

<3

i wish i could tell you...

2011-07-29T16:41:00.001-04:00

I'm going somewhere tonight. But I can't tell you where ... yet ... because it's a surprise.

But I'm super duper excited about it!!!

ps- don't you hate it when people say that they know something really cool and that they can't tell you.

those people are such bitches. :)

stay cool lovers.

RHONYC Reunion, part 1

2011-07-28T20:41:00.004-04:00

You guys, I am OBSESSED with the Real Housewives of New York City. Cannot.stop.watching.these.bitches.

With that said, this season has been a little disappointing for me. It fluctuated between me sitting on the edge of my seat and tweeting every 5 seconds to listening to music and surfing the web with the show on in the background in case I don't miss anything. However, the reunion show (that aired Monday night) was most excellent. So good that I had to blog about it. Seven middle-aged upper class ladies dressed to the nines engaging in what can only be described as verbal hair-pulling. Amaze-balls.

Here's my breakdown:

First is the worst. Cindy Barshop. She is my least favorite housewife of NY. No personality. No affinity for life or people. I noticed immediately at the beginning of the show that she kept twitching her face to show disdain at every comment one of the girls was making. Too much botox, or too much hate? At first, I thought to myself "I wish she'd smile more." But then she did and I immediately regretted thinking that. I don't even know why she even does the show because she clearly stated several times, more or less in these words, that she hates the type of relationship that girlfriends have. In fact, the only relationship she knows is a business relationship. Oh yes, that also applies to her brother and her kids. Alex McCord hit the nail on the head when she told Cindy that "she was a sourpuss and needs to get laid." BEST.LINE.OF.THE.NIGHT. For me, there is a fine line between drama-seeking and just plain hateful. And for that, I think Cindy needs to go. Who wants to help me start the campaign?

Poor Alex, I feel bad for her. Not because she was sorta ganged up on by the brunettes... she instigated and deserved all of those taunts. But because she seems very bored. So bored that she makes it her place to get involved in other people's issues (read Ramona and Bethenney). I guess I would be too if my husband were gay. Speaking of Simon, Alex must live in some kind of dismissive 50s household. She seems very unsure of herself, gets very flustered easily and speaks with little conviction. She also thinks it's OK for men to yell at their wife's friends WHEN THEY DESERVE IT. There was some weird underlying tone that I felt when she said it. It was whatever men do to women, it's because they deserve it. Don't get me wrong. Men are allowed to yell at women. But what Simon did at the gay marriage event was more than just yelling, he also used his body language to threaten Sonja. And mean-tweeting was not designed for grown men. I do not think Simon's behavior is/was appropriate at all. Alex just set women back 50 years. So thanks for that bitch.

Kelly is the Cosmo and self- proclaimed "5th Nicest Celebrity." (LOL!) She announced her new title at the beginning of the episode and then chose to spend the entire rest of the night proving that she was not. She hypocritically criticized Sonja for living beyond her means and not having a "real" job like Cindy and called everyone weird. Don't believe everything you read Kelly. I'm also mad at her for simmering Cindy down after Alex's "need to get laid" line. Way to go Kelly.

In my opinion, Jill has grown up a lot. Is she a better person? I wouldn't go that far. But she really has tried to keep the peace or at least play nice, albeit you can tell it was all an act. And I deeply respect anyone that tells it like it is. Because Alex has shown her true colors and really is a bitch. However, I do not believe for one nanosecond that Jill is scared of Bethenney. And I refuse to believe that Mario is cheating on Ramona. All LIES.

Ramona used to be my favorite character. But she kinda rubbed me the wrong way this season. Though she did handle herself very well with Cindy, Ramona's dig at Luann and her kids was low and put a sour taste in my mouth. Otherwise, she was really uncharacteristically quiet for most of the episode. I think she's going through something. Her marriage? Menopause? Whatever is stirring inside of her, I hope she lets it out soon. I have an inkling that a quiet Ramona is a deadly Ramona. Hm, I always liked red wine anyway.

Luann was most interesting. She was neutral and didn't really take sides. Which would have been fine, if she didn't carry around her an air of haughtiness. Unsolicited etiquette advice is the worst. Didn't she ever learn that if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all? Wherever she got her etiquette lessons, she needs to get a refund pronto. Also, did the makeup artist skip her? She looked like she had just walked 10 blocks in the 96 degree humid NYC weather.

Sonja won favorite housewife! And rightfully so. She was the most well-behaved and definitely the most human of all of them that night. Any conflict that headed her way, she gracefully deterred. She is also nice and opens her arms to each and every Housewife, even Cindy. I also love her zest for life. I'm going to go ahead and nominate Sonja to be the Ambassador of all the Housewives. Or is that Andy Cohen's job?

What did you guys think?! I would love to hear it all!!

And don't worry kids, it's not over yet. That was just part 1. There's a part 2 that airs next week. HOORAY!

Hi Hi!

2011-07-26T12:49:00.004-04:00

Does anyone still read this? I sure hope so!

And I love you lots if you still do.
I've been working on a bunch of different things ...

and unfortunately, my beloved blog has taken a backseat.
BUT NO MORE, i say. NO MORE!!

I'm making my way back to the blogging world, so watch out world!

in case you forget what I look like :)

lots of blog love,

flower shoot

2011-03-23T13:22:00.000-04:00

Remember these flowers?

My friend Julie and I decided to have a photo shoot with them.

Because she loves photography, and I love having my photo taken. We are great friends.

The Four Chord Song

2011-03-22T13:19:00.005-04:00

Hey ya'll!

I've got a case of the Tuesdays and I need a good singalong.

Check out this funny video of this band that proves that all you need is to learn how to play four chords to make a good pop song. They're called The Axis of Awesome, and they are indeed awesome.

via Huffington Post

(almost) spring flowers

2011-02-18T15:02:00.004-05:00

It's almost 60 degrees today and it is feeling like spring! After the blizzard(s) that NYC has been hit with, the warm weather is providing me with lots of hope and possibility. Like these giant flowers coming out of the snow!

Happy happy Friday and have a fabulous weekend!

Check out my Bûche (de Noël)!

2011-02-10T17:23:00.006-05:00

This post is a little belated but the pictures are so super cute, I know you'll forgive me.

Over Christmas, I was in charge of making our Yule Log... because if we're going to be honest, the phamily isn't very fond of my "hippie" food.

Ta-da!

I used Jacques Torres' recipe, and it was delicious! I followed the recipe exactly except for the coffee liquer part for the Coffee Buttercream. Instead, I replaced the water with 1/3 cup of coffee. The phamily drinks Cafe Du Monde, so that is what I used. This took about 4 hours total, and was totally worth it.

And what is Christmas without a Christmas Tree? Well, I made my own little forest because I was really in the spirit.

Aren't they so adorable? I love them. I love how the wax paper looks like a snowy background. Unfortunately, I can't take credit for this. I found the idea/recipe here. It took me about 6 hours for 60-ish cookies, so it is a big project but fun when you're visiting home and have hours to do NOTHING. Oh vacation, how I miss thee.

I kinda miss Christmas, but am so ready for summer! Let's do it.

How to be a 20-something

2011-02-03T17:11:00.005-05:00

What are you supposed to do when you're in your 20s?
Are we supposed to make a certain amount of money by x age?
Is the bullshit supposed to stop?
What type of adult should we be?
We have to have it all figured out, right?

All I know is that I'm just trying to live as happily as I can, and I hope you are too!

I read this great article about "How to be a 20-something" that basically states that you should enjoy your prime years and forget the naysayers.

My favorite lines:

“Date people who you know you’ll never be able to love.”

"Remember that you’re young and that the world is your oyster. Everything
is possible, you still have so much to see and hear. You went to a good school
and did good things. Figure if you’re not going to be successful, who the hell
is?"

Read motivational article here.

A Spectacular Moment

2011-01-20T14:17:00.007-05:00

Do you ever feel like you're just going through the motions?

I feel like that today. Nothing special is happening. Nothing out of the ordinary differentiates this day from the previous. Like I am waiting for a spectacular moment. And then it makes me a little sad- that life can be a little boring.

And then a coworker/friend told me that if every moment of my life were a spectacular moment, I wouldn't be able to handle it. And if every moment of my life were a spectacular moment, then I would want a spectacular spectacular moment and wish for one of those for every moment of my life. (Ah, such a vicious cycle life can be sometimes).

And then I take a deep breath, and happily wait for my next spectacular moment.

Ted Williams

2011-01-05T19:31:00.004-05:00

Have you guys heard of Ted Williams? If not, don't worry too much about being "in the know" because he literally has only been in the public eye for about a day.

He is our most recent, most literal example of an overnight sensation. Just yesterday he was just a homeless man on the side of the highway and today he has offers from across the nation of job offers to be the next big voice over talent. He even got offered a house!

Ted is a trained radio announcer that lost himself to drugs and alcohol which consequently left him homeless. In the video below, he talks about being clean for two years and his supreme gratitude for everything.

It really is so inspiring and humbling to me how quickly his life changed and had his dreams come true. And all he had to do was to keep doing what he was doing... by standing on the side of the road as a homeless man with a sign that said he had an amazing voice... he showed the world around him what he could do and someone saw. Amazing.

What did I learn from this? I will continue to [learn to] be the exceptional person that I am and do what I do because when someone sees me, I want to be prepared for what is to come!

Feliz Cumpleaños Mario!

2010-12-18T12:08:00.001-05:00

Though I begged him not to, my amazing friend Mario turned 25 today.

Happy happy birthday to my dear old (punny) friend!

Laughter and drinking is what comes to mind when I think of you.

So that means you're pretty great! Maybe, even awesome!

(photo of Mario and his last birthday cake and his hero "Mayor McCheesy")

ps- do you remember our 3 hour dance party tribute to Michael Jackson? yea, me too.

i.love.snow

2010-12-16T11:44:00.000-05:00

maybe it's because I'm originally from Texas (where people break out their North Face when the temperature drops below 70 degrees)... but I LOVE snow. Like looooove it. Like can't get enough of it.

I love the magical feeling that I get when it falls around me,

I love how soft and fluffy it is, but you can still manage to mold it into big round people,

I love how the white color makes everything it touches look so pretty and classic.

I don't mind the slush that you get after the storm and it makes the 20 degree weather outside worth it.

i.love.snow

NYC has only gotten one real snowfall so far so this giant snowflake floating on 57th Street will have to do for now.

Conversation with my Sister

2010-12-06T13:04:00.003-05:00

Picture: Post-Thanksgiving meal. Christine and I are sitting on the couch. We are feeling stuffed and "watching" my brother, uncle and dad watch football.

Me: is there a football game every Thanksgiving?
Sister: Jennifer, there is Sunday night football and Monday night football.
Me: it's Thursday.
Sister: oh, um....

cannot wait to visit Dallas for Christmas!!

photos from our 2009 white christmas

Gobble Gobble

2010-11-30T22:31:00.001-05:00

Hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving! I'm back from Texas where I ate everything in front of me and filled up on phamily time. It was great and I was definitely sad to leave (mainly because of my crying mother). But I get to come back in one month for Christmas!!

Speaking of my mother- she got me a Tofurkey to eat on Thanksgiving... not the boxed kind that you get at a traditional grocery store. She found a soy meat that was molded into a shape of a little piece of chicken! Don't believe me? Don't worry- I took a picture. It tasted delicious (and you will have to trust me on that one because it's all gone).

#GobbleGobble

Did you think I was crazy when you read that I already put my Christmas tree up? Well, my dad put up our tree before Thanksgiving too. The Phams do not mess around with our Christmas celebration, it's in our blood. So I guess we're all crazy.

My adorable cousin Ivy...

And my mom's favorite child, Lucky.

Holy crap, it's going to be December soon!

christmas tree, my christmas tree

2010-11-23T17:14:00.004-05:00

Thanks to the lovely standby schedule at work, I get to see the Phamily in Dallas for Thanksgiving this year! My foodie sister will be handling our not so traditional dinner and she tells me that we will have a 12-course meal. So I need to pack my eating pants (read sweat pants).

But before I travel down south, I had to make sure that my apartment was going to be ready for the Christmas season upon my return because I cannot miss a day. I present to you, the Christmas Tree of apt 5FW. My roommate think I'm crazy because it's not December yet. I said I wanted a menorah too. He said no.

#holycrapicantbelieveitsgonnabedecember

fall love

2010-11-17T16:00:00.000-05:00

the weepies

2010-11-12T14:59:00.006-05:00

On Wednesday, I went to see one of my favorite bands, The Weepies, in concert and they were wonderful!

The Weepies are an indie/pop (oxymoron!) husband and wife duo and they are the absolute cutest! They both play acoustic guitar and sing whimsical lyrics that fill your head with crazy imagery. They are a little on the emo side (but you probably guessed that from their stage name...) but in a very happy way. Oh, and they write all of their songs. Very cool.

I first discovered them from the fabulous Mandy Moore movie Because I Said So, which featured their song "World Spins Madly On." I then quickly downloaded their album "Say I Am You" and didn't look back.

In between sets, they told stories about their little family and you could just tell that they were very real people and humbled by their success. It was so amazing, their show was probably one of the top 3 concerts I've been to.

My pictures weren't that great because I had a late night at work that day and couldn't get there early for a good spot. So I will leave you with a video of one of my favorite songs by them. Enjoy!

Halloween!

2010-11-05T16:26:00.000-04:00

Guess what I was for Halloween?

A dead doll!

Some girl asked if I was supposed to be a "geisha or something." But that's OK because she clearly wasn't the brightest star in the sky. :)

A close-up:

I love Halloween in the city. Everyone is so creative and really go all out. My favorite were these three girls that dressed up as loofahs. They took tulle and wrapped it around themselves and wore a loofah on their head. Wish I had taken a picture!!

(Venetian, magician, dead doll)

Dreams Do Come True II

2010-11-04T21:40:00.009-04:00

Did anyone watch Oprah today? The hot topic of the hour was Teen Heartthrob Surprises and the Backstreet Boys were on, so of course I watched. The show started with Oprah's staff surprising her by bringing Oprah's teen crush Jackie Jackson to the studio and then taking her out to dinner!

She was obviously FLOORED. I especially loved how at first she couldn't even get near him because she was in such a state of shock. And then, she said that it was a dream come true for her. And then it struck me. She is OPRAH. One of the most influential women in the world. And her dreams are still coming true.

Lately, I've been feeling like I'm running out of time for everything and that I need to accomplish certain things before a certain age. I even made a bucket list (but I think that's more for memory purposes... )

To see that Oprah still has dreams that are coming true...It gave me a lot of hope for my dreams and made me really happy.

And then the Backstreet Boys (with Kevin!!!!) came on and I almost threw up because I got extremely giddy.

#KTBSPA!!

the leaves are changing colors

2010-10-29T12:49:00.005-04:00

I get to walk across central park everyday to go to work. And today was a wonderfully crisp fall day.

(photo taken with my iphone)

Speaking of fall, I am so excited for Halloweener!! I think Halloween is secretly one of my favorite holidays. What's not to love about dressing up and getting wasted? Oops, did I just say that?

Happy happy weekend!

#ilovefall

boopies

2010-10-11T21:12:00.001-04:00

Let me introduce you to my wonderful high school friends...

We were all on dance team together (called the Pacesetters, in case you were wondering) and that experience on its own has held together our unbreakable bond. We are all so different. We have different beliefs, personalities, interests and dreams... but I think that's what makes us so great. Spectacular, really.

Rarely are we all together because we are grown-ups now and are scattered across the country. The special occassion was Emily's engagement party, and it felt so great to have EVERYONE together and to be there for Emily.

I love us.

Lady Gaga Cake

2010-09-23T12:10:00.000-04:00

This inspires me to take professional cake decorating lessons!

*photo and cake from cake hero

Happy World Peace Day!

2010-09-21T12:05:00.003-04:00

A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is a
reality.

-John Lennon (my favorite Beatle)

I BELIEVE.

I believe that we can all live together and coexist peacefully one day.

I think it is something that we all strive and hope for, but ultimately struggle with.

But if we all take a deep breath together and not take anything too seriously, I think we can do it.

I hope I live to see the day!

Long live absolute world peace.

apartment hunting...

2010-09-17T16:18:00.001-04:00

...doesn't bring out the best in people, or so I've learned.

Don't get me wrong, I am just equally as guilty as my new roommate. Looking for an affordable home in a city where rent is unreasonbably inflated requires a lot of disposable time that neither of us have. Just another lovely perk of living in Manhattan.

We've found 3 really great apartments that fit our budget and are considered "steals" and have lost them all.

I just stumbled across this article that sums up the hell that is apartment hunting in the Manhattan area and it is so funny yet so on point. Read here.

Ah, laughter amongst stress.

We just applied to a great apartment and our application is pending. Cross your fingers!

**And just to show you that we're not that miserable and we still love each other, here is a picture of Darien/roommate and me with a heart-shaped ice sculpture in Times Square... Another wonderful perk of living in NYC. :)

intelligentsia

2010-09-16T13:22:00.000-04:00

I'm not a big coffee drinker, though I find myself constantly surrounded by them. Maybe my phamily and friends need the caffeine to catch up with my energy? Who knows.

While in Chicago, we had Intelligentsia Coffee. I had never had it before, but it is supposedly one of the best coffees according to Morgan and Sasha.

Speaking of...

I'm not a big coffee drinker, but it was a pretty good, decent cup of coffee.

First we went to Floriole Cafe & Bakery where they also serve Intelligentisia.

Cappuccino was good. But the macarons were better! They had three flavors: chocolate, orange blossom (?) and lemon lavender. The lemon lavender macaron stole the show! The texture and flavor combination was delicious and is worth a trip back to Chicago. I'm serious! It even had real lavender leaves on top of the macaron.

Next, we visited the actual Intelligentsia Coffee. My cappuccino was excellent and made with care. I forgot to ask for soy at the register and the barista accommodated me in the nicest way possible! #kindnessgoesalongway

I tried their chocolate, vanilla and pistachio macarons and they were OK. A bit on the chewy side and not as light as the ones from Floriole. But they steamed a soy heart in my cappuccino. So life balanced itself there, like it always does.

Lollapalooooooza

2010-09-14T16:11:00.016-04:00

Last month, I flew to Chicago to see some old college friends #omg, I can't believe I can say that now?

But also to attend Lollapalooza ... and it was such an awesome time!!

My musical highlights were Lady Gaga's Monster Ball set, the crowd chanting to "Wake Up" after Arcade Fire's colorful performance, swaying to Stars and dancing to Kaskade in a field completely dedicated to raving. Awesome.

But really, all the acts we saw were great and it was such an amazing experience. Probably not the same as it was back in the early 90's ... but still lots of fun.

An unexpected surprise was the culinary lineup! There were two food courts that featured a lot of delicious organic, vegan/vegetarian and gluten-free options. It also made me very happy to see that a lot of items sold out, meaning that there is a demand for particular eaters like me!

Things I'd like to see change: Budweiser was the official sponsor so naturally that was the only beer that was sold. I don't know anyone that would want Budweiser to have a monopoly on such a grand scale.

Well, maybe my daddy. :)

Dreams Do Come True

2010-09-12T20:30:00.002-04:00

So yes, I saw the Backstreet Boys again. And yes, it was just as amazing, if not better.

Not because it was the same exact show. And not because they replaced their awkward opening act with their super cool dj who spinned a set and basically turned the concert into a mini rave.

It was because Nick Carter touched and acknowledged me!!!

After the concert, we waited on the other side of the building for the boys to come out. We saw the tour bus and strategically stood near the bus door. When Nick came out, he stopped where my friend Jenna and I were standing and that was when I touched his hand!!! Our fingers intertwined and I felt him wriggle his fingers free from mine. :)

That's not all. We started following the bus down the street and Nick turned down the window and started staying stuff like "AJ has pink eye!" I screamed, "I want AJ's pink eye!" He laughed and said, "No, you don't!"

*photo of Nick and AJ on the bus talking to me :)

This was seriously a dream come true!!

ps- I've washed my hands since then. I didn't want to, but I did.

Controversy

2010-09-08T15:54:00.002-04:00

Have you heard about this Florida pastor's plan to burn the Koran on 9/11?

I love Lupe Fiasco's response on his twitter:

"If they burn a book have no worries...the book will feel NO pain so neither should you! Rules 2 Rule"

No matter how deeply you feel, hate crimes are never OK.

Religion is scary sometimes.

I wish everyone could just get along.

photo taken during a leisurely walk through the upper east side of manhattan

Airport Visit

2010-09-07T16:04:00.000-04:00

When I landed in Dallas way back in July, La Beast was supposed to be flying out to London that same day. So she came way early to the airport so we could spend some quality time together before we parted ways again. She's such a great friend.

Ever since we graduated high school, we don't ever get to spend as much time together as we'd like due to college and first jobs. But we make it work with these little visits. One day, I am confident that we will find a way to live in the same city as adults. Because life is always better when she is around!

Is this part of growing up? Having to leave behind your childhood friends and phamily to chase your dreams? During interviews, I am frequently asked "What is the biggest sacrifice that you have had to make so far?" And I always answer with not being able to be around my phamily and friends all the time.

During college and even into my first job, I make frequent and lengthy phone calls/emails punctuated with visits during the holidays. And I think that's enough for me (obviously, I would love more) because things don't seem "different" or "awkward" when I visit home and it's almost like I never left. I think that's the best part.

I'm Not Your Babe

2010-07-12T12:17:00.003-04:00

Last Friday, Kat, Darien and I woke up at 5AM (I know) to go see Lady Gaga perform at Rockefeller Center for the Today Show. Apparently over 18,000 people showed up, but we braved the crowds and the big fat raindrops, and it was so worth it.

You can always count on her to make an entrance!

This is Darien hiding under a stranger's umbrella to protect his delicate curls. Haha, seriously couldn't resist posting this picture. Love you Mama! xoxo

Home

2010-07-08T19:54:00.002-04:00

Picture is of my mom and my two darling little cousins, Gene and Ivy, from this past weekend in Dallas, my hometown. I visited for my parents' anniversary and got to hang out, watch fireworks and eat my weight in my mom's cooking. It's always so great to visit home. I miss it already!

Happy 25 years to my parents and the Phamily!

2010-07-07T00:15:00.005-04:00

Don't get me wrong, the Phamily has had its ups and downs. But it's nice and comforting to know that there are those that will be there for you in the end. I guess this is what some would call a commitment. Still can't believe we made it to 25! I say 'we' because I was there for 24 of those years. :)

Here is something that I learned. 25 years is silver. 50 is gold. 75 is diamonds. My mom obviously is holding out for the diamonds.

This was my contribution to our dinner that my sister and I made for Trinh (mom) and Son (dad). Who doesn't love Bruschetta? Do such people exist?

KTBSPA!!!

2010-06-29T14:34:00.011-04:00

I love music. Music speaks to me. Sometimes it magically lets me know how I'm feeling. And it almost always puts me in a great mood.

So there shouldn't be any shame in that right??

I love the Backstreet Boys. Like L.O.V.E. them. Even through their days of straightened hair, notable weight gain and drug addictions. (I understand fussing over hair; who doesn't love a huggable teddy bear; and recovering from addictions show us that we're human). And this love affair that started when I was 10 has shown no signs of stopping.

I recently saw them two weeks ago in New York at Hammerstein Ballroom. It was general admission so a couple of us got there early. We waited while the clouds shifted slowly and gave us some shade from the hot sun and then some rain. But it was OK. Because we sang BSB songs and played BSB trivia and friended other life long fans. I felt so safe. The show began and I loved every second of it. They played their new album and integrated all their classics; while not taking themselves seriously at all. It brought back so many fond memories and good feelings. I wish I could say more to describe how amazing it was.

They are doing another show in August and I just got my tickets in the mail. I canNOT wait!!!

Is there anyone that you have seen a billion times and can't get enough of?

KTBSPA!!!

I'm Back!!!

2010-06-28T17:32:00.003-04:00

Hi All,

After a brief stint with mobileme's web account, I've decided to go back to my blogger home. Now with this fancy new and improved layout, I hope to update more. If not, feel free to ask me to :)

But seriously, sorry I'm so MIA and I promise to blog more frequently.

Love love,

jen

We've Moved!!

2009-09-06T23:58:00.004-04:00

Don't worry, it's not goodbye! It's more of a "please change your bookmark on your safari/mozilla/internet explorer" kind of thing.

Where to?

http://web.me.com/jenniferpham

Blog is under "thoughts and wonderings."

See you there!!!!

now now a DIVA is a female version of a hustla

2009-08-25T23:40:00.004-04:00

Check out my commercial!!! It already started airing on VH1 as of last week. But if you're not into crappy reality TV, click on the link below!

FYI, this is my first gig EVER!! We should all take a moment to note this important time in history.

DIVAS STORIES: Jen from Vinny Lopez on Vimeo.

Now, I'm sure you're wondering, "How did she get the opportunity to star in this amazing commercial?" I applied! I wrote a short essay and got picked! This is my proof to you that anything can happen. Someone has to be chosen; why can't it be YOU?

In case you didn't know...

2009-06-10T14:04:00.001-04:00

Watch this.

Do You Remember Junior High?

2009-05-19T22:38:00.009-04:00

"The only place that being like everyone else is cool is junior high." -Taylor Swift on Oprah

Junior high was THE most awkward time in my life. I have the pictures to prove it. I'd post them... but that was before things went digital (I feel old). Oh, well. Too bad. TOO BAD. Glad that is over and done with.

I also love Taylor Swift. She is such a talented songwriter, a great role model and she's so cute (in a "I look like a mouse" kinda way).

BREAKING NEWS: Jennifer Pham Is a Grown-Up

2009-03-31T22:13:00.023-04:00

Or getting there at least. Why the sudden realization/awareness/materialization, etc? I got blood drawn yesterday... for the first time ever. Ever. EVER.

I must backup.

As you may or may not know, I am originally from Dallas, Texas (which I am so ashamed of right now: read HERE) and I moved to New York for school. But as far away from home as I was, I was still able to go to the doctor and dentist during summer and winter breaks and whenever else I was able to visit home, with my mother by my side, of course. But what did I do when I was severely sick and didn't have a trip to Dallas planned? Let's be honest, I have never been a big fan of going to both the doctor and the dentist.

But if we're going to be really honest, when I was really sick, I simply waited for the sickness to go away, which was not as simple as it sounds. This included, but not excluding, crying, overdosing on TheraFlu and annoying the crap out of my beloved roommate, Sasha/Ma.

Well, it's now been almost a year since I graduated (Holy crap!) and I find myself starting my career/life here. So it was finally time for me to start establishing myself in the Big Apple (I love apples btw). Like getting a full-time job? Check. Like getting my first apartment outside of student housing? Check. Like doing laundry at the laundromat? Check. Like going to the emergency room by myself when I fractured my ankle whilst falling down a flight of stairs (this may or may not be explained in a later post)? Check, check. Like going to the doctor to get my first check-up by myself without Mommy? Big fat CHECK.

Lucky for you, I remembered the entire experience (minus the whole passing out part). Here goes:

In traditional Jennifer Pham-fashion, I am late for my appointment. Twelve minutes late to be exact. Sigh, I swear one day I'll try to fix that. But that didn't really matter because Doctor is a little behind schedule. So I do the whole filling out papers, fronting the $20 copay and reading health magazines for a good 20 minutes.

Then, I finally get called in.

Doctor is a little old jewish lady that's sweet with a little sass in her bones. She tells me what the check-up will entail. Things like measuring my height and weight, feeling for my lymph nodes, taking my blood pressure, pee test, and oh, a blood test. I immediately enter panic mode. I explain to her that I have an INTENSE fear of needles and get overly queasy around blood. She says it's a free country and that I don't have to, but then explains the benefits of the blood test. I say I'll think about it, and she says, "Well, don't take too long 'cause I have other patients, too." (Sass.) When she takes my blood pressure, it is raging high and I can't seem to bring it down. This is of course because I am still thinking about the blood test. So now I have to go back in three months for her to check my blood pressure again.

We eventually come to an agreement: I'll allow for the blood test if she will administer it herself in the room (I would normally have to go downstairs to the laboratory). She starts to tie my right arm and I start crying. She injects the needle into my vein and I let out a LOUD scream. I am not embarrassed. She tells me not to look, but I look anyway. I see the blood escaping out of my body and I black out. Next thing I know, Doctor is waking me up and telling me that I passed out a little but I'm done and gives me some apple juice. After giving me some time to recuperate, she asked about my medical history. She soon found out that it's been well over a decade since my last tetanus shot and that she wanted to give me one right then. She then realized that she had pushed her luck with the blood thing.

It was a triumph, to say the least.

Or, you know, just one of those life transitions.

Life Lessons of HSM3 (but not really)

2008-12-31T00:53:00.004-05:00

Last night, I saw High School Musical 3 at the Dollar Theater with this awesome chica, my sister and her friend. I felt like I was babysitting (even though it was Taylor's and my idea to go). This was also my third time to see it, but my FIRST time paying to see it.

OK, so none of that really matters except for the fact that Disney did a great job with HSM3. The Made-for-TV movie turned big screen blockbuster was really professional. The music and choreography were flawless, making all three viewings more than tolerable.

My only complaint is that I didn't see any Asians! My sister and I briefly discussed the matter on the way home. It really struck me that she noticed. As an Asian woman (omg, I'm a woman?!?!) pursuing a career in Media, I often think about and notice the lack of Asians in the Media all the time. Is it intentional? Are Asians being discriminated against by casting? Or is it because Asians have chosen not to be present in Media, and have instead chosen to pursue a career as a doctor, lawyer or ambiguous business person?

Whatever the reason is, I hope I get to change all of that down the road. Having my own talk show is a dream, among many, I've had since high school, a time where you focus a lot on "what you want to be when you grow up," an ongoing theme throughout the film. And while I don't think I'll start feeling like a grown-up until Monday (when I start my first job out of college!), I just realized that all I have is now. Post-graduation, I am free to dictate what I do and pursue what I want. After high school graduation, four years of college stood before me. Now, to take from Natasha Bedingfield, I am staring at the blank page before me. I will be honest, the general lack of direction really got to me. I had good days, and I had bad days. But now, I am learning to embrace it. And learning is a part of life, right?

But the lack of me doesn't take away from HSM3, so GO SEE IT!

November 4th

2008-11-14T12:27:00.007-05:00

Obama is elected our 44th President!!! I hope that I am not breaking this news for you. Anyway, this post is just to note my special experience and complete happiness on election night.

On November 4th, 2008, I worked at the Associated Press (my little side gig that I have going on). All freaking night. And while I understand that I was part of the news, I was still a little sad that I couldn't watch the suspenseful election night coverage with the rest of America. So I got people to text me updates throughout the night. I can't even begin to explain how unnerving it is to get a text saying that McCain is in the lead. I started plotting my move to Canada (I know, threatening to move to Canada is such a cliché thing to say but my aunt currently lives in Toronto so it's not so out of the blue). I am so glad he didn't maintain that brief lead.

I was done at the AP around 1 AM and left so I could go home, sleep and come back at 10 AM. When the subway came and the doors opened, passengers cheered and applauded. It was very unexpected since the only voices that you ever really hear on the subway comes from the homeless people pleading their case on why you should give them money. It sent chills through my body. That happened at each stop and you could feel the happiness. It was amazing.

It's been well over a week and I still can't believe it.

November: National Blog Posting Month

2008-11-10T12:27:00.003-05:00

Dear Beloved Blog and It'll Be Ok Readers:

I am so sorry that I have neglected you for the past two months. Life became busy and priorities shifted. You had to take a backseat, but please know that I love you just the same.

I just learned that November is National Blog Posting Month, a commemorative month of observance invented by the blogosphere community to help people build a habit of blogging everyday (including weekends!). And while it is almost mid-November, I will start now anyway and I promise I will try my best.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Pham

We All Die...

2008-09-15T01:04:00.002-04:00

"We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, but to create something that will." -Chuck Palahniuk

Meat and Potatoes

2008-09-02T22:51:00.006-04:00

For those of you who are unaware, I am from Dallas, Texas. A place where a meal is not considered a meal without meat. So what's a vegan to eat when her sister wants to make steak and potatoes for dinner on day two (of five) of playing "House?" She makes her own steak (Seitan cutlets to be exact), and here's how:

You will need:
1 1/2 cup vital wheat gluten
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
2 tbl soy milk
3/4 cup cold water
3 cup vegetable broth

This recipe is inspired by my current go-to vegan cookbook Vegan with a Vengeance. I found the recipe to be too salty (which is rare because I happen to be a big fan of salt) so I just took the basic idea and seasoned with what we had in our pantry. First, I made my own broth using hot water and vegetable bouillon cubes. So if you're opting to make your own, I would just put the cubes in the water and turn on the heat and prepare the seitan while you wait for the cubes to melt. To make the cutlets, combine all of the dry ingredients and mix well. Then add in the cold water and it will turn into this weird dough. Kneed it (I just stretch it out and fold it in half over and over again) for a minute or so. Be careful of overworking it because it will get tough. Then I rolled it into a log and cut it into six even pieces before I shaped them into "steaks."

Hopefully, your broth will be simmering by this time. Drop the cutlets into the broth and cover for 20 minutes. You will need to flip the seitan once halfway (at 10 minutes). During this time, you can make the wet mix in one bowl and the dry mix in another bowl for the dredging and the frying.

Wet Mix:
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup soymilk
2 tbl flour
1 tbl ketchup
1 tbl mustard
1 tbl nutritional yeast
1/2 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp garlic powder

Dry Mix:
1 cup flour
3 tbl nutritional yeast
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

In a large frying pan, heat about 2 cups of oil (I used canola). To test if the heat is high enough, I took a wooden chopstick and dipped it into the dry mix and then into the hot pan. If it sizzles, it's ready. If it doesn't, then wait some more. Pat the cutlets dry with a paper towel before dredging. Once everything is ready, dip the cutlets into the wet mix and make sure it is completely drenched. Then dip it into the dry mix and make sure it is completely covered. Now you can fry your cutlet! Flip them over when they look "ready" to be turned and/or are golden brown.

I served them on a bed of spinach sautéed with garlic with a sprinkling of sautéed mushrooms on top, "streen" beans, fresh corn and vegan garlic and chives mashed potatoes (recipe in a later post) to my favorite vegan: ME!

YUM-O!

John McCain: The Distorted Moderate

2008-08-29T15:35:00.016-04:00

Senator John McCain claims to be a moderate Republican (i.e. conservative on most fiscal policies and slightly more liberal than his Republican counterparts). This actually made me a little happy inside because I have a huge problem with extremists (of all kinds). To borrow from the theme of Bridge to Terabithia, "Keep your mind wide open."

But as I read more and more on this witty centrist from Arizona (did you see him nominate Jay Leno for president on The Tonight Show?), I have found that he is not moderate at all, not even in the slightest sense of the word. He makes traditional conservative votes for the most part (90% of the time according to Obama) and very rarely, he deviates erratically in his "liberal" ways, resulting in an uproar within the Republican populous. He has been conservative when voting on foreign and military policy, on economic policy, on abortion rights and on gay rights. So my question is, what else is there for him to vote on that makes him so "moderate?"

Today, he announced that he has chosen Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin as his Vice President, an obvious strategic attempt to gain the support of diehard Hillary fans,... even though Hillary endorsed Obama on Tuesday, surely the sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits can't be that angry. As a woman, I am offended that McCain would think that I would ignore that his issues contradict women issues and vote for him anyway solely because he chose a woman as his VP. It's about the issues, not girls vs. boys.

So who is Sarah Palin? According to MSNBC, she is currently under investigation for abusing power in Alaska (she tried to have her ex brother-in-law fired from the state). Haven't we seen enough (more than enough, in my opinion) of exploitation from Bush? Even if the investigation is still open, any speculation of this behavior is enough reason for me to say "Hell to the No."

Sarah Palin is also three years younger than Barack Obama, the same Democratic nominee labeled as inexperienced by McCain. Does that mean Palin is even more inexperienced? What are you trying to tell me John?

In tune with his grandfatherly ways, McCain still thinks it is OK when women don't receive equal pay for equal work. So does that mean that if and when McCain/Palin sweep the polls in November, Palin will receive less pay than Dick Cheney currently earns now?

John McCain: Moderate? Debatable and semi-relative (depending on who you ask). Hypocrite? Most definitely.

Pasghetti with the Phamily

2008-08-27T20:54:00.005-04:00

Today is day one (of five) for the Phamily without our precious mother. Trinh left for Toronto early this morning to reunite with her eight siblings (my maternal family tree is hugely Catholic) and to attend my cousin's wedding. My dad, sister, Lucky and I were left behind with the arduous task to watch the house during her weekend of fun.

My dad went to work this morning and didn't get home until late afternoon like a normal working person. During that time, Christine and I woke up at 11 and did what we loved best: shopped and made food. We visited J.Crew and perused their final sale. All sale items were an extra 40% off. I got this skirt in honey glaze which was originally $98 but after the 40% off and then a 10% student discount, the grand total came out to be $16.33. It was a STEAL.

After a brisk stroll around NorthPark, we returned home and made a cozy dinner of spaghetti and garlic bread. Yum-O! Christine made an extra plate of sausage links to complete the meal for the carnivorous section of the Phamily, who can be seen below.

Daddy enjoying his meal while Christine serves up a STORM!

Well, I'm off to take a nap. Why? Because if my mom left early for the airport, that means I got home at an absurd hour after dropping her off. :)

Hillary Has a Heart...and Shows It!

2008-08-27T00:28:00.010-04:00

Ever since June 3 (day before my birthday), we have rarely seen Senator Hillary Clinton in the political spotlight. Agitated Hillary defenders were basically left wondering what to do. Should they reluctantly hop on the Obama bandwagon or vote in opposition to the man they had originally thought unfit and untrained to run their country? I wouldn't know personally because I wasn't a supporter of her but that's what I would be thinking. Well, Tuesday night of the DNC was Hillary night (according to CNN) and surprisingly, it was a good night! In a semi-overwhelming message of unity, Democrats were told to move forward and to keep fighting. Let Us Unite!

Overall, I thought the actual speech was super dramatic but that it also needed to be in order for her message to be as stimulating/motivating as it was. She focused a lot on the progress of women (her mom was born before women's suffrage; Chelsea has the opportunity to vote for her mom) and that made me wonder if Hillary fans were supporting Hillary the person or the progress of women. If not now, when will the opportunity for women will come? 2012? Keep on fighting and we'll get there.

Personally, I was really surprised at her speech. Up until the very end of her campaign for the Democratic nomination, she was a robot. But all of the sudden, she wears a different energy (with no help from that orange pantsuit contraption) that is relatable and real. Dan (who suggested that I post this "controversial" political commentary) attributes it to all the sleep she's had, which is a good hypothesis.

Aside from her newfound spirit, Hillary delivered some great lines along with a great anecdote of Harriet Tubman's fight for freedom.

"No way. No how. No McCain. Barack Obama is my candidate."

"We don't need four more years of the last eight years."

"To my supporters, to my champions- to my sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits- from the bottom of my heart: Thank you."

Hillary also challenged her supporters and asked why are you in this? Were you in this campaign just for me? Were you in it for all the people in this country who feel invisible? I thought that was really powerful and more importantly, it made me think. So... why am I in this? I'll save that for another post.

So... why are YOU in this?

I can't wait for Billy to speak!!!

Where Does the Time Go?

2008-08-06T00:32:00.005-04:00

"Time is the ultimate scarcity." - Prof. Marc Lieberman, Economics Principles I

In London, wondering what time it is...

Big Ben told us the time and we were so thankful.

Super Easy Vegan Peach Scones

2008-07-25T21:22:00.006-04:00

This is my variation of a basic scone recipe from "Vegan with a Vengeance." You really could add any fruit. I chose peaches because my mom went overboard when we went to Sprouts and she saw that peaches were 39¢/lb. Also, I added lime juice to the soy milk to give it a tang that resembled buttermilk.

3 cups whole wheat pastry flour

2 tbl baking powder

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/4 cup soy milk

1/3 cup canola oil

juice of 1/2 lemon or lime (I use lime because we never have lemons!)

2 medium peaches, peeled and chopped

Preheat oven to 400ºF and grease your baking sheet (I lined mine with foil).

In a large bowl, sift all the dry ingredients, minus the peaches. Then add all of the wet ingredients. Mix until you don't see anymore wetness. Don't be alarmed if the dough isn't "dough-y," it's supposed to look like crumble topping like this:

Then fold in your fruit. To form the scones, I used my 1/4 measuring cup and scooped out the dough. I put a little more on top and pat it down with my hand on the baking sheet. You can yield about 16 scones depending on how big you make them. I only got 12 this time. :) I also sprinkled some sugar on them before they went into the oven.

12 minutes....

These are great to have for breakfast or a snack with coffee, tea or soy milk. I like my scones heated up (15 secs in the microwave) with vegan butter. My mom and sister will most likely eat these as is during our drive to Austin early tomorrow morning.

ENJOY!!!

I Wanted to Change the World

2008-07-21T16:04:00.003-04:00

By Unknown Monk, 1100 A.D.

"When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world, so I tried to change my nation.

When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family.

Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world."

The future of the World!

So You Think You Can Dance (dance, dance, dance, dance, dance)

2008-07-16T20:18:00.018-04:00

Since its debut in 2005, my summer is not a summer without a season of So You Think You Can Dance.

I missed the first 10 minutes tonight but it'll be OK because of YouTube!! I tuned in during what seemed to be Chelsie's solo, which didn't look that good or maybe her energy faded by the end because her smile sure did. Chelsie and Gev's jive routine was good. I completely agree with the judges. I didn't notice Gev at all. But I feel like that's because he was wearing all black and was overshadowed by Chelsie's flashy gold costume.

Highlights of the show include:

-Seeing the pregnant choreographer dancing and spinning

-Mark's weird and wonderful solo. I still love him even if the judges hate him. It's unconditional. Even his cheesy "vote for me, my number is #" was adorable.

-Singing along to Twitch and Comfort's first performance to "Open Arms." However, that was the only good thing about the routine. In fact, it was so bad that my MOTHER commented, "That was bad!"

-Twitch and Comfort's hip-hop routine to "Forever" by Chris Brown

-Katee's dad wearing a "Katee's Dad" shirt

-"He's a man!"-Courtney and Mary, referring to Joshua

-Spankenstein routine

-Will and Katee's pas de deux

I can't wait for the results show!

Quote

2008-07-15T16:25:00.000-04:00

"Revel in your imperfections, be entertained by your problems and know that once you looked ahead and wished you were where you are now. And once again, you will look back and smile." -Unknown

Kindness

2008-07-14T23:26:00.009-04:00

Today, I witnessed a true act of kindness that came from pure love.

After dinner, my parents and I went for a walk around the neighborhood with Lucky (our puppy). As we turned the corner to get back on our street, I see this elderly couple in front of their house. The woman was tending to her flowers and the man was sitting on his rocking chair. I hoped that I will have a rocking chair to sit on in front of my house. I also noticed a giant, fake Wishbone-looking dog pulling an empty wagon in front of their tree and thought, "Hm, that's interesting lawn decor." I see the man get up and go inside the house and my attention reverted back to the sidewalk. Moments later, Lucky is barking and is pulling on his leash. I see the man crossing the street over to us and he is carrying a container full of dog treats. He says to us, "Every dog that passes by my house gets a doggy treat" and gives Lucky two treats. Lucky is petrified of strangers so I had to hold him and the man tried to give him a kiss but Lucky resisted and tried to bite him. So we talked briefly. He tells us that he has three dogs and that he is so in love with him. Then he shook my dad's hand and then we said goodnight. The entire experience was so beautiful and so pure.

After we parted ways, we continued our journey home (5 more houses to go!). Lucky is very attached to my mother and in turn, my mother likes to play tricks on Lucky. Whenever we go walking, at some point, she will let my dad walk further ahead with Lucky and then she will hide behind a tree or a parked car and see how long it will be until Lucky notices. Well today, she hid in between mailboxes and it was THE funniest thing ever.

When we got home, my mom and I went night swimming while my dad watered his flowers.

Today was a wonderful day.

FreeRice.com

2008-07-14T17:38:00.008-04:00

Need something new to do on the Internet besides refreshing celebrity gossip blogs and snooping on Facebook? Visit FreeRice.com!

This is a fun way to increase your vocabulary but more importantly, for every word you get right, twenty grains of rice is donated through the UN World Hunger Program to help feed the hungry. The site was launched on October 7, 2007 and 38 BILLION grains of rice have been donated since. The rice is bought with money from sponsors when you visit the site so play often and tell your amigos!

Feed your mind and hungry people! I just learned that phlebotomy means bloodletting AND I donated 500 grains of rice. I love it when the little bowl fills up.

I get so happy when I find things like this on the web. :)

Long Live the Internet!

2008-07-12T22:22:00.011-04:00

As I trudge through this journey of finding my first job (it's surprisingly hard to find one that matches both my interests AND skills, ... or maybe I'm just really picky), a string of thoughts go through my mind. I think about how long I will remain in this state of frictional unemployment. I wonder what city I will end up in. I think about what particular path I should carve out for myself to reach my ultimate dreams/goals. Then I rationalize that the best thing to do is to take it one step at a time and that right now, I should focus on finding my first job.

Most of the jobs I've applied for were found on the Internet, but other than that, have I exhausted all of my resources? I think about how big business moguls started out. How did they find their first job? They didn't have the Internet. So I wonder, what did they use and how did they do it? Newspapers is the immediate answer that comes to mind.

The point is, I just realized another part of my life that is dependent upon the Internet and you know what, it's not so bad!

A Vegan Remedy for Ailing Vegans

2008-07-11T21:40:00.014-04:00

Looking for a vegan remedy to your sore throat? Try Amy's No Chicken Noodle Soup!

I stumbled across this vegan version of the "cure all" soup at Sprouts today and it is indeed light, tasty, comforting, and of course, contains no chicken, just like Amy promises. The tofu was a little hard for my taste and I, of course, added salt but this is a delicious option if you're sick and don't have the energy to stew over a pot of soup that already conveniently comes in a can. But have no fear, I will undoubtedly try to make my own tasty version once I am well.

It's also low fat so I totally had room to wash down a Tofutti Totally Fudge Pop.

This chocolate novelty is oh, so goooooood going down my throat. After the soup, ice cream and TONS of hot green tea, I think my grossly, inflamed tonsils decreased in size a little. Just because you're vegan does not mean you are denied comfort food when you need it most! Here's to a better tomorrow! :)

Hello and Welcome!

2008-07-10T23:42:00.011-04:00

Hi! Welcome to my blog! The title was inspired by my catchphrase "It'll be OK!" and a conversation that took place during my freshman year of college between my good friend Julie K and me. It was originally intended to be the title of my book (and someday, it will be!), but right now it's a blog. But it's free! So read me PLEASE! Thanks for reading! :)