Why Women Cry

My aunt always sends me little inspirational quotes or stories. This particular story makes me appreciate my mother even more. I cannot wait to see her this weekend!

A little boy asked his mother, "Why are you crying?" "Because I'm a woman", she told him.

"I don't understand", he said. His Mom just hugged him and said, "And you never will."

Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?"

"All women cry for no reason," was all his dad could say.

The little boy grew up and became a man , still wondering why women cry.

Finally he put in a call to God. When God got on the phone , he asked , "God, why do women cry so easily?"

God said:
"When I made the woman she had to be special.

I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world, yet gentle enough to give comfort .

I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children.

I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up, and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue with out complaining.

I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances, even when her child has hurt her very badly.

I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart.

I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him unfaltering.

And finally, I gave her a tear to shed. This is hers exclusively to use whenever it is needed."

"You see my son,said God, the beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart - the place where love resides."

Sumo Wrestler

I remember how mean I used to be to my little brother when I would tell him he looked like Buddha and that people should rub his belly for good luck; or that he was going to be a sumo wrestler when he grew up (he was a bit plump as a youngin').

Don't criticize me, people. How many of you picked on your little siblings too? However mean I was to him in the past, you will be glad to know that Alastair and I get along very well with one another now.

(Image via dreamstime)

Dumb-Dumb of the Week: Drunk Teacher

Kylene Nelson, a 42-year old teacher in Land O' Lakes Florida is accused of being drunk at school. We're not talking a little beer-breath after a lunch out; rather, she was allegedly so drunk that she grabbed one of her 13-year old students and started to grind on him. Not only that, but she supposedly was not wearing underwear, and she told her students that she would fail them if they didn't dance with her. So once Ms. Innapropriate Drunkard figured out that she might get detention for this debauchery, she fled school and was later found passed out by the community pool. Let's just say Ms. Kylene blew a .26!

Goodbye March

Goodbye March and Hello April! May the warm weather come and grant us flowers and sunshine!

(Image via sk8ordiehard)

Decorating

My bedroom is very very tiny, so I figure, "Why not make the most of it?" Having a tiny room means I have less furniture and things in general, which means I need to decorate a lot more (on my blank white walls) to give it some spunk and personality. I have collected a few little pieces here and there, and I am slowly putting them up on my wall. So what I have pictured above is currently on my wall, but I am still looking for more items.

What do you think?

Rachel the Goddess

I was walking home the other night when a man handed me a flier. I figured it was a menu for a new restaurant or perhaps some tanning place deal, but lo and behold a flier promoting Rachel the Goddess. A woman (or man) performing (stripping? singing? stand-up comedy?) at some place in Brooklyn. The flier says things like "Security is tight tight tight, like me" and "Psalm 23 yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil." I'm not going to lie, this Rachel has quite a bizarre look to her...

You never know what you will run into in NY.

I'm Going to Miami....Welcome to Miami

I have a 9:45PM flight to Miami (arriving around 1AM Saturday) for some fun in the sun! The bf is taking me for our 3 year anniversary. Romantic you may say, but I must add that it just so happens to also be the Winter Music Conference (AKA DJ heaven....Rob's passion). Coincidence? I think not. With that said, we will be hittin' up some hot spots where our fav DJs will be spinnin' 'til the wee hours of the morning. Can anyone say Fools Gold party?

(Image via gunpowder)

Yard Sale Chic: "Market Publique"

Move over eBay here comes the next big thing in online vintage shopping, Market Publique. This is a site entirely dedicated to vintage fashion, which means you don't have to deal sifting through items that don't necessarily match your search (ex: Typing in Vintage Boho Dress and getting some whack dress from Wet Seal).

So basically, this site is an awesome way to search for great vintage clothes at great prices.
Shwiiinnngggg Shwiiinnggg!

Love is in the Air

On my way to work this morning, all on my block, I witnessed 2 acts of romance.

1) A man carrying a tray with 2 Starbucks and a bouquet of gorgeous flowers. Not "I'm sorry" roses , but something colorful and bright and were meant to convey "I love you, have a great day!"

2) I actually saw this man and woman last night on my way home. He was in the same outfit (shacker) he had on the night before, except this morning he was carrying a large baguette and a little bag of goodies. It appeared he would be making his love some breakfast this cloudy morning.

Love is such a wonderful thing!

(Image via thefuntimesguide)

Happy Times

I just had a lovely evening of vino and food with my bestests. I am the person I want to be when I'm around you gals, and I really mean it when I say, "You really help me to be a better person." You ladies are "da bomb".

Yummy Quiche

I made a quiche for dinner the other night, and I will admit that it was pretty good for my first time. This is how I did it....

- Ready-made whole wheat pie crust (found in freezer section at Whole Foods)
--> Set oven to 450 degrees and bake crust by itself for about 10-15 minutes (this is to avoid from crust getting soggy when you pour in egg mixture)
- One little carton of Nulaid Real Egg Product Reddi Egg (equivalent to 8 eggs, but I probably used 2/3) - I bought egg beaters since I had to carry all my groceries back home and didn't want to crack whole eggs....so that is my little way of cheating
- 1/2 cup of soy milk (blended into egg beaters)
- 3 cloves of garlic (I looovvvee garlic)
- 1 can of artichoke hearts
- Handful of chopped broccoli
- A few chopped mushrooms
- Some shredded cheddar cheese (I used sharp cheddar because it has a lot of flavor and a little goes a long way)
- Saute veggies and garlic in olive oil
- Pour veggies into egg mixture then add fav seasoning (I added rosemary and thyme)
- Mix in shredded cheese
- Pour entire mixture into pre-baked crust
- Bake in 450 degree oven for about 30 minutes
- Take out of oven and let rest for about 10-15 minutes

I ate my quiche with a side salad made of mixed herbs and greens, dried cranberries, pecans, grape tomatoes, and a dash of balsamic vinegar. It was easy and soo delicious!

Crack is Whack

A faux booty crack was seen struttin' down the runway of Hussein Chalayan's Fall 2009 line. I don't think that's a trend that will go to far, but who am I to say?

(Image via Trend de la Creme)

Only in Manhattan

Only in Manhattan can a church turn into a club that turns into a place where a hip Soho boutique holds their Spring sample sale. Something about that whole transformation just isn't right.

Dumb-Dumb of the Week: AIG

With AIG getting lots of shiznit for giving out a cajillion dollars in bonuses, they are now asking for the money back. NY State Attorney General, Andrew Cuomo, personally asked each of these people to give back those dollars (that they didn't earn anyway). 10 of the 9 people with the top bonuses have given it back, and 15 of the 20 with the second highest bonuses have given the money back. For those who have not or will not give back the money......well most of them are foreigners and don't give a damn.

Dear AIG,
This whole fiasco could have been avoided if you didn't dish out $165 million in bonuses. DUH. The cockroach I smooshed today could have told you that was a bad idea.

P.S. Could I have my tax money back please?

(Image via nationalpost)

Love The World

You never know when you will run into inspiration. I stepped on this little piece of love while walking home one day.

Yard Sale Chic: Recession Shoes

Chunky-strappy-heels are all the rage this Spring, but if you are like most people (including myself) buying the latest trendy items may not be on your financial agenda. My solution for a cheap-chic shoe is to check out Payless and Target. They have some rad shoes for the Spring and they look great! I really think I will do anything to get the most for my money.


Featured Fashions:
- American Eagle brand chunky-strappy heels at Payless for $22.99.
- Rolling-up your pants or jeans 50's style (so they kind of resemble high-waters)
- Socks and sandals (but they must be worn properly, no Fruit of the Loom socks you wear to go running and not with flip-flops or casual flat sandals).

Twitter

I finally joined Twitter! Follow my "super exciting" life (username TashaHoang).

What's Growin' On?

I just love this card from Egg Press!

Advice from DVF

On a recent episode of "The City", Diane Von Furstenberg (DVF) gave Whitney a very good piece of advice on long distance relationships saying...

"Absence is to love what the wind is to fire, When it’s a small fire the wind kills it, but when it’s a real fire it intensifies it."

What a wise woman you are DVF!

(Image via bagsnob)

"Cap-a-tilla...You mean caterpillar?"

This was the Google title for today, the first day of Spring (AKA the Vernal Equinox), which I love because it's the caterpillar from The Very Hungry Caterpillar (one of my fav books as a child).

Although we were greeted with snow flurries and cold winds, we are officially one step closer to warm weather. So I guess I don't mind this last day (hopefully) of cold weather for a long time.

Lunch Box

In attempt to be more green, I have primarily stopped using plastic ziplock baggies and other throw-away items to store my food. With that said, I have been bringing my lunch to work over the past year in random tupperwares I have laying around the kitchen. I was getting annoyed with bringing one or two of these containers a day, that I decided to seek out a better solution. I found it in the Fit n Fresh brand of food containers made especially to carry lunches, drinks, salads, or storing food at home.

I purchased the "Lunch on the Go" container and I LOVE it! It has one large container to hold my entree, an ice pack to keep it chilled, then 2 smaller containers to hold side items. It's nicely organized and easy to carry to work. It's also freezer, dishwasher, and microwave safe. This my attempt to reduce my carbon footprint on this Earth, and boy does it feel nice.

Dumb-Dumb of the Week (Part Deux): Cat-Tossing Fashion Designer

Kenley Collins from Project Runway 5 was arrested for assaulting her ex-fiancee. So I guess the story goes that Kenley was mad at him, busted into his place while he was asleep, then threw the following items at him: Water, apples, a computer, and a live cat.

I knew that biotch was crazy on the show, and I figured she was a nutcase in real life too. I guess my assumption was 100% accurate. Kenley...I hope you learned your lesson, and that being a brat is a short-term solution to getting what you want. Grow up missy!

May I also add that her ex's last name is Penley? This would have made her Kenley Penley. Gross!

(Image via dancingbear)

Atticus Errol Frahm

I have a new cousin (2nd cousin)!! Welcome to the family Atticus! I cannot wait to meet you.

P.S. I have presents for you :)

Yard Sale Chic: Red Hot

I love scrummaging through sales, and if you dig deep, you can find some GREAT things.
(Please pardon the not-so-great pic of myself...this was taken after a long day at work.)

1) Red Flower headband from Forever 21 - $10
2) Dk Grey 3/4 sleeve tee from Urban Outfitters - $5 (on sale)
3) Red belted, high-waist skirt from H&M - $10 (on sale)
4) Purple tights from Daffy's - $5
5) Red flats with bow - $5 (on sale at gojane.com)

Complete head-to-toe look for $35

Songs I Love: Laisse Tomber Les Filles

I owe my love of 60's French Pop music to my father, and here is one of the many songs that get me groovin' and movin' (Laisse Tomber Les Filles by France Gall).

West Village Greatness

(Above Photo: This Mexican restaurant, called Diablos, opens all these doors to allow their patrons to drink and dine el fresco-style without technically being outside. I hear the margaritas are amazing and the scene is young and fun.)
(Above Photo: A little peek at my every day walk across 7th Ave to the subway.)
(Above Photo: A WTC tribute where decorated tiles were sent from children from all over the U.S. expressing their condolences.)
(Above Photo: Just one of the charming townhomes in the West Village.)
(Above Photo: I live right around the corner from tons of luxury boutiques, such as Black Fleece by Brooks Brothers.)
(Above Photo: A map of the very confusing streets in my area.)
(Above Photo: The corner Italian bistro, Itre Merli.)
(Above Photo: It's nice to have a police station so close.)
(Above Photo: A beautiful little gallery amidst all the lovely townhomes.)
(Above Photo: The most BEAUTIFUL flower shop I have ever seen, and it's my neighbor.)
(Above Photo: The Asian-fusion restaurant down the street called Chow.)
(Above Photo: This is not your typical chocolate shop. Pure Essence focuses on all natural and organic chocolate and cocoa nibs. I like to stop by this place for the free samples.)
(Above Photo: A lovely restaurant called Extra Virgin. Good food and good people watching.)
(Above Photo: Just a couple of vintage bikes.)

My friend Megan did a little tribute to her lovely neighborhood, Park Slope, Brooklyn which inspired me to show you my 'hood.....West Village.

Actually, I'm going to start off by showing you my block, then later post more of the area. There are so many wonderful things about this area that I cannot possibly show you in one post.

P.D.A - The City

I was walking in my 'hood when I came across a sweet little drawing of the city in a window display, which I think looks like a page out of a massive coloring book. How I would have loved to use my Crayolas on this picture back in the day.

Statue of Liberty (Remix)

I doctored up a photo from this past summer when we had lunch on a boat next to Lady Lib. I had a huge smile on my face the entire time I was "pho-doodling" (photoshop + doodling).

*Notice the bowler hat and the bread-and-butterfly (from Disney's Alice and Wonderland).

Love Those Lentils

I purchased some red lentils because I read that they are very good for you - high in fiber, protein, and many other vitamins and minerals. I decided to prepare my beans in a Red Lentil Coconut Curry and here is my recipe:

- 1 can of coconut milk (regular - because it has better flavor)
- 1 cup of red lentils (boiled in water)
-- Boil lentils until they begin to get soft, then drain the water, and add the coconut milk
- While coconut milk and lentils are simmering, add curry powder, cumin, and curry seasoning (contains turmeric, cumin, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, etc)
- Add chopped garlic and red onion (save a little red onion to sprinkle at the end)
- Let simmer until all the flavors get to know each other
- In separate pot, boil 1 cup of brown rice
- When done cooking, pour lentils over brown rice
-- Garnish with fresh cilantro and cucumbers for a cool and yummy crunch to the smooth and creamy lentils
-- I also like to add a little dash of Sriracha hot sauce

So easy, good for you, and delicious!

Free Hugs

Union Square has been home to many many protests throughout NYC history, some to provide help to the poor, others for an end to war, and then there are some gatherings that promote things like "Free Hugs". The latter of which I recently saw in Union Square where a group of NYUers got together and offered free hugs to anyone who accepted. I'm not a hugger, but it was a nice thought.

Yard Sale Chic: 25% Off

I LOVE LOVE LOVE to hunt for treasures in thrift stores, flea markets, discount stores, boutiques, eBay, online stores, even major retail. I NEVER pay full price for an item, and I ALWAYS shop around before I make the purchase. Just an open eye and a little patience could lead you to that perfect item.

This past weekend I stopped in at the neighborhood Housing Works thrift shop and it just so happened to be a 25% off day.

I purchased the above items:
1) Fitted tee by DKNY
2) Strapless pleated top by 3.1 Phillip Lim (with the Barney's tags still on!)
3) Dressy tank by Salvatore Ferragamo

Great tops to pair with a pair of skinny jeans, high-waist skirt, chunky heels, and/or a blazer.
$60 and no complaints.

Dumb-Dumb of the Week: Incestual Crazy Man

ST. POELTEN, Austria — An Austrian who fathered seven children with a daughter he held captive in a squalid cellar for 24 years refused to even speak to her for years, coming only to rape her, often in front of the youngsters, a prosecutor said Monday.

- Via FoxNews.com

So perhaps I shouldn't call this post Dumb-Dumb of the Week; rather, Crazy-Sick-Demented Man of the Week. Josef Fritzl is getting his day in court and is only pleading "partly guilty" to rape and incest but not to murder. This pepaw is a form of pure evil on this Earth, and although I do not often wish suffering upon others, I do hope this guy gets what he deserves.

(Image above is the area where Fritzl kept his captives)

A Pleasant Saturday

Just a little pleasantness from my Saturday....window shopping, flowers at the Green Market, Mojitos with friends, a stop in Chinatown for my fav Vietnamese sandwich.