God’s Dwelling Place

Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”

Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. Go up to the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure and be honored,” say the Lord.

“You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty, “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house [...]“

Haggai 1:3-9

God purposely frustrates our human efforts to get ahead – school, life, work – because he wants to get our attention, to make us realize we are missing out on life, which is God.

He gets our attention through difficult circumstances. Question: how do you know you can trust in God, until you’re in a situation where you need to make the decision to trust him?

Or in other words, how do you know the strength of your anchor until you’re in a storm ?

Our love (trust and faith) for God must be tested: it’s human nature to try and work our way to comfort and security. God puts trials in our life to get our attention.

The most beautiful part is – He isn’t asking for perfection.

No, he only requires that you put forth your best, even if your best is broken, incomplete, ugly, because your best is a reflection of your current attitude and heart. And God will take pleasure and be honored in what your best has to offer.

Williams-Sonoma

Today was an interesting day.

Not only was it the first day of school, but S and I also successfully made our first batch of pasta from scratch !

Over winter break, a good friend introduced me to Williams-Sonoma…and there is simply no resisting that lovely, beautiful store. While perusing the fondue section, I passed by a doodad with an eye-catching metallic shade of red – “Imperia Pasta Machine” – it read.

I promptly returned the jeans I had bought for S, and purchased this cute little old-fashioned gadget as a fun gift for my food-loving boyfriend.

So in celebration of having nothing to study yet, and of 2010, we did a quick stop at Trader Joe’s to pick up some ground beef, onions, marinara, and a back-up pack of pasta should our little endeavor fail.

Imperia Pasta Machine

Rolling, rolling.

feeding it into the machine's mini-rolling pin

noodles coming out !!

fresh pasta!

Seriously, that was one of the most satisfying experiences ever (:

But of course, the beginning didn’t go as smoothly as expected. Our first try at making the dough resulted in an egg explosion…with an epic failure of runny yellow stuff with white chunks dripping off the dining table and onto the floor. However, that did not deter us, and it all worked out in the end!

the end product, with a bottle of Happiness !

Our freshly made pasta was actually quite delicious ! It has a chewiness to it that leaves me wanting more, and of course to top off our fun meal we had Trader Joe’s “Bottle of Happiness.” Isn’t that bottle something ?

Happy New Year everybody  ~ 2009 was superb, and I can only hope that 2010 will be just as sensational.

fight the gloom !

It is a gloomy day in Westwood, but Cafe Elysee is hoppin’ and poppin’ with students.

Boyfriend and I have joined the throng of studious looking hipsters, too smart for school, and fighting the cold with this:

deliciously frothy mocha latte.

I haven’t blogged in quite a while, but I had to drop by and scribble about the most amazing class at UCLA:

World Arts and Culture 144 – Make Art: Stop AIDS, with David Gere.

It was probably the most emotionally challenging class I’ve had, and I have to give props to Professor Gere – he’s as unconventional as it gets. Raised in farmsville, he finished college and went to India to study dance there. Then he got involved with AIDS work, linking together the public health realm with arts/drama, successfully reaching out to the thousands of people and educating them about HIV. Now he’s back at UCLA, teaching this class and sharing his passion with his students.

Nothing was easy – you learn about the international AIDS community and utilize arts for activism, then you’re required to plunge into your local community and research how AIDS has effected people right here in Los Angeles.

Never had I had a class where I’ve spent so much time and money…some of which was spent on buying a red glitter-dick from a sex shop for a “Sex West” Airline condom demonstration at Dickson Court, shouting “DO YOU MASTURBATE??” at the top of your lungs. It was quite an experience. I think I have shed all my shame and most of my the stigma that surrounds sex.

Anyways, the most important thing was the circle of girlfriends I gained from this craziness. After spending hours upon hours thinking up raunchy lines and researching Malawi (making fun of Madonna), there is no excuse not to bond.

So here’s the group of girls right before our condom demonstration on World AIDS day (:

Mouthy Women of Malawi

Before I leave, answer me this: How does a bird fuck a bee ?

CHEERS !

foodie adventures

A few months ago, I was introduced to a strange girl with a winning smile, who had a crazy resemblance to Emma Watson.

Let us call her Hermione (:

Hermione @ La Provence (Brentwood)

I believe that in another life, Hermione and I would have been sisters.
We have the similar experiences, histories, outlooks in life, a wild passion for dessert, and most importantly – the willingness to hunt for GOOD FOOD.

Also we both laugh really loudly (though hers is more charming), and we have no qualms speaking publicly about things – bowel movements, hairy legs, and so forth – that are usually considered to be “TMI.”

But in every sense of the word, she is the most joyful person that I know. Also ambitious, driven, a list-maker, full of life and care for others. Yes, I am writing an ad for her, but no she really doesn’t need it. Oh well (:

FOODIE RULE: don’t be afraid to have dessert before dinner/lunch!

Today’s adventures began at Hotcakes Bakes, a quaint and very pink cupcake store on Centinela. The workers were extremely friendly, and seriously…I can’t get over the pinkness inside!

lemon cupcake: recommend !

so pink (:

love the blackboard.

Lots of signs and postcards from people who’ve had ordered their cakes, and groups who’ve had batches of cupcakes made !

heartfelt !

Then off to the loveliest little cafe in Brentwood: La Provence !

 

La Provence (Brentwood)

DESSERT !

Macarons (<3) or..."macaroons" in America.

I’ve never had a macaron before tonight, but the moment their hazelnut macaron hit my taste buds, I knew it was over. I was hooked ! It was one of those orgasmic experiences, one where you can foresee the midnight cravings and “I NEED HAZELNUT MACARON!” moments during finals week.
Definitely recommend ! Also a cute date place / read by yourself with afternoon tea place (:

To end:

 

Lenka !!

Thank you lovely roomie (: It was a wonderful night ~ with…quite an interesting experience. Ask me about it !

Until next time lovelies.

 

 

where is the hope ?

(via badhuman)

Almost midnight, but S and I just had delicious cornbread fresh out of the oven – drizzled with honey and dunked in milk, the most comforting food you can ask for (:

There is certain group of people in my life that fits into a special niche. Perhaps they are not quite in tune with the world, but I believe they are all the more beautiful for it.

It’s a secret society of individuals who have the extraordinary capacity to see, capture, and create beauty in their world…one that is broken and always in need of healing. Yet they never give up – despite being overwhelmed, angry, heartbroken at times – they understand that hope is a fragile thing, a precious thing, one that needs to be nurtured in order to stay alive, and thus keep those who depend on it, alive as well.

I am taking some very interesting classes for my final year as a Global Studies major, and the issues we cover – HIV/AIDS, antiretroviral drugs, nuclear testing – have opened my eyes to the atrocity committed by those who claim the responsibility to protect and to serve. Money makes the world go ’round, and without it there is no incentive to save the 4.4 million dying, nor is there any hesitation to ‘test’ nuclear bombs on native islanders while destroying the only home they’ve known for, well…ever.

Scientists are currently worrying about what kind of “WARNING-DANGER” sign to put on an inverted volcanic site in Mexico, where all the nuclear waste will be dumped and sealed. Anthropologists are worried about the future human species some 5000 years down the line – what kind of transhistorical sign should we put over the seal to let them know that this is an radioactive site, and to stay away?

They decided on a bed of nettles and thorns.

Meanwhile, Marshallese locals, orphans and pregnant mothers in the slums, everyday people at a Boston square, and the dog-park on Barrington and Sunset, have all been left to deal with the horrific consequences of these nuclear tests.

Sometimes, I really wonder just where people get the hope to keep fighting for good. Goodness always seems to be a losing battle.

But one day, it will win the war.

So until then…..FIGHT ON !