Hello Kitty is a WHRE

Okay, she (he? maybe little male cats like to wear bows/dresses too) really isn't a WHORE, but the way she's being mass consumed kinda makes you think of her like one.

Ever since I was a little child, Hello Kitty (HK) was quite the staple in my life. She dominated my pencils, erasers, notebooks, lunchbox, and everyday essentials for school. Just a lovable, little companion to get you through the wearisome school day.

Then in college, I remember HK's face imprinted on towels, travel suitcases, and kitchenware (toasters anyone?). Cool, some people like happy faces on their pancakes; others like HK's face on their toast. I get it. Last year, when Makeup Art Cosmetics (MAC) came out with their HK line, I began to think to myself: What is this little cat doing representing adult make-up? But, it still didn't stop me from purchasing the HK lip gloss (or using the free HK tote I received from my purchase).

Yes, I admit, I am guilty of feeding into HK's "victimization" process.

But HK is all grown up. She is no longer just splashed onto little girl items, now she's in the Big Girl's League. Zales created a HK pendant not too long ago (my friend owns one). There's a whole jewelry line now.

And check this out, soon you'll get to enjoy some nice HK wine (Pinot and Rose), hopefully, just in time for the summer!

In the near future, I'm sure we can all look forward to the day when one can sip some fine HK wine, smoke some HK-branded cigarettes, meet that cute guy/girl at a bar, and perhaps, when you reach for that contraceptive in your pocket, you'll see her familar plump face, adorned with red bow and all, giving you the go-ahead, and cheering you each step of the way, just as she did in your childhood. Hello Kitty is no longer the innocent kitten we remembered, she's grown up and living in the fast lane. I kinda miss the baby version of her though, just a little.

Zales' Hello Kitty Sterling Silver Pink and White Sapphire Pendant with Diamond Accents

Pinot Nero and Rose Wines by MWC Importers

For more info, check out their site: Hello Kitty Wines

I like to eat....A LOT

Hanger Steak, Momofuku Ssam **

Okay, sometimes I think I have an unhealthy love relationship with food. Oftentimes, overnight guests can find me in my kitchen at 2am, with the refrigerator still wide open, in my shorts and tank top rummaging around for accessible munchies in my line of vision (pickles and mayo anyone? how about eating out of a jar of chili bamboo shoots? I fear the type of foods I will crave when I become pregnant!). Then when I go to bed with my tummy slightly irritated/slightly satisfied, I look forward to waking up in the morning and enjoying a hearty feast. I am quite average in weight and aside from my high blood pressure (which, doctors recently found may be linked to a kidney under/over-working situation), I have a pretty clean bill of health. But I loooooooove food! My whole existence here in NY is trying to seek out the most delicious, scrumptious, exotic flavors a palate can ever experience, all in my budget-range of course!

Even though I love to eat, I am quite conscious of the health choices I make too. The past few months, I've been eating all my carbohydrates during breakfast and lunch time, and strictly protein, veggies and fruits at dinner. It was a hard routine to follow at first, but after awhile, your body gets used to it. My friend has been doing it for a few years, and it's worked wonders for her health and weight. In addition to my 'No Carbs at Dinnertime' rule, I practice Bikram Yoga (yoga in a 104 degree heated studio) twice a week and aim to hit the gym once in between. I also get the benefit of walking everywhere due to a lack of having my car here in NY, so to date, since moving from LA... I've lost about 11 lbs!



















Crying Chocolate & Taro Puff Lollipops, Buddakan

**Hanger Steak: the cut of beef that 'hangs' from the diaphragm. Due to its proximity near the kidneys, this cut is considered to be 'more flavorful'. There is only one hanger steak per animal.

Shakespeare and alcohol?

So I get a text from a friend last night about coming down to Alphabet City for a very original, true-to-NY experience-- an event titled "Juliet's Coming Out Party!" Wait, before you all leap to the conclusion that it's another regular welcome for a lesbian coming out of the closet, it's not quite as simple as that.

So the concept is such. There's a venue, mainly a bar. There are actors and actresses in costume, posing as characters from Shakespeare's "Romeo

& Juliet" walking about and interacting with guests (you) from the minute you arrive. As you sip on the cocktail of your choice, you may have a convo with the arrogant Paris; Juliet might thank you for coming to her Sweet 16 (Coming Out) party-- site where the star-crossed lovers first lay eyes on each other. Then a series of events begin to transpire in line with the famed Shakespearian tragedy, and the coolest part is not only do you get to watch the story come alive, but you get to be a part of it. Now, your role can be as minimal as you want (i.e., watching from the back of the room in 'wallflower' mode) or as active as you want to be (i.e., Juliet's bridesmaid, one of Juliet's stalker-ish admirers, dispensing advice to one very nervous Romeo-- a role I chose to play). It wasn't the best Shakespeare production I've ever seen in my life, but it definitely was the quintessential NY experience.

Juliet's Balcony Scene

The scene that makes the $10 entrance all worth it: The Wedding Night... and, it gets quite steamy!

Opposites Attract

In the case of my best friend and I, we are definitely night and day. Amy's a blond-hair, blue-eyed, Republican southern sweetheart from the heart of Texas and extremely conservative; I'm an Asian brunette with brown eyes, socially Democratic/fiscally Republican, living in New York city and as liberal-minded as they come. But together, we make beautiful music...

Medieval Times

Actually, we're more like a train wreck you can't help but notice.

Cop: "I can't be in the picture cause they told me that if I let anymore girls pose on the cop car, I'm gonna get desk duty."

Soon To Be Mrs. T's Website

The Feline-Human Connection

A few weeks ago, it was another one of those hum-drum days at the office so I decided to leaf through the TONY (Time Out New York) magazine in the waiting area. I came across a rather unique featurette of a group called CHERYL in an article titled "Most Stylish in NY".

These Disco Shamans instantly piqued my curiosity.I did what any normal human being would do next, so I googled them. To my delight, turns out CHERYL has a whole site devoted to bizarro videos that aim to capture the feline-human connection through the power of disco, discount clothing, and LOTS of glitter.

A feast for the eyes for sure!

Check out the Gnarly Videos

(un)Original Post

Wow, so much time has passed since a) I felt like I even had time to sit and freewrite/journal/blog and, b) I've been living in NY for almost a year now (Can you believe it? Surely, not I!)

Starter posts are always a little nerve-wracking. On the one hand, you want to ensure that the material is semi-interesting that readers- not blood-related to you- will want to return; On the other hand, it's 3:33am and you really can't muster up the strength at this hour to care.

I am bringing something (besides sexy) back though:
Which of you devoted loyal Xanga followers of mine remembered New Things Tried This Week?

Well...


New Things Tried (Last) Week:

• Swimming with dolphins
• Ziplining through the jungle
• Underwater cave exploring
• Rappelling
• Partying in Playa Del Carmen
• Chichen Itza and Tulum Mayan Ruins
• Cliff jumping into a 150 ft deep Cenote while maintaining my ability to stay alive.

  (*See video below. Got too impatient waiting for video to load.)

♥ Tulum




Lex & I: zip-lining neophytes