10 Things You Might Not Know About Me

Recently I've been looking up different ideas of things to blog about (here & here), and I thought one that I could do easily would be things about me that perhaps not a lot of people know. I find that I like reading other people's blogs when they talk about themselves so I thought that this might be stuff that other people enjoy too, so here we go!

Mittens I knit for my best Italian friend Maila as a Christmas gift.  1. I first learned how to knit when I was about 15 from my grandmother. Now this may not be interesting but the thing is, my grandmother doesn't even knit! She had to remember how to do it then taught me what she could remember and I went from there. To this date I've knit sweaters, scarves, beanies, mittens, gloves, socks, and blankets. Also, I cannot seem to grasp how to crochet, even though many people say crocheting is much easier than knitting, I've always been a knitter who can't understand crocheting!

2. I have done a volunteer work twice, once in high school at an old folks home's voting ballots and once last year at the LA Times Festival of Books where I met Patti Smith at the end of my shift where I got her totally amazing book "Just Kids" signed. I was so so so happy and would love to volunteer at the Festival again, but since I've moved I don't know if I will have time. I'm currently doing training for READ/San Diego and am very happy to start work with that soon. I think more people should volunteer if they have the time/ability to. It's a very rewarding experience to do things for others without expecting something in return.

Me and Dee Dee in the Hollywood Forever Cemetary in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.

3. I really enjoy going to graveyards. This may seem strange to some, which I realized when asking friends to accompany me on graveyard trips, but I think it's wonderful. There's something strangely relaxing about graveyards and I love finding graves of famous people, which when I was living in Los Angeles wasn't a very difficult thing to attempt!

My gelato that I had in Chiavari, Italy, right next to the Ligurian Sea!

4. I prefer gelato to ice cream. Having the true gelato of Italy will make you forever hate ice cream and become a slave to the magic of true delicious fresh gelato! Also, if you are ever in Firenze, Italia (Florence, Italy) you MUST take a trip to GROM, the best and most reasonably priced for how amazing it is. It is one block down from the Duomo in Florence, it's super easy to find, and always has line of people, which guarantees that it's got good gelato! (But luckily, you can find GROMs elsewhere in the world besides italia!) My favorite kind of gelato has to be any sort of mint or coffee flavors.

5. When I was growing up my grandmother put a lot of emphasis on getting me to get involved in classes and activities. I've taken a million art classes (many with LAUSD's Gifted and Talented Student Program), acting classes (horrible, only did that once), and tennis lessons which I took for 7 years and became moderately good at. I joined the tennis team in high school but quit after a month or so because I was basically too lazy to attend practice. I wish I had stuck with it and hope to pick up a new racket soon!

One of the picture's I took while in Chiavari, Italy.

6. I am half English and half Italian. My grandmother on my father's side was born in England and moved to America because of the beginning of WWII and my great grandfather on my mother's side was born in Chiavari, Italy (which I visited during my study abroad to track down surviving relatives, which I did, and was turned down! Huge disappointment!).

7. I have been vegetarian now for 4 years, every time I think about going back to having meat every once in a while, I think of all the knowledge I've gained about the cruelty that animals experience in slaughterhouses I cannot bring myself to eat meat. One of the best quotes I've heard about vegetarianism is by Paul McCartney - "If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian."

Picture I took inside of the Camposanto Monumentale in Pisa. This is close up of one of the very damaged frescos that are currently being restored, the fresco is titled "Trionfo della Morte" ("Triumph of Death") attributed to Buonamico Buffalmacco.

8. I would love to do another study abroad program where I could work hands on with fine arts in Italy. While on that subject, I would love to live in Italy at some point on a more permanent basis. Living there for 3 months just wasn't enough.

Some of my hair dyes throughout the years.

9. When I was in high school and still up to current times I have dyed my hair almost every color of the rainbow. I'm sure along the way I've damaged my hair permanently.

One of the many postcards that my friend Maila has sent me from Italy. 

10. I have a modest collection of post cards I collected while studying abroad and from friends who have traveled/friend I made while in Italy. I've started a photo album of all the postcards I've been collecting, and hope to collect many MANY more in the future.

Now I'd like to hear from you! If you'd like, leave a comment so I can get to know all of you out there!

• Tell me something interesting about you!
• Do you collect anything?
• Where have been your favorite places to travel/live?
• What's your favorite flavor of gelato?
• Have you ever volunteered? If so, where and why?

Chinese New Year flower

Aaron and I went grocery shopping this morning and I came across a really beautiful flower along with a red card, so I thought in honor of the Chinese New Year (January 23rd, this year is the year of the dragon, my year! 1988 - year of the Earth dragon) we could get this pretty flower. All the flower said was that it was a "Vintage Mum," which is what kind of flower? Who knows! I've been trying to find out what kind of flower or any other information about it online, but alas I have come up with none. On the other hand the flower is really beautiful so I did some more research on the red envelopes and the Chinese New Year in general, as well as take some cute pictures of it. 

Red envelope: 

In Chinese and other Asian societies, a red envelope or red packet (known as hóngbāo in Mandarin, Ang Pao in Min Nan, Lai See in Cantonese, Sae Bae Don (세뱃돈/歲拜돈) in Korean, and Lì Xì in Vietnamese) is a monetary gift which is given during holidays or special occasions.Red envelopes are mainly presented at social and family gatherings such as weddings or on holidays such as the Lunar New Year. The red color of the envelope symbolizes good luck and is supposed to ward off evil spirits. The act of requesting for red packets is normally called (Mandarin): 討紅包, 要利是, (Cantonese): 逗利是.During the Lunar New Year, mainly in South China, red envelopes (in the North, just money without any cover) are typically given by the married to the unmarried, most of whom are children. The amount of money is usually a single note to avoid heavy coins, and to make it difficult to judge the amount inside before opening. It is traditional to put brand new notes inside red envelopes, as well as to avoid opening the envelopes in front of the relatives out of courtesy. In recent years, some Asian-based banks provide newer-looking notes to reduce the environmental impact of printing new banknotes.  

Chinese New Year: 

Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. In China, it is known as "Spring Festival," the literal translation of the Chinese name 春節 (Pinyin: Chūn Jié), since the spring season in Chinese calendar starts with lichun, the first solar term in a Chinese calendar year. It marks the end of the winter season, analogous to the Western carnival. The festival begins on the first day of the first month (Chinese: 正月; pinyin: Zhēng Yuè) in the traditional Chinese calendar and ends with Lantern Festival which is on the 15th day. Chinese New Year's Eve, a day where Chinese families gather for their annual reunion dinner, is known as Chú Xī (除夕) or "Eve of the Passing Year." Because the Chinese calendar is lunisolar, the Chinese New Year is often referred to as the "Lunar New Year". 

Dragon: 

The Dragon (simplified Chinese: 龙; traditional Chinese: 龍), is one of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar, and the only animal that is legendary. The Year of the Dragon is associated with the earthly branch symbol 辰. 

-All information from Wikipedia

The Home Life

I thought I might show you guys what the inside of Aaron's and mine home looks like plus some of my favorite things. (It's also an excuse to use my new Lumix G1 camera that Aaron got me for my birthday.)

Blanket I knit for Aaron and I using this pattern from Ravelry and a Boba Fett pillow I made for Aaron before we started going out. :}

TMNT bobble head that I got for Aaron for Christmas.

I believe one can never have too many books. The majority of those books are mine, but a few are his.

Our skull phone we used for a month or so until we realized that it was a waste of money since we both have cell phones. My record player, not the best record player, but customized to my liking. :) 

Aaron got this for me for Christmas. When you press or put a coin on the little white fish bones the cat pops out of the box and scoops the coin into the box! It's so adorable and makes a little meowing noise when it happens! I love it!

The Beatles one I bought in London.

Inside my sewing room.

Skeleton pen I bought Aaron at Wacko's.

Another Christmas present from Aaron to me. It's solar powered!

Bed sheets.

Knitting needles and Minnie ears.

HOME:
noun

1.

a house, apartment, or other shelter that is the usualresidence of a person, family, or household.

2.

the place in which one's domestic affections are centered.

Photo Dump

I haven't been writing much about what has been going on in mine and Aaron's life lately, so here's a little photo dump of some goings ons that I never mentioned. Nothing very exciting happened recently, just some peaceful time at home with each other.

I know it doesn't look great, but it was pretty delicious.

Start of my many Dia de los Muertos skulls, which can be found here.

Aaron and I bought the new blu-ray of all Star Wars movies, still haven't finished watching all of them, too busy watching Alien and Predator movies.

Cute little cup Aaron and I got at the World Market

Adorable, I know.

Paper skeleton I was able to get at Party City for only $4.

Went to Target and picked up what was left of the Missoni collection, but I think they're pretty awesome. I love the color combinations.

Aaron and I went out to dinner and my dish was delicious (flat bread with a ton of herbs and spices with a cheese spread in the middle topped with tomatoes).

Zoo Pasta that Aaron and I got at the World Market, only bummer is that after making the pasta with pesto, you couldn't tell they were animal shapes at all. Bummed me out.

Another sugar skull. (Here.)

Aaron playing guitar as Hello Kitty (still dying from the hilarity). 

Dyed my hair the other night a dark brown/red. Looks better in real life, trust me.

His and her sugar skulls. (Not finished yet, but soon to be up in the shop.)

This Singer is the best when my Brother goes bad. 

So there's a brief recap of the past two weeks. All photos were taken with my phone, until I get a better camera I only really use my camera for taking photos for the shop. Off to an appointment now.