10.21.2014

Meet Jen

I wrote a blurb for Jen's match.com profile. Below is the unedited version. Together we frolic the planet and contemplate life.


Jennifer has beautiful hair and the best sense of humor. She isn't afraid to laugh at herself and at life. But don't mistake that to mean she isn't serious. There is a depth to her that is honest and genuine. She will always give you a straight answer. Jen is grounded and believes strongly in working hard to create a good life for herself. She has a true understanding of herself, but is still exploring. She loves to travel and see the amazing wonders of the world (even if they end up to be kinda disappointing in real life). Jen seeks challenges and growth, but won't hesitate to savor smaller beautiful moments like sunshine in the Sunset, a killer gimlet, nailing a balance pose in yoga class, or frolicking on the beach.

Jen needs someone who doesn't take life too seriously and can laugh at her jokes. Someone who has patience to help her through the hard parts of life, but isn't afraid to challenge her either. A guy who is laid back, but not lazy (that is the worst). She is herself financially independent, so expects the same from a partner. A healthy sense of exploration and career changes are fine, but don't expect this lady to be a sugar mama!

10.06.2014

Hydration

San Francisco is known for...
  • The Golden Gate Bridge
  • Fog
  • AT&T Park
  • Tap water
San Franciscan tap water is crisp and deliciously clean, even if it does flow through 60 year old pipes. Hetch Hetchy, may you forever be full. But I still find myself still reaching for a plastic bottle of water out of convenience. It's usually one of those flimsy Crystal Spring or Kirkland bottles that once used to be sturdy, but in recent years have been "environmentally-friendly" with thinner plastic and smaller caps. I at least try to reuse them once or twice, filled with that fresh flow from the tap. But my mom was the first to point out that reusing those bottles were bad for you (high BPA and bacteria).

There are so many options for drinking water. Klean Kanteen, Camelbak, Nalgene, Clean BottleFred WaterBoxed Water. Is it a trend, or just that I'm noticing it now? Whatever it is, this is the way to go. Safe, reusable (or more recyclable), and replenishing. Hydrate before you dominate.

9.17.2014

Pack for a Purpose

http://packforapurpose.org/blog/2014/09/sarah-chois-story

We are three friends in our mid-20s who love exploring this magnificent world. We feel very fortunate and blessed to have that kind of luxury, so for our trip to Kenya, we wanted to see if there was more we could do with our travels. We knew we wanted to donate school supplies, but we weren’t sure what to bring or who to contact. On Pack for a Purpose, we found Village Life Safaris, which funds Joy House in the Mukuru slum in Nairobi.

Before we left, we took a trip to Target (in the US) to take advantage of their buy one, give one campaign - double win! We went bananas in the back to school section, loading up our carts with notebooks, pencils, pens, crayons, and first aid kits. After a few quick email exchanges with Isaac at Village Life Safaris, we had arranged an afternoon school visit to drop off our supplies. We weren’t prepared to see the conditions of the Mukuru slum.


Seeing the number of children in this community unable to attend school, we were grateful that Joy House serves as much as they possibly can. Despite the living standards in Mukuru, the students are just like any other kids -- from joyous and cheerful kindergarteners to too-cool-for-school tweens. We were impressed to see the kids learning high school level science, and humbled by the teachers’ dedication and positivity.


A big thank you to Isaac, who not only helped us arrange this visit and donation, but also gave us insight into the educational and economic situation in Kenya. We hope that many more visitors take the time to visit this beautiful country and support its growth.

3.26.2014

NYC eats: restaurant list from my last visit

Wed: Totto Ramen (newer, bigger location 2 blocks away from original) w/ Minna and Jen
Thu: Jack's Sliders and Sushi, then The Cellar (Seattle Beecher's spinoff) w/ Helen and Sharon
Fri: Buddakan for drinks, Jacob's Pickles for dinner w/ Minna, Jen Chiang, Helen, Sharon, Veronica, Nikki
Sat: Murray's Cheese Shop and Joe's Coffee w/ Jonna; Magnolia's, Milk Bar, and Macaron Parlour w/ Jen and Bryan; Green Table for dinner and Tiny Fork for party time w/ Veronica, Helen, Sharon, Nikki, Minna
Sun: Beygl w/ Helen before church, then Bogota lunch w/ Helen, Sharon, Veronica; 121 Fulton St for a beer w/ Neeshmaster, and Cafe Havana in Hoboken w/ Hyun-Jin
Mon: Corcoron w/ Wilken, Jen & Jen
Tue: Noodle Bar w/ Parilee;