My 29-Day Giving Challenge: Tracking My Days

Days 3-6:
I got a glimpse into the life of an event planner in organizing and orchestrating a lunch for over 100 people as well as a bridal shower with two other hostesses.

So when I made my Costco run the other day in preparation for my events, I was surprised by two elderly Korean American women. They approached me in line and asked if I would purchase their bag of rice for them. There was a one bag per family quota so I helped them out with their second bag.

Tracking my days of giving on my blog has proven to be a challenge. But the mental reminder is always there, and I often think of what I'll write about for each of these days.

Mondays are generally back to work days, but last Monday was the day the ants took over. All along the ceiling, in each corner of my office, down the wall of my bulletin board of pictures and high school memories were thick black trails of ants.

So the situation forced me to clean. And clean, I did. I gave away old file folders, old organizing trays, and threw out anything I didn't need into the recycle bin.

Thankfully, the ant problem is now gone and my office is much cleaner and clutter-free as a result.

Ant Photo Credit: University of Texas

T/ May 20 & Day 8:
The Milk Open House was a great way to meet up with food loving friends and share in some delectable summer treats. I'll be trying Chef Bret Thompson's recipes once the days start to warm back up. In the meantime, read more about the event from Jeni at Oishii Eats.

Luckily, my 001 Milk Card came up during the raffle and I went home with a goodie bag of Milk products - the bag of Chocolate Chip Cookies I happily shared with JT after our dinner out at Sushi Sasabune.

W/ May 21 & Day 9:
The little red puncture mark on my left arm is the mark of "heroes" - or at least, that's what my sticker read. After giving a pint of blood, I happily sipped my juice box and ate a double dose of Oreo cookies.

Th/ May 22 & Day 10:
Cleaned out a bit of my closet and was able to part with a few items I haven't worn in the last few years. It's amazing how many things I still have from high school that I just can't get rid of... I'm still waiting for that Halloween party to wear my prom dress from 1994.

F-Su/ May 23-25 & Days 11-13:
This Memorial Day Weekend with MS was a triple feature at the movies, watching "Iron Man", "Indiana Jones" and "Speed Racer". He picked up the tab for our tickets while I got the food, popcorn, and white cherry ice slushies.


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My 29-Day Giving Challenge: DAY 2

Day 2:

As many of you may know, an earthquake struck the Sichuan province this past Monday, causing massive amounts of damage to property, infrastructure, and over ten thousand deaths, lives which will never be recovered; students whose studies came to a terrible, unexpected end, fathers who will never return home, and children who, most tragically of all, will never get a chance at life. If you didn't know the details, please take a few moments to look over the cold, hard facts presented below, and to think of the human lives who are still in desperate need of help.

Facts:
- The Sichuan province was hit by a earthquake rated 7.9 on the Richter scale on Monday.
- There are nearly 900 trapped students in Juyuan Middle School this moment, only ONE survivor has been found so far.
- In some areas, 80% of the buildings were reported to have been destroyed
- Over 12,000 reported dead or injured.
- Dozens of aftershocks felt as far away as Beijing (960 miles away) and the Thai capitol Bangkok (1,200 miles away).
- 3.5 million homes were damaged or destroyed.
- 25,000 may be trapped.
- Sichuan, not historically known for earthquakes, was unprepared for an earthquake of any magnitude.
- This is the largest earthquake on record in China for over 30 years.

China is still reeling from the massive and catastrophic snowstorms earlier this year. In the face of another disaster only three months later, an earthquake whose death toll will eclipse that of the snowstorm, the people of China need all the help they can get.

For my Day 2 of Giving and in response to this catastrophic devastation, I have donated some funds that I normally would have used on drinks and dinner out to the Red Cross. And on Day 9 of my 29-Day Giving Challenge next week, I'm signed up to donate a pint of blood.

In these heartbreaking and disastrous times around the world, every little thing we can do to help others in need makes this world a better place.


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My 29-Day Giving Challenge: DAY 1

I read about the 29-Day Giving Challenge from my girlfriend, Siel from GreenLAGirl.com, and thought I'd give it a go too.

It's always a good thing to give, and this 29-Day Giving Challenge will help me be more cognizant of that fact. Check out the website for more details of why giving a little each day makes a big impact and how we can change lives with one gift at a time.

Day 1:

Bananas and nuts, water and other snacks for my students. They had a major test today, and I hoped that these treats reminded them that I was thinking of them and wishing them all the best. It also proved to be a healthier alternative to something completely made out of sugar, like cupcakes or brownies.



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All Around the World - All India Cafe

One of the most memorable experiences of my life was during the summer of 1999 when I studied at Cambridge University. While reading about the Early Romantics and pondering Western Moral Philosophy during the week, the weekends gave me the opportunity to play and explore.

Excursions to Scotland with newly made friends from Michigan... visits to beautiful estates and Shakespeare's birthplace... a production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "Twelfth Night"... and a tour around London with friends with whom I had some of the best Indian food ever!

Somehow, the taste of basmati rice, chicken tandoori, or deliciously fried samosas like the ones from All India Cafe brings me back to those summer days and my friends who, today, are out conquering the world as MDs, Harvard graduates, and trailblazers who work on issues of domestic violence and peace.



Above is one of them who has been around the world and back. She is a strong woman who continually inspires me in all that she does and all that she is. For the new year, she created a beautiful photo newsletter to friends with a message I try to keep close to my heart:

"Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh uncontrollably. Choose with no regret. Continue to learn. Do what you love. Smile. Sing. Dance. LOVE." - NY

With MS by my side, he makes it so easy to do.

All India Cafe
street: 39 S. Fair Oaks Ave | Pasadena, CA | 91105
t: 1 626 440 0309
www.allindiacafe.com

Scarlet Tea Ceremony in Five Courses

There were days when I used to play with GI Joes, sort through my baseball card collection, and play The Legend of Zelda on my original Nintendo. But something about tea parties and sandwiches without their crusts always made me feel like a little princess.

So for special events like Mother's Day, bridal and baby showers, or any other girls' day out meant to pamper and primp, there's a beautiful tea room in Pasadena - the Scarlet Tea Room.

The five-course lunch started with their refreshing signature strawberry sorbet and my choice of tea, the Fiji green tea flavored with papaya and wild pineapple.



Mini sandwiches filled with an assortment of flavors - Cucumber and Watercress, Mozzarella and Sun Dried Tomatoes, Prosciutto and Roasted Red Pepper were among my favorites - came atop a tower of doily covered plates and homemade scones to be eaten with cream, lemon curd, and fruit preserves.



Then came out a platter of assorted petit fours, and we ended our extravagant five-course lunch with some Strawberries Romanoff. A sweet finale that made us all feel like a little bit of royalty - even if it was only for the day.

Scarlet Tea Room
street: 18 W Green Street | Pasadena, CA 91105
t: 1 626 577 0051
web: www.scarlettearoom.com

Figaro, Figaro, FigaroAmerican Idol Season Eight

"One time, in Drama class..."

"...in my bright red dress, I twirled on stage and almost ate it while singing 'I Feel Pretty'."

And just like that, I can recall all the details of my horrendous rendition of West Side Story. The heat of my embarrassment comes back in a flash, and I'm awkwardly 14 again.

So whenever I watch a performance on stage or even my current obsession with American Idol, my body tenses up in the fear of something reminiscent of my younger days - tripping over my shoes, falling down a flight of stairs, the heart-stopping realization that I've forgotten my lines, or worst of all, hitting all the wrong notes at all the wrong places.

What I love, though, is the effortless singing from the likes of Celine, Whitney, Mariah, and the two Davids - David Cook and David Archuleta in this Season Seven of Idol. I'm eagerly awaiting tonight's results show!

These days, you'll rarely catch me singing out loud, unless coerced by the karaoke gods and some libations. But you will definitely find me having lunch at a cute little Parisian inspired cafe on Vermont called Figaro.

MM introduced me to their daily specials of hot pressed paninis. I've ordered the chicken with sun-dried tomatoes on a couple of occasions, and absolutely love this sandwich with a side green salad.

On sunnier weekdays, it's nice to leisurely lunch at one of their small sidewalk tables for two and take in the afternoons. You'll often hear French being spoken at nearby tables or from the lady behind the counter inside.

But beware of the Vermont Avenue traffic during rush hours, parking on side streets if you don't have spare change for the meters, and my singing "Figaro, Figaro, Figaro" for Idol Season Eight.

Figaro Cafe
street: 1802 N Vermont Avenue | Los Angeles, CA | 90027
t: 1 323 662 1587
web: www.figarobistrot.com