George F. Canyon Nature Trail

July 24, 2017 By 1 Comment
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"Life always gets harder near the summit." I've been wanting to do a quick hike. It's nice to find nature spots close to Los Angeles. The George F. Canyon Nature Trail is located in Rolling Hills Estates near Palos Verdes. Besides 36 acres of Preserve, it also has an educational nature center that's open on the weekends. Parking can be found in the nature center lot or on dirt areas near the trailhead. Near the center is also The Learning Tree, a shaded place where groups can sit and be … [Read more...]

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Foodie Friday: Eight Treasure Dessert

July 21, 2017 By 4 Comments
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Eight treasure dessert: sticky rice decorated with 8 toppings I admit it. This is a really pretty dish! I usually think of sticky rice as part of the main course, but I've found it in a dessert now. The eight "treasures" are different fruits and nuts that go on top of the rice. Often, they serve some sort of symbolism (e.g. lotus seeds bring happy marriages). Inside the dessert is a sweet surprise of red bean paste. Although I'm not a huge fan of red bean desserts, this does have a … [Read more...]

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My First #Pit2Pub

July 17, 2017 By 1 Comment
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"An unexpected event will soon bring you fortune." Twitter is alive with a lot of publishing opportunities. Different hashtagged events allow access to agents and editors. Some examples include #PitchWars, #SFFPit, and #PitMad. Last week, I decided to participate in #Pit2Pub. This is a chance to get a 140-character pitch in front of editors at various publishers. If it's hard to whittle a novel into a synopsis, it's insane to do so into a tweet. But I tried. I wanted to provide a sense of … [Read more...]

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Foodie Friday: Mochi Donut

July 14, 2017 By Leave a Comment
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Checking out... Mochi donuts: mini donuts made with mochi and filled with cream I know what you're thinking...How can mochi be made into a donut? Well, these cute treats can be found at Mochi Cream bakeries. Instead of the usual outer dough layer, the donuts feature a covering made from glutinous rice. They must add something to harden the texture, though, to give it shape. Maybe a type of glaze? Inside, there is a flavored cream layer, similar to that found in a cream puff. Of course, … [Read more...]

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Disneyland

June 26, 2017 By 2 Comments
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"A lifetime of happiness lies ahead of you." School's out...and I'm going to Disneyland! ("The Happiest Place on Earth.") It's been about 15 years since I last visited The Magic Kingdom. I got a twofer deal and saw both Disneyland and California Adventure. Since I have an amazing friend who works at Disney, not only did I go in on a discount, but the day was efficiently packed with rides. What spots did we hit? Here's a breakdown: Disneyland Finding Nemo Space Mountain Star Tours Buzz … [Read more...]

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Short Story Stats

June 19, 2017 By 2 Comments
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"Don't let statistics do a number on you." Interested in finding out how much of writing involves waiting? Look no further. I've been trying to shop around a 2100-word short story for a while. No bites so far. Here's my record of numbers: First date submitted: October 2016 Number of submissions: 5 Number of responses: 4 Quickest response time: 7 days Longest response time: 8 months Extra notes: Two personalized rejections, one form rejection. One of the customized rejections went … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Publishing, rejection, short story, submission, writing Tagged With: , ,

Tips for Podcast Interviews

June 12, 2017 By Leave a Comment
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"You are never selfish with your advice or your help." Recently, I got interviewed for Sheena Yap Chan's podcast, The Tao of Self Confidence. I was excited to contribute my observations about gaining confidence. I love the idea of encouraging other people with Asian heritage to find their voices and be proud of themselves. Kai Oberhäuser I've done a few podcasts now, and here are a five things I've learned along the way: 1. Opportunity: First off, getting a podcast means actively … [Read more...]

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Foodie Friday: Green Tea Oreos

June 9, 2017 By 2 Comments
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Green tea Oreos: chocolate sandwich cookies with green tea cream Now this is what I'm talking about! If you remember, I was trying out a green tea version of a well-known candy a while back: green tea Kit-Kats. My verdict? Dissatisfied. That's because I was yearning for chocolate in the mix. Well, I've finally found the right combination. It's got the chocolateness of Oreos, along with a delicious green tea middle. Do I split the cookie? Eat the middle first and then the rest? Nope, I'm more … [Read more...]

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WordlessWednesday: Weddings

June 7, 2017 By Leave a Comment
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… [Read more...]

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Foodie Friday: Ketchup Chips

June 2, 2017 By Leave a Comment
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My husband found this gem in Canada. Ketchup chips: potato chips with ketchup flavor Okay, so I'm thinking this should taste good. I mean, fries and ketchup? An A+ pairing. (Although I have some friends who like fries with mayo instead.) Plus, I'm a bit of a ketchup fan in general. It's got to be my #1 condiment of choice. But ketchup chips, to be honest, don't taste ketchup-y. I'm not sure what spices they use to simulate the sweet tomato sauce, but the combination is not anywhere near … [Read more...]

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