A-Z Challenge 2016: F for Friendship

Published on April 7, 2016April 6, 2016 by Yinglan29 Comments

You kinda knew I would do F for friendship, didn’t you? So anyway, I can definitely relate to this quote .

As I’ve said on day three of this challenge, I visited my friend, Kat during spring break. At her home, there were posters of pretty girls taped against her kitchen wall, she said it’s there to serve as her inspiration. I avoided looking at that wall during the remainder of my visit. Looking at pictures of half-dressed girls made me uncomfortable.

That night, after finishing my regular TV hours, I returned to my room to check my texts. Kat had flooded my tablet with texts about how she wanted me to do the Master degree program with her and then we could open a tax firm. Then the following text became about how I have to diet and lose weight, then about how I have to fix my teeth with implants, and how much I need a nose job.

The texts reminded me of my mom and how she’s constantly trying to plan my future for me not to mention, she criticizes my appearance too. It made me wonder, is Kat embarrassed by how I look? When I decided to be her friend, I didn’t realize it would require a change to my physical appearance. I guess what I’m trying to say is like the quote says, I’m not looking for anyone to fix me. I don’t need to be fix or my future planned for me. I just need someone who will be there for me.

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Image Credit: Pinterest

A-Z Challenge 2016: E for Enthusiasm

Published on April 6, 2016April 4, 2016 by Yinglan20 Comments

People, my boss, friend, etc. tell me I’m going to be a successful person but I’m don’t know. Just because I don’t give up and know how to save money by not spending it on unnecessary thing don’t mean I have the qualities of a successful person.

My mom says I know how to be frugal (cheap) because I don’t know how to make money. That’s partially true, I guess by taking a little money and turning it into a lot is a good skill, don’t you think?

However, if I’m going to be judged according to this quote, I’m not sure if I would be categorized as a will-be-successful person. Sure, I try again and again at somethings without giving up but I can’t say that after ten tries, I still have the same level of enthusiasm for the same task. Therefore in Winston Churchill’s point of view, I may not be considered a will-be-successful person.

What about you? When you read this quote, do you see that in yourself or someone you know? Please share.

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Image Credit: Pinterest

A-Z Challenge 2016: D for Don’t Stop

Published on April 5, 2016April 5, 2016 by Yinglan15 Comments

I think this is a good quote for the topic because it kind of stand for what I’m doing at the moment. As some of you know, I was to move out last month but I chose to stay due to financial troubles and sometimes, I still regret my decision because I thought if I move out, I could forget everything and focus on myself for once but the truth is, with so much worries of financial troubles, I couldn’t focus on anything.

At the moment, I’m planning on December because that’s when I will finish my second undergraduate degree and hopefully have a better job. I know that December is still a long ways to go but I know that time can speed up if it wants to and I also know that as long as I don’t stop and keep pushing, I will eventually achieve my goals.

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Image Credit: Pinterest

Reflection Over Coffee #19

Published on April 4, 2016April 4, 2016 by Yinglan19 Comments

Okay, this is the last episode before this show goes on a break. That’s why I decided to do a cross-over. So I can do one comic for two shows. That’s right, The Foreshadower will be going on a break as well. The comics will be back in 4 weeks, after all my finals and the A-Z challenge is done.
Continue reading “Reflection Over Coffee #19” →

A-Z Challenge 2016: C for Change

Published on April 4, 2016April 4, 2016 by Yinglan10 Comments

Did I tell you about my new friend, Kat? I met her in school a few weeks ago and at first, I was very happy because making friends had never been easy for me and it’s been a long time since I’ve had a friend. We hit it off and during spring break, I secretly visited her. I’ve been doing so many things secretly lately that I’m starting to get a rush.

Anyway, her home was extremely simple, few furniture and decorations. However, I noticed she had a few posters of pretty girls taped against her kitchen wall. “What’s up with those?” I asked.

“I want to be like them.” She replied right away. Why, I asked her. “I want to be beautiful!”

At that moment, I felt puzzled. She’s already beautiful. She has a husband who loves her for her, who allows her all the freedom she desires, not requiring her to go to work, let her buy whatever she desires, so why would she want to go through the trouble of changing her appearance?

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Image Credit: Google

A-Z Challenge 2016: B for Bold

Published on April 2, 2016March 31, 2016 by Yinglan8 Comments

I think this is a great quote. Very inspiring and motivational. I just wish I’m brave and bold enough to listen to my own heart.

In the meantime, this quote reminds me a lot of this song. It’s one of my favorite songs. Hope you all enjoy your Saturdays.

Click here to catch up on my latest A to Z Challenge entries.

Image Credit: Pinterest

Half-Light: Sunrises

Published on March 30, 2016 by Yinglan13 Comments

February full-moon sunrise

March Sunrise

Early classes means driving to school before sunrise

I took all these pictures during the last month and they were all taken in the early in the morning. I love sunrises, there are always so many colors associated. I just don’t like getting this early. Good thing I only have three more weeks of school left.

Daily Post Photo Challenge – Half-Light

Reflection Over Coffee #18

Published on March 28, 2016March 27, 2016 by YinglanLeave a comment

For the first time ever, my real-life friend, Kat, is a special guest the show. This conversation about how she’s stressed out actually exist and not in my imagination. We texted back-and-forth and I borrowed the texts and translated into dialogues which made this comic extra easy to do. Hope you enjoy.
Continue reading “Reflection Over Coffee #18” →

Share Your World – 2016 Week #12

Published on March 23, 2016March 22, 2016 by Yinglan6 Comments

Wanting something to quench your thirst, what would you drink?

Cool water (not ice cold but not room-temperature warm) but if it’s very hot outside, I’ll take an ice water. Then, I’ll drink the water and rub the ice against my skin to keep cool.

What made you feel good this past week?

I finally made a trip to the Family History Library in Downtown Salt Lake and learned how to search for my family. I’ve been wanting to go to that place for a long long long time because I’ve been super curious about my genealogy and now that I’ve gone, I know how to continue with my search.

When you’re alone at home, do you wear shoes, socks, slippers, or go barefoot?

I’d always go barefoot, that is unless I’m on hard floor. Otherwise, on carpet, I’d be barefoot. I’m not really a fan of wearing shoes because I’m clumsy and wearing shoes would just increase my chances of tripping.

Would you rather live where it is always hot or always cold?

Uh, how about neither? I don’t like either of those extremes. I think somewhere in between would be just fine.

Share Your World Challenge

Image Credit (except noted): Google

A-Z Challenge 2016 Theme

Published on March 21, 2016April 1, 2016 by Yinglan28 Comments

I didn’t know this is theme reveal day, otherwise, I’d be more prepared. Anyway, this will be my second year participating in the A-Z challenge and I signed up several months back. If you look at the sign-up page, I’m number 168, that should tell you just how long ago I signed up.

Last year, I didn’t really had a theme even though I “claimed” I did. I just went with whatever I could think about that day. This year, however, I do have a theme and that theme is

Quotes!

Each day for 26 days, I will feature a quote. The topic or author of the quote will match to the letter of the day. For example, I for Inspiration. I got the idea from doing the 3 Day 3 Quote challenge and from last year’s participation. Beneath the quote, I’ll write something, maybe the quote is related to me somehow or maybe I’ll pose a question.

I hope you will enjoy the weekday quotes for the next month. Now the question is, can I keep up with this theme? Or will I go off to some random theme in the middle month like last year? Who knows?! I guess we’ll see.

Reflection Over Coffee #17

Published on March 21, 2016March 20, 2016 by Yinglan29 Comments

You would not believe what happened last week at school. Everyone’s telling me to vote vote vote for them!
Continue reading “Reflection Over Coffee #17” →

Reflection Over Coffee #16

Published on March 14, 2016March 13, 2016 by Yinglan11 Comments

*Yawn* so sleepy. I think I have post-spring-break sickness. Couldn’t spring break last just a bit longer?
Continue reading “Reflection Over Coffee #16” →

Share Your World – 2016 Week #10

Published on March 13, 2016 by Yinglan13 Comments

What would you ask for if a genie granted you three wishes?

Be smarter, flexible in the mind, and cunning
Be braver, courageous, and able to stand up for myself (have more guts)
Be more daring and adventurous in life

What experiences are most meaningful to you?

Probably one of those things I may never achieve (the quote). A meaningful experience is something unique (out of routine), new, memorable, and in the moment. Like going bowling for the first time or for me, trying new foods for the first time.

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a lot of things. My dream career kept changing as I grew up. First, because my mom was a teacher when she was in China, so naturally, as a kid, I wanted to be a teacher too. I got a taste of that and I hated it. Next, I wanted to be a singer and then a movie director, and then it was a graphic artist. At the moment, even at nearly 25, I still haven’t achieve my dream career. It’s still evolving and may never stop.

Complete this sentence: The best day of my life was….

There has been quite a few best days and one of them resurfaced last week during my therapy session. When I was in Texas and living with my step-grandparents, we would go to church on Sundays and then after, we would stop at a fast food joint and they would get me whatever I want. My favorite place was Burger King.

The sizes at the Burger Kings in Texas are different from anywhere else. Its smallest is a medium, and then large, and king. The medium were plenty big, at least bigger than what I have at the Burger Kings in Utah.

Anyway, I would have the Big Fish and a milkshake and I was the happiest girl in the world. I no longer cared of how ridiculous I looked in high heels, dress, and make-up, at that moment, I was in a different world and this is why it’s one of the best days of my life because I got to forget temporarily how screw-up my mom and step-dad were and how they couldn’t stop fighting.

Share Your World Challenge

Image Credit (except noted): Google

Nature’s Art

Published on March 9, 2016 by Yinglan11 Comments

This picture was taken at Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada last September. I stopped there on my way home from Las Vegas. It was incredibly hot that day, almost 100°F and it was dry heat so every breath I took in burned in my lungs. I enjoyed the desert landscapes anyway.

I’ve chosen this picture to represent this week’s photo challenge and discover challenge because I believe the word, harmony, has a lot of different meanings. In my mind, harmony is a group of people, animals, and even objects come together in peace and create something amazing and to see, well, that’s invoking a sense, right?

When I look at this picture, it reminds me of this. In a way, this desert landscape is a work of art created by mother nature and this is how I see it:

Each time a gust of wind goes by, a group of sandstone particles would volunteer to surrender their place, they would choose to explore elsewhere even though they knew that once they leave, they’re never coming back. Over time, as more and more of these sandstone particles choose to move on, to travel and find a new home by means of the wind, a gaping hole would be in their places and sooner or later, the rock will look more and more like a block of Swiss cheese or it will transform into a peculiar sculpture that looks like the upper half of a man’s body.

Daily Post Photo Challenge – Harmony

Daily Post Discover Challenge – Blogging the Senses

Reflection Over Coffee #15

Published on March 7, 2016March 7, 2016 by Yinglan14 Comments

This week is spring break and I’m trying to decide what I want to do. Maybe I shouldn’t do anything. Continue reading “Reflection Over Coffee #15” →

Share Your World – 2016 Week #9

Published on March 5, 2016 by Yinglan10 Comments

Have you done something you truly want to do today? Continue reading “Share Your World – 2016 Week #9” →

Cee’s Black and White Challenge: Sepia Tone Only

Published on March 3, 2016 by Yinglan14 Comments

So I finally brought my camera with me to school but so far, I haven’t been able to capture a lot of images. This is one of them. My original goal was to take this in the dark because the minute and second hands light up but I missed my chance. Now, I’ll just have to wait until winter to capture it again.

This is a magnificent object in the school. It’s about the only thing that stands out for miles and with the mountains in the back, the scenery is breathtaking.

This was taken in the moment, just seconds before I had to sprint to catch the shuttle last week. For some reason, the mountains look incredibly close. It looks like the mountains are just beyond those buildings and stairs.