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.

Cee’s Black & White Challenge

It’s March!

Published on March 2, 2016 by Yinglan13 Comments

It’s March and look, ding dong, the witch is dead. Continue reading “It’s March!” →

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Things that are Rough

Published on March 1, 2016 by Yinglan2 Comments

Continue reading “Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Things that are Rough” →

Share Your World – 2016 Week #8

Published on February 27, 2016 by Yinglan6 Comments

What household chore do you absolutely hate doing? Continue reading “Share Your World – 2016 Week #8” →

Cee’s Black and White Challenge: Weather

Published on February 23, 2016 by Yinglan7 Comments

The past few weeks, it’s not been pretty here. Fog, haze, and gray skies, everyday not to mention the horrible air quality. Typical Utah winter. Continue reading “Cee’s Black and White Challenge: Weather” →

Reflection Over Coffee #14

Published on February 22, 2016February 22, 2016 by Yinglan9 Comments

My gosh! What a mess my co-host made last week but I fixed it. I liked the colors and stuck with it. This week’s edition is all about cleaning up. Have a great Monday and enjoy. 🙂
Continue reading “Reflection Over Coffee #14” →

Share Your World – 2016 Week #7

Published on February 20, 2016 by Yinglan8 Comments

What are you a “natural” at doing? Continue reading “Share Your World – 2016 Week #7” →

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Things that are Smooth

Published on February 19, 2016 by Yinglan4 Comments

I’ve just spent the majority of this week taking mid-terms and even after the deep massage on Wednesday, my back still aches and so is my head. Maybe I need a couple more sessions. Anyway, for this week’s Fun Foto challenge, I decided to go with the theme: Food. Hope you enjoy. Continue reading “Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Things that are Smooth” →

Secrets

Published on February 18, 2016 by Yinglan6 Comments

I am terrible at keeping secrets. If you tell me a secret, I will have to tell someone or I might explode. Continue reading “Secrets” →

Failed Imitation

Published on February 17, 2016 by Yinglan7 Comments

I gotta be honest, when I saw this week’s photo challenge, I was a bit stumped because after I saw so many posting pictures of them or someone posing with statues, I knew I wouldn’t have any of those pictures lying around especially I don’t like to pose with things. After brainstorming for a few days, I finally came up with just the pictures to show.

When I took these pictures last December, I was still experimenting with the new camera. Both were taken with the Intelligent Auto setting (a what-turned-out-to-be-a useful setting). However, right before I pressed the shutter button for the first picture (the pretty one), the Intelligent Auto setting switched to Night setting and the flash was immediately turned off. I tried to snap one more (the second picture) but for some reason, the setting was reverted back to Auto. Thus, that’s the reason for the second picture.

Somethings just cannot be imitated, that includes shooting photographs.

Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge – Life Imitates Art

Against the World

Published on February 16, 2016 by Yinglan15 Comments

What did I do to get on the wrong side of the world? Why did the world had chosen me as its victim to be bullied? What do I have to do to make my world stand up straight again? Continue reading “Against the World” →

Reflection Over Coffee #13

Published on February 15, 2016February 14, 2016 by Yinglan21 Comments

Happy President’s Day to people in the U.S. We get an extra day for our weekend. Woo Hoo. For that reason, I am ditching this week’s Reflection over Coffee (shh, don’t tell my co-host) and let my co-host, Angela take over. I’m sure there’ll be plenty of surprises. I just hope Angela won’t mess up the stage. I wouldn’t want to return next week to a train wreck. 😉
Continue reading “Reflection Over Coffee #13” →

Cee’s Black and White Challenge: Pets

Published on February 14, 2016 by Yinglan6 Comments

Continue reading “Cee’s Black and White Challenge: Pets” →

Seeking Help…

Published on February 13, 2016 by Yinglan27 Comments

It’s been about 10 days since my tablet broke and as of yesterday, I have had bigger problems. Continue reading “Seeking Help…” →

Share Your World – 2016 Week #6

Published on February 10, 2016 by Yinglan9 Comments

1. What is your favorite word?

I don’t have a specific favorite word but phrases, I have plenty, maybe too many to name. Just general praises will do like Great job! or Excellent!

2. What is your least favorite word?

Stupid and its synonyms like Idiot or Nincompoop. Such a harsh thing to call anyone. We’re all human and not perfect.

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?

Creativity – writing a story
Spiritually – meditation
Emotionally – watch a TV show or movie

4. What turns you off?

There is nothing more turned off than a realist. You know when you watch a show on TV and someone comes in and scoffs, “that will never happen in real life.”

That’s why it’s called a TV show. That’s why there’s fiction and non-fiction. It’s not real! Where’s your creativity?

5. What is your favorite curse word? Damn

6. What sound or noise do you love?

Gentle summer rain or water flowing down a stream. It’s what I listen to when I need to relax or sleep. Just go on YouTube and search, it’s real peaceful.

7. What sound or noise do you hate?

There is nothing worse than planes (fighter jets and the newest F35s) zooming over my roof and babies/children’s shrilling high-pitch cries and screams. The planes are like a very loud annoying fly buzzing around and have you endure a child’s scream? You can practically feel your ear-drums shatter and mind exploding at the noise.

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

I really like to try graphic artist or a director but I think I’m partially accomplishing that right now with my comic strips.

9. What profession would you not like to do?

I don’t like to be a translator even it’s currently paying most of my bills. I hate that job. If I’m not being micro-managed by my mom, I’ll quit the job at the first chance I get. Beside that, the other profession I would not want is doctor. The education seems too hard and I’ve already wasted 7 years in college.

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

He would say, “Let’s go find you another vessel,” and I would reply, “okie doke.”

Although I believe in God, I do not believe in heaven or hell. I believe in spiritual reincarnation, that our souls will be recycled into another life.

Continue reading “Share Your World – 2016 Week #6” →

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Things that are Cold

Published on February 10, 2016 by Yinglan4 Comments

Other than snow, I don’t have a lot of pictures that represent cold things. However, as I was scrolling through Instagram on my laptop, I came across this picture. I don’t remember taking this picture let alone posting it to Instagram because why would I take a picture of a block of ice?

In the caption, it said, “Three hours in the sun and the ice’s still there.” So I guess this proves just how cold the water is.