22. Illegal

My parents gave up everything they had in order for my siblings and I to have an education and a happy future. When I was 3, my parents packed up whatever could fit into their tiny suitcases and brought 3 young children to a foreign land where they didn't even know the language. My sister would tell me how she would have to walk (sometimes in the rain) to school because my parents were not able to take her to school. That is at least 2 miles each way. An elementary school student showing up to school soaking wet, I wonder what her teachers thought. After the laws that have been passed in Arizona (both on racial profiling and ethnic studies), I cannot help but think of my parents' struggles. It's a shame. 

Poem is taken from ______ magazine (totally forgot to get source! :[ ).

14. Good life

This video inspires me in so many ways.

(Yen)spiration: Ashley Goldberg

Ashley G does amazing illustrations. In fact, I use her photos as my laptop's screensaver. I keep going back to her Etsy shop in hopes of purchasing one of her prints but alas, I am a broke college student. And when I say broke, I mean that I am dirt poor.

Yen Can Cook: Avocados

1. Egg in avocado  2. Poached eggs on toast

1. Avocado chocolate cake 2. Avocado ice cream

If I could only grow 3 fruit trees in my backyard, the avocado tree would be the centerpiece of my garden. The mango tree as well as the pineapple bush would have to shine on the side. But the avocado! I have always loved avocados. They're perfect if you want to add a creamy texture to your sandwich or plate, but they can be consumed as a dessert (think avocado shakes!). As a kid, my sister and I would mash up avocados and add condensed milk and crushed ice to make a summertime snack. In 110 deg. Stockton weather, it was a perfect treat. Above are some new ways to eat the most delicious and versatile fruit of all, the avocado!

10. I ain't too proud to tell you that I cry sometimes about it.

All photos were taken from tumblr (no sources!)

I've been feeling pretty sad lately. Maybe my depression has slowly crept back into my life een though I've tried to work on it and become truly happy. These photos are like my moods, black and white. There aren't many days when I feel like talking to friends and enjoying their company. Lately though, I have been reaching out to friends and making plans. I have also been signing up for some community service, it has helped before. For now, I will be okay with enjoying the little things. 

Yen Likes: Hilary Bird

 

Based in San Francisco (so close!), Hilary makes illustrations so beautiful and quirky, I wish I were her muse. As I scroll through her Etsy shop, I imagine myself going on adventures with my boyfriend, a bear. If I had a steady job, I would save up enough money and buy a print from her shop each month. Just looking at them through a computer screen makes me giddy, I can't imagine how happy I would be if it were hanging above my desk where I would have the pleasure of looking at it everyday. (You can take this as an early birthday wish...6 months early.)

Yen Can Cook: Lemon

lemonade | pasta

cookies | penne

lemonade | cookies

Lemons are incredibly refreshing. When I think of the Summer months, I think of the tart, yellow fruit that can be used in both savory and sweet dishes. One of my favorite dishes at home is num bo, which translates to "to soak in butter" from Vietnamese. It's as delicious as it is bad for you. My mom would fill a pan with butter and throw in shrimp, calamari, beef, and other delicious cuts of meat. After they're fully cooked, we would place the meat onto rice paper and roll them to resemble spring rolls. My mom would make nuoc mam for us to dip our spring rolls in, making the food savory and salty, with a tang. Nuoc mam, which is a staple in all Vietnamese households, is made up of (depending on the family) fish sauce (smelly!), lemon juice, pepers, water, sugar. Those are just the main ingredients though, each family adds their own flair to the sauce! 


I also like my lemon with a side of sugar. Lemon desserts are the best! My mouth instantly fills with saliva when I think about a lemon cookie or a slice of lemon pound cake. To wash it all down with an ice cold cup of lemonade is wish I would make during the 110 degree dog days of summer here in Northern California. Oh to be home and eating with my family right now...

Yen Likes: Sarah Nichole Ontiveros

I am a very simple girl. All I need in life are fresh flowers, my food to be so hot it burns my tongue and my drinks to be ice cold. That and for my family to outlive me because I don't think I can deal with them dying on me. I love these prints. They're so light and delicate, like when you unwrap a present covered in beautiful wrapping and tissue paper. I see myself in all of the drawings and cannot stop smiling when I look at the illustrations. I stumbled upon them when browsing through flickr and found her flickr account. I couldn't stop flipping through the pictures and taking in the simple and fine details of her artwork. Take a look for yourself and enjoy her art!

I am using one of Sarah's illustrations as my blog's header. Isn't it gorgeous? (I picked it because it resembled me the most and it's just too pretty.)