My brother and sis-in-law came to California from Texas to visit so naturally we threw a big family party to welcome them back. We all hadn’t been together since their wedding in October 2010 so it was fun to see everyone. It was also a Chinese New Year celebration (hence all the red) and it was the first time my brother met Chris’ family. It was a lovely celebration and homecoming, I wish Arick and Cece would move back to California already!
My sister Jasmine turns 29 today! I am lucky to have a sister who I can also call my best friend. It’s her birthday but we’re all celebrating her presence in our lives, happy 29th Jazzy! (Wasn’t she a cutie when she was little??)
Hello hello! I hope everyone has been having as lovely a holiday season as I have. I can’t believe it’s the day before 2013 already (and the world didn’t end!). It’s crazy how much can happen in one year and I must say, 2012 was an exciting one. Indeed, my fiance, family and friends like to keep life interesting. Of course, the happiest and most memorable moment for me was when Chris asked me to marry him. I’ll never forget the overwhelming joy and excitement I felt that night. The whole year wasn’t as blissful as that evening though, as we said goodbye to one of our beautiful dogs. Chris and I also started new jobs and moved cities which has been a huge and positive change for both of us. Overall, I feel really lucky to look back on this year and remember how much love and support we have been surrounded by. Also counting my lucky stars for our loved ones’ good health, despite a couple scares along the way. Here are a few memorable events that happened this year – I can’t wait to see what 2013 will bring. Have a fun and safe new year’s eve tonight!
{jan, feb, mar, apr, may, jun, jul, aug, sept, oct, nov, dec}
jforjamie ©
**What better way to end this year than with the birth of Chris’ niece! Received news that baby Cecelia was born at 6am today. Congratulations Nicole and Ben!**
Mieuli holidays are like something out of a Food Network cooking show. I love spending Thanksgiving with Chris and his family because it is always lively, delicious and a joyous event. The entire family is in the kitchen cooking up all the traditional Thanksgiving dishes you can think of. This year we also got to spend some time with Chris’ visiting sister, brother-in-law and their adorable kiddos. The real star of the day was the perfectly cooked turkey, ready just in time for 3 generations of family to sit down and eat, Norman Rockwell style. The best thing (and most challenging) is after Mieuli Thanksgiving, we dash off to second Thanksgiving with my family. Unfortunately, I was so exhausted I forgot my camera for my family gathering! Perhaps one day we can join all families for a holiday and then I can eat in moderation. Until then, I’ll be stuffing myself in true American holiday spirit.
photos by jforjamie ©
Taking a break from my blogging hiatus (sincerest apologies), moving homes and family gatherings to wish everyone a very safe and happy Thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for and I know I should count my blessings every day, not just every November. I hope everyone has a warm and loving place to go and give thanks this evening. I can’t wait to share all the exciting things that have been going on my side of the world. Happy holidays!
If you can’t tell, I’ve been perusing through old photos of our families. I came across these great Halloween photos and thought it would be perfect to share today. Happy Halloween everyone, have a safe and spooky evening!
{some of the Mieuli kids, circa 1986 | Chris is in the middle}
{the Wong kids, circa 1987 | I’m the baby}
Recently, we had a small family dinner to celebrate our engagement and so Chris’ family could meet my extended family. My family loves to get together for dinner all the time so we wanted this one to be casual and just like any other get together. My mom ordered some delicious Chinese food (of course!) and my lovely aunt and uncle hosted the dinner at their beautiful home. The best part was when my cousin flew in from Hong Kong and made a surprise entrance. She is also one of my bridesmaids so it meant the world to us that she was there! I was so busy socializing and enjoying watching our two families mingle, I didn’t take that many photos but here are a few from the evening.
photos by jforjamie ©
Recently, we had to put one of our family dogs to sleep. I can say this was one of the hardest experiences any of us have ever encountered. Our beloved St. Bernard, “Big Dog”, came into our lives 6 years ago when my mom happened across her at the SPCA. She was scared, nervous and was speculated to have come from an abusive home. My mom and dad nurtured her into a healthy, loving and loyal companion and until her last day with us, she never left my mom’s side. As much as this post is a tribute to a wonderful dog, it is a reflection on how pets can come into our lives unexpectedly and bring families closer together. Through Big Dog, all of our relationships have grown stronger and closer. She brought a sense of security, love and joy to our lives. A few months ago, when we were told that cancer, the only thing we could do was shower her with love and attention. Our outpouring of love to her was endless and it always be. Though saying goodbye was painful and hard, we are grateful to have had such a wonderful and loving dog.
photos by jforjamie ©
At the moment, pet adoptions is hitting a soft spot so I wanted to share this as soon as I saw it. Anthropologie holds pet adoptions country-wide at their stores. If you have the time/energy/money/space/heart, please adopt a pet. All the dogs in our family have been rescued from the SPCA and adopted into our homes. The amount of joy, happiness and laughter each of them have given us in return is insurmountable. Believe me, it’s one of the best things you can do for yourself, your family and the furry ball of love. Click here to see more about Anthropologie’s pet adoption program or visit your local SPCA.
Before we jet off to Los Angeles for the weekend, I wanted to share a weekend we took a few weeks ago to Big Sur in the Santa Cruz mountains. My sister Jasmine arranged a little weekend getaway and rented a house up in the mountains and just a stone’s throw away from the ocean. We stayed in what was called the “Dragon House,” an eclectic 4 story cabin built right into the mountain. Complete with an outdoor bathroom, lily pond, lover’s suite, yoga balcony, views of the ocean and hiking trails jutting out to other hidden treasures. Our friends Joe, Jer, James and their pup Jake also joined us. It was peaceful (except when Chris and I found a snake in the shower) and sunny and warm and it was nice getting away with the gang for a bit. I am so grateful to live in such a beautiful part of the world where mountains and oceans and sunny blue skies are so accessible. I think we’re in for many more excursions to this part of Northern California!
photos by jforjamie ©
