1. read (at least) 1 book a month (12 in 2012)
2. organize my iTunes library
3. travel somewhere NEW
4. do a major closet (this includes shoes, bags) purge and consign/sell/donate
5. meticulously keep track of every new thing I buy (I tried to start this last year and fizzled out) and evaluate month by month
6. learn more about finances/investing
7. no more buying cosmetics, skin care until I use up what I have – try to use up 2 products/month, throw out what needs to be thrown out
8. finally finish making abandoned photo books (Paris 2009, Paris/Stockholm 2010)
9. learn how to use my camera
10. start on decorating the place – framed photos, prints, paint, etc.
11. be healthier – drink more water, eat healthier (meatless Mondays?), exercise more often (try to do the c25k program, walk at least 3x/week)
12. try to cook more Korean food – try 1 new recipe a month?
13. be a better person…

I’ve been trying to keep strict tabs on purchases this year (especially clothes), in the hopes of being able to look back and make better choices. So here is everything I bought in February:

• The gray tshirt is nice, and the buttons down the back are a cute detail. I would love it even more if it were a tad longer, but it’s no big deal.
• I returned the sequin stripe tee because the color was way too close to my skin color, and it looked terrible on me. In retrospect, it also wasn’t worth $40 and would have been a pain to clean, so I’m glad I took it back.
• The cardigan is great, except I just noticed yesterday that there’s one spot on the trim in the back where the stripes don’t match up, and it drives me a little crazy. Of course, I’ve already taken the tags off and worn it a couple times, so there’s nothing I can do except remember to examine every detail closer next time.
• I love the necklace – adds a sparkly punch to any outfit.

Maybe I should lay off the stripes now. Easier said than done.

Sunday 2/27
Beef & Vegetable Soup
Rice or Bread/Butter

Monday 2/28
String beans & chicken stirfry
Rice

Tuesday 3/1
Japanese ramen
with oden, egg & tomato

Wednesday 3/2
Thursday 3/3
Japanese Curry
Rice

How to Spot if a Person is an Asshole

Test 1: After talking to alleged asshole, does the “target” feel oppressed, humiliated, de-energized, or belittled by the person?  In particular, does the target feel worse about him/herself?

Test 2: Does the alleged asshole aim his or her venom at people who are less powerful rather than at those people who are more powerful?

The Dirty Dozen:  Common Everyday Actions That Assholes Use

1.  personal insults
2.  invading one’s personal territory
3.  uninvited personal contact
4.   threats and intimidation, both verbal and nonverbal
5.  sarcastic jokes and teasing used as insult delivery systems
6.  withering email flames
7.  status slaps intended to humiliate their victims
8.  public shaming of status degradation rituals
9.  rude interruptions
10.  two-faced attacks
11.  dirty looks
12.  treating people as if they are invisible

(excerpted from pages 9-10 of the book)
I’ll try to borrow the book again to summarize the survival tactics.

I watch many more Korean dramas than I do Taiwanese ones because there just aren’t as many good Tdramas.  This one was a really pleasant surprise.   It doesn’t have much of the over-the-top cringe-inducing over-acting seen in a lot of Tdramas.  Which often suffer from what my mom calls the curse of the “cute girl who is trying to act even cuter so it comes across as disgusting.”  Her words.  It’s got the typical asian drama cliches, but it’s mellow.  Plus, Mike He is such a cutie pie in this and has improved a lot since Devil Besides You.

Should I even bother to write  a synopsis?  I only ever watch the same types of dramas…

She’s a plucky girl, kind-hearted and resourceful; works as housekeeping staff at a hotel.  He’s the hotel/real estate chaebol (now i’m curious, are there other types?) who discovers he has an 8-year old son by his ex-wife, who he thought had an abortion.  Mr. Chaebol enters into a contract marriage with Plucky Girl to aid in his custody battle,  she accidentally becomes pregnant (drinks  and contract marriages do not mix, people), contract marriage is outed and they begin falling for each other.  There’s a storyline with the chaebol’s younger brother, who was actually Plucky Girl’s first love pen pal.  LOL.  It’s not an asian drama without the love triangle!

LOVE it.  Can’t wait to finish the last four episodes!  I’m watching the Chinese version (which aired first), and am tempted to watch again with the Taiwanese version (airing now with diff edits).

The below isn’t the Jay song, but its the only one with an MV so far.  I didn’t like it at first, but then ended up singing it in the shower…

If you pronounce the title just a bit differently, it could mean “Taiwanese Girl.”  Ha!

J.Crew stripe sequin boatneck tee in pumice
J.Crew herringbone Fiona jacket in rhubarb
J.Crew black ankle stretch toothpick jeans
LV monogram shawl in beige
Steve Madden black riding boots

MONDAY:
- leftover penne

TUESDAY:
- 김치볶음 (kimchi bokkeum)

WEDNESDAY:
- 닭볶음(dak bokkeum): stir-fried chicken, vegetables, kochujang

THURSDAY:
- leftovers (if there are any), or Trader Joe’s tuna in red curry

Continuing the KS love…these pumps are so cute. I love the stripes on the heel – they remind me of Paul Smith – and think they would look so cute peeking out from under a pair of wide-legged pants. So, is this the shoe equivalent of a mullet (business in the front, party in the back)?