Happy Birthday, Blogger Style

This past weekend, I celebrated my 22nd birthday.  Oh, what a weekend it was! Stay tuned for details until the next post, but for now I'd like to concentrate on one birthday gift in particular.  I had my first ever blogger shout-out!

My dear friend, Kasia, contacted Molly Ford, who writes one of my favorite blogs: Smart Pretty and Awkward.  Kasia, in her thoughtful and creative style, asked her to write me a happy birthday shout-out.  It was quite the surprise, and possibly one of the most creative ways anyone has ever told me happy birthday.  So thank you, Molly, for helping me be smarter, prettier, and a little less awkward; and thank you, Kasia, for making me happier, wiser, and a lot more grateful.

Business Casual

Company: The Brown Shoe Company

Job Title: Intern

Job Location: Clayton, MO (St. Louis)

Start Date: May 24, 2010

Dress Code: Business Casual

...Business casual. This paradox tends to throw people for a loop. Finding the right balance between the "business" and the "casual" can be a daunting task. With a whole summer ahead of me to dress "business casual," I've been trying to search for numerous ensembles to have on hand. I find myself wondering if something is too casual, cutesy, or trendy for work. Do I look like I'm going to work, to lunch with a friend, or to a club? So while I've been at home, I figured I'd take advantage of the opportunity to ask my resident experts: Mom and Dad.

"Dad, what would you recommend wearing for a business casual dress code?"

Answer:

"Mom,  what would you recommend wearing in a business casual environment?"

Answer:

So I've got a couple options, and although the plaid and khaki combination has potential to be next season's "must-have celebrity look," I think I'll listen to Mom on this one.

A Parisian Touch

If you know me, you know that I love Paris. Today, when I was out shopping, I spotted this adorable little Parisian-themed case of lacy goodies and had to have it. I purchased it not so much for what was inside, but for the case itself. Sketches of L'Arc de Triomphe and La Tour Eiffel cover this little hat-box like container, and I love any excuse to add a touch of Paris to my life.

A little splash of charming park benches, sidewalk cafés, and beautiful monuments are sure to brighten any girl's day... especially the one who exclaims "Paris, je t'aime."

You can find your own "Allons-y à Paris!" box at Forever 21

A Little Taste of China

As an International Business major, any kind of cultural experience draws me in without much resistance on my part. This past weekend, I had the delight of going out to an unusually authentic Chinese restaurant, courtesy of my Chinese friend, Chenye (Christina) Lu. One would think that the closest to real Chinese food you could get in St. Louis, MO was something like P.F. Chang's. False. Somewhere between downtown and suburbia lies a small pocket of authentic Chinese restaurants, grocery stores, and other shops. Christina led us into her favorite restaurant through the back door, greeting the owners as if they were family. Everything about this place smelled, looked, and tasted exactly like China! It reminded me a bit of my trip to China, except right here in St. Louis.

You may notice that you cannot read anything listed on the above menu (unless you speak Chinese). Well, neither can I. Luckily, my trusty friend Christina ordered everything for the table, and I offered up my empty stomach at will to dishes like these:

Pig ear, duck (all parts), egg, tofu, and vegetable

Chicken with veggies (my personal favorite)

Top it off with a little bit of this....

Enjoy!

The owner was quite impressed that all of us were using chop sticks, although I reached for the spork a time or two myself. I must admit that I was a bit tentative to dive into dishes like pig ear... but it was all part of the experience. The restaurant even had Chinese newspapers and authentic Chinese drinks. I love being an International Business major for reasons like being able to transport a miniature version of one's home country to another. I love having friends like Christina who bring me to places and expose me to other cultures. So even if your travel budget may be low, you can still engage in cultural experiences, with the right guidance, wherever you live.

Here we are as a group with the owners and chef.

Thank you, Christina, for being our mealtime ambassador!

Footprints on Mother Earth

Mother Earth, underneath a circle of friends

5 carbon footprints

In light of Earth Day, I would like to dedicate this blog post to Mother Earth. St. Louis has a number of annual festivities, and one of my favorites is the Earth Day Festival in Forest Park. Passionate citizens take this opportunity to set up booths with their "Green Products," tasty foods, and the latest in green technology exhibits. Spring in St. Louis offers a number of picnic-able days, so this event typically provides a great opportunity to spend some time learning about how to care better for Mother Earth in the great outdoor setting of Forest Park.

However, this Earth Day Festival got a little bit muddy. One of my favorite days of the year was graced with a steady drizzle and pour, so I cut my time at the outdoor festivities short and resorted to recreational coffee drinking... indoors. Having learned little from the unexpectedly short time spent at the festival of all things green, I decided to purchase this book in order to find a few new ways to live with Mother Earth in mind--365 of them to be exact. So although I tried to pay my tributes, I ended up with more "earth" on my shoes than anything else. What did you do to celebrate Mother Earth?

A New Life

My dear readers, I have yet to formally address you... but after my recent blogging hiatus I feel I must. I took some time off from blogging for several reasons. I didn't properly know how to transition my way from "The Adventures of Kelly in Paris" to "back to normal life." Also, I re-entered my life in the US at full speed. My agenda has never been so full, and between taking 18 hours of courses, working 15-20 hours a week, extracurriculars, and trying to find a job for the summer, I've been a bit busy. So, in light of spring, I've decided to start anew. I hope you become a regular visitor again, as I promise to get back to blogging soon.