tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5291954416881656960Thu, 19 Dec 2024 03:17:58 +0000AustinArtFoodHennaLoveTravelModelingVietnamVietnamese Ao Dai PaintingsA Vietnamese boat girl's journey continues...tales of my adventures and thoughts on life and more.http://laphamnikita.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Blogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5291954416881656960.post-3621906663161723145Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:03:00 +00002010-04-21T13:27:27.466-05:00AustinTravelYou've heard people say this before: Texas is not just a state. And they're right. It's more like its own continent on Planet America. If I had a list of the last places I would live on Earth, Texas would definitely be among the last. Yet, ironically, I find myself living here now in the "heart of Texas" for a whopping record-breaking 3 1/2 years! That's the only place http://laphamnikita.blogspot.com/2010/04/mission-explore-texas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5291954416881656960.post-2517797516062501141Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:42:00 +00002010-04-05T16:57:25.119-05:00I'm a mustard green virgin. Never eaten it. Never cooked it. I've been desperately trying to save money on food by using only the ingredients I already have in my kitchen.  I had 2 big bunches of mustard greens from the Farm-to-Work program that I needed to use, plenty of spices and a bunch of random canned food items.  I refuse to cook mustard greens with just bacon fat, sohttp://laphamnikita.blogspot.com/2010/04/2-make-it-up-as-i-go-mustard-green.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5291954416881656960.post-5677368685807713080Wed, 31 Mar 2010 02:18:00 +00002010-05-25T18:59:15.955-05:00ArtAustinVietnamese Ao Dai PaintingsAll I have to say is that it's been a very interesting journey painting. Although I sometimes get frustrated with it and can't do some of the detailed work I'm used to doing with henna and pen, I certainly enjoy the  mental/spiritual health benefits it offers. It's when I focus and meditate on just painting that I find much peace and relaxation.  I enjoy my teas or wines or the company http://laphamnikita.blogspot.com/2010/03/paintings.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5291954416881656960.post-609877934275756730Tue, 30 Mar 2010 04:16:00 +00002010-03-30T10:36:04.646-05:00FoodPersonally, I never eat Chinese food unless it's Dim Sum, roast pork/duck, or cai lan (aka Chinese broccoli). Vietnamese food is so much better and healthier. So, next time you're craving Asian food, don't even dare to order nasty Chinese take-out ever again because here's a real simple dish anyone can do in less than 20 minutes. It's Chinese-style egg noodles with tofu and Chinese broccoli (or http://laphamnikita.blogspot.com/2010/03/ez-chi-neez-noodles.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5291954416881656960.post-7657518611571599676Tue, 23 Mar 2010 05:12:00 +00002010-03-23T00:53:12.926-05:00AustinFoodI'm a Vietnamese girl from Michigan.  I have never heard of turnip greens or turnip green soup!  If it weren't for me being in Texas and for the awesome Farm-to-Work program, my palate would never have been so enlightened!  Every week, I can order $25 worth of seasonal organic veggies from local farmers.  I don't do it often because it's usually too much for 1 person but http://laphamnikita.blogspot.com/2010/03/too-good-to-be-true-turnip-green-soup.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5291954416881656960.post-6011866677121869384Thu, 25 Feb 2010 07:49:00 +00002010-03-03T17:56:21.086-06:00AustinLoveTravelLet me guess what you're thinking...."What?!?! You PICKED up a HITCHHIKER?!? That's crazy!  You could've been killed!"  Yes, I picked up a hitchhiker and I know I could've been killed. Call me crazy. I'm a girl. I was alone. I could've been hacked into pieces, blah blah blah.  BUT before you REALLY think I'm crazy and stupid, let me tell you my story and then you can judge for http://laphamnikita.blogspot.com/2010/02/womans-guide-to-picking-up-hitchhikers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5291954416881656960.post-9192660705998728125Tue, 23 Feb 2010 04:23:00 +00002010-02-23T13:57:20.689-06:00ArtModelingPresenting....my first painting of a Vietnamese woman in a traditional Vietnamese dress, called the Ao Dai (literally Long Shirt) and pronounced: \ow zai\ with an upward intonation on the 'ow' and a downward intonation on the 'zai'. The Ao Dai is a two-piece dress, consisting of a long shirt and pants.  To me, this is the ideal dress because it comes with pants. Truth be told, I've http://laphamnikita.blogspot.com/2010/02/ao-dai-long-dress.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5291954416881656960.post-4333356107726468239Fri, 29 Jan 2010 06:25:00 +00002010-01-29T13:07:10.233-06:00ArtAustin[note: this is kinda just a personal journal entry for myself - just my uninhibited unedited freeflow thoughts tonite.] So I guess I took a mini sabbatical from blogging.  Over a month.  I finally found some down time to reflect on the whole past month or so of my life.  It's been a total crazy whirlwind of everything. I took a little break from drawing, henna, http://laphamnikita.blogspot.com/2010/01/note-to-self-austin-art-attraction-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5291954416881656960.post-2783228935803431755Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:51:00 +00002009-12-18T08:57:47.563-06:00LoveHe's Just Not That Into You: by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo Note to the Reader: I've always wanted to have my own love/relationship/sex column like Carrie Bradshaw and this is my attempt at writing a Sex in the City type column. Let's love lots and have fun with me! :) What should I call my column?  And thank you to all my wise family and friends who have http://laphamnikita.blogspot.com/2009/12/hes-definitely-not-into-you.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5291954416881656960.post-244361288512832736Sat, 12 Dec 2009 19:47:00 +00002009-12-12T14:21:43.685-06:00FoodOn a cold and wet day in Austin, there's nothing I crave more than a hearty and healthy chili that's quick and easy to make. I try to substitute turkey for beef whenever possible because it's a healthier option and you can't even tell the difference. (oh, and this is not the turkey left over from Thanksiving, haha!) Keep in mind that I don't usually cook with specific recipes so you need to trusthttp://laphamnikita.blogspot.com/2009/12/quick-y-turkey-chili.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5291954416881656960.post-8971907735762398972Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:57:00 +00002009-12-09T16:12:11.517-06:00ArtAustinHennaThe theme is "Transformation." How fitting as I feel like I've been morphing and transforming this whole year - from cooking to modeling, from aspiring entrepreneur to artist. I just submitted 2 experimental pieces of 12 x 12 x 2 wood panels for the Maranda Pleasant Holiday Art Box Show. Neither of my pieces turned out as I had envisioned, of course. Nevertheless, this ishttp://laphamnikita.blogspot.com/2009/12/transformation.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5291954416881656960.post-1256579829903243349Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:51:00 +00002009-12-14T14:49:08.966-06:00ArtHennaTravel"Shit! I have less than 2 weeks to become an artist," I said to my friends before E.A.S.T. (my first East Austin Studio Tour).  The henna peacock bag idea was conceived one cool night in Austin. I was chillin' in the backyard, drinkin' a Lonestar with my inspiring artist friend and talkin' shop. He started a women's clothing line Darkeyes Clothing where hishttp://laphamnikita.blogspot.com/2009/11/mission-reduce-reuse-and-recycle.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5291954416881656960.post-8598103073462758638Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:11:00 +00002009-12-14T14:48:34.258-06:00ArtAustinHennaWhat IS the "American Dream?"  Traditionally, it is the dream of fame, success, and wealth.  In history, it is "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement." [first used by James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of America, 1931]  I like this.  For my parents, I think http://laphamnikita.blogspot.com/2009/11/escape-artist-american-dreaming_12.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5291954416881656960.post-7470771824166798991Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:32:00 +00002009-12-09T16:01:59.806-06:00LoveVietnam In March 1980, my parents fled Vietnam, their homeland. I was only 16 months old and a tiny baby girl that used to ride in the front basket of my grandfather's bicycle. I have no memory of it all, the suffering, the boat escape. Yet, I can play it in my mind like it was an old movie I've seen long ago. There was not a day that my Dad failed to remind my siblings and I to thank God thathttp://laphamnikita.blogspot.com/2009/11/phamilys-boat-escape.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)3