ahhhhh!! big paws!!! my greatest weakness!!!

hello! i'm cute and fuzzy-wuzzy!

(Update: Okay, I nevermind. I guess I can’t have a puppy yet. Very sad. Gotta raise money to get my own place first before I can get a doggie ;_; Oh well! Will still post daily puppy pics!)

Anyhows, my birthday is coming up this week. (ACK! Quarter of a century old!) In the past, I’ve planned gatherings, big parties, ridiculous themes for my birthdays. A few months ago, my brother inspired me with this very powerful video:

This year, I’m giving up my birthday and Christmas presents for a philanthropic cause! *POWER FIST PUMP!* Especially in our recession, it’s soooo easy to use “this economy” as an excuse to clench onto our dollars, but I still think it’s even MORE important now to remember those that are in need.

Did you know that one billion people in the world don’t have access to safe, clean drinking water? That’s ONE IN SIX of us!

$20 can give one person clean water for 20 years. $5000 would fund a well project to serve 250 people—50 families, 1 whole community. 100% of charity:water donations go directly to building a safe, sustainable water solution for villages in Africa.

So, how about it? I’m turning 25 this week, and instead of collecting presents, I’d love it if you could donate $25 to help me build a well instead! I’m extending this as my Christmas celebration too so no need to get me presents if you donate!

Help me build a well this December!

Seriously though… I really don’t need ANYTHING. I have everything I truly need, so please no presents. :) Use that time and money to help someone else that really needs your help to live healthily.

Thanks SO much for your time, and for helping me get closer to obtaining my birthday wish! <3 Love you all!

• Donate to Estella’s 25th Birthday campaign!
• Find out more about charity:water
• Start your own fundraising campaign!

First off, I have an incredible family. In the last year, I’ve definitely become more appreciative of how my parents have raised me and my brothers. We’re not an easy bunch to raise, but I’m proud to say that they really did raise us well. From the simple gestures of knowing tea pouring etiquette (always pour tea for your elders first and yourself last) to the complex dynamics of being organized, leading a team, and knowing HOW to learn. I’m incredibly grateful for my loving family and everything we’ve been through to get us where we are now.

In the last year, Brent and I moved in together and I 100% consider him as one of my closest family members. I’m SO lucky to have such a supportive, understanding, positive, and loving partner that seriously makes me smile EVERY day! I absolutely love our relationship, and how we have friends come over to our place every weekend! Brent makes the most delicious foods in the world–I’m the luckiest person in the world! And most importantly, he’s down to play the New Super Mario Bros Wii game with me for 5+ hours straight! :DDD

My friends! So many have come and gone through my stages of life and the ones that are always there are … well.. always there! My Oakland crew is the best. Yeah, so some of us are totally grannies and sleep at 10 and wake at 7, and we still do the same things we did 6 years ago (when we can actually stay up that late), but that’s what I love best! We’ve grown a lot but who are we trying to kid? The core of our hearts are truly just a bunch of 5 year olds running around. I <3 it! You guys keep me grounded, always make me laugh, and constantly remind me about how it’s 100% okay to remain kiddish and youthful. It’s the best way to be. :)

I’m SO thankful for having a job right now where I get to do things I LOVE! I’ve been having so much fun designing sites, print items, logos, and more! I’m loving the opportunity to flourish my creativity and putting it to good use. I know I’m incredibly lucky to have this opportunity (especially to commute 10 mins away)! Not many people these days can have both a job and have it be something they actually love to do. Thanks so much, Emily, for bringing me on the team! I also have an incredible team that I work with, and I’ve definitely made great friends in them. But… surprise surprise? I’m totally the boy in the team–I talk to my coworkers’ bfs about videogames regularly. hahah

Finally, thanks to everyone for your love and friendship! Hope y’all have a great weekend! <3

Oh… and…. I’m thankful for… the interwebz~~<3 :O!

Last month, I landed myself a pretty exciting job at a local design studio in Oakland! I feverishly trained for several weeks, getting to know the ins and outs of my responsibilities. I spend a lot of time maintaining our client’s sites (content and design updates), have worked on brainstorming new designs for new clients, putting together print pieces, and just trying to keep my head up above the water. Barely, it seems!

When I get a new job/position, I usually go into MIA mode for a month or two to get used to the big schedule change. Which also means I’ve been maxing out in GRANDMA mode! Get to bed by 10, get up around 7:30.

I had to drop most of my classes this semester so I wouldn’t completely kill myself. I’m only taking one class now, which I absolutely LOVE–Intro to Animation Principles! I’m really enjoying the experience of creating animations. The problem is that I spend about 9 hours staring at a monitor for work, and I’m usually exhausted by the time it’s time for class. It’s so difficult to make it out, but when I get there, I always feel so thrilled about new ideas, and seeing what my classmates have created too! Unfortunately, I’ve been utterly behind on my animation work because I just don’t want to kill my eyes.

Since my eyes have been taking a beating, my weekends have just trying to chill out at home, relaxing, not straining at my computer. Just spending some good time with Brent, and occasional friends that may come over. (This weekend was the first time I saw my friends in a month! Yayayayay!!!)

I’m learning lots and am extremely fortunate to get to do things I love right now! But, as usual, the perfectionism in me just doesn’t want to fuck anything up. It’s just one of those situations where the stress that is created comes mostly from within.

Oh well… gotta HUSTLE, right?

I’ve got tons of personal projects in the queue…. just don’t know when I’ll have the energy to do everything at once again. :)