Dec. 24 - Jan. 3 | MD Vlog

Jubilee Clinic Ribbon-Cutting | Dallas, TX

Illinois | Aug. 3–Aug. 8

SEGD Conference | Portland, OR

Cali 2022 | Dec. 31–Jan. 4

CA2019

HT getaway | Austin TX

breeze bakery

while i was in maryland, i was taken out to eat at a lot of new places but i was too busy having fun to blog about them. luckily, i took pictures at this cute bakery that christy took me to one night

it was called Breeze Bakery. they sell foods & drinks like cakes, cupcakes, flan, donuts, cookies, yogurt, breads, sandwiches, soups, salads, coffees, & teas

honestly, everything looks so good that we didn't really know what to pick so brenda, christy, & i said we'd all buy something & share it w each other. we ended up getting flan, a cupcake, & a yogurt

oreo cupcake (left), tommy's coffee ice cream (middle), berry yogurt (right), flan (in the box)

all of the desserts were so cute & delicious, 10/10 would go back 

MD | 12/24/17-1/3/18

Jan. 1- Jan. 7 | Week Vlog + end of MD trip.

Dec. 25- Dec. 31 | Week Vlog | MD

Dec. 18- Dec. 24 | Week Vlog | MD

MD & R.I.P 12/15/16

the countdown until MD starts again! 

earlier this year, in the summer, i already went to MD. but due to my grandpa's poor health, we decided to go again in the winter to visit him. we were planning to go on Christmas morning but unfortunately, his health only got worse. we re-booked to an earlier today, Dec. 17th (today, technically) but he passed away 2 days before the day we were supposed to go back.

this is very saddening but i am still excited to go to MD. my family needs to all be together to support each other during this sad time & i can't wait to see them. i truly appreciate all the prayers for my grandpa from my friends & family. all we can do is try to remember that he is in a better place now.

on a lighter note, since this semester & finals are over, i will definitely be vlogging again, especially since i'm going to MD so watch out for new content!

thank you for all the love & support <3

Marian Days 2016.

in my last post, i told you guys that i was going to Missouri for Marian Days for the first time ever. 

i was woken up at 3:50 AM & left the house at 4 AM to drive to my mom's friend's house (we were going on the trip w them). there was a huge rental van & 12 people in it. i was stuck on the road for 10+ hours w 12 people in a van. we finally got to Carthage, Missouri at around 6 PM. 

(this was the first thing i saw walking into walmart) 

we went to the nearby walmart for a few things that we needed before we set up the tents. it was hot weather (in the 90s) for most of the week & there was a lot of walking involved.

there were many booths w vietnamese food, some American food, & BOBA. most of the time, my siblings, my friends, & i would hang out in an auditorium (w A/C) bc it was too hot out, but we did go to Soul-to-Soul, which was an event w praise & worship, adoration, etc.

during Marian Days, i was reconnected w 2 kiddos that i went to TNTT in MD w & met 2 new people (friends of my cousins) who were in TNTT in VA. we all hung out the whole time & i don't think i would have enjoyed Marian Days as much if they weren't around.

on the last full day (Saturday), i got to take the basic Marian Days letting-go-of-the-balloons picture:

on the morning of the last day (Sunday), i had to say goodbye to my MD kiddos :(

we all know that i'm not much of a heat/walking/outdoors/camping person but in the end, i had a blast at Marian Days. i got to hang out w some cool people who made the whole thing worth it. i already miss Marian days & my friends (but i don't miss is the heat & the ice cold showers).

guess we'll have to wait til next year to see if i'll be going again. until then, enjoy the vlog:

next destination: Carthage, Missouri

all day, i've been procrastinating on packing even though i am leaving tomorrow at 4 AM. where am i going? that's a good question. my family (along w my mom's friend's family) is driving down to Carthage, Missouri (a 9-10 hr drive). you may (or may not) be wondering what's in Missouri? the event is called Marian Days or Đại Hội Thánh Mẫu (in Vietnamese). if you've never heard of it, don't worry, i google'd it!

"What exactly is Marian Days, you ask? Estimated to be the largest North American religious pilgrimage, Marian Days brings thousands of Vietnamese Catholic families to Carthage, Missouri each August to celebrate faith and fellowship in honor of the Immaculate Heart of the Virgin Mary, as well as in memory of their homeland across the Pacific. The festival is highlighted with a variety of mass ceremonies, teen & youth seminars, live entertainment, solemn procession and opportunities for confession."

all i know about Marian Days (from my friends) is that it's going to be hot, we're going to basically be camping since we're sleeping in tents, there will be booths/vendors, & lots & lots of praying.

since we're "camping", ofc i had to think about what i would need to bring along so that we won't die. it's only 4 or 5 days but i struggled so hard to find clothes to wear. in the end, i managed to minimize the amount of clothing my sister & i brought, since we were putting all of our clothes together.

then we had to go through my checklist of things-that-will-keep-us-from-dying, such as fans, sunscreen, flashlights, bug spray, chargers, etc.

i swear, the heat will be the end of me. i know that TX is always really hot & the summers are always in the 90s but i hardly ever go outside. this time, it will be in the 90s for all 4-5 days that i'm there. the only thing worth that is a tan- that is, if i don't melt or get sunburned instead. 

but honestly, even though the idea of being outdoors in the scorching heat praying all day isn't all that appealing, there are some benefits:

1. i might see some people i know from other states & places
2. i might get a tan
3. i will see my aunt & my cousin
4. i will get to be surrounded by people who share my faith
5. it might help me get closer to God
6. it might be nice to get away from everyday/reality 

so here i am, finally done packing. i'm still debating on whether to sleep early since i have to wake up early, or just pull an all-nighter & sleep in the car since i'll be stuck in there for 9-10 hrs. but i've got books, a sketchbook, & good tunes to get through the car ride (if i don't finish the books really fast & if my phone doesn't die quickly like it always does). hopefully i don't die in Missouri so that i can bring you guys some cool pictures & maybe a Marian Days vlog??? :) 

Maryland/Myrtle Beach food vlog | Summer 2016

GOODBYE MARYLAND | Summer 2016

Calvert Adventures w Christy & Kelly | Summer 2016

Myrtle Beach | Summer 2016

a trip in a trip

in my last post, i told ya'll that i was going to MD. well, i spent a few days in Maryland before the parents decided we were going to go to South Carolina too, for Myrtle Beach. at first i was reluctant to go, but i am absolutely in love w beaches so my attitude towards the trip changed completely.

we stayed in a place called the Crown Reef Resort & Waterpark- the rooms had a great beach view. we went swimming in the beach everyday of course, but we also visited a few other places near Myrtle beach. one of them was called Broadway at the beach:

we also went to see a Cirque Extreme show at the Palace Theatre which is also located at Broadway at the beach. we weren't allowed to take pictures of the show but it was amazing & gave me multiple heart attacks:

afterwards, we went back to the main Broadway at the beach & saw fireworks:

near the end of the trip, my cousins (Christy & Tommy), my brother (Long), & i decided to take late night beach walks & we had a little photoshoot:

on the last day of the trip, we went to the Hollywood Wax Museum:

there are 3 parts to the museum- the wax figures, zombie outbreak, & a mirror maze. we went through all 3- the zombie outbreak was terrifying to me. after that, we went to the boardwalk on the beach & swam for the last time before the trip was over.

yesterday, we woke up at 7 AM & got packed up & left the resort. after an 8 hour car ride (w added hours bc we stopped at Potomac Mills mall), we finally got back to Christy's house & got some sleep. now it's morning & here i am, finishing up this post. 

just a couple more days until my MD trip is over too :(