Bringing Christmas Back

My family’s hitting that awkward age where all the children have grown up and adults feel like there’s no need for getting into the Christmas spirit anymore. Like, we all know Santa doesn’t exist so why decorate the tree? And why wrap presents when you can just give cash in a red envelope?

Well, I say nay to that! Nay to that!

First, I hung a wreath up on our doors (lights will hopefully come later once I find out a) how to hang them b) how to light them without getting myself electrocuted). It’s just the right cheery touch to welcome someone in.

Next up, I intended to revive postal services again by mailing a few of my dearest with Christmas love. Who doesn’t like receiving mail, right?

I didn’t plan a good system this year though. Post-it lists and using mailing labels 5 sizes too big do not pretty Christmas cards make. Next year, I’ll try harder!

I even started doing some gift wrapping! I really do love gift wrapping. I should open my own gift wrapping business. Any takers?

And a present to all my dear blog readers…a revamped Media Maid layout thanks to the talented Modeh!

May your Christmas be bright.

PS. Just learned this week that Christ was NOT born on Dec. 25th! Nonetheless, his love is so real and deep, hallelujah!

posted by Janice | Comments: 0 | Blog, Personal

I Love Ebay!

Thanks to maid of honor duties for Miss Helena, a very important one consists of picking out THE perfect maid of honor dress.

Because this is Helena we are talking about, no pastel concoction purchased from Macy’s will do (although if you did find your dress from there, kudos to you!). I decided to venture to Ebay for my shopping needs.

And I got hooked.

At first I wasn’t really sure how to use this complicated e-commerce site and ended up bidding on a whole bunch of dresses in the same color and style just because I can. And then I realized, “Oh crap! I actually have to pay for them!”

But I’m slowly growing into a sophisticated Ebay shopper, picky about my merchandise, savvy when bidding.

The best part would have to be when the package arrives in the mail.

So of all the things I’ve already bought on Ebay, (which is not a lot, okay? I don’t have like, a whole secret closet stuffed with lawn chairs, owl watches, and juicers) my favorite would have to be this:

Guess what this is! Guess what this is! Okay, I’ll tell you.

‘Tis a monopod!

This contraption holds up my iPhone and smaller cameras and I get to wave it around and film people!

Here is a ROUGH first video:

What do you think? Do I have what it takes to be the next Steven Spielberg? (And I’d just like to state for the record that the shakiness and the blurred video image is an artistic choice, okay?)

posted by Janice | Comments: 8 | Blog

Thank Goodness It’s Thanksgiving!

My most memorable Thanksgiving took place two years ago, in a hospital, with a beautiful baby.

It was my first year out of college and my FUNemployment adventures led me to taking care of this adorable tot who taught me how short life is and how blessed I am.

Two years later, I look at my surroundings and I think about how even more blessed (if that’s possible) I am. I’m working as the assistant editor for Audrey Magazine — a job I’ve dreamt about since I was 12 – and I get the opportunity to shape Asian American lifestyle and culture.

In the mere 1+ year I’ve been working here, I’ve gotten the opportunity to meet and converse with many public figures I’ve admired. Not naming names but Mindy Kaling, JustJared‘s Jared Eng, Lisa Ling, and Kal Penn among the many.

Like this picture below. For years I would obsessively listen to the voice of Dia Frampton from the indie pop-rock band Meg & Dia. I still have their CDs in my car. And look, here I am being all buddy buddy with her at her most recent KoreAm Journal cover shoot!

When we’re not out on the field, I get to goof off work with some of the most interesting people on this planet: my co-workers. Some hi jinks include pampering my co-worker Peter’s skin and BBQ-ing in the rain.

When we’re not in the office, we STILL enjoy eachother’s company and often hold Happy Hours together. Here, some fine ladies and gents strike a pose with my Hello Kitty glasses.

Can I say I’m always 100% happy with where my career is headed? No. I’m a spoiled brat who suffers from the what if’s. “What if I made more money?” “What if I interviewed more relevant subjects?” “What if I had a job where I drove less?”

As our society gets more and more progressive, I’ve noticed — at least around many of my peers — that what we’re seeking are the jobs with the fattest paychecks, the positions that will enable us to climb the corporate ladder, the occupations that will make us seem the most stable, the most normal.

As important as all those things may be, I know that I will never be able to work in a place that I lack passion for. Never be able to handle a position where I feel the need to complain all the time. So I’m so thankful I’ve always been able to know when my time is up and I’ve had understanding employers that I can leave on good terms with.

And I’m super grateful with my position here and for these hooligans who are passionate about their jobs and what they put out into the world.

In addition to Audrey Magazine, other things I’m thankful for (in no particular order besides the fact that they came out of my head this way):

• *My family including my mother who stews delicious hot soup for me, my father who fixes broken car door handles for me, my abu who remind me everyday how lucky I am, my sister who worships the ground I walk on (keke) and every other kin in between for being so beautiful inside and out.
• *Jason for introducing me to Sovereign Grace where I get my brain kicked every week over how great Jesus’ love is and how deeply I sin.
• *My insatiable drive and my stubborn optimism. It makes me miserable a lot of the times but I know this is what’s going to take me to my destiny.
• *My awesome friends who are so frickin’ busy and so frickin’ artsy and so frickin’ loving to me, tolerating my ditziness/flakiness/big-mouthedness.
• *And of course, I’m thankful for youuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!! <3

posted by Janice | Comments: 4 | Blog, Friendlies, Inspirations, Job, Los Angeles, Magazine, Personal, Writing

Oh Happy Day!

One of the best classes I took during my undergrad at UCLA was this Gospel Choir class every Friday morning.

At that time, I had just wanted something fun and the class was fun, indeed.

With a teacher behind the pianos, we went through gospel songs celebrating and appreciating God. At that time, an atheist me just found the songs to be delicious to sing and dance to. Let the hands clap! Let the voices tremor! Gospel Choir easily became the one class I most looked forward to every week, even though it meant I would actually have to wake my butt up and get to campus every Friday.

Now, I can see that I was being drawn to the light and to the Lord because it is inherently right to be praising the Lord for all that He has done for us and for all that He is.

And I know I’m not the only one who thinks so.  WitnessLA posted about Jesus showing up at Oprah’s Legends Ball earlier this summer. Take a look. It’s moving.

Happy Sunday, all!

posted by Janice | Comments: 4 | Blog, God, Inspirations, Love, Music, TV

Getting Lost Will Help You Find Your Way

This poster isn’t even that original. All the statements are common sense or have been found elsewhere. It’s easy to read and get inspired but it’s another thing altogether to take it into your heart and truly LIVE YOUR LIFE this way.

The one that’s shouting out at me is: “Travel often; getting lost will help you find your way.”

I’m overswamped with work. I have plenty of friends here that I need to catch up with. I have family that I should be spending more time with. I really don’t have any money to be spending on a plane ticket.

But I’m going to Vancouver this weekend. Bags packed, passport in the pocket, plane ticket bought.

I’m hoping the fresh Canadian scenery, the lack of laptop and cell phone, and the long-amissed faces and conversations of my cousin, Liz and friend, D, will be what I need to rejuvenate my soul. Will update my adventures (hopefully, there are plenty!) on here when I get back.

What are you all up to this weekend?

posted by Janice | Comments: 2 | Blog, Friendlies, Inspirations, Travel

How To Procrastinate Properly

Nuts…

posted by Janice | Comments: 2 | Blog, Job, Magazine, Writing

Snapshot Of My Day: So It’s Not In Vain

I really liked my makeup today but unfortunately, plans to LA fell through and I was stuck working for the rest of the evening so the only thing that got to stare at my face was my computer screen(s) and my family (who don’t count ’cause they always think I’m beautiful).

But now I get to make all my blog readers stare at my face! Yay! (Please don’t unsubscribe…)

Haha, you can see how thick my glasses are by how small they shrink the sides of my face.

posted by Janice | Comments: 3 | Blog, Personal

A Work In Progress

This blog, like myself, is always a work in progress.

I’m so blessed to have my good friend Mohamad constantly helping me tweak to make The Media Maid more visually and technically appealing.

As you can see, new changes have been made (Cleaner banner head! Ads! (Welcome BlogHer!) and more changes are soon to come.

Your thoughts are always of utmost importance. I mean, after all, I don’t write on a public blog for myself only. I obviously want people to read it. So please let me know what I can do to improve this blog for you and for me.

…No naked pictures. I’ll leave that to the celebs. *wink wink

posted by Janice | Comments: 2 | Blog

Growing a Thick (Dumpling) Skin

I never have been nor ever will be a tiny Asian girl. I’ve always been a chubby kid — it’s evident in my baby pictures which bear remarkable resemblance to Notorious B.I.G as I sit there big-cheeked, big-thighed, staring into the camera with a scowl (I was probably hungry). It was evident from my pants split at the butt-cracks because I was so booty-licious, no amount of fabric or denim could hold it in.

posted by Janice | Comments: 4 | Blog, Look, Personal, Writing

More Munn Madness

Oh Munn, don't look so sad. Your Audrey spread was an internet sensation!

I would have to say that our Spring cover was a success! Olivia Munn is a Hollywood It Girl right now and after passing the pdf files of the story to her publicists, our story content somehow leaked to Just Jared. (No complaints here. We’re grateful for the publicity.)

At first, I was thinking of keeping the feature under wraps until the issue has been on the stands for a couple of weeks but since they’re all over the internet now (thanks to the other JJ), might as well plop it on here for your viewing pleasure.

posted by Janice | Comments: 5 | Blog, Interviews, Los Angeles, Magazine