Sexyface

Megan Fox is all over the place these days, what with her outshining Shia Labeouf in"Transformers" and her ultra-creepy but severely intriguing "Jennifer's Body" coming out in theatre soon. I can't flip a magazine, switch the channels or drive down Sunset without seeing her face somewhere. I was even watching the Chinese channel one day and she was plastered all over the background on the red carpet for some reality TV show. What the random, right?

Anyway, permanently attached to Fox is her trademark "Sexyface."

Look at that half-puckered pout, that "come-hither" stare, those devious eyebrows. She's got that look patented down!

I thought about all the ways people come across as. Guys often talk about how they distinctly label certain girls "hot," other girls "pretty" and other girls "cute." I don't think I've ever even touched the "hot" pot. (Har har, get it?)

But you know what, for the sake of... um... "investigative journalism," I will try. I want to be hot too!

Step 1: Making the Sexyface.

"come hither"

bored but oh-so-sexy

I like how my eyes get progressively smaller as the pictures go along. It's like I've even bored myself to sleep trying to make the "sexyface."

Oh look, I've actually fallen asleep...

Okay, so you're probably more amused by my stupid faces than turned on. Alas, the only time I have ever successfully made the "sexyface" might be once, a long, long time ago, back in 2007.

So it is possible. But I think I much prefer looking like this most of the time.

By the by, this was after Liz took a series of shots with me trying to pose a la that modely sketch girl in the art behind me. I failed. :D

Post inspired by { Jezebel }

New Look

The Media Maid got a slight makeover!

Thanks Liz for the awesome photo. Very fitting.

What do you guys think? Maybe when I get better with CSS and HTML, I'll really jazz this baby up.

Our Song

This is not a love story.

This is about me being in love with a movie named, "500 Days of Summer."

I'm not ashamed to say that I am kind of a romantic. That's right. You heard me, I am a total whispy daydream-about-Prince Charming, longing-for-happy endings, hopelessly-optimistic, fan-of-grand-gestures marshmallow trapped inside this 5 ft. 7 wall of sarcasm and self-deprecating humor.

Take a look at my favorite movies; Amelie, A Walk to Remember.

Take a look at my favorite books; The Time Traveler's Wife, Eat Pray Love.

Someone should just hit me over the head with a reality stick and say, "hey you! Wake up! Never gonna happen to you!"

So it could be kind of surprising- or maybe not- that I like 500 Days so so much. So much that I want to bake it chocolate chip cookies, leave it adorable post-it notes, plant a radio over my shoulder and wait for it to come out of its bedroom.

True, 500 Days is a whimsical little doozy; all classic 50's-styled costumes and comforting, Pushing Daisies -esque narrator voice and cute hero and quirky heroine but it's also a very raw and realistic portrayal of a romantic relationship between a boy and a girl. It captures so much of the misunderstandings, the awkward stares, the uncertain feelings, the ways your mind can alter details obstruct facts. There is no happy ending in the traditional sense. The story wasn't even told in the traditional sense-what with spontaneous dance sequences and music video-like screen shots.

Speaking of music, the movie's soundtrack was awesome and it (along with reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower just the week before) introduced me to The Smiths. (what - I'm a late angster, okay?)

In an LA Times article, the co-writer, Scott Neustadter had this to say about the film's musical choices:

"We always felt that every relationship has a soundtrack," said Scott Neustadter, who co-wrote the film with Michael H. Weber. "Music plays a role in any kind of relationship, and it would not have been as real-feeling if we didn't acknowledge that."

Seriously. As someone who can't listen to Jason Mraz's The Remedy without smiling, Mika's Happy Ending without frowning and Taylor Swift's...any of her songs, actually-without flaring up, I totally get that. Each tune flashes back a particular time in my life, a certain connection (or dis-connect) I made with someone else, the type of person I was at the moment.

Right now, the sad ballads in my "relationship soundtrack" has overtaken the happy, warm-fuzzy tunes. But I'm certain that when time comes, He'll bring about that one song that will outshine all the other. That'll be the song I'm keeping on repeat. (And as my sister can attest, I hate repeating songs)

And you can bet that whoever makes it into my relationship soundtrack in the future has best gots to like 500 Days.

Society Girls

You know those fabulous writers and journalists who get to hit all the hottest clubs and parties and events around the city for a living, schmoozing with power players and socializing for the sake of their job?

Liz and I aren't quite like that but we'll get there.

We've already named ourselves, "Society Girls" and we're planning on hitting the next hip party near you! (BTW: if you think up an even cooler name, please share...)

Society Girls: Saga 1:
We hit up Wokcano in Santa Monica to listen to Kamala Harris speak to the mostly Asian American crowd on why she should become California's next Attorney General the other night.

Photos of the speech and accompanying article will be revealed once it's published (eeks!) but here are some snaps Liz took after work was over. (And sometimes during but what are you going to do. Sigh...life of a journalist.)
This here is Dawen. He just moved from Chicago. He sings pretty songs. Listen to him here.
This here is Kelly Hu. First Asian American Miss Teen USA. She's so gorgeous and it's great to see her supporting Kamala and the Asian American community.

At first, I have to admit, I didn't recognize her. When an organizer who knew we were reporting on the event gestured that she was someone we should talk to, I had whispered to Liz, "who's that?"

Liz was like, "ask her."

But what would I say? Who are you? Um...are you Kelly Hu?

Lucky for us, someone came by and introduced themselves to her and she replied, "I'm Kelly." Jackpot. Now I know what to do next time I don't know someone's name. Just introduce myself to them. Genius!
And this here is Lisa Ling! There are not too many role models out there for a young female Asian American reporter so what she's done with her career has been thoroughly admired on my behalf for many years now. I can't completely express how blessed I am to have such amazing opportunities like this. I am one lucky girl. I need to remember not to take my life for granted. Work hard!

Harvest Crusades

The Angel Stadium is a gigantic outdoor amphitheater.
Last Friday, it was filled to the max with people. But instead of a usual baseball game, the event was the 20th annual Harvest Crusades. An epic Christian evangelical 3-day event celebrating the One and Only!
Interspersed with fabulous bands and musical acts, pastor Greg Laurie also presented the gospel to over 126,000 believer and non-believers.
I attended with the fabulous Miss Wong and CFBC's biblestudy group, enjoying a great night of listening to an amazing man preach the gospel, some rockin' music and watching soooo many people get up off their seats and onto the field, declaring their love for Jesus. I had goosebumps the entire time.
The event had some really great musical acts, which got me thinking that a lot of my favorite musicians also happened to have started off as (or still remain) Christian bands! Below are my top 5.

5) Relient K
Pros: catchy songs, witty lyrics, pretty boy looks
Cons: overplayed (on my playlist), sound can get mumble jumbled with other bands
Fav. songs: Sadie Hawkins Dance, My Girl's Ex-Boyfriend, Pressing On

4) Switchfoot
Pros: been around for awhile, distinct sound, created my favorite song ever.
Cons: overplayed, sometimes all their songs sound the same.
Fav. songs: It forever and always will be SOMEDAY WE'LL KNOW (ft. Mandy Moore)

3) One Republic
Pros: hecka pretty sound.
Cons: None that I can see as of right now.
Fav. songs: Apologize, Stop and Stare

2) The Fray
Pros: deep, sorrowful stuff that totally speaks to those in the midst of tragedy
Cons: kinda depressing
Fav. songs: How to Save a Life, Over My Head, Heaven Forbid

1) Sixpence None the Richer
Pros: lead singer Leigh Nash (literally) has the voice of an angel.
Cons: None!
Fav. songs: Kiss Me, My Idea of Heaven, I Need to be Next to You

Oh -- and Katy Perry as well! (You know she was a former Christian artist?) But... I think she belongs in a category all her own.

Hollywood High School

This was awhile back but I just realized I had never posted about this. I post about almost every other single thing going on in my life including the state of cleanliness my bedroom is in so it would be a shame to not blog about this.

This being that my sister acted in a movie this past summer! She was part of the cast of Easy A, a teen dark comedy coming out in 2010. The movie is almost like Scarlet Letter but set in modern-day high school times and boasts an amazing ensemble cast. (and I'm not just saying that 'cause Jess is in it.) Lisa Kudrow, Stanley Tucci, Amanda Bynes, Thomas Hayden Church, Penn Badgley, Emma Stone, the list is impressive. Take a look-see for yourself at some of the pictures we took at the after-party.

Star Emma Stone - she was in Superbad, The House Bunny, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past

Former stars of "Aliens of America." I heard this was an awesome show but like all awesome shows, it ended up being...cancelled. *sigh

Aly and AJ! OMG I totally listen to their music! (They rock, ok?)

Me and my new best friend/lover, Tyler! He's a cutie!

So when people say that Hollywood is like high school, they aren't exaggerating. Some of my sister's behind-the-scenes stories are unbelievable. A star of the movie with a total nice girl/guy reputation acted like she/he came straight out of Mean Girls(slash Guys?).

It makes me mad because unfortunately, my sis was one of the poor lambs getting picked on but what can you do? Our ultimate payback will be for Jess to become a mega-star and watch that bully's face one day as Jess sashays past her on a red carpet as people are screaming for my sister's name and ignoring her/him. When that day comes, it will be sweet!

But until that day, we just gotta suck it up and do the best work we can.

Jess, keep it up. You're amazing and I have every confidence that you win over the world with your acting talents. Cheers to the future!

PS. You should check out my sis' IMDB page. I can only link you to that since someone still hasn't purchased their domain name from Mr. Creeper. Get on it, girl!

Beautiful

Wow. Thank you, Glamour magazine for showing such a confident, natural, real figure in your September issue.

{ Jezebel }