Family Trip to Universal Studios!

Take advantage of your student status to get discounts for arts and entertainment options in LA! A couple of weekends ago, I used my USC student card to purchase Universal Studios tickets for my entire extended family. Saving $45 per ticket, I was able to introduce the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to my aunts and uncles who hadn’t visited … Read More

Family Time in Aspen

For the first trip of 2020, my entire family flew out to Aspen, Colorado for our annual Family Reunion. Just a few days into the new year, we were able to all come together for a week of skiing, relaxing, and goal setting. With some fresh snow on the slopes, I was able to ski for three straight days. I … Read More

Pedaling Swan Boats at Echo Park Lake

About a year ago, swan-shaped pedal boats were introduced to Echo Park Lake, making it a wonderful hidden gem close to DTLA. My cousin, mom, and I took our 2-year-old niece to play on the open water in the last few days of summer and it was so delightfully fun. Open year-round, seven days a week from 9am to sunset … Read More

Mother’s Day in SF

For Mother’s Day, I just so happened to be in San Francisco the same time my aunt was visiting my cousin and her 9-month-old son. It had only been a couple of months since I last saw them, but it was nice having time to catch up nonetheless. We had many relaxing brunches and dinners, with multiple long walks to … Read More

Glamping at Autocamp Yosemite

For the early quarter of this year, my aunt from Hong Kong took a sabbatical and spent time with us here in California! Staying at my parent’s house, she seized every opportunity to explore Los Angeles before taking little trips to Palm Springs, San Diego, Seattle, and more. Although I had gone camping a few times in the national parks … Read More

Hawaii Family Takeover

Last month, my extended family spent our weeklong annual retreat at a new spot this year – Hawaii! Staying on the North Shore of Oahu, we lived in a gorgeous home filled with unique antiques and cozy spaces for intimate conversation. Although many of us are from and live in Los Angeles, there were others that came from Hong Kong, … Read More

Exploring LA with my Cousins!

One of my cousins from Singapore stopped by Los Angeles on her way back from San Francisco to spend time with all of the family based here! I was able to host her for a few nights, so we spent a ton of time driving through the city and experiencing some of my favorite spots. Right after picking her up, … Read More

My Second Home – Hong Kong!

As a PhD student, I am lucky enough to have the flexibility to take time off that may not normally coincide with a break on the academic calendar. This year, I spent one week (out of my four vacation weeks) in Hong Kong to visit my grandfather and aunt. Although people in Hong Kong don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, we hosted a … Read More

Day Trip To Santa Barbara

After my first and busy semester as a Master’s student at USC, my family came to visit me and we decided to make a day trip to Santa Barbara for the first time. The city is located about 95 miles (90 minutes) north of Los Angeles along a curving coastline and is situated in a valley resulting in an interesting … Read More

Family Reunion in Aspen!

Posted: March 21, 2018, 3:42pm I cannot believe it is already March!! Every year, my entire extended family on my mother’s side comes together for a week to reconnect and enjoy some good food and skiing. All 20 of us met up for some small group dinners and had several meetings for updates and goals for 2018. It sounds pretty … Read More