xiao xin: July 2012

31.7.12

marco polo

My yesterday was spent snapping photos of people. Family members and a friend. I find that all the hues of blue and green that normally are associated with a pool are amazing photo material.

I like these colors so much.

Laying in the sun, tanning is also pretty fantastic. And that warm-all-over feeling is the best.

After the pool, we headed home only to get ready and head back out. We jumped on the bus and then a subway and got to Ping Jiang Lu, a pretty popular spot. We ate dinner at our favorite noodle place and people watched.

Ping Jiang was gorgeous with all the lanterns lit and the water running through the canal. We stopped by several postcard stores and stocked up.

As we headed home we decided to stop at 85 degree cafe and get coffees. It was nighttime but we didn't care. The subway stop we were at is surrounded by skyscrapers and it's extra fun being there at night.

We went home and slept.

Photo by Beth Jones.

No pool photo shoot is complete without a picture of the lifeguards. In this case several of them are snoozing.

God's making me feel blessed.
Love, me

p.s. And the title? Well duh, marco polo was obviously played in the pool, but did you know that it is also the name of one of the first people to come to Suzhou? Jessica told me that. :D

19.7.12

lucky me

Mr. Luck followed me around today.

I hopped on a bus and headed out to college town by myself. I went partly because I wanted to find an sd card and a couple of other things and partly because it's fun.

I tried one store and they didn't have the right sd card. I went in another store and found several things that I had hoped to find and bought em'. Another store and they didn't have them.

Then I tried "the right" store and I found one! Lucky me.

I was about to leave and I wanted to go in one more little shop. I looked around for a couple of minutes and tried to find some thick paper for a project (which I didn't think they'd necessarily have) and I found the color I wanted and it was only 1 qui. Gosh. That's 15 cents.

Therefore it was a good outing. Fun and hot.

Oh lucky me.

Love, me

p.s. I'm pretty sure it was the Lord trying to encourage me. He's good at that.

18.7.12

special songs

bon iver
john mayer
tito el bambino
lissie
fun
owl city
m.i.a
dean martin
of monsters and men

These people and their songs are so good. Each one reminds me of my trip and being back again. They remind me of certain special people and maybe even people I don't know, just saw in passing. They remind me of crazy, good times,
and of flying back and forth between countries and states.

I got to spend eight, wonderful weeks back home. God has richly blessed me.

To the people I think of when listening to these songs... I'll be thinking of you.
Yeah.

The Bon Iver song especially reminds me of the sea. And one day in particular.

Love, me

14.7.12

South Pas

South Pasadena. A really charming place. Go there. If you get the chance than do yourself the favor.

Really it's all of Pasadena, but this sweet little street was a good place for photos.

Becca and I walked up and down the street, peeking into little stores just for the heck of it. Everything was so peachy... so pretty in it's place. I just love California. I'm glad that it's stuck in my blood forever.

The small ice cream shop on the corner where you can order yummy, lemon ice cream. And the other corner where big gates close and the metro races by.

California is simply charming.

After we'd walked for a little bit, we started taking pictures. We kept on going because the light was really too nice not to.

Such a memorable day. I miss it.

All photos of me taken by Becca Jones with her fantastic camera.

And the ones of Becca are taken by me.

Hope you like them.