It still seems surreal that I finally found an apartment and a roommate that go so well together. It all happened so fast, that I don’t think my overanalyzing brain has caught up to reality, just yet. However, I told myself not to get my hopes up too high, as they still had to run my credit, and I hadn’t been completely approved. I got that positive phone call today! So I was able to put my party shoes on and celebrate!

Well, what I mean by party shoes is more like a nice pair of heels and an outfit that would be appropriate for a sushi restaurant with my future roomie. What I thought would be a casual dinner with just Sarah and I turned out to be an 8-person, all-you-can-eat sushi extravaganza. Now that was my kind of party! Luckily, I wasn’t wearing anything too tight around the waist, otherwise I could have never been prepared for all the sushi!

I wore a beige/cream-colored dress shirt, with beaded designs along the chest and black leggings. I added heels to make my petite body look more slender. Even though I wear leggings often, I usually finish the look with flats. I wear my heels when I’m trying to go for an evening/sexy look. It’s amazing how much you can do with a simple pair of black leggings. It’s also a great alternative when you can’t find the pants that match the shirt you are wearing.

I’m really picky with my sushi. When walking into a Japanese restaurant, the first area I look at is the sushi counter, and I determine with a glimpse of an eye whether the chef is Japanese or from another Asian country. I think my all-time favorite was seeing a Hispanic male serving sushi to customers. I mean, from the eyes of a Japanese female, who has had sushi since the day she could chew, it was a bit shocking. If for whatever reason I can’t see the chef from the entrance, it’s easy to tell whether sushi is made poorly. Next time you are at a Japanese restaurant and you order raw fish, pick up the whole piece with your chopstick and see if the rice crumbles underneath. A well-made piece should have every grain of rice bedded together and the fish on top. One that falls apart was, most likely, not made by an experienced chef.

I didn’t expect much from the all-you-can-eat sushi, as many restaurants that offer large amounts of food will mostly likely not be high in quality. However, to my surprise, this restaurant delivered some really good pieces of sushi. I ordered plate after plate, and kept reminding myself how fortunate I am to have worn comfy leggings that didn’t squeeze my tummy tightly! It looks like everyone else at the dinner table had a great meal as well. We must have had at least 20 plates piled on top of each other by the end of the night! Sushi is exactly the way I wanted to celebrate, and what a tasty meal it was!

Love always,

Mia

Today was the epitome of a spontaneous day! My day began just like every other morning: I rolled out of bed, brushed my teeth, ate breakfast in my PJs and thought about how I could be the most productive. With a mouth full of cereal, while sitting on my bed, I went on craigslist to continue my search for the perfect apartment and roomie. When I was just about to give up, I found an ad that caught my attention: “Looking for a roommate to sign a lease with me!” It followed with a short description of the building. I immediately contacted her, hoping for a positive response.

After that email, I knew that today was going to be dedicated to more apartment hunting. After breakfast I surveyed my closet and pulled out a tan tank top and Helmut Lang jeans. I chose a dangly necklace to add color to my simple tank top. Wearing oversized jewelry can really make an outfit look fun and outgoing, although I don’t recommend it when there is already a lot of designs and patterns on the shirt. It just gets too busy for the eyes.

Just my luck, I received a “sorry I already found someone” reply, from the girl on craigslist. But unlike other strangers that you meet on the web, she was kind enough to say that she would direct me to anyone who emails her about the apartment. To my great surprise, I received a phone call 30 minutes later from a girl who, indeed, was also looking for a roommate in the same building that I was interested in! She asked me if I wanted to go look at the place with her, and I enthusiastically agreed to meet her. The next thing I know, I was driving towards an apartment that I’ve never seen before, to meet a girl that I’d never met. Even though I’m not too spontaneous, and I tend to over-analyze my actions, I had a good feeling about what I was about to get myself into.

Her name was Sarah and the first thing she said to me was, “I love your necklace!” From that point on, I knew it was meant to be. We saw about 4-5 different apartments within the complex, all of which didn’t really stick out to us… until we walked into the last showing. It immediately caught my attention; it was on the top floor with high ceilings; very spacious; lots of light; killer view; and an awesome kitchen, with new appliances! Sarah and I looked at each other and it was as if we had a silent agreement. We signed a 13-month lease and became roomies. Of course, I was nervous, but the feeling of excitement was far more overpowering so I was able to keep my cool. The apartment is perfect, and it was everything that I was looking for. It would cut my commute down to more than half, and for just a few more Washingtons I would get a much better deal compared to what I pay now. On top of that, I found myself a non-Hollywood, crazy-perfect roomie! Sometimes the best decisions are made in a matter of minutes, and I feel like this is one of them.

Love always,

Mia

Being back in Los Angeles isn’t all about fun and games, it’s also about getting back down to business! Although my internship starts next week, I had a short meeting with my supervisor. Even though I was told during my interview that they have a casual dress code, I always tend to dress semi-formal in certain work environments. It’s never embarrassing to wear a nice pair of black pants and a dress shirt, especially within the first few days. Not only do I feel more relaxed, but I am also presenting myself in a professional manner and showing that I want to be taken seriously.

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While the first portion of my day consisted of more apartment hunting and then being grumpy about not finding one that I am somewhat happy with, the evening looked more promising. I was invited to a friend’s birthday celebration over in Santa Monica. I really like going out in the west side, being right by the beach and hanging out with friends at various bars.

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Even though I went back to Europe for a whole month, I felt like I was never truly “home.” I’ve always considered Germany as a country I return to, to see my parents and relax, but this time around, flying back to LA was like “going home.” I really like living in Los Angeles, and being away from the city for so long made me miss it. As much as I complain about the traffic, I think over time I started to miss the hectic life style and trying to get to a certain area on time. Traffic is part of LA, it’s a package deal, and being away from it now makes me appreciate the city even more.

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Venice is a floating city of romance. Every corner I turn, there seems to be a couple enjoying their time away from reality. The people of Venice help sustain this reputation by creating a dreamy atmosphere through music in the middle of the plaza, gondola rides through the narrow canals, and lights that light up the bridges that connect one section to another. Even though I’m sure that experiencing the city with my significant other would be much different from my time here with my mom, I was able to get a memorable overall feel to what Venice has to offer.

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Finally the opportunity to explore the city of Venice! The day started out in a struggle, dragging our heavy luggage from our hotel in Milan to the train station. I wore my dark blue DKNY jeans, my red T-shirt from Velvet and my high-top Chucks. My mom and I had less time to reach the station than we had originally planned, so being in sneakers definitely sped up the process. I couldn’t have imagined running around Milan in heels!

I knew that Venice is made up of water canals instead of streets, and the buildings are constructed on islands, but what I saw as I stepped off the train was something that I would have never imagined. Seeing Venice right in front of your eyes is breathtaking.

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My mother and I spent part of our last day in Milan sightseeing more of the city, and the rest of the afternoon was dedicated to visiting a Buddhist temple. My mother is part of a Buddhist group that meets every other month for Japanese prayers, and this month happened to take place here in Italy. Even though I’m not religious, I decided to explore this side of Japanese culture that I’m not too familiar with and tag-along with her.

I changed out of my more casual tourist clothes and put on a Diane von Furstenberg dress. I wasn’t too sure of the required dress code, but I didn’t want to walk into a Buddhist temple wearing jeans and a T, so I aimed for a more sophisticated look.

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An evening in Milan is like no other. I wanted to experience the meaning of Italian elegance first hand, so my mother suggested the Teatro alla Scala to watch an opera at the world famous opera house. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that I would be watching my first opera performance at the Scala in Milan. My heart skipped a beat as I planned my outfit for a night of fashion.

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How would you describe your personality?

I’m an outgoing, funny, and bubbly person that doesn’t like to take life too seriously sometimes. I’m 23 years old and I think I act my age; I get down to business when I have to and I play when I can. I used to be extremely shy and pessimistic, but my move to LA and living out on my own has kind of changed my perspective on life. I’m a much happier person than I was before.

How would you describe your family?
Although I have a small family (mom, dad and a cat), all of us together is like one big clash of cultures. My father is German, my mother is Japanese, and in our household we speak three different languages, even sometimes in one sentence. My father and I speak German/English, my mother and I have always spoken Japanese, and both of my parents speak Japanese to each other. Because my parents live in Germany, I don’t get to see them very often (once a year) but we try to either email or talk on the phone every day. We have a great family bond, and I really wish that they lived here in the US.

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Let’s face it; a day in Italy is not like spending a day in Germany. Your appearance and clothes actually matter here, and people dress to show-off, not to be comfortable. My mom and I had the whole day planned for shopping, something that I have been looking forward to my entire trip! Going shopping in Milan is like fashion week; walking around, I easily passed by at least four, gorgeous, model-like women who knew how to dress and flaunt it.

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After a touristy day filled with a visit to the Duomo, the Castello Sforzesco and seeing the amazing Leonardo DaVinci masterpiece of The Last Supper, my mother and I met up with her Japanese friend who has been living in Milan for about 8 years. To my advantage, she works in the entertainment industry in Italy, so I thought I’d take this chance to do some professional networking.

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Ah, Milano! What a sight of beauty! I have never been to a city where every blink of an eye consists of beautiful women with outstanding fashion. My mother and I decided to spend the next six days in Italy, to explore Milan and Venice, and, of course, shop! It was an hour and a half flight from Germany and we were greeted by overwhelming humidity. I like to travel with comfort and wore a pair of jeans, but as soon as I stepped foot in the city, I was quickly embarrassed at my outfit. The people around me were dressed so fashionably that I wanted to hide. The various color combinations were stunning, and I was blown away. There was no way I was spending my first day in Milan in jeans.

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Hitting a milestone in life and celebrating it is such a rewarding feeling. One of my favorite moments in life is to reach that peak in a given situation, when you know that you have accomplished something and done your very best, and there is no other way you would want to look back and redo it. That inner joy and satisfaction should be celebrated with those you care about and are close to. Or, if you simply want to throw a big party, invite everyone in your phonebook, which is who we were at the 30-year anniversary party we attended this evening.

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Today I revisited my childhood, a harbor city in north-west Germany where I spent about nine months of my life when I was about eight years old. This was a time before I could even speak English! I knew that being by the sea in northern Germany meant it was going to be a windy day, so I went prepared with my navy blue scarf. I wore a pair of dark blue jeans with a white sweater that has a V-cut in the front. I accentuated my neck with a bulky necklace, but kept my earrings low-key. I didn’t want to look like I was being suffocated by jewelry.

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