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My Top 10 Places to Travel Pt. 6; Pingyao, China

11/28/2012

My Top Ten Places to Travel Pt. 6 Pingyao, China

When I was in China, me and my friends went on a vacation to 平遥, 中国 (Pingyao, China). We hopped on a train and made our way to the ancient city. Pingyao is a city in central Shanxi province. During the Qing Dynasty, Pingyao was a financial center of China. Its history dates back 2,700 years, and is one of the best preserved ancient cities in the known world. It is still inhabited by 50,000 residents and is renowned for its well-preserved ancient city wall.

The wall encompasses the entire city, and is an amazing thing to see.

Things to Do:
*Rent bikes and venture outside the city walls

*Go window shopping while wandering through the maze of ancient streets

*Visit this abandoned place (I have no idea what it is, we just stumbled upon it while riding our bikes far out into the countryside)

This place is a definite must-see. Sooo incredible and fun! If you love ancient cities and history, then you will love it here.

*What do you think about Pingyao? Have any of you ever been there? Would you like to go? Discuss! :D*

Peace Love and Pingyao
Jess <3

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New Feature

11/25/2012

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If you look to your sidebar to the right, under Categories, I have recently added a new category called, My Favorite Posts. These are all posts that I feel are especially important, or just posts that I especially love! So if you are new to the site, or just want to read a couple articles real quick, that is a good place to start! :D

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A Thankful Thanksgiving Post :)

11/22/2012

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Well it's that time again, where we hang out with our weird distant relatives, eat until we gain at least 5 pounds, and are obligated to say what we are thankful for. So this year, I decided to actually say what I'm thankful for! Not just some superficial, expected answer. But to actually dig down deep, and actually think about my life! Think about what I love about my life, what I would be lost without, what I am lucky to have, what makes my life better, and what I actually am GRATEFUL for! Some are more serious than others, but here's my list:

1. The random chain of events that led to me meeting the love of my life on Black Friday,
four years ago. ^^^The day we met.
2. My job that I actually don't dread going to! That allows me to only work 3 days a week,
and still make good money, so I have time for all the other things in my life!

3. My Dad, for always encouraging me to dream big, and telling me that I can do anything
    I set my mind to. I really believe that he had a huge part in me being able to travel the
    world, and having the guts to move to China. He also taught me, "Buy low, sell high",
    helping me become really good with finances, earning, and saving money.
4. My Mom, for always making our house feel like a home, and loving me no matter what.
5. My brother Ben for always being honest with me (even if it hurts haha).
6. My brother Cody for always beating me up and being such a good little brother :p

7. My sister Magdalena for being my best friend. She is the person that I can laugh
the hardest with, and have fun no matter what we're doing.

8. Our puppies Rocky, Sadie, Morty, and Marley for bringing so much joy into everyone's
    lives daily.
9. The show 'Pretty Little Liars', for being the most suspensful, insane, creepy, creative,
      mind blowing, time consuming, entertaining show I have ever watched! Without
      this show, I would probably get a lot more done haha, but it entertains and keeps
      me in suspense better than any show ever has!

10. China. For every experience I have ever had there, I am grateful. For just knowing that
it is still there, I am grateful. For the hope and possibility of returning there one day, I
am grateful.
11. My laptop. With it, I feel so organized, productive, and put together.

12. My snuggie, for keeping me warm every time I get into my car! And keeping me all
      snuggly and warm during the long, cold winter months!
13. My car. So cute. So good on gas. <3
14. The fact that I am already done with ALL my Christmas Shopping! SUCH a good
      feeling (I will be posting Christmas shopping tips on here soon)!
15. Coconut oil for making me healthier and more beautiful (there will also be a post
      on this also, don't miss it, coconut oil is MAGICAL!)!

So that's my list! And as a special treat, my boyfriend wrote his own list of things he's grateful for! So here is Nicholas's list:

"1. Tattoos. It's something I never thought in my life I would have ended up doing. But I love it and I love getting them. It's a form of expression, NOT rebellion.
2. Craigslist. I have made a lot of extra money the past few years on there. (lost quite a bit too lol). But it's like a 2nd job to me and helps when times are financially stressful.
3. My cars. They have been keeping my mind occupied and also helping me save money by knowing how to work on them.
4. My dog Jackson. Although there are some people who don't like him. He's been there for me for many years and although he can't talk, he's comforted me though the good and the
bad.
5. My family. Not just because they are my family, but just over the past couple years I feel like we have all became a lot closer. We actually call and talk or go get lunch or stuff like that on occasion now. I think that it makes your life a little bit less stressful when you have a family or family in-laws that you don't hate.
LAST, BUT NOT LEAST.
6. Your blogger herself, Miss Jessica Volke. She's definitely not your average Philly (lol she hates when I call her that, it's some Southern term for girl ha)! But it's true. I couldn't even begin to tell you how many things are a part of my life now because of her!
~Little things from foods such as Eggplant, and random ACTUAL Asian foods.
~Seeing that you don't nessasarly have to spend money to have a good time.
~Saving money at places instead of buying name brand. (sometimes you really do just need name brand though) lol.
~Then to much LARGER things like wanting to travel outside of the country and see
things that I had no desire to ever really go see before.
~And to have/show feelings. When we first started dating, she told me I had a Robot Heart lol. Well, I probably still do a little bit but I'm able to show her how much I really care about and love her without here have to beg me for it.

I couldn't imagine my life without her anymore. She means the world to me. AND puts up with me (so I know she's a keeper). I love you Babe!"

Awwww! When I read that I almost cried! It made me even MORE thankful for my wonderful man!!!

*Now it's YOUR turn! Sit down and think about what makes your life so special, then write it in a list! When you do this, you will instantly feel happier. The negative things you've been thinking about will suddenly be replaced by good thoughts of things that you love, and you will see how truly blessed you are. Give it a try, and write it in the comments! :)*

Peace Love and Gratitude
Jess <3

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...and yet another post about China...

11/16/2012

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Another Post about China by China Barbie

I have an aching, throbbing pain in my chest that can not be dulled. It is in my heart, where there is a piece missing. That piece is in China, and I will not feel better till I am too.
Even though I only lived in China for two years, I fell completely head over heels in love with it. I felt so happy, so free, and so accepted there. It wasn't until I was in China, that I truly found myself. My friends there became like a family to me, and my life there was just too good to be true! I can't even explain it fully, but there is just a magic about China. It is such a wonderfully strange, and different, and MAGICAL place.
At the beginning of 2010, I moved back to Ohio. I had been away from my family for too long, and I just knew it was what I needed to do at that time. That first year back, I had such an amazing time. I reconnected with my family so wonderfully, and (despite a bit of reverse culture shock), I LOVED being back in America.
My second year being back (2011), was probably one of the toughest years of my life. It was just a very bad year. A lot of good things happened, but it was just a year full of questions with no answers, and a general feeling of being stuck, and not knowing what to do about it.
Now I have been back for three years, and I have this feeling that I am not meant to just sit here for the rest of my life. I don't know exactly what that means for me, or what it will look like. But I am grateful that I am getting a clearer look at what I want to do with my future. I still have waaay more questions than answers, but at least I'm not as in the dark as I was a year ago. So I will keep on searching, asking questions, and making plans, hoping that I will find what I am looking for. In the meantime, I just want to share with you a little bit more about the country that has turned my world completely upside-down.

I will start with 王力宏 (Wang Li Hong). A Chinese heartthrob. When I was there, I called him the Justin Timberlake of China. He is a pop artist, who at different times plays piano, raps, dances, and usually throws in a couple words or phrases in English. His music is INCREDIBLE, an there is no doubt that he is super talented. When I was in China, I bought 3 of his cds, watched his music videos (mv's), sang his songs at KTV (Chinese Karaoke), and I even learned one of his songs on the piano. Here is a mv of one of my favorite songs by him (this is the one I learned on the piano). Check him out, he is INCREDIBLE!

One big topic of debate going on now, is the issue of China "stealing" jobs from America. This is one issue that I get so fired up about! For those of you who are friends with me on facebook, you probably saw a post that I wrote about the Presidential campaigns and China a couple weeks ago. This pretty much sums up what I think about it:
'I wasn't in america last time the presidential campaigns were happening, so i forgot how
ANNOYING they are! o, and i am SO sick of them saying, "were going to stand up to China for stealing our jobs" ! umm, america is GIVING china jobs! i've been to China, and they have SO much worse unemployment rates than us! There are college graduates selling dvds on the side of the road cuz they can't get another job. There are too many people and not enough jobs, so if america wants to give them jobs OF COURSE they're going to take them! Wow, I am so embarassed of America.'
So just know, that there are always two sides to every story. Just because America is your country, dosen't mean that they are always right. Instead of getting mad at China, why not get mad at the American companies that are SENDING all the American jobs to another country?!

My first apartment! It was pink and purple, and the bottom level had a bakery! Could it get any more perfect?!!

The living room, and my bedroom (with a window seat!).

I was in loooove with my bathroom...taking a shower right in the open?! Toooo fun! :p

Complete breath-taking beauty.

Believe me, I could definitely keep going all day, and post THOUSANDS of pictures, but I won't. This reminiscing was really good for me, and hopefully it opened your eyes a bit to China, that it's not just some horrible communist country (that's usually what I get. Along with, "You want to go to CHINA?!! WHY?!!) that's stealing our jobs. It's a great place, with people just like you and me, just trying to live life.
Here's a couple other articles that I've done on China. Check them out!

Peace Love and China
Jess <3

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Super Exciting News!

11/13/2012

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Heeeey everybody! Right now I am SUPER stoked! A couple posts ago, I was saying how I have been planning nonstop, and that whenever things are finalized, I will let you in on all my exciting adventures! Well, I have been lucky enough to be invited to be a part of Marie Vedette's upcoming Art Show! I will have a table set up there with my upcycled clothing and
other crafts, along with Maggie and SJ's amazing artwork, and of course, the premier artist, Marie Vedette herself! I will also be playing guitar and keyboard, along with other musical guests, Circa 92! I am soooo excited about this! It is SUCH a great opportunity, and is going to be sooo much fun. So come on out and support local art, say hello to me, and have a blast!
November 30th, 6-10 pm at The Massillon Museum. Also, visit our indiegogo page for more details.
Peace Love and Art Shows
Jess <3

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Halloween Party+Outfit of the Week!

11/9/2012

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Usually for Halloween, I make my own costume out of clothes and accessories I already have (see here and here). But this year, I was so busy with Factory of Terror, my other job, and still tryin to keep up with my blog! So I dug in my closet and found an outfit that I bought at a Garage Sale last summer for 50 cents! It was a sailor girl outfit, so I threw in my own style and accessories, turning myself into a Sailor Jerry Pinup Girl! I even carried around a bottle of Sailor Jerry all night!

What I Wore:
*The Sailor Girl Half-shirt
*The Sailor Girl Skirt
*The Sailor Girl Sailor Hat Headband in my hair
*White thigh-highs with red bows from my own closet
*Black Garter Belt that I bought for about $4.oo in China

The lovely Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash

My adorable Mad Scientist Boyfriend

Pudding shots!

*How was your Halloween?*

Peace Love and Halloween
Jess <3

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New Haircut!

11/7/2012

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So I finally got a haircut! Nothing major, but I cut my bangs! Well actually, my sister cut my bangs. She's not professional, and didn't even go to school for it, but she's been cutting my hair for years and I love it! I was just tired of my hair and needed a change, plus I loooove short, straight across bangs! I think I'm going to keep my hair black for a while cuz the boyfriend likes it, but after I get tired of it, I will be coloring it! Here's some more pictures! :)

As you can see, I went a little camera-happy, but I'm just too excited about my new hair! :D

Peace Love and New Hair
Jess <3

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Just an Update of my Life

11/2/2012

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I thought now would be a good time to give you guys a little update on my life! It's not that a bunch of exciting events have been transpiring or anything, but just a lot of THINGS. Things that have been happening, things that I've been MAKING happen, things that I WANT to happen, and things that I've been thinking a lot about. So THAT kind of THINGS... :)
(I'm at Starbuck right now, and I'm havin a good time takin pics of myself with my webcam! Haha. And I'm right beside a window, so thats why there's a glare on the whole left side of my face. But I kinda like it!)
So here's what's been happening/on my mind for the past couple months!

#1. My wonderfully amazing boyfriend
My list would not be complete without mentioning my relationship. It's one of the best things going on in my life right now.
Me and Nick have known each other for 4 years. We have been dating for a year and 4 months now. This is the longest relationship that either of us have had. My previous was 10 months, and his was two. It's just going really good right now, and he is one of the things that I have to look forward to in my life, and one of the things that makes me EXCITED about life (everyone needs something like that in their life)!

#2. Factory of Terror.
One thing in my life I feel very accomplished about, is being a Supervisor in the World's Longest Haunted House (I don't know if you can see my black eye in the starbucks pictures, but that's from working at the Factory haha). I was only there for one year when they promoted me to Supervisor (they had never done that before). My first year there, I got actor of the night, and got my face put on a billboard. Not only do I feel SUPER accomplished to be doing this, but it's also the funnest (not sure if that's even a word, but I don't even care, because it's THAT fun!) job I have EVER had (and I've had a LOT of jobs)! The people there are all amaaazing, slightly crazy (but you kind of have to be to work at a haunted house, and I LOVE it!), super fun, nice people.
So, every weekend, I get to hang out with incredibly fun people, get my makeup did all AWESOME, scare the poop out of people (I've had people drop onto their face on the concrete floor, run into walls, literally start to cry [!], cry for their mommys, and punch me in the face!), and get PAID for it! So yea, every fall, I looove my life :)
Tomorrow is the last day for Factory of Terror, then I can actually relax! And I will get back to writing in here more!

#3. Crafts
For the past couple months, I have been putting my creative skills to use, by making crafts, and selling them at Sol's and Artistic Alley. It's been really cool to get my creations displayed and sold! I also still have crafts for sale on my Etsy, and at the end of this month, I'll be taking part in my friend's art show, so once everything gets finalized, I'll give you guys the details on that!

#4. Work
I AM working right now. Factory of Terror is not my only job (I wish!). For the past 3 months, I have been waitressing at The Firehouse Grille and Bar. And it's actually not that bad! I usually hate working, and 3 months is usually the time that I realize how bored I am, and find another job, but I don't feel that way there! I love all the people there, they're all really fun and nice, and I don't really even mind the work! I've waitressed at soo many different places, and am actually really good at it! Haha, and it probably helps a lot that I only work there 3 days a week. That's another thing I love about waitressing. I only work 3 days a week, 5 hours a day, but because tips are so good, and the government dosent take it all, I make more money now than I did when I was working my full time health insurance job! So I get to make enough money to live on, and still have 4 days a week to pursue my passions and dreams!

#5. My Band
My band Delusional Design, sadly is on a little break right now. Our bassist had to quit, and our drummer just had back surgery, and just had a baby, so now we are on hold until we figure out everything.

#6 My Blog
Five months ago, I put into reality a dream that I have had for years; write my own blog. It has been such a dream come true; writing about my life, and helping and inspiring people, not to mention how much fun I'm having! Now that I've been doing this for five months, I feel like I'm getting more of a feel for it, and I'm VERY excited to see where it goes, and how it grows in the future. The website has also had an increase in views every month that it's been up, and I'm SOO happy about that. My goal for the sixth month (the month of November) is for 5,ooo page views, and I think that is very doable!

#8 The Itch to Travel
Lately I have had the travel bug sooo bad. Which makes complete sense, since it's been almost three years since I moved back from China, and I haven't been on a plane since! For me, that's a long time! Right now has been the longest that I have stayed in one place, since I graduated from hi-skool in 2005. So, I've been saving my money and trying to make travel plans! Here is what they are so far; In February, me and my mom are taking my sister on a cruise for her graduation present (!), then hopefully in March I will be traveling some more, then in May, my family will be going to Kentucky. Most of these plans are not finalized, so, like always, I will keep you updated on them when I know more!

#9 Planning for the Future
Right now, I am dreaming about the future; What it may hold, what I want it to hold, and all that fun stuff! This includes travel plans, work plans, and personal plans. I think everyone should have their heads full of dreams and plans! Cuz if they don't, they won't know what the deepest desires of their hearts are, and then they will just be stuck doing the same thing for the rest of their life, not ever doing what they TRULY want to do! I am ALWAYS planning! It's what I'm good at, and what I looooove doing. So just know, that my head is always filled with dreams, and hopes, and plans, and that's the way I want it! Without that, I feel aimless, lost, and sad! Stay tuned for more future plans, and in the meantime, go out and make your own! Remember "Many a false step was made by standing still."-Fortune Cookie.

*What are your future plans for life? Comment and tell me! (: *

Peace Love and Life
Jess <3

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My Top 10 Places to Travel Pt. 6; Pingyao, China

New Feature

A Thankful Thanksgiving Post :)

...and yet another post about China...

Super Exciting News!

Halloween Party+Outfit of the Week!

New Haircut!

Just an Update of my Life

I'm China Barbie!

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