Happy Independence Day!

Okay, so I am 3 days late on that one. I was a bit busy frolicking in the fields like a pagan witch, greeting the New Moon. Nonetheless I did proudly celebrate the most important date for America and its' citizens. It is a day not only for gorging on fried chicken, BBQ, beer and ice cream. It is a day to enjoy with your family and friends, remembering that it is a day that a great country gained its independence. I think it is safe to say that there will be readers who are foreign and scoffing at this American holiday, due to certain politics. What is important, is to realize that the country's politics has to be seperated from its' people. American people are proud of their country and what they have acheived. And they have every right to be so. Why are we proud to be an American? Why am I proud to be an American?

1) We are creative and innovative people, with millions of inventions and technologies patented. Airplanes, light bulbs, Coca-Cola, DNA computing, bionic contact lense are just to name a few.

2) From rags to riches, is the ultimate tale of the American dream. You can have 5 dollars to survive, when you arrive to America. If you are smart enough and given the right chance, you can create your own business from the ground up. 

3) We are the largest melting pot in the World. Yes America is a country of immigrants. Immigrants, who ran away from their country to search for political asylum, for religious freedom or to just search for a better life.. These people were accepted without being judged from where they come from. Its' not who your mother or your father is, its' who you are as a person. I can compare this, since I am American-Korean from my mothers' side and Czech from my fathers' side. In the U.S., no one judged me by my parents or my ethnic background.

4) American culture has a huge impact on the World. Many people discriminate against it, putting it down, yet on the other hand, they willingly embrace it. I think no country has had and has an impact on culture as America does. When you turn on your radio or iPod, you are bound to hear American music (good or bad, you hear it). American movies and other entertainement is inevitable.

5) Solidarity and compassion is another amongst the list of positive American traits. If it is war (WWII), fnatural disasters or terrorist attacks, Americans hold together. They try to support each other, donating what help they can, in order to help those in need. 

6) The American ease and smile is a trait Czechs and other Europeans love to put down. They say it is fake and like a commercial for toothpaste. When in fact, the smile is genuine. When Americans ask 'how are you' and smile, it's genuine. Whats wrong with smiling? I miss the ease of smiling at a stranger and seeing the stranger smile back. When you do it in the CZ, people scowl and look at you like you are doing something dirty. A friendly hello and smile never hurt nobody. 

7) Americans are ambition supportive. From the first day at school, we are told that we can be anything. Every child is told that they can be an astronaut or the president. Anything is possible. Where else in the World can you build a computer and function from your garage without being looked down upon? Be who you want to be! 

Every country has its' flaws. There are fat, ugly, stupid, mean, fake people everywhere around the World. I haven't been to a country which doesn't have those type of people. On the other hand, there are real, wonderful, smart, kind people around the World as well. 

You just can't go searching for the negative points, because then you will only be blinded by your judgement.

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Oka, tak jsem se spozdela o 3 dny. Byla jsem trochu zaneprazdnena moji skotacivosti jako pohanska carodejnice, vitajici Novy Mesic. To neni z Twighlightu. Je to pravda. Nicmene, hrde jsem slavila nejdulezitejsi den pro Ameriku a jeji obyvatele. Je to den nejen pro obzerstvi smazene kure (KFC style), BBQ (vysl.: barbekju), pivo a zmrzlina. Je to taky den, ktery si mas uzivat s rodinou a prateli, a vzpominat na den, kdy tento velikansky zem ziskal svoji svobodu. Myslim si, ze muzu s jistotou rict, ze jsou tu ctenari, kteri  se posmivaji nad touto slavnosti, zrejme kvuli politice. Co je dulezite, je uvedomit si, ze politika zeme nema nic spolecneho s chovanim lidi. Americti lide jsou hrde na svoji zemi a co oni dokazali. A maji na to pravo. Proc jsme jako Americani tak hrdy? Proc jsem hrda byt Americankou?

1) Jsme kreativni a prukopnicke, s miliony patentovanych vynalezu a technologii. Letadla, zarovka, Coca-Cola, DNA computing, bionicke kontaktni cocky jsou jen par k zminovani.
2) Z hadru k bohatsvim je ultimatni pribeh americkeho snu. Muzes mit 5 dolaru v kapse, aby si prezil. Pokud si dost chytry a dostanes spravnou sanci, muzes si vytvorit svuj sen z niceho.
3) Jsme nejvetsi tavici kotel na svete. Ano, Amerika je plno pristehovalcu. Pristehovalci, ktery utekli z jejich zeme, hledajici politicky azyl, nabozenskou svobodu, nebo jen hledaji lepsi zivot. Tihle lide byli prijaty do spolecnosti bez odsuzovani odkud jsou. Nejde o to, kdo je tvoje matka nebo co dela tvuj otec, ale kdo si ty, jako clovek. Ja tohle muzu prirovnavat, protoze jsem Americanka-Korejka ze strany matky a Ceska ze strany otce. Ve srovnani s CR, tak me nikdo neodsuzoval podle rodicu nebo muj etnicky puvod.
4) Americka kultura mela a ma obrovsky vliv na svet. Mnoho lide tento fakt odsuzuji a ponizuji to, jenze na druhou stranu to otevrene prijimaji. Myslim si, ze zadna jina zeme nemelo ani nema takovy vliv na svet jako Amerika. Pokud si zapnes radio nebo iPod, urcite tam bude muzika z Ameriky. Dalsi nevyhnutelna zabava jsou kina a jejich filmy. Jak casto chodite do kina na cesky film, ve srovnani s americkym?
5) Solidarita a soucit je dalsi na sexnamu pozitivnich atributu Americanu. Jestli je to valka, prirodni pohroma nebo teroristicky utok, Americani drzi pri sobe. Pokouseji se navzajem podporovat, daruji nebo prispivaji co mohou, aby pomohly ti, ktery ji potrebujou.
6) Pohodovy usmev je vlastnost Americanu, kterou radi Cesi ponizuji. Rikaji, ze je to falesny a jak reklama na zubni pastu. Doopravdy ten usmev je skutecny. Kdyz se ti American/ka zepta 'jak se mas' a usmejou se na tebe, je to uprimny. Pokud to udelas v CR, tak lide se akorat mraci a koukaji jako kdyby jste delali neco spinaveho. Pratelsky usmev a pozdrav nikdy nikomu neublizilo.
7) Americani podporuji ctizadost. Od prvniho dne skoly nam rikali, ze muzeme byt cim chceme byt. Kazdemu diteti je receno, ze muze byt kosmonautem nebo presidentem. Vsechno je mozny. Kde jinde si muzete postavit pocitac a fungovat z garaze? Bud kym chces byt!

Kazda zeme ma zavadu. Jsou tluste, hloupe, malicherny a falesny lide kamkkoliv se podivate. Nebyla jsem v zemi, kde takove lide nebyli. Na druhou stranu, jsou taky skvely, pratelsti, chytre a stedre lide ve svete.
Nemuzes hledat jen negativni body, protoze tvoje odsuzovani te akorat oslepi.

Now you know my whole name!
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A ted' znate cely me jmeno! A ne, neni to Majka jako ta pastika. Maika jako Marie....

I chose to go in the patriotic colors of red, white and blue. This has to be one of my new faves. The tuxedo is custom made L.L. by Lukas Lindner and was probably the most comfiest formal outfits I have ever worn. It went well with my new haircut  ;). I was able to stick my phone and L'Oreal lipstick in the tiny epi leather Louis Vuitton clutch. The shoes were my fabulous Little Red Riding hood stilettos by Hale Bob. I'll be sure to wear wedges next year, since the gold heels worked like golf shoes in the moist grass.

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Zvolila jsem si patrioticke barvy cervene, modre a bile. Tenhle outfit musi byt jeden z mych novych favu. Tuxedo je na zakazku L.L. by Lukas Lindner a asi jeden z nejpohodlnejsich formalnich outfitu, ktery jsem kdy mela na sobe. Myslim si, ze se take hodilo k novemu ucesu ;). Mohla jsem si strcit telefon a L'Oreal rtenku do malinke clutch v epi leather od Louis Vuitton. Boty jsou moje fabulozni lodicky ve stylu Cervene Karkulky od Hale Bob. Urcite si vezmu boty s klinem pristi rok. Moje zlate podpatky neustaly propichovaly do vhlke travy.

The national anthem was sung by the tiny singer with the big voice, Tonya Graves from Monkey Business. I'm sure she isn't singing it for the last time!

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Narodni hymnu Spojenych Statu zazpivala malicka zpevacka s velkym hlasem, Tonya z Monkey Business. Poprve a urcite ne naposledy nam krasne zazpivala hymnu Star Spangled banner.

What do you carry in you purse?

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Co nosis v kabelce?

Of course what would a Fourth of July celebration be without Mexican food? Burritos, nachos and tacos belong to American culture as well! The tequila was excellent and I think the hombre in the sombrero enjoyed it as well...

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Co by byla oslava Den Nezavislosti bez mexickeho jidla? Burritos, nachos a tacos patri k americke kulture taky! Tequila byla vyborna a myslim si, ze hombre v sombrero si na ni taky pochutnal...

One of my great friends Richard was working at the Starbucks stand which is another American invention people love.

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Jeden z mych blizkych kamaradu Richard pracoval v stanku pro Starbucks, coz je jedna z dalsich americkych vynalezu, ktere lide miluji.

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and the republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

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Prisaham vernosti vlajce Spojenych statu americkych a republice, kterou predstavuje: jednomu nedelitelnemu narodu, pred Bohem, v svobode a spravedlnosti pro vsechny.

How did you celebrate 4th of July? 

Ples Hradni Straze / Ball of the Castle Guard

Vcera jsem mela tu cti se zucastnit 20. plesu Hradni Straze. V anglictine jsem trochu popsala roli hradni straze a to, ze i presto ze mame "hradni" straz tak nemame krale, ale prezidenta. To vsak, ale vite. Co jste mozna nevedeli, je, ze kazdy rok se kona tento ples na pocest straze.

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Yesterday I had the honour of attending the 20th Ball of the Castle Guard. In the Czech Republic, we do not have a king but a president (the current one being Milos  Zeman). The castles still has guards to protect the president and the castle. It really is more for show rather than function, nonetheless, every year, there is a ball in honour of the men who protect. 

Uprava "red eye" se moc nepovedlo :D

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Fixing the red eyes didn't go to well :D

Night of the Vampires!

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Noc Upiru

I tried to go for the Elizabeth Taylor look. She used to love turbans and of course gloves were essential. 

I love having fun with fashion!

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Zkousela jsem trochu "look" Elizabeth Taylor. Milovala turbany a samozrejme rukavice byly zasadni.

Miluju si hrat s modou!

St. Patricks

As I enjoyed my last shopping day yesterday, I was thinking of taking a walk down to the Marina, get a mani/pedi and go for a glass of wine somewhere to write a new post. Well, it didn't quite go that way. I did get my mani/pedi but the rest of my plan was not to take part in my future. Instead I decided to go for mini cupcakes at SusieCakes and watch the young Americans get smashed into oblivion on St. Patricks Day. I myself did not intend to drink that much, since it's much more fun to watch the drunk people when you are sober. 

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Kdyz jsem si uzivala posledni den nakupu, premyslela jsem o tom, ze se projdu v oblasti San Francisca, ktera se jmenuje Marina. Je to moje oblibena cast San Francisca (krome jeste Downtown) a chtela si dojit na manikuru a pedikuru (mani/pedi) a dat si sklenici vina s tim, ze bych napsala novy post. Inu, plany se zmenily. Dosla jsem si na mani/pedi, ale misto vina jsem sla do Susie Cakes a koukala jak mlade americani se zdrcuji do zapomenuti v pocte pro den Sv. Patrika. Vtipny je videt jak tento katolicky svatek slaveji taky mlade americke zidy, indy a asiati. Ja osobne nechtela se zucastnit tohoto alkoholicke dychanky, protoze je to o mnohem zabavnejsi se koukat na ne strizlivy. 

BCBG Max Azria is probably my favorite brand for dresses. They have marvelous clothes and this years window display was luscious!

BCBG Max Azria je asi moje oblibena znacka pro saty. Maji uzasne obleceni a letosni vyloha je prepychova!

Downtown San Francisco

I had a successful shopping day! I saved so much money due to some sales! ;)

Mela jsem uspesny nakup! Usetrila jsem kvuli slevam spoustu penez ;)

In the Marina, you can find limitless amount of boutiques, lining the street like orchard trees with fruits, waiting to be picked.

V casti, ktera se jmenuje Marina, najdes neomezeny pocet butiku. Jsou serazeni jak ovocny sad se stromy, ktere maji ovoce cekajici na sklizen.

The Tipsy Pig . Chestnut Street.

Nejdrazsi pivo, ktere jsem asi mela. $7. To je jeste levny!

What did you do for St. Patricks?

Co jste delali na St. Patricks?

Love through food ~ Laska prochazi zaludkem

Kromě ježdění do Motelu Motol na prohlídky a dávky chemoterapie, tak mám čemu bych ráda řekla "život". Nedávno jsem já i moje maminka byly pozvaný do Italského Kulturního Institutu v Praze. Krásná barokní budova z 18tého století byla často navštěvovaná jedinečným Casonovem, který nejen zde odpočíval od svých nerozvážných činu, ale také psal dopisy di amore křehkým srdcím. Bohužel (nebo bohudík?), známý Italský milenec a láska všech žen je už pár století po smrti, ale i přesto, že tu není s námí fyzicky, tak nám alespoň zanechal co by mohlo být považováno za "esence" jeho lásky: Lanýžový Rizoto.
Abychom se mohli naučit dělat tuto pochoutku plno italské lásky, Paní Maria Teresa D'Avino, manželka italského velvyslance pro ČR se rozhodla, že bude nejlepší pokud poskytne seminář v Italském Kulturním Institutu, které bylo vedeno italským šéfkuchařem, Davidem Lagomarsinem. I přestože jsem byla jedna z nejvyšších, musím se přiznat, že jsem toho moc neviděla. Fotila jsem skoro "slepě" zameřěně na šéfkuchaře a jeho Kenwood Cooking Chef nástroje. Moc si nepamatuju, jaké jsou postupy pro vaření tohoto rizota. Byla bych radši, pokud by to pro mě někdo uvařil. Možná si můžu koupit šéfkuchaře?..
Pokud vás zajímá jak si udělat lanýžový rizoto, tak zkuste *tento* recept, které jsem našla. Je dost podobný receptu od šéfkuchaře Lagomarsina. 
P.S. je v anglickém jazyce, ale Google translate docela zvládá.
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Besides going to Motel Motol for checkups and chemo doses; I also have what I would like to call a life. Not too long ago,my mother and I were amongst the invited to the Italian Cultural Institute in Prague. The beautiful 18th century baroque building was frequented by the one and only Casanova, where he not only came to rest from his escapades, but wrote letters of love to those fragile hearts. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), the notorious Italian lover and love of all women has been dead for a few centuries now. Though he may not be here with us phyically, he has left us what would be an essence of his love: Truffle Risotto.

To learn the secret on how to make this Italian plate of love,  Mrs. Maria Teresa D'Avino, wife of the Italian ambassador for CZ decided it would be best to hold a cooking workshop at the Italian Cultural Institute, lead by the wonderful award winning Italian chef Davide Lagomarsino. Despite the fact that I was one of the tallest there, I admit I didn't see much. I had taken pictures blindly pointing in the direction which seemed to be aimed at the chef and his Kenwood Cooking Chef kitchen aid. I don't really remember how the recipe went. I would rather if I had someone who knew how to make it, make it for me. Maybe I can buy a chef?

If you really are interested in making Truffle Risotto, then you can check out this recipe I found on the internet,  similair to the one Mr. Lagomarsino taught us *here*

Truffle paste which can be bought in Prague
Lanýžové těsto (?), které si můžete zakoupit v Praze

Jelikož tento post je hlavně zaměřen na jídlo, tak bych chtěla dodat něco málo o restauraci Cotto Crudo, kterou jsem nedávno navštívila s mým blízkým přítelem ze studii. Nefotila jsem jídlo nebo okolní prostředí, protože bych si připadala, že bych přerušila soukromí hostů, ale neodolala jsem si vyfotit svůj dárek a krásný květinový dekórum ve foyer Four Seasons (nebo-li ve Čtyřce). Mám slabost pro orchideje ve skle..
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In addition to this being a post on food, I'd like to recommend a restaurant I recently went to with a dear friend of mine called Cotto Crudo. I didn't take pictures of the food or surrounding, since I feel that I would disturb the guests. I did take a picture of my beautifully wrapped present and the flower decor in the foyer at the Four Seasons. I have a weakness for orchids in glass vases..

0,5 kg of chocolate pralines

Přijela jsem né na bílém koni, ale na bílé látce. Doufám, že mi rozumněla švadlena..
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I came not on a white horse, but on white fabric . I hope my seamstress understood what I want

Vždyť je přeci jedno, že ti vypadávají řasy i obočí! To je proč nám Bůh dál makeup!
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Who cares if your eyelashes and eyebrows are falling out?! That's why God gave us makeup!

Dejte dárek dětem! 
Ve Four Seasons, máte možnost přispět dětem v nouzi. Dejte jim Vánoce, které si zaslouží
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Give a child a present! 
You can contribute to children in need at the Four Seasons. Give them a Christmas they deserve