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Be My Valentine at This February 14th
First thing when I wake up, wait a bit, I need to do a special makeup.
I used the GEN NUDE Eyeshadow Palette from the NEW bareMinerals Beauty of Nature Collection, as well as their GEN NUDE mineral-rich long-wearing blush for my Valentine’s Day makeup!
A sweet nice breakfast is necessary for a sweet day. I have the home-made banana muffin with Tahini for the dip, also adding some fruits with coconut whipped cream. This tahini is one of my favorite thing I can add to everything – for salad, pastries, or even my sandwiches. It is the Mighty Sesame Tahini Dressings in squeezable bottles.
Adding a Beetology drink is also a good idea to boost your nutrition and energy!
I wear a warm long knit dress with a red bag for this special day! Being pretty, as the same time keeping warm, this is how smart we are! Lucy Paris has a lot of stylish fashion choices for you for any your special event. The cute red bag is from Urban Originals, I like it because it is very comfortable to wear, also you can have all your needs in this small-look bag no problem.
A morning walk along the cove, I love the breathe and sunshine!
For lunch, I prepare this wild Alaskan salmon at home, with my cat as my date, why not? I enjoy his company.
Sitka Salmon Shares delivers premium, sustainable, wild Alaskan seafood from the fishermen directly to members’ doorsteps! Sitka Salmon Shares is built around a humble collective of committed fishermen that put quality first, handling fish one at a time, with respect and care. It’s their livelihood, afterall, and many of their fishermen have been using these highly selective, small-batch fishing methods for generations. Read on to know your fishermen—from how they got started, why they love life on the open water and why they are part of Sitka Salmon Shares. They also have a lot of recipes on their website!
Valentine’s Day afternoon, I would love to share my time with my bestie – Galentine at Valentine’s Day. I love this double happiness. We went to SOMI SOMI, a super cute yummy tayaki & soft serve ice cream store. What I wear is from Brooklyn Cloth, which is a leader in on-trend apparel that enables their customers to express individuality. They pull inspiration from across the globe, and in their backyard of New York City, to develop their bold collections. Brooklyn Cloth
stands out for its unique fabrics, eye-catching graphics, and must-have silhouettes. They observe trends that define today’s market to bring fresh, expressive collections to the table. 
Valentine’s celebration is always to be official at night. I chose to have cakes with Ryan at one of my favorite dessert spots in San Diego – Extraordinary Desserts.
See these beautiful cakes, I just can’t help myself to draw them on my paper!
There is always something else sweet waiting for me at Valentine’s Day! It is MarieBelle’s signature Ganache chocolate, which comes from New York’s famous Soho District. It is the world-renowned, luxurious bean-to-bar chocolate company, MarieBelle Chocolates.
Before sleep, I need to be relax, because I want to have a sweet dream to end this beautiful day. A hot bath helps. Don’t forget to drop a cute bath bomb into the bathtub. This beautiful crystal bath bomb is from Village Naturals Aromatherapy‘s bath and body collection.
I can say it is a full successful Valentine’s Day for me. And now I need to say good night!
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LULU Drew The Official 2019 Holiday Card for FIT Foundation
This was definitely the most excited assignment for Lulu in 2019. Lulu was invited to draw the official 2019 holiday card for her school – Fashion Institute of Technology. The postcard was sent to all the special alumni and FIT’s sponsors by FIT Foundation.
As we all know, Fashion Institute of Technology is one of the best fashion schools in the whole world. There are a lot of well-known fashion designers, interior designers and artists are graduated from this amazing school, such as Calvin Klein and Michael Kors are both from FIT.
Lulu is graduated from FIT’s MFA Illustration Program at 2017. She is thankful to her professor Melanie Reim, who always encourages her and made great advices to be a good illustrator. She is very proud to be a alumni of FIT.
Lulu, Yueming Qu was trained in the traditional Chinese painting style who moved from Beijing to New York to obtain second master’s degree in Illustration at the Fashion Institute of Technology. After spending 4 years’ in New York, Lulu relocated to San Diego in November of 2018 to continue her focus on professional illustration.
When she was in China, she was different from other Chinese painting artists in that she love using bright colors in her artwork, She love drawing whimsical imaginative views of everyday life, and displaying her paintings in installation style. Lulu decided to come to the United States to broaden her art skills albeit she still uses traditional Chinese painting materials; such as, ink, gouache, and Chinese brushes while drawing the modern city landscapes, fashion and more recently food. She is passionate about combining traditional Asian art technique with modern Western art techniques together to explore more artistic possibilities. For example, she uses traditional Chinese brush and ink to draw the outlines, then uses pastels to make colors.
From the East Coast to West Coast, Lulu always strive to take on more art adventures, bringing more influences from different cultures which she’s very interested in.
You can check out more Lulu’s artworks from her website – qululululu.com or instagram @qululululu.
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Amazing Tasting Dinner with Chef JoJo at Lionfish Modern Coastal Cuisine
Lulu and Ryan officially moved at San Diego for a whole year! All the people ask us which city we love better, San Diego or New York City? I will say I love both, because why do I have to choose from these two amazing cities? Especially about eating, no matter it’s NYC or San Diego, I am very satisfied about the great foods. If I have to compare, the result is – for authentic Chinese and Korean cuisine, I still stand with NYC. But for Mexican cuisine and seafoods, definitely San Diego is the winner.
The Tasting Dinner’s Menu at LIONFISH
This early month, Heydoyou was invited to experience a wonderful tasting dinner at the restaurant at San Diego’s famous nightlife district Gaslamp, it is LIONFISH Modern Coastal Cuisine. Luckily, we met the James Beard award-wining Chef JoJo. Jose “JoJo” Ruiz has again been recognized as a James Beard Foundation Smart Catch Leader, this time for the newly-opened Serẽa, making it the only restaurant on Coronado Island to receive this recognition. Chef Ruiz was also recognized by the prestigious culinary foundation for the second time as a Smart Catch Leader for Lionfish, making both restaurants the only two in San Diego to receive the recognition.
LULU with Chef JoJo
Fewer than 20 of California’s estimated 76,000 restaurants are recognized by Smart Catch. In order to be recognized by James Beard Foundation, restaurant menus must meet or exceed 80 percent sustainability, and restaurants must submit to three assessments per year. Further, “red” items , or seafood that is overfished or caught or farmed in ways that harm other marine life, can only appear twice on menus and must total 8 percent volume or less.
From front-of-house to back-of-house, JoJo ensures that his restaurants implement proper recycling practices throughout its entirety, with the aim to proactively help significantly reduce the harmful impact on San Diego’s ocean and beaches by reducing disposable waste. Under Ruiz’ leadership, his restaurants are in full support of the protection of the oceans, beaches and community for generations to come.
Additionally, Chef Ruiz only uses eco-friendly supplies in his restaurants; from biodegradable paper straws to compostable and biodegradable take-out containers and silverware. His dedication to this cause has allowed him to make Lionfish and Serea nationally certified as “Ocean Friendly” by the Surfrider Foundation . JoJo attributes his learning of sustainable practices to Patrick “Paddy” Glennon, founder of the Culinary Liberation (CLF), which brings together a group of chefs to join forces within their respective communities to promote environmental initiatives in the restaurant industry and promote nutritional education.
About the foods we tasted at dinner:
The beautiful hand crafted cocktail drinks at LIONFISH
(From left to right they are: Dante’s Peak, No Way Rose, Put a Sake’ in it, The Final Rose )
Yummy Appetizers
(From left to right they are: Oysters, Braised Salt Spring Mussels, Japanese Style Tomato Salad, Pork Belly Adobada and Blistered Shishito Peppers)
Entrees!
My Crispy Baja Snapper Fillet & Ryan’s Pan Roasted Lamb Strip Loin
Dessert Time!
Tiramisu Crepe cake and Apple TartI have to say it was an amazing tasting dinner. We definitely enjoyed the beautiful atmosphere at Lionfish at Pendry Hotel. Actually I lived in Pendry Hotel for three days this summer for a conference, I loved the lovely room, the rooftop and their spa. We had a Vip dinner at Lionfish for the conference at the second floor, which is a nice private event room with a long table. The foods at Lionfish always make me feel something really special. I remember the first dish I fell in love with this modern coastal cuisine is their Crispy Rock Shrimp which cooked with Korean Gochujang sauce. And this time, I still love Chef JoJo’s combination of American & Mexican cooking style with Asian cooking influences, such as Japanese Style Tomato Salad, Pork Belly Adobada and Blistered Shishito Peppers. Even for the dessert, the Tiramisu Crepe cake reminds me a lot of the green tea crepe cake at Lady M.
Lionfish also has a great menu for Happy Hour. The fresh oyster is only $1, hand roll is $8 and $10 for their delicious craft cocktails, they are great deals for a fancy pre-dinner party. Now is also a good timing to book your Friendsgiving dinner at 27th, Christmas Eve and New Year Eve dinner to celebrate the wonderful holiday season. Lionfish will give you an unforgettable night with wonderful atmosphere, delicious foods and the love from the ocean.
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Café Boulud – New York Restaurant Week 2018
As a foodie living in New York, one of my favorite things in a year is always New York Restaurant Week! For this year, I tried four different restaurants already. Today, let me tell you my wonderful experience at Café Boulud!
I chose to go there for lunch, which is $26 for two course. I added $6 more for a dessert, which I feel it’s super worthy.
This is the Appetizers Menu, I chose Shrimp Tartine!
Looks beautiful! Tastes awesome!
For the Entrees, I chose Pan Seared Salmon. Yes, I am a seafood fan.
The dish is very pretty, I can’t help myself to draw. ^_^
Dessert! I ordered Peach Melba.
Everything at Café Boulud I can only say, is perfect. You have to go, but don’t forget to make reservation first. It is always packed.
The history of Café Boulud:
Named for the café Daniel Boulud’s family operated outside Lyon at the turn of the century, the modern-day Café Boulud opened in the original Upper East Side location of his eponymous restaurant DANIEL in 1998, when the flagship relocated to the historic Mayfair Hotel space on 65th street.
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The Top Five Fashion School In The World – MILKX HongKong Magazine
Lulu’s 5 illustration pieces are featured on Milkx HongKong Magazine, about the top 5 fashion schools in the world.
The cover of the magazine is a group member of TFBoys – Yuan Wang. TFBoys is also one of Lulu’s favorite boy bands.
The whole spreadsheet features Lulu’s five illustrations of the fashion schools.
Lulu is so happy to draw her school- Fashion Institute of Technology- where she graduated at 2017 from Illustration MFA program.
Other than FIT, the other four fashion school include:
PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN
LONDON COLLEGE OF FASHION
CENTRAL SAINT MARTINS COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN
ANTWERP ROYAL ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS
If you want to know more about Lulu’s art, you can check her website. qululululu.com.
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Celebrate Bar Pa Tea One Year Anniversary With Lulu’s Art
To commemorate its first anniversary, Bar Pa Tea is collaborating with artist Yueming Lulu Qu on an art series titled “Celebrate.” Inspired by Bar Pa Tea and its home city, the pieces feature New York’s diverse personalities through its distinct inhabitants and iconic landmarks, unified by their shared penchant for constant reinvention and, of course, bubble tea.
Here are some photos of the One Year Anniversary Celebration Night at July 26th!
ABOUT YUEMING LULU QU
Art, fashion, passion, love, food, multi-cultural melting pot…this is how we often describe our city, no? Our city has millions of stories going on within every block every day. Don’t you agree we are so lucky to live in an amazing city that brings so many inspirations? I do.
Four years ago, I moved from Beijing for graduate study at Fashion Institute of Technology; this accounts for my second MFA – if there were such a thing as a PHD in Illustration I would pursue it. My first was an MFA in traditional Chinese Painting from Central Academy of Fine Arts. For Chinese painting, I use ink, gouache and soft brushes, which I still use in my current illustrations. Similar to how America brings all cultures together, I use traditional Chinese painting methods to illustrate New York City’s modern topics; predominantly fashion lifestyles and our beloved city landscapes. I think of fashion lifestyle as not only about high fashion during certain weeks, but more importantly about anyone who loves their life with a sense of pride. They are positive, they are kind, they are beautiful inside out, they are bravely chasing their dreams, and of course they have their own unique fashion styles.
Education:
Fashion Institute of Technology
The Central Academy of Fine Arts (Beijing, China)
Minzu University of China
Website:
Instagram
@qululululu
ABOUT BAR PA TEA
Patrick showcases flavor over sweetness at Bar Pa Tea, creating a more healthful alternative to the original beverage without compromising the distinct taste and experience of traditional bubble tea. The recipes feature tapioca pearls that are free of additives and drinks sweetened with pure cane sugar instead of corn syrup.
Bar Pa Tea provides a menu of highly customizable drinks, allowing the customer to adjust sweetness in increments and choose whether they would prefer it hot or cold. Bar Pa Tea even offers alternatives to the traditional tapioca pearls, most notably their signature “miniature bubbles.”
The selected menu showcases the flagship’s favorite and most popular items, creating a uniquely refined bubble tea experience.
Those who share Patrick’s love for both the nostalgia of bubble tea and the goal of a healthful lifestyle will find true satisfaction in the choices that Bar Pa Tea offers.
Location: 85 KENMARE ST, NEW YORK, NY 10012
