Living Out LAOD

05/06/2025

In a world full of noises and distractions, wouldn't it be nice to unplug and reset? To reconnect to our own body, heart and soul? To connect with other like minded individuals? To feel the silence in the serenity of mountains? Come away with me to .tahoedonner for three days of Lao culture, cuisine and connections!!

I've been practically hosting so many weekend getaways and retreats with friends and we always leave feeling so refreshed and rejuvenated! So I thought why not share this beautiful blessed experiences with others? This is my pilot retreat with guests outside of close friends. If you're interested, DM for pricing and any questions.

The cabin is limited to only ten guests and I have a couple of reset spots left. My hubby Tui and I will be staying in the little casita to host our guests the whole weekend with yummy food and fun activities. I'm super excited for this new venture to create beautiful memories with you!

02/06/2025

$25,000 Scholarship awarded for Fall 2025! www.jailao.org to apply 👍🏼

Hi students! You have about 2 weeks left to submit your application to JLF’s 2025 Scholarship Program!

Undergraduate students descended from Laos (including ALL ethnicities of Laos) have an opportunity to win a $500-$2000 scholarship award for Fall 2025! We are awarding $25,000 total.

Do not miss out on this opportunity if you’re eligible! Learn more at www.jailao.org/scholarships.

24/01/2025

Hey Bay Area Lao Food Loving Friends!! Hit me up if you want to get your hungry hands on some authentic tasting Lao oua (sausages), seen savanh (beef jerky), som pa (sour fish) and fresh duck and chicken eggs! This is old G food and prepared the way your mom does!

23/01/2025

Here's the long awaited video many of you have requested for... a tutorial on how to make thum spicy salad with Padaq Mae Kesone. Please help me give love and encouragement to my daughter Champa for the 12 minutes of video she sent over to me yesterday where I edited and condensed it into less than 3 minutes. As a prideful Lao mother nothing makes us more proud than to see our children embrace Lao cuisine and culture. She literally made the video clips by herself with no help from me at all since we were in different states. So yeah for that I'm over the moon very proud of her. And echoing what Champa expressed, I'm very grateful for your support and love. Padaq Mae Kesone is very special to me and holds deep memories of my beloved Mae. I will brew a new batch for February because a lot of you weren't able to get yourself a jar from this batch. Have a Tasty Thursday everyone!

20/08/2024

PSA post... scholarship for college students who are descendants of Laos. Education was something my parents, especially my father, strongly encouraged and supported. He often told all his children, "I want you to receive a good education in America so that you won't have to work in the farm and fields like your mom and I. Education can help you be successful in life". I still remember his words so vividly in my head and heart and why I strive to learn and grow everyday. Education is not necessarily always in a classroom or college. But for me when I take the opportunity to experience or learn something new, that's educating myself about life. I'm glad to see this kind of program exists in the Lao community cause when I was going to college this kind of stuff was nonexistent. Sharing is caring so please help me spread awareness to this wonderful program. Thank you guys! 🙏🏽❤️🥰

15/08/2024

Hello hello! It's been a few months since I've been on social media but I wanted to hop on this morning to help spread word about a very exciting scholarship program offered through the Jai Lao Foundation. We as parents know that college is so expensive and every little bit helps young students reach their educational goals.

I'm glad that Jai Lao is able to offer some kind of financial relief again this year for many deserving students throughout the USA. It's heartwarming to see the faces of the students who applied and the impact the scholarships have on them. One of the recipients actually lives in Utah and only miles from us. I've been wanting to invite her to dinner and see what she's been up to. Lela Reagan can you help this little old lady connect with her?

Please help Jai Lao reach more young adults who needs financial assistance for college by sharing this flyer. Just save the flyer photo and reshare on your page. Thank you so kindly! I hope everyone is having a great summer!

10/01/2024

Happy New Year Foodie Friends! Jumping on here to let you know of a research opportunity from my daughter Lela that she’d like to share with you all. Here's a video explaining about the research. If you can help out I really truly would appreciate it so much. I'll enter names of those who does the survey and double entry if you do the interview with Lela too! It's going to be a very special prize that I think you'll enjoy and love. Thanks so kindly for your help! ♥️ SWIPE to see both flyers 📋

Hi 👋🏼 My name is Lela and I am a graduate student who is embarking on a research project focused on the Southeast Asian American experience in higher education.

I am seeking participants who identify as Southeast Asian American to participate in my research through a survey or interview!

Survey: https://bit.ly/seaasurvey

Interview Interest Form: https://bit.ly/seaastudy

Your participation in this study can help gain insights into the current levels of accessibility and support available to SEAA students within higher education systems, with the ultimate goal of identifying strategies to enhance SEAA student success.

Thanks for reading and please share if you know someone eligible to participate! You can contact me at [email protected] with any question!

PS: Omg! Never mind! Sorry my daughter said I can't give out prizes for your participation but you have my gratitude and heart as your prize. 🙏🏽❤️

19/09/2023

I love it when my daughter tells me exactly what she craves for. It makes cooking easier when I don't have to think about what to cook for dinner. I haven't had a chance to go to Costco yet so I made chicken curry with whatever I had in the kitchen. My pak b**g (Asian water spinach) and basil from my garden is a lifesaver cause I had zero green in the fridge! Those one dish dinners are sometimes the best tasting. We both had two big heapings of jasmine rice with the chicken red curry.

16/09/2023

Congratulations 🎉🍾🎈🎊 Jai Lao Foundation scholarship recipients!!! It's so wonderful and heartwarming to see our youths succeeding and thriving!! Jai Lao awarded $25,000 to students from USA and Canada this year!

16/09/2023

When everyone else brings flowers for the host and you're the only one bearing the gift of bamboo shoots you freshly picked from your garden. I'm Lao and I'm proud of who I am and where I came from. I come from very country aka barnok beginnings in a quaint village along the Mekong River. I don't have memories of my first six years of life in southern Laos. My hubby Tui believes it was probably because of a traumatic escape that I suppressed any other childhood memories I had. What I know is that even if I have no memories of my own but the feelings of connection and attachment to a land and past I once belonged to is real and felt. I have been visiting Laos annually since 2008 when I went back to do a memorial baci blessing for my parents and saw the kindness and generosity of villagers who came to show respect to my Mae and Pa. In Laos you will never really go hungry as you can forage for food in the forests. Bamboo shoots grows wildly and you can cook and preserve it. My small bamboo garden is my piece of Laos. I got about 30 shoots from my bamboo garden this season and it is so rewarding to share these special shoots with others. XO

31/08/2023

Congratulations Jai Lao Foundation Scholarship recipients!!!

28/08/2023

It all started in the playground in 2008 when a little 8 year old girl from America saw that the village school she was visiting didn't have a playground like it her school in the USA. She believed that having a place to play during recess helps them enjoy school more. Even at her young age she realized that education is important in the classroom as well as outside.

A community that supports our children's future through education is our playground today! Through the belief that we can help make a difference by giving back to organizations that endeavors to impact our youths future. Thenk you for believing in Jai Lao Foundation's cause and its mission in supporting education to help empower students of Laos descent. I'm so proud to support this beautiful cause!