First, i can't believe May is already over. Wasn't it just yesterday i was discussing my May Goals? Let's see how i did...
My May Goals:
1. get my yoga back on! Yes! I went to several yoga classes in May, and it felt AWESOME. Can't wait to get back into it once this nasty strep is gone.
2. rediscover artist dates (a Julia Cameron term) Check! Used my lunch breaks as a time to go to local cafes or fun restaurants and spend time journaling, reading, etc.
3. make morning smoothies (made one this morning for the first time in months.... holllaaa!) Did this, but not EVERY morning b/c i kept forgetting to buy bananas... oops.
4. start BAR trip scrapbook Fail... not even close.
5. document life more with cameras (aka take more pictures, esp. with my new Holga which i have not yet received :-( ) DID take more pics, but have not yet used my Holga. I'm baaad with instruction booklets...
6. drink more tea, less coffee (even bought some green tea this past weekend, not the biggest fan of green tea but working on it as its health benefits are vast) Definitely did this, and i think it definitely helped with my energy levels and reduced my afternoon headaches.
7. PRAY Yes, but again, still need to work on this.
I'm going to spend some time tonight thinking about my June goals (one of which is definitely to beef up my immune system!) and will share soon.
How did y'all do?? I want to know!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Sick Girl
UPDATE: Not the flu - apparently it's strep and possibly mono (AND?? i didn't know you could have strep AND mono, but apparently you can). Anyway i have antibiotics and prescription strength pain meds. And popsicles. And wonderful readers/tweeters. Love y'all...
Hello, dear friends. Please forgive me for my absence in the blogging/twitter world, but i've been plagued with the flu (after one of the funnest weekends of my life - go figure). I've never had the flu before, and i now understand why everyone who has had it says that you basically want to die for 3 - 7 days. Well i'm on day #2, and everytime i think things are getting better, something new comes along (like nausea this morning - FUN). I'm off to the doctor in a bit (although i really don't think i should be driving) to see if i can get ahold of some Tamiflu and confirm that i do NOT have the swine flu. Ugh. I can't even talk about it.
Miss you guys... thx for your sweet, sweet messages. xoxoxoxoxoxo
P.S. As much as i love living alone, it's times like these that i wish my mom was in the same city as me. Her homemade chicken soup would do wonders for me right now...
P.P.S. I've lost 5 lbs in the last 36 hours. This is the best diet ever. AKA i'm STARVING, but everything tastes like mucus. Gross. I know.
Hello, dear friends. Please forgive me for my absence in the blogging/twitter world, but i've been plagued with the flu (after one of the funnest weekends of my life - go figure). I've never had the flu before, and i now understand why everyone who has had it says that you basically want to die for 3 - 7 days. Well i'm on day #2, and everytime i think things are getting better, something new comes along (like nausea this morning - FUN). I'm off to the doctor in a bit (although i really don't think i should be driving) to see if i can get ahold of some Tamiflu and confirm that i do NOT have the swine flu. Ugh. I can't even talk about it.
Miss you guys... thx for your sweet, sweet messages. xoxoxoxoxoxo
P.S. As much as i love living alone, it's times like these that i wish my mom was in the same city as me. Her homemade chicken soup would do wonders for me right now...
P.P.S. I've lost 5 lbs in the last 36 hours. This is the best diet ever. AKA i'm STARVING, but everything tastes like mucus. Gross. I know.
Friday, May 29, 2009
California, cont.
Saturday
Saturday of last weekend was devoted to my two loves: shopping and eating. After yanking Ma Soeur outta bed (she usually sleeps till 2 p.m. on weekends!) and a quick breakfast, we headed to Valley Fair Mall, a giant mall in San Jose that is always packed. I must confess, i'm not a huge mall person anymore and much prefer to do my shopping at individual boutiques or outdoor shopping centers. But while Ma Soeur and Bro were at Macy's, i headed over to the giant Forever21 to see if i could score any goodies. And i did! They had a big selection of F21's other lines, and i was especially a fan of Twelve by Twelve. Got this adorable skirt (which looks way better in person, i have to say) and a couple of fun necklaces, all for a great price! J'adore the good things F21 is doing these days!!
After the mall, we went to another outlet mall in Millpedes (sp??), and wow, it was GHETTO. After quickly perusing H&M and Neiman's Last Call, we hightailed it outta there! Made a quick stop at Ma Soeur's fave consignment store, and then headed home to get ready for our fun night out at Santana Row. My Pour La Victoire's made their first appearance!
Saturday of last weekend was devoted to my two loves: shopping and eating. After yanking Ma Soeur outta bed (she usually sleeps till 2 p.m. on weekends!) and a quick breakfast, we headed to Valley Fair Mall, a giant mall in San Jose that is always packed. I must confess, i'm not a huge mall person anymore and much prefer to do my shopping at individual boutiques or outdoor shopping centers. But while Ma Soeur and Bro were at Macy's, i headed over to the giant Forever21 to see if i could score any goodies. And i did! They had a big selection of F21's other lines, and i was especially a fan of Twelve by Twelve. Got this adorable skirt (which looks way better in person, i have to say) and a couple of fun necklaces, all for a great price! J'adore the good things F21 is doing these days!!
After the mall, we went to another outlet mall in Millpedes (sp??), and wow, it was GHETTO. After quickly perusing H&M and Neiman's Last Call, we hightailed it outta there! Made a quick stop at Ma Soeur's fave consignment store, and then headed home to get ready for our fun night out at Santana Row. My Pour La Victoire's made their first appearance!
{I'm wearing Anthro top, AA leggings, PLV shoes and Hayden Harnett bag. Ma Soeur's wearing Old Navy dress and Zara shoes.}
Santana Row is a GORGEOUS, upscale outdoor shopping mall in San Jose. If you're familiar with Austin, it's what The Domain should have been had it been done right (boo so disappointing). I love Santana Row and make it a point to go every time i visit the Bay Area. Beautiful shops, great restaurants, fun ambiance, and pretty people. :)
Our first stop was Kara's Cupcakes! We picked up a few to-go for our post-dinner treat.
(Note: the cupcakes weren't bad - i got chocolate with cream cheese-coconut frosting. The cake was good and moist, but the cream cheese frosting was way too sweet.)
Then i hit up H&M (again) for some more shopping, and after waiting in line for 25 minutes (my PLV-clad feet were not happy), i scored a Matthew Williamson for H&M belt (the hot pink studded one!), linen shorts, a rad printed tulip skirt, and a seafoam green top. Success! Last stop before dinner was Paper Source, my FAVE paper store ever that has finally opened a TX location in Dallas (but it's disappointingly small). The BEST Paper Source is in Georgetown - sooo jelly of you DC-ers!! You have Tranquil Space AND Paper Source! Anyway picked up couple of goodies, including a pink notepad with the words "Do Something Creative Everyday" written on the top. Love!
Finally we went to Pizza Antica for dinner for some of the best thin crust pizza i've had in awhile. I had this tall glass of goodness:
For an appetizer we got crispy hearts of artichoke with aioli and lemon and a delectable warm early asparagus salad with lemon, mt. tam triple cream cheese toast (INSANELY GOOD) and speck.
For pizzas, we ordered the three cheeses, shaved broccoli, caramelized onion and pancetta and the spicy calabrese sausage, onions, peppers and parsley. Both were good, but i preferred the spicy calabrese sausage one b/c i LOVE sausage (i know i know) and it had such a great KICK!
After that massive dinner, we decided to digest by walking to Borders where i picked up SARK's Make Your Creative Dreams Real for 40% off avec coupon :). Needless to say, after all that walking and standing, my feet were pooped. But didn't my yellow toes (Chanel's L.A. Sunrise) look fabulous w/ my PLV's??
I might be breakin' out these babies again for this weekend's festivities :)
Thursday, May 28, 2009
My Perfect Day
{pic from Claudia at the beautiful blog: the paris apartment}Nina posted a lovely question yesterday on her gorgeous blog - what does your perfect day look like? This was my response:
~wake up naturally to sunlight streaming into my room, Lola at my side
~breakfast in bed (grits + spicy sausage + fried egg for savory, french toast with berries for sweet, and oodles of coffee and cream)
~spend the day strolling and shopping the streets of Paris, grab lunch at a darling cafe, enjoy a macaron + tea at Laduree
~back home for an afternoon nap, Lola at my side
~post-nap, curl up with tea, scones + clotted cream, fresh fruit, journal, books, colored pens, stickers, etc.
~get dolled up for dinner at my favorite restaurant in Rome (clearly traveling time does not interfere w/ my perfect day)
~dessert (prob. can't get this in Rome) of warm chocolate molten cake + vanilla bean ice cream + decaf coffee
~post-dinner stroll with a lover, holding hands
~long, hot, fragrant, candle-lit bath in giant tub
~deep tissue massage
~blissful sleep, again with Lola at my side
(In retrospect, i'd probably also throw in a delicious yoga class as well. And maybe add a roaring fire and snow outside?? Mmmm)
What is your idea of a perfect day?
P.S. Nina - i'm dying to hear yours!!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
"Dog Person" & Meat
2 Things:
1) First, do you consider yourself a "dog person"? I never have, especially since we never grew up with dogs, only a cat, and so i never really knew what it meant to have one. Since then, of course, i've gotten my darling Lola, love of my life, and Ma Soeur has gotten her (sometimes) sweet Sofie (haha i so funny!). The first few months after getting Lola, our conversations literally revolved around our dogs - no lie. It was ridiculous! Since then, we've toned it down a bit, but no conversation goes by without mentioning Lola-bear and/or Sofie-monster (other nicknames include Snuffalofogus, Wofie Wof, Rora, and Sof Sof), how they're doing, what they chewed today, how cute they are, etc. Yes, it's annoying.
Anyway, i've noticed lately that my love for Lola has, if possible, grown exponentially. Whereas once i thought of her as just a pet, i now consider her my baby and a valid member of my family. I also found myself getting ridiculously emotional over stories involving lost dogs, mistreated dogs, etc. I watched Bolt while Ma Soeur and Bro were at a wedding on Sunday night and seriously LOST. IT. I'm talking major tears. (Also cried when Mittens told her story about being left by her family, declawed and defenseless and swore to myself then and there to take really good care of Puffin forever no matter how annoying he can be!) Also? 99% of the all the pics on my blackberry are of, you guessed it, Lola.
So... am i now a dog person? Officially? Or am i just crazy? The reason i'm hesitant to call myself a true "dog person" is because, and i'm being perfectly honest here, i don't love all dogs. I love my dog and a few select others. I do not love every dog (particularly the slobbery, ill-mannered, bad-tempered, or yip-y variety). Know what i mean??
2) Second, a word about meat. This past weekend, as you saw, i indulged in a lot of carnivorous activity. That's right - i ate lamb, beef, pork, you name it! And it was all good, REALLY good, until Memorial Day when we decided to BBQ. You see, the day before, Ma Soeur and i were @ Whole Foods getting BBQ supplies when i told her, "i'm done eating meat!! get me a portabello and lots of veggies." So we picked up a fat portobello, corn on the cob, zucchini, and shrimp. But then as we neared the meat counter, and Ma Soeur decided the steaks were way too overpriced and "i guess we'll just grill hamburgers instead", the thought of a nice, juicy, grass-fed and natural beef hamburger overtook my mind and senses, and before i knew it, i blurted "OOH I WANT A BURGER!!!". Yeah. I know. I'm a BAD vegetarian.
Fast forward to Monday afternoon - i'm getting ready to dig into my delicious burger, adorned with a thick slice of cheddar cheese, fresh romaine, organic ketchup and mayo, all sandwiched between two sprouted grain buns (really tasty, actually). I take my first bite - DELISH. Yum. Love it. I take my second bite - um, a little less enthusiastic this time. After Ma Soeur decided hers wasn't cooked enough and threw it back on the grill, i started to think about what i was eating and examined my own meat. It was fully cooked. But the more i stared, the more i thought, the more i chewed, the more disgusted i became. To the point where i couldn't take it anymore and proceeded to hand my leftover burger to Bro and instead shoved the grilled portobellos in between the delicious aforementioned buns. Yum!
I don't know what came over me, but i'm kind of glad it did. Because last week when i wasn't eating much meat, i felt a lot better. More energy, less heavy-full, no more afternoon headaches, and better sleep. I don't know if i can attribute all that to the lack of meat in my diet, but i know that i liked how i felt. And since i'm not all that keen on eating meat as it is, i'm glad that the burger incident reminded me not to.
Btw, pics of the BBQ and the rest of my weekend coming SOON. Just super busy with getting ready for this weekend's festivities (big bday bash for friend's 30th Friday night a bachelorette party on Saturday).
xoxo!!
P.S. A Note About Work: I cannot tell you how much i appreciated your kind and helpful comments re: my work situation. Although this week doesn't look particularly promising, i've decided to just let. go. I can't control how much work is available, that's not my job as a first-year associate, and the only thing i can really do is do what i can to get work, and when there just isn't any to be done, relax. I can fully defend my numbers if it came to it (which i doubt it would at my firm, it's just not that kind of place), and i know the partners in this office know i'm doing the best i can. No need to fret, n'est ce pas?
1) First, do you consider yourself a "dog person"? I never have, especially since we never grew up with dogs, only a cat, and so i never really knew what it meant to have one. Since then, of course, i've gotten my darling Lola, love of my life, and Ma Soeur has gotten her (sometimes) sweet Sofie (haha i so funny!). The first few months after getting Lola, our conversations literally revolved around our dogs - no lie. It was ridiculous! Since then, we've toned it down a bit, but no conversation goes by without mentioning Lola-bear and/or Sofie-monster (other nicknames include Snuffalofogus, Wofie Wof, Rora, and Sof Sof), how they're doing, what they chewed today, how cute they are, etc. Yes, it's annoying.
Anyway, i've noticed lately that my love for Lola has, if possible, grown exponentially. Whereas once i thought of her as just a pet, i now consider her my baby and a valid member of my family. I also found myself getting ridiculously emotional over stories involving lost dogs, mistreated dogs, etc. I watched Bolt while Ma Soeur and Bro were at a wedding on Sunday night and seriously LOST. IT. I'm talking major tears. (Also cried when Mittens told her story about being left by her family, declawed and defenseless and swore to myself then and there to take really good care of Puffin forever no matter how annoying he can be!) Also? 99% of the all the pics on my blackberry are of, you guessed it, Lola.
So... am i now a dog person? Officially? Or am i just crazy? The reason i'm hesitant to call myself a true "dog person" is because, and i'm being perfectly honest here, i don't love all dogs. I love my dog and a few select others. I do not love every dog (particularly the slobbery, ill-mannered, bad-tempered, or yip-y variety). Know what i mean??
2) Second, a word about meat. This past weekend, as you saw, i indulged in a lot of carnivorous activity. That's right - i ate lamb, beef, pork, you name it! And it was all good, REALLY good, until Memorial Day when we decided to BBQ. You see, the day before, Ma Soeur and i were @ Whole Foods getting BBQ supplies when i told her, "i'm done eating meat!! get me a portabello and lots of veggies." So we picked up a fat portobello, corn on the cob, zucchini, and shrimp. But then as we neared the meat counter, and Ma Soeur decided the steaks were way too overpriced and "i guess we'll just grill hamburgers instead", the thought of a nice, juicy, grass-fed and natural beef hamburger overtook my mind and senses, and before i knew it, i blurted "OOH I WANT A BURGER!!!". Yeah. I know. I'm a BAD vegetarian.
Fast forward to Monday afternoon - i'm getting ready to dig into my delicious burger, adorned with a thick slice of cheddar cheese, fresh romaine, organic ketchup and mayo, all sandwiched between two sprouted grain buns (really tasty, actually). I take my first bite - DELISH. Yum. Love it. I take my second bite - um, a little less enthusiastic this time. After Ma Soeur decided hers wasn't cooked enough and threw it back on the grill, i started to think about what i was eating and examined my own meat. It was fully cooked. But the more i stared, the more i thought, the more i chewed, the more disgusted i became. To the point where i couldn't take it anymore and proceeded to hand my leftover burger to Bro and instead shoved the grilled portobellos in between the delicious aforementioned buns. Yum!
I don't know what came over me, but i'm kind of glad it did. Because last week when i wasn't eating much meat, i felt a lot better. More energy, less heavy-full, no more afternoon headaches, and better sleep. I don't know if i can attribute all that to the lack of meat in my diet, but i know that i liked how i felt. And since i'm not all that keen on eating meat as it is, i'm glad that the burger incident reminded me not to.
Btw, pics of the BBQ and the rest of my weekend coming SOON. Just super busy with getting ready for this weekend's festivities (big bday bash for friend's 30th Friday night a bachelorette party on Saturday).
xoxo!!
P.S. A Note About Work: I cannot tell you how much i appreciated your kind and helpful comments re: my work situation. Although this week doesn't look particularly promising, i've decided to just let. go. I can't control how much work is available, that's not my job as a first-year associate, and the only thing i can really do is do what i can to get work, and when there just isn't any to be done, relax. I can fully defend my numbers if it came to it (which i doubt it would at my firm, it's just not that kind of place), and i know the partners in this office know i'm doing the best i can. No need to fret, n'est ce pas?
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Note 2 Self
REMEMBER that it takes 15-20 minutes for your brain to register that your tummy is full so that next time you don't rush out to get lunch part deux and then spend the rest of your afternoon feeling totally ill and FAT.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Straits
One of my favorite restaurants in the Bay Area is Straits - a delicious Singaporian hotspot that i've enjoyed twice before this trip. Because the Straits at Santana Row was closed for renovation, Ma Soeur, Bro-in-law and i hit up its Palo Alto location on my first night in California. And oh man, was it good!! Here's a little peek at what we devoured...
We started out with some specialty cocktails of the martini variety. Bro had a mango concoction with a fun mermaid dangling on its rim, and i had a very strong lychee martini (which i sipped very. very. slowly).
For an appetizer we ordered not one, but TWO orders of Roti Prata, crisp griddled Indian flabread with a delicious yellow curry dipping sauce. YUM.
Entrees were shared family-style! For noodles, we had Mee Goreng, spicy Indian style egg noodles wok-tossed with tofu, prawns, and potatoes. This dish was my favorite! For meat (yes i had a lot of meat this weekend... see, i'm a bad vegetarian), we had Lamb Shank Korma, braised lamb in a mild white curry with potatoes and onions. The meat fell off the bone it was sooooooo good (albeit guilt-y good). For seafood, we went all out and got the Origami Seabass baked in parchment with ginger, shitake mushrooms and white wine.
All topped with the insanely fragrant coconut rice. Needless to say, we were stuffed! I plan on making a visit to Straits a must-have event for each and every one of my future visits. :)
We started out with some specialty cocktails of the martini variety. Bro had a mango concoction with a fun mermaid dangling on its rim, and i had a very strong lychee martini (which i sipped very. very. slowly).
For an appetizer we ordered not one, but TWO orders of Roti Prata, crisp griddled Indian flabread with a delicious yellow curry dipping sauce. YUM.
Entrees were shared family-style! For noodles, we had Mee Goreng, spicy Indian style egg noodles wok-tossed with tofu, prawns, and potatoes. This dish was my favorite! For meat (yes i had a lot of meat this weekend... see, i'm a bad vegetarian), we had Lamb Shank Korma, braised lamb in a mild white curry with potatoes and onions. The meat fell off the bone it was sooooooo good (albeit guilt-y good). For seafood, we went all out and got the Origami Seabass baked in parchment with ginger, shitake mushrooms and white wine.
All topped with the insanely fragrant coconut rice. Needless to say, we were stuffed! I plan on making a visit to Straits a must-have event for each and every one of my future visits. :)
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