• Grabbed lunch with my parents one day, a salad with fried artichokes and goat cheese among other toppings + a chunk of bread. The mixture of creamy, tangy and crunchy fits into the perfect equation for a salad in my book. 

• This blueberry spelt scone up in New Haven when I was there for Spring Break
• Celebrated St. Paddy's Day with Irish soda bread and a green shakshuka type dish that I threw together. Basically took greens and Trader Joe's green goddess dressing into a pan, added the eggs and feta cheese.

• Tried one of the new Siggi's flavors -- mango jalapeño. Not my all-time favorite Siggi's (forever and ever their vanilla) but was pretty good. I love the sweet and spicy combo!

• No longer the season for it necessarily but this curried sweet potato soup with autumnal goodies--roasted brussels sprouts, pomegranate seeds and toasted pepitas--but seriously one of the best soups I have probably ever tasted. 

• In that meatless Monday cooking class I took, we made a beet hummus (sans tahini for me 😟) and smashed pea ricotta toast. Gotta love a classic pair like that.
• Another absolutely amazing meal at Mot Hai Ba, this fancier Vietnamese restaurant, before watching a play with my family. This was their braised beet salad with crispy shallots and coconut cream. Look at that plating!!! 😍😍😍

• This different blueberry oatmeal where you puree all the ingredients--including the oats--before cooking. An interesting texture. Almost like a muffin but actually enjoyed it and will be doing it again! Found a similar using apples so stay tuned!
• Made brown butter chocolate oatmeal! Chocolate! For breakfast! Topped with dates and coconut. 

• Enjoyed a bagel for breakfast three days in a row -- something that in the past would've made me incredibly anxious. It's weird to taste (figuratively and literally) recovery like this. It's been a long time coming and I finally feel things are going somewhere. 
• Went to both the Institute of Contemporary Art and the Museum of Fine Arts. One of my fave things to do in a new city!! 
• Walked around the Harvard campus and surrounding town but sadly couldn't get into any of the academic buildings because they were locked up for the break
• Got a free cup of Starbucks coffee at said Harvard Yard 
• "Trekked" 2/3 of the Freedom Trail. For all you history buffs out there, it featured sites like Boston Massacre spot and Paul Revere's house

• Grabbed breakfast at the university dining hall. Loved all the vegan friendly options they had to offer! I got a tofu scramble with pico de gallo + oatmeal topped with dried fruit, nuts and strawberries. Sweet and savory for life. 
• Bleached and dyed my friend's hair
• Toured around a little bit and saw the theater and greenhouse.
• Finally watched Black Panther! Made even better since we were the only ones in the theater. 😅
• After eventful plan changes, a couple of bus rides, a late-night dinner, some lugging our suitcases around another college town, we sought warmth and 'camped out' for a couple of hours at a random academic building until my other friend could pick us up

• Experienced my first legit winter storm of sorts. Incredibly beautiful but I couldn't feel my fingers. 😳
• Walked around the Yale campus in said storm
• Made it to the Yale Center for British Art and Yale Art Gallery right before closing. Had to powerwalk through a lot of it, which isn't something I like to do, but better than nothing!
• Binge-watched Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Netflix with my friend! Highly recommend especially if you are a Gilmore Girls fan. 
• Celebrated pi day with everything but your traditional pie -- pizza for lunch, quiche for dinner and an apple pie bar for dessert

Houston

• First of all, for Meghan, this amazing link-up, and the rest of the blogging community 
• That my school gives us an entire week off for Thanksgiving break so I could visit a friend in Houston and explore the city
• For my car, which took me on my first solo road trip ✔️
• For my friend who let me into her life for the weekend
• For my eyes to take in breathtaking skies & sights like these

• For the time to give back and volunteer at the food bank in order for others to have a Thanksgiving meal too 
• That I share my love for food with my family. My contributions to this year's feast were a cranberry relish and pumpkin creme brulee
• For the ability to eat beyond fullness, sit with the uncomfortable, move on with life, and digest said foods 
• For Black Friday shopping that wasn't too crazy but where I was still able to get some holiday gifts crossed off the list
• For the ability to move my body during yoga classes 
• That Nickelodeon made a Hey Arnold movie (....even if it was almost 15 years later) 

• For having a mom that is willing to and does make cinnamon rolls for breakfast ☺️  Oh so satisfying
• In a weird way, that I have the stresses I do in life--school, recovery, etc. A reminder to put things in perspective as life can be so much worse. 
• And finally for Harry Potter movies that accompanied me while I finished up the first draft of a paper for class. With only three weeks left for the semester, it's downhill from here! 

I created my own long weekend in New York City by switching shifts with one of my coworkers last Friday to have the entire day off. Before I get started reviewing (c/o Meghan) my time in the Big Apple though, I want to take this time to send my thoughts and love to all those affected in the shooting in Las Vegas last night. It's unbelievable for me to think that just a couple of months ago I was there in Vegas. A sad reminder that crazy things can happen anywhere and to anyone.


After an exam on Thursday afternoon, I left for New York at 7ish, an hour past my supposed departure time. Got into the city 3.5 hours and a timezone jump later where one my bestest high school friends, who I also crashed with, was waiting to pick me up. She just moved to the city last month all the way from Manila.

Started the morning much later than my usual 7:00am (my friend is basically the complete opposite of me). Convinced her to try bagels for a super late breakfast at Black Seed where I got the vegan buffalo cauliflower. It was filled with a tofu cream cheese and was de-freaking-licious.


On Saturday, one of other besties from high school was headed into the city for a few days too. Before meeting up with her, however, we went to Central Park and dog and people watched, then explored about 1/3 of The Met. Seriously so much to see in just an afternoon so we selected our priorities; mine were the 19th and 20th century (think Monets, Van Goghs) + my personal favorite art movement, the modern/contemporary pieces.

Definitely does not do this justice

Peace out to the city that never sleeps

Galae time!

As human beings, we don't learn from perfection; we can only learn from imperfection. 

A not-so-impressive view from the room but thankful for a view nonetheless