You've Got Kayl: December 2015

I hope you are having a wonderful New Year's Eve! On my end, my family is planning a super low-key get together. On the menu are inari sushi, baked brie, chips & dips and my contribution--these whole-wheat, oatmeal packed raisin scones! Back in the Philippines, my family's NYE is normally a grander routined party with extended family and friends. Fireworks in the air, champagne on our tongues. So without the buzz of preparing for that, the "holiday" honestly seems a little lost. Maybe I am just growing up.

Time for some food talk; I lovelovelove scones. After a batch I made previously came out extremely dry and hard, my father nicknamed my creations "stones." Several years later, he still hasn't let me forget it. That won't stop me for living out my scone baking dreams!!! Adapted this recipe (again) by making buttermilk using milk + vinegar and adding currants in addition to the raisins. Unfortunately they seem a little crumbly so I'm worried I won't be able to finally prove him wrong :(

Too much has happened for me in the past 12 months to fully take in at the moment. I'm ready to leave this challenging year behind. I'm ready for a new start. I'm ready to recover. I'm ready to get stronger in all ways possible. I'm ready to grow. I'm ready for 2016. Looking forward, there is already a lot going on in the months to come and I hope I can remember to stay grounded and focused on what's truly important.

Catch you next year! Hehehe

Questions:
What did you do for New Year's Eve?
Scones--yay or nay?
Anything exciting planned for 2016 already?

Merry Christmas Eve Eve!!! I apologize for disappearing for the past couple of weeks. I got caught up in the storm that is finals. Then, of course, in an ironic twist of fate, my laptop's mouse stopped working and I had to bring it to be repaired. So here I am, computer-less during Winter Break 2015 when I can actually bum around without feeling guilty for avoiding my "responsibilities." Thankfully, I've been keeping busy. My friend from the Philippines visited me for the weekend so we showed her what Dallasites do--shop, eat, and shop more. I have caught up on Modern Family & Downton Abbey and been channeling my inner grandma (again) by getting back into crocheting. I've also been trying to make a dent in my never-ending list of things to bake. This is quite difficult considering I've saved the majority of the recipes on my computer; here is the first of hopefully more to come!

When I came across this recipe a few weeks ago, I linked it to my mother right away because it was basically made for her. Mocha + prunes + nuts = my mom in a loaf. I veganized (yes, it's a word) it by using coconut oil instead of butter and mixing up a flax egg. I also subbed whole wheat flour just because. It's like a giant amped up brownie. Bask in its nutty, chocolatey gloriousness! **insert angels singing here**

Let's be honest, as much as I say I'll have a post up tomorrow, I probably won't be blogging until after Friday. So have a wonderful holiday y'all, or if you don't celebrate Christmas, have a great couple of days!!! I'm off to make almond butter, double check my gift list, and continue crocheting!

The view from Coit Tower

I would like to say the reason I haven't been blogging is that I've been diligently studying for finals. In reality, however, it's honestly because I've been diligently finishing Mindy Kaling's first book and catching up on The Flash before the mid-season finale. Hey, at least I'm still being diligent, yeah? I am just feeling completely and utterly unmotivated. I don't even feel as stressed as I normally do (which kinda makes me stress out even more...) It's also hard when about half my friends are done already and I'm here with 3 more tests to take. Guh.

This San Francisco post is waaaaay overdue. Take me back to 3 weeks ago where it was much, much easier to ignore my scholarly duties, where depreciation, capital budgeting and process costing didn't consume my day.

Chinatown SF -- the oldest one in North America

It was quite a successful trip given that I was there for only 3 days. I saw most of the tourist-y things on my list--Chinatown, Pier 39, Golden Gate. On a side note: there are actually 2 bridges I saw. And after spending a weekend there, I finally figured out which one the Golden Gate was. Have I mentioned I am directionally challenged?

Recovery-wise, it was more challenging that I thought it would be. The time difference messed up my eating schedule and as we wanted to maximize my trip there, I didn't necessarily make time for snacks. Much like Austin is here in Texas, SF is its own world. Though I honestly cannot see myself living there, I can't wait to go back and explore some more.

Now, enjoy scrolling through other snapshots while I actually study (...after I finish this episode)!!!

Questions:

What's your favorite way to procrastinate?

Are you travelling anywhere for holiday break?

Chai tea & poppy seed pastry for a lovely start to the day

The red one = GOLDEN GATE!!!

Painted Ladies

Land's End *Spongebob voice* at night

I had an excellent, almost too relaxing Thanksgiving break. I hope yours was swell as well! I am totally loving that I am slowly, finally feeling the holiday vibes despite how much I disapprove of the cold weather. My mind still hasn't fully accepted the fact that the end of the semester is only a couple of weeks away. And that Christmas is this month. Luckily I got around 50% of my gift shopping done. (Yay for Black Friday!)

Here are some links that fuelled my procrastination recently:

1. An Open Letter to the Parents of a Busy College Student -- Awfully grateful for my family at this point in my life and most especially around this time of the year. As I've progressed in college, I have realized how much I need and love my family. This summarizes those thoughts.

2. Pomegranate season is the best and if you think otherwise bake these brownies from With Food & Love ASAP. I made some over the weekend and accidentally added too much salt in the batter (whoops) so I omitted the sea salt on top. Nevertheless, they ended up tasting delicious. Use dark cocoa powder for even more chocolatey goodness.

3. In a late celebration of all things Thanksgiving, here's a little food trivia on sweet potatoes. Though yams are not actually yams, sweet potatoes are still life.

4. Saw this website of the last messages received from exes, former friends and deceased loved ones. Makes me really wanna text all my contacts and let them know how much I loved them. I ended up scrolling through literally all of them to the beginning of the Tumblr page. On second thought, maybe you shouldn't click that link...

5. Here I am, in a coffee shop, sipping my mocha and crying like a baby because of this German Christmas ad. Just watch and be prepared to feel all the feels.

***BONUS LINK FOR FINALS WEEK (!!!) because who doesn't love puppies?!?? ONE. LAST. PUSH. Hang in there y'all. It's back to paper writing for me. :(

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