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    Cheating a little bit over here and reviewing what has happened in the last month instead of a just a week's recap due to a) the craziness of life, b) my intense procrastination/lack of motivation. Also including some friendly reminders to myself for the future. Maybe they might serve as lessons for you too. As per usual, thank you Meghan for this link-up! 





    Finally finally finally got through (well, like 90% through but that's 90% more than last week!) these dozens of posts I had saved up to read. 


    Note to self: Something I never seem to learn--don't let blog posts pile up. Just don't. 

    Dealt with some sink issues when the garbage disposal backed up and consequently the  pipe underneath burst. 

    Note to self: Though not the primary cause, apparently you shouldn't throw rice down the sink garbage disposal either. 

    I needed to get out of my apartment was pleasant Sunday afternoon or my thoughts were going to drive me crazy. So I walked over to campus and enjoyed the quiet time outdoors while studying and reading. Unfortunately, got a lovely remembrance of that day with a bajillion mosquito bites all over my body. 

    Note to self: Even if you see just one mosquito, move to a different spot.



    Attended a couple of cooking classes with my family. The first was all about grilling and the second was a meatless Monday meal! Yumyumyum all around. 

    Note to self: One of the things I learned was, heavier squash = more water = more tender = better. 


    Went to the Dallas arboretum with my family! Got to see all the pumpkins ever. Wish we had more time there but we ended up getting an annual pass so looks more arboretum time is in my future! 

    Note to self: Picnic-ing is rarely a bad idea. 

    Finally decided on a dietician (sticking with the one on-campus I've been with for the past 2 or so years).

    Note to self: Decisions, once made, are not as scary as you expect. So stop fretting and just decide already.

    On that note, I've been learning to communicate my needs with her more around the future of my recovery plan. So we've done concrete homework/challenges around food.

    Note to self: Baked stuffed sweet potatoes are delicious--like this one below with chicken tortilla soup (thought it was my mom's chili in the freezer whoopsies) with beet greens and topped with cheese and yogurt. Also, there are certain foods that I forget I really really enjoy until I'm actually eating them, for example, tuna (especially in pasta!!) and potatoes.




    Spent mornings in the kitchen packing my day's meals with this lil' guy (my roomie's new German shepherd pup) who won't be so little in a couple of weeks.

    Note to self: Nothing new but dogs make me happy. Though I also realized that I am not ready for a puppy of my own.


    Actually brought my granny butt to a rooftop bar for a friend's 23rd birthday party.

    Note to self: Still not my scene of choice; however, it honestly wasn't too, too terrible.

    Though still not as much as I would like, have been enjoying getting back into the kitchen and baking. Made blueberry scones as well as this triple coconut bread loaf. Into the freezer the extras go!

    Note to self: Double check that the picture you took actually saved. A lot of my food pics have just straight up disappeared as of late like one of a delicious root vegetable chip breakfast nachos meal. Ugh the smartphone struggle.

    Have attempted to incorporate stillness into my life. Actually something I'm trying to work on with my therapist. And it just so happened Cora and Naomi talked about it in the past weeks too.

    Note to self in the words of Naomi:
    "When my soul is still, the work is light."



    Got a free gallon of local ice cream just for showing up wearing PJs.

    Note to self: Patience pays off. 

    Attended the Texas Veggie Fair last weekend, a festival for vegans (and non-vegans in my case) alike.

    Note to self: To repeat myself, just decide already. A friend and I were talking foooooorever to pick a place to buy food and when we finally did the place we chose went on a 30 minute break. Oh life.

    Got my hair cut! ....but no one noticed I got one so it felt like a waste.

    Note to self: The hairstylist who did my hair was trying to encourage me to get bangs or get a more drastic look. So next time, go for the bangs...or at least take more risks. 


    In an effort to take better care of my skin, I put on a face mask one night. And it felt...awkward? Maybe I'm just not used to the feeling of having a wet piece of anything on my face for 15 minutes. 

    Note to self: But sometimes you gotta force self-care. 


    Went to the mall to get some holiday shopping done. During and afterwards, it felt like it a giant waste of time especially since I spent a good half an hour trying to pick stuff that I didn't end up buying.

    Note to self: Free chocolate doesn't solve your problems or make them disappear but boy does it make you feel slightly better.

    Watched Best In Show, a mockumentary about the Westminster dog show (Totally recommend!) with some friends then went out for Thai food. Spent more time together than I planned to/allotted for in my schedule. Gotta keep reminding myself that there is more to life than checking the boxes on my to-do list. 

    Note to self: Let go of control; you cannot plan out everything.

    Celebrated my mother's birthday with a lovely Southern brunch. 

    Note to self: I really ❤️  my family. Oh, and dress up more because I was so underdressed compared to the rest of my family and totally ruined this picture. 



    That's all folks! Hopefully will talk to you in less than a month from now. But until then, take care of yourself. 

    Questions:
    What's something, food related or not, that you don't remember how much you enjoy until you're eating/doing it?
    What have you been procrastinating recently?
    Share one of your own notes-to-self! 

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    Almost two weeks into this new month and here I am still living in September. It may be because I'm not ready to let go of summer just yet. Though this week fall has seemingly crept upon on Texas (or at least for a couple of days since it'll be in the 90s again tomorrow), denial and my pride have stopped me from wearing the appropriate attire. Soooo, I was freezing in this 'cold' weather.

    No real themes today just good, good food to share with y'all. As in the past, throwing this reminder that this is not meant to be a point of comparison. Please feed yourself with what you need. Learn to listen to your own body. My main goal here is to share a common love for a variety of foods. 




    Good examples of how warm weather & summer vibes are still with me:
    • The perfect overlap of the seasons: oatmeal with figs, yogurt and cacao nibs
    • A play on this salad sans almonds because allergies suck but added corn so that kinda-almost-but-not-really makes up for it
    • Another salad of sorts this time with crumbled goat cheese, fresh mushrooms and a smoked salmon spread my mom brought me back from her Canada trip + a side of grapes and leftover restaurant made potato chips 
    • The only thing better than custard is free custard c/o parentals. Opted for chocolate topped with strawberries! 


    More random meals
    • Sandwich consisting of: a vegan cashew queso I made, avocado and farmer's market romaine 
    • Had a BOGO coupon at a make your own pizza type place so treated my aunt one weekday evening. Had about 3 slices and some broccoli. 


    Birthday eats! 
    • A friend got me this faux-stess cupcake (from the vegan bakery I was working at over the summer) for an early birthday present. Literally and figuratively sweet! 
    • Another snap of food I ate whilst in New York -- a banh mi parantha taco. That's like 3 cuisines in one--Indietnamex? 
    Questions:
    Favorite ice cream toppings? 
    What have you been enjoying lately--be it food, books, shows, etc.

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    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.


    We then wandered around downtown, seeing the Oculus, Freedom Tower, the 9/11 Memorial then made our way toward Battery Park. On Friday we also hit up MoMA for their free admission afternoon. My friend took me out that evening (again the complete opposite of me) to a couple of bars where I sipped a moscow mule to ring in my 22nd birthday on Saturday. 



    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.




    We then met up with said friend and her boyfriend in Smorg Square, an outdoor food park in Lower Manhattan. More than a tad chilly for my taste but luckily did not get rained on though the forecast predicted otherwise! Walked along The High Line for the views until we ended up in Chelsea Market, where we grabbed something to eat before heading out to another rooftop bar. This time I tried a frose (am I basic yet?). It was meh but THE VIEW WAS AMAZING. 

    Definitely does not do this justice

    We dedicated our last day to exploring Brooklyn. The four of us took the Manhattan subway and rode over the river together. On our schedule there: brunch turned an early linner at Egg in Williamsburg, a quick ferry to Dumbo, plus a whole bunch of walking around the fun Brooklyn streets and stores.

    Another one of my friends had recommended I try this place called Juliana's pizza but the wait was an hour long. Didn't have the patience for that so instead grabbed dinner at Artichoke Pizza, known for their huge, creamy spinach and artichoke, white pizza slices. 


    Split off from my friend and her boyfriend for a bit since they had a concert to attend. The turned New Yorker friend and I then walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, another unforgettable and unfathomable experience. I'm still in awe of the sheer history behind the bridge. Made our way back into Manhattan where we stopped for Ben's Cookies and at Strand. We walked around the Upper West Side and stumbled across Lincoln Center, Juilliard and the Empire Hotel (my inner Gossip Girl fan was so happy) while waiting for my other friend to return so we could say our goodbyes. 



    Because I make poor life choices, I took the 6:00am flight out and back into Dallas to make it back in time for my 11:30 class. So exhausted that I succumbed to having caffeine in the form of a chai latte despite disliking how it makes me feel all jittery. Even with the extra kick and getting some rest on the plane, I could not for the life of me focus in class. Another accomplishment was taking a quick mid-afternoon nap before it was time to really go back to reality. 

    Peace out to the city that never sleeps

    Although it wasn't my first time in New York City, it was my first time there as an adult and sans family, which makes a huge difference. 100% recommend travelling by yourself even if you start off small by going to a new part of your own city. 

    Unfortunately, there was a lot of walking and surprisingly not enough eating on this trip. Definitely a challenge for my recovery. It was a long and packed weekend. I never slept before midnight. My feet and back and legs ached every night. I barely thought about school. A good reminder that there is more to life than food, than to having everything planned out, than to playing things safe. It was a challenge for me to take a step back, to let go of control, and be more flexible and spontaneous. I was pushed out of my comfort zone but I think that's what friends are and growing older is for.  


    Questions: 
    Have you been to New York City? 
    What is your favorite art movement/artist?
    Best thing you did over the weekend! 

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    Kaylee G.

    Twenty-something year old Filipino American on her way to redefining her relationship with health and finding herself.

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