Watch...

• Easy on Netflix! Another anthology series showcasing different types of love. It's the perfect length of time for my lunch break at work since all the episodes are under 30 minutes. Breezed through season 1 and will likely be done with the next season in the upcoming week too.  
• Last night Grammy's! Every year I seem to forget how this is one of my lesser liked award shows; I feel it's less awards and more performances. Blerg. 

• The Princess Saves Herself in This One by Amanda Lovelace. So. Many. Inspiring. Poems. like the ones above. 
• Plus, all these must-reads that I shared a few days ago! 

Food...

• And by recent I mean really recent--eating this for dinner as we type... The much awaited beans and greens from the lovely Queen of theWeek in Review herself. Mine had kale and chard for greens and pinto for beans. It's deliciously garlic-filled and exceeded expectations. Thanks Meghan!
• Also made this vegan lentil shepherd's pie from The Full Helping's blog 

Excitement...

• Last Friday my family and I watched the first musical of the series this year, The Color Purple! Very very good but also very very sad. I haven't seen the movie (feat Oprah and Whoopi Goldberg) so now that will be going on the to-watch list. 

• Joined my aunt for dinner and the latest Bachelor episode. Before she got home, I tried to sneak some studying in but this little white ball of fluff obviously didn't want me to study either. 

a convenient excuse to not study...

Worry...

• After getting a worse grade on a test than anticipated, it feels like my studying is going no where and I am scared I'm not retaining anything. 
• I had the home visit for the dog I am looking at adopting, which went pretty well. I am fearful though that I won't be the best dog mom... That I'll be lazy... That I am not ready. There was just a lot of doubt in my own capabilities (what's new).  

Frustration...

• Being two minutes late (two!!!) to a yoga class last Saturday and getting locked out. In the studio's defense, there was only one instructor in at the moment. Just annoying how  
• Forgetting to bring cash to the farmer's market and being out of luck since the only produce seller did not take card. Saturday was just not my day. 

Success...

• Not freaking out about said plan ruiners and adapting my sched. 
• Finally opening up a bottle of wine that my friends gave me for my birthday months ago. 

• Had to ask my roomie for help though in figuring out the 4-in-1 corkscrew #noshame
• I gave up on the Grammy's 2/3 of the way through... 

Pleasure...

• Bought a LUSH hair balm using some GC money I had. Will keep you posted on how it turns out. 
• Chai lattes! Went out to try another coffee shop where I got one and put more study hours in. (Thought of you Alyssa!) 

Gratitude...

• With all this being said, my family and their company (as usual) 
• My roommate 
• For the yoga studio for being understanding and putting a credit back onto my class pass.

Questions:
If you watched too, what did you think of the Grammy's? 
What is a recent confession, pleasure, worry or success?
Have you used LUSH products before? 

Another week, another round of lovely links. January is chugging along albeit slowly. Despite this dragging month, I still feel I am crunched for time. There's so much I want to get done and never enough hours, which causes me to lose the intention in what I'm doing. So I thought I'd take a moment for myself to slow down and share what I've found on the Interwebs with you. Whether you are spending today cozying up inside by yourself, or are out and about running around, sending you good vibes this weekend.

As a naturally risk-averse person, I love this more relative way of defining and looking at risk especially in the context of creating a more meaningful life for yourself. What is a risk for me may not mean that it is a risk for you but that doesn't mean it's not a risk.

"The 'exquisite risk,' she says, is daring to live from a place of true openness, a place where we aren’t shielded by our pre-existing ideas of who we are and what is acceptable. Operating from that place — a place of 'unconditional presence' — is a risk, yes, but also the only way to discover both what we are capable of and what we truly want. Risk is the path by which we become more fundamentally ourselves."

Wise words from Joyce at The Hungry Caterpillar on how the meal plan and intuitive eating fit together as part of her Eating to Gain series.

More positive things to keep telling yourself every day. Numbers 2, 6 and 8 are my faves!!

We often are told that we have to constantly strive to improve ourselves, to be better versions of ourselves. But to what end? This read from The Pool goes into the potential down sides of the search for self-improvement and will make you go hmmm.

As read on Girl Boss, self-care is making sure your basic needs are being met. Love their little handy dandy illustrated guide to keep yourself in check in terms of self-care.


Questions:
How did you take care of yourself this week? 
What are your thoughts on any of these posts? 

• Went out to try a new coffee shop a few streets over from my school. Ordered a TABLT--turkey, avocado, bacon, lettuce, tomato--sandwich while getting some studying done. 
• Invited a friend over for a Hump Day movie night. Decided to try this Mediterranean make-your-own-bowl type place that's in my apartment complex for the first time and rewatched 13 Going on 30. 
• Posted twice on You've Got Kayl: Some lovely links that you should definitely take a look at and a Thinking Out Loud post on the Weather & Control 
• Speaking of weather, managed to survive the freezing cold and now we're back to the normal Texas winter of a chilly 50 degrees 
• Mulched and planted at the monthly community garden meetup

• Bought bras for me and my sister at the first stop in the Lively pop-up. Super good deal--I got 3 for $75 with an additional $10 off for donating a used bra! Plus, they were giving out these cute mini desserts for free. As a slight aside, as I've mentioned previously, I hate buying things for myself so this was also an accomplishment in that regard. 
• Signed up for the first section of the CPA exam! I'll be taking it in about a month from now. In doing so, it made it feel so much more real. Yikes!
• Took the trash out, ran the dishwasher, did a couple of loads of laundry (including my sheets!), cleaned my bathroom and swept the kitchen floors. 
• Made some progress on this 500-piece peacock puzzle that my mom bought. We obviously tackled the easiest parts first.  

not the most eye-pleasing spread but what else can you do

• Sunday evening I joined another friend at her apartment to make dinner. We had roasted potatoes, hummus, pita bread, chicken in a spiced mayo sauce and eggplant stuffed with walnuts (something like this). The eggplant dish was so good so I'll definitely be attempting those again. 
• Finished reading two books, getting even further ahead of my yearly goal and January has yet to finish. Self five! 
• Lastly, I went to another greyhound adoption event....and am getting even closer to adopting one! Trying not to get my hopes too high as there are other things that have to happen before it's final. Crossing my fingers!!!! 

What is something you've bought for yourself recently? 

How to enjoy life more as it is right now: More reminders that today is the youngest you'll ever be. To not overlook what is going right in your life. And that you can choose to make this the best time of your life. (Easier said than done, I know.)

From the Man Repeller, finding the simplicity. I expecting too much from the grand where we forget how much joy the simple things-like toast in this case can bring -- let's bring it back to the basics

might not be toast & jam but still a

As I've mentioned before, something I would like to tackle this year is decluttering my digital space--from photos to email to social media. Interested too? These tips on digital minimalism are a good place to start.

On a similar note, have you heard of white (negative) space in photography or design? Well, maybe we need to take that concept and apply it in our day-to-day lives.

I love how Vangie presents self-care from the lens of a parent-child relationship, learning to ask yourself probing questions like a mom or dad would their kid: How are you feeling? What are you excited about? Are you getting enough sleep? Why are you cranky?

With college nearing its end and me being my overly sentimental self (...again...), this diptych photo piece entitled "Reunion" that has former classmates recreate scenes from 15+ years ago gives me goosebumps.

Here are some food-related but non-diet resolutions. Especially liking that first one on buying something new and fun at the grocery store every trip!   

And one more on the new year and diets. This time about the difference between dieting and healthy eating.

Lastly, if you ever find yourself trapped within the confines of your past 'self'--whether that be put upon by others or by you--by read this one from Ask Polly. 


PS. Have the loveliest of weekends ahead friends!

Questions:
Which of these resonated with you? I'd love to hear your thoughts! 
What are some simple pleasures of yours as of late?
 How do you create white space? 

since there was no snow this time around, here's a photo from another crazy winter we had in 2013

I was walking home from campus yesterday thinking about how terribly cold I was and how I absolutely do not know how to dress for the bitter cold, below freezing weather that came upon Texas this past week. Then I was thinking more about the weather, how annoyingly capricious it can be (it's supposed to be in the 60s this weekend 😒 ). And also about how I can't control the fact that it feels like 4 degrees outside; I just have to adapt, prepare and make the best of what life gives me. Then this got me thinking (linking up with Running With Spoons for this one!) even more how we try to control other things in our life that aren't really controllable either. But for some reason I get so frustrated with myself when those other things go awry even if it's not in my power. Crazy how the mind jumps all over the place in this way.




I wasn't originally going to post something about this today but I read Robyn's post on skin care from earlier today where she wrote...

source

It may be almost 2 weeks into 2018 but I have finally caught up on reading New Year's posts from some of my fellow bloggers, inspirations, and may I say it, well, friends. One of them that really caught my eye was Naomi's 'resolution' one, New Year, More Me.  She talks about letting go of those things (i.e. shame, guilt, control) that only hold you back from yourself. Then on Cora's 2017 Recap she shared the words of Maya Angelou: "My wish for you is that you continue. Continue to be who and how you are." Hmmm, I sense a theme here....

Even before reading what these two lovely ladies had to say, I had already been thinking a lot about this 'becoming yourself'; it's as if we are drank the same kool-aid for 2018. Totally on the same page. Another intention (I shared the first about giving presence earlier) of mine for this year and beyond is to cultivate who I authentically am. Out of self-love, I believe I owe it to myself to embrace me, something I have struggled with my whole life.
For me this can mean many things.

It's about discovering new passions and hobbies or focusing on things that fulfil me but I often neglect like photography or playing the piano.

Or in finally getting the shades I've been planning on buying for years now.

Or in simply journalling more intentionally.

This may also be by actually changing habits that I believed made me who I was though in reality were hindering me from just that.
As a slight digression, it's interesting when looking at my intentions (and the mini-goals in between) how almost none of them relate to weight/exercise/food really. Aside from things baking more recipes or doing more yoga, which for me relate more to the mental health aspect of the food and movement respectively, those things were not on my mind at all when I was writing this. And although I know physically I may not be recovered, in other areas this is the most recovered I've felt, which is good to say (err, type).


Despite an overwhelming week (more on that in the near future...) in terms of school, it feels awesome yet completely bizarre to actually be inspired by my intentions. Goals/to-do lists/plans often make me feel the need to control every little thing. However, with this it feels almost natural, less worrisome. As if things will fall into place. As if the me I am working for is around the corner.

I know the concept of finding oneself is a lifelong process and the cultivation will never cease. Call it pointless. Call it selfish. Call it cheesy. But I want to make this year for me.

Questions:
What does cultivating yourself look like to you?
What has been on your mind lately? 

toasting in 2018

• Got my second tattoo that matched with a couple of my friends! Not the brightest idea to get it on my first day there especially as we went to the beach the following week, impeding me from submerging fully in the water. FYI, since you can hardly see it, it's an ampersand & 
• Actually relaxed at a 5 day vacay at the beach with my family

• Visited an awe-inspiring georeserve park on Christmas Eve. A looooong day but completely worth it. 🌄
• Had McDonald's for the first time in forever for a a pre-hike  (^^^) morning meal at 3am. Yay for challenging the ED!! 
• Had breakfast with one of my besties. Wish I could do this more often rather than our virtual dates but I will take what I can get. Super grateful for our friendship throughout these years, making our goodbye almost easy because it felt like we would seee each other again soon albeit over a video call.

• Visited the Pinto Art Museum, a private art collection turned outdoors museum.
• Watched an award winning Filipino film called Ang Larawan during the Metro Manila Film Festival
• Escaped an escape room with friends with 6 minutes to spare! I should have known though that with a title like Abduction I, one of the biggest scaredy cats I know, would be terrified. Do not let those post-escape room winner smiles fool you. 

•  Starting the year off on the right foot on New Year's Eve, my sister and I went through a bunch of our old clutter. So much reminiscing but also questioning why past me kept a lot of this junk. Slowly learning to let go of things that no longer mean what they once meant to me. 
• Had my friend group's annual Chrisgiviween celebration, where we exchange Santa Baby gifts, play games, catch up, laugh until we cry and smile for self-timer group photos.

• Managed to take decent casual family pictures without killing each other. Want to point out that we did not pack or plan in advance to be this matchy; we all just like a lot of blue and just happened to bring clothes that worked together.

• Since my last Week in Review, posted 4 times times on the blog--a couple of must-reads, my 2018 plans and most recently a December eats recap post here
• Said my goodbyes to my friends and family. 😢
• Powered through jetlag yesterday and was able to stay up past 11:00pm without a nap by preparing dinner, putting away my stuff, watching the Golden Globes, sorting my notes for our review classes, working on this blog post, showering, making my bed and enjoying the finale of the Big Family Cooking Showdown. 

1. Broma Bakery's carrot cake cookies - need I say more? Made a few trays worth and have them stashed away in the freezer for future me to enjoy. Before that though, I had a couple for breakfast with yogurt and sunbutter. 
2. A za'atar-spiked lentil and walnut hash - served with the classic fried egg + toast combo to give it some heft
3. Vegan miso pasta with brussels - totally cliche but the umami-ness and the creaminess in this pasta (from cashews!!!!) was unbelievable. So good that I had it for dinner and lunch the next day with roasted zucchini.  

“It is never too late or too soon. It is when it is supposed to be."