Four Cheese Mac n Cheese and Catan

I died and went to heaven. My housemate made four cheese mac n cheese, so I cheated and had a nibble. IT WAS FOUR CHEESE - white cheddar, garlic chedder, brie and one more I didn't hear because I was entranced with the bacon-breadcrumb topping.

Boring life update follows - feel free to skip: Anyway, aside from my relapse: However, I have to say that I didn't get a caffeine headache today. I am usually struck by them within 15 minutes of waking up. Today, that didn't happen! Today, I had a quick lunch of quinoa, avocado and over crisped chickpeas - my own recipe and pretty delish. Then I indulged in some almonds for snack. I say indulged bc it makes me feel better about not being able to inhale nutella at a superhuman rate. I had shrimp spring roles for dins and some blackberries. Dessert was a tall glass of carrot juice and coconut water. One of the things that stood out to me today was that I wasn't really hungry. Now generally I graze. But today, because I can't really eat anything processed, I had to make dinner and lunch and it took a lot of time. So I had two bigger meals and more filling snacks, but my energy was way more stable than it usually is. I also took Sophie on a long walk plus some hill/stairs work.

Avocado, Crisped Chickpeas and Quinoa

Tomorrow, I'd really like to squeeze in some yoga, but that's story for a different day.

Back to more interesting things illustrating my nerdiness and why I need a #foreveralone hashtag: I discovered Catan. And even better was Startrek Catan - a christmas gift from my housemate's gf to my housemate. Seriously, this couldn't have been a better gift for him. So we played. AND I LOVE BEING COMPETITIVE. So fun.

Catan Starship

It did interfere with finishing work, but I'm glad I finally got to learn.

bedtime. xoxo.

Champagne Toasts and Goals

Champagne with Raspberries on NYE

Usually I make intense lists of my New Year's Resolutions. This year, however, I have two:

1. Think less: I spend far too much time worrying, planning, fretting, thinking, etc. I overanalyze far too much. I weigh pros and cons, the best approaches, the consequences, and then never come to a decision. This year, I don't want to lose time overthinking things.

2. Act more: Related to the thinking bit, I spend a lot of time planning and wondering and a lot less time acting. I plan workouts that I never do. I plan trips, but then get overwhelmed. I make lists of books I want to read and then never read them. This is dumb. I want to just get up and do things. I want to blog, write, exercise, spend time with friends, be more efficient with work, and be more impulsive about the things that make me happy.

In other news, I started a 21 day elimination diet. It's gluten-free, soy-free, and dairy-free; also no alcohol and no coffee. Since before finals, I have been self-medicating with lots of rich food, too much caffeine and wine. Bad news bears for my energy level, my skin, and my state of mind in general. I just want to be more mindful of my eating habits and work on being more sustainable as well. I'm on my second day. I cheated already a bit last night with a glass of wine (or two) during a game of charades, but today has been good.

The rest of my vacation has been spent with all my lovelies, including Lauren, my best friend who is visiting from Japan. I also have been able to catch up with Rahia, Jacob and Larissa, go out with Christina, Ellie, and Evan, be inspired by high school friends (esp. NJ), and just loving my family.

Other things this year: more shows (inclu Coachella and OSL???), a yoga retreat, NYC, maybe a trip to the Pacific Northwest and hopefully, Japan to visit my bestie.

Gearing up for a full day tomorrow - yoga, grocery shopping, laundry, cleaning my car and finally finishing a lingering work assignment (and getting started on another one :-)) 

I've Been MIA - Forgive Me - I Have Music

I'm on a work binge, so I've holed myself in my cave of a room. Cave may be a harsh term. It's pink and white and smells like Magnolia. And the beast guarding it is my darling little Sophie:

I'll be back to this blog in a bit, but in the meantime, please enjoy my newest music discovery - Herbert Bail Orchestra. Attractive, LA-based, hipster men singing folky songs with enough angst to make me fall in love. I want to marry at least half of them. I saw them last week at Harvard and Stone with Christina, Evan and friends. Me, in a post-finals euphoria:

Things That Are Annoying Me

1. If you have a red light, you do not have the right of way.
2. It is not necessary to swing out left when making a right turn.
3. To the sixty year old man making kissy noises at me - I am not a kitten. I will rip your jugular out.
4. To the man chatting me up before I got my morning latte - I see the wedding ring. Just don't.
5. To my mom and brother - I am not a puppy delivery service. And I'm hungry.
6. To the husky who peed on me at the dog park. Fuck you.
7. To people with read receipts for iMessages - I know you saw it, answer it.
8. To my bra that came undone during a meeting yesterday, thank you for making me infinitely more awkward.
9. To my left headlight that keeps going out. I hate you.
10. To all the boys I've dated/who have professed affection for me, do not do the following.
 - call me and say you're grateful for me on Thanksgiving. Hell no.
 - hit on my best friend. Poor form broskies.
 - text me randomly asking for photos of my puppy. That's weird.

Things I am okay with:
1. That my espresso was only mildly burned today. Thank you groundworks.
2. Sophie's cuteness. Duh.
3. The grandma wearing the studded flats - you go girl.
4. The gorgeous rain and fog.
5. The fact that I ate a family sized pizza and a oversized candy bar yesterday. (Finals will be the death of me).


Okay, I'm done. Back to studying.

Chilling Out

So post-SF, I was in super student mode. I finished a couple of memos, a draft of my law review note, a presentation. I prepared for an interview, did some reconnaissance on summer job ops, and stayed in (gasp!). I relaxed at my mom, enjoyed the rain, recovered from some sniffles with homemade pho and also shrimp curry. Hit up Stories cafe, made pear spiced muffins and watched a lot of Criminal Minds. Last night, tried out Fusion Burger. Huffington Post and EaterLA have both mentioned it. Pretty toned-atmosphere, great service, no alcohol (wtf), and PHENOMENAL burgers. Well-prepared, fresh and so into their House Burger's Thousand Island dressing. Then went to the Hermosillo and tried out Sierra Nevada's Celebration 2012 Fresh Hop IPA and Citra Blue House Pale Ale. The IPA won of the two, although I wouldn't say its my fave IPA. Later, the Ellie, Jacy, Jefferson and I went to the Old Towne Pub to see Ryan's show. Totally random place the middle of Pasadena but legit music and crowd. Couldn't stay long because I had work this morning so took the Metro back (first/last time). Excited to see some shows at Bootleg in the next couple of weeks and drink a few lattes in preparation for finals.

Have a lot of work over the holiday but happy as a clam about it.

 I made truffle ravioli and a kale feta salad 

 Vanilla ice cream with nutella and cookie butter

 polka dots and chai

 Using up some pears

 Pear ginger crumble

 Wine post law review note drafting

 Pear Spice muffins with an oat streusel topping - pear kick #2

 House Burger at Fusion - amazing

 Alley to Old Towne Pub - its like a little secret

The Metro!

xoxo

Weekend in SF

I've been feeling a little up and down for the last couple of weeks. After Halloween, I had a crazy amount of work and then my housemate left for Sierra Leone for the month. I was just feeling a bit overwhelmed and a little uninspired. Enter my cure-all: my besties up in SF. V and I left Friday afternoon with the pup and arrived in SF at 11, after quick pitstops to Target and In n Out.

Max, Grant and Rob were there to meet us at Rob's fancy, beautiful new apartment a couple of blocks from Golden Gate Park (Hellloooo outside lands). We hit Blackthorn Tavern and then a party celebrating a wedding. I'm not sure whose wedding it was, so um yeah.

The next morning, Carrie came over and we did a quick walk in the park and then pick up the posse (plus Will and his lovely gf) and headed to Pasion. Bottomless mimosas. Creed renditions. You know, the normal.

My two fave girls and mimosas

We all went back and napped for a few hours and then Carrie, V and I had wine and siracha hot wings at Social Gastropub. Classsyyyy. It took us a bit to get back in our groove, we were pretty dead but soon picked up some steam. After warming up a bit, we walked back to Rob, Eric and Will's place where a party was well underway. Alicia and Conner came up from Felton and I was so happy to see them. The most wonderful and hilarious couple. Conner was really our knight in shining armor. There was really only a bed in the front area so Sophie, Lolly and I held court in the bed the whole night while the party carried on. 

Carrie, Me and Soph recovering during the party

The always stunning Alicia

My lovely friend Tawsh

Paige, Kevin, Tawsh and Soph

After it wound down at 4, about 12 of us piled up in the room for a massive sleepover. Then the pup woke us up at 9 and Grant, Veronica, Max and I headed out with the pup for coffee from The Beanery, baked goods from Arizmendi, and a jaunt through the farmers market.

Then Grant played a few songs for us, before we (plus Rob and Eric) got dim sum for lunch, and Ritual Coffee for the traditional latte and iced americano time.

private concert NBD

Cuddle Time with Uncle Rob

Max and the baby post party

Then V, Soph and I headed back playing Celine Dion and Hanson for the better part of the ride home.

This was exactly what I needed. To be with the people I love, enjoying good food and drink in a gorgeous city. I can't express how grateful I am for these people to be in my life and supporting me, no matter how much of a drama queen I can be. Love forever.

Oh and then I got published.

Keurig K-Cup 18-Pk. Green Mountain Coffee Breakfast Blend Coffee (Google Affiliate Ad)

Four More Years.

I'm generally not political on this blog. But tonight will be an exception.

Thank fucking god.

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. I'll catch up later. But for now - CELEBRATION!

LOVE OBAMA AND MICHELLE