April 2013
3 posts
4 tags
How to Survive Homesickness
Most days, I am not holed up somewhere cursing the mid-Atlantic region and the evil (some, not all) people who live here. Most days, I’m pretty happy. Sometimes however, I miss home…The sunshine of SoCal, the laid back attitudes, the endless adventures and activities and lets not forget the beaches. Pacific, my love. Who wouldn’t miss that?
The one saving grace I have here...
5 tags
Travel Adventures: Annapolis, MD
It’s such a charming little city. After living in Maryland for the past seven months or so, I finally visited the capital. There’s something for everyone; from crab cakes, to antique shops, to delightful fudge and caramel shops, the place makes for a nice day trip and an escape from wherever you happen to live.
I’ll certainly go back, with the bf in tow. There were too many...
3 tags
It finally arrived!!
Spring is here after making me sit through an agonizing four months of brutal cold. Okay, so it wasn’t that bad but still. I missed warmth. Today was a whopping 76 degrees! I went out for a walk on my break and could have stayed out for the remainder of the day. The Cherry Blossoms were beautiful. Oh, how I love this weather!
Hopefully, I’ll be able to take some awesome pics soon.
...
March 2013
7 posts
What I Wore: DIY Charm Bracelet →
whatiwore:
WhatIWore: I recently cleaned out my piggy bank and realized I have quite the collection of coins that I’ve picked up around the world. Over the weekend, along with MAJOR help from my dad, I made a charm bracelet using these coins. Here’s how!
Supplies:
Coins, tokens or metal…
4 tags
Seasonal Change & Fashion
After experiencing my first winter outside of sunny Los Angeles, I’ve decided that I handled it quite well. I love the depth that is created with layers of and layers of clothing while trying to be both fashionable and warm. This past week or so though I’ve lost some inspiration and my outfits have been less than amazing. You have those days, right?
Even though I still loved my...
3 tags
“Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.”
– Rachel Zoe
5 tags
Travel Adventures: New York City (Part 2)
Before my trip to NYC I made a list of what I wanted to do. I let my cousin know that we could forgo all the tourist attractions if she took me thrifitng. She agreed!
We started the day in Manhattan and went to City Opera Thrift, Goodwill, Cause for Pawz Inc., and a few others but I don’t remember their names because I did not purchase anything. We did end up at two Goodwills but the...
3 tags
5 tags
Travel Adventures: New York City (Part 1)
I’ve been a bit obsessed with NYC since I could read. Until now, I had yet to visit. Tragic, really. My first weekend trip was simply amazing. The moment I was able to see Manhattan from the bus my heart literally started beating 82672957 beats per minute.
Yes, I’d waited my entire life for that moment!
My cousin J, met me downtown and took me immediately to find some food and...
Cali vs. MD/DC
Having been born, raised, and spent the entirety of my life in California, I never thought about how nice or not so nice we Californians are. That is, until I moved to Baltimore. My first few encounters with people who live in the Northeast were uneventful and what rudeness I did encounter, I brushed off as the individual simply being a jerk. After living here and working in DC for the past six...
February 2013
3 posts
6 tags
Back to the Basics
Since ditching the glorious sunshine and palm trees that made up my beloved home in Long Beach for row houses, humidity, and mean people, I’ve neglected my healthy lifestyle that once was! That has all but changed.
After my trip to New York (details to follow!) I returned to Baltimore with a lovely case of uticara (hives). It was so painful! I ended up taking off a few days of work and...
6 tags
Bright Lights, Big City
Tomorrow I’m off to visit the most magnificent city in the world (or at least one of many amazing cities), New York. Although my mother is a New Yorker at heart, and I have family still there, I have yet to visit. How I’ve made it almost 30 years without going is beyond me! But the time has come, and I cannot wait.
Being that I live only 3 hours from NYC now, I hope I can find some...
Performing Arts Venues
When I lived in Long Beach, on the cusp of both LA and Orange Counties, I frequently did my best to attend the Ballet and or other classical events as well. Perhaps my favorite venue of all time is the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, located in Costa Mesa, CA. The venue is stunningly amazing and on any given performance day you can see women in their furs (though completely unnecessary in...
December 2012
3 posts
5 tags
Holidays
I’ve been waiting my entire life so snow on Christmas or Christmas Eve. As a child who split my time between sunny Los Angeles and the Central Valley, I came to accept the fact that I would never get a white Christmas unless I drove to someplace that would undoubtedly be.
Fast forward to now, at a time when I’ve finally left the Golden State, and my mornings this past December have...
2 tags
“A picture is poem without words”
– Horace
4 tags
Fashion in the City
Last night I finally met the man behind The Sartorialist, Scott Schuman. He came to DC for a book signing, and this time I was able to stay until he signed it! I was a tiny bit sad his girlfriend and blogger Garance Dore wasn’t there, but it was still awesome. I was in and out of there seeing as how it was literally 6 min from my job. God, I love DC and the metro.
Now it’s hump day!...
October 2012
1 post
4 tags
East Coast Living
I had my first day trip last Saturday since moving to the East Coast and it went very well. We were invited to Philadelphia with one of my only friends since moving to Baltimore, which actually isn’t really a new friend considering I’ve been friends with her sister since we were in College. Her sister is now currently across the globe and I feel somehow closer to her by remaining in...
August 2012
2 posts
5 tags
Moments
While I’ve settled into the apartment, completed my first week at the new job, and finally visited just about all my staple stores, I finally had a weekend that involved friends. A dear friend of mine moved to South Korea to teach English what will be two years ago next Feb. When she moved I was pretty distraught, to say the least. In the short amount of time that I had known her she had...
4 tags
Settling In
The past month has been chaotic but rewarding. I recently moved from cool and comfortable California to Washington, DC then to Baltimore, MD. Did I mention we sold most of our belongings, packed up the remaining items in a trailer and drove across the country? My experience while traveling was grand. I was able to see parts of the country I never dreamed of visiting and I met some pretty cool...
June 2012
2 posts
3 tags
Multiple Personality Disorder?
This was the first thing I noticed when I walked into my faux cubicle this morning for the first time in almost a month. Don’t get me wrong, I do adore the Dalai Lama and all that he stands for but what strikes me is who put this up.
As most of you know, (and if you don’t know now you do) I do not work in a “normal” office. It is oppressive, condescending, uptight, and...
3 tags
Moving on, literally!
Today, June 14, 2012, I pressed “send” on an email containing my letter of resignation as I sipped my morning glass of OJ and stared at the sending message tab in gmail. I then sighed a breath of relief as I thought of what the next two weeks hold.
My man, lover and partner received a job offer from a lovely institution in Baltimore so we’re heading to District of Columbia July...
May 2012
1 post
6 tags
Matrimony
It seems our society glorifies divorce. Turning on the television or talking to a friend it is evident that individuals wake up randomly one morning and say, “I don’t want to be with you anymore.” Where’s the fight? What happened to “for better or worse”? Why is it so easy to say goodbye to someone you supposedly committed your life to?
This is not...
February 2012
2 posts
how does one find a job they don't hate?
When you find out, please please let me know. I’ve been asking myself this since I graduated…..in 2010 :(
5 tags
I'm Back!
I’ve been crazy busy these past few weeks my dear followers but I shall be back starting……now.
Didn’t that just make your day? Aw, you’re all so sweet.
On a more serious note, er rant, lets have a look at the happenings of my recent work life.
Been applying like mad to government jobs because I absolutely can not work with my sociopath of a coworker any longer....
January 2012
8 posts
4 tags
“We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the...”
– Martin Luther King Jr.
6 tags
Habits - Day 1
There are various studies floating around which go into great detail on how to form a habit. A habit is an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary. In order to form a habit one must first set a conditioning period. Scott Young suggests a period of 30 days. If it’s too short or long you’ll fail. On average he suggests that it takes around 60...
4 tags
“The human body has no more need for cows’ milk than it does for...”
– Michael Klaper
5 tags
Weekend Shakedown
Weekends are lovely-any time spent away from work is time well enjoyed, and deserved! Of course, there are people (mostly at work) whom complain every single Monday about some unGodly monstrosity that made up his or her weekend. But that has never been me. Even when time is precious, goes too fast, there’s too much to do, there are endless errands to run, dinner parties to cook for, etc., I...
4 tags
Get Fit!
As horrible as I felt on Tuesday I still managed to do yoga and go for a run. Early in the day I was so tired it was a chore just to do small tasks and yet I made myself run. And dammit it felt good. The moment I finished I devoured a huge bowl of Potato & Leek soup, yum!
5 tags
“Think of the fierce energy concentrated in an acorn! You bury it in the ground,...”
– George Bernard Shaw
6 tags
Spoons
It’s been a long time since I’ve used The Spoon Theory to describe how I’m feeling in regards to Lupus. More often than not Lupus is manageable, or at least I tell myself that. For the most part I try not to dwell on this invisible being. I do my best to exercise (when I’m able) and eat well and generally take the best care of my body as possible.
Veganism has offered...
6 tags
A Simple Life
Yesterday I watched a program on Universal Sports that followed a group of men around Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia while they searched for various lakes to kayak in. The landscape was vast and beautiful and the countries visited were astonishing. I was in awe for about an hour.
Throughout this program, the men stopped in various villages, tiny ones, and talked to the people about their day to...
December 2011
13 posts
5 tags
Workout Boogie
Last night I went on my first run in about three weeks and hot dang, it felt good. I was able to keep pace with my eighteen year old brother, though he’s not exactly in tip top shape so that’s probably not saying much. In any case, I did it! Woot, woot.
It was pretty cold when we started but after a short while I was ready to strip down to my birthday suit. Needless to say, running in...
4 tags
Mix It Up!
You’ve been there. You’re onto the third store of the day, your stomach is growling, and you want to eat but your options are rather limited. Just because an item is vegan doesn’t make it healthy, but when you’re starving and unprepared it can be hard to weigh what’s more important: nutrition or food (in any shape or form).
Whenever I leave my home (most of the time...
7 tags
Just Do it!
After spending the past three weeks adjusting to veganism I decided it was finally time to start working out again. I was running twice a week pre-lifestyle changes and after I made such a drastic change my body started going bananas so I stopped. It was hard doing nothing. I felt lazy, I felt icky, but mostly I felt weak-and I do not like that feeling. Yesterday I did something about it.
...
9 tags
Chanukah Dinner Party (& Christmas too)
The past few days have been filled with friends and family gathering around my tiny dinner table inside my small apartment for various holiday celebrations. I had my first Chanukah dinner party/celebration. It was grand. I didn’t serve the traditional Chanukah meal with loads of fried foods because I wanted to veganize everything without destroying the food and yet retain a little bit of an...
4 tags
“Being a meat eater is really expensive, even if you don’t count the cost...”
– ~Snargleplexon.com
4 tags
Let the Cravings Begin! (Week 3)
Yesterday marked 2 weeks of my newly adopted plant-based, whole foods lifestyle. I’m loving it, really I am. I haven’t had any cravings for eggs, meat, or really any dairy products. I shop mostly at Whole Foods so I can kill any would be cravings before I consciously realize I have them. Ha! Aren’t I a smart cookie? (side note: I finally allowed myself some sugar, in the form of...
6 tags
Borage Oil
One of the joys associated with Discoid Lupus is that I have a few of the lesions on my scalp. They hurt like hell, itch like crazy, and usually make my hair fall out. I’ve been told by dermatologists as well as my hair stylists that once Lupus destroys the hair follicles hair will never again grow there. To top it all off, there really isn’t much I can do, with the exception of...
3 tags
Busy Little Bee
This past week has gone by quite rapidly. I slept only once soundly; my nights were long and arduous. I simply could not fall asleep. I watched a movie here and there. But mostly the nights consisted of me sitting, staring, waiting, and desperately craving sleep.
I called in sick on Wednesday and Thursday was my normal day off. I accomplished much both days. I applied to countless jobs on...
3 tags
“I’ve seen you, beauty, and you belong to me now, whoever you are waiting...”
– Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast
5 tags
A New Me
I’ve just been given an infinite amount of time for myself. Thank you, universe. As a result, I’m outlining some goals I’ve been thinking a lot about lately but have been either too lazy or too busy to implement. That will all change now.
Set a permanent (cross country) work out schedule and stick to it
Finish my graduate school application
Create a savings plan
Continue...
5 tags
Week 1
I’ve made it through a successful week of veganism! I think my body is still detoxing but I’m definitely strong enough to start back running tonight.
Every day last week I started my day with a green smoothie. I changed the greens almost everyday, except once. I used Spinach two days in a row. I’m all out of raspberries, and I’m low on OJ but I’m going to get back...
3 tags
It rains once every four months in Long Beach
And yet the masses still find reasons to complain. Shut up, crawl into a dark hole, and let the rest of us actually enjoy this rarity.
I must be very close to obtaining employment that won’t drive me insane. Happy (not cracked out) coworkers would be a warm welcome.
Live.Love.& Let it Rain! :)
5 tags
Green Revolution
A few weeks after the massive amount of food I prepared for Thanksgiving and my family is now singing a different tune. I succeeded in creating everything for Thanksgiving dinner, all by myself, but with coaching from my lovely mother. I did indulge in a bit of turkey. I didn’t go overboard and nearly every time I tried to eat a bit of meat I ended up pretty sick. Duh. I don’t usually...
November 2011
1 post
4 tags
1 Tequilla, 2 Tequilla, 3 Tequilla, Floor!
This past weekend my family went to Las Vegas to celebrate my grandfather’s 75th Birthday. I haven’t been to many, if any, family outings on my father’s side for quite some time. Perhaps a year or more? Who knows.
My family picked out a random Mexican restaurant for dinner. We all arrived around the same time, with the exception of a few. When my aunt came in, a long while...
October 2011
1 post
4 tags
Americans & Mexico
People blow things out of proportion, that’s my first problem with many Americans and their ungodly views about Mexico. They take whatever they happen to see/hear/read through American media and take it as The Gospel.
Yes, there is a drug war rampaging down there. Yes, there happens to be tons of violence in the country. But look around people, there is a ton of violence here in the U.S.A....
September 2011
1 post
5 tags
The Office
Did I mention that I hate my job? More specifically, mostly the people I work with. If only ignorance/stupidity/elitism killed. We’d all be much better off.
Dilbert has become a reality.
August 2011
8 posts
6 tags
The last days of Summer
While I spend almost every other day walking on the beach, and occasionally, running on the beach, I hardly go to the beach these days just to lounge and do something other than an aerobic activity. This is not to say that I do not like the beach and the lounging around that Summer usually brings with it, but I haven’t had a chance, until now.
Yesterday was a hot day here. Our small...
6 tags
Fini
This morning marked the end of my journey through Paris with Hemingway and his family. I savored every page as I do a new dish for dinner. It tasted sweet and new and it was beautiful and depressing but mostly beautiful. I learned a lot from his perspectives, mistakes, trips. I do believe this is a memoir I will pick up time and time again, never growing old of the prose and the imagery.
I...
