rainy days are happy days

my saturday started out wonderfully with the rain pitter pattering against my window. im curled up in bed with coffee beside me & a book i can't seem to put down. today's going to be a great day!

frenchie friday

iggy & his brother nikko lounging around.

a letter to self

dear worried self,

be brave. never let fear win. remember nothing good can come from letting worries & fear paralyze you. reach for what you need. strive towards your passions. nourish your soul & be kind to yourself always.

love,
your courage

i scream for ice cream

late night dessert run on cold days in the mission district of san francisco for ice cream at bi-rite! i tend to gravitate towards unconventional flavors & no matter the countless times ive deviated to test & try other flavors, i always go back to honey lavender & caramel balsamic.

pocky sticks

i have a sweet tooth & it throbs for asian desserts & candy. ive gone through boxes of these pocky sticks & not only does it taste like real lychee, but it smells like it too.

may the odds be ever in your favor

today debuts the long awaited movie of the popular trilogy, the hunger games. it will be interesting to compare the movie to the book. to avoid the opening crowd this weekend i think i may hold off for a quiet weekday showing.

did someone say seafood

i recently discovered a gem of a spot that satiates my craving for seafood. best of all garlic noodles is offered as a side dish unlike boiling crab in san jose or rockin crawfish in oakland. i was delighted to try hot & juicy when visiting my parents in las vegas several years ago & excited when boiling crab opened in san jose. the bay area was finally going to have its own version of hot & juicy so the bf & i tried it opening weekend. since then business has been successful as wait times can be lengthy. spoiled by the quick & attentive service when it first opened driving quite a distance while waiting hours to be seated isnt worth it. also, i have yet to master a garlic noodle recipe & until then cajun is my go to spot. best of all i dont have to wait in like for hours in san jose, pay toll to cross the bridge for SF, or drive 30 minutes to oakland. its about mere 10-15 minute drive from my place. in the past week & a half I've been to cajun 3 times!

i noticed after swirling my seafood item of choice into my favored sauce (she bang extra spicy) im left extremely thirsty since its laden with sodium. nonetheless, delicious & i can't wait for the next visit.

seasons came & went

& for a moment in time she did not know

when

how

where

until the moment she woke

realized…understood

slowly coming into her own acceptance

peace lies in the calm of her heart

even in the face of

uncertainties

doubts

tough lessons

tranquil stillness
gracefully receiving & living 

life
as it

rolls 

through

whatever it may bring

iggy my frenchie

he brightens my world.

fake it till you make it

because ive let disappointment outweigh faith in myself & my own capabilities my dream, while not lost, seems unattainable. i know this is not true but my feelings tell me different. therein lies the conscious shift i must make within myself.

everyday, first thing in the morning i must consciously choose resilient thoughts instead of giving into the negative feeling of failure. i must choose courage in face of my fear. i must mindfully practice kinder thoughts versus punishing myself for feeling so defeated in terms of personal goals. im clawing to get out of this emotional funk because i know im worth so much more.

setting myself up for success must first come from nurturing positive self thoughts. i choose to be brave in spite of my fears. i choose courage...every single day.

questions

i often ask myself a series of questions to determine if its worth it. by the word "it" i mean everything generally speaking. "will this matter a month from now? a year from now? if not then what does matter? how can i better spend my time investing and expanding my energy on what truly counts?" these questions circulate in my mind often. time is a valuable form of currency you can't take back. the clock is ticking & time is better spent loving & nurturing all that is good & worthwhile. every minute that goes by can't be relived, reclaimed, or reversed.

la boulange

la boulange is one of those places that will never fail me for lunch. my usual consists of a delicious open faced tuna melt sandwich with apples, celery, tomato, & cheddar on top of peasant bread with a side of french onion soup. for dessert macaroons are a must.

the best feelings in the world

1) hot showers

2) forehead kisses

3) crossing off the very last items on to do list

4) deep tissue massages

5) the first bite of food after feeling really hungry

attitude of gratitude

1) this weeks rainy weather

2) grandpa's health that's slowly stabilizing

3) solitude of my room

4) my amazing but busy manager

5) turkish coffee ice cream