@ my Philly friends: Do you listen to James Vincent McMorrow?! (but also @ my non-Philly friends because it’s always fun finding people who have the same taste in music as you.) Because he’s just announced his Philly concert, which will be on Thursday November 11, and I’m trying to find someone to go with me before I buy tickets! Only $20!! Also lemme know if any of you listen to Tom Odell because I’m going to his Philly concert on Monday October 3. Also only $20!!

1. Highlights of Independence Day Weekend: staycationing at Jessica and Jennifer’s apartment with Ami and Kristabel, homemade summer roll buffet, dogs wearing tutus, tiny ponies, bubble tea, lamb over rice, Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Check out my full blog post here!
2. My photo was regrammed by @igersbeijing! Check out the full blog post of 古北水镇 here! I’ve been trying to up my Instagram game, posting daily and learning how to use hashtags yadda yadda.
3. There are a bunch of kids on campus because of summer programs. I was leaving work when I heard some kids shout across the beach, “No puppy guarding!!” It made me smile and think of the good ol’ days. I can’t remember the last time I said “puppy guarding.” Oh how I wish to go back to the days when puppy guarding was one of the bigger issues in my life.
4. I saw the most majestic longcoat Akita on my way to work. Bear dogs are my fav. #tbt that time I saw a Leonberger at Clover Market (♥‿♥✿)
5. I’ve gotten a few compliments from strangers this week. One guy complimented my sandals. I was wearing standard blue flip-flops. He said they reminded him of his business. Then he asked me if I wanted to hear more about his business. I documented this encounter on Snapchat. One woman complimented my shirt, saying how she liked how the sides were longer (it was a plain grey top that I got from TJ Maxx or Marshalls or some place like that). One guy complimented my keyboard stickers; encounter documented towards the end of this blog post.
6. My Friday morning was fantastic, so much so that it got its own blog post. I was especially thankful because my Thursday wasn’t quite so fantastic.
7. Finding and settling into an empty cafe corner. It’s so comfy and cosy and I can lean on more things and I can cross my legs whilst wearing a dress and only have to worry about flashing people in one direction. In other cafe news, so you know how I go to Saxby’s Coffee every day after work to wait out the sun before walking home? Well, I’ve started spending my mornings before work at Saxby’s too, because I really don’t like walking in the heat.
8. I’ve started watching Silicon Valley after hearing about it in Joyce’s monthly favourites, and I love it. I need to find a better source to stream it from though. I don’t have Netflix so I’ve been searching for alternatives.
9. After brunching with Julia at Nudy’s Cafe (which I’ll be sharing on the blog this week! wow look at me, I am on it), we went grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s. Julia’s been eating a lot of sweet potatoes, which has made me want to eat sweet potatoes, so we found sweet potatoes at Trader Joe’s and I asked her to help me pick one so I picked one and she validated it saying it was perfect and a Trader Joe’s employee walked by and said, “Yes, that is a perfect sweet potato; I’ve never seen one more perfect.” So I bought the single most perfect sweet potato.
10. Once I start a book, I have to finish it; even if I’m not feeling it, I’ll slog my way through. I’ve been trying to get rid of this habit of mine; why read books you aren’t enjoying if you could be reading books you do? The first book I dropped this year was Dare Me by Megan Abbott. This weekend I dropped my second book, which was A Field Guide to Getting Lost by Rebecca Solnit. It seems to be a popular book with good reviews, and it has a beautiful cover, but I just wasn’t getting into it. So I dropped it. That same afternoon I started When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, and that same evening I finished it. I’m glad I dropped the book I wasn’t feeling and found a book I did in its stead.
11. I was feeling deeply unhappy about my About page, but I’ve updated it and I feel happier about it now. I’d love to hear your opinion, constructive criticism, recommendation, first impression, or whatever strikes you!
12. Oh yeah and uhh.. I’m gonna be in Europe at the beginning of August with my family! I didn’t want to say anything before we bought the tickets, but we finally bought them! I’ll be hitting up Rome, Florence, Venice, and Berlin (:
13. Currently listening to 말하지 마세요 by 태윤.

What was the highlight of your week?

I want to make an effort to remember the little joys in life, so my 52 week challenge for 2016 is to write weekly Happy Lists.

PS: 27. 26. 25. 24. 23. 22. 21. 20. 19. 18. 17. 16. 15. 14. 13. 12. 11. 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1.