I’ve just spent the morning at the Philadelphia Museum of Art to see the Dior exhibit for the second time (here was the first time) and had a Philly cheesesteak from a shop recommended by my Lyft driver (Ishkabibble’s). I’ve strolled around the neighbourhood to walk it off, also hoping to stumble upon photographic scenes, and now I’m sat at Shot Tower Coffee, perking up with a cappuccino. Why don’t you grab yourself a little something and let’s have a chat!
The most common reason I see for why people who like the idea of bullet journaling don’t bullet journal is because they don’t have the time for it or they feel like they aren’t artistic enough. Even the beginner’s guides or suggestions for “simple” spreads out there seem more elaborate than necessary, so I don’t blame them. But bullet journaling doesn’t have to be time consuming or artistic. You’ve heard this before, but I’m here for the real lazy ones, or as I like to think of us as, the real efficient ones ٩(˃̶͈̀௰˂̶͈́)و
ONE // Coconut mochi cake muffins
I’ve never considered making mochi before, but ever since I saw my friend share her homemade coconut matcha mochi on her Insta Story, which I requested she save to her highlights (you’re welcome), I thought, hey, maybe I can make this too. If you’re looking for a traditional recipe that’s all typed out, you can follow the recipe for coconut mochi cake muffins that I linked from I Am A Food Blog. Earlier this week I popped by Chinatown to buy glutinous rice flour (that’s the same thing as mochiko/sweet rice flour right??), so I really do plan on trying this recipe myself, eventually! Another thing I’m planning to bake is chocolate lava cakes, which I already have all the ingredients for, except for espresso powder, but I can skip that or use instant coffee powder… or just go and buy espresso powder. If you want to get even more indulgent, you can try chocolate peanut butter lava cakes. Also on my to-bake list is my best friend’s mom’s cheese ball recipe, which she typed out and emailed to me, old fashioned :’) Now if you’re looking for something hearty, here are 13 chili recipes, perfect for winter, and perfect to make a ton of to store for lazier days.
TWO // How to prove yourself as a new freelance writer
If you caught up with my January updates, you’ll know that I’m currently doing freelance photography to hold me over but am pursuing graphic design in book publishing, for which the main thing I need to work on is building my graphic design portfolio. Although the article I linked is targeted toward freelance writers, it provides some tips that any creative can adapt for themself. My favourite tip is about creating work samples targeting your ideal client; if it’s not already there in your portfolio, make it. If you’re curious about what a design process from inquiry to launch looks like, have a peek at Lauren x Elle & Co.’s brand and website design process. For more v/blogging and biz behind-the-scenes, Lucy Moon breaks down how Youtubers actually make money. Speaking of money, here are five small changes you can do to improve your finances. I really like the tip about spotting your large spending buckets. That really gave me something to think about because my method of budgeting has been targeting the small but frequent spendings, i.e. coffee and bubble tea. But maybe that’s not where my attention needs to lie. After all, only 2% and 1% of my monthly spendings went toward coffee and bubble tea respectively (albeit 54% went toward monthlies like rent, internet, and utilities, which makes all my other spendings look insignificant from the get-go). On the other hand, maybe those stats are only so low because I have been targeting them. But the article makes a good point suggesting, “Maybe the joy of a creamy mug of goodness justifies the $5 price tag. Instead of trimming the expenses that truly make you happy, focus on bigger-ticket items.” If you caught up with my January recap, you’ll know that I’ve started tracking my spendings, and it’s been interesting to reflect on (I made a pretty chart).
THREE // The weekly scrapbook
I’ve only discovered Lizzy x Shot from the Street in the last few months even though she seems to be big online, which I think is why I am even more charmed by her old school blogging vibes, unlike many large influencers who have had to adapt their content to the changing industry. Her content is so refreshing, and I’m loving her recent scrapbooking project, in which she’ll scan pages from her scrapbook — a real, physical scrapbook! not a scrapbook aesthetic produced digitally! — and share them on her blog. Oh that we live in a time where doing things non-digitally is considered a novelty, at least for me. (My non-digital project has been knitting.) But I’ve got nothing against scrapbooking digitally either; I love Jasmine x Studio Jasmine’s digital scrapbooking for her monthly recaps. I don’t think she made one for January, but you can peep the one she made for December. I particularly love the end of that recap where she shared thoughts on doing things for fun and not turning them into work. Y’all know that I’m totally hopping onto the movement of taking up hobbies just for the fun of it, or even taking up hobbies that you’re bad at!
FOUR // Instagram DMs are an antidote to the difficulties of adult friendships
I stumbled upon this article right after I had caught up with a friend that I hadn’t talked to in awhile via DMing a reply to his Insta Story, so I definitely felt like this article was speaking to me. The gist of it is that texting can be “fraught” or overwhelming because it’s more difficult to do out of the blue and also more commitment, whereas “Instagram Stories provide points of entry from which conversation can more naturally unfold.” This gave me a new appreciation for Insta Stories, which I used to be vigorously against (remember back in the day when all of us were comparing Snapchat and Insta Stories? I was team Snapchat lol). In an attempt to have a healthier relationship with Instagram, I’ve been working on using Instagram as a social platform and pushing myself to make conversation — as suggested by Rebecca x From Roses on how to fall in love with Instagram and craft your own community — rather than using Instagram as a portfolio.
I’d love for you to plug a post you’ve written recently in the comments! Always looking for new reads (:
Happy Chinese New Year!
This photo was taken the first time my family visited Beijing in 2005, a year before we would move over from LA. I rediscovered this photo when I visited home over the winter holidays. We must have had the photo printed on silk years ago, and my mom unearthed it recently and got it framed. I was charmed by the photo, if I do say so myself, and asked my dad if he could try finding the digital copy for me, which he did.
At the beginning of the month, I visited Beijing, NYC, and Kona, and I got back to Philly the third week of January, but it still feels like I just got back! I haven’t adjusted back from Kona’s time zone, which is five hours behind Philly. I keep going to bed around midnight but not falling asleep until 2:30-3:00AM. Adjusting back from Beijing’s time zone was much better (which is 13 hours ahead of Philly). Luckily I don’t have a rigorous schedule so I can afford sleeping in, though that’s probably why I haven’t yet adjusted. Maybe staying up until 6:00AM to finish up this blog post will set me back on track. Or will it only make it worse?? I think I’m getting a bit delirious. Please enjoy the rest of the post that I wrote earlier this morning, before the onset of delirium.
– I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. –
To be published by Dial Press on 05 Feb 2019
Goodreads | Amazon
Fixie Farr has always lived by her father’s motto: “Family first.” But since her dad passed away, leaving his charming housewares store in the hands of his wife and children, Fixie spends all her time picking up the slack from her siblings instead of striking out on her own. The way Fixie sees it, if she doesn’t take care of her father’s legacy, who will? It’s simply not in her nature to say no to people.
So when a handsome stranger in a coffee shop asks her to watch his laptop for a moment, Fixie not only agrees—she ends up saving it from certain disaster. Turns out the computer’s owner is an investment manager. To thank Fixie for her quick thinking, Sebastian scribbles an IOU on a coffee sleeve and attaches his business card. But Fixie laughs it off—she’d never actually claim an IOU from a stranger. Would she?
Then Fixie’s childhood crush, Ryan, comes back into her life and his lack of a profession pushes all of Fixie’s buttons. She wants nothing for herself—but she’d love Seb to give Ryan a job. And Seb agrees, until the tables are turned once more and a new series of IOUs between Seb and Fixie—from small favors to life-changing moments—ensues. Soon Fixie, Ms. Fixit for everyone else, is torn between her family and the life she really wants. Does she have the courage to take a stand? Will she finally grab the life, and love, she really wants?