All posts filed under: Lifestyle

When You Can’t Get Away On A Long Weekend

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This weekend is President’s Day in the U.S. – honoring all the men who have led this country in one direction or another. The interesting thing for this year, was that Valentine’s Day coincided with President’s Holiday – which means one can opt for a long weekend, if planned right. But how about some of us who, due to some serious obligations, did not leave us much room to plan – to escape for a four day weekend. So we improvised – hubs and I, dressed in comfy clothes, with backpack in tow, and we walked across the city, each day in a different direction, exploring new neighborhoods, or ones we haven’t been to for years, and experienced new eateries – some good, some I rather not talk about (I swear 4.5 star ratings are sometimes fabricated). We took photographs, stopped to enjoy the views, and even were thought of as tourists, in our own town. Which felt great and for the three days – being Fri-Sun, we escaped from all of our troubles and …

Lifestyle: Latest How To Guides I Found Online and My Recent Film Recommends

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Over cocktails with friends from out of town, we embarked on several conversations, which I always wish I could simply jot down during the event, so that I could remember the topics as well as share some eye-opening views, which naturally add to my outlook, and get me thinking whether my approach is better than theirs or they truly have valid arguments. I love how invigorating the discussions are, which this time around where based on the following topics. The everyday anxiety of new parents, something I got a glimpse of during my last trip to England, where I spent a few days with a now stay-at-home co-worker, dealing around the clock with a one year old. If I were able to, would I learn a new skill? Was a question that came up during out talks about the need to change careers, or the love or hate of our jobs, as well as why is it that we tend to settle for a job to make a living rather than take on a career …

Lifestyle: Upscale Sports Bar and A Downton Abbey Movie Sequel

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Surely you can see that I’ve got my priorities this morning, but only because I keep putting off all the crazy list of to-do’s and the worrying about this and that.  Sometimes we simply need to distract, and today’s distractions are… The French usually—in my generation, anyway—didn’t think it was a good idea to make your children the number one priority. That meant you have left behind your license as a wife, as a woman, as a professional and all this. It felt not fashionable. But now I think things have changed tremendously in France. In America I think there’s a lot of positive encouragement, even to the point of making the child believe that he’s a genius. (source) On another note, have you seen Kate and Leopold? I did when it first came out in 2001, and at the time, being so young, believed in fairy tales as if my life depended on it. Watching it years later, I think I have to say, oh my, how my thinking has changed…what’s your take on …

Food: Dinner Tonight – Mushroom Taco and Garlic Lime Sauce

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Haven’t written much about what I am aiming to cook for the fam – but tonight, we are excited that my American football team, the 49ers will be playing in the Superbowl. There was a crazy madness to the city yesterday as everyone was shopping for Superbowl snacks, and beverages, as well as the usual Taco, nachos and other finger foods ingredients to be served at a Superbowl gathering all over the city in anticipation for a Superbowl win. So naturally, tacos will be served with beer in our household and this recipe seems like a pretty good addition to the usual shredded chicken or beef tacos I make every year. INGREDIENTS 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated 2 tablespoons chili powder 2 teaspoons smoked paprika 2 chipotle peppers in adobo ¼ cup apple cider or white vinegar 2 cups fresh pineapple chunks 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, chopped 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced 3 cups shiitake mushrooms, sliced 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped 12 …

Back In the U.S. of A

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The ordeal of travel when there is a concern for your health was the anxiety I was dealing with – Tuesday night when I stayed up all night, thinking about the 11 flight from London Heathrow to San Francisco International airport where I would land upon the hub of airlines inbound from Asia – where the recent Coronavirus is wreaking havoc in the continent and beyond. Landing in San Francisco was an eye-opening experience as I saw traveler after traveler wearing masks and gloves to help ward off contact with those who made their way from Asia-inbound flights.  Would it have been safer to not have flights leaving the continent? was the first thing that popped into my mind while I walked angry through the corridors, and then I queued up in the customs line for over an hour, along with so many travelers in masks, and my anxiety grew deeper, to the point I found myself hyperventilating about all the other ways I might contract the virus, past the airport. Have you ever been …

No Plans But To Ponder This Saturday Morning

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It’s the year of the rat, I discovered while ‘still jet-lagged’ laying in bed at 2:30 in the morning in England, with my eyes wide-open, thumbing through Instagram, searching for inspiration. I was born in the year of the rat, so naturally I had to revisit understanding the characteristics of this creature, not for any particular reason but for mere curiosity.  The below are the exurbs from here and here  Rats are clever, quick thinkers; successful, but content with living a quiet and peaceful life – was a lead to the description here, which of course resonated with me 😉 Optimistic and energetic, people born in the Rat year are likable by all. They are sensitive to other’s emotions but are stubborn with your opinion. Their personality is kind, but due to weak communication skills, their words may seem impolite and rude. – naturally I need to tweak ‘weak’ and insert ‘straight-forwardness’  Women born in the Rat year are the traditional women. They love keeping things organized and place great value on the family. Everything is …

Five Things That Grabbed My Attention This Morning

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As I ‘mature’ I realize I’m developing a sense of calmness when dealing with everyday life. Now, don’t get me wrong, I do need to vent here and there, well mostly after enduring a situation for a long period of time, I need to let it all out, but not as emotionally as I used to. I realize as I type this, that with maturity, there will also come a time, where I see myself not even venting anymore. Instead, simply shaking my heading and carrying on. Until then, I am simply sharing a few things that have grabbed my attention this morning and wanted to know your take on them.

A Slow Start in January But Let’s Recap First

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I’ve been dragging my feet in getting back into the swing of things in much of everything defining my life. But I know I am not alone in this – you know the holiday withdrawals and all. And frankly today is the first day I returned back to work and figured we need to catch up. First of all, I hope your holidays were just as you had expected and the plans you’ve laid out for 2020 are set in motion, and ready to unfold just as you hope.  Me too. 🙂 Here’s a recap of some of the things I experienced and naturally wish to share here. In between the holidays, which did not include me shopping like a mad woman for gifts for anyone. Since somehow I decided there would be no gift exchange with family. Instead, I opted to do the traditional things with them. Like cooking, baking, talking, spending quality time walking through the city, hours in cafes and being mostly outdoors. And I have to say, it felt wonderful to …

Holiday Series: Giving Back

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A few films I’ve watched recently which were in line with exactly how I’ve been feeling this holiday season – helpless in so many ways, and wishing there was more I could do. I am even considering working with a worthy cause in 2020, to help save endangered species or something environmental.  I just need to determine which path to choose. In the meantime, I’ve stumbled upon some suggestion on giving back this holiday season and beyond, and wanted to share in case you’re wondering which new year resolution to consider? Volunteering abroad programs – just in case you are considering doing so The Films That Got Me Thinking This holiday season {featured image source and safari destination}

What Are You Reading Lately?

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I strive to better myself in every way possible, but on occasion feel as though I am failing. This is a blessing and a curse – because I am very hard on myself and always push the envelope in achieving much more than expected, which is a curse. And yet, I feel my best when I am able to achieve the goals I have set for myself and flourish in the best way possible – blessing? Recently though I’ve been questioning every ounce of who I am, which I think most of us do, at the end to each year, and then assess what we need to work on. In my case, much more than I though of at first, and I am not talking about losing weight, or changing up my wardrobe, I am talking about inner self, personality, character, and everything else that define me as a being. It’s weird how that works – because without any prior research, I picked up two books which I am reading simultaneously solely based on the …