Currently: February 2020

Hi! She says cautiously as she emerges from the depths of the couch, which is basically her new permanent address. Oh, what a difference a month makes! Never mind the fact that this post is a whole month overdue, but also the events noted within sound like they’re from a different lifetime. However tempted I was to just let this February post disappear into the ether unwritten, it was a big month for me to reflect on personally. Plus, I just couldn’t let go of the chance to rewind to the calm before this surreal COVID-19 storm.

Snowy Weekend in Lake Tahoe

I welcomed February from a cozy cabin in snowy Truckee, California with twelve co-workers. Most of them hit the slopes; I hit… the couch to practice hygge. We stayed up late playing board games and chatting under the stars, and drove over to downtown Truckee for fish tacos and coffee (on separate occasions, rest assured) during the day.

The cherry on top of a lovely weekend was the family dinner we all congregated to make. Despite cooking enough meatballs, homemade pasta, and butternut squash soup to feed a small army, the dishes were mysteriously cleared of all food by the end of the night. A precious memory!

Savoring Sweet, Sweet Routine

After handing in my resignation and beginning to make travel plans, I became extra cognizant of my daily routine and relished it more than ever.

I downloaded Sweatcoin, which provided an additional incentive to walk to and/or from work on sunny days. I’d listen to the West Wing Weekly or an upbeat playlist, grab a breakfast burrito from Caramba or a coffee along the way as a treat, retreat to my favorite corner spot in my office, leave at 4pm on the dot (I know) for my hot yoga class, make a pitstop at Trader Joe’s afterwards to stock up for dinner, and if I took the train home – always managed to catch a glimpse of the Bay Bridge. It was simple, but I loved it.

Indulgent Evenings around San Francisco

I threw all notion of “saving up” for my funemployment out the window and enthusiastically agreed to any opportunity to indulge in February, it seems. To be fair, there were a couple of special occasions that I just “had to” celebrate. No regrets! A few favorite new finds around town…

• Spicy octopus stew, pork sugo gnochetti, and sea urchin macaroni (omg! I’m drooling all over again!) for Valentine’s Day dinner at La Ciccia
• Trout tostadas at Cala after a hilarious evening at Ali Wong’s show
• Porcini doughnuts, sauerbraten dumplings, truffle pasta and sea urchin cacio e pepe at Rich Table for the “see you later” dinner I made my roommates have with me.

Picnic in Foothills Park

I lived in Palo Alto for four years, and never knew about the existence of this for-residents-only park! Cassandra and I met up with dear friends of ours one sunny weekend for a long, lazy afternoon picnic. Such a delicious reprieve from a busy month.

What’s Cookin’

Two easy, delicious recipes for you:

Pasta e ceci is, um, fabulous. The ultimate comfort food. I usually end up burning my tongue shoveling this brothy goodness down. Don’t skimp on the rosemary garlic finishing oil… it’s as *chef’s kiss* as you can get.

Next up is Alison Roman’s lemon-turmeric tea cake, which I made to cheer myself up while I was in the throes of sickness. Self-care and all, you know. It’s the kind of concoction that you can gloat about casually making to all of your Instagram friends, but it’s also 1) so easy to make and 2) light and bright and delicious with hot tea. That’s a win-win-win in my book.

Tender Loving (Self) Care

Towards the end of the month, I battled a bad bout of strep throat for a week. Not. Fun. I jumped right into TL(S)C mode on auto-pilot. I made chicken noodle soup just the way I like it (with potatoes and a zing of curry and turmeric), forced myself to rest unapologetically, and chugged mug after mug of the tea that I reserve for such times.

I had this distinct sense of, wow I know exactly how to take care of myself and it might be the closest I’ve ever come to being a Grown Up in my own mind.

Galentine’s Day

Always one of my favorite days of the year! Galentine’s Day tradition in my apartment calls for making a fancy steak dinner and watching a rom-com together. Plus wine, obviously. This year, we also made Smitten Kitchen’s burrata with charred and fresh snap peas (it tastes like spring!), roasted veggies, buttery rosemary-thyme mushrooms, and a berry cobbler with strawberry ice cream.

We feasted on this spread while watching Pride & Prejudice, and ended the night with port spilt on the carpet and tears streaming down my face from laughing so hard.

Saying Goodbye

Again, this was the month that I bid adieu to the company I’ve worked at for more than four years. While it was a choice I made confidently, it was also one that was tinged with sadness. Sadness over moving on from processes I helped to build, from a company that I know inside and out, and from no longer being able to see colleagues that I consider to be close friends every single day.

I spent the month transitioning tasks and off-boarding, and peppered in many happy hours, coffee chats, and at least a couple of evenings of debauchery. I was also incredibly touched by the thoughtful ways by which my co-workers saw me off: multiple cakes, goodbye parties, and the kindest words.

Up Next

Ever since, I’ve been gallivanting around Colombia and then self-isolating in Phoenix, Arizona with my friend Leah.

Currently, I have a lot of time on my hands. In between virtual yoga, job-hunting and FaceTiming with friends and family, I’m hoping to finally crank out tales from the road in this space… not just from Colombia, but also from Guadalajara, Croatia, Estonia and more. If not now, then when? So! Be on the lookout for those stories and guides.

Hope you’re staying safe and healthy!