March thoughts I can't let go of

I can't believe it's already March 2017!  Some things that have been preoccupying my mind or have been prominent this month:

1. Owls - my coworker helped save a baby owl near our office the other day! UCLA is the perfect place to save owls apparently--with some serendipity-- a wild animal advisor, a PhD student studying ornithology, and a facility manager knowing where owls lived on campus, all came together, completely randomly! to return the baby owl to its nest--where a sibling awaited and a mother watched from above. The nest is right outside our office and everyone has been very excited about these owls! 

Momma owl looking down on the babies

Saved baby! 

2. Universal Studios & Harry Potter World- so a few of us had a girl's day at Universal!  I had so much fun!!! I wasn't sure what to expect, but being in a complete make-believe world of movies is a great way to escape.  We got annual passes- so I can't wait to go again!!! The nostalgia of those movies is strong--and I felt like I was in a fairy tale world of Hogsmeade as we walked through HP land. 

3. Beauty and the Beast -  Talking about nostalgia...I didn't think I'd love Beauty and the Beast as much as I did.  I think I loved it so much because it took me right back to my childhood and I was surprised that I knew ALL of the words to the movie...not just the songs, but dialogue throughout the entire movie! Two thoughts- damn Disney, you sure know how to get into our hearts and minds and monetize that, and second, wow they did a good job, but I still stay loyal to the animation of my childhood.   I'm listening to a lot of "Tale as old as time" and am currently banned from singing it in my own home by Chris haha 

 4. Wild flower, Poppies, and Cherry Blossoms! - We got a lot of rain this winter so the wild flowers and poppies are in full bloom! We're planning on taking a trip to the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve on Sunday.  Pictures to come soon! Chris and I are also leaving for Japan/Korea next week and we matched our timing to see the cherry blossoms in Japan.  I hope the weather cooperates to make this all happen for us! 

5. Professional development - I'm applying to a professional development program for UCLA staff.  I really really really hope that I get in.  The application requires answering 6 questions and as what happens when I write all applications---I keep thinking, I wish I had done more! Fingers crossed that I get accepted.  

February thoughts I can't let go of

February was the month of visiting condos!  But there are a few notable thing  that I want to highlight for this past month:


1. Pod save America

Okay, so listening to this podcast does not lead to minimizing the divide between liberals/conservatives, but it is a lot of fun to feel sane with others and more importantly its very informative.  The podcast with Katie Couric was my favorite...but also, does EVERYONE have a podcast now?

2. Walks on the Beach

My friend Emily was visiting for a day, and she requested we take a walk along the beach.  I recently read an article about why the brain loves the ocean and I 100% agree.  I felt so rested and refreshed after we walked along the beach.  I need to make it a point to do this more often.  I used to think I'd do this every weekend if I moved here, but that has not been true.

3. Apartments/Condos- what's the right thing to do ?

We're searching for a place to buy. It's hard to know what the right thing is to do! So far we've only put down 2 offers, though we have seen over 20 places. Each place is so different and we hesitate to pursue anything unless we both like it a lot, There is also a lot of conflicting advice that we receive from everyone.Some say you have to LOVE it, others say...it doesn't matter as much.  My favorites apartments are ones with high ceilings, a lot of natural light, and air flow,  and I can't see myself in a place without a lot of natural light and some air flow.  In any case, the search continues!

4. American girl doll and my story

Guys! The American Girl doll came out with an Korean-American doll! Why does this matter?  In college, I wrote a story about an American girl doll who was Korean-American for a post-modern/pop culture class. It was loosely based around my life and others whom I know. It's the only paper I kept (its at home in Korea) from college because I had so much fun writing it and I was so proud of it.  And now it's a reality!!  I am not sure why her name is Z. Yang--yes, there are people with the last name Yang, but the name seems more Chinese to me.   In any case, I think its an exciting development!

5. Networking

Networking gets such a bad name, but in reality its really about identifying new opportunities and making friends/acquaintances.  This month I've had quite a few conversations about the art of networking with people looking for jobs and it's reminding me of all the hard work I did when I first graduated from GT and was out to find that perfect first job.

I recommend this book - Knock Em Dead

Whole 30 + West Wing (January thoughts I can't let go of)

My January consisted of two things:

 watching lots and lots of West Wing and the Whole 30 Diet!

West Wing

For one thing, I was on bed rest for the first half of January.  So I couldn't really do much but watch tv, read, and putter around the apartment drinking delicious boxed apple juice.  They gave me boxed apple juice at the hospital, and for some reason I found it comforting and delicious and continued to drink it while I was recovering. 

I watched 6 seasons for West Wing! SIX seasons!!!  There are 22 episodes in each season, each episode about 45 minutes long. Netflix became my best friend.  I had only seen Season 1 before, so I was super excited to have the time to watch it nd you know what, it's so nice to just lay in bed and lose yourself in the fake world of an idealistic presidency (or what you'd imagine would be a good presidency) and not feel lazy about it. I enjoyed bed rest.  I still have Season 7 left...and now that I'm out and about, I can't find the time to watch it. 

West Wing reminds you of what could be today's government. It's such a stark contrast that it's sad. I was also momentarily obsessed with the corresponding podcast, the West Wing Weekly. Ah...President Bartlett! I wish you weren't fictional!

Whole 30 Diet

A friend of mine bought me the Whole 30 book for my birthday. She and I, and another friend decided to try this diet ...well more like this philosophy I suppose for 30 days and we figured January was the best month to do this.   Once I was able to walk around and start cooking, I embarked on Whole 30 with a very reluctant and skeptical scientist husband in tow.  He only agreed if I cooked all meals. 

Week One: a lot of bad and bland food, a lot of chopping (Chris is usually the one in the kitchen), over-eating meat, and a lot of less than satisfactory taste buds.  

Chris every morning: "I have no joy in life" 

Week Two:  I discovered Nom Nom Paleo and online recipes that are more flavorful yet whole 30 compliant. And I finally learn how to use my Instant Pot pressure cooker!  Week two foods are much more delicious (I think the Whole 30 book recipes are for White people!) I need more flavor...more umami.  I'm inviting people over to eat dinner at our place because let's get real, eating out is tempting fate. 

Chris quits at the end of Week Two ...enticed by a barista at Starbucks to try the new smoked caramel latte! He also reads two pages of Whole 30 book and refuses to believe in these theories without peer- reviewed articles written by scientists! 

I go it alone...it is difficult, but hey, I made it half way already, I can't give up now. Plus, my friends are counting on me.

Week Three:  I have my go to breakfast down : Spicy Tuna Cakes!  Chris also likes these. I have a few recipes that I love!!  And so far so good. I'm getting a little bored though...and I am gearing up for a difficult weekend with Chinese New Years and several house parties...as well as a good friend visiting from DC.  

I notice I don't snack anymore and I'm happy without sugar in my life.  But I miss Asian food!! 

* The weekend was a shit show. Because of traffic and time constraints, I wasn't able to prepare meals or snacks before I went to my weekend events. I basically found myself starving all weekend and was extremely irritable. Seriously...this diet is too restrictive and I'm exhausted and annoyed come Monday. The weekend was not a weekend. 

Week Four: Home stretch!!  I'm basically furious all week because I'm still mad about the weekend! 

Funny how that was.  In any case, I finish the week- and this time realize I can eat Mediterranean foods that are Whole 30 compliant. This is awesome! I was really missing some strong flavors and getting sick of eating salads or plain burger patties when eating out with friends. 

Post Whole 30 Lessons 

1) I lost 1 inch off my waist, 1.5 inches off my hips! YAY!!!

2) I don't need to snack and I don't miss sugar

3) I NEED Korean food and other Asian foods in my life! They provide me with so much joy and comfort, and I don't think there is anything wrong with feeling that way.

4) I should stay away from gluten--especially pasta and poor quality bread. 

5) Food isn't as life/death/emotional to me as it was before...and for that I'm glad, but also sad. 

6) I'm happier when I eat more cleanly...whole foods, but this is very difficult to do when socializing! 

7) I would not have succeeded if my friends weren't also participating. We traded recipes and sent encouraging messages daily.  

8) I'm glad I tried this, it did change my relationship with food in ways I couldn't have imagined. But not eating soy sauce for 30 days a real challenge for me! I had a hard time accepting that such a small amount of soy sauce mattered. 

Chris and I have adopted some Whole 30 recipes into our regular meal rotations: 

- Pork and Cabbage Soup -so yummy and easy.

- Slow Cooker Kaula Pig -we made some adjustments here, but this is so versatile. 

- Pressure Cooker Crispy Potatoes - I rarely eat potatoes at home, but this recipe is yummy.

- and a new found love for Sweet Potatoes! 

and of course the Spicy Tuna Cakes!

And that was my January!