I’m funny about spending money. I have no qualms spending money on food or gifts but am super frugal about other things … and scented candles were one of those things. Well, that is until last year when we were all stuck at home 24/7. I became obsessed with having scented candles lit all the time, just to add a different “something, anything” to my space.
A nice soy candle can cost $30-50. One for the living room, bathroom and bedroom – burning most of the day…well, really started to add up. So, I was curious and decided to try to make my own. I saved all the previously used candle containers and bought a soy wax candle kit on Amazon and with instructions from Food52, I gave it a try. And it worked! I was surprised that it was pretty easy and forgiving. The hardest part is getting the wick to set straight. (I’m still working on that).
Making something new satisfied that creative and maker part of me too. I’m looking forward to playing around with different scents. I can’t wait to give them out as gifts – or maybe add to the ES line. Who knows? The possibilities are endless – and how exciting is that?!
Do you give kind, generous advice to friends, but don’t you take your own advice? I fall into that category for sure – and I had moments recently when the voice in my head reminded me of that.
This story has nothing to do with Everyday Sabbatical but makes me crack up so I wanted to share it - and hopefully, you'll laugh out loud too.
I was at the dentist getting x-rays. (I know … not funny yet). I kept my mask on for the X-ray. The Tech asked if I had any metal objects and I emphatically said, “Nope.”
We were looking at the X-rays and I freaked out because there was a screw in the middle on my head. OMG and WTF? I literally said, “Why is there a screw in the middle of my head?” And I’m seriously trying to figure out how it got there without any pain.
She looked at me and calmly said, “That’s your nose ring.”
OOOPS, I forgot I got one last year.
My parents drove to visit me for Thanksgiving. It was incredible to spend time with them. They stayed for a couple weeks, which is, a decent amount of time. Luckily, I had a project list ready for them. It worked out for everyone. They liked being helpful and I needed their help.
My mom actually sews so I asked her to bring her sewing machine to make a few extra masks and customize a few pants. My dad is great with tedious tasks, so I had them work together on cutting and gluing more fabric swatch cards. Delegation at its best.
Their participation meant a lot to me because, at the beginning of Everyday Sabbatical, mom was not delighted by the idea but thankfully, as always, they were and are supportive.
]]>If you like mochi (regular mochi, not ice cream mochi), try pan frying it for a delicious crispy texture. It can be gooey like a toasted marshmallow but so, so delicious.
You cook it kind of like you would a pancake. Heat a non-stick skillet with a neutral oil until it gets hot (but not hot-hot), then turn down to medium-low heat. Place the mochi in the pan and don’t move it. The mochi will “melt” a bit and it will get a crispy bottom. Once it’s crispy, carefully flip it and crisp up the other side. Remove from the pan and eat carefully because the sugars get super hot. YUM! Enjoy.
I travel with my trusted TUMI orange carry-on roller, which I’ve had for years (another beloved, reliable keeper). I should replace it because it’s so old that the wheels only go in one direction, but I won’t yet. I don’t even own a larger suitcase because the Tumi expands, and I can stuff a lot in, like 5 bottles of wine! I have a pottery addiction, so I always take an extra foldable bag (my well-worn blue Longchamp tote to bring the goodies back as my carry-on. Lastly, I always travel with a cloth grocery tote bag too, which always come in handy. Light, washable, inexpensive and so practical, especially walking around in Europe, where plastic bags are verboten.
I take my Tumi plus extra bags to the destination, then stuff the expandable Tumi and check it in for the return flight. I carry the 2 totes on the plane. Works every time!
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I’ve been reading more this year and have been using the Libby App – and saving loads of money because it’s a digital public library. Amazing! You get a digital library card from your local library(ies) and can check out books and audiobooks. You can also download and read it on the Kindle App. Selection is great, it’s easy and again, it’s FREE.
I’ve been really enjoying Daniel Silva’s books. They’re easy reads, and I get engrossed his stories while I’m reading them, but they’re not books that I’d want to keep in my home library. So, getting it from Libby (aka the library) is perfect. Did I mention FREE?
]]>I was already fixated with the NBA this season because of "The Bubble" (fascinating, surreal social dynamics) but became engrossed with the boycott.
I couldn't get enough interviews and commentary last week ... and discovered this great new show, Cari & Jemele: Stick to Sports. I had heard of Jemele but not Cari - because, let's be real, I only watch sports when it's entertaining and more than about the actual game. The ladies flow between funny and serious depending on the topic. They're insightful, well-informed, and have top-tier guests. The show is an entertaining combo of ESPN, TMZ, and Rachel Maddow. If you don't have the VICE network, you can find Cari & Jemele: Stick to Sports on YouTube. LMK what you think.
]]>I don't get the flu vaccine every year (no judging, please), but I will this year because it’s just been that kind of year when we should mitigate risk as much as possible. Since the symptoms for the flu and covid tend to overlap, it seems best to be able to rule one out. And having the flu and covid at the same time just sounds beyond awful.
I'm just flagging this in case you (like everyone) have lost track of time because 2020 is a freakin' time vortex. It’s currently mid-August and my doctor recommended getting the flu shot in the next 3 weeks-ish. High demand for the flu vaccine is predicted this year. Be well!
]]>I listened to this book (recommended by friends, MM and AM) a few days ago while folding and inventorying 200 pants, 70 shorts and 200 tops. The book is funny - and really thoughtful. If you want to better understand what life is like for my generation of Asian-Americans in the US, check it out. "Asians" - yes, I'm using this very broad term to mean ... anyone who looks Asian.
I could relate to about 60-70% of the experiences she shares. I totally remember kids at school making fun of my "stinky" Korean food, and wishing mom would just make me a PBJ. Nowadays, everybody likes Korean food. It's about four decades too late for my elementary school pride, but maybe better late than never (shrug).
Wong is funny and an excellent storyteller. The book flies by (or maybe it seemed that way because I was folding seemingly endless piles of clothes). Give it a listen when you have some time!
]]>Super random tip today. This is something that I learned while I was in Peace Corps Bolivia. If you have a burn, but have no aloe or cream, cut a thin slice of onion, put it directly on the burn, and tape it in place. You will smell, as my sister said, "like a Chinese restaurant," but it works!
I’m sure Google can tell you the science behind why it works, but I can tell you from first-hand experience that it simply does. I was on a passenger on a motorbike (a Peace Corps “no-no,” but what wasn't?) and we were going through the Amazon jungle from the teeny village of Salvatierra, Bolivia to an even teenier village. The ride was fine but as I got off the motorbike, my ankle came in contact with the exhaust - Ouch! Someone said, "put an onion on it," and since we didn’t have anything else, that's what I did. It quickly soothed the burn and helped it heal. Plus, no burn scars! There are onions in every country and kitchen in the world (except maybe FG's), so this is one of those tips that's both inexpensive and easily accessible - my favorite kind!
]]>Sometimes, it’s super hard to find that right gift to bring to a friend’s house when they have generously invited you for drinks, dinner, and conversation. Wine is definitely an option, but I find people are more specific in their wine tastes nowadays. Candles and anything scent-y is also very subjective. Then there's chocolate, which - shockingly! - not everyone likes. And sometimes, people really don’t want more stuff. Yes, this is a first-world problem – although a gesture of “thank you” is universal.
I now have a new "go to" host/ess gift: Cards. Yep, cards again! I buy boxes of beautiful blank cards, when they are on sale, and give them as host/ess gifts. If you know the person really well, you can buy individual cards and wrap a bow around them. Everyone needs a birthday or thank you card at some point, so the gift won't go to waste. They also take up very little space, never go bad, are inexpensive, won’t break, and are things most people don't collect - except yours truly and I love getting cards!
]]>I always make more food than needed. (Portions? What are those?) I think it’s hereditary, as my mom made enough food for at least two or three times the number of guests she was expecting. I was always taught that running out of food at a dinner party was the absolute worst thing that could happen. Good thing that I like leftovers - my freezer is usually full of them.
As far as keeping track of all those leftovers, there a lot of fancy labels out there, but I love using a piece of duct tape and a sharpie. It sticks and stays stuck, even in the freezer, and in my experience, it easily peels off without sticky residue to clean up, even after a cycle in the dishwasher (although it’s best to let it cool down before peeling). To top it all off, duct tape is inexpensive and useful for so many other things.
If I ever find myself with a food-related business, I’m going to call it "Duct Tape Foods" and use duct tape for labeling. Kinda joking, kinda serious :)
]]>I bought a Trek E-Bike about a year ago – and love, love it. It’s probably one of my top five favorite purchases ever. Since I don’t have a car, it’s literally “my wheels” around Denver. With the two side bags, I can run errands, visit friends, and get fresh air. Not only is it better for the environment but, with Denver’s extensive trail system, I actually get to places faster on my bike than most people can in a car.
I set my bike on its highest setting, which gives me 275% boost, and easily goes 20 mph so I don’t arrive sweaty or huffy. It’s pricey at $2,500 but that's far less expensive than owning, fueling, and maintaining a car. It’s also cheaper than a year of Lyfts, which brings to mind another point: having a bike has been super helpful during Covid, since Lyfts have been in short supply.
For what it's worth, my bike has also been an interesting, informal, and unintended sociological experiment. Based on my experience, male cyclists don't seem to care for my E-Bike, with one older guy calling me a "cheater" - seriously! I suspect these cyclists just don't like being passed by a woman, as I always notice men pedalling faster when I call out “on your left” and overtake them. Folks, this is not the Olympics. We're all just trying to get from Point A to Point B the best way we know how. Try out the Trek E-Bike when you get a chance and maybe give a nice wave to your fellow bike path riders on the way.
]]>Being Asian and slightly skincare obsessed are not 100% responsible for my clear skin. Pharma helps, and thank goodness for that.
Pre-40s, my skin was a classic T zone. I would get annoying breakouts but managed them without much trouble. But when I turned 42 I started getting epic, painful breakouts. I had just moved to Colorado so I thought the culprit was the change in climate and that I needed to find the right product combo for my new situation. So I bought a ton of expensive products and got weekly facials. Money not well spent, it turned out - nothing helped.
I finally talked to my physician assistant and she thought it might be “hormonal acne” (commonly identified by breakouts around the chin, btw). She prescribed an oral medication, which cleared my skin up within a week! Now, I take my meds, use a Retinoid cream, simple Cetaphil facial cleaner and Cetaphil body lotion (as a face moisturizer). That's my non-secret, skin care "secret" for today. Our skin travels with us through our entire life, and just like other parts of our bodies and our general health it can change, especially with hormone changes. Just like with our hearts and brains and everything else, sometimes medication is the right answer. It was and is for me.
]]>It used to be that a "phone" made phone calls and nothing else. Today, "phones" still make calls, plus they're cameras, calculators, maps, encyclopedias - they do it all! I know I take a lot of advantage of always having a camera on-hand, but I've had so many instances of taking a great photo, only to realize it's marred by an annoying power line or light fixture or some other "thing" that gets in the way of making it perfect. We've all been there right?
Recently, my friend KM told me about the TouchRetouch app. It's amazing and scary at the same time. Surprisingly easy to use, the app removes any object you want "erased" from your pics. In this example photo, it took less than 1 minute to erase the vent, light fixture, and fire alarm to the right of Laura's head. Download the app today for $1.99 and you'll be on your way to your new photography side hustle.
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