Summer 2025: Boston, Newport, Prague, Corfu, Albania, and Amsterdam

Hello again! I know it has been awhile. This year’s had a pretty insane start—with the LA fires, the new administration, and just life as usual. But I’m back! I had a lovely start to summer and now it’s already almost over. Visited my family in Boston, saw Hozier in concert at Fenway Park, road-tripped to Newport, Rhode Island, and bopped around Europe to places that hadn’t been on my radar before. So let’s recap. Proceed with caution. This will be a very long post.

I usually don’t travel during the summer because it’s too crowded, touristy, and expensive. Plus, LA is already a vacation destination. I usually prefer traveling late spring or early fall. And after returning from my recent travels, I am reminded of why I don’t typically travel during the summer. It’s too hot and uncomfortable walking almost twenty thousand steps a day during the summer heat. I sweated through all my clothes and had to do laundry halfway through my trip. I don’t regret it. I had the best time. It was so lovely having a fun start to the summer and actually having plans for once. But I was completely exhausted and dehydrated.

Every time I return to Boston to visit my parents, I love exploring a new part of New England. This year, I chose Newport, Rhode Island. It was a fun little getaway even though it started with some June gloom. We stayed at the Wyndham Newport Hotel. The rooms were spacious. They have a gym, indoor pool, and shuttle service into the main town center. Town center is close by but parking can be expensive, so the shuttle was a nice perk that guests really should take advantage of. We enjoyed some good food at Yagi Noodles, Giusto, and Newport Vineyards. Yagi is a good spot for ramen and other Asian bites. Giusto has delicious Italian food and is located directly on the wharf. We stopped by Newport Vineyards on the way out and it has a fun restaurant vibe, extensive menu, and great views for photos. I was actually surprised that I enjoyed the food there so much. Overall, Newport was an easy quick getaway from Boston. Some of the highlights were the Cliff Walk, the Forty Steps, and the beaches and lighthouses along the beautiful coastal Ocean Drive.

June in Boston was so lovely, but there was a brutal heatwave during part of my visit. I tried some new restaurants, including Cafe Sauvage, Little Whale Oyster Bar, and Beacon 1928. Cafe Sauvage is a French Cafe on Mass Ave in Backbay with lavender matcha (my favorite), Nutella crepes, and croissant sandwiches. Little Whale Oyster Bar is located on Newbury Street. I had a delicious lobster pasta and endive and beet salad there. Then I took my parents to Beacon 1928 for their anniversary and really loved it! Beacon Hill is such a cute neighborhood and I had never really spent much time there before. The restaurant was charming and quaint and had that old school vibe. The dishes were unexpected and so good! We ordered the red snapper ceviche, beet salad, fried cauliflower, truffle mushroom gnocchi, steak frites, and my absolute favorite dessert—sticky toffee pudding! Our server was lovely and super accommodating too, allowing me to order half portions when I couldn’t decide between dishes. I cannot wait to come back here! I think it might be my new favorite, but I’m not sure if something can be a favorite if you’ve only had it once. So I definitely have to come back!

My absolute favorite part of my Boston trip, aside from seeing my family of course, was the Hozier concert! My entire trip back to Boston was actually planned around the Hozier concert at Fenway Park. I can’t remember if I’ve ever been to Fenway Park before, but I imagine I must have because I grew up in Boston. Maybe on a school field trip? If so, I have no memory of it. Anyway, the idea of seeing Hozier in Boston in Fenway Park felt like an iconic experience I couldn’t miss. I had floor seats, but it was not close enough to the stage to see his facial expressions. I wondered if it even mattered since most of the time, I found myself staring at the big screens for his up-close shots. I wondered if the general admission pit (standing only) directly in front of the stage would have been worth it? Walking out onto the field took my breath away! And then seeing Hozier perform live was magical! I had been listening to his latest album on repeat since the beginning of the year and knew all his songs, which is rare for me going into a concert. I had been following his tour on social media since May when it began. It was an unforgettable experience and I wish I went to see him that second night he performed. Because of the heatwave, people were skipping the concert and selling their tickets online. I would have gladly sat through the heatwave again to see him perform for a second time, but I felt guilty at the thought of paying for tickets to see the same artist perform two nights in a row. But now, I regret that I didn’t do it. I was too excited and busy recording his performance on my phone that first night that I’m not sure I was fully present. It would have been 100 percent worth it to see him again! He is so amazing live. Maybe for his next tour, I’ll see him in another city.

I generally like to travel abroad every year, but I had been feeling uninspired lately and didn’t feel motivated to go anywhere, which is so unlike me. The only reason I had plans to travel to Boston was because I had bought the Hozier concert tickets in February, but other than that, I didn’t have any other travel plans and had been really feeling like I needed a change of scenery. I have a friend who lives in Prague and was looking for a travel partner for Corfu and Albania. The main flights to Prague from Boston were through Amsterdam. Since I was already going to be in Boston, it made sense to add on a trip to Europe because it was closer. So we decided fairly last minute to book the trip. These destinations weren’t places I had on my list previously, but I am happy that I got the chance to visit. I had an amazing time and was surprised how much I enjoyed all these countries. It was nice to have a trip exceed my expectations. It was a bit confusing and exhausting though, bopping around four different countries with three different currencies, and two different time zones. Even though the Czech Republic is part of the EU, they use their own currency in koruna. Corfu is part of Greece, uses euros, and is in a different time zone. Albania is not part of the EU and uses lek. I had a pretty packed itinerary during the height of the summer heat, which I wouldn’t recommend.

Since my friend lives in Prague and there were direct flights from there to Corfu, I chose it as my first European destination. I arrived in Prague from Boston after a layover in Amsterdam. I only had two days/one night in Prague before we had to leave for Corfu and Albania. After the Corfu/Albania leg of the trip, I had planned to return to Prague for another two nights/one day before leaving for the last leg of my trip to Amsterdam. Prague was quiet, old worldly, and understated. We had some really good food there. It was pretty inexpensive. Loved their muddled raspberry lemonades with soda water. Ordered this everywhere. It’s such a refreshing cooler in the summer heat. We enjoyed a really good first dinner at Alma, which I would describe as a casual, modern, upscale, and trendy restaurant. Dinner, which included a cocktail, one main each, and a shared dessert, cost less than 50 euros each, and that was considered expensive over there. Can’t get that in LA! I had the most satisfying gelato at Angelato. Loved the mango and stracciatella flavors. Enjoyed a nice lunch on the patio of Pauseteria. I really wanted to try Cafe Savoy, but it was closed for renovations during my visit. My last dinner in Prague was at a traditional Czech spot that is known for duck called U Modre Kachnicky. I love duck so I was excited to experience Czech duck. It was rich and very filling. They had a sweet version and a savory one and I think I preferred the sweet roasted one.

Another restaurant that was recommended to me was Restaurant Mlynec in Old town, but I got there too late. One thing to note about Prague is that restaurants often close their kitchen over an hour, maybe even two, before the restaurant is supposed to close. I found this odd and misleading. I stopped at the restaurant at 1pm because their website stated that brunch was served till 3pm, but was turned away and informed that the kitchen had already closed for that meal service. Another time I stopped at a restaurant for dinner at 8:30pm because the restaurant website listed that they were open till 10pm, but the kitchen was already closed. That was annoying. So watch out for this if you visit!

Shopping at mainstream stores (like Zara, Mango, and H&M) was pretty good in Prague. It was quieter and less touristy than other popular European cities and way less expensive than the U.S.—almost 30-40% less, with a better assortment and size availability! It was pretty easy to take the trams (they use the trust system so no need to swipe) all over the city. The famous castle was beautiful, but I didn’t realize you could take the tram to the back of the castle to avoid an uphill hike. So I made the hike up and down and it was exhausting! It was fun to hang out at Letna park at the top of a hill and have a beer at the beer garden while enjoying the city and river views. I also visited the astronomical clock, walked across Charles bridge, saw the Lennon Wall, and strolled along the river.

Next stop, Corfu. We flew there via Ryan Air and experienced delays during both our departing and returning flights. The seafood in Corfu was amazing! We had a delicious lunch at Rex Restaurant in Old Town. It was about 41 USD each for a seafood lunch without alcohol. Loved their fish carpaccio. They tend to use a lot of kumquat in their dishes, which was a nice complement to carpaccio. The best gelato was at Papagiorgis Patisserie. They had a ricotta with ginger, honey, orange that was incredible. Old Town is small and while it’s fun for souvenirs (like acacia wood kitchen products), small beach views (these smaller beaches in Old Town had small pebbles instead of sand, which can be uncomfortable walking on), and restaurants, the other side of the island had better beaches and cliffside views.

We spent one night/one day in Corfu before we took a ferry to Albania for 3 nights and then had planned to return to Corfu for one more night/day after Albania before catching our returning flight to Prague. A lot of my trip was like this, sandwiching destinations with the same city before and after, which made my trip extra exhausting. Half of my two-week trip was travel days, spent on the go between destinations. Midway through, I just wanted to stay still, in one place, without having to pack and catch a plane, train, or ferry!

Our last night/day in Corfu was spent on the other side of the island, a 45 min taxi drive away from the town center, at an adults-only all-inclusive resort on the cliffside called Alkyna Lifestyle Beach Resort. It was so wonderful! I wish we could have stayed here more than one night! I didn’t think I would like an all-inclusive resort, but maybe that’s because I had never been to a luxurious one before! It made everything so easy! Especially since we were so exhausted from our travel excursions and desperately needed some relaxation. The food was pretty good for buffet. Aside from the main buffet restaurant, they had only one other proper restaurant on-site that had a la carte menu options, but it was reservations only, and was already booked up when we arrived, unfortunately. The property was beautiful, but was so busy during sunset and post-dinner hours, it was difficult to find lounge seats at their rooftop terrace bar and indoor/outdoor terrace lounge. Loved our room. Loved the amenities. The beach was gorgeous and relaxing. The water was clear and generally calm. There weren’t too many people. Because it was a private beach, we didn’t have to worry about leaving our belongings on our daybed while we dipped in the ocean. It was a lot of walking to get up and down the property though since it’s hillside. If needed, you can call for a driver to come get you with a golfcart.

I would totally visit Corfu again and spend more time on this side of the island. Corfu was not a cheap destination though. It was definitely more expensive than Prague and Albania, but still cheaper than the U.S. If I was there solo, it would have been even pricier because the taxi ride to the other side of the island was about 50 euros alone and short rides from town center to the airport or to the ferry were 25 euros even though it was only a 10-15 minute ride.

The easiest way to get to the Albania Riviera is by way of a thirty-minute fast ferry from Corfu, which was why Corfu was added to our itinerary. The ferry ticket was about 36 USD each way. We stayed at the Niklas Boutique Hotel a few minutes away from the main promenade of Sarande in Albania. The promenade was too touristy and a bit grungy for me. Our room at Niklas had a minimalist aesthetic. It was clean, spacious, and had a balcony with views of the promenade and ocean. The hotel host, Alejandro, was so lovely. Breakfast was included every morning. Our first dinner was at Taverna Fish Filipi, a popular local restaurant close to the hotel. It was fantastic! And so affordable. I probably had the best crab spaghetti I’ve ever had for less than 9 USD! It was messy and a lot of work breaking through the crab shell to get the meat with my hands, but it was so worth it. The sauce was light and super garlicky. I still think about that dish. Our total meal was 39 USD for two people! That included wine, shared appetizer, one main each, and a shared dessert. We also had seafood at Haxhi on the promenade that was also good and had a more fun vibe. Restaurants on the promenade were still affordable but a little more expensive. A plate of seafood pasta might be 16-20 USD vs 9 USD. Fish carpaccio in Albania is more commonly served with passion fruit and strawberry versus the kumquat in Corfu.

We took a day trip to Ksamil for the beaches, which felt too touristy and a bit like a club with the DJs and crowds. I think if you walk past the main area, it might be quieter. But we took the bus and had to walk from the bus stop to the beach in the heat. After walking for 30 minutes, we gave up and stopped at the nearest beach club where you have to pay 12 USD for a daybed that wasn’t close enough to the water for us to feel safe leaving our belongings unguarded. Even though the waters were super clear and really calm, there were just too many people around to enjoy it. So many kids and floaties in the water. I would recommend paying for a taxi and going further along the coast. Some people we met at our hotel had recommended walking to Sea La Vie beach club, but we had walked 30 minutes and still hadn’t reached it. I also think staying in Ksamil might be worth it vs just doing a day trip. You could prob divide your trip—stay for half the time in Ksamil and the other half in Sarande. That way, you could choose a quieter location as a base and get to enjoy the beaches more.

While in Sarande, we did a group tour to Blue Eye natural springs, an old castle on top of the hill that overlooked Sarande, and the stone wall city of Gjirokastër. We also took a separate trip to Butrint National Park to see the Roman Ruins. While on the side of the coast visiting Butrint and Ksamil, we stopped by The Mussel House on the water for a late lunch. It’s a mussel farm (they also have group tours) and restaurant. Every restaurant we went to, we ordered fish carpaccio. While the food was good here, my favorite meal was at Taverna Fish Filipi. It had the best seafood, was super cheap, and had a more local family vibe. So it’s not a place you would go to for a night out, but definitely a place to check out for good food.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Albanian Riviera. Super affordable, great food, friendly people. I would probably spend less time near the promenade though, and more time exploring the towns away from the main area. After this trip, I am now curious about exploring other parts of The Balkans, like Croatia and Montenegro.

Prague, Corfu, and Albania had been about 90 degrees each day. I had sweated through all my clothes and had to do laundry at my friend’s place in Prague before I left for the last leg of my trip. I was happy that I wore every single outfit though. Made me feel like I packed my carryon luggage efficiently. Even still, I was missing some key summer staples for traveling in that type of heat. Like more shorts, linen, and crochet outfits. By the time I got to Amsterdam, I was happy for some solo chill time on my own, but I was too tired to do anything! My feet ached and I was exhausted from walking seven miles a day every day. I was dehydrated and sleep-deprived. Plus, it was so cold and gloomy in Amsterdam. In the 60s for my first two days there, which was a drastic drop from the rest of my trip. I didn’t bring any warm clothes except my airplane clothes, which I didn’t want to wear for the next three days straight. I had to go shopping to get a couple of pieces of warmer clothes to swap into. I stayed at the Kimpton de Witt Hotel by the canals near Central Station. It was an easy walk from the train station, but I feel like it was a little further away from all the places I wanted to visit. Not terribly far, as it was still in the Central neighborhood, but because I was exhausted and at the end of my trip, every 15 min walk felt far. The hotel was nice, but a bit pricey (it would have been cheaper had I booked even one week earlier) considering I didn’t have a view (it was of a wall) and we weren’t located directly off the canal. But I liked my room. It was a good size, not too small, not too big. I liked that the hotel hosted happy hour every night in the lobby. The tram stop was in front of the hotel so that was also convenient.

My favorite eats in Amsterdam were: Chun Cafe, Pat’s Poffertjes, Bakkerijwolf, and Restaurant Domenica. Chun Cafe had the most delicious toast sandwiches and matcha. I liked it so much, I came back for a second time! You may see on social media that there are long lines because it’s a popular spot, but if you go first thing when it opens at 10am, you will have no problem getting in. There are two locations and I think the one closer to Central Station might be less crowded. I loved their ribeye bulgogi and garlic shrimp toasts. Maybe the garlic shrimp toast over the bulgogi. Very filling. I also tried their banana cloud matcha and their strawberry matcha and both were such a nice sweet treat! It was about 25 USD for a matcha and a toast. Poffertjes are mini Dutch pancakes and usually come with powdered sugar, but you can add on other toppings such as nutella and bananas. These were light, soft, and delicious! You can probably get them from any vendor, but Pat’s Poffertjes has multiple locations and was easy to find. Bakkerijwolf was a cute, casual cafe in The Nine’s area. I had a great watermelon beet salad there. I wanted to try their sticky toffee pudding but completely forgot to order it at the end of my meal. Restaurant Domenica was my special treat on the last night of my trip and it was fantastic! Modern Italian food and excellent service. I had the tomato burrata salad, langoustine linguine, and bigne dessert with pecan gelato. I definitely recommend it! It was about 87 USD for three courses and two glasses of wine at this upscale Italian restaurant (they charge 20 euros upon booking and deduct it from your final check).

I was also excited to try Indonesian food in Amsterdam upon learning that there was a large Indonesian community. I went to the popular Sampura restaurant and ordered a small rijsttafel (this translates to rice table), which is basically an Indonesian table sampler adapted by the Dutch. I was expecting it to be better or maybe I didn’t go to the right spot. But for a casual solo meal, I thought it was expensive at 71 USD for just me. This included the small table sampler, a side order of noodles because I was still hungry, and one cocktail. Service was not great because they were busy and almost didn’t even let me walk-in. Even though it had good ratings, I’d probably skip this spot. While in Amsterdam, I had to try pannenkoeken, which are regular Dutch pancakes. To me, they sort of tasted like open crepes, but slightly thicker. The one I had at Dutch Pancake Masters was a bit too rich for me. I prefer poffertjes. But maybe Upstairs Pancakes would have been better? It’s a popular choice among travelers and it looks like they have more options for flavors. Another place I checked out was Zero Zero for a quick sandwich. I discovered this spot on TikTok and was drawn to the idea of a focaccia sandwich with mortadella and stracciatella. But the focaccia was not soft. It was more thin and crispy and there was not enough filling. So I wouldn’t recommend this place either if it comes up in your search.

In terms of sightseeing in Amsterdam, I visited the Van Gogh museum and did a cheese and wine canal tour. The Van Gogh museum was quite small (and if you’re looking for Starry Night, that’s at The MoMA in NYC), but I enjoyed learning more about his life and seeing his other works. The canal tour was relaxing and beautiful on the one sunny day that I had in Amsterdam. However, Flagship Viator tours were awful with communication so choose your tour wisely. They emailed me the day before my tour date to inform me that my time-slot was canceled and to choose another. I chose another and they never responded back. I emailed them again two more times asking for confirmation, but there was no response. Finally, on the day of the tour, my last day in Amsterdam, I didn’t know what to do since I didn’t have much wiggle room. I showed up for the earlier time slot that I had selected in my email back to them since my time slot was supposedly canceled. Planned my whole morning around it, only to be told that I was not allowed on that tour and that I should have known because I didn’t get confirmation. Basically, they didn’t take accountability and they blamed me. They claimed my time slot was never canceled and that I needed to wait for my time. It was a bit annoying to deal with, but I would still recommend doing a canal tour, but just not with them.

If I had more time in Amsterdam and wasn’t so exhausted, I would have wanted to check out Vondel Park, visit another museum, try more restaurants, do a daytrip to Zaanse Schans, and explore some local markets. I couldn’t visit Anne Frank’s house because it booked up months in advance. I took the tram all around the city, but still did a significant amount of walking. The neighborhoods and canals were so charming. I walked through the Red-light district out of curiosity. That was interesting. Even though I enjoyed Amsterdam and would probably visit again (it’s only about a 7 hour direct flight from Boston), I found it to be a bit pricey for food and accommodations, probably the most expensive city of this trip. I also thought the city was a little lonely solo. There were groups of friends everywhere hanging out by the canal, having coffee or beer together. It felt more like a social city, especially in the summer. I did like how easy it was to get around the city via tram (you have to swipe getting on and off which was a bit annoying especially if the tram was crowded and you need to rush off or have luggage) and to get into the city from the airport via train to Central Station (only a 15 min ride from the airport for maybe 6 euros one way). But you definitely have to watch out while you’re walking around because you could easily get hit by a cyclist! They are everywhere and moving in every direction at a fairly fast speed!

When I returned home to LA, it took me a week to recover and a month for my feet to feel normal again. My feet stayed tender for awhile and a big patch of skin on the bottom peeled off towards the balls. I was in desperate need of a body and foot massage. I’m grateful for this unexpected summer adventure, but I am also happy to be home again. Including my time in Boston, I was gone for 5 weeks total!

You know what was nice about being on vacation though? Having to get dressed up and wear make-up every day with an agenda. Working remotely and living alone in LA, I really don’t have to get dressed at all if I don’t want to. Sometimes, I don’t leave the house for days (I know, it’s terrible). It was nice being forced to present myself to the world and have a purpose each day, rather than sitting alone at home at a computer. I do miss that. I probably wore more outfits on my summer vacation than I have all year! Isn’t that crazy? My clothes just don’t get used as much anymore these days. Once back home, I bought a few more summer items that I felt I was missing on my European vacay like linen shorts, flowy linen dress, crochet outfit for the beach, bathing suit cover up, a new bikini, and a straw purse. I don’t really need these items now, but for my next vacation, I will be ready! Wherever that may be! It’s so much fun planning outfits and packing.

Maybe I need to romanticize my life in LA more and make every day feel more like vacation. I’ve tried to be more intentional about it before, but it’s easy to fall back into a routine. Life just gets in the way sometimes. Traveling reminds me that there is a bigger world out there. It inspires me and resets my soul, and every once in a while, we all just need a reboot.

Happy 2023!

Happy New Year! I know I’m over a month late but so much has happened since the holidays. Once November hit, the rest of the year became a blur. December was very busy with lots of holiday parties, dates, and family time. Unlike the previous two lonely pandemic years, I had a fun holiday season. Things were going really well and I had a very active social calendar, which I think contributed to me getting mildly sick at the beginning of December. Not Covid though, thankfully.

Then during the last week of the year, things took a turn. I had a few minor health issues. Discovered some new food allergies that have been affecting my skin. My eczema was acting up and I felt ugly. My chronic nose bleeds were back. I got locked out of my apartment. I had to call a locksmith, who literally left shit on my door unintentionally (I don’t know what to make of that symbolically?). Water leaked out of my ceiling. My job assignment ended. And that was all in one week! Most of it within the same day! The year ended with me feeling emotional, frantic, and anxious. Life was teasing me. Showed me some fun and then decided to tear me down with a thousand little papercuts. Year end is always emotional for obvious reasons, and I didn’t need any additional emotions involved. But you know, life. It loves to send you lessons and challenges all at once.

At the beginning of January, I went through a mini break-up. As you get older, you don’t really let yourself invest in big relationships anymore unless there is future potential. So they all tend to be mini, and nonetheless, still disappointing. I am once again at a cross-roads in my life and unemployed, which is generally fine. I’ve been here before but not in awhile, and it feels strange to be here again. I had some minor issues with a couple toxic people who needed to be extricated from my life. A little annoying to have to deal with that right after a mini break-up. But that’s life. I also lost my mom’s gold charm bracelet. I think it fell off my wrist at some point, and I’m so sad about that. My mother loves jewelry and I love wearing her jewelry. I hope it turns up soon.

Mid-January, I flew to Boston to celebrate my mother’s birthday and the Lunar New Year, which coincided on the same weekend. I hadn’t traveled back for Lunar New year in YEARS, probably at least a decade. It was really nice to get to do that again with my family, especially since it also falls close to the anniversary of my mother’s brain injury. Then when I returned, I got sick. Maybe a cold? Maybe RSV? But it was the third time I’ve been sick for the third month in a row! I’m so tired of being sick and worn down and isolated. But it did give me time to binge watch Yellowstone and Succession. Those shows kept me company while I allowed myself to really lean into resting. I gave myself time to heal, not just my physical body but also to explore all the noise in my head. If I had a job, I would not have been able to take this much time to rest. Most jobs only give you six sick days total for an entire year. I get sick often and when I do, I’m sick for like a week straight each time. If I had a job, I would have been pressured to only take a day or two off, if at all, and then work through my illness. I’m only just now on the mend and finding time to write a blog post and start checking some things off my to-do list.

And here I am. At a café on the corner of my street, trying to get myself motivated again and dig myself out of the dark hole that I’ve been in for the last few weeks. Another existential crisis. Trying to figure out my next step. I’m so overwhelmed by life lately. I’ve needed more space from people than usual, which can be good for an introvert but can be isolating as well. Last year was a hard year. I think I had been running on adrenaline for so long and now my body is finally collapsing. It’s exhausted. Maybe that’s why I’ve been sick three times for three months in a row. Maybe this is me, in recovery from 2022. Maybe I need some inspirational foreplay. Maybe I need to just love on myself a little and get a massage or treat myself to something special. Actually, I don’t know what I need but I will figure it out. Next time you hear from me, I will be in better spirits. I promise.

Life Update

I can sometimes be a sensitive little bunny. I overanalyze things, replay stuff in my head, and sometimes create stories that don’t exist. I can be histrionic, melancholic, empathetic, and deeply affected by my surroundings. I sometimes need reassurance and validation from others. So you can imagine giving up on corporate life and pursuing a personal dream has not been easy for me!

Thinking back on this journey, I didn’t have faith in myself, but somehow (I really have no idea how), I kept persisting and moving forward. And now I’m in year 3 of independently working for myself with 70 recipes, pages of creative memoir stories, and dozens of social media partnerships under my belt. And I’m happy to announce, after turning down a direct publishing offer a couple months ago, I have officially signed with a literary agent! I have to stop for a minute and show myself some love. I never thought I would find an agent that is as passionate about my memoir cookbook as I am. But I found her! I’m in the home stretch and hopefully am on my way to getting published soon!

The last year and a half have not been easy with the pandemic. There have been lots of lows and then small highs or more like mediums and then back to lows again with me questioning whether things would ever get better. During the last couple months I started to feel bouts of intense self-negative talk, existential confusion, and lack of direction. I had finished all of my cookbook writing and didn’t have a concrete plan for what was next for me. I couldn’t find a new client for my consulting business and had gotten lots of rejections from literary agents. I sulked alone in my dark pit for awhile and then forced myself to be social as an attempt to rescue myself. I was ready to admit defeat and accept all the failed outcomes in my life, but then things began to turn around. Within less than 2 months, four literary agents expressed interest in my cookbook, I got a new client for my consulting business, and landed a new social media partnership with a brand I love! I basically have 3 jobs. It’s complicated but also fun to be able to mix things up.

Sometimes my little heart can’t handle the emotional rollercoaster that is life. I’m not good at riding the waves. In fact, I can’t swim so it makes riding the waves a little harder and scarier. Everything passes though—the good, the bad, and the ugly—and you just gotta learn how to roll with all the punches. I am trying to get better at letting go and not attaching myself to certain outcomes. Hope for the best, and just keep moving forward, and whatever happens, happens. And when I haven’t been able to handle my emotions lately, I’ve indulged in donuts and cake. A sweet treat really does help!

My life isn’t perfect. I don’t have everything that I desire. But in this moment, I’m feeling good and I’m going to sit with this feeling of pride, love, and gratitude for a bit.

Writer's Block

For the last two months, I’ve been focusing on the writing portion of my cookbook (yes, I’m still working on my never-ending cookbook). I plan to incorporate short memoir stories throughout the book that illustrate the powerful role food plays in my family and, especially in my relationship with my mother. It has been a challenge tapping into that part of myself. Not just the creative part that wants to weave together a beautiful story, but also the part of me that is trying to capture all the emotions from a nostalgic memory.

It has been exhausting. I joined a couple writing groups for support and motivation. After a couple weeks of frustration, I found two groups that I really enjoy and have made some wonderful friendly connections. I think I have created some beautiful stories, which feels so liberating and cathartic. However, I have also learned more about my family history and have been forced to revisit some painful childhood memories. It has been an emotional journey and I feel that I still have more stories to tell.

Although I have been productive the last couple of months, I’ve hit a roadblock this past week and have felt unmotivated. I need to write more but can’t seem to find the right words or be able to access the emotions I want to convey. Inspiration can sometimes be elusive. Maybe I need to switch things up?

I’m actually in a virtual writing group session now and decided to work on this blog post instead of editing my short story. Procrastination at it’s finest. At least, I’m writing thought, right? I’ve gone on several walks this weekend (not because I wanted to but because I’m dog-sitting and had to). I’ve tried opening a bottle of champagne. None of those ideas helped. Maybe I need to go for a drive to pick up tacos for lunch today? Yes, I think that’s a good idea…Maybe that will spark some inspiration.

Update. 3 hours later…

I drove to the Westside to pick up tacos and the taco place was closed. Perhaps, because of the pandemic? Or maybe because it’s Easter Monday? Who knows anymore? I was so disappointed! So then, I decided to drive in the opposite direction to get Korean fried chicken because I needed to get gas for my car and the gas station was in that direction. I really wanted tacos but fried chicken is a good alternative. I’ve been feeling indecisive about food and about life lately and don’t know what I want to eat or cook anymore. Anyway, I came home to eat my fried chicken and I took a picture of it. When I went back to my camera to look at the picture, it wasn’t there. Sometimes my phone camera does that. It’ll will make the clicking sound like you took a picture but then doesn’t save it. Or maybe it’s because I close out of it too soon? I don’t know. But now I don’t have a picture of tacos or wings to accompany this post. So now I’m just posting a picture of me on a walk.

And yes, I know I’m rambling. As you can tell, I’m not in the mood to write but I’m forcing myself to, hoping it will open the flood gates. But it’s really not working. Maybe I need to make myself a martini? Maybe I need to take a break from my project and try to figure out my life? I know that I am priviledged in that I have the luxury to think about pursuing what makes me happy versus working to surivive. This is a completely different concept from that of the previous generation—our parents’ generation. I feel guilty for this sometimes.

Okay. Time to return to procrastinating. Ideas for sparking inspiration welcome!