Current Mood

Reading...

Fault Lines: A Novel

This novel by Emily Itami tells the tale of a disenchanted Japanese housewife who seemingly has the perfect life but she feels lonely and unappreciated. She begins to question her choices when she meets a successful restaurateur with whom she shares an immediate connection to. This books was not what I expected, the writing is vivid and witty and the story is emotionally layered and resonant.

Watching...

Bad And Crazy

Bad And Crazy is a different kind of good-cop, bad-cop drama with Lee Dong Wook as a morally questionable (Bad) cop who will do anything to advance his career and Wi Ha Joon as a mysterious (Crazy) motorcycle helmet man who is violent and intent on justice. While it follows a somewhat police procedural format, it is also feels like a zany cartoon at times. The best part aside from the action and humor is the charismatic pairing of Lee Dong Wook and Wi Ha Joon who are magic together. This drama has been a fun ride.

Watched...

The Silent Sea

Set in a future where water is running out on earth, this 8 episode drama follows a space crew that is dispatched to acquire a vital sample that would ensure humanity’s survival from the Balhae Lunar Station on the Moon which was mysteriously shut down five years ago. This drama was highly anticipated as the theme is compelling and boasts a stellar cast. It really had so much potential but was ultimately a disappointment. The acting and production was good but the writing was clearly lacking. There was very little character development with not much explained and the plot was quite predictable until it fell off a cliff. I wouldn't recommend it unless you're a fan of someone in the cast which in my case was Bae Doo Na and Kim Sun Young. They were both great and deserved better. No it's not the next Squid Game and it's fine that every subsequent K-drama that gets released on Netflix isn't.

Playing...

Wordle

As a writer, I especially enjoy word games. Wordle is a simple, daily word guessing game where you're allotted six tries to guess the five-letter word of the day. With each guess, you're meant to strategize based on the letters you've used, the letters you have left, and the clues provided on the correct letters you've managed to guess so far. I was hooked the first time I played when I was able to guess the word in 3 attempts and it's a fun little challenge that my husband and I look forward to every day now.

Obsessed with...

Garlic Confit

To say that I love garlic may be an understatement and I use this particular aromatic very liberally in my cooking. I recently discovered garlic confit which is garlic prepared in the classic French technique that preserves food in oil that was used prior to refrigeration. Heads of garlic are gently simmered in olive oil, then cooled and stored in a jar. It has so many uses and adds incredible flavor to anything from soups to dressings to sauces. It's my favorite over roasted vegetables.

Working out with...

The Bala Power Ring

I actually had this on a wish list towards the beginning of last year and I finally acquired one in a Boxing Day sale. I incorporated weight training into my workouts last Spring and it was one of the best things I did for myself. I started with resistance bands and 3 lb. weights and worked up to 5 lb. weights and now I'm ready to step up to this 10 lb. power ring. I also still use my Bala Bangles to amp up daily activities. I love being strong and having more stamina.

Loving...

The Vitruvi Stay Diffuser

We had been wanting to move our Vitruvi Stone Diffuser to the bedroom so we upgraded to their Stay Diffuser when there was a 30% off deal. The larger capacity and extended 18 hour runtime is great for the living room. Also discovered a new favorite essential oil blend. Quiet is a blend of ylang ylang, geranium, amyris, and clary sage that smells like fresh flowers and is so calming and relaxing. I've been opting to diffuse essential oils over using candles for home fragrance because of air quality concerns.

Wearing...

Mejuri Pave Diamond Signet Ring

I had my eye on this ring from this minimalistic high-quality fine jewelry brand for awhile and my husband got it for me for Christmas. It's gorgeous and so sparkly. The diamonds are ethically sourced from suppliers who follow conflict-free and socially responsible practices and the ring itself is quite affordable. I've been slowly building a wardrobe of fine  jewelry made up of meaningful and sustainable pieces. It's part of my ongoing intention to live better with less and follow more sustainable practices.

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