Current Mood

rolala loves

How has half the year passed by already?

Reading...
I enjoyed The Midnight Library which is also written by Matt Haig and this book is also good in an entirely different way. Designed to help people who are going through tough times, it is very honest, empathetic and uplifting. Much of it resonated with me. These are a few of my favorite bits.

“The best thing about rock bottom is the rock part. You discover the solid bit of you. The bit that can't be broken down further. The thing that you might sentimentally call a soul. At our lowest we find the solid ground of our foundation. And we can build ourselves anew.”

“You don’t have to continually improve yourself to love yourself. Love is not something you deserve only if you reach a goal. The world is one of pressure but don’t let it squeeze your self-compassion. You were born worthy of love and you remain worthy of love. Be kind to yourself.”

“I used to worry about fitting in until I realized the reason I didn’t fit in was because I didn’t want to.”

Watching...
This fantasy drama is set in a magical and fictional land where mages have harnessed the power of the natural world. It centers around an assassin whose soul becomes accidentally trapped in a different body and a young master with a shocking birth secret who becomes her pupil. So far it is an entertaining mix of action, intrigue, humor, magic and romance.

Rewatching...
Wong Kar Wai's films
Remastered 4K versions of In The Mood For Love, Chungking Express, Fallen Angels and Happy Together are currently HBO Max so we're taking this opportunity to watch them again. Wong Kar Wai is an auteur whose works are revered by audiences and other filmmakers alike. His films have a dreamy and languid style and often explore human connections, disconnections and love. Pleasantly surprised that these movies do hold up. Chungking Express is my favorite with In The Mood For Love being second. This scene with Brigitte Lin and Takeshi Kaneshiro is iconic. I used to have such an ardent crush on him. 

Brigitte Lin and Takeshi Kaneshiro, Brigitte Lin and Takeshi Kaneshiro Chungking Express

Eating...
Black Bean, Avocado & Kale Salads
These are ingredients I usually have on hand. I threw this combination together and topped it with a lime vinaigrette and it's delicious and healthy, not to mention super easy to prepare.

Drinking...
Matcha Lemonade
This combines two of my favorite drinks and it is both refreshing and bursting with anti-oxidants. I'm very big on drinks with benefits. 

Loving...
This vinegar makes the most delightful champagne vinaigrette dressing which is one of my go to's for salads and grain bowls. It's a cinch to whip up with minced garlic, dijon mustard, extra virgin olive oil, champagne vinegar, salt and pepper.

Going Out ...
For Walks Again
We still don't dine out or socialize much but we started going out for walks on the weekends in our neighborhood when the weather warmed up. It's a pleasant way to get in extra exercise and explore lower Manhattan same time. We have some favorite spots that not too many people know about or frequent that we keep to ourselves. 

Playing...
Dowloaded this when I got 6 months of Apple Arcade for free and it's so addictively fun. This is a stealth adventure game where you sneak around campsites and try to find food from coolers and picnic baskets without getting caught. There are side challenges and goals to keep it interesting and you can acquire some cool upgrades as you go along.

I attended my first indoor social gathering in over two years the other week. It was a retirement party for a former work mentor who I'm fond of and really respect. I kept my KN95 mask on as well as my distance from most people and didn't drink or eat. It was fine and I tested judiciously after that. It was nice to socialize without feeling stigmatized for choosing a higher level of personal safety for health reasons. I get that everyone is tired of COVID but the pandemic hasn't ended and people really need to understand that for those of us who are immunocompromised, it can be debilitating if we get it so we've chosen to adapt to a new normal for that reason.

Also I’ve been dealing with some personal issues so I might not be posting as often this month.

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10 comments

R's Rue said...

I respect you so much my friend. Blessings.

FASHION TALES said...

Honestly, Rowena I totally understand, several co-workers and I were the only ones wearing our masks for a public work event that was mandatory. We are required to travel, and some places still you cannot enter actually without one. I hope all gets better with you soon on the personal front. Blessings and good health to you dear. /Madison

The Exclusive Beauty Diary said...

I would like to watch Alchemy of Souls because I like that type of series. Thank you for recommendation.

Mica said...

It's good you were safely able to attend the party! :)

Thanks for the book recommendation too - I really liked the Midnight Library but haven't read the comfort book yet. I just got a bunch of holds from the library so I think I'll spend most of my weekend reading, haha!


Hope the personal things are resolved soon for you, and hope you are having a nice weekend :)

Away From The Blue

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Lovely said...

I will checkout the game. It sounds cool.
xoxo
Lovely
www.mynameislovely.com

Hena Tayeb said...

Love the sound of that matcha lemonade and kale salad.

Pablo Parra (Fungi) said...

Hey Rowena, your comment just made my day a little bit better :) Thank you so much for your words full of motivation!

It is cool to see that other freelancers like you are reading these series. That's such a good tip, thank you for sharing it with me tho ;)

I love these moodboards, they are full of different thing so you can catch a lot of inspiration from different categories.

"The Midnight Library" has been on my list for months! I am eager to read it, maybe in the upcoming months! Talking about food, the Matcha Lemonade you are mentioning sounds delicious too.

And about CoVid I feel very tired, but same as you I still wear my mask specially in closed places or at the metro.

By the way I hope those personal issues pass soon and wishing you a lovely summer ahead!

Pablo
www.HeyFungi.com

Emmylou said...

Ooooo...matcha lemonade sounds good, and would really help with this hot weather we're having right now:D And I really have to start reading Matt Haig. Must also watch In The Mood For Love soon. I feel like I'm the last person who hasn't seen this movie:(
PS Thanks for inquiring about our situation, chingu:) Our TV is still spotty but at least, the internet and cell phone are working so there's that...sigh....

Jackie Harrison said...

Comfort book sounds interesting.