Last week, I had the opportunity to spend a morning at Autophoto for an exclusive museum tour and lomography workshop. The experience was offered to just 25 people (first come, first serve), and I was lucky enough to catch when the RSVP went live and snag a spot.

I visited Autophoto for the first time when they opened their NYC doors in October (2025), and it quickly became one of my new favorite spots in the city. Currently, there are 7 working photobooths on site - including the only working Polaroid booth in the world (originally from Chuck E. Cheese) that still operates with tokens. There’s also a rare Model 12 booth from the late 1950s that accommodates wider format paper (53mm instead of the standard 40mm). A couple booths in the space are not yet working, but scheduled to be restored. Founder Bre Conley Saxon (@autophoto_bre) talked about how she has a few more booths sitting in shipping containers back in Connecticut in her driveway (where she had driven from that day to be there for the workshop). I admire her dedication and passion for preserving the art form so much - it truly is a labor of love.

The most exciting booth (for me) is the Model 21 MTV booth (1980s-1990s). This booth was featured on MTV’s Total Request Live and has been used by many celebrities. In October, I unfortunately had just missed the limited color paper that is occasionally run in this booth. If I remember correctly, I don’t even think it lasted a week? 😅 This time, I was in luck because it made its elusive return and hadn’t all been used up yet. I think the snowstorm actually helped matters in this case - since Autophoto closed for that day… and days leading up to the storm people were panic buying all the bread at Trader Joe’s. 🤡 I was thrilled to be able to create this photo strip - as the paper stopped being made in 2005. Any color analog strips created after that time are made with deadstock paper. It is now once again out, but be sure to follow Autophoto on Instagram (@autophoto) in case it comes back so you can be the first to know if/when it does.

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Everything was turned off for the snowstorm - including any heating pads for the chemistry inside the “mini darkrooms” of each booth. We learned that the temperature of the chemicals affects how the final prints develop. The color paper printed a bit more muted for example when the chemistry was still on the colder side. I waited until closer to the end of the session - after it had heated up - which yielded a more vibrant result. Toward the back of the space, there is a demonstration booth where you can watch the inner workings of the development process (and see why it takes several minutes for analog photostrips to land in your hands after being taken).

Bob Greco (@picturemanbob) also demoed a Graflok 4x5 Instant Back and took our portraits. I always feel so awkward sitting in front of someone else’s camera (much more comfortable being behind the camera 😅) but Bob was great (and was also wearing a very fun colorful sweater). I told him I had wanted to capture my own colorful sweater, and I love how it turned out. Hire Bob to take polaroids at your event(s)!

The gallery/museum houses special artifacts and ephemera celebrating photobooth history including an original photostrip of photobooth inventor Anatol Josepho and his dog. You can see the silver flecks and the superior quality - truly amazing (and better in person). On the wall (closest to the merch counter), a camera he designed in 1925 is displayed (alongside a digital copy of the aforementioned strip; you can really see the difference in quality). Fun fact: the camera is actually mounted upside down due to its weight distribution.

There is also a wonderful collection of celebrity photostrips on display featuring Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Meghan Markle, and Matthew Perry just to name a few.

Whether you’re visiting from out of town or call NYC home - Autophoto is the perfect place to create a one of a kind memento, pop in for date night, or channel your inner vogue when the feeling strikes. Come with friends or come alone! There is so much to do in the surrounding area, too. Grab a slice of pizza at Scarr’s, secure your next wardrobe staple or statement piece at Big Bud Press or Susan Alexandra, indulge in a sweet treat at Bon Bon, or pick out the perfect gift for yourself (or a special someone) at A Shop of Things.

The contents of my emptied bag after this day in the city. 😆

With an abundance of fruits and veggies in season (and the garden in full swing), Summer is my most creative time of year in the kitchen. There is so much to play with. I love getting my hands on ingredients I’ve never worked with before whenever possible, and the curiosity to explore is heightened. Overall I’m just more inspired to try new recipes (and make some up, too). Today’s post is a round up of summer recipes I tried for the first time, favorites I make every year, and some of my own made up creations.

Wineberry Chia Seed Jam

Wineberries grow wild here in NJ, and are one of the first things I learned to forage a few years ago. If you’ve never had them before - they are most similar to raspberries (but a bit smaller). I made wineberry chia seed jam for the first time, and it’s going to be an annual favorite going forward. I didn’t have pectin on hand, so this was my solution instead. I also made a second variation including peaches - inspired by peach melba (peach raspberry) - which I think I actually loved even more. I froze a pint of berries, and plan to make this jam again around the holidays.

• 2 cups wineberries (or 1 cup wineberries / 1 cup diced peaches)

• 1 tbsp chia seeds

• 1 tbsp maple syrup, to taste (optional)

• lemon juice, to taste (good squeeze)

Add berries (and peaches) to a small sauce pan and cook down til juicy. Use a pestle (or a fork) to mash the fruit. Remove from heat. Stir in chia seeds, maple syrup, and lemon juice. Cool completely. So good spread on buttered sourdough toast or swirled into overnight oats!

Chicken of the Woods

I also found myself brave enough to finally forage chicken of the woods mushrooms for the first time this year (after thorough research to ID them properly). **Please don’t consume any wild mushroom that you aren’t absolutely positive is edible. From what I read, it’s safest to eat only a small amount if it’s your first time trying them (to ensure your body doesn’t have a bad reaction). Do not eat them raw; be sure to cook them VERY thoroughly. I had a lot of fun cooking these up in various different ways - sauteed in brown butter with sage, grilled and dipped in bbq sauce, breaded in panko and baked, stir fried with rice / noodles, with pasta… the possibilities are truly endless!

Peach Pizza

One of my favorite parts about summer is juicy local NJ peaches - and using them on pizza. I like pairing the peaches with other toppings like jalapeños, shishitos, cherry tomatoes, corn, zucchini blossoms, and of course mozzarella. For the “sauce” layer - I switch it up between pesto, Calabrian chili oil, and homemade tomato sauce using tomatoes from the garden. Drizzle of balsamic glaze and fresh basil to finish it off out of the oven. I garnished with calendula flowers, too, a couple times and loved the sunny pops of yellow those added. 🌼

Jalapeño Garlic Basil Pesto

• jalapeño peppers

• garlic

• olive oil

• salt

• basil

• scallions

• water

• white vinegar

Originally, I intended for this to be a hot sauce… but naturally, I didn’t use a recipe. 😅 I wanted to use the abundance of jalapeños I had in my garden so roasted them (at 350 for 30 mins) with olive oil, garlic, and salt. Blended with basil and scallions (also from my garden) and a little white vinegar and water to emulsify. It was too thick to be drizzle-able (and yes, I could’ve thinned it out with water or even olive oil) - but kinda liked the “paste” consistency? It was great spooned onto pizza (paired great with the peach pizza above), mixed into stir fries (rice, noodles), or even a quick way to add some pizzazz to salsa.

Cutting Board Salsa

Probably not the most appetizing title… but that’s what I call it. 😂 Tomatoes are my favorite thing to grow in the garden, and each summer I look forward to bringing a cutting board outside and making salsa in the sun. I enjoy cutting everything up (instead of using a food processor) — although it’s a lot slower, there’s something meditative about taking the time to do it this way. I love the chunky texture, too.

• 1 heirloom tomato

• 1 peach (optional)

• 1-2 cloves garlic

• 1-2 jalapeños

• salt & pepper

• fresh basil (thinly sliced)

• lemon juice (good squeeze)

I usually throw the garlic and jalapeños on my small electric grill to get their juices going. You could also probably do this in a small saucepan with a little oil or in the oven (if you’re baking something else, you could throw in a small ramekin with the jalapeños/garlic). Raw is fine, too, of course. So great on tacos or just enjoyed with tortilla chips.

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Blueberry Cornbread Muffins (Vegan)

I had this craving for weeks to bake blueberry cornbread muffins and was thrilled to find this vegan recipe. I topped them with some crumb topping I had leftover from a fruit crisp I made. They did run a little bit on the drier side, but the juiciness of the blueberries helped balance that out. Storing at room temperature for 1-2 days / freezing fresh and defrosting as needed seemed to be the best way to maintain the moisture. I’ll definitely be making these again!

Peach Blueberry Lemonade

I didn’t use a recipe for this and just kinda winged it because I wanted it. 😅 It was so hot the day I made it, and it really did hit the spot. I cooked down the blueberries and peach in a small saucepan (similar to how I made the jam above), removed from the heat and squeezed in a good amount of lemon juice. I sweetened with a little maple syrup instead of a (granulated sugar based) simple syrup - and then let the natural sweetness of the fruit carry it the rest of the way. I originally wasn’t planning to strain it (because I hate having to clean a strainer) 😅 but the texture is much better when strained without all the pulp floating around. The color was so beautiful! Fresh herbs from the garden (like mint or basil) make a great garnish too (alongside a slice of lemon of course).

Chocolate Zucchini Bread (Vegan)

I love making zucchini bread every year to use up some of the zucchini from the garden. This chocolate version is like a luscious and moist - yet light - chocolate cake. I made a loaf for my dad’s birthday in August and made it again a few weeks later for no particular occasion at all. The second time I made it, I used some fancy orange infused olive oil from Spain gifted to me by a friend (instead of regular olive oil). Could absolutely add some orange juice / zest into the original recipe for a chocolatey orange twist inspired by that special oil.

Curry Noodles w/ Curry Cups

Fall is in the air and chillier nights are finally here - which means ‘tis the season for warm and cozy dinners again. I’ve been making curry noodles on repeat lately using end of season veggies and herbs from the garden (eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, basil), tofu, Thai wheat noodles, and a couple spoonfuls of Curry Cups (*affiliate link). It feels like a celebration of the end of summer and the start of fall simultaneously. YUM.

I hope you all had a great (and delicious) summer, too. This post feels very “late” now that summer’s officially over - but I figured it was better to share it late rather than never.

Cheers to a beautiful and equally delicious fall season! 🍂 I’m already dreaming up apple crisps after apple picking, roasted butternut squash soup, and veggie lasagna. 😉

On Friday, I took a solo day trip down to Cape May to celebrate the first official day of summer. I spent the last day of summer there last year - and I’ve been yearning to go back ever since. It’s one of my favorite places. Every time I go, I never want to leave. What better way to kick off the season? It also felt like the perfect pre-game to season 3 of The Summer I Turned Pretty. Cue This Love by Taylor Swift. 😏

I started off the day at Higbee Beach to create some content (photo and video) for Recess. They gifted me a sampler pack of their magnesium & adaptogen infused sparkling water and gave me an affiliate code to share. Use code “amyventures” for a 25% discount through June 27, and 15% off after that date (I believe).

https://app.devotion.club/brand/recess/amyventures

**I make a small commission off every sale made through this link with my code, so think of it as a little way to support me / this project (and also stock up on some fun non-alcoholic drinks for the upcoming holiday / summer season)! 💫

It’s the first time I’ve created branded content in awhile. In recent years, I stopped doing this type of work because it gave me the ick. I used to say yes to everything, and it eventually depleted me so much I had to stop. But when Recess reached out, I was excited by the opportunity, thought it was a great match (to my brand, voice, and aesthetic), and had to say yes. I could have chosen to just accept the free drinks and produced content at home - but decided to take it a step further. (I’m so glad I did)!

I had the idea of “a recess in Cape May” - and had to see it through. It was a beautiful day, and the only clouds in the sky were on the cans. 😉

So far I’ve only tried the strawberry rose, orange vanilla, and raspberry lemon flavors - but I’ve genuinely loved them all so far.

They didn’t pay me to say any of this (or even to write this post). All opinions are completely my own - and I’m sharing because I truly did have so much fun shooting this project.

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After I finished shooting, I enjoyed a picnic lunch and then indulged in a little beach combing session before leaving for my next stop: the lighthouse. I always have to see it anytime I visit; it never gets old. I got to walk part of trail there too since I didn’t have the dogs with me (because it’s unfortunately not pet friendly). Walking in the shade under the trees was a nice break from the strong sun. 😌

I made my way over to Beach Plum Farm next, but sadly it was late afternoon at this point and they were closing up when I got there. I’ll have to go earlier next time to try their food (which sounds so good). I still got to walk the grounds quickly and take some photos, though. Their hydrangeas in bloom made me so happy!

Try Recess w/ code "amyventures"

I ended the day walking around downtown a bit (browsing antiques and art) before heading home. I stopped by Out of the Past Antiques, West End Garage, and Antiques Emporia / Tea by the Sea.

My last official stop of the day was Good Deeds Market in Carpenter Square Mall - where I picked up a couple new Ana Inciardi mini prints to add to my growing collection. I was so stoked about pulling the monarch butterfly one!

If you’ve been following me on Instagram, I hope the Recess posts haven’t been too overbearing? Just know that it’s coming from a place of trying to put myself back out there in that capacity again. Embracing using my creativity and talent to support myself through that type of work - rather than feeling shame and cringe for it. Channeling some big Mel Robbins energy - if people want to cringe over it, let them.

I hope your summer’s off to a good start so far, and that you’re staying cool through the heatwave!

It’s been a month and a half since I last wrote in this space (sorry!) May and the first half of June have been busy - with every ounce of my spare time and energy allocated to rebuilding the garden. I talked a little bit about how I had to dig up my established garden beds of 6 years in my last post, and won’t bore you with the details in this post - but I feel like I’m coming up and out on the other side of it for some air finally. Maybe my next post will be a full garden update?

For today’s post, I wanted to share some photos from a day out in Long Valley, NJ earlier this month. It was such a beautiful, sunny, “top 10” day - which has felt like a rarity this year. If you live here on the east coast, you know it’s felt a whole lot more like the PNW and has been unseasonably wet for us. I’m not mad about it though - everything is so green and lush. But when I saw a day like this in the forecast? I knew it couldn’t go to waste.

I started with a quick hike at one of my favorite parks - Schooley’s Mountain. I knew that there were irises up in the meadow overlooking the lake, but it had been a few years since I had caught them in bloom. To my delight, they were opened up and on full display. I also made my way to the overlook and waterfalls - which were so full and flowing with so much water from all the rain.

Next, I stopped by Long Valley Peonies - a peony farm with over 65 varieties of peonies to see / smell! They had been on my list of places to visit for the longest time, and I finally made it there this year to catch their peak bloom. It was such a breathtaking sight - especially with the surrounding green rolling hills as a backdrop. The fluffiest flowers juxtaposed with the fluffiest clouds. I learned that different varieties had different scents - which I thought was so fascinating. So glad I decided to go. The flowers are past bloom now, and they are officially closed for the season - but please do add them to your itinerary for next year (and years to come)!

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The main stop of the day was Ort Farms for strawberry picking. It was also the last stop, as I didn’t want the berries to just be “cooking” inside of a hot car. Fortunately, all three of these places are under 10 minutes away from each other - so it really is possible to do everything in one day so long as you pace yourself.

There are so many other farms in the area, but Ort has been my favorite in recent years for PYO strawberries. I love the scenery (again, it’s the rolling hills for me 👌) - but their berries truly are top tier. They also recently upgraded their farm market (it’s now so much more spacious) and also newly launched vegan vanilla at their ice cream window. I didn’t get a chance to try it this time around, but it would have paired great with the strawberries!

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One of the simplest joys of early summer is going berry picking and coming home with an abundance of locally grown ripe berries to play with in the kitchen for the coming week.

Here’s everything I made this year:

Strawberry Turnovers

I avoid turning on the oven during the summer as much as possible, but sometimes it’s worth it. I usually can’t resist baking (at least) one thing with freshly picked berries when they’re in season. This year, I was too lazy to do a full blown pie - so I opted to make turnovers instead. They are so much easier, and still embody the ✨essence✨ of pie. I watched this video as a loose guide, but essentially I didn’t measure much of anything.

I cooked the filling down (a couple handfuls of halved strawberries, a couple spoonfuls of sugar, squeeze of lemon juice) and thickened with a little corn starch slurry in a small saucepan. Let that filling cool completely while cutting the (pre-made) sheet of puff pastry dough into rectangles. I was able to make nine with one sheet. Fill one side of each puff pastry rectangle with the (cooked and cooled) strawberry filling, then fold the pastry onto itself. Seal the edges with a fork and a little water if necessary. Brush the tops with a little soy milk so they bake up nice and golden! Cut slits on the tops to allow steam to escape. The filling will likely still leak out / ooze a bit, but that’s okay. An ooey gooey delicious mess! Bake on a lined baking sheet for 30-40 minutes at 350 F.

Strawberry Matcha Latte

I reserved a bit of the juices from the turnovers to make a strawberry matcha latte. I’ve never been a coffee person, but in recent years I’ve really grown to love matcha. I tried 12 Matcha last month when I was in the city for MDW, and it was worth every bit of the hype. Anyways, trying matchas at different cafes has inspired me to upgrade the matchas I make at home. This was my first time attempting a strawberry matcha latte, and it was so good!

Spoon the thickened strawberry juices into the bottom of the glass, then add ice, milk of choice (I did soy milk), and matcha prepared as usual (whisked with hot water is how I do mine). So refreshing on a hot summer day!

The Fluffiest Vegan Pancakes (w/ Strawberries)

I used to be a boxed pancake mix girlie, but it really isn’t that hard to make them from scratch. This week, I tried this recipe by Ambitious Kitchen for “fluffy vegan pancakes” and it did not disappoint! They were sooooo fluffy. I served mine with peanut butter (slathered between each pancake), maple syrup, coconut whipped cream, and some cooked down strawberries on top. (I cooked them similarly to how I cooked the turnover filling, but didn’t thicken with corn starch).

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My Go-To Salad (w/ Strawberries)

I make a variation of this salad throughout the year - and change it up depending on what’s in season. Strawberries in the summer and apples / dried cranberries in the fall! Here are the ingredients:

• lettuce / arugula / kale (from my garden)

• scallions (1-2 stalks) or diced slice of red onion

• sweet potato / chickpeas (I usually pick 1 of the 2)

• pasta (1-2 handfuls, I love fusilli or penne)

• tofu

• avocado

• strawberries

• mint (a couple leaves goes a long way)

• roasted sunflower seeds (nut or seed of choice)

• nutritional yeast

• Trader Joe’s goddess dressing w/ balsamic glaze drizzle OR balsamic vinaigrette (pairs so well with the strawberries)

I’ll usually get the sweet potatoes (cubed, baked at 350 F for 30 mins) or chickpeas (in a pan with a little oil) and pasta going while I work on preparing / cutting up everything else. Feel free to omit any ingredients if you don’t have them or don’t like them - this is just what I like in my salad!

Overnight Oats (w/ Strawberries)

Once the weather warms, all I want is a cool and refreshing easy breakfast. I love that this basically feels like a dessert.

• 1/2 cup rolled oats

• 1 tbsp chia seeds

• 1 cup soy milk (or milk of choice)

• spoonful of peanut butter (optional)

• spoonful of matcha powder (optional)

• a couple strawberries, diced

Basically just add (oats, chia seeds, soy milk) to a jar, shake to combine, and let it sit overnight. When serving, I like to smear peanut butter around a bowl and pour the overnight oats into that. Sometimes I’ll add cinnamon. I also tried adding matcha powder straight into the jar one day, and that was a yummy variation, too. Then, of course, top with fresh strawberries!

Strawberry Top “Tea”

Did you know the tops of strawberries are edible, too? I like to keep mine in a glass or small pitcher in the fridge and steep them in water to make “strawberry top tea.” It may not look the most aesthetic, but it’s refreshing! Once they’re done steeping, I’ll often throw the tops right into my salad (above) too, so they don’t go to waste. 😅

Have you gone strawberry picking yet this year? I hope this gives you some ideas on what to make if/when you do!

The last few weeks have finally felt like spring in New Jersey (although we also had a mid April snow day and a couple 80 degree “summer” days 😅). I’ve been soaking up all the sunshine and what I like to refer to as “top 10 days” - spending as little time as possible tethered to a screen. In turn, I haven’t written here as much as I would’ve liked (only publishing one other post this month) - but that’s okay. This post is a bit of an April round up - so it’s got more packed into it than usual!

One of my favorite things to do this time of year is visit our beautiful arboretums, public gardens, and parks. Each week, there is always something new in bloom. I try to see as many flowers and trees at their “peak” - knowing they won’t return again for a whole other year. The wait is always worth it, though. After winter, the burst of color just makes my heart so happy. I find myself in awe thinking just how amazing it is that all these hues and types of flowers just *exist* in nature and that we get to enjoy them. 😍

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While I love making special intentional trips out to certain spots, I also love seeing the flowering trees in parking lots and just the wildflowers popping up along the trail we walk the dogs daily, too.

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I love foraging for ramps (wild leeks) - and made a batch of ramp butter this week. The flavor profile is like a young garlic / onion / chive - tastes like spring. I feel like the culinary world goes crazy over them. I only learned about them in recent years, and now I look forward to them popping up along the forest floors every April.

RAMP BUTTER

1. Forage ramps sustainably (taking only 1 leaf per plant, never pulling the bulbs) or purchase a bunch from your local farmer’s market.

2. Blend ramps with olive oil (enough to emulsify).

3. Whisk in olive oil ramp mixture with softened butter. I like using the vegan “butter alternative” from Trader Joe’s - but use any butter you’d like!

4. Store in an airtight container or wrap in parchment paper logs to freeze and save. I love having some in the freezer to work through during summer / fall / winter when ramps are long gone. So great on a piece of toast, tossed with pasta, mixed into a butternut squash curry, etc.

** If you cannot get your hands on ramps, you can honestly do this with any herb or even roasted garlic!

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2ND ANNUAL SEED & PLANT SWAP AT THE LILLIE HOUSE

A couple weekends ago, I also went to The Lillie House’s second annual plant / seed swap. I went last year too, after hearing about the event through a post I saw on Facebook (which I never really use anymore - so I’m really glad I happened to see it). I’ve learned so much from fellow gardeners, and always bring something new home to add to my own garden for the year. It’s so fun seeing some of the perennials from last year’s swap coming back to life this year! I’ll be growing snapdragons for the first time this year thanks to Nichole of Wild Rose Flower Co. (who brought snapdragon seedlings to the swap).

ORIGAMI SEED PACKETS

I made origami seed packets to share some from my collection (and labeled them with some cute little doodles). Last year, I had just brought containers of loose seeds - so this seemed like a way more efficient way to give them away. I reused paper from paper bags I had saved, but you can use any paper you want or have! Maybe a great way to repurpose junk mail? The best part: no glue or tape necessary!

I’ve started exchanging seeds with a couple friends (through mail) in the last couple years - and think I might start packaging up future seeds to send this way too. 🥰 I’m really excited to be growing calendula for the first time thanks to seeds my friend Rebecca collected from her own garden and sent me!

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“To plant a garden, is to believe in tomorrow.” - Audrey Hepburn

As I write this, tomorrow is May 1st, and my garden for the year is in a complete state of upheaval (not ideal). I have written before about gardening and the life lessons one can glean from having your own garden. One of those lessons being - not everything is in your control.

I’ve had this lingering waterline / sewer project hanging over my head that I tried to spearhead in February as soon as the ground thawed. The project was supposed to take place in late March or early April - and due to circumstances I can’t control… it’s still not done (or even started). I’m really hoping for the best, choosing to believe there will be a garden this summer - but I’d be lying if I said I also wasn’t incredibly anxious about it all. Now is the time to be putting plants into the ground and letting them establish their roots before the heat of summer - and here I am, uprooting everything. Cue anxiety, but at least the dogs (specifically, Stewie) are having fun in the dirt pile and hollowed out raised beds. 😅

I’ve chosen to start the seeds through the unknown - choosing to try to believe. Fingers crossed there will be veggies and flowers in the coming months! 🤞 I also couldn’t stay away from the garden center (oops) - picking up the usual (eggplant and pepper starts) and also a new-to-me flower (gazanias).

I’ll end with a silly daffodil selfie, a page from my junk journal, and also some words I wrote (on a scrap from making the origami seed packets) that I feel like really encompasses the season. I hope your spring is off to a great start wherever you are! 🌸

I’ve always associated the start of spring with what I have called “cemetery season” for as long as I can remember. My family always gets together around this time of year and visits relatives buried in both NY and PA. The tradition is known as “Hong San” and is associated with the Chinese tomb-sweeping “QingMing” festival. My mom always vaguely refers to it as “the Chinese holiday” (and we have never once called it the QingMing festival). For me, it was always just an association with the season - always occurring sometime after the first day of spring but before Easter.

We plant flowers, set out food, and burn incense. After my uncle passed away from COVID (three years ago this month… just days before his 60th birthday), I also started painting rocks and bringing those to leave on top of the tombstones, too. It was something I had started doing for myself during the pandemic (as a way to process trauma and grief) - and now has become something I do annually for this occasion, too.

When I tell friends that my family does this every year, I feel like most of them say “that’s so nice” - which I suppose it is. I’ll admit, though, I have felt disconnected from the tradition some years. Especially as a kid, it was hard to find meaning in planting flowers for people I had never met. Of course, as I’ve gotten older, I can now put more faces to tombstones… because that’s how time and life works.

This year, I offered to pick up the flowers for our PA trip (as I was planning on going to Trader Joe’s for groceries anyways). Picking out flowers feels like it carries more weight now, actually knowing who they’re for.

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Last Saturday, in celebration of national poetry month, I went to a poetry reading with Alicia Cook at Chapter One Bookstore. It was the rainiest day, but that made for an extra cozy and intimate event… like adult story time. Alicia Cook’s work mainly explores the topics of mental health, addiction, and grief. She read from her mixtape series, and I ended up bringing home her most recent poetry collection The Music Was Just Getting Good. It was the perfect thing to curl up on the couch with that evening (with the dogs, too, of course). This blurb on the back cover really resonated with me:

"Grief is not solely for death. We may grieve who we used to be, moments that never came to pass, physical places, and, of course, people; people who've died, but also those we had to leave behind."

Brianna Pastor was also supposed to read from her debut book Good Grief, but unfortunately had to cancel last minute due to being sick. Her poetry found me at a time in my life when I was really struggling a couple years ago, and I have been a fan of hers ever since. Coincidentally, I had briefly met Alicia in line at Brianna’s book signing last year - so when I saw them doing this joint event this year it felt serendipitous.

At the end of the event, there was an open mic where others were encouraged to share their poetry. I don’t typically dabble in writing poetry, but I had jotted down something in my notes app on my phone (while brushing my teeth a couple nights prior) *in case the urge struck* to share something. It felt very unfinished at the time - so I ended up not having the courage to share it. I’ve been tweaking it over the course of the last week, though. I’m still not sure it’s “done” but I’m choosing to share it here, anyways:

I can hear your laugh in my head
But I’ll never hear it with my own ears again
Only in my mind

I still have your birthday voicemail
Why didn’t I pick up the phone more?
Can’t return your call now

“I bet you’d order that flavor”
I think to myself at the ice cream parlor
Before ordering it - in your honor

I can’t wear that shirt
It’s dressed in the memory of you
Yet in my closet it remains

I find photos tucked in old journals
That I can’t get rid of
But also don’t want to keep

I wore a locket around my neck
They all thought it was a boy
No, you were my best friend

I try to escape the reminders
The place, the thing, a color, a song
You’re everywhere

I meet someone with your name
Impossible not to think of you
And how it’ll never be the same

I regret never learning Chinese
Questions I’ll never get to ask
Stories you’ll never get to tell

I paint rocks for you these days
Although I won’t see your smile
Never got to say goodbye

I wrote this in groups of three lines (originally, pairs of two lines). Each set of lines is written with a different person in mind. One set refers to a pet. Most of these people (and the dog) are dead, but not all of them. I also think certain lines can apply to multiple different people and situations.

There is something so raw and vulnerable about poetry - which is probably why it can feel so liberating (but also scary) to write. I’ve always thought that writing good poetry was hard - intimidating - like writing song lyrics without a melody or instrumental backing to distract from its contents. But maybe that’s also what makes it resonate so strongly. Without the noise, it’s a path straight to the heart.

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The next day (the day after the poetry event), is the day my family planned to do the 4+ hour round trip road trip to PA (for “Hong San”). It felt fitting to follow up a day of listening to and reading poetry rooted in grief with that trip. Another rainy day (also fitting).

My cousin Jordan recently shared a blog post about her mom (who passed away from cancer 10 years ago). She mentioned wearing her mom’s favorite color and going out for ice cream (and getting the flavor that reminded her most of her). On the way back home to NJ (from PA), we always stop at this chocolate shop (that also doubles as an ice cream parlor). I ordered a scoop of “triple chocolate sin” (in a chocolate waffle bowl) in honor of my grandpa - who loved his chocolate (and his coffee). My brother ordered vanilla, which I think was my grandma’s favorite (although I’m not sure that’s the reason he chose it).

Grief isn’t something that ever goes away. You just learn to live with it. Some days and some reminders hurt more than others. While others, can bring a smile or a laugh. There’s something extra sweet about the intentional moments we choose to have - with someone particular in mind. But even those intentional moments can feel a little bitter(sweet).

Whatever or whoever you’re currently grieving, I hope that you are being extra gentle with your heart. Know that you aren’t alone, and that it’s just one of the many things that makes us all beautifully and universally human. 💕

This Saturday, we got our first 75 degree sunny day of the year - and the only place I wanted to be was down the shore. I woke up early, gathered my things (camera, water, you know… the essentials 😉) and was on my way as soon as possible to maximize the day’s fun in the sun. Nothing like some good weather to channel that ✨carpe diem✨ energy!

I grew up going to Point Pleasant as a kid, and over the years have visited multiple other points along the New Jersey coastline (Cape May, Asbury Park, Long Branch, Atlantic City, Stone Harbor, Wildwood, and of course my most frequented… Sandy Hook). I’ve also spent time exploring Coney Island, the Rockaways, and a handful of beaches on Long Island. Somehow, I’ve never made it to Seaside Heights, though (until now). It had been on my list, but always got back-burned (and it doesn’t help that they aren’t a dog friendly beach community, either). So when the opportunity presented itself this weekend to go - and go solo (without the dogs) - I took it (even though it’s always so hard to leave them behind). 😅

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As an artist / designer, I’ve always loved the vibrant colors and bold signage of a boardwalk. From the arcades (and their carpets), to the carnival games and prizes and rides, to the candy shops, and the public art — it’s like everything happy all in one place. It’s such a visual feast for me. 😍 Even when there isn’t a boardwalk to explore - I love seeing the pastel houses, motel signs, vintage cars, etc. There’s just something about walking around a beach town. Visiting this time of year is also always a special treat because it’s still off season, admission / parking is free, and not everything is open for business quite yet. When I arrived in the morning, it was still pretty quiet and sleepy - but by the afternoon it was bustling and busy! It was kinda a fun surprise to see which gates rose and who opened up!

For lunch, I got a slice of pizza from 3 Brothers Pizza. A woman in line kept raving about it - telling me she comes down to the beach just for *this* pizza and that it was comparable to pizza she’s eaten in Brooklyn. It was definitely the biggest slice I’ve ever eaten (2 plates was definitely necessary)… it was like 2 slices in one, and it was good! $7.75 for one slice was a little yikes, but it was worth it. I was also delighted to see Kohr’s open up, and was happy to stand in the long line and get an orange and vanilla twist. Pizza and ice cream on the boardwalk? The best. 🌞

After I finished frolicking in Seaside, I drove over to Island Beach State Park (which is right next door). I had also never been here before, and was fascinated by the sight of people riding horses and driving their cars directly onto the beach. Apparently you need a permit (for your car) - and it’s pretty competitive to get one. Not sure about the horses - but I’m sure that requires a permit, too. 😅

I wish I had allotted more time to explore here - but enjoyed the couple hours I did have. I collected seashells, and it reminded me a lot of Sandy Hook - but it was also different. Isn’t it cool how a brand new place can remind you of a familiar one, but also delight you in a way that you’ve never been delighted before?

Anyways, I really enjoyed this day to myself - and can’t encourage “solo dates” more. Whether it’s to some place new or a familiar favorite - it is truly such a rejuvenating thing. I try to regularly make room in my calendar for days like this, and it always is such a good reset. 🥰 When was the last time you spent some time with yourself?

A couple weeks ago, I stopped by this new Korean supermarket called Kasia on my way home from the shibori food scrap dye workshop I attended. I had seen a post about it on Instagram, and saw that it was only 15 minutes away from where the workshop was being held - so decided to check it out afterwards.

It was huge, and I think I spent over an hour (probably closer to an hour and a half) exploring everything. Right when you walk in, you get to see how they grow their own hydroponic lettuce - which I thought was so cool because I don’t think I’ve ever seen another grocery store do this. They also sell locally grown mushrooms, and I was impressed with how well they labeled their vegan options. Sometimes the experience of being in an unfamiliar grocery store can be overwhelming - so I really appreciated the bright green “vegan” labels they implemented. I feel like most specialty markets don’t do this. I scored a bottle of (vegan) oyster sauce, which I was very excited about!

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I went up and down every aisle picking out different things to try that caught my eye. Back in college, I once thought I wanted to pursue a career in package design. I love looking at the designs of labels, boxes, etc. and have always been interested in how the way something is designed influences whether or not you choose to pick it up off the shelf and (potentially) ultimately buy it. It really was a visual delight to see an array of different food packaging that deviates from the same old stuff that I see on a weekly basis at my routine grocery store(s)… Trader Joe’s and Aldi. 😅 The snack and ramen aisles were probably my favorites to peruse - as I feel like those tend to be some of the most vibrant and colorfully designed (often with cute characters / illustrations too).

Ironically, I used to be so intimidated going into Asian grocery stores - despite being Chinese and growing up going into them as a kid with my mom all the time. 😅 Now, I look at specialty grocery stores / grocery stores of a different culture as an adventure and a way to get out of my comfort zone. It’s the opportunity to slow down and really look at the things on the shelves (taking the time to read labels) - instead of just reaching for the same staples. While there’s something uncomfortable about not being able to read all the words on the packaging, I think it also adds to the fun of it all. There’s an element of mystery and surprise. “I wonder what this will taste like?” Ultimately, it’s the opportunity to try something new!

After putting my groceries into the car, I went back inside to grab a sweet treat from The Hungry Tiger (part of their in house food court). I tried the matcha bingsu (shaved ice), and really enjoyed eating it in the spring sunshine.

Writing this post reminded me of the time I went into an Indian grocery store for the first time a few years back. I remember walking in and being stunned by the spice aisle. With limited knowledge of Indian cuisine, I had no idea what to buy. The owner of the store saw me wandering around and I asked her for some recommendations. She pointed out a couple items her kids enjoy, and I picked out a few things that caught my eye, too. The fry-able colorful snack stars were probably my favorite find as they reminded me a lot of the colorful fried Chinese shrimp chips I grew up eating.

I left with a box full of goodies to try, just as I left with a heaping bag full of goodies to try from the Korean market. Unfortunately, the Indian grocery store has since permanently closed. I still think about this day, though, and had to pull some photos from my archives to share here.

Of course, stopping into a new grocery store probably won’t satisfy all the week’s needs - and you’ll likely still need to pick up the things you do every week from your usual grocery store - but I still think it’s worth trying every now and then. Who knows? Maybe you’ll discover some new favorites to add to your weekly rotation.

I think about how much we all look forward to Trader Joe’s seasonal items - and love that they are always introducing new items and changing up what they offer with the seasons. Even trying something you don’t usually buy or have never bought before from your usual grocery store could be a way to tickle your curiosity, switch it up, and make things interesting.

Have you gone grocery shopping yet for the week? 😉

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The last couple weekends have had my creative spirit feeling so completely warm and fuzzy - especially after such a long / cold winter! I can feel myself… defrosting? Don’t get me wrong - winter “hibernation” fosters the creative process too (in a different way).. but there is something about springtime - the warmer weather, the additional sunlight… it feels like an awakening of sorts.

Last Sunday, I ventured down to a sweet little boutique called Wull & Oak in Hopewell (NJ) and learned how to shibori dye with food scraps in a workshop taught by Earthencolor. (Apologies again for skipping writing here.. and that today’s post is also “late”… maybe this should be more of a bi-weekly thing? Or am I just making excuses? 😅)

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We learned to dye a garment of our choice (byo) with avocado pits and onion skins. The avocado pits yielded a dusty pink color and the onion skins a vibrant mustard yellow. We also had the option to dip our pieces in an iron-based solution after coming out of the dye baths - which shifted the pink to more of a purple and the yellow to more of an olive green. I chose to dye an old t-shirt in the avocado pit dye and then dipped the ends in the iron solution, so that way I could see both the pink and purple hues in the final piece.

I took my first dye workshop back in October (photo below) at The Lillie House (taught by Dye Kween) - where we learned to bundle dye using flowers - and this felt like such a great follow up to that.

I don’t have much experience with textiles and don’t really know how to sew, either (unless you want to count hand sewing the holes in my dogs’ toys 😂) - so this was me immersing myself into a whole new creative world and technique. I really love the process and unpredictability of it all - really fostering play and experimentation.

I think my favorite part is unraveling the fabric / garment at the end and seeing what it looks like.. the big reveal! It’s like opening a surprise gift because there’s a certain level of “try it and see what happens” and also a lack of being able to control what exactly happens. Even if you try to replicate something that you did that you liked - it won’t turn out exactly like the previous time. There are so many factors that contribute to the unique quality of each hand dyed piece - which is the beautiful part in it all.

Working with natural materials like flowers and food scraps also really aligns with my values (spending time in nature, trying not to waste anything, etc.), and I definitely want to explore doing this more on my own. There is something magical that happens though when you sit at a long table and create amongst other people! I love seeing what everyone else makes. ✨

Yesterday I was in the city and stopped by Haricot Vert (yes, again) 🙃 to check out (+ celebrate) their newly improved (larger) craft nook. They generously opened their doors and hosted an afternoon of “open crafting” for free, and honestly there was no place I’d rather have been. Yes, there was even a line to wait for a seat at the table(s).

Although there were no rules and you could make whatever you wanted, the tables were set up heavily in favor of collaging / scrapbooking / junk journalling - which is actually something I’ve started getting more into just this year. There is something freeing about the process - where perfection and creating something “good” kinda goes out the window. it was super chaotic and also a bit overstimulating (but also at the same time… awesome??!) Working at a table this cluttered was a bit of a challenge 😅 - but the energy was so *alive* and ever-changing. It’s something I couldn’t replicate at home alone if I tried. ⚡️

At first, I just started pulling pieces from the pile that interested me - and went from there, arranging them in my journal with no real plan in place. Loosely, I worked with the themes of “play” and “sweets” - and then I created a second spread around a beach “paradise” theme.

I came with (and sat next to) a friend and we were constantly passing things to each other to use. I feel like we were kinda in our own bubble, and a part of me does wish I tried to be more social, but that’s okay… next time! 😂

There was one guy that offered me something beach themed that he had collaged together, but I was hesitant to take it since it was something he made (which in retrospect feels silly.. because wasn’t that the point of being in a collaborative community space like this? He was offering it to me?) 😅 I think I felt weird about it and meant to ask… “Well what about you? Don’t you want to keep it for yourself?” and instead awkwardly said “Oh, no, that’s okay thanks…” Anyways, I’ll be replaying this interaction in my head for the foreseeable future, lol. (Why am I like this?)

I also brought a small stack of my (various different) business cards and sprinkled them onto the table for people to use in their projects, and it was fun to observe what was picked up and how they were used. My friend gave my dogs (cut out from my pet portraits business card) a party hat and crown. 😄

Last year for my birthday, I got together with a couple friends and we did a tufting workshop to celebrate. I think that was the day I realized: “I want more of this.” I was craving creative community, and felt like I hadn’t really had a sense of that in a long time. COVID shut me off to the idea of gathering for many years - and maybe it took those years to realize just how lonely creating in isolation can be. I feel like I have been chasing this feeling of creating amongst others ever since that day. It really was such a door for me, and I’m so glad I found it, opened it, and walked through.

Last Sunday I skipped writing a post again (sorry). Instead, I spent the day in the city. Yes, I could have written a post prior to the day of… but that’s not how this little routine of mine has been working for me, haha. So far, I’ve always written the morning of posting - and I like the energy of spending a Sunday morning like that. Anyways, today’s post is all about the fun that was had on that day! It’s probably one of my favorite days in a long time, defrosting from a very long and cold winter. If you’ve been following along over on Instagram this week, none of this is new - but it’s everything in one place. 🙂

I started off with a long overdue frolic through Chinatown. I had wanted to get out here for some of the Lunar New Year events, but it didn’t quite pan out. Despite missing the festivities, I still got to stop by some old favorite spots (and keep my eye out for cute snakes 🐍).

• Po Wing Hong (49 Elizabeth St) - Chinese grocery store where I picked up some nostalgic snacks & a bottle of sriracha; it’s always bustling on the weekend!

• Cheong Fun Cart (159 Hester St) - I used to come here all the time with my mom (who grew up in Chinatown). They serve the perfect fresh steamed rice noodle rolls at a great price w/ the filling of your choice.

• Manna House Bakery (125 Mott St) - the quintessential Chinatown bakery! They have the best egg custard tarts (“dan tat”), sweet topping buns (“bolo bao”), & vanilla sponge cake rolls.

• Uni 28 (28 Bowery) - I was devastated to see the gate down and “retirement sale” posted on the door but took photos of what I could through the gate. 🥺 I’ve always loved coming here to see the LNY decorations and red envelope designs over the years. 🧧

After Chinatown, I met up with my friend and her friend (who was visiting from out of town) for brunch / dim sum at Spicy Moon (Bowery location). Everything on the menu is fully vegan! We ordered (and shared):

• dan dan noodles (really good, so bouncy, one of their most popular dishes)

• fried veggie dumplings (we all loved these)

• vegan duck wrap (tofu based, tasted very duck-like imo)

• char siu shitake bao (was so intrigued to try this as someone who grew up eating pork based char siu baos; I wished it was bigger lol)

• spicy tofu bao (also wished this was bigger, but again this is coming from someone who grew up eating the baos of Chinatown 😅)

• Thai iced tea (pictured), matcha latte (pictured), cappuccino; (my matcha latte sadly had some clumps in it, but it was very pretty)

Overall, it was a fun dining experience, and I loved the ambiance of the place. (The bathroom was selfie worthy; first photo) 😉. I’d love to go back and try more things off their menu sometime. 😋

Next, we took the subway into Williamsburg (Brooklyn) to a magical literal dream world called Haricot Vert. I could have spent all day ogling over all the tiny adorable things. They are best known for their handmade picto charms (pictured above). You can DIY your own jewelry (necklace, bracelet, earrings, keychains, etc), enjoy a cozy drink or pastry from their cafe, try your luck at their $1 trinket vending machine, and take a polaroid selfie for their community collage. They also host a number of events and workshops in their craft nook. I had just missed their sticker swap with art gurl the day before. 😅

We ended the day with a couple sweet treats starting with Taiyaki. My friend and her friend ordered the “Straight Out Japan” matcha hojicha swirl, and I opted for the “beach please” mango strawberry swirl (for ✨variety✨).

We ate and took photos in front of this nearby colorful wall. Enjoying ice cream outside when the first signs of spring start to hit?? So satisfying. A couple groups of people asked us “where did you get that?” and we happily directed them “just across the street.” I guess you can call us *unofficial Taiyaki ambassadors.* 🙃

Our last stop of the day was Martha’s Country Bakery. 🍰 Being that we had just eaten ice cream, we didn’t get anything from their pastry cases - but it was still fun to do a drive by (for an instant serotonin boost). A part of me kinda regrets not getting a slice of cake or a cupcake to take home, but I also already had some goodies from Chinatown in my bag. 😂 We all got drinks, though. I ordered my second matcha latte of the day - which at 5 pm was probably a little bit of an oops, but that’s okay.

When I got back home, I emptied my bag and just stared at the contents and thought to myself: “what a good day” 😌

last friday I unexpectedly sprained my right wrist (while walking my dog). it was so swollen that I was forced to rest it completely for the next few days. I ended up cancelling a saturday day trip into nyc (originally not because of the wrist - but because there was more incoming snow and ice that evening)… but with my wrist pain, too - it probably ended up being for the best. I was still sad about it, though - as I had plans to frolic through chinatown, check out a lunar new year fair, and eat at a vegan chinese restaurant called spicy moon that I’ve been excited and curious to try. I had plans to write a “chinese new year in chinatown” post, but obviously couldn’t do that because I didn’t go. 🙃 in the name of rest, I didn’t write a post at all last sunday. I found myself really missing the (new) habit I’ve been working to build these last few weeks of turning on my “cozy coffee shop jazz” spotify playlist and sitting down to write my *sunday substack.* happy to report my wrist is doing better (although not 100% yet), the playlist is playing, and I’m back to writing again this weekend!

somehow I’ve made it this far in life without having broken a bone (knock on wood). I once sprained my ankle in gym class doing hurdles as a kid, but I don’t think it was that bad because I don’t remember how it impacted my daily functioning?? I don’t think I even had crutches? this time around it was my dominant wrist… and I found myself frustrated and crying daily (multiple times) over not being able to do the simplest tasks. I don’t know how anyone who has broken their dominant arm/hand and needs a cast for a longer period of time does it. I could barely do it for a week.

for superbowl sunday, I had plans to make guac and buffalo cauliflower “wings” and pizza - but the only thing I ended up making was the pizza. I don’t really care for football, but I do love an excuse to make “football food.” luckily, my partner helped me with opening (approximately) 42 things to help me make this pizza happen. anyone else with a busted wrist would have just settled for the simplest combo of sauce and cheese and call it done (or ya know, order takeout)… but I needed the calabrian chiles and the aglio olio seasoning and the frozen shishito peppers from my summer garden etc. basic pizza? I don’t know her. 😂 it felt like such an accomplishment when it came out of the oven, but then moments later I was in tears because of my inability to cut it into slices myself with my left hand. 😭

you don’t realize how many things require two hands or how much harder things are with one hand - until you do. getting dressed, showering, brushing your hair, flossing, eating, driving, walking your dog… the list goes on - but basically everything. for me, the hardest thing was not being able to create in the ways I normally do. write. cook. bake. paint. I was feeling so sad and useless (and desperate) the day I was supposed to be in the city that I attempted to paint with my left hand. I squeezed paint directly onto paper and then used a piece of cardboard to move the paint across the page. next, I stamped hearts using toilet paper rolls. there was something fun and freeing about this playful process - surrendering to the loss of control and embracing the imperfection of it all.

there has been no shortage of lessons in the last 5 years, and I certainly didn’t need another one… but life just goes that way sometimes, doesn’t it? I'll never be taking my hands for granted again. the amount of relief I felt when the swelling subsided and I could do things again like journal and crack fresh black pepper over my avocado toast… there are no words. I’m pretty sure I cried (happy tears). it feels overdramatic to admit, but it’s true. the smallest things get put into perspective during trying times.

as you probably already know, tonight is “the biggest night in music” - the grammys. ah, award show season. tonight, you’ll find me couched with a heaping bowl of guac with chips (I have so many ripe avocados I need to use up right now) - ready for it (to watch taylor win all the things). I love her, and I’m not mad about this - but I do feel for all the non winners and those who didn’t even get nominated. I feel like with every award show, there is great debate over who should have been on the nominee list - who was snubbed.

the first time I won an award for my art was in elementary school. actually, now that I think of it (this sounds so silly…) I don’t remember if there was an award involved or not. there must have been a ribbon of some sort, but that’s not the detail I remember. one of my pieces was chosen to be displayed in a local gallery. when my art teacher pulled me aside to tell me the good news, I remember she marveled that the piece reminded her of a city - and she compared the colors and composition to the work of Mondrian. of course, I had no idea who that was at the time. oh, to be a naive kid again. it was made from strips of cut paper and rectangular sponge paint marks; I wish I had a picture to insert here, but I couldn’t find one. I remember going to see it with my parents in the gallery and how proud they were. it was the first time I felt validated as an artist, and was the moment I realized “hey, you know what? maybe I’m actually kinda good at this!”

I’m not saying that was the defining moment that ignited my creative career, but it absolutely encouraged me early on to keep going and to keep pursuing art. I think - when you’re a kid especially - that can be so important.

eventually, I even decided to go to art school when the time came to apply for colleges. I remember applying early action and thinking “well, if they accept me, then I’ll go! if not, I’ll just go to a regular college as a backup plan.” I was accepted and that was my green light again of validation. another sign of being good enough. but when I got there? it was like all the big fish from little ponds came together to be big fish in a big pond. it’s probably a lot like how stars feel in hollywood. everyone is a big fish - a star - and everyone is there to shine.

I feel like I struggled to be recognized for much of anything through art school. upon graduating, I wasn’t even chosen to be part of the senior showcase where companies were invited to see our work and potentially offer us a job - which was absolutely heartbreaking. I felt that every senior should have had that opportunity. I felt like all the hard work, all nighters, and stress had been for nothing. I had given it my absolute all, and still came up short. if there was any moment where I felt completely not good enough - that was it.

ultimately, I’ve learned that validation can’t come from external sources. you still have to believe that you’re good enough even when nothing and no one else is telling you that you are. it’s not easy, but it’s the only way through. you have to believe there’s a seat for you at the table even when there’s only x amount of seats and they all seem to be filled. there’s room for all of us.

I had this silly idea to make a “survived january” award. I had all these fun visuals of what this award could look like - but ultimately ended up quickly freehand cutting out a ribbon from friday night’s pizza box (when I was too drained to fathom cooking myself dinner after getting our hvac system cleaned for 4.5 hours because a mouse died inside one of the vents 🙃). it’s a bit wonky and rough around the edges (literally), but it also feels fitting for this particular january. it’s been an emotional one, but hey - if you’re reading this, the good news is that you survived! even if you barely feel like you did… you did. and that alone is worth celebrating.

last night, I brought these matcha strawberry chocolate checkerboard shortbread cookies to (early) chinese new year dinner at my parents’ house. there’s no traditional significance here (nor is it a family recipe) - they’re just what *I* felt like baking.

my saved folder has been accumulating checkerboard cookie photos for months (does anyone else keep a tbb “to be baked” list?) it was my first time baking them, and I knew it would be somewhat of a project. I’m usually a drop cookie girlie, but sometimes I find myself wanting a “project” and these felt perfect after a week of trying to avoid the dumpster fire that is the current news cycle (combined with the opportunity to share them at a social function vs. eating them all myself). 😅

I actually ended up using the same (vegan + nut free) shortbread dough recipe that I baked linzer cookies with during christmas (linked here). I divided the dough in thirds and flavored with matcha, freeze dried strawberries (finely crushed), and cocoa powder. didn’t measure and just did “a spoonful or two” of each. 🙃 it was such a satisfying process to cut the dough into strips and build the dough log (and then later slice said log into individual cookies). when I make these again, I think I’ll bump up the powdered sugar a bit (since the linzers probably account for the added sweetness of the jam filling).

“messy hands quiet mind” is a thought I had written down around new year’s (after baking honeynut squash curry puffs). anytime I find myself in the kitchen baking, I notice how soothing it is for me. turning on a good playlist, getting my hands covered in flour / butter / whatever else (and therefore away from the doom scroll 💀), and creating something delicious (and cute) - all while the winter sun pours through the kitchen windows - has absolutely become one of my favorite things.

anyways, I hope that you are doing okay during these trying / uncertain times. if you also have a creative practice that you love to lean into to self soothe, I’d love to hear about it in the comments. enjoy the rest of your sunday! 💖

“is it too late to be wishing people a happy new year?” I thought to myself as I yelled out “happy new year!!” yesterday to a familiar face I know from the park where we walk the dogs every day. our dogs don’t get along (so we usually keep our distance) but still say hi. I hadn’t seen her yet *this year* so I decided it was fine.

is “happy” even the right word here? I also wondered - as the first half of january has been kinda shitty? the wildfires in LA have been weighing heavily on my heart and mind - it’s been hard to truly focus on much else. the upcoming presidential inauguration doesn’t exactly elicit feelings of *happy* either.

I celebrated my birthday earlier this week (or really, last weekend - because monday is a weird day to have a birthday). many restaurants / bakeries are closed. it’s the start of a new week, so people are busy. I was also not feeling 100% (literally everyone is sick rn??) and pretty sure I cried every day leading up to and on that day. I made the most of it (and there were moments of joy) but sometimes having a january birthday can be a lot.

chinese new year is also around the corner (january 29) - so technically I am early by that calendar in wishing you a “happy new year” 😉

essentially, the entire month is one “fresh start” after another.

start - is what I have thought about doing on here since early last year-ish? and I never did. so here I am - starting. it is not january 1st, and that’s okay. I have no idea what exactly I want this to be yet, and that’s okay. I’m going to figure it out as I go (as I do with most things if we’re being honest here), and that’s okay.

writing long form content isn’t new to me - but I would like to try to return to doing it more in 2025. I’ve kept personal journals since elementary school, and I’ve thought many times about writing a book. there is a blog section on my website that I started in 2014 after graduating from art school... although in recent years, I haven’t posted much on there regularly. substack feels fresh - and like a nice in between that is less formal than a traditional blog post and longer than the caption of an instagram post.

anyways, I think I’ll end here for today. I like the idea of publishing on saturday / sunday - so look for future posts on weekends? not sure if it will be a weekly or bi-weekly thing yet.. but I do like the sound of “saturday substack” / “sunday substack” (it’s the alliteration for me)

while this year may not have the “happy start” that we have been conditioned into wishing for - it is another chance to feel, explore, grieve, celebrate, grow (and a myriad of other words I can’t think of right now).

cheers to another year of being human 💖