Self-Care: It's a Marathon, not a Sprint

If you were to ask me last month, "How are you?" My response would have been: exhausted, anxious, determined, angry, sad, optimistic, inspired. All of these emotions are related to the current political climate in the U.S., but they're compounded by the energy I get from folks who are speaking up about politics and current events, and figuring out what they can do, and doing it. The election and the start of the new administration have been devastating in some ways, but I don't know any so-called snowflakes who have just collapsed and stopped working or functioning in society. Instead, so many people have realized they have the capacity to make a phone call, sign a petition, and/or show up for a protest or rally. As one of my former classmates was quoted in the NY news:

I am deeply upset at what's happening in my country. I just feel like, with these executive orders, really helpless as a citizen. So it's the least I can do, to show up. Just show up.

In the midst of chaos the new POTUS was creating, this reaction was heartening. My hope for everyone, in participating in and uphold democracy for loved ones and strangers  (while simultaneously working on their careers and relationships and hobbies... you know, living their lives) also remembers their responsibility to take care of themselves.

Self-care is something I have never been an expert on, so sometimes I even have to stop and think: Just take care of yourself. Every couple years or so, I can stop and go on a long, adventurous vacation, but most of the time I have to find everyday practices that help me be mindful in the midst of everything going on. I find that approaching self-care from three sides really helps: physical, mental, and spiritual (which for me is community-focused).

One night I cooked dinner and the warmth and scent in the kitchen relaxed me even before I even ate. I'd realized I'd been getting away from healthy cooking and have been trying to do more meal planning and weekend meal prep. Exercise has been in short spurts the last couple of weeks (the rain also didn't help), but I signed up for some new weekend classes (once with a friend for a bootcamp class they really liked), and it's felt good to sweat some stress out and strengthen my body, bit by bit. And it's felt good to go for a run now that the rain has stopped. Also, it had been months since I got a salon pedicure (hey, winter!), so it felt amazing to sit down in the chair this weekend and have my feet taken care of while I started a new book.

At work, I also got to attend a two-day Search Inside Yourself workshop sponsored by my company, and I felt invigorated and optimistic by the end of it. There were maybe ~60 other folks there from functions all over the company, learning about self-awareness, mindfulness and emotional intelligence. They had a great segment on self-compassion and kindness and how they go a long way to promoting peace, in terms of helping you cultivate your own leadership skills. At another point they brought up Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning (which I had loved reading in college) and discussed how we can stop and process things before we react to something triggering. I found the workshop powerful and something I will have to incorporate into my life long-term, so I may have more to write about it later on.

Elizabeth Spencer winery tasting room

Finally, spending time around loved ones is a big way for me to nurture my spirits. After a couple weeks of rainy weather here in NorCal, a friend texted suggesting we all head up to Napa that weekend, which had a forecast of sun. So on Sunday, over wine, then a picnic, then some beer flights (& a green smoothie for myself), we all caught up and only barely discussed politics. I was also delighted to get a pop-up dinner invite from another friend - showing someone you're thinking of them and want to spend time with them seems like a small gesture but it goes a long way.

picnic grounds @ V Sattui

So that's my self-care approach distilled to three aspects of life. It can't all be done at once, but when I can sprinkle these things into my daily routines, I definitely feel like I'm better off. I'll wrap this up with a quote from a powerful article (an oldie but a goodie): 

"we can improve our lives and the lives of those around us. We can even construct a system that fulfills our founders’ promises and empowers all Americans to pursue happiness." A Formula for Happiness

Resolution

SF MoMA

In a lot of ways 2016 was personally great (loved ones got married, engaged and brought babies into this world; my husband and I both transitioned to new aspects of our jobs; I got involved with a wonderful organization, and I generally got to enjoy another year of good health and fun adventures in California) but I was still happy to see it go. My friend had the brilliant idea of going out with a bang, in the form of a wonderful feast with friends. So on NYE we had a private dining room at a San Francisco restaurant, filled with 9 fantastic people, amazing food and delicious wine. I will always remember that meal and am grateful my friend thought of putting it together.

And now, we're fully in 2017, not just feet wet but hair dunked, body temperature acclimated. There aren't any totally new habits I want to do this year that I didn't start on already- eating healthy, exercising more. All the usual self-care, wellness and fitness habits I know to do but need to actually do. The hosts and guest on my favorite podcast Another Round were discussing the difference between telling people you'll do something (like going to the gym) and actually doing it. Anyway, as I get older, self-care moves to front of mind so that I can be in good shape to take care of other things.

And those other things? Well the 2016 election taught me I can't take democracy for granted. So in 2017 I have to keep learning what's going on, finding ways to make my voice heard and find a way to make an impact where I am. Last summer thanks to a friend's suggestion, I started working with a children's organization in San Francisco; this was meant to help underprivileged kids right in my city, but it has already impacted me immensely. 

I also want to remember to speak up more, in different channels. For a long time I did not put political views on social media; in fact I have had a tenuous relationship with social media and like to think I should just be living IRL. But I'd like to learn how to use tech to advance democracy. This is one article in WSJ that I found suggesting some nonpartisan tools to track government. I also downloaded Countable, an app for tracking government, and am finding it easy to use. I joined the Women's March in San Francisco this weekend - again, thanks to brilliant friends - and resolve to keep the inspiration and energy from the event in my heart going forward, and to continue to turn it into action.

photo from Buzzfeed

And finally on the fun side, I want to do more West Coast exploring this year and am starting to make those plans. I also have loved ones getting married this year so I'll be traveling to celebrate with them (I've got one bridesmaid dress ready and am about to order another one). So among other things, there will be a lot of fun in 2017.

Decisions, Decisions

I turned another year older this month, and along with celebrating my birthday with loved ones, I was thinking about a couple ways in which I've been trying to grow. One theme that has been inescapable this year is the presidential election, but with that, I've been paying more attention to state- and local-level politics.

National political figures always fascinated me with their legacies and personalities (starting with the fairy tale of the Kennedys' Camelot as well as the People Power Revolution in the Philippines, up to the Obamas). More recently I realized that I needed to pay attention to the policies that impact my community and me at more local levels, since these changes would probably have a more direct impact on me. This was partly driven by having moved to California, where there are dozens of state and county/city propositions on the ballot, and the devil, as usual, is in the details. I'd also like to avoid voting on the wrong side of history.

One weekend a friend actually rented out a church basement one weekend afternoon and summarized the ballot measures for folks. And thanks to the Twitterverse, I was directed to http://www.peterates.com which summarized and gave recommendations for the state proposals. I've been reading up on the San Francisco country proposals as well and am looking forward to casting my vote. Although I probably will never enter politics myself, I feel more empowered doing my civic duty and trying to become a more informed citizen and voter. After all, voting is a privilege, so I don't want to take it for granted.

.@gridmonte @anildash UX Designer Peter Stahl's guide is always a treat https://t.co/4KaerKaOiP

— Steve Portigal (@steveportigal) September 27, 2016

Life Lately: Around the Bay

Crissy Field

The past few weeks have been filled with a little of everything: a visit from my brother when he was finally introduced to the glory of Philz Coffee; another tubing trip down the Russian River when I got a little too much sun; a visit to Everlane; a viewing of Beautiful the Carole King musical, which I had been wanting to see back East on Broadway but was pleasantly surprised to learn had actually started in San Francisco; a day at a beautiful spa with girlfriends; and of course outings around San Francisco (finally) enjoying our Indian summer. Here's a round up:

Life Lately: F is for Fog

Is it fall?

#Fogust Activities: As summer wraps up I've been enjoying myself around San Francisco - riding a bike through Crissy Field and over the Golden Gate Bridge over to Sausalito, cheering on the Giants at home games, and hanging out at the Pistahan festival. Some days I have to wait a little longer for the fog to burn off to see the summer sun, and sometimes my outfit screams more autumn than summer, but overall it's a champagne problem, so I'll take it.

Finding (or Faking) Balance: NYMag's "How I Get It Done" series featured San Francisco's own Audrey Cooper, editor-in-chief of the Chronicle. My favorite quote:

“Gosh, you look really tired,” and I’m just like, "No, I’m just not wearing eyeliner." - NYMag

Food: I've fallen in love with these pancakes that need just 2-ingredients: eggs and bananas. They are ridiculously easy to make and are just sweet enough that you don't need syrup on them, either - though of course you may still want the syrup. I make a couple days' worth of breakfasts and reheat them each morning for a protein-packed meal. The recipe gets points for being Whole30 compliant, too. Check it out over on The Kitchn. 

Finances: This article on how Hillary Clinton became the breadwinner early on in her family life was something I really appreciated, in the sense that she wanted them to have security and wasn't just relying on someone else to fulfill or provide for that need. I'm sure a lot of people have a complicated relationship with money, though fortunately they won't all have to be written about in a major newspaper.

On a less serious note, I heard a great story from a Bay Area couple with kids. They were in a store buying sports equipment for one of them, but one of the items wouldn't scan correctly and the mom was investigating via her smart phone what the correct price should be. But her kid, frustrated at how long it was taking, insisted that they just buy it at whatever price since, as the kid said, "Mom, we are perfectly wealthy!" We were all howling. The mom, of course, did find the right price online, and the store honored it.

Workouts & Wellness: a ClassPass Review

one of my favorite stretches

Like many social media sites/apps/other tech innovations, it's almost hard to believe that ClassPass has been around for only a few years. The gym pass subscription service was started in 2013 by a couple genius women who understood that people want the variety available with all these specialty workout classes springing up, but may not want to be tied down to one boutique studio at a time (the post from Ignite Your Health is good to keep in mind). "Wellness" is a booming business now in addition to just being an all around healthy concept for your life.

Last month, there was an awesome promo and I finally took the opportunity to sign up. The deal for the 10-class edition for the Bay Area (normally $115 but $30 for 1 month with the promo) was too good to pass up. To quote a friend's usual joke, "You can't afford not to buy it!"

My recent exercise regimen has been jogging and weekend Pilates, so I used ClassPass to extend this to other types of exercises. Turns out the website is an amazing search engine for gyms, boutique studios and classes - I knew San Francisco was into fitness but on ClassPass I found so many studios I'd never heard of before. The studios and classes I attended were:

• Core 40 - 1 Foundation class
• BodyRok - 1 Sculpt class
• FightFit Training Center - 1 Krav Maga class, women only
• Row Club - 2 classes: RowGa (rowing & yoga) and regular rowing
• Body Chemistry - 1 Pilates class... but I've gone to this studio a lot, so it was out of habit, not exploration
• Rogue & Saint - 1 Board to Ball, cross-training class
• OMpower - 1 TRX class

Now that was only 8 classes, because I went to 2 other classes outside of ClassPass: another Pilates class at Body Chemistry with a friend and also, my very first Soul Cycle class, which I went to with a bunch of friends, including a couple other newbies - endorphin addiction is best shared, after all.

How did I pick the first batch of classes? Since I enjoy "regular" Pilates, I wanted to try Core40 and BodyRok on their megaformers. I'd always wanted to learn rowing, since one machine provides a full body workout. The cross-training class at Rogue & Saint was pretty cool and it had been a while since I last took a TRX class, which I really like. Finally, I chose the Krav Maga class so I could start learning something practical, too. All the classes were fast-paced and challenging, and while I would want to pay more attention to form and technique as I go on, the classes would be good cardio and strength-training sessions.

It wasn't always easy making it to class - but it's just a fact of life now that you really do have to schedule time for yourself and for your workouts, and not just watch celebs work out on Snapchat. It was fun trying out so many places, but since I am also running more often now and have some travel coming up, I put my ClassPass membership on hold for August ($19/mo to hold). At first I was incredulous that I had to pay for the hold, or risk a hefty reactivation fee, but then I realized the $19 "hold" still allows one class for the month. That was reasonable enough for me, although, if and when I do cancel ClassPass, the reactivation fee pretty much deters me from ever coming back. But for now I do plan to come back, and I'll just switch to the 5-class model afterward to accommodate my own non-ClassPass workout plans. Accommodation - another fact of life.

I've written before how I like switching up my workouts, so I think ClassPass can make that easier. I could see myself eventually settling on one or two studios, however, once I find the instructors I like best and the schedules that mesh with mine. I've gone through periods of busyness/laziness when it comes to fitness, but over the past few months I've tried to be more consistent and I've noticed results in my health and energy, so I'm using ClassPass to leverage this momentum. Any class or workout suggestions are most welcome in the comments.

tl:dr: Pros of ClassPass: good search feature; access to a variety of studios; pricing can be good if you're going to utilize it; month-to-month flexibility in changing membership level; ... Cons: limited in how many times you go to one studio each month; frequently being 'new' at studios; learning the styles of new instructors; watch the pricing, beware of the class cancellation and reactivation fees

Life Lately - Summer Edition

This has been a summer of somewhat "firsts" - first time going to the San Francisco Opera, trying out Paniq Room (an escape room group game), sailing in San Francisco Bay, taking some new exercise classes, and spending a couple days in Bend, where I went stand-up paddle boarding on my own for the first time. I probably won't do most of these things frequently, but it was fun to give them a try.

I also hit up some area restaurants for the first time: Old Bus Tavern (new-ish gastropub in Bernal), Pampalasa (Filipino food in SoMa), and The Conservatory @ The Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay (we were going to hang outside on the terrace but the summer fog got the better of us). All were tasty and places that I'd been meaning to try for some time now... Pampalasa in particular for the link to my Filipino heritage and Old Bus for being written up all over local press. Both spots are undergoing changes but I hope they'll be area mainstays for a while.

On another note, this has been a crazy summer around the country and the world. Who knew US politics could get this crazy? Who knew hate and violence could spread around the world so fast with our technological advances? There have been times, watching the news, where I've felt helpless as to what's going on. But out of recent tragedies, and from watching the DNC speeches over the past week, I've also been more motivated to pay attention and be more participatory in our political system, and to encourage others to do so, so that our voices are heard and have an impact.

Finally, this month marks my four-year anniversary of living in San Francisco! I'm not sure I thought I'd be in the city this long. It is one more year than I lived in New York City (after college) and two more years than I lived in Washington, DC. In each city I've taken time to explore neighborhoods and see what they had to offer, but even after four years here, there are times when I still feel like a tourist in San Francisco. The city has the added bonus of being an easy home base for my West Coast adventures. It's so nice to be in a city that still makes nature and travel accessible. I suppose all of that is a part of what's kept me here for four years and counting.

Listen Up: Fun Podcasts

Serial Season 1 was the first podcast I listened to, and even though I was hooked on it, I didn't really cross over into other shows for a while. This past year, though, has been the Year of the Podcast for me. They're great to listen to while I am commuting, am on the plane when I don't want to be on the wifi, or am running/exercising, cooking, and tidying up. Once in a while I'll even put one on while getting ready in the morning. Here's what I have been loving:

Another Round with Heben and Tracy:

Buzzfeed

I first heard of Another Round last fall when Hillary Rodham Clinton decided to go on it. My husband and I listened to it in the car on the way to Big Sur and really enjoyed her interview. At the time we were just fascinated by what Hillary had to say and how the podcast hosts, Heben and Tracy, asked meaningful questions that had Hillary come off as human and relatable (she even cracked jokes!). So a while later I was thinking of downloading podcasts to listen to on the train, and when I looked up Another Round again, I was impressed by the caliber and variety of guests they featured. For one, they got Daveed Diggs and Lin-Manuel Miranda (separately) from Hamilton. They got Queen Latifah and Padma Lakshmi. And those folks are being real while sharing a drink with Heben and Tracy.

Recode Decode hosted by Kara Swisher:

Recode archive

First, I love Kara Swisher (Hoya Saxa!), and also, Recode is a great site for somone like me, who works in the tech industry). The podcast addresses a good mix of technology, current events and pop culture and they get some heavy hitters to talk to them. Her interview with Kim Kardashian has this priceless quote: "I truly was baffled when people still cared. They have seen me naked 500 times."

Open Account with SuChin Pak:

itunes

Personal finance from one of my childhood MTV heroines - what more could I ask for? This is produced by Umpqua Bank, which I recognize from its fairly new outpost in my SF neighborhood. Ms. Pak holds some fabulous conversations with folks both famous and not-so-much. One of the funnier episodes is "Will Work for Work: Ravi Patel and Lena Waithe" (you've probably seen them on TV) which features the wise words "Negotiation can be fun" and "All you have is your gut and your taste." (I've heard variations of this last one throughout my life - all you have are your integrity and your knowledge... character and intellect... agreed, agreed, agreed.) "Thank You Cake" with Paula Pell is also hilarious. Everyone shares their views on handling money and how they've learned them. But there are so many gems in this series, from an NBA player, a veteran, an immigrant, and a divorced couple, that it's just best to go and get started on it.

Bonus: 
Some new-to-me shows I've started checking out recently:

• Together - conversations hosted by a former divorce lawyer on how to strengthen relationships
• BackStory - episodes on American History; a friend recommended it because they had an episode on Alexander Hamilton
• Marketplace Tech - a quick daily podcast on current tech topics, recommended by a colleague who listens to it on her way to work in the morning

Pokemon Fever (Yes, I'm a Grown Woman)

Pikachu x1000 (Vox article)

I just didn't get into the Pokemon craze at all when I was younger. When I heard about the game coming out I wasn't surprised, but I also didn't pay much attention (for example, I thought it was virtual reality, not augmented reality). Then last Friday, a friend at work said she downloaded it at a family party, and that the Pokemon were even in our office. Later that day, I saw someone on the bus with the game open, apparently searching for Pokemon along our shuttle route. So later that night, after coming home from happy hour, I downloaded it, registered, and found a freakin' Pokemon perched near my armchair.

For much of the weekend I was tagging in at Pokestops and catching Pokemon while walking around San Francisco and even while riding Muni. And I realized how weird and kind of depressing the whole Pokemon story is, but hey, they are oddly cute and the game is oddly addicting. Like many others I enjoy the accidental/not-accidental social aspect of the game. Unlike other apps, you don't connect to social media accounts (yet) to find friends but since the game involves, literally, the real world, you come across a bunch of other people playing it. I was with my husband, standing on the sidewalk (it was empty, we weren't blocking anyone!) and showing him how the game worked. I was catching a Pokemon, and then a car pulled over. He teased me and said the folks in the car would laugh at me, but I knew what they were up to - we all held up our phones with big smiles, excited to be catching these cartoon creatures. I've exchanged quite a few knowing glances with other city dwellers in the last few days. Technology does bring us together, folks.

My favorite feature is the in-depth linkage of the Pokestops to city landmarks. Not only have I found new ones tucked away around San Francisco, but I now know the names of murals, sculptures and buildings that I pass by regularly. The Pokestops are even cooler, in my opinion, than the Pokemon (but I've only just reached Level 5 and haven't started with the gyms yet, I know, I'm lame).

You know what would also be good as augmented reality smartphone games? Monopoly. Mall Madness. Hungry Hungry Hippos. I hope there's some startups out there thinking of these.

Who knows how long this craze will last, or how many new Pokemon names I'll actually remember, but this was fun and made me feel like a kid again.

Grief, and then Action (Orlando)

I was working on posting about my recent vacation, but I am incredibly sad over the attack in Orlando this past weekend. I can't imagine the terror that the club patrons and employees felt when all they were hoping for was a fun Saturday night out. And I shudder to think that if this were in San Francisco, my own friends and I might have been in danger.

I don't watch the news, but I do read it online, along with the reactions to it. On Twitter I heard about Teen Vogue's tweets concerning the tragedy and what we can do about it. There's not much we can control in life, but we are not completely helpless. I just emailed the HuffPo form letter to my senators and congresswoman - it took 3 minutes and a few more open tabs. Anyways, I'll share the tweets here so you can act on their suggestions:

6. And don't forget, if you're 18+, voting in this election could be crucial in advancing gun legislation. Research your candidate's stance.

— Teen Vogue (@TeenVogue) June 12, 2016

I took another piece of Teen Vogue's advice and spoke with my loved ones - we shared our grief while also sharing our own events of the day, appreciating the mundane parts of living. Here's another tweet that I appreciated in all the reactions (and yes, I'm a Hamilton fan):

"Look around, look around, how lucky we are to be alive right now." Definitely has new and profound meaning tonight. #tonyawards

— Rachel Sklar (@rachelsklar) June 13, 2016

It's hard to admit that we share this world with hate, terror and bigotry, but we have to remember that we can fight it with love and inclusion.

Life Lately: Exercise, Diet, and Connecting with Others

Baker Beach

We're heading into the weekend and I feel more and more like it's summer, with the balmy weather and long days. Last weekend I had my first real beach day (as in, sitting out in the sun, not hiking to/from the beach) and it's just what I needed. I've had so much on my mind lately, here's some of what I've been up to:

I tried Zumba for the first time and it was really fun. Not sure how I missed the initial phenomenon, but doing it now is good because the music is fun and makes the time go faster. (I don't like a lot of actual workouts, but I like the effects.) My office gym is offering free group classes for the next month so I've decided I should go to at least one during the week. On weekends, I've been going to Pilates and just bought a new pass for the yoga place that I like. I don't have any hikes planned soon so I should probably get on that.

Coincidentally, I jumped on the Whole30 diet bandwagon and have crossed the halfway mark (it's basically 30 days of even cleaner Paleo). I've never done a real diet (I gave up on a juice cleanse on Day 1) but lucky for me, a couple friends were also doing Whole30 so the partnership and accountability really helps. Honestly, the first couple days without bread and added sugar were worrisome, but since then I've felt great. Of course I still psychologically want pizza and the like, but my body doesn't crave these foods like it used to. I thought it would be tough to go without alcohol as well, but the truth is my hangovers just kill me now that I'm 30. And knowing how great I feel without all this in my body is going to make me avoid the unhealthy stuff more (if not totally, since hey, I still like french fries). The diet's also made me be better about food prep and cooking at home rather than relying on take out. At the end of the 30 days, I'm supposed to start reintroducing the ingredients that I temporarily eliminated and see how my body reacts so I can make longer term adjustments to my eating practices.

In terms of mental practice - Have you ever sought advice from someone and come out feeling lighter and more confident about a given situation? I had some good business/career conversations with folks in the last week or so, and they helped me think through some challenges I'm facing. Not much else to share on that, just that it's good to reach out to others, they usually are more than willing to help.

Finally, I have never successfully been part of a long-term book club, and I actually don't think I know anyone who has. A couple friends at work and I were joking we need to have an 'article club' since we already share good news articles with each other, mainly on tech and overall business and finance. Here are some recent articles I found interesting:

Tory Burch on owning her ambition: Fortune
What's behind Facebook's success: Wired
Tech companies with the best engineering talent: Fast Company

Individuality and the School Uniform (harkens back to my recent post!!): The Billfold

Recent photos from around San Francisco:

Baker Beach

El Techo

Smokestack

Smokestack

my mocktail at Smokestack

Life Lately: Rainy City

a little Paris in San Francisco

It's been raining a lot in San Francisco the last couple weekends, so I've been spending more time indoors. Some of my friends joked how they appreciate the excuse to not go out, which both resonates with me and makes me think about why we feel this way yet still want to live in cities. My generation insists on living in cities (small and big ones) and paying to be so close to other people, but also reserves the right to choose how to be active in our cities. Plus, my friends and I have pretty much lived for a decade or so in various metros. Perhaps for us, it's age (almost all of us have turned 30, so I myself am a granny millennial) that turns us into little urban homebodies.

I've been using my time at home - on the couch, if we're being honest - planning upcoming travel to France. Now I don't speak French, so the research itself is an education (I downloaded Duolingo and am browsing YouTube videos to get familiar with the language). It's also inspiring me to go back and read books and watch movies set in France. Even walking around in the rain has made me look forward to walking around in Paris (hopefully not in the rain but I'd still take it).  

 Pampalasa

I still have gone out a little bit though, running errands and meeting up with friends for a comedy show and a movie. One friend lent me her umbrella as I had to keep walking after she got in her car (she did offer me a ride but I really wasn't going far to my next destination and it would've taken more time driving just a few city blocks). Having to walk led me to snap the picture above outside Pampalasa, a Filipino restaurant that I'd heard of but never actually located. "Have you eaten yet?" is something my Filipino father asks me all. the. time. and even though it was pouring I had to smile at remembering my childhood. I look forward to going back to the restaurant and actually going inside.

Abalone at Cala

One restaurant I did go into was Cala, which could be the Best New Restaurant in the country soon enough (my husband and I have also enjoyed Liholiho Yacht Club so I'm cheering for either SF-based spot to win). It reminded me of traveling in Mexico and other Latin countries with its delicious seafood-based dishes. One California-based item was the abalone, which I've only had once before in my cousins' kitchen up in Mendocino. Cala's version was smaller and farm-raised in Santa Cruz, but just as delicious. Like State Bird Provisions, everything that came out felt like such a treat. Since (a big) part of my vacation-planning is setting our budget, I probably won't go to Cala again anytime soon, but it was totally worth it. 

Late Winter Livin'

Winter in San Francisco is something I still haven't gotten used to, which is fine because then I've felt extra-grateful whenever it was 70 degrees out and I realized, yup it's February. Sure I still carry around a jacket and/or scarf like it's any other time of year in SF. But I'm peeling off clothing layers while enjoying a hike with an amazing view of the coastline, eating lunch on the patio outside my office, or sitting on grass watching a college lacrosse game. It's just easy to enjoy the outdoors almost any time of year in the Bay Area.

Around the city, I've been wandering the Mission, getting a reflexology massage in Russian Hill, eating dim sum in the Richmond, and catching up with friends in Hayes Valley, the Tendernob and the Dogpatch. I love how our neighborhoods have such distinct, descriptive and somewhat whimsical names. I've been spending a lot of time walking and brought visitors from out of town to Dolores Park. They loved the views, of course, and the people watching.

Dogeaters & a "Big Weekend" in the Bay

Lands End

SB50 has taken over the Bay Area. Even though the game itself was about an hour's drive outside of the city, street closures started in San Francisco more than a week ahead of time. Aircraft were flying low, one of the teams' bus caravans got in a fender bender on the highway (typical for the 101), and media descended upon the city. It's funny but everyone I know who actually lives in SF was expecting the worst in terms of crowds and traffic, and therefore avoided downtown as much as they could. I'm glad that so many people have been interested in the festivities, but personally I stuck to my favorite everyday neighborhoods.

Mission Street

Thankfully there wasn't much traffic outside of the Soma/FiDi area. And it's been pretty warm out so it's been so nice to walk through the city. This morning, we walked through the Mission up to Hayes Valley for brunch (surprisingly with no wait for a table) and last evening was spent with a nice walk from Russian Hill through the Marina to Fort Mason.

I went to Fort Mason's Magic Theater to see a new play, Dogeaters. I'd read the book when I was younger since it was a contemporary novel about my native country, the Philippines. I hadn't even known it was adapted to the stage until a friend shared it, but a few of us went to see it in previews (it opens this week) and it was good. The story takes place in 1982 Manila, when the country was still under martial law. A few scenes were really intense and overall it was probably darker than the usual portrayal of the Philippines but I think having an ensemble cast of characters lends itself to portraying a more comprehensive picture of the urban culture at that time. There were young people flocking to the city to chase success in careers and in love, folks in various kinds of businesses/hustles, politicians putting out self-serving spins on reality, families reuniting and being torn apart, and overall people looking to make their own way in and their on mark on a chaotic world. It was exciting to watch and it's been getting press, so I hope it does really well. 

personal photo

I still went to a fun Super Bowl party at a friend's house, but I think getting my culture on at the Magic Theatre was actually the highlight of the weekend.

Original Thought, and Renaming This Blog

Lower Nob Hill

At a yoga session this past weekend, the instructor talked about our brains having no original thought, as well as how difficult it is to completely quiet the mind, even with yoga. Therefore, we could practice being aware of our thoughts and guiding them. After all, no one actually controls your unoriginal thoughts but you. (And also, when going through a challenging yoga practice, my thoughts were completely guided by what my muscles did and didn't want to do.)

Today we have so many platforms to express our thoughts and see what everyone else is thinking about every possible subject. There's so much content to consume, if we let ourselves. Social media can be great, but it also tempts many of us to spout off whatever is on our mind at a given moment, without any further consideration. Is that really the stimulation we want, for ourselves and those around us? For me, the practice of composing a longer post also helps me guide my thoughts and express them more coherently. It makes me slow down and pay attention, to be more mindful of what I send out to the world. Because of course it's also not just about  "me" or even "you" but the world around us.

And that is the overall purpose of my blog, and why I rechristened it this year as "Mindfully Modern." Throughout the content blitzes and hectic schedules, my goal is to remain discerning and to still be able to see the simplicity in life. Enjoy the world today, and reflect on it. Namaste.

Productive Relaxation, Recent Inspiration

It was so nice to have a three-day weekend soon after the holidays. The extra free time quickly got filled up and I tried my best to be productive while taking time to hang out with friends. After all, I am happiest when my free time matches up with my loved ones'. Luckily winter here is pretty mild so being outside and getting around the city is still pleasant. Yoga and a short hike, both with friends, made physical activity even more fun... though probably did not fully make up for the good food I had this weekend. :)

Recent jaunts around San Francisco:

• getting a post-holiday facial at Credo, an organic beauty boutique/spa that opened in the city last year (thanks to a former Sephora exec). I've been here a few times in the last year and every time has been so relaxing and good for my skin. For anyone interested in cleaning up their beauty routine, check out their site!

Tata Harper Spa at Credo

• catching the views from Twin Peaks... slightly cloudy on the day my friends and I went, but you could still make out the bay, the ocean, and the bridges and see how gorgeous the city is:

view from Twin Peaks

• picking a wonderful charity to benefit from a happy hour organized by a friend:

the samfund

And lately I've been reading...

• different perspectives on the recent (kinda scary) activity in the markets: by Schwab and by NYMag
• a millennial's take on getting a financial advisor 
• after watching the movie Joy last month, a friend recommended this article on selling on the QVC network 

Back in San Francisco

NYMag

Happy New Year! (Can I still say that?) I didn't make a New Years resolution but that's mostly because I don't have anything 'new'*, I just need to continue aiming for the things I've been trying to work on: being healthy and productive and having fun. That's about as detailed a manner as I want to conduct life right now. So now we're almost two weeks into 2016 and I've just spent some time just refreshing the things around me and getting back into the flow after the holidays:

Cleaning up: 

I cleaned up my phone by deleting the apps I don't use, ~1,000 photos (after backing them up, duh), texts and the media still embedded in them. I freed up 4+GB's of space which is pretty awesome since my phone is two years old now and I want to keep it for a while longer. I also went through my closet and cleared out items to donate. It's funny that I've spent a few years supposedly paring down my wardrobe but still had a bunch of stuff that I don't wear anymore. 

Shopping:

Related, I'm putting myself on another shopping hiatus for the month (11 days down!). I still keep a running list of 'wants' on my phone, so this will give me time to consider what I should actually buy. I did have 'new sneakers' on there for a while, but I got a gift card for Christmas so I was able to get them. I still have some gift card funds left, so I'll use those on the 'wants' that still make the cut when my hiatus is over.

Eating:

I did a big grocery run with the aim of planning/making more meals and filling the kitchen with healthy snacks. I spent one afternoon making a pot of bolognese sauce and meatballs, and they came out wonderfully. I also gave up coffee... and succeeded for a weekend, because on Monday I accidentally ordered a cup along with breakfast. The habit is strong, apparently. But, I'll start over and see if I could skip it for the rest of the week, then maybe reward myself with some good SF coffee this weekend.

Relaxing: 

I started/finished both seasons of Mozart in the Jungle which is really enjoyable. I'm happy for GGB winning the Golden Globe, and counting on Amazon saying yes to a third season. The show is quirky and kind of like a Wes Anderson film turned into a modern-day sitcom. Reading-wise, I've started a couple books in the past month - Gloria Steinem's My Life on the Road and Aziz Ansari's Modern Romance: An Investigation. Enjoying both so far but not really rushing through them, so maybe I'll write more later on.

Finally, I've started catching back up with friends since getting back home, and walking around the city. Travel plans are being dreamed up. In the short term, hiking/brunch/yoga plans are actually being made. I'm excited to have some friends and family visit soon, too, so I can share what I love out here and see my home city through their eyes.





*In case it sounds really boring to not have anything new, last year I went camping and ice skating for the first time, and those weren't planned out resolutions, so I'm not worried.

Life & Links Lately

pinterest

Holiday activities are in full swing. I like the excuses to dress up (whether it's dress-up dress up, or an ugly sweater event (I found an ugly sweater at Goodwill for $7!)). We've started receiving Christmas cards and ordering presents. We've been decorating the apartment, too, although that's been a little more haphazard. Slow decor is a thing, right? Also, I am really enjoying that it's "the holidays" but it's 60 degrees outside.

Life and Links Lately

This time of year is always busy at work for me, and with daylight savings it feels like I have less time to get everything done (I've spent the last two days practically glued to my computer). But, I'm getting through it and looking forward to some fun stuff coming up. Here's what's caught my eye in terms of good reads around the web:

This article on Daria is great for showing what a smart cartoon I was watching as a pre-teen and for pointing out that the show is available online!

Hooray for Steph Curry getting a wax figure at Madame Tussauds. The behind the scenes video for having a figure made looks pretty cool (and only slightly creepy):

In another Bay Area feature, artisanal businesses are moving into the Bayview. This article in San Francisco Magazine interviews how people feel about it, and it's a pretty balanced take.

This feature on How Women Define Success is fun (famous people!) and insightful (pretty good takeaways). 

Life (& Links) Lately

good advice, Mission district

I've had a bunch of ideas and unfinished drafts for posts that hopefully I'll get to soon. It's hard to believe summer is 'over' though in SF terms we are still drawing it out. This past weekend I was at Ocean Beach for a few glorious hours with friends (& their friends) coming and going. It was one of those serendipitous times when everyone is actually free at the same time and willing to meet in the same spot.


Links I've Been Reading:
Claire Mazur's My Beauty Uniform interview on Cup of Jo - I really love the Of a Kind newsletter by Claire and her business partner Erica, and I'd be lying by omission if I didn't say I admire Claire's curly hair.

a reflection on clothing purchases on The Billfold - recently I donated another (small) bag of clothes that mostly came from the "I haven't worn this in a while but maybe I still want it" pile. Luckily they weren't items I purchased in the past year.

Good news came today in that my alma mater made a gesture in support of Cosby's victims and women everywhere. This is the first time Fordham has taken back an honorary degree. Sometimes there is a little bit of justice in the world.

Elle's interview of Judith Light - I finally got around to checking out Transparent and love her in it, so I googled what was up with her.

[updated] This interview of travel writer Kelly Lack after I came across her instagram and heard about the new app Spot.

I also finished Mindy Kaling's Why Not Me? in less than a week (that's really quick for me these days) while commuting and waiting for a table at a trendy brunch place. I definitely want to write more about that - and some friends and I decided we should finally just create a book club and make that our first book. Coming up soon are a family visit, some concerts, and some friends' weddings. Finally, I have just a few weeks left of my 20s. I always consider my birthday my own personal 'new year' and, helped along with back-to-school season I guess, usually around this time of year I try to recharge and consider how far I've come (pretty far), and what else there is to accomplish (quite a lot).