It ain't easy, being cheesy

For the past few weeks I have been up to my ears in projects and tasks.  All, of course, are number-one-top-priority-get-it-done-AQAP!!!  (As quickly as possible!!)

It has come to my direct attention that at these times, I find it most difficult to actually lift a finger at home.  I mean that quite literally, I found that even my best motivational techniques on myself could not even spur me to answer an email, or cook myself a decent meal.

It is also during these times I eat the most horrible greased-up, terrible-for-you foods that you can imagine!  Delivery.com, anyone?

It ain't easy, eating right!  My ideal day of meals includes:
A breakfast of oatmeal or granola cereal and OJ
A lunch of one avocado sushi roll, or some sharp cheddar cheese with wheat crackers and a golden delicious apple
A dinner of BBQ chicken and steamed vegetables with rice

Yum!

However, this has been my meal plan for the past couple weeks:
A breakfast of... coffee and perhaps a large bagel with cream cheese on the go
A lunch of... whatever is quickest and easiest, like a falafel pita with extra cucumber sauce or a burrito with carnitas
A dinner of... half of a completely unsatisfying turkey sandwich and 6 chocolate chip cookies

Blech!

Except for the past couple weeks, I have pretty much adopted the Abs Diet Food Strategy for years, and I must say it has worked quite well!  It's not a crazy restrictive diet, it just focuses on whole grains and fruits, lean meats, and the like.  I like it because it focuses on what humans were made to eat, biologically.  I'm a total science dorkus, I know that humans are animals and like any other animal, there is no room in our diet for processed foods and sugars, let alone the gargantuan tons of preservatives we are consuming at increasing rates.


All this makes it clear that there is a reason why people in America are so damn fat.  Put down the chili cheese dog, America!!

The downfall: Man v. Food

What can we do about this??  I'm not sure, but I'm thinking that stuffing myself with fried chicken and mashed potatoes isn't the answer.  I've never felt worse than right after I ate 5 slices of pizza in one sitting.  I can't imagine how people eat like that every day.  Oh wait, yes I can!

Food is happiness, right?  ...RIGHT!?

I'm not hating on fat people at all, just the ones that complain about their bulge.  After all, you are the one that feeds yourself... I'M JUST SAYIN.

Mother's Day

It may be a "Hallmark" holiday, but I don't see any reason why all mothers shouldn't be celebrated for one day a year.  What could be the harm in taking one whole day to let your mum know that you appreciate her?

I like to make sure all the mothers in my life know that they are appreciated.  Today is the day that I thank them for being the strongest women I know.  I always make sure to make time to send over a little note or a little gift, everyone loves to get a little something!

Here are some good ideas on keeping it simple and sweet for you last minute jo-jos!

1. Overnight a small care package including things you know your mother likes.  Little dried flowers, a small note, a picture of the two of you, little charms for a bracelet or necklace, perhaps even her favorite sweets.

2. Order her an edible arrangement, but make sure it's a small one if she will be the only one consuming!  Get the fruit dipped in chocolate to boot if she's a sugar hound.  If that doesn't sound like your mom, go zero calories and make her a photo bouquet including pictures of the two of you.

3. Call her and schedule some time to be together, make a date to go visit a museum or even just take her to lunch.  Even if you schedule it for the future, it will mean something to her if you make the effort on the day.

4. Spend some time getting crafty, take her to a Color Me Mine studio, or pick up some scrap-booking supplies and spend the day making a memory book.

5. Take her to a movie, bring her an orchid, make a meal together, or just do something that she likes to do!  My mom prefers baseball games :)


Every mom or mother-figure loves a little acknowledgment for her hard work and tender loving care in raising you.  Tomorrow is a great time to remind her how much you appreciate her!

Food & Naughtiness

My sweet love affair with food is never more prominent than when I am starving!

Crepes with Nutella, strawberries, and whipped cream from Genki Crepes

 Super burrito with carnitas and extra sour cream from Gordo Taqueria

Gloriously rare steak from House of Prime Rib

Sweet vanilla cupcakes from Kara's Cupcakes

Baja-style fish tacos from Woodhouse Fish Co. on Fillmore

Double double animal style and a neopolitan shake from IN-N-OUT's secret menu

Good lord, somebody feed me!

Stomping Grounds

One of the things I love most about San Francisco is how culturally saturated the neighborhoods are.  I love it when you step across that invisible border and all of a sudden the words on the buildings change languages, local advertisements posted on windows have a completely different flavor, passersby are chatting in a unrecognizable articulation, even the very feeling of a neighborhood changes.

Living in the Sunset for years, I never really understood how a neighborhood could be a "little Italy" or "little Russia," I just thought that people were being overly dramatic about the restaurant selection.  But it's true, I'm sitting here in Cafe Enchante, around the corner from my old apartment and listening to these two elderly Russki ladies chatting next to me.  It got me thinking... there are a crap ton of Russian people here!  And trust me, I love me some Russkis... they make the best neighbors!

Here you can find Russian bakeries filled with deliciousness, delis, funny little advertisements in Russian script (that I obviously can't read, but are very delightful to look at.  Я не могу читать России... see?), and so many interesting little nuggets simply walking down Geary.

The same goes for nearly every other area in San Francisco with all sorts of differing cultures, but the Richmond district will always be close to my heart. 

Working in the local hardware store, I made some interesting acquaintances.  One of my favorite stories to tell is of this stoic old gentleman who would come into the store at least once per week.  Even though I greeted him with a friendly hello and a smile every time, he never said a word or broke a smile for over a year.  A year!  Then, one day, I was having some difficulty with another customer who didn't speak anything but Russian and we looked at each other and both laughed!  After I got over the shock, we had a little conversation about Russian natives and I found out that not only did he immigrate here from Russia, he was a professional carpenter and owned the property around the corner.  He had a thick accent and I am pretty sure that was the only reason he had never initiated conversation with me.  I felt like I had just won something at a fair, getting this gent to speak to me!

But I think that's just how those Russkis are, and I love them for it!

Here's a photo of a White Russian cocktail since I couldn't find any good pictures of old Russian ladies!

And whenever I think of White Russians, I think of The Dude.  Or His Dudeness.  Or El Duderino...

Favorite!

To me, there is absolutely nothing more adorable than a Boston Terrier puppy.  I have long adored these little frog-face creatures, and recently have come down with a serious case of puppy fever.  I have wanted a dog since I moved out of my parents' home ages ago, and still have yet to commit.  

Why Boston Terriers, you might ask?

Look at that punum!  Need I say more?!

My first puppy was a Boston Terrier/Poodle mix and needless to say, ugly as sin.  But I loved her even more for it!  Since then, I have wanted a pure bred male Boston Terrier for my very own, and I will have one soon.

Until then, countless adorable pictures, video, and live puppycam feeds will have to do!

I'm coming soon Jack!  ...or Jay!  ...or Mr. Toad!