Life Lately, and the Power of Walking in Nature.

I've been gone for a while. Working full-time can do that to you. But a few weeks ago, I shared this blog with a friend, and found myself revisiting all the cool hikes and projects I took on last year, and I realized I really miss my weekend treks and projects. I do my walks through the park and trips to the beach, but lately I've been feeling the urge to throw something new into the mix. I haven't foraged in a while, and my soul is slightly aching for some aimless explorations along the coast. Lately, I've been yearning for some new stimuli.

~But amidst all of this yearning for newness, I have been doing a lot. Here's a photo dump of recent happenings:

Earlier this week I went to Sutro Baths with a friend, and it was so lovely to scale some structures, watch the waves, and talk about life happenings and being an adult doing adult things. We also climbed up this giant rock and to our surprise, there were tiny tide pools with little tide pool critters. That was a welcomed surprise, I didn't even have to leave the city!

 I haven't been making a ton of planty things lately, but I did make this moss terrarium for someone, and now it's at her work desk. I like that I used things I found while walking through the park.

Also, big changes are happening, and I'm excited to share them next week. In the meantime, check out this awesome blog post by Gretchen Reynolds: How Walking in Nature Changes the Brain

Walking. I knew there was something to it. I notice how I crave walks after a stressful day, or when I have a lot on my mind. Never quite understood the craving, but I did know that it calmed my soul and eliminated a lot of the mind chatter.

Science aside, walking has been a form of personal self care. It's not even a matter of what I should do, it's what I must do, it's a necessity. It's therapy. It's a cathartic experience. It helps me feel at peace with myself, and it grounds me. I have a few more trips to the beach planned this week, and I'm excited to share some sweet news next week. Stay tuned~

 

Until next time~

Sublet Sweet Sublet -- A peek inside my closet sanctuary

I've always loved forts, tents, and the like. That also includes converted crawlspaces, secret rooms, makeshift tents, and natural crawlspaces woven by vines and tree branches. It's been a little over 3 months since I've moved into my new space, and I took the liberty of converting half of my closet into a miniature sanctuary within a sanctuary. This is especially exciting as this is the first time I have a room to myself, and a door. I actually have a real room with walls and a door *squeeeee!* 

I love my new closet space, which I formally named the Cuddle Cubby. This is where I craft, read, write, and listen to music. While some small spaces totally freak me out, this space is mine--I created it, and it provides a sense of comfort. It almost feels like a security blanket--when I'm over the day, I have a place to retreat and be with my thoughts. It's incredibly therapeutic, because I'm often overwhelmed by my surroundings and lately I'm finding that I need a place to hide and recharge. I'm a homebody--and I am proud of it, because I have made this space my own. It is an extension of my personality, values, and hobbies. You can walk into my room and know that it belongs to me. My 'home' is basically a mix of a greenhouse, museum, and now, a room that I thought only existed in my dreams and on Pinterest. 

Pro-tip: String lights make any space dreamy.

Ahh, Sublet Sweet Sublet. 

Jellyfishing, Jellyfishing, JELLYFISHING!

Something cool washed up along Ocean Beach over the weekend! At first, I thought someone had littered the beach with blue plastic scrub brushes, and upon further inspection, I realized these little jellies came from the ocean! A reader informed me that this little creature here is a Velella, also known as a By-the-Wind Sailor Jellyfish.

These little jellies aren't that big either, they're about the size of an average sand dollar.

All dried up

I've never seen a blue jellyfish up close, especially along Ocean Beach. The ocean is full of surprises! I normally find washed up jellies along the beach, but I've never seen such a beautiful jelly up close! Seeing these beautiful gem is inspiring me to take more walks to the beach, and perhaps go *Jellyfishing* 

If I could, I would.

Have a great week, everyone!

Life Happenings: the Best Sea Glass Haul!

Thursday's morning walk was full of nice surprises! I woke up feeling a little cranky because I'm in the 3rd week of the Whole30 program, but I decided to walk off my frustrations. I'm glad I did, because the ocean waves were fabulous today. 

My favorite finds of the day:

• A lime-green glass piece with swirls 
• A triangular mint piece
• A nice chunky piece of light blue sea glass
• A piece of red sea glass

I'm especially stoked with the red piece. When I took a trip to Fort Bragg, I stopped by a Sea Glass Museum, and I read that red sea glass is especially rare, because most of the red glass comes from old taillights from cars. Nowadays most taillights are plastic, so it's very rare to find a nice, pitted piece of red glass. HOW EXCITING~~

June Re-Cap

This has been a relaxing but exciting month, and I'm happy I finally got a break to enjoy my life outside of school. It's sort of strange having more time on my hands, but I've been using it well--I've been spending a lot of time with friends, taking small trips around the Bay Area, painting and starting new projects. Here is a recap of my month...

• Rodolfo and I took a trip to Monterey Bay Aquarium and saw their newest exhibit, the Jellies Experience

 Ahhh, I wish I had light fixtures like these!

 Bioluminescent jellies

 These rainbow jellies were my favorite of the exhibit. The 'rainbow' is actually light reflecting off their cilia.

• I celebrated with friends for Pride/repeal of DOMA in the Castro/Dolores park

 These popsicles are such a throwback to my childhood...I'm actually surprised the gumball eyes are intact.

I love San Francisco so much!!!

• MMM...I had oysters and clams at Tomales Bay Oyster Company

 Oysters and clams

 I made perfect s'mores marshmellows on the grill!

I was going to post some more photos of my new projects, but I'll post that in a separate blog post.

Summer Life: Creative Energy is All Around!

I get so active in the evenings, while everyone else is winding down, I have all of this energy that I need to use before I sleep. Last night I worked on my watercolor project and some illustrations.

Let it be known: I have been watching too many shows on Netflix, particularly Adventure Time  and Doctor Who:

Lumpy Space Princess

Succulent-Propagating Dalek

There, it's out. I am a Whovian. I love Doctor Who and I love succulents so what better way that to pair the two together?

I love not having a schedule right now, I think I might have found my ideal sleep time too! Lately my mind has been going crazy with ideas and thoughts in the late evening, from 10pm and on. Normally I try to go to sleep, but it's difficult because I have so much on my mind. So now I've been sleeping in until 10 and just begin my work later on in the day. It's a little strange, because I noticed this change within the last year. Is this something that happens with age?

So I've found my most creative spurts occur in the late evening, and I like it! I've been doing some more painting, and I'm also starting some new projects. I gathered all of my old succulents (even the ones I left in my parent's backyard) and decided I'm going to have a succulent planting party today:

Most of these succulents were left in my parent's backyard with the intention of returning to them, but I ended up forgetting. But that's the amazing thing about succulents--unlike vegetables or flowers, they tend to thrive on neglect (and I'm good at giving them that) and still look pretty amazing. Most of them just need to be pruned and replanted, so that's today's task.

Tiny hens and chicks that need to be cleaned up a bit

This succulent planting party is actually taking longer than I expected, so I plan on continuing this planting project next week. Stay tuned for updates!

Ocean Beach

This month has been stressful, to say the least. Self care has been difficult, especially because my program is coming to an end and a lot of deadlines are approaching. I did find some time to walk along Ocean Beach after a windy day and saw some interesting sights. Most people associate the beach with warm and sunny weather, but I prefer cloudy days over sunny days. Ocean Beach is normally gloomy and overcast, but that doesn't mean there isn't anything interesting to see. I love going to the beach on overcast days--for the most part the beaches are practically empty, so there's more space to forage for shells and sea glass, and the dunes look pretty cool after a wind storm.

I saw some interesting jellies that washed ashore and I've never seen jellies with red tentacles.

Dried up Jellyfish

There's something about the beach that settles me--especially during times of stress. One of my favorite past times is sitting at the beach, listening to ambient music and watching the waves. Try it sometime, it's a fantastic feeling. I like sitting near the dunes so I'm not distracted by joggers or fellow beachcombers and I'll even sit and read for an hour or so--it's much more therapeutic than sitting in my car and listening to music. Anyway, wish me luck--school's almost over and I'll be back soon.

41 Signs You're a Jaded San Franciscan [Re-post]

Andrew Dalton of SFist wrote a great post on identifying Jaded San Franciscans, and I have to say, after 25 years of living here (but really 8 years actually exploring and enjoying the adult activities of San Francisco) I identify with quite a few of these signs.

Here are a couple of my favorites:

2. When traveling, you get confused when there's nowhere to put your recycling and compost.

I'm not a litterbug. I don't litter--you just don't do that. But with that said, I do get confused when I travel even a little bit out of the Bay Area and I can't find a place to compost or recycle. I often end up clutching my empty bottles and food containers for miles hoping I'll pass a compost bin or trash can with a recycling bin on top. Nope. Nothing. Outside of the Bay Area? There are only trash cans. I should probably just bring my own compost/garbage pail.

7. You say you're over Dolores Park… when you're on your way to Dolores Park.

I can't stop laughing at this--because it's the flippin' truth. To be honest, I'm a Sunset/Ocean Beach/GG Park lady...but I cannot deny the lovely sunshine in the Mission district. I'd probably be at Golden Gate park a lot more often if it wasn't so chilly! I'm not too fond of large crowds, but I have to say, if you're a people watcher like me, Dolores Park is the place to be. Just remember to be considerate and pick up your trash before you leave--this is everyone's park.  Oh yes, and I thought I should share this little gem was circulating on my Facebook feed for a while:

I cannot tell you how many times I've tried to find friends who confidently assert that they are "at Dolores Park right by the tennis courts!"

15. You throw a tantrum every time you try to find food after 10 p.m.

This. Is. My. Life. It seems like most restaurants close after 10pm, even on weekends. That doesn't mean all hope is lost! I have some spots that I frequent regularly after 11pm, such as Spices! (on 6th ave and Clement), King of Thai (it seems there are like 30 of them in the city, but the one in North Beach is my favorite--and they have a killer happy hour). There are a ton of taquerias  in the Mission District, and after 10pm it's really fun to people watch. Watching drunk people trying  to behave in public is one of my favorite past times.

26. You have four terrariums.

YES.  THIS. THIS right here. I have like 30 terrariums. One of them is at my favorite bakery too! Does that make me a true San Franciscan?!

38. North Beach sounds like a pain in the ass to get to.

BECAUSE IT IS A PAIN IN THE ASS TO GET THERE. 'Nuff said. 


...and those are my favorites from this list. Which ones do you identify with the most?

Life Lately: Academic Life

Satisfying my imagination with rainbow office supplies.

One skill I hope to master by graduation is the ability to successfully manage (or at least carefully juggle) my life, job, hobbies, and school commitments all at once. Despite being insanely busy with school work, I tried to make more of an effort to practice self-care, and for me, that's free-writing and sitting at the beach. The weather has gotten warmer so I've been spending more time outside, which has pushed my brain into overdrive. I've noticed my brain is constantly thinking about new plant and art projects but I can't start anything until I finish my thesis. Lately I've been keeping a list of projects and during my breaks I brainstorm and gather the materials so I can start immediately in June.

So aside from my life in my academic cave, what else have I been doing?

Not much, unfortunately, but stay tuned for a post on self-care--something I've been working on for years.

Doggie Daycare

I don't have a dog right now, but I usually jump at any chance to dog-sit because I am always down for cuddles and the outdoors. I've been thinking about fostering an animal with Rodolfo, but until then, I'll have to steal other people's dogs.

Mandarin with her huge stick

Mushrooms in the City: Stinkhorns

Spotted this lone stinkhorn (clathrus ruber) while walking along Lake Merced blvd today. Looks a little flattened but still intact. I like spotting mushrooms in unexpected places!

Life Happenings: Quarter Century Milestone!

Last weekend I celebrated my 25th birthday.  I am aware that I am still so very young, I hope to make the most of life. No quarter-life crises yet, and I hope to keep it that way. I've done a lot of growing up but I try my best to keep a child-like curiosity so I don't get bored with the world...but is that even possible?

This month I've been full of excitement and a little bit of worry. I'm excited to graduate this May, but I am also falling behind in my thesis writing, and while I know I'm going to finish I still can't help but feel a slight panic. About one more month until it's due... I'm so excited to be done with it.

So far my never-ending quest to learn has been keeping me fully occupied, but I also wonder how my life is going to look once I leave academia and go into "the real world," whatever that means. I just interviewed for a job and I hope I am a great fit for the organization. It would be so sweet to graduate in May and have a position where I can put everything I've learned into practice.

I'm a big fan of bucket lists, and while I didn't make a "Things-to-do-before-I-turn-25" list I am already drafting a list of things to accomplish before I'm 30. Not to say that I should actually follow this timeline, but I do like having a general idea of what I'd like to do in the next few years. I'll post my list soon. Have to think a bit more about it!

In the Kitchen: Crispy Kale Chips

I have finally mastered the crispy kale chip thanks to my friend Carrie. I've made kale chips before but each batch resulted in a mix of crispy, wilted, or charred kale that has often left me disappointed and still hungry. I've learned that the trick to prepping the kale is to use a silicone basting brush and lightly paint olive oil (coconut oil works too!) onto the kale. After seasoning the leaves with vegan bacon salt from the Spice & Tea Exchange I baked them at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes. This is the third time I've made them and I have to say that the basting brush makes all the difference. Be warned: they disappear quickly, so make them in large batches (1-2 bunches should do)!

Preparations: My final semester!

“If you are not afraid of the voices inside you, you will not fear the critics outside you.”
― Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within

I to remember this with all of my might, especially as I start to really draft my thesis and submit it by April. This is exciting! I've been in school for so long, I never took a break after getting my BA and instead I went straight to a Master's program. I intend to take a long break after I graduate--I'll probably work/travel for a year or so and then apply to PhD programs around 2014-2015.

During the semesters I get incredibly busy, and blogging has always been at the bottom of my list...until now. I think I've found a space where I can document the experiences I seek, and while it's not directly related to my academic goals, I find that many of my hobbies and academic interests somehow intersect and offer so much insight into my life. For instance, today in my art class we watched a great Ted Talk by artist Sue Austin, who uses her art to challenge our assumptions of differently-abled people. Sue also discusses the concept of spectacle, and how creating spectacles can disrupt our current assumptions of say, people with disabilities, and instead of viewing her wheelchair as a limitation she shows the world how she can experience the ocean in ways divers cannot. My thesis focuses on how creating spectacle may disrupt or challenge preconceived notions about violence against women. I was struck by Sue Austin's discussion of spectacle, as this was a great example of how spectacles offer a new lens, a new way of thinking about disability.

Sue Austin: Deep sea diving...in a wheelchair

I highly recommend you watch it--in addition to her art, she also goes deep sea diving in her wheelchair, which affords her an incredible experience drifting through reefs with 360 degree movement. I was in awe as I watched her talk, especially when she talks about internalizing other people's reaction to her illness--and how that deeply affects our own identity. Her resiliency really resonates with me and once you watch this, I'm pretty sure you will be mesmerized.

Things I Want But Don't Need

Pennants from Stay Home Club

Kitty Cat- canvas patch by Laura Manfre