Vacation - Staycation

I've been on vacation since Christmas and it's been nice to stay home, visit local museums, and see old friends.  I've been sleeping and napping non-stop!  I must have been tired. 

Here's my list of what I wanted to do while on break (and I'm happy to say I've done most of them):
-Make oatcakes via the recipe from 3191 Quarterly and eat with apples and cheddar . . . also really good with blackberry jam.
-Buy ingredients at the Indian grocery store to make kitchari (bought the ingredients but haven't made the kitchari yet).
-Go on a long hike with Cody (this unfortunately was cut short due to spotting two coyotes).  Sigh, I don't think I can take him on hikes anymore due to the coyotes--they're everywhere in Southern California!  Cody and I did get to go on a nice long walk with my friend, Cynthia and her son Milo through their quiet neighborhood.  The last picture is from our walk.
-Visit the Autry Museum to see this exhibit.  So amazing!  I cried watching one of the artist videos . . . will have to write about that later.

Ah, I'm so grateful that I have a job that gives me this long of a break.

The feminine hand in craft

I've been a fan of Tanya Aguiniga for the longest time.  I love her resourcefulness, and that she uses her background growing up in Tijuana to influence her design philosophy and craft.  I also love that she creates things that reflect the feminine hand--that she embraces texture and warmth.  Yet, at the same time her work reflects strength, resourcefulness, and industriousness (all feminine characteristics as well).  I want to learn how to use power tools!

In her studio.

Wearing her rope jewelry.

Service dogs

I saw these stamps here and fell in love.  Dogs really are the best, and these stamps beautifully capture their loyalty and willingness to serve us humans.

Found in a coat pocket

I found these tiny pine cones in DC during a walk through the park.  I've never seen anything like these here.  A nice surprise to find them in my coat pocket upon return.

Take Us Back

Alela Diane.

Banh mi: the world's perfect sandwich

I miss close proximity to good Vietnamese food.

I was in Orange County today to see my optometrist (he's so great that I've decided to drive an hour to keep seeing him--and it's only once a year). 

I needed to have lunch somewhere and I remembered my friend T telling me about this sandwich place, Tan Hoang Huong Sandwiches and Coffee in Tustin which is very close to my optometrist.

So I stopped by and ordered the spring rolls and grilled pork banh mi, and I have to say that they have the best banh mi I've ever tasted.  The baguette was warm and crusty, the meat was flavorful, and the veggies were fresh.  The spring rolls were also really good.  As you can see, I was really hungry--and it was a satisfying lunch.

If you're ever in the Tustin area, check out THH Sandwiches and Coffee (they also have other locations in OC):
14081 Newport Ave, Tustin CA

Thank you to all my former Vietnamese roommates who introduced me to so many delicious dishes!

Cozy times in DC

Pictures from a recent trip to DC to visit close friends.  They live in the quaint Georgetown area . . . I fell in love with all the row houses with their cute doors and stoops.
It was my first time on the East Coast and I loved it.  And this probably sounds really cliche but good friendships are truly something to treasure.