2023 in books

It seems that, overnight, everyone on the internet has become a reader. The irony of this is not lost on me -- something I was teased mercilessly about as a child has now become something "aesthetic" that others strive for. I have tried over and over - since 2017 - to create and stick with a bookstagram, but the pressure of it all feels a bit too daunting for me. But the beauty of a booming book platform is that I am exposed to so, so many more books than I would if I stayed in my own little bubble. Thus, 2023 in books. 

One Month on Accutane

All cystic acne-prone folks know the anxiety that comes with posting an unfiltered photo of their skin. In many ways, it's an act of bravery to post one. The photo attached to this post was taken today, March 23, 2021. Today marks the conclusion of my first month on Accutane. For the sake of sharing information, and documenting this experience, I am going to share my experience leading up to the decision to begin Accutane, what it is, how it's been for me, and what comes next. 

Best Reads of 2020

 

While we can all acknowledge that 2020 was a burning dumpster fire, I exceeded my 2020 reading goal of 24 books by reading 51. In this post, I'll be recapping my favorite reads of 2020, seeing as most of us won't be out of quarantine anytime soon.

On the Privilege of Sustainable Living + Swaps

One of the biggest issues I've found with the sustainability movement in recent years is how whitewashed and inaccessible it's become. Low-waste creators and influencers are often really preachy and exclusive, oftentimes it feels like these discussions are taking a punitive approach instead of one of compassion. These discussions often lack action steps and discard the indigenous histories that many of these practices come from. 

Veggie-Forward Orzo Pasta Salad

I, like many others, am trying to find some bright spaces in order to keep myself afloat during COVID19 and the subsequent social distancing/quarantining taking place. My brightest space has been in the kitchen. While I have always been passionate about food, I have truly fallen in love with the process of cooking as much as the end result. 

In order to continue to #usewhatyouhave, I decided to make a very veggie-forward orzo pasta salad yesterday. I posted a picture of the process and the end result on Instagram and a few people said they wanted to see the recipe! So, here we are! Most of the ingredients can be found in your cabinet/refrigerators already, so please be sure to #usewhatyouhave before rushing to buy more! his pasta salad can be accommodated for so many different lifestyles (note how I didn't say diets!) and I will be including those substitutions at the bottom of this post. Let's get cooking! 

on comparison and deleting tiktok

i'm not normally one to struggle with comparison. i'm proud of the individual progress i've made over the years and don't often compare my career trajectory to others'. however, when it comes to my body, the game changes completely. 

5 books to read during quarantine

my mom recently asked me to come up with a  list of my 5 all-time favorite books. what a request! while this list is decidedly not comprised of my 5 all-time favorite books, i wanted to share some books i've really, truly loved that may bring some comfort or adventure to you while we're all self-quarantining. (ps. if you'd like to follow along with my book adventures, follow me on goodreads!)

non-toxic candle round up

i don't know about you, but i have been burning candles like a fiend now that i am at home 24/7. recently, there have been studies and articles released about the harmful ingredients in candles and the potential impact those ingredients have on our health.  as someone who has made the switch to non-toxic cleaning and self-care products, i wanted to share some of my favorite non-toxic, sustainable, ethically sourced candles for your burning pleasure. 

food diaries: my go-to breakfast

this quarantine has allowed me to spend more creative time in the kitchen. every single day, i allow myself to experiment with the food i already have in my kitchen (#usewhatyouhave!) and find joy in the things i'm cooking. i have been making a variation of this breakfast for a week or so now and have fallen head over heels in love with it. i made this morning it for my boyfriend and he said it was "sooooooo good." score!

what i made in march

i have been on quite the cooking and baking journey recently. it was a personal goal of mine to learn to cook more things outside my comfort zone, and it's a resolution i've happily stuck to almost every night. now that we are staying (and cooking more!) at home, i figured i would share some of the yummy things i made in march.

practicing patience and empathy for educators in times of uncertainty

naturally, we are all on our phones way more than we were before COVID19 struck. i usually limit my social media consumption to only one app (instagram!) but have been scrolling through twitter more and more. the other day, i stumbled upon this tweet about online school and it completely broke my heart. the tweet reads "just cancel school cause this online thing not finna work out." i figured, as an educator, i would share my two cents on why tweets like are incredibly inconsiderate to educators worldwide.