👋 Hello everyone!
Well, I said fall would get better, and you know what? It got better. More health, more connection, more fun. Also, one small detail helped out a lot… I’M GOING TO SEE BTS IN CONCERT! I still haven’t really absorbed that I will be in a stadium with 70,000 other passionate fans, watching these guys sing my favorite songs and perform my favorite dances, IN PERSON. Buying tickets was a nightmare (Ticketmaster, I hate you), but when I finally got them, I just hugged Justin and cried. I had tickets to see them in concert last year, but their tour was canceled #thankscovid.
I think the me of 10 years ago would be embarrassed of the me of today, fangirling over a boy band. But the me of today knows that this boy band brought me through some of the hardest years of my life, helped me love myself, and brought me closer to friends around the globe. Speaking of which, I get to meet my friend from Japan for the first time EVER at this concert. We’ve known each other for about 15 years, but we’ve never met in person. Needless to say, I am crazycrazy excited.
So! We’re heading to L.A. in late November. If you have recommendations on things we should eat, drink, and visit, please send them my way!
What have you been up to lately? I’ve been…
🍜 Eating
Here’s a good look at how much I love noodles. And rice. Just… carbs.
This was a SimpliThai pad see ew meal kit from the farmer’s market, and it was SO good. There was a little packet of ground white peppercorn in there that made it so bright and delicious!
Tuna jumeok-bap (rice balls) and kimchi ramen. I like to dip my rice into my noodles for extra carbness.
Tuna gimbap and kimchi ramen. See above.
And miso ramen with broccoli and egg. I really, really like noodles. I could probably eat noodles every day and be happy.
A lunch of cheeze toast with tomatoes and cucumbers. We are getting super spoiled with these ripe, delicious tomatoes from the farmer’s market. 🍅
Brunch by J—squash, mushroom, and cheese omelet with a griddled tomato, fried potatoes, and tortillas. He always wins at brunch.
Another brunch of French toast and veggie sausages. I have no idea why everything’s way over one one side of my plate. 🤷♀️
Avocado toast with arugula, fried shallots and poached egg and iced tea at Patika. I love that place. They’re always so dang friendly.
🦑 Watching
I actually watched a show from start to finish! Apparently, the whole world watched Squid Game as well. Did you?
I loved it. LOVED it. It’s super creepy and awful and painful and sad and uncomfortable, but so friggin beautifully designed. I want to rewatch it, maybe on double speed, just to marvel at the design again—but I think I need a little more time to digest it all. After I watched it, I disappeared into a rabbit hole of theories and easter eggs. So many hidden clues and meanings! Anyway. I highly recommend it.
😂 Laughing
That’s it! Thank you for reading—hit reply and tell me what you’re up to.
--Crystal