EXCITED | to be back at work (at least temporarily, as it seems) after 5 weeks of furlough. Not going to lie though, it was hard to get up this morning. It’s amazing how fast your body adapts to a different wake-up time.

GRATEFUL | that we were able to weather the shutdown-storm and have felt less of an impact than a lot of other federal workers and contractors.

EATING | this absolutely delicious European bread that I found at the International Market. It’s really more of an Asian Market (I’d say 70% of the store is Asian foods), but they have a decent selection of other international groceries. I will continue to bake at home, but OMG, it is nice to have found a place again where you can buy a decent loaf of bread.

DRINKING | coffee. Looking forward to it every single morning.

WATCHING |  Salt Fat Acid Heat with Samin Nosrat. I came across this four-part documentary on Netflix by accident, but it’s super-intriguing (if you’re into cooking, which I am). I recommend you check it out. Samin also wrote a book with the same title that I am dying to read now.

READING | This is the way the world ends: How Droughts and Die-offs, Heat Waves and Hurricanes Are Converging on America by Jeff Nesbit. You guys, I haven’t finish this one yet, but everybody needs to read this. Science is real.

LOVING | the Californian winter. Cool, but not freezing, temperatures and blue skies! It’s the perfect season to run (when it’s not raining, ha).

WORKING |on my bullet journal.

PREPARING | for a potential work trip to Denver (which was canceled because of the shutdown, but now might be back on. I’ll find out in the next few days).

WISHING | I could be with my friend who is going through a hard time right now. Distance sucks, especially in these kinds of situations.

What’s going on with you currently? 

FEELING | a little all over the place lately. Lots going on and I haven’t had proper time (and brain power) to blog much, but I am planning to keep up my annual tradition of blogging my way through November by participating in NaBloPoMo. Do or die, friends. Who’s with me?

WEARING | my fleece jacket more often because it’s been cooling down (appropriately for fall). I would lie if I said I didn’t like it. Give me all the seasons!

EXCITED ABOUT | voting. I hope you are too.

READING | Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance.

EATING | zucchini-cheddar scones. I bought one from the local Co-op the other week (it’s what happens when you go grocery shopping hungry!) and then decided that I had to bake my own (which I did last weekend). Recipe will be posted soon.

DRINKING | tea.

WATCHING | the World Series! The Red Sox made it to the WS this year and J and I couldn’t be more excited. They’re playing the LA Dodgers and are currently leading the series 2-0.

MAKING | homemade bread!

ENJOYING | visits from our neighborhood cat. It’s so cute because whenever I pull up with the car, he basically sprints from wherever he’s been to our front steps and (loudly) insists on a nice, thorough head scratch. He snuck into the house twice recently and has been taking strolls through every room before turning around and running back outside. Haha.

LOOKING FORWARD TO | Halloween. I hope we get some trick-or-treaters again. J wants to watch the new Halloween movie but I am not sure yet if I can muster up the courage. We’ll see. 

LISTENING TO |  the Soundscapes channel.

TRYING | to get back into my gym routine. I realize that sometimes life happens and you have to adjust your schedule for a bit, but man, it’s always so hard to get back into your regular routine.

What’s up with you currently?

HANGING OUT | in the Mojave Desert for work. NBD. If you follow me on Instagram, keep your eyes out. I hope to post a few pictures there.

FEELING | a little rushed right now with two field trips back to back. Don’t get me wrong, I love getting out of the office, but two week-long field trips back to back can be, well, long and exhausting.

WEARING | my new running shoes. Did I mention that I won another pair of running shoes through an Instagram giveaway? Best timing ever, as I was looking to get new shoes soon anyway.

EXCITED ABOUT | leaving the windows open and shutting off the AC more! It’s been so, so nice around here. Warm during the day, cool at night and I love it.

READING | Turtles all the way down by John Green.

EATING |  raw almonds. I go through phases, but I am into them right now.

DRINKING | Vanilla Honey Chamomile Tea. It’s not quite fall here yet (when I will start drinking huge amounts of tea!), but a cup of chamomile tea in the evening helps to calm me down before bed.

(always) LOOKING FORWARD TO | seeing my giraffe friends on my runs!

ENJOYING | my 20-minute morning workouts. I am planning to write a post about my experience with the 20-day fitness challenge, because it’s been really good.

TRYING | hard to keep up the good new habits that I formed over the last 2 1/2 weeks!

LISTENING TO |   Pod Save America. I’ll never be an avid podcast listener, but I’ve been listening to episodes of this podcast on and off lately. Maybe because it’s an easier way for me to stay on top of the news without actually following the news.

What’s up with you currently?

(still) USING | my bullet journal. And I realized that what I love most about bullet journaling is all the space I have to write down things other than weekly appointments or tasks (e.g. lists, brain-storming sessions, etc.)

WEARING | my wishbone-necklace again. I had forgotten about it for a while and then I found it cleaning up in my jewelry box the other day.

READING | The story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg. Such a sweet, sweet story.

WATCHING | my water intake, because most days I do ok, but some days I go the whole day without touching my water bottle and then I think I have to pound 64 oz before bedtime. Stupid idea.

MAKING | scrambled eggs. I like them browned and well done. How do you like your scrambled eggs?

LOOKING FORWARD TO | the long labor-day weekend!

EATING |  granola with yogurt.

DRINKING | ice-cold chocolate milk (after my weekend run).

THINKING | lots of thoughts these days. Why can’t my brain ever shut up?

ENJOYING | the cleaner air. Man, you don’t appreciate the clean air as much as you should unless it’s been taken away for a little while. The smoke and haze from the wildfires around us was nasty, but I am so glad we’re (mostly) back to blue skies. I hope that will be the case for other fire-stricken areas as well.

(and also) EXCITED | about slightly cooler temperatures this week. It’s been so nice outside.

LISTENING TO | NPR.

TRYING | to be present and content in the here and now. Why do so many people (me included) linger in the past or keep contemplating the future most of time?  GAH.

What’s up with you currently?

eating granola with yogurt and fresh fruit. So good.

drinking Nuun before and after my workouts, and sometimes just because. What’s your favorite flavor?

watching Red Sox baseball. (Almost) all day, (almost) every day.

loving the coverage of the royal wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. I didn’t think I really cared, but when I turned on the TV on Saturday afternoon and saw the replay of earlier that morning, I couldn’t peel myself away from the screen. It was kinda nice to be distracted from all the other (mostly horrible) news that is running on repeat on TV. I mean, if this kiss doesn’t melt your jaded heart then I don’t know what will.

excited that I am almost finished with my knitting project and ready to start something new! 

working on getting my blog compliant with the GDPR guidelines. If you haven’t looked into this, NOW might be a good time. The General Data Protection Regulation comes fully into force on May, 25th. That’s this Friday!  

playing around with my blog design, in case you haven’t noticed. I am still using the same theme, but I’ve been playing around with some elements. Not sure if this is the final version (it is for now), but let me know if I broke something and something isn’t working correctly). 

going to Washington, D.C. next weekend for the wedding I mentioned earlier this month. I am so excited.

reading Educated by Tara Westover. 

looking forward to the FIFA World Cup in June. Will you be watching? I can’t believe that the US failed to qualify,  but neither did Italy and the Netherlands. Gasp.

What’s up with you currently?