The Sunday Currently, volume 7

It's been a lovely Spring day today. I am loving it! J and I even walked downtown this morning for some breakfast (we love how close we live to downtown- just a 15-20 minute walk!). It was great. And also- I discovered that the best time to see downtown Nashville (i.e. Broadway) is earlier in the morning before it gets too crazy!

At breakfast this morning at Dunn Bros Coffee-- good sandwiches, muffins & coffee!

Here is today's Sunday Currently:

C U R R E N T L Y . . .

R E A D I N G  Fun home : a family tragicomic by Alison Bechdel

W R I T I N G  nothing at the moment.

L I S T E N I N G to my 90's hiphop Pandora station-- it's really making me feel nostalgic!

T H I N K I N G   about A R U B A! The time is almost here!!

S M E L L I N G   fresh air! I have the windows upstairs and downstairs open- our place needs it!

W I S H I N G    I had a big fat fish taco in my hands right  about now!

H O P I N G  my husband does well at Writers' Night this week!

W E A R I N G  Hello Kitty PJ bottoms & a tank top

L O V I N G    the feeling of Spring in the air!

W A N T I N G   a big fat fish taco... I've been craving one for weeks now, I even posted in the Yelp community boards as to where in Nashville I can find the best fish tacos & got a lot of responses, but I haven't fulfilled my craving yet!

N E E D I N G  sunblock. For some reason I get sunburned hella fast nowadays. I hate getting old!

F E E L I N G  hopeful.

C L I C K I N G on this, this & this link . . . these so made my day! And yes- I am a total Buzzfeed addict!

As a bonus- and since I haven't done one in a while- I'm also doing today's Sunday Social! Double-whammy!


1. What is your ideal way to relax?
     Lying on a beach, sun beating against my body, the smell of ocean, suntan lotion & sea breeze in the air and with a drink in hand.

2. Where is your favorite place to be?
     Prepare for this corniness: anywhere with J. Oh- and/or in California with my fam & friends.

3. Who do you consider your biggest role model?
     My parents. All my life I've looked up to them- not just as individuals, but as a couple. They've shown me how a marriage should be like- with all the sacrifices and love and everything! They're just the best!

4. What does your life look like in 3 years?
     Who knows??? That's just way too far ahead to tell. You never know with J and I. =)

5. If you could go back and change one decision, what would it be?
     I would have gone to college right out of high school (instead of waiting several years to get my Bachelor's) and I would have gone with a better major than I did. But you know what- I have no regrets! Oh- and I also would have traveled more.

6. What is your biggest accomplishment in life thus far?
     Getting married to the love of my life and just being happy!

Linking up with Lauren & Ashley

Sunday Social

1. Name 4 jobs you’ve had in your life.
    Sandwich artist
    Registered Dental Assistant
    Receptionist
    English teacher

2. Name 4 movies you would watch over and over.
    Grandma's Boy
    Closer
    The Science of Sleep
    Kickass

3. Name 4 places you have lived.
    California
    Tennessee
    South Korea
    Philippines

Nashville.

4. Name 4 of your favorite foods.
    Thai
    Sushi
    Pho
    Mexican

5. Name 4 things you always carry with you.
    Chapstick
    Celly
    Eye drops
    Wallet

6. Name 4 places you have been on vacation.
    Palau, Micronesia
    Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    Granada, Spain
    Mancora, Peru

Malaysia.

Sunday Social: Sometimes I sit & wish I was a kid again

1. What do you miss most about being a kid?
     Being carefree and always having fun!

2. Did you have a nickname growing up? What was it?
    Winnie Cooper (because I looked like her) and/or LeLe (still my nickname)

3. What was your favorite thing to do at recess?
    Beat up the boys! I was a bit of a tomboy.

4. What did you want to be when you grew up?
     A teacher. Then when I was in like 3rd grade, I wanted to be a rapper. No joke.

5. Did you participate in any school activities?
    Not really. Just softball & volleyball when I was a little older.

6. What is the funniest thing you did as a kid that your parents still remind you about?
    Whenever I had a "crush" on a boy, I would hit them-- a lot. They have video of me slapping a boy in the butt (a family friend) repeatedly as he is talking to the camera. Thankfully I stopped that habit shortly after I tuned like 4 years old, but my parents will still bring it up once in a while.

Sunday Social: fave book, essential items, fave year, etc.

1. What are 3 items you can't live without on a daily basis (water, food, shelter, and clothes don't count)
    I was first going to put my hubby- then I reasoned out the fact that he's not an item. He's a person. Anyways, I can't live without travel, the desire to explore & experience new things, & good vibes.

2. What is your all time favorite book? Why?
    "100 Years of Solitude" by Gabriel García Márquez. I could not put it down. It's such an interesting story written in such an interesting way (non-linear told in different time frames). I got so lost in the book. And I was really sad when it ended. I wanted more!

3. What is something you'd like to accomplish before the end of 2013?
    Save enough money to be able to go on a big trip next year! 

4. If you could go back and relive any year of your life which year would it be?
    It would definitely be 2011. That's the year that J proposed to me, I finally got my bachelor's degree, J & I had an awesome pre-wedding celebration in California, we got married, we went to Costa Rica & not only had our wedding there, but we were there about a month before then with some close friends exploring the country with them, we moved to Ecuador, had an awesome holiday in Peru, then came back to the States at the very end of the year.

5. What do you wish people knew about you without you having to tell them?
    I'm a pretty quiet person-- but that doesn't mean I don't like to talk or make new friends or that I'm boring! I'm always down to meet new peoples & conversate- it's just usually you have to make the move first. Usually, not always.

Sunday Social: Food!

I've been missing out lately on Sunday Social, but I'm back at it again today-- especially because this week's questions are about food! Yummy.

1. If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
    Som tom! (Thai green papaya salad). Love that stuff, especially with sticky rice.

2. What’s your guilty pleasure/comfort food?
    Donuts. Mmmmm... donuts.....

3. What’s the weirdest/craziest thing you’ve ever eaten?
    Guinea pig in Ecuador (which was surprisingly delicious, to be honest). Oh, and live octopus in South Korea. That was definitely weird.

Munchin on some guniea pig in Ecuador.

4. What foods do you avoid at all costs?
    Anything that has ampalaya (bittermelon) or grapefruit. I hate bitter stuff- yuck! I have a very low tolerance for that stuff.

5. What meal reminds you of your childhood?
    Canned sardines & rice. I remember my mom cooking that a lot when I was a kid.

6. Share one of your favorite recipes and the story behind it.
    Here's a link to my calamansi brownies: Calamansi Brownies.
    When we were living in the Philippines, I had a lot of extra time on my hands. I ended up starting a little baking business. These calamansi brownies were a top seller of mine. (And if you don't know what a calamansi is, it's basically the Filipinos' version of lemon. It's actually more of a cross between an orange and a lemon. Really good.)

Sunday Social

This Week's Questions:

1. What is your favorite kind of surprise? 

Any surprise-- as long as it's a good one! I especially like ones that make people happy. 

2. Flowers or Chocolate? 

Flowers!

3. What is your favorite summertime activity? 

Traveling, camping and/or roadtripping. 

4. Do you have any vacations planned this Summer? 

Yes- camping for Memorial Day weekend, moving across the country after that, family reunion for July 4th weekend & my husband's high school reunion... And whatever comes up before, after & between then!

5. Favorite Summer Holiday?

I don't really have one-- I just love all of summer.

6. Dream Vacation? 

Going to another country, laying on a beautiful beach, relaxing, eating good food & drinks and being with J. 

I hope everyone had a great weekend! 

I've been super busy since I've been back in the States. I hope to be able to blog more often soon. I have a big announcement -- something happening in my life, but I'll post about it later. 

Until next time, my lovely readers. 

Sunday Social

Linking up today at:

1. Favorite type of work out to do?

I like doing Tae Bo. I know that's old school, but I love it. It's a good mix of cardio and muscle toning. And it's helped me lose more than 20 pounds in 2.5 months!

2. Favorite guilty pleasure candy or sweet?

Anything and everything red velvet-- cake, cupcakes, pancakes, fudge, cheesecake etc. etc. etc. YUMMMM!

3. What is one thing you continuously forget to do?

Take my multi-vitamin every day.

4. Posts its or phone reminders? Why?

Post-its because with phone reminders you can easily dismiss them, but with post-its, those things can stay up in your face until you handle it.

5. Favorite picture currently on your phone that always makes you smile:

My BFF & I in the sweetest Caddy ever.