Archive for the ‘food + travel’ Category

Posted on August 12, 2009 - by Joy

Book Addiction

I’ve acquired this ‘disease’ as early as I could borrow books from the school library. I bought books old and new, stamped it with my name and scribbled down the date I acquired each, with my young cursive writing. I built my little library from there. Yes, I had a stamp made especially for stamping my book. I was so much into the stamping that I stamped all three sides of each book. How silly. It was an embarrassment when I grew a little older. Haha. I couldn’t never lend my books (mostly classic books) because my name was all over it. There’s no way could you mistake it as someone else’s, and not in a good way.

When I got older, I didn’t even write my name on them. If I lose it, then hopefully it finds a good home. That was my philosophy for about two decades. Recently I began to write my name again on each book. And the date. It’s like my personal journey as you piece together each book I purchase. Each book represents where I was/am at. Thankfully, I don’t stamp my books anymore.

I buy books as I want them. I’ve never depended on the bestseller’s lists, or felt the need to. I don’t feel like I need to read what others are reading, although I certainly check out what my friends are reading to see if they interest me. I rarely borrow because books are so personal to me. I write on them. I highlight them. They’re my babies, as odd as that sounds. These days my books are a mishmash of spiritual, psychological, culinary, business, photography, design, and craft books.

Today I felt like getting some food writing books. When I searched the store’s online catalog, the only one I saw that was available was “Choice Cuts: A Savory Selection of Food Writing from Around the World and Throughout History” and it was in the Bargain Section. So off I went. I noticed another book as well, “How I Learned To Cook: Culinary Educations from the World’s Greatest Chefs“, which is a collection of essays from forty chefs.

I guess you can tell which one I’m reading (and thoroughly enjoying) right now.

Posted on May 16, 2009 - by Joy

To Let Something Beautiful Go

This post is dedicated to a dear friend who is not in a good place right now. I’m thinking of you dear girl.

Sometimes, despite the best intentions and having your heart in the right place, you still don’t get what you want. Something you want it so much that it hurts. Quite frankly, said eloquently or not, it all comes down to this: It Sucks. And there’s really no amount of fighting with The Universe about it to make things change their courses to your liking.

“Why? Why?!?!?!” we ask. You’ve done all the right things. [Insert screams.]

Somehow, someday in some way, the answers will come to you. Right now, it’s all just a blur. I know it won’t help when people say that it’s probably for the best. Just trust that it is. What else do you have to lose, right?

I’m sorry. I’m sorry life doesn’t seem too bright and sunny right now, but just as the promise of Spring comes every year and you get to make wishes all over again on drifting tufts of dandelions, the good times will come. Soon. I hope.

Posted on April 3, 2009 - by Joy

Buy Experiences, Not Possessions

A new study demonstrates that experiential purchases, such as a meal out or theater tickets, result in increased well-being because they satisfy higher order needs, specifically the need for social connectedness and vitality — a feeling of being alive.

Having grown older, I’ve started to think about this and I finally found ‘validation’ in a scientific study that my hypotheses were correct. It doesn’t take a genius, only a closer look at myself and my behavior. It’s no secret that when I was younger, I was more inclined to purchase an expensive piece of clothing or bag. These days, I’d rather spend it on traveling, a good dining experience, watching a show, or an activity. I find that the satisfaction and good memories from these events are far more lasting than buying something that I might sometimes still find in the box or bag that I purchased it in months later and then thinking, “I really did not need that. What was I thinking?”

It’s so easy for me to pass up a thousand dollar bag in favor of a thousand dollar trip for a vacation, and see friends and eat good food. The good memories haven’t disappointed me yet. :)