6 Happy Things to Celebrate
little joys in life #16
Hi everyone, March is officially upon us and Spring has sprung in Austin, TX. Have some fun updates and recommendations for you guys - a mix of travelling, media, and food. Hope you like it :)
1. What I have been reading:
Book: The sentence by Louise Erdrich. This is set in 2020 Minneapolis during the start of COVID with the story of George Floyd passing weaving into the novel. I was also delighted to find Midwest Mountaineering and Cedar-Riverside neighborhood references as they reminded me of my old stomping ground. I gave the book a 4/5 stars on Goodreads.
Essays:
Some writing that inspired me the past month:
- ‘s article on unraveling parents advice
- hodgepodge of ideas
- ‘s interview with Sabrina Little and it touches on philosophy & running - which I am intrigued to read.
- essay on the merit of aesthetics and doing things for the “vanity”
2. My Big Bend trip
We had the most awe-inspiring experience at this only one of two national parks in Texas. I got to see the most impressive night sky of my life. Did you know Big Bend at 9 million acres is the largest Dark Sky Reserve in the world? I didn’t know something like that existed.
We drove hours through the desert and were greeted with impressive vegetation within the Chisos Mountain Basin. Another fun part of the road trip is to visit small Texas towns along the way. We stopped at Marathon on the way to and Fredericksburg on the way back to Austin.
3. KG BBQ
I finally tried the Austin famous Egyptian BBQ for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed it. I highly recommend the pomegranate pork ribs and sausage.
4. Crying a little from the One Day series
Add this series to your list if you are feeling a little unsettled in your 20s. I didn’t like it at first but boy the way I fell in love with the story and characters towards the end and how it portrayed the turbulence of life. Prepare to be sad.
5. Making healthy treats
I have been into making healthi(er) treats and like this simple recipe Chocolate Peanut butter protein balls and… hype-worthy Blended overnight oatmeal from someone who has eaten oatmeal for breakfast for 5+ years now.
6. Warm weather and my little run
The warm weather has been conducive to extra outdoor hours. I ran my second mini run post half marathon race after two weeks of rehab exercises.
Finding the patience to stay off my legs has been challenging but I had to remind myself of the long-term effects. I have been going to cycling classes and riding bikes at the gym instead, which is a surprisingly enjoyable form of cardio.
I’m taking any tips for recovering from a pulled hamstring and weak knees post-race. I am taking things slow but would love to run again pain free :)
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Leave me a comment!
Thank you so much for the mention, Minh!