well that didn’t last long. but I’m back. for now.
celebrating 2022:
– moved across the country
– got a new job, which (I hope) will be the start of an ambitious, satisfying, stable career
– cycled 406 miles
– ran 2 half marathons
– read 33 books (and counting)
– started my first role in project management
– made 2 new friends in my new city
beginning to process 2023, and what intentionality/purpose I want to put into it:
– more sustainability (less plastic, more thrifting, intentional eating, saying no.)
– more (careful and probably close to home) travel
– less anxiety (here we go round 37192 of therapy eye roll)
– more strength training and cycling
– less “stuff” in this house
– more dreaming and moving forward on those dreams
– more care and intentionality around finances and budget
– more creativity (easy because it’s been nonexistent in 2022
new alarm clock!
I bought this old school lil guy from the Arc thrift store last weekend for $2. I’ve been wanting to shut my phone off at 8pm (setting on do not disturb doesn’t quite keep me from picking it up), but the alarm clock was my hangup. Pretty excited to set a phone boundary and buy second-hand at the same time.
9/4 weekly roundup
Success: We celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi this week, which meant delicious food and origami! I wanted to make Ganeshas out of play dough but didn’t pick it up in time, so we opted for origami. I was actually super impressed that we successfully made elephants. 🙂
Flop: my bird’s nest fern is hanging on for dear life and I’m doing it no favors. This recent white leaf prompted a move to a lighter room, but I don’t feel particularly hopeful.
Hike: Mount Sherman! Checked off my 9th Colorado 14er. This was for sure the easiest 14er I’ve done so far. 4.78mi / 1,958 ft. elevation / 3hrs 11mins.
Bringing me joy: a college friend in town for the long weekend! I hadn’t seen Sage in probably six years, and we filled the weekend with fun. Hiking, exploring Red Rocks, bouldering, and lots of good conversation.
Coffee shop: Table Public House, kind of between Edgewater and Englewood.. I really liked this spot. It’s a cafe/coffee shop, with a little designed work area full of beautiful house plants. 100% of the profits support community-focused initiatives. I’ll definitely be working from here again!
Book: Finished Getting Naked: A Business Fable about Shedding the Three Fears That Sabotage Client Loyalty by Patrick Lencioni. It was a quick read and interesting, but I wouldn’t recommend for someone who isn’t in consulting or other client-focused work.
8/28 weekly roundup
Success: 3 frames at Arc for $1.50 each! I’ll post what I do with them next week.
Flop: coconut yogurt. Incubated for 8 hours and was simply… coconut milk.
Hike:
- Maryland Mountain outside of Black Hawk
- 6.24 mi / 1,011 ft elevation / 2hrs 2min
- 3/5 rating: lots of mountain bikers and so-so views.
Ride:
- Tom Watson park to Carter Lake outside of Boulder
- 54.14 mi / 2,818 ft elevation / 3hrs 53min
- 3/5 rating: elevation and sun were brutal, roads were nice and I’m dang proud of myself.
Bringing me joy:
- The bird mug I bought from a local artist which I accidentally chipped the beak off of on the first wash but I still love it.
- Bake night with my cousin – Peach hand pies.
Coffee Shop:
- Stylus & Crate in Wheat Ridge
- Coffee was delish, but the space was small. Dhana loved that because all of the energy was packed together, which gave him energy. Me, not so much.
Books:
- Finished Outliers – Malcom Gladwell – non fic.
- Also finished A Tale for The Time Being – Ruth Ozeki – fiction.
- Highly, highly recommend both!
yogurt.
Today’s sustainability tip: make your yogurt at home!
Sure, it only saves one plastic container here and there, but I guess even that makes me feel better. And bonus: homemade yogurt tastes loads better than store bought. In fact, my homemade yogurt has none of that tangy bitterness that store-bought has, so I generally eat it plain with no sweetener or flavor. Although I always include walnuts because I’m a walnut addict. Maple syrup is nice too.
I haven’t done this yet, but per google you can make almond- or coconut-based yogurt just as you would dairy milk-based yogurt. I’m going to try it next week.
All you need is
- some tablespoons plain yogurt (dairy/almond/coconut)
- milk (dairy/almond/coconut)
- an instant pot
You can find many recipes out there that are more precise, but I put the milk (1/2-ish gallon) in my instant pot and set it on the “yogurt –> boil” setting. After it reaches the correct temperature, the instant pot beeps. I cool the milk down to somewhere in the range 100-115, and then whisk in 3-4 tablespoons of plain yogurt from my last batch. Cooling the milk by just setting it on the counter takes awhile, so I put the instant pot inner pot into a bigger bowl of ice water. (save the water for your house plants!)
After the milk has cooled, pop the instant pot pot back in the instant pot and set the yogurt setting to 8 hours.
Bingo. Fresh yogurt.
3-0
Today I turn 30! And start this blog!
I toggle between alarm that I’m no longer in my twenties and feeling absolutely thrilled that I am no longer in my twenties.
I started my twenties attaining my degree in biochemistry – I have yet to use it. I then went overseas for a year on a “mission trip” – lots of regret there. A story for another day.
When I returned to the states, I had reverse culture shock and was fairly directionless. Cue six years of meandering through this job and that, from one city to the next. Nanny, barista, personal trainer, hospitality associate – from Atlanta to Denver to Seattle and back.
I didn’t build a career in my twenties and my Roth account is hurting because of it, but I did build something else that I am dang proud of. Unintentinally, I focused on building a version of Erica that I love. I remember how I felt in college – awkward, constantly questioning others’ opinions of me, emotionally immature, clueless about my values and goals. I was unable to build healthy relationships or foster community around me because I lacked the ability to control my emotions and thoughts. It sucked.
How do I feel at 30? Still clueless, but okay with that. Okay with saying no. Okay with not shaving my legs if I don’t want. Okay with not having a TikTok (except am I already becoming irrelevant?!). Making my own yogurt and reusing the envelopes with the front holes that come with bills even though I thought it wasn’t cool when I was a kid and my dad did it. And all in for saying hell yes to the humans and activities that bring me joy.
I spent my birthday weekend hiking (four 14,000+ foot mountains), biking (20 miles from Aspen up to Maroon Bells in CO), and camping with my best buddy. I did not complete the 30 before 30 list that I created at the beginning of this year, but – because I’m not longer 22 and wringing my hands over every little mistake – I was too busy doing other fun things to mind the incomplete list. I’m happy, healthy, and finally pursuing a career and a life that lights me up. I’m in this space to document the twisty turns of life over the next decade. Mountain biking? Pottery? Buddhism? Travel? A promotion? Who knows, but I’m here for the fun, and I’ll learn how to navigate the hard stuff too.
flying kites and riding bikes 