life as a 20-something: caffeine, craigslist, and a cat collecting game because your landlord doesn't allow cats (and you can't afford one yet)

This is just a short (ish) life update, as I'm finding myself far too comfortable in the warmth of my bed to step out into the cold to check on the bees. (I checked yesterday, no sign of them yet -- then again, it's been raining the past several days, so they're probably seeking shelter elsewhere. Could said shelter be cuter than the bee house I put out for them? No way!)

Anyway, here's a breakdown of what's going on, which I hope will explain the post title I had way too much fun putting together:

• It's been over a year or so since I've had some Earl Grey in the kitchen, and a friend of mine recommended that I try Twining's Lady Grey (pictured above). It's delicious enough for me to have already gone through six mugs even though I only bought the box last night, but light enough for me to not feel concerned, or leave me violently shaking after said six mugs.
  
  
• Caffeine is a daily necessity for me, but especially lately, as the job hunt continues. I heard back from a few employers, and had an interesting interview yesterday. I mean that in a good way, as I generally enjoyed talking about writing in fashion, and discussing my favorite things about it -- but "good" as in "I got hired" good? Nah, not yet, unfortunately. I'm hoping to work for this adorable gift and luxury store in West Portal (which is where I got my mug of succulents from!), so I'm waiting on that opportunity, as well as several others. I can't remember the last time I relaxed and didn't think about resumes.
  
  
• Just several months ago I was spending nearly every hour browsing and refreshing Craigslist when I was looking for an apartment. I definitely got lucky with this one. Will I get lucky there and find the right job for me? I sure hope so, and it better be soon, because I almost considered responding to a gig requesting that someone message this guy's OkCupid matches for him.
  
  
• Last night's Elementary episode was terrible. I feel like I've said enough about it. If you follow me on Twitter, then you already know what I have to say about it. If you've followed me on Twitter since around season two, you know how much I disliked 2x23: "Art in the Blood", and therefore know how I managed to dislike this one even more. The AV Club's review of "Miss Taken" pretty much explains why I'd rather forget this episode happened.
  
  
• I've gotten around 5000 words done on my personal essay on race, and my lived experiences of racism as a Filipina-American woman. Due to its nature, I don't expect to whip this one out with ease and leisure -- it's not easy to talk about in the least, but I know I absolutely need to for the sake of my well-being. Topics include Asian representation in the media, the strange dissonance in identity of being "too Asian" or "not Asian enough", and how it has played into my personal relationships. I will be hosting it here when it's complete.
  
  
• And, last but not least, I (finally) caved and started playing Neko Atsume last night. Perfect for someone like me who absolutely adores cats but can't afford or live with one at the moment. It's definitely playing to my convenience -- since I'm too lazy to step out in the cold and check on the bees in the backyard, well, all I have to do is open the app and check for the cats!
  
  

some apartment love

What with final exams several weeks ago, the holidays, and now the frantic job hunt, I've really been neglecting tending to my tiny apartment. My friend Elle was visiting today, so I  figured it was a good opportunity to get back to keeping it bright and stylish. If there's one thing that helps to put me at peace during times of stress -- yes, even the stress that accompanies the constant refreshing and emailing regarding job searches -- it's a lovely, organized workspace. 

Picked up some cute wooden boxes from the eternally convenient (and cute! and cheap!) selection at Daiso for my desk and my succulents. Daiso is one of those stores where, upon entering, I will have a strict list of three or so household items I need -- but more likely than not I will end up leaving with a few additional items. No room for buyer's remose, though. There's no better place to go to add some charm to the home without breaking the bank.

I also stopped by the plant nursery to pick up some purple flowers for the bee house. 

   

happy new year!

Happy New Year! Due to my lack of holiday decoriations (and, let's be real, holiday spirit in general this time around), the New Year festivity will somehow have to be visually expressed through the above photos: an adorable box of cookies from my landlord, and a train selfie from a while ago. Bear with me!

Here's hoping that 2016 brings you wellness, success, and the unlikelihood of bugs creeping into your home this winter. I'm certainly hoping for the first two, because unfortunately that last wish has already failed me, as there happened to be a spider in my bathroom.

I've been having a very quiet New Year, and not entirely without its stress: spent both the eve and holiday alone in my tiny apartment, cleaning, job hunting around the clock, doing some errands here or there. Still, it wasn't without its redeeming qualities. I now have an excuse to buy a new, cute desk calendar (I've been browsing Etsy). When I wasn't sending out one resume after the other, I was replaying my favorite video game of all time, and enjoying the comforts of Elementary season one episodes with my boyfriend. Oh! And trying to brush up on some beginner's guides to inviting and hosting bees in the garden, because...

...My friend Alex got me a lovely house for bees as a Christmas gift! Maybe 2016 will finally be the year where I go from finding bees cute to finding them cute enough to want to try raising them in an urban backyard:

I checked this morning: no bees yet, but then again, it's probably too soon to expect any. I'm planning to set a nice, small pot of purple flowers nearby sometime soon. (Bees loving the color purple is probably one of the cutest things about them, ever. That, and festooning.)

Anyway, New Year's stuff aside, I've got a couple of ideas that I think I could get a really good use out of, in regards to this specific platform. The usual lifestyle stuff, of course, since it is a personal blog, but there's something about this medium that leave Tumblr read-more text posts in the dust. Bee updates? Yes. Insights on the creative projects I'm really eager to kickstart this year? Definitely. All those personal essays and reflections (and even poetry!) on race and relationships that I've been dying to put down somewhere, anywhere, for the sake of my well-being, and in hopes that it might help someone reading it? Hell yeah!

2016 might be off to a stressful, strained start, but I've got a good feeling about it. If 2015 was the year of firsts and first steps, 2016 will hopefully be the year of plot progression and security.