asian grocery stores

I have a confession to make.

I actually like grocery shopping.

Weird, right?

But I honestly get excited about thinking about what I'm going to cook, what I'm going to buy to cook-- and going to the grocery store is not a stressful thing, but a time where I don't think about anything else except food.


And that's something totally great.

Even better than the regular grocery store, or even Trader Joes, is when I have time to go to the Asian grocery store. We have several in Seattle, and there's a pretty big one by my house that not only has Asia covered, but Eastern Europe and Central America. We are talking nearly every heritage and their respective food in one place. I love it.


I love looking at all the unique products, eying the unusual cuts of meat and endless fish, and guessing what vegetable I'm looking at.


Lately, I'm also on this Asian cooking kick, and the grocery store has all the items I need for a fraction of the regular grocery store's price.


Of course American brand ice cream is $6... but handfuls of lime leaves? A dollar.


Worth the trade off, and an afternoon of my time, if you ask me. :)

xo, erika

rest

I was originally planning to just take a few weeks break from the shop. I'd just put it in "vacation mode" over Christmas and launch it right back up the 26th.

I even had this crazy idea of creating New Years Eve clutches that would be ready to ship.


I mentioned this grand plan to a friend, and she jokingly said "You are a glutton for punishment."


She meant it as a joke but it stopped me in my tracks.


I was driving myself into the ground and I needed a break.


So I left my shop in vacation mode.


I deleted the post on Facebook promoting the New Years clutches.


And I shut the door to the room where I sew.


Instead, I've been reading a lot of books. I've been going to bed on time. And I've been resting. My house is even decently clean.


I've also been thinking a lot about my shop. I still want to do it -- don't get me wrong -- but I want to do it in a way that keeps my life healthy.

Sewing orders as they came in became a bit insane. I could do it, but it meant that I was sacrificing a whole lot. I don't even feel like I enjoyed the Christmas season because I was so busy. I don't want to do that again.


Right now I'm preparing my shop to reopen but I'm doing things differently.


>> I'm planning. No more last minute runs to the fabric store. I'm ordering and organizing.


>> I'm sewing. I am going to make items, list them, and when they're gone, they're gone. Unless enough of you can convince me to make another batch. ;)


>> I'm giving myself grace. I work a full-time job that I actually like. I'm married. My dog requires two walks a day. Heck, I'm planning a trip to Europe. Things are going to be chill for the next month or so and that's TOTALLY fine.


So that's where I am right now. The shop will open soon enough but until then, I'm taking it a bit easy.


happy friday.

xo, erika

he // she

he drinks it black  //  she drinks it with a splash of milk


he's always hot   //  she's always cold


he prefers mornings  //  she prefers nights


he reads non-fiction  //  she reads novels


he wants extra salt  //   she wants extra pepper


he watches espn  //   she watches project runway


he likes sports talk  //  she likes npr


he listens to top 40  //  she listens to country and indie

he prefers cake  //  she prefers pie


in little things the husband and I can be pretty different, but in the big things, we find common ground. Besides, opposites attract. 

xo, erika

p.s. I'd love to see your versions of this-- just link back to me please :)

what i wore // and the time my brother braved F21

 top/blazer: gifts // jeans: paige denim // shoes: wanted shoes

I grew up with two brothers.

Two brothers that alternatively annoyed me, copied me, drove me crazy and made me wish to be an only child.

Two brothers that also made me laugh, were my constant playmates and who I would never trade for.
However, neither of them were very good at giving Christmas presents growing up.

But we are older now and both of them consistently give very good gifts -- gifts that they will go to the far depths of the mall for -- even to the depths of... Forever 21.

I know.

Forever 21 is scary to me on a good day. Hordes of teenage girls, no rhyme or reason to the organization and the dressing rooms that have messes that make the pile of laundry in my basement look small.

One of my brothers dared to go to Forever 21 to pick something out for me. He texted my mom from the store (names have been blurred to protect the siblings. My mom's responses are in blue.)

I think he did well. :)

xo, erika

 

diy microwave popcorn 3 ways

I love learning new things. The latest thing I learned? You can make popcorn in the microwave with kernals and a paper bag. It's easy, cheap and a bit healthier than even the lowest fat buttered popcorn.

you need...
1/3 cup popcorn kernals
paper lunch sack
microwave

pour the kernals into a paper lunch sack (sometimes I just make a 1/4 cup, sometimes a 1/2 cup) and fold over the top several times.
place the bag inside the microwave so that the bag is standing up.
microwave until the popping begins to slow. (this is about 2 1/2 minutes in my microwave.)

you can add salt and a little oil before you cook the kernals, but you can also cook the kernals without anything.

or try a few fun flavors...

Add a few shakes of sea salt, cumin and Johnny's Seasoning for a salty popcorn. (note: you can add the spices before you cook.)

Add a handful of dark chocolate chips and dried cranberries. A dash of cinnamon is good here too. 

Squirt the popcorn with half a lime and sprinkle with crushed red pepper and chili powder. Garnish with remaining lime wedges.

I'm sure there are about a million other combinations out there; these are just a few of my favorites!

xo, erika