My immediate impulse is to say “March was busy,” but in reality, what month isn’t busy? Or maybe that feeling is just the result of burnout, the buzzy-yet-honest word of the day / pandemic / cultural moment. (Have I fallen victim to it? TBD.) I try to keep things light here and would consider myself an optimist, but as of 6 PM this Friday evening—with a day of work behind me and a few hours of hammering away at a take-home midterm ahead—I’m just gonna admit it: I’m tired.

Things aren’t always so stressful, I know that. My course will be over in a month. The sunset’s getting later and later. An exciting new cookbook from one of my favorite chefs is dropping in four days. I can finally swap my ski jacket for lighter, more fashionable alternatives (like my Mickey Mouse varsity jacket! Or the jean jacket I impulsively bought—egged on by a friend, in my defense—at a vintage market two years ago! Or my mom’s bold, lightweight faux-fur coats I brought back from Dallas! God, I love spring fashion.). In short, I know a lot of good things are coming or are already here, and that keeps me grounded during days like the past few, in which the overwhelming feeling was S-T-R-E-S-S.

Anyways, on to some life updates: Coconut turned 14 two weeks ago, and to celebrate I’d invited friends over for dinner. I love cooking for people; it also terrifies me. I care about how others perceive my food, even though I am literally just a girl with a skillet. I almost never practice a recipe before cooking it for a group, so every time I host a dinner, the pressure is on (all self-imposed, I know!).

I spent more time than necessary planning a menu and “cooking schedule” for the big day. I needed to make food for ten, which is the biggest group I’ve hosted. I know it sounds ridiculous given the occasion, but humor me a bit—your dog only turns 14 once!

Dishes that worked: Claire Saffitz’s miso buttermilk biscuits, Alison Roman’s lemony tumeric tea cake, a simple-but-giant pasta bake. Dishes that didn’t: Alison Roman’s coconut banana cream pudding (the pudding never set and was ultimately unsalvageable—I wanted this to work so badly I even called a baking hotline for advice), Moosewood’s Brazilian salsa (why was it….grey?), and an arugula salad recipe from Pinterest.

What did work was delicious, and what didn’t was hilarious. It was a fun, lowkey time—my favorite—and I think Coconut enjoyed all the attention. The dress code was “Fancy or Pajamas,” and although only half the guests were on theme, it totally worked. It was memorable and sweet and I love, love, love my dog so much.

In other news, I found my next apartment! I’ll be moving to Cambridge in September, and I can’t wait. I love my current apartment—it’s spacious, modern, and in a managed building—but it’s way too pricey for comfort. I had pandemic rates for my first two years, but this past year has included a $500+ increase in my monthly rent, which I do not want to pay for another term. So to Cambridge I go!

My new place will be much, much smaller, but it’s in a safe area, close to a T-stop and grocery store, and dog-friendly (the biggest constraint in my search). I saw a lot of places before choosing this one, and I realized one thing that feels obvious but isn’t a guarantee in this city’s rental market: I need my home to….not be a health hazard!? Several apartments I toured were bigger but had clear foundation issues, zero natural lighting, and/or just felt like there was mold in the walls or air. I’m more than okay with downsizing if it means having a clean, safe space.

The new apartment won’t tolerate clutter like my current studio can, so I’ve begun sloooowly selling things that I should’ve long ago. No furniture yet (I’m still here for half a year!), but smaller items like: skeins of unknit yarn, a drawing tablet I’d bought out of an aspiration to be ~cReAtiVe~ during the pandemic (it’s been used twice), a pop-up Christmas tree, etc.

I love selling things. I feel so much joy knowing someone will get more out of something than I would’ve. When I did a closet cleanout a couple months ago, my primary emotion was relief. So the thought of downsizing, while it surely has its downsides (ha!), is mostly thrilling to me. The financial savings, coupled with my own goals to live more sustainably (anyone remember my zero-waste kick from a couple years ago?), make this such an exciting adventure.

Gosh, there’s so much more I want to write about (I had a bullet-pointed list of topics on my phone!), but grad work is calling my name and I know I’ll spend at least another ten minutes proof-reading this. And who knows, maybe by leaving things to write about, I’ll encourage myself to write more often…?

So I’ll end here, in classic fashion, with photos from my camera roll. First, some food I made this month: Chris Morocco’s miso-almond butter cookies; Moosewood’s carrot-and-dill risotto (how cute is that giant cactus glass!?); roasted veggies; panna cotta; toast with caramelized onions, brie, and raspberries.

And now, some photos featuring actual living beings! Aka just me and Coconut, since I try to maintain others’ privacy on this blog.

First: Coconut “reading” the cookbooks I’d been flipping through on the floor. Genuinely not staged, I found him sitting there a few moments after I’d gotten up! Second: a mirror selfie from earlier this week. He’s been very clingy lately, and I think he enjoys getting picked up throughout the day.

🤟