Novo Amor and homemade chicken sotanghon on this rainy Wednesday 🌧️

I hate that this bathroom sign at my parents’ house is in three different styles of fonts. Sans-serif, serif and brush?! Like, pick one! 😵‍💫

Also, why am I like this? 😅

My mom loves the lettuce wraps at P.F. Chang’s and wants me to make them for Thanksgiving LOL. We hardly ever have traditional Thanksgiving food. I think we’re deep frying some cornish game hens this year because no one ever eats the turkey. I also accidentally bought 5 bags of turkey bone broth instead of chicken when I was doing a cleanse once, and the smell of turkey elicits my gag reflex now.

Since I’ve never made the lettuce wraps before, I found this copycat recipe and did a trial run, so I wouldn’t embarrass myself in front of all my relatives 😅 I omitted the ginger (because I hate ginger) and the sriracha (because not all of my relatives have my spice tolerance).They also serve them with iceberg at the restaurant, but I got butter lettuce instead because it was less watery and messy.

Remember that episode of Punky Brewster where the girls all wanted Butter Lettuce Babies? I think Cabbage Patch Kids was copyrighted LOL. If you don’t know who Punky Brewster is, then you are too young and I am too old. Anyway, the lettuce wraps turned out great and I’ll def be making them for Thanksgiving!

My work bestie is taking PTO, so I sent her a care package with her favorite popcorn from Chicago, these cookies from NYC that she showed me on instagram, and some homemade furikake chex mix to snack on, plus a USB full of illegally downloaded movies so she can fully enjoy her well-deserved staycation.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and Trolls Band Together also come out on November 17. What a time to be alive.

I instacarted 1 pack of sausage and the guy accidentally bought me 5 packs! I think he got confused because I also ordered 5 Lean Cuisines LOL. This is like the time I ordered 2 boxes of protein bars and Amazon accidentally delivered 2 cases (12 boxes!). I’m still trying to get through those protein bars 8 months later, but I’ll probably go through this free sausage pretty quickly 😆

The actors strike is finally over! I manifested this moment with my Chenford prayer candle from my favorite TV show, The Rookie, so you’re welcome LOL (I also have one from Schitt’s Creek and Fleabag). Thank goodness our shows can start filming again.

With the exception of cooking competitions, I don’t watch reality TV. I can’t stand the Kardashians, I recorded The Bachelorette once when I was trying to catch a commercial and I must’ve said, “Is this real life???” a billion times during one episode, and whenever Nori tries to talk to me about Below Deck, I shut her down LOL.

It just all feels very scripted. No judgement if you enjoy reality TV. Just kidding (tons of judgement over here).

My sister’s in OC for work, then she has to go into the office three times next week, then she’s going to Vegas for her anniversary and F1. So I’ll just be here at my parents’ house on squirrel watch till Thanksgiving ✌🏼

It’s my mama’s 65th birthday, and all she wanted was a new iPad to watch her K-dramas and some lettuce wraps (@ P.F. Chang’s)

Phantogram, Hozier, and Young the Giant??? Yes, please.

Wasted
You tell the truth when you could’ve lied
And troubles are on the rise ’cause you’re in disguise, oh
And if it isn’t me
Then pack your bags and leave

I couldn’t utter my love when it counted
Ah, but I’m singing like a bird ’bout it now

Oh girl, I’ve got that silvertongue
Got, got that silver, silvertongue
Drives you into delirium
Got, got, that silver, got that silvertongue like

Ever since I saw a Hoobastank was having a 20th anniversary show, I’ve been listening to my playlist that I made in 2017 when I was feeling nostalgic. It contains songs from bands I liked 20 years ago (Hoobastank, Incubus and Linkin Park). If you want to take it back a few more years, you can listen to my resurrection sunday playlist and pretend it’s 2001.

Where my seasonal depression lamp at? 😅

Deane, Sarah and I haven’t vacationed together since we went to Portland nearly seven years ago! Sarah has since moved to Seattle, so Deane and I are planning to visit her and  further explore the pacific northwest. I asked Sarah if she lives by the waving bear farm, and she said we could totally go there! I think the bears might be hibernating for the winter, so we might have to visit in the spring LOL. I just google mapped the farm and it’s actually a couple hours away from Seattle. Is this like when my mom asks me to get her potato balls from Porto’s because she thinks any place in LA is close to me???

Doja Cat – Need to Know (@ Viejas Arena)

I heard from a friend of a friend
That that dick was a ten out of ten
I can’t stand it, just one night me
Clink with the drink, gimme a sip
Tell me what’s your kink, gimme the dick
Spank me, slap me, choke me, bite me
Uh, wait, I can take it
Give a fuck ’bout what your wifey’s sayin’

I wanted to dress up for the Doja show and her new album has pearl spiders on the cover. I once saw Phoebe Bridgers perform on SNL in a custom Gucci pearl skeleton ribcage necklace and I’ve always wanted to recreate it. It turned out better than I expected! Plus it went great with my skeleton bone nails.

It’s all in the details 💀

Bitch, I said what I said
I’d rather be famous instead
I let all that get to my head
I don’t care, I paint the town red
Mm, she the devil
She a bad lil bitch, she a rebel
She put her foot to the pedal
It’ll take a whole lot for me to settle

I love living so close to the Lansangs because sometimes I wake up to Christine dropping off some Cranberry Bliss! ‘Tis the season, y’all!

Just my phone making me feel like shit on this Saturday morning! Cardio is hardio 😅

It’s the things we love most that destroy us

I’m def watching this!

I’ve found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
And the reason is you

So close yet so far
It’s tearing me apart
What I would do to be back with you

So promise
No matter how long it takes for me to get back to you
You’ll wait for me

My first blog post ever was about a Hoobastank concert 20 years ago, and I went to a countless amount of their shows in my 20s. They’re having a 20th anniversary show in LA for The Reason album. I hate watching shows at The Echo (it’s a seedy ass venue in Echo Park), but I love Hoobastank more. Plus it’s a pretty intimate venue with a capacity of less than 400 people. Will this be like the first time I saw them at Canes, and Doug Robb (the lead singer) was standing right next to me watching the opening band and no one was bothering him? The Echo is even smaller than Canes was! Anyone feel like going and reliving their youth with me???

You have to make concessions when you’re in your 40s. Height, marital status, etc. 😆 I won’t compromise on age, though. I’d rather be alone than be with someone who was born after I started high school 😅

Is the ink even dry on her divorce papers yet? Do people not sit around and pine for 20 years anymore??? 😅

…and here I thought my name had the best anagram (macaroni ho) 🤣

What, you don’t like whiskey in your wine??? 😂

Christine and the kids stopped by last night, but it was after 8pm, so I was already in bed LOL. I usually last till at least 9pm, but that sangria took me out. The kids were up later than I was 😅 Pammie sent Christine home with some candy and sangria and she and Francis sent us this video.

Me the month of October vs. me the rest of the year.

If you need me, I’ll be here ✌🏼

Taco Tuesday, but make it spooky 💀

Is he happily married, though??? 😜 JK.

As I was pouring the bottle of wine into the Skull Drink Dispenser last night, Pammie was like, “Are we having a party tomorrow?” and I was like, “No, this is just for us.” 💁🏻‍♀️

Spooky Sangria:

• 2 – 250 ml bottles merlot
• 12 oz Fireball Whiskey
• 16 oz orange juice
• 16 oz pomegranate syrup
• 1 – 20 oz can pineapple tidbits
• 2 sliced limes
• 2 sliced oranges
• Cinnamon sticks (for garnish)

Happy Halloween, y’all! Same time next year???

I need these neighbors in my life 🔪

I’ll tell anyone who will listen about my special relationship with Mcdonald’s, and when I was a kid, I’d totally go trick or treating with my Mcdonald’s Boo Bucket. I saw these straw toppers on instagram and had to have them for my Halloween Starbucks cup.

Mcdonald’s + miniature versions + Halloween??? Yes, please 🖤

A costume only a graphic designer would love ❤️

I was sitting in the In-N-Out drive-thru line with Pammie, and this particular line starts as two lines and funnels into one line to maximize space in the small parking lot. This car next to us tried to cut us off when it was our turn to funnel, and my sister was like, “Fucking bitch! She didn’t scissor!” I was like, “Scissor?! Do you mean ‘zipper’???” We couldn’t stop laughing 🤣

New York in December, anyone???

We were just chatting about how my ex tore his ACL playing pickleball LOL and now Chanandler Bong has died after playing! Who knew pickleball was so dangerous? 😅

I never even heard of the sport until Skechers became the Exclusive Shoe of USA Pickleball!

Maybe they were dinking when they should have been donking 🤣

It was after 9pm last Friday, so I was already in bed LOL and I could see fireworks going off from my bedroom window, probably from a nearby high school football game. I get up to tell Pammie, and she thought it was gunshots! I was like, “Where do you think you live???” She and her husband lived in the OC for 15 years before moving back SD. My sister’s husband is probably the most hood person I know, and he was born and raised in eastside! You would think they’d be comfortable amongst their people down here, but they got used living in predominantly white neighborhoods with no crime 😅

Tonight, there was an actual shooting at the brewery across the street, and the suspects are still at large. Maybe LA has made me indifferent to this shit, but I’m not concerned. I remember we were at a bar in Chicago, and the bartender had to tell this crazy customer to leave and Donna and I were just completely unbothered, drinking our cocktails while sober Pammie over here was freaking out. I’m just used to being around crazy people ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I sent this video to my work bestie, and she said I’m definitely Mitchell 🤣

I don’t got nobody, just with you right now
Tell the truth, I look better under you
I can’t lose when I’m with you
How can I snooze and miss the moment?
You just too important
Nobody do body like you do

I miss the thought of you and nothing else

Have fun in peasant.

When we were buying food tickets at Oktoberfest, Jessie was like, “Do you have a dollar?” I was like, “Yeah, probably.” I pull out my tiny Ikea bag that I keep my money in, and I only have hundred dollar bills in there. Earlier that day, I saw a few dollar bills in the abyss between my seat and the center console in my car, so I reached in there and pulled out 3 hundred dollar bills! Pammie was like, “What the fuck! You didn’t even notice you were missing $300?!?” I don’t know what to tell you ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The guy selling food tickets was watching the whole exchange between me and Jess and was like, “Oh, my bad. I only carry hundos unlike you peasants.” 🤣

On our flight home from Hawaii once, I accidentally tucked the back of my dress into my chonies after using the airplane bathroom, and when I walked back to my seat, Shi untucked my dress and was like, “We can see your underwear!” and I was like, “It’s a bathing suit bottom!” Fifteen years later, they won’t let me forget it.

Also, I never know where we parked the car or where anything is since I never put things back in their place. My sister’s husband is always like, “How were you two raised in the same household???” 😅

I’m really looking forward to not having to cook later and microwaving this frozen dinner. What has become of my life??? I got it in the Meals for One section at Target 😅

If you didn’t already know, I love Halloween and the fair (you should be writing this down). If I ever get engaged or was the kind of person who would get engagement photos taken (I’m not), it would totally be at a carnival.

Also, my first concert ever was Gladys Knight at the Del Mar Fair 🤣

Partly because I wanted a Boo Bucket to put the candy in for the delivery guys, but mostly because I wanted Mcdonald’s. How cute is this tiny fry box?!

The Boo Bucket is smaller than I remember, but I was a lot smaller in the 80s, too 🤣

Come and get it 🎃🍫🍬

Sad French songs on this rainy day.

Me every time the NFL commentators mention Taylor Swift during a Chiefs game 🙄

When my sister ordered this Harry Potter doormat, I was like, “This home is four stories with a private rooftop and elevator. It is much.” I finally convinced her to put it outside (she had it on the inside of the door because she didn’t want anyone to steal it LOL). I was like, “Ain’t nobody gonna steal this shit!” 🤣

They didn’t get any trick or treaters last year, but I might put out a bowl of candy for the Amazon delivery guys.

I’m def watching this <3

All Chel wanted for her birthday was to paint some pumpkins, sip some cocktails and slurp some ramen (and a sexy chef to make us dinner, but I couldn’t provide that).

I refilled the punch-a-bunch for Darien and the twins who also coincidentally love Halloween, BBQ and being naked.

I accidentally dropped my still-wet pumpkin towards the end of the night, so not only did I ruin Chel’s warm palette vibe, I also ruined her patio table and area rug underneath it with neon green paint! She says she was getting rid of the table and rug anyway 😅

My cup is so full. Love these girls ♥️

I saw these skeleton bone press on nails, but they were way too long, so I made my own skeleton bone sticker decals with my cricut and white vinyl! Love how it turned out 💀

My sister had to go into the office, so she brought me back a Best Drink Ever® (@ Better Buzz)

I made some pumpkin spice snack mix for Chel’s birthday party this weekend, and my sister’s husband says it tastes better than my furikake chex mix! He’ll be selling it at the Otay Ranch Farmers’ Market on Tuesdays 😂

Pumpkin Spice Snack Mix (adapted from Princess Pinky Girl)

Ingredients:

• 1 – 12 oz box Honey Nut Chex cereal
• 1 – 12.5 oz box Cinnamon Chex cereal
• 2 – 6 oz bags Caramel Bugles
• 1 – 7.44 oz bag Campfire S’mores M&Ms
• 1 – 9.9 oz bag Reese’s Pieces
• 1 – 20 oz bag Brach’s Autumn Mix Candy
• 1 – 16 oz bag Pretzels
• 2 tbsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• ½ cup Brown Sugar
• ½ cup Butter

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 275°.
2. In a large foil steamer pan, mix the cereal, pretzels and Bugles.
3. Melt butter in a glass measuring cup, and stir together melted butter with brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla. Pour over the dry mix. Stir to coat.
4. Bake at 275° for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
5. Cool and then add the candy pieces.
6. Store in an airtight container.

We’re having a paint and sip night for Chel’s birthday this weekend, and my Beetlejuice pumpkins don’t really fit Chel’s warm palette vibe 😅

Is this like when Lindsay Lohan didn’t know that Halloween was the one night a year when a girl can dress like a total slut and was the only one who showed up at that party in a scary costume in Mean Girls? 🤣 Am I about to DJ Lo & Behold this party???

Contrary to popular belief, I don’t hate children (tell that to my stank face whenever I hear a baby crying on a plane or when a baby is crying while I’m eating at a restaurant or when a baby is crying when I’m trying to do anything, really. Like, why are they always crying? And why are their little hands always so sticky???). I’m so excited for baby boy Cuevas that I bought this cute onesie for him! I also may or may not have named Jessie and Abe’s baby over some radlers at Oktoberfest, so we’re obviously gonna be besties.

After I razzed Jess and named their baby, Abe said I was firing on all cylinders that night 😆 Pew pew!

I love that they used their iconic matching denim outfits photo from 2001 for this article. I’m the last person who would ever judge Britney Spears for having an abortion, but I will judge her for dancing with knives and putting their business out there two decades after the fact. She obviously needs help.

According to one of my married friends (I won’t say which one in case she or her husband ever read this), you only have to go down on your man on holidays. Like, do you observe all holidays? Or only the federal ones when the banks are closed??? I just want to manage expectations if I ever get married 😅

Jessie thought the saying was “beat a dead whore” instead of “beat a dead horse” 🤣 We joke that she’s ESL, even though she was born and raised here!

I love when my sister gets her hair done, partly because her hairdresser always has new chisme, but mostly because her salon is near University Heights and she brings me home something from Pop Pie.

I’m already a monthly donor for ASPCA (to help animals in need. Also, the commercials and Sarah McLachlan got me. Plus I got a free t-shirt LOL).

Well, I won’t give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I’m giving you all my love
I’m still looking up

My love, where are you?

Whenever you’re ready, whenever you’re ready
Whenever you’re ready, whenever you’re ready
Can we, can we surrender?

I heard this song in a puppy surprise video and have been crying ever since.

What better day to carve pumpkins than Friday the 13th? 🎃

I’m the ghost with the most, babe 🖤

What, you don’t like Beetlejuice??? It’s OK, the flame will keep me warm at night. JK there’s a fake candle in there. You almost burn down your apartment once (OK, twice) and people don’t let you forget it. Alicia gave me a Dole Whip Candle from Disneyland and I was like, “I’m not allowed to have an open flame.” 😅

Thanks to Jessie for helping me carve my pumpkin. AKA she carved most of it while I ate s’mores and watched 😂 It was her first time carving a pumpkin, and she loved it! She was like, “Did I just learn a new trade???”

Jessie fell to the ground laughing after Christine asked if we were carving Albert Einstein 🤣 It was like when we were watching America Says and the board was “Famous Mustaches” and one of the answers was Groucho Marx and Pammie was like, “Who the hell is Groucho Marx? Richard Marx‘s brother???” LMAO she was serious! I was eating and spit my food everywhere!

My Halloween snack game is to die for 💀

My favorite Spicy Vodka Pasta from Jon and Vinny’s, but make it spooky 🦇🎃

I’ll pretty much find any excuse to make a charbooterie board.

Meat:

• Salame di Parma
• Spicy Sopressa

Cheese:

• Sharp Cheddar (cut with a pumpkin cookie cutter)
• Roquefort
• Brie
• Cranberry Chèvre
• Creamy Toscano Cheese Soaked in Syrah

Fruit:

• Blackberries
• Oranges
• Cornichons
• Blueberries
• Dried Apricots
• Raspberries
• Pomegranate Seeds

Extras:

• Maple Almonds
• Fig Spread
• Cracker Assortment
• Pumpkin Cranberry Crisps

Decoration:

• Skeleton
• Acacia Serving Platter
• Autumn Flowers

And make a punch-a-bunch for the kids.

And make s’mores.

And witch finger pretzel rods.

And use my plastic vampire teeth.

And my skull pan.

Love, love, love Halloween and these girls so much 🖤

I didn’t wake up a billionaire so I can’t quit my job, but I can buy you 8 things off the dollar menu at Mcdonald’s 😅

Update 10/3/2023: I spent my winnings on a Halloween yard stake for the house.

The Powerball jackpot is $1.7 billion tonight! May the odds be ever in your favor…

If I can’t cook it in an air fryer, I don’t want it.

Happy 70th birthday to my pops! (@ Fogo de Chão)

I’ve never been to a Brazilian steakhouse before, but it was everything The Mindy Project promised it would be 🤣

Pammie: What are you doing?
Me: Painting these blanched almonds for my witch fingers. What does it look like I’m doing???

I ordered these boots online and I could zip them up all the way, but they were a little snug, so I wore them around the house to stretch them out a bit.

My sister’s husband saw me washing dishes looking like a crazy person in my swim shorts and a baby tee wearing my new boots and knee high socks, and he was like, “Why do you look like Woody from Toy Story?” 🤣

Update: I just realized I ordered the “narrow calf” boots LOL. No wonder they’re so snug! I put them on, and I asked Pammie, “Does it look like I’m baking bread in my shoe?” And she was like, “No! Why, are they tight? The leather will stretch as you wear it,” at the same time I was like, “I just have to lose a little weight in my legs.” 😅

I’m gonna try and exchange them for the regular width calf, even though I already wore them to Oktoberfest, spilled beer on them, and accidentally stepped on my sister’s toes and made her bleed so I probably have to wash her blood off the soles 😬

I love bratwurst and beer towers. I’m usually in LA when my friends go to this thing every year, so it was my first time here (@ German American Societies)

We were the only Asians there, but I blended in with my pretzel necklace and beer mug headband 🥨🍺

FYI I’m romantic as fuck.

I used to go to the Popeye’s near my apartment, and I didn’t think I went there too frequently (maybe once or twice a month), but I’d always order the same thing—a popcorn shrimp combo. One day, I was standing in line minding my own business, and the dude who always helps me sees me standing there and shouts over the people ahead of me, “Popcorn shrimp combo???” Embarrassing! 😳 Like, first of all, lower your voice, and second of all, yes, of course I’d like a popcorn shrimp combo 🤣

I was getting my hair cut in Manhattan Beach, and the new receptionist and I were trying to figure out where we knew each other from, and she was like, “I used to work at Popeye’s! Is that where I’ve seen you???” I guess I went there more frequently than I thought 😅

Another time, I ordered Thai from a nearby restaurant and went to pick it up at the wrong place. They were like, “Are you sure you ordered from here???” and I checked my online order again, and I was, in fact, at the wrong restaurant. I haven’t been back there since. I already can’t go to this other Thai restaurant near my apartment, because the last time I ate there, they tried to kill me 😅 My pad thai was extra spicy (I asked for 5/10 heat and it was more like a gazillion/10). I had to keep asking for more water during my meal and the waiters seemed to enjoy my pain.

This is why I pay extra to doordash and do contactless delivery… partly so I can suffer in the comfort of my own home, but mostly because I don’t have to put a bra on to get my food 😅

Good thing there’s hella Starbucks nearby because now I have to try this apple croissant.

I saw this video and bought some oven-baked cheese, air fried it and ate it with marinara sauce. It was like eating pizza without the dough! I almost grabbed some black olives and turkey pep.

What else can I air fry???

I picked up some Roots Farm Fresh Sweet Potato Toast to go low-carb, because I had Taco Bell three times this week 😅 I was devastated when they took my beloved shredded chicken burrito off their menu, and they now have shredded chicken rolled tacos! And brought back nacho fries. So I had to get both three days in a row, obviously.

Update 10/7/2023: My sister made the mistake of asking me what I wanted for lunch, and I was like, “TACO BELL!” When we went through the drive-thru, the guy told us the shredded chicken rolled tacos were limited edition only and they no longer have them *cries in Spanish*

I was gifted an air fryer by someone who replaced theirs with one of those 3-in-1 kitchen appliances that’s a microwave, air fryer and convection oven in one. I air fried these chicken wings for lunch and they were sooo good and crispy. Who needs Buffalo Wild Wings??? Or as Jay calls them, BBW 🤣

Whenever I see a stroller in my sister’s neighborhood I’m like, “Child or dog?” (I always hope it’s a dog). Today, Pammie was like, “Neither. It’s a bunny!” 😅 I can’t with this neighborhood.

The Kelce brothers let Taylor Swift fans ask them questions about football, and the first one was, “What’s a field goal?” 🤣

Was this like when I participated in my work’s March Madness pool for the first time, and I was like, “What’s the difference between a 12-seed team and a 5-seed team, and also what is a seed???”

Thank you for helping me enter my new football era! 🏈

The math ain’t mathing 🤣

I’m obsessed with my Moon Phase Ring and Skeleton Hand Ring 🖤

Because I’m still in love with you
I want to see you dance again
Because I’m still in love with you
On this harvest moon

Last supermoon of the year today ✨

Mentally, I’m here ✌🏼

Just let me take you to a better place
I’m gonna make you kiss the sky tonight
Yeah, if you let me show the way
I’m so excited to see you excited

A new *NSYNC song wasn’t on my bingo card for 2023, but neither was having 2 strokes 😅 This year is full of surprises!

Apparently, Dumbledore died ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Is this like the time we were watching the fourth Matrix, and Pammie was like, “Neo looks so old,” and I was like, “Wait… who’s Neo?” 🤣 In my defense, I’ve only seen the first Matrix movie when it came out it 1999. I still can’t tell you what the matrix is!

This is why people don’t like watching shit with me 😅

From the passenger seat as
You are driving me home
Do they collide?
I ask and you smile
With my feet on the dash
The world doesn’t matter

It’s the 20th anniversary of Transatlanticism, and Death Cab is performing the album in its entirety at the Hollywood Bowl. I haven’t seen Death Cab live since 2011! I bought tickets months ago thinking I’d be back in LA by now. Should I go or sell my tickets? Anyone feel like crying in Hollywood on Tuesday 10/17???

Don’t mind me, I’m just trying to win some brisket from zef.daddy.

Are you even really friends if you don’t coordinate your brazilians???

P.S. I discovered Linda 13 years ago! She has since left Viva Brazil and does house calls now if you ever need your vag waxed in SD 😅

I found them like this when I woke up. My sister’s husband got jokes! LOL.

Also, why does this keep on happening to me???

Me after solving today’s wordle:

Shi and I used to hang out all the time at my old apartment in SD and eat so bad. She’s seen me eat a whole pizza by myself (in my defense, it was thin crust! LOL), and I’ve seen her eat an entire pound cake in one sitting (multiple times!). We were also in our 20s, and our metabolism was much faster back then 😅 We used to make these sinful cheesecake-stuffed strawberries, and I kept seeing these Wonder Monday ads on all my socials for low-carb, low-sugar cheesecakes, so I ordered some, whipped up a few in my stand mixer, piped them into fresh strawberries and dipped them in heart-healthy dark chocolate! They tasted like heaven.

When someone asks me what my limit is for an *NSYNC concert (it’s $1,000 for Beyoncé):

Partly because I ate my weight in pizza yesterday, but mostly because I saw this brûléed brie on instagram, I made this low-carb platter with apples and Ella’s Flats.

Eating the seed crackers alone felt like I was eating straight up bird food, but the brûléed brie and apples were *chef’s kiss*

Justin Gaspar from Hommage Bakehouse (who won Hulu’s Baker’s Dozen) made pizzas during the party and they were so good. He liked my Boo Berry Krispie Treats and his wife was the first person ever to compliment me on my Original Berf shirt, too, so they’re good people 😆

We came for the pizza, but stayed for the gender reveal!

It has been a hard IVF journey for my dear friend after battling breast cancer, and Jessie surprised all of us by telling us that the surrogacy’s pregnancy took and baby boy Cuevas is coming March 2024!

We are simply overjoyed 🥹

I love Filipino Kare Kare, and this restaurant makes it with BRISKET. I have to try it! BRB, looking up flights to Houston.

Contrary to popular belief, I call Jessie “BB” because she’s loved Boo Berry cereal since we were kids. She and Abe have a legit pizza oven in their backyard and are having a long overdue pizza party tomorrow, so I made these Boo Berry Krispie Treats to bring.

Step aside, youths! I had two minor strokes this year, so I should get first pick at tickets 😅

I fit all this criteria! JK, I don’t wear Skechers 🤣

Is this like when we were in our 20s telling Christine that if a guy’s driver’s license is vertical, he’s much too young for her??? LOL. Or the checklist of questions Jessie sent me to ask potential suitors?

When the *NSYNC dolls came out in 2000, I had to have them. My boyfriend at the time gave me the set for Christmas, except he accidentally gave me a duplicate of one instead of all 5 members. I can’t remember which one is missing and which one he gave me a duplicate of, maybe 2 Lance’s or worse, 2 Chris’s 🤣 I have to check my old room at my mom’s house. They’ve been collecting dust in their original boxes for almost 25 years now!

I just found out that there’s a Little People Collector *NSYNC Special Edition Set. They’re sold out, but I have some friends who work at Mattel LOL can they hook a fan up?

Also, how am I expected to work when the *NSYNC reunion tour is looming above me???

My Mount Rushmore of *NSYNC songs 💕

I’ll just be here the rest of the day.

I have the “do not disturb” feature on my phone on between 11pm and 7am (if you text me between those hours, I won’t get notified, but a booty call will go through 🤣 I have calls turned on for emergencies). I used to have it on till 9am, but one time I was having lunch with my friend and she kept asking me if I did my catalog edits for work and I was like, “Yeah, I’ll get to it” not knowing our creative director had sent an email before 9am that morning that they were due that afternoon because I never got the notification because my do not disturb was on. I changed it to 7am after that.

My boss emailed me at 2am last night! 😵‍💫 I’ll keep my “do not disturb” on from 11pm-7am since I’m asleep during those hours, thank yew 😴

Also, I know I have to charge my phone. I am who I am ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Update: My coworker told me that our boss is in Germany right now. So she’s not completely unhinged emailing me at two in the morning, she’s just on Central European Time LOL.

The DMV approved my application for a Disabled Person (DP LOLOL) placard if you want to hang out and get primo parking 😂 You guys, this placard even lets you park on an on-street metered parking space at no charge or in an area that requires a resident permit! Should I update my Tinder bio to include this??? JK, the placard is more of a third date reveal 🤣 I could also get you a discount at the Skechers Food Spot LOL. IDK why I’m single when I come with all these perks ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I once got 3 parking tickets in one weekend, so this placard is gold 😅 In my defense, parking in LA is a nightmare.

Before the incident, my sister’s husband said I used to eat like I was high all the time. Pop Tarts, Lunchables, Takis, Cup-O-Noodles… Pretty much anything you can doordash after 10pm or buy at the gas station LOL. I used to eat dinner really late and fast food is the only option available at that time. Plus I just genuinely liked processed food and had access to free soda and vending machines at work. I haven’t gone into the office in over three years, I don’t drink soda anymore, and I eat dinner at 6pm now 👵🏼

I found these plant-based ramen noodles that don’t exceed my sodium intake for the day. Apolo Ohno is an investor, if that helps sway you at all. I added some chili garlic crisp, green onions, tofu, crushed red pepper and an egg to jazz it up.

I don’t even know who I am anymore eating plant-based food, having dinner before the sun goes down, and saying shit like, “jazz it up” ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

My friend asked if I was going vegan with all this plant-based bullshit, but I’m just trying to find healthier alternatives and cut back on the salt. I could never give up BBQ. Gotta risk it for the brisket!

My mom saw my Halloween haul and was like, “Why are you like this?” 🤣

Please ignore my sister’s big ass Harry Potter mirror in the back LOL.

I love Flamin’ Hot anything. I used to eat a bag of hot fries from the gas station every time I’d drive from LA to SD. I tried these Flaming Hot Keto Puffs and they were a good alternative! Def reminded me of a time in my life I now refer to as BS (before stroke) 😅 I miss eating whatever I want!

Every time I eat “healthy” chips, I think of this scene from The Sweetest Thing 🤣

I hope you’re happy
I wish you all the best, really
Say you love her, baby, just not like you loved me
And think of me fondly when your hands are on her
I hope you’re happy, but don’t be happier

My sister’s husband heard me blasting Olivia Rodrigo from my room and came by to make sure I wasn’t hanging from my curtain rod. My door was only open because the sun faces this room in the afternoon and it gets super hot in here. I’m gonna get this blackout window film so I can cry in peace block out the sun.

I was totally this kid. I could never find my bus tickets, even though I took the bus to school every morning and night up until high school LOL. They were just loose in my backpack. I still feel panic and anxiety as an adult whenever I get to the drive through window and I’m not ready with my credit card even though I’ve been sitting in line for twenty minutes 😅

Accurate ✌🏼

I want you in the worst way
Is the gate code still your birthday?

John Mayer has an intimate show at The Wiltern next week, but I got waitlisted. If you’re able to get tickets, I will find a way to get to LA. He’s my guiltiest pleasure 😅

I don’t know your thoughts these days
We’re strangers in an empty space
I don’t understand your heart
It’s easier to be apart

My friend got us tickets to Keane at the Greek next year! I was traveling through the Philippines the last time they were in LA in 2020. Then covid hit and our lives took a 180. So glad concerts are back 🙌🏼

Olivia Rodrigo and The Breeders??? My teenage heart is bursting.

Was Olivia Rodrigo even born yet when Cannonball came out in 1993?

I would’ve also been happy if Remi Wolf was opening, but it looks like she’s only gonna be on the international leg of the tour. Anyone want to travel overseas???

Update 9/15: Olivia Rodrigo added two LA dates on Friday 8/16/24 and Saturday 8/17/24. I changed my registration for her last show on the tour! Hopefully, I don’t get waitlisted 🤞🏼

I usually have half a Dave’s Killer Bread Cinnamon Raisin Remix Bagel in the morning with my sugar-free cold brew and unsweetened almond milk (boring!). That’s how my sister’s husband knows I’m awake—he can smell my bagel toasting (sometimes at 8:30, sometimes at 9:30… but if my boss is reading this, always before my shift starts at 9am).

Two of my favorite things combined: banana pudding from Magnolia Bakery (I’ve had it in LA, but they’re famous in NYC) and Ess-a-Bagel (we tried it on our last trip to NYC and loved it). When I saw that two iconic NYC eateries had a collabo, I knew I had to get it, and ordering from Goldbelly was cheaper than flying to New York 😅

I’ve never eaten a plain bagel before (they’re just dyed yellow), but anything slathered with banana pudding schmear and nilla wafers will taste good! It was perfect 👌🏼 (I ate plant-based spam yesterday. I think I can afford some carbs and sugar.)

If you think it’s too sweet and dessert-y to be a bagel, you’re wrong and IDK how we’re friends ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Also, I can’t say “schmear” without thinking of this scene from Miss Congeniality 🤣

My amazon haul today 🖤

When my sister saw the skeleton, she was like, “Why does he look like you when I walk into your room and you’re supposed to be working?” 🤣

Some mood music 👻

I haven’t had spamsilog (spam with rice and eggs for you non-Filipinos) since before the incident. It’s too processed, has too much fat, too much sodium and too many calories. I saw this video of this plant-based spam, so I had to try it. I ate it with rice (I’m eating plant-based spam, you want me to give up carbs, too?) an egg (to increase my good cholestorol levels) and a side of Datu Puti vinegar (because I’m Filipino as fuck).

I don’t usually like vegan food that’s pretending to be meat (I’d rather just eat vegetables), but I do have the occasional Impossible burger when my friend is observing Lent. But this was a great alternative for people who love spam!

I followed this recipe, except I omitted the kale (I don’t like raw kale) and sesame seeds (who the fuck has sesame seeds in their pantry??? It made me think of this video even though I totally have molasses LOL), added some crumbled turkey bacon, croutons, red onion, toasted quinoa and grape tomatoes, and used store-bought blue cheese dressing because it’s what I had on hand (and ain’t nobody got time to make their own dressing!). Okay so I didn’t really follow her recipe, just prepare any salad like you normally would and wrap it in a tortilla. I used to order a salad wrap at the cafe at work when I’d go in, and this reminded me so much of it. Sooo good!

Pammie is home from Hawaii, and she brought me back an exclusive tumblr from Starbucks (that I had before but accidentally cracked one day) and a tiny replica cup because she knows I like miniature things 😆

I’m back at my sister’s house, so now I can referee fights between her and her husband instead of my parents 😅 JK, anytime anyone is fighting, I just pretend I’m sleeping LOL 😴

Shi says it’s still too soon for stroke jokes 😅 *laughs awkwardly*

P.S. When I say I can eat anywhere, I mean it. My friend and I once went to lunch with this vegan girl who insisted we choose the restaurant (“I can find vegan food anywhere,” she said), and then she insisted we order and eat in front of her even though the restaurant was “garbage” and she wasn’t gonna order anything. Most awkward lunch ever! I kept stealing glances my friend as I nibbled on my salad, and she was just going to town on her food like, “She said to eat in front of her, so I’m eating!” 🤣

I’m trying to convince Pammie to throw a Halloween party so I can build this Haunted Cookie Cemetery. And make these Halloween S’mores Pies. And use my skull pan. And make this Halloween charcuterie board.

I made the TikTok Feta Fried Egg Taco for lunch and it was sooo good. Before you come at me, I used a Carb Balance Tortilla 🙄

Googling “how to raise good cholesterol” because my doctor said my number should be higher, and the first suggestion is to exercise more 😅 I’m like, uhhh, can’t I just eat more fish??? 🤣

When my sister’s husband found out the Young the Giant show was rescheduled and I was going with Francis, he was like, “Christine must really trust you with her husband!” What can I say, I’m trustworthy as fuck ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

But this is also me:

JK, Christine can rest! 🤣

Young the Giant is always a good idea (@ CalCoast Credit Union Open Air Theatre)

One of Francis’ friends was working security, and he was like, “Yooo, you like Young the Giant?!” like it was a bad thing 🤣 Is this like when I liked Hoobastank?! 😅

Even though my calves burn with the fury of a thousand suns (our seats were at the very bottom and it’s a looong way to the top where the drinks are), YTG is always worth it.

Here’s Francis and I texting each other during the show because our seats were right in front of the speakers and we couldn’t hear each other LOL:

Young the Giant tonight! Christine sent us this video of a guy crying at the Beyoncé concert, and we’ve been laughing for a million years.

I love Lang Leav 💔

Lunch with my favorite Mexicans (@ Lolita’s)

I haven’t seen Alicia since before the incident, but she sent me flowers in the hospital and checks in regularly 💕

She finally used the Disney gift card I gave her for her 40th birthday and stayed at the Grand Californian! She brought me back a Dole Whip Candle. Smells so good. Love me some dole whip. And I love that all the gifts she brings me are food-related LOL I have a Mickey Mouse soft pretzel magnet from her on my fridge in LA from that one time I was supposed to meet her at California Adventure, but got into an accident on the way there and totaled my car 😅 I kept all my important documents stuck to the fridge under that magnet, even my car registration renewal that I forgot about and got pulled over in DTLA the first day it expired 😅

Jessie was like, “They drove down from Murrietta, and you guys just went to Lolita’s?” (I go to Lolita’s maybe once a week LOL). She wanted Hans & Harry’s afterward, so that’s why we picked Lolita’s in Bonita. You can’t go to SD without getting good Mexican food and having a fruit strudel from Hans & Harry’s!

Getting sloppy (@ Fairweather Bar)

Don’t worry, I bought a new Padres hat to wear at the game. My old one is probably under my Dodgers hat in my apartment in LA. I only wore the Dodgers hat when I had bedhead or to avoid getting shanked at Dodger Stadium. Jessie was like, “Didn’t you get a Padres hat at the Harry Potter game?” And I was like, “Pammie says those are for display only” LOL.

Love this girl and watching the game from here (@ Lexus Club)

When Jessie showed up at my parents’ house with the uber, my mom was like, “It’s just you two???” concerned as fuck (you get roofied once and no one lets you forget about it). I haven’t had QT with Jessie, just us, since I used to help her carbo-load before her marathons (even though I didn’t run). She has since tore her ACL , and I hardly eat carbs now after the incident 😅

We were talking about what our walk-up song would be. Mine would probably be something Young the Giant LOL and my brother-in-law said his walk-up song would be “Send My Love” by Born Jamericans 🤣

Our seats had access to the Lexus Club, so we watched the majority of the game from there while we chowed down on Hodad’s and got more drinks from the private bar. I can’t ever go back to regular seats again! 😅

To top it off, our uber driver home drove a Tesla. It was my first time riding in one, and the ride was so smooth!

The last time Jessie and I went to a game together, we ran into my brother-in-law at Las Hadas afterward and he told Pammie, “Tell your sister she was sloppy.”

Jessie and I got roofied once at The Waterfront (Pammie’s like, “Please try not to get roofied tonight,” and Jessie was like, “We didn’t try the first time!” LOL) and she and Christine had to pick my ass up from under a bridge downtown one morning another time after my walk of shame. My twenties were wild 😅

I got into the uber and told Jessie I already pre-gamed with a gummy because it takes a long time for me to digest, and she was like, “Do we need to call Christine already???” but our standby was already tipsy because she and Allyn took the kids to D&B’s and had their own Asian Night 🤣

When I was 18, my friends and I slept outside a Ritmo Latino for *NSYNC tickets. That was the way you got good tickets back then 😅 If they have a reunion tour, I’m SO going. I skipped out on my high school reunion, but I wouldn’t miss this LOL. I’ll even sleep outside a Ritmo Latino again if I have to. Do those still exist??? It was like a Spanish Wherehouse 🤣 When I first moved to LA, there was still a Wherehouse near my apartment!