I’m usually good about keeping you updated with what’s going on and what I’m up to, but before I knew it, I was packing my bag and up in the air already. Well, after an all-day excursion of two plane rides, including a layover in Houston, and an over-priced Panda Express lunch at the airport, I’m here in Philadelphia, my home town.
I arrived on Wednesday and have been very occupied with my family and especially my nephew. The first and last time he saw me in person was when he was 3 months old, and now he’s turning one! In Korean tradition, when a baby turns 1, you have this big celebratory shin dig called a “dohl.” So I’m here for that. But I’m also going to be making the most of my 2 1/2 week trip by meeting up with as many people under the sun as I can.
Joe will be joining me here next week. But before I left him behind, I made sure that my non-cooking husband would be well fed. I made huge batches of three different dinners entrees in one night and froze everything in individual portions for him. Yeah, sometimes I even surprise myself.
My flight from California was a little long, and the only time I fell asleep was during the drink service, so they skipped me! But my flight from Houston was great because as you can tell in the top picture, I had the whole row to myself, so I made sure I sprawled out and scattered my stuff everywhere. But what really cracked me up was that the row next to me was completely empty too! And this time, I made sure I was wide awake for drink service.
The only annoying thing about traveling alone is lugging around all your stuff everywhere you go, including the bathroom stall at the airport. I refuse to pay $25 to check my bag. I felt like a one-girl circus production going through security with my wheeling suitcase, winter coat, laptop bag, knee-high boots, 2lbs of Coffee Bean coffee, and little bag of Small Bites stuff to personally deliver to my pregnant friend.
But needless to say, I arrived safely and it was nice getting a chance to hang out with my sister and nephew at the Nordstrom Cafe and eat this real deal Nicoise salad with Salmon. I love it when simple things, like salads, at restaurants blow me away. The chef side of me always wants to go home and recreate it. I turn completely silent while I’m chewing, and start to break down flavors and ingredients in my head. That’s why I made my Savory Salami Chopped salad after I tasted the Nancy’s Chopped Salad at Pizzeria Mozza.
It was also nice to wake up this morning at my parents’ house, teach them how to use their new Keurig coffee machine, and make them breakfast.
I’ll be bouncing around and staying everywhere from my parent’s house, to my sister’s, to my friend’s, and even New York City. I’m actually excited to go back to New York and re-live my twenties! I love the hustle, excitement, food, fashion, and fast service at every Starbucks! I don’t know how much time I’ll get to actually blog, since I have stuff to do with family and friends, a business meeting, and a slide show to make for my nephew’s party. So since this was my first free moment alone, I decided to make good use out of it and keep you in the loop.
Mmmm….can’t wait to sink my teeth into a Philly cheesesteak and drink a cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee! Oh how I’ve missed you!
