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Ah, the sweet essence of forgetting.In 2022, I completed the Honolulu Marathon. It was my first marathon, and the goal was simply to cross the finish line. When it was all over, I distinctly remember thinking (and saying aloud to anyone who’d ask) I will never run a marathon again. I had done it! What an accomplishment it was, but damn, it was a challenge. And now, I’m done.    The marathon…

I’ve always kept a journal, although I haven’t always been consistent with writing in one. As a teenager, I mainly used it to document my grievances, confess my sins (not religious, but anecdotal), and write my musings about boys who, let’s face it, never deserved my time in the first place. As an adult, I started keeping a journal for entirely other reasons. Primarily, I use it to capture my…

Hey there! I drafted this post on Friday and was set to edit and publish on Saturday. Then the U.S. bombed Iran, and I thought how inappropriate it would be to discuss anything joyous, how ill-suited to share my troubles, be that they are minuscule to the injustices occurring every day in the United States and across the world. The world is scary for many. Bad things are happening. These are…

The sky in Hawai’i is almost always visually the same, which would be boring if not for how beautiful its routine. There are, of course, exceptions — the gray days when the sun is hidden behind overcast, or when it storms. Mostly, though, the sky is baby-blue marble, the large white bubble-plumes of clouds its textured complexion, angelic like Constable’s paintings.  This routine, clear and…

If you remove the ‘I’iwi from the Hosmer Grove Trail in Haleakalā National Park, then it is without question my favorite of the five hikes we accomplished during our weekend on Maui was the ʻŌhai loop trail. The ʻŌhai loop trail is named for the ʻŌhai, an endemic and endangered coastal species of flowering shrub that grows along this trail. According to an article by Jodie Rosam for the Hawai’i…

“I’m not trying to hide from the truth but to balance it, to remind myself that there are other truths, too. I need to remember that the earth, fragile as it is, remains heartbreakingly beautiful. I need to give my attention to a realm that is indifferent to fretful human mutterings and naked human anger, a world unaware of the hatred and distrust taking over the news.” – Margaret Renkl, The…

At the moment, I am thinking of my friends who, like me, hide their life behind cabinets or in drawers when company comes over. We stress that our possessions will paint a picture of us being less than minimal or aesthetic. As if we may perish at another’s thoughts, an idea of our real lives on display is too much: the lotion on the coffee table for those cracked hands post yard work, dog…

Oh snap, take a breath, crackle-pop. Damn, it’s been a deep wave-style breath hold since the last time I shared anything here. Admittedly, I’m finding space and relevancy in my work; not only to remain relevant to you, dear readers and travel connoisseurs, but also to myself. We have come a long way since that first post in 2019 in which I thought this would be a space to share my marathon…

The Wildlife Photography Project is here! A photograph has endless power; within its still frame, it holds time and presents an unmoveable world in motion. Photographs allow us to expose our internal landscape, show others the world as we see it, and open it up for interpretation. Photographs elicit emotion; they are of the other and yet are known to work as mirrors of the self. My photographs…

If you've been wondering more about the bundle—not just what's included but why I created it, insights on the price tag, and information on Aloha Animal Sanctuary—this is the post for you!

Hi there! By now, I am sure you think you’ve heard all about the Very Merry Movie Lover Bundle. The first digital product I have created and launched specifically on Chickpeameatball and with readers (you) in mind. But I believe there is still much more to be shared with you, including things like: why I chose to create this product in the first place, why mocktails over cocktails, and a little…

🎄 Very Merry Movie Lover Bundle 🎄 This all-in-one Christmas entertainment bundle brings the magic of your favorite holiday movies to life! It’s perfect for holiday parties, cozy family nights, or festive gatherings. ✨ What’s Included The Digital “Recipe Book” | 38 pages of: – 5 movie-inspired non-alcoholic drinks (e.g., “The Red Ryder” inspired by A Christmas Story). | Images | Grocery List – 4…

Here we are, November already, with the end of the year approaching far too quickly. It’s that time again—time to look forward to a fresh list of books I can’t wait to dive into and to reflect on the ones I’ve enjoyed (some more than others). As always, reading lists are one of my favorite things to share. I hope you find a new favorite read of your own. In this list of “Novels for November,”…

Can you believe I saw Practical Magic for the first time last October? I guess it’s not hard to believe, considering I leaned heavily into horror growing up, so my index of romance films consisted of 1996 Mr. Wrong with Ellen DeGeneres and Adam Sandler’s, Big Daddy. Of course, I had a sprinkling of classics like The Notebook, Ever After, and Titanic. But to this day, I’ve not watched Pride and…

Fighting the urge to make every song Noah Kahan or Zack Bryan because that seems to be the beat to my heart and life regardless of the occasion, I managed to include a sporadic and completely appropriate number from both artists. This is a playlist inspired by the way the fall season makes my soul sing. This is a playlist for long walks and even longer car rides. This is a playlist for those…

It is a time-honored tradition here at Chickpeameatball for me to provide a Halloween-inspired TBR (aka “to be read”) October reading list. And I am nothing without my spooky-season traditions. However, this year, I am adding a new spin. Rather than only listing the books I want to read in October, I am also listing 5 books I have read and have received the 100% Ali stamp of approval for your…

My Amazon travel journals, like my Pacific Crest Trail journals, combine excerpts from my journal, which capture the events as they took place, with my ” in-retrospect” reflections or thoughts as they came to me while I wrote this. If you haven’t already, check out: Amazon Travel Journals: Day One Headed to the MLC Amazon Travel Journals: Day Two, Hummingbirds & Water Sources Amazon Travel…