#nicoskitchen

Hello January 31st! Does anyone else feel like it was the longest January of their life? We already know that the pandemic is warping our sense of time, but is it getting worse (slower) as we barrel toward the 11th month? Maybe it was all the bad, bad news and the anticipation of Trump’s exit from office... idk, but I’m glad it’s over. 

All things considered, I’m wrapping January feeling really good and very accomplished. Here are some of my highlights: 

I’ve been able to “Wake up & Stretch” everyday this month, no misses!

I completed the Blogilates #21DayTone challenge! And actually, I’ve exceeded it; as of today, I’ve been active at least 21 mins per day for 28 consecutive days and I’ve hit the 64 oz water goal everyday, too! As they say, it takes 28 days to form a habit and this is one I’m interested in sticking with. For years, I’ve always taken weekends off from my workout routine, save for an occasional (and always light) hike. What the 21 day challenge showed me is how easy it is to fit a ~20 minute workout into the weekend, especially during quarantine. But, I’ve also decided I don’t need to be intense about it... my plan is to do this “Yoga for the Splits” video on Saturdays and this Sunday stretch, which should get me ever closer to my goal to be able to do splits by the end of the year. 

I read Laura Kang’s Traffic in Asian Women and wrote the review for a journal, which I emailed off on January 25 - hoping this jump starts my momentum for other projects. 

I made banana and oat based breakfast muffins and they are so delicious. 

After years of avoiding them, I tried making an eggplant dish and it was very, very good. Lesson learned: the only eggplants I want to eat are the long skinny Asian ones. Keep those chunky American eggplants away from me. 

I also made waffles out of banana & egg––I adapted a gluten free “pancake” recipe that is literally a mashed banana mixed with 2 eggs. I would suggest adding 2 tbsp of flour (whatever kind suits you best) to help with texture and give them a little more calories. And for flavor, a pinch of salt and cinnamon don’t hurt either. Because I haven’t bought new maple syrup yet, I enjoyed these with peanut butter, a drizzle of honey, and generous sprinkle of cinnamon. 

I “met” a poet on Zoom, who I’ve been corresponding with over email for over a year. After many delays, I read an advanced copy of the poet’s work and talked to him about it. I was so nervous, but it was the most wonderful. 

Some things I’m working on for February: 

Yoga with Adriene’s 2021 “30 Days of Yoga.” I actually tried to do this at the same time as 21 Day Tone & it just wasn’t sustainable. So I’m going to start this Monday and complete over six weeks (doing the videos Monday thru Friday). I’ll finish it in mid-March, which seems only fitting (given how I started this at-home fitness with the 2020 “30 Days of Yoga” in the middle of last March).  

Continue reading/finish the poetry collection Inclined to Speak (Arab American poets)

Get a library card (from the public library).

Some things to keep tabs on as we move into February: 

How long I linger in bed. I’ve been less snoozing or on my phone/social media, which has been a weakness in the past; now, I just stay huddled under the blankets working up the nerve to face the cold, drafty air of my new apartment. This week, I shrink wrapped all the windows and Aaron brought me an old space heater he doesn’t need. If I hit the power on the space heater with my first alarm, I’m hoping it’ll be warm enough by the second alarm (10 min later) to get me out of there. 

in a mushroom sauce with roasted brussels sprouts. 

When regular people try to use up their pantry/freezer items before moving, they eat like canned beans over rice with steamed mixed vegetables.