Featured

Change In The Tide

February 23, 2022

Dear Reader,

For what it’s worth, I haven’t forgotten about my microscopic slice of the world wide web. 

When I began writing and sharing my life here several years ago, it stemmed from a desperate, gnawing need for space and a place to express, individuate, and claim my humanity while working in the fashion industry. 

So much of what I’ve shared here arose from a place of should

Should, in all its plurality, has guided the complexities and nuances of decision-making for most of my life. As a woman, especially, I know that I’m not alone in this.  

There is safety in should.  Conformity rewards its loyalists with the perception of comfort and shields from the isolation of shame. As humans, we’re wired for acceptance and belonging, therefore it makes sense to seek what’s biologically rewarding, what’s safe.

For the past three years, I’ve both voluntarily and inevitably unraveled, unlearned, and deconditioned countless thought patterns and systems of belief to land upon the un-profound simplicity of this:  

I have given the shoulds and expectations of others far more precedence over my intuition and desires and I am fucking finished. 


I leaned heavily on this space as a place to share recipes and my passion for living a healthy life. It makes sense that food was the centric element of my content because for so long I was starving for connection and to be seen and accepted seperate from my work. Some of the most profound, life-altering conversations I’ve had have taken place around a dining table. Food is a gateway to human connection. Connection is a gateway to acceptance.

Food still plays a bicentric role in how I tap into my creativity and express love. I’ve just discovered additional facets of my being that I feel equally passionate about and compelled to explore.


It is a destabilizing process to let go of the fictitious grip of certainty and freefall into who you truly are. It takes courage.

It is, however, your only shot at living a full and embodied life. And it’s not a process as much as it is a practice – because you never land once you make the proverbial decision to let go you simply get used to making the choice over and over again. 

What remains when you release your grip is your essence, the roots that continually ground and anchor you despite the ever-changing elements and external stimuli.

To get to my roots I needed silence, far more listening than talking, far more observing than reacting and responding, equal parts giving and receiving, more being, and a lot of therapy.  Each of those, a privledge in their own right.


I find myself here now, in a vastly different space mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually from where I started. Much of the content I’ve shared over the years doesn’t resonate with me any longer and I’m okay with that.

Living through a pandemic, a tumultuous political environment, witnessing the vast and unacceptable inequalities plaguing humanity, losing loved ones, losing friends, navigating a personal health crisis, witnessing the disconnect and disregard for fellow human beings; it has changed me. 

Fundamentally.

Profoundly.

To the core. 

Forever. 

As painful as transformation is, I’m choosing to dive into the uncertainty and share my experience through words. I have no intention or plan other than to show up as transparently and fully as I can, when I choose to do so. 

Please know that imperfection, uncertainty, questions, and mistakes are welcome here. It’s only those qualities I have to offer you. 

Thank you for being here. 

-H

Featured

Stop Asian Hate, Stop All Hate

March 19, 2021
Stop Asian Hate, Stop All Hate

I wanted to share a few words from my journal – the space where I retreat when the world feels exceedingly heavy. My thoughts are endlessly with those who have lost someone to or have been impacted by racial violence. Stop Asian hate, stop all hate.

I’m sitting here at my desk,

taking a moment to exhale –

after a horrific news week,

after a year of gruesome headlines,

years of gruesome headlines –

trying to digest indefensible, blatant actions,

trying to absorb arbitrary, dehumanizing responses. 

All of this

part of a system,

violence fueled by hate,

deeply entrenched into the fabric of this country.

“A bad day…” is what they said.

In actuality, it is:

Terrorism

White supremacy

Racism

Sexism

Colonialism

Racial misogyny

Racial capitalism

Xenophobia

A cesspool of strategically inflicted and chosen ignorance concretize these practices, these policies, this culture dangerously into its place – 

dissolved into normalcy

not hidden, in plain sight.

Power, in all its plurality, the only motive – fear the puppet strings.

I’m sitting here at my desk,

taking a moment to exhale – 

wondering how I will explain this to my biracial babies someday –

and my heart just breaks.

Anti-Asian Violence Resources

Entree, Featured, Food, Sides

Creamy Vegan Broccoli Cheddar Soup

September 21, 2020
Creamy Vegan Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Rich, flavorful, and hearty, this Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Soup is anything but boring. Cashews and oat milk provide a smooth mouthfeel while nutritional yeast adds that desirable “cheesy” note. Truly an equally delicious take on a classic.

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 small zucchinis, chopped (1 cup)
  • 2 carrots, chopped (1 cup)
  • 1/2 yellow onion, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 6 cups broccoli florets
  • 1/2 cup raw cashews
  • 4 cups low sodium vegetable broth
  • 1 cup unsweetened oat milk (or plant milk of choice)
  • 1 cup nutritional yeast
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:

  • In a medium stockpot, saute onions, garlic, carrots, and zucchini in olive oil on medium heat. (5-7 minutes.)
  • Add broccoli, cashews, and vegetable broth. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
  • Using a hand blender or high-speed blender, puree mixture until smooth. Once blended, transfer back into stockpot and add oatmilk, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, and desired amount of salt and pepper.
  • Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Enjoy!
Entree, Featured, Food, Sides

Simple Tossed Salad with Sautéed Summer Produce (V,GF)

August 12, 2020
Simple Tossed Salad with Sautéed Summer Produce

Sometimes the simplest seasonal ingredients make the most exquisite dishes. My Simple Tossed Salad with Sautéed Summer Greens is just that: easy-to-source ingredients, prepared with care. Cooked vegetables are what take this salad up a notch, adding a heartier sensation and deeper flavor profile. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do.

Ingredients:

  • 3-4 cups of mixed greens.
  • 1/2 cucumber, diced.
  • 2-3 small tomatoes, diced.
  • 1 small onion, diced (red, white, yellow..whichever you prefer).
  • 1 clove garlic, minced.
  • 1 large avocado, sliced (optional).
  • Olive oil.
  • Balsamic vinegar.
  • Sea salt and fresh ground pepper.

Instructions:

  • Wash greens, spin to remove excess moisture, and set aside.
  • In a medium pan, heat 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil on medium heat. Add onion and garlic, stirring until slightly brown. Add diced tomatoes and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook onions, garlic, and tomatoes together for 2-3 minutes or until desired texture is reached.
  • In a large mixing bowl, add greens, chopped cucumber, and cooked vegetables. Toss with a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic, adding more if desired.
  • Finish with avocado slices and fresh cracked pepper. And most importantly, enjoy!

Notes from the kitchen:

  • If your tomatoes are ultra juicy, the cooked onion, garlic, and tomato mixture may come out watery. Try draining any excess liquid from the pan before adding the cooked vegetables to your salad or using a skimmer to remove them directly from the pan.
  • This recipe is delicious all on it’s own, but if you’re looking for a hit of plant-based protein, I suggest making my Zesty Lemon Herb Quinoa (V, GF) to mix in.