Little pleasures from spring
From the start of March through the end of May, I wrote down every thing that brightened my mood
Bonne Maman’s raspberry jam on a slice of lightly toasted sourdough
Holding a wriggly, sweet baby while getting a pedicure, so her mama could relax and get her nails done.
Stopping to pet a cat on the street, and then having her jealous friend run up to your ankles for pets too.
Having your friends come back from a wedding, and hearing all the best stories over saucy and spicy Korean fried chicken.
Surprise tickets to My Neighbor Totoro from my boyfriend, followed by an evening of sparkly wine and kid hecklers.
Buying gifts (coffee, in bulk) to bring back to my family in the states.
Ordering a plain pizza pie (+2 slices) from my hometown slice shop.
Being around my sister, which means we can split everything again: a beer, a yogurt bar, an order of fries (and still not finish anything).
Eating all of my favorite foods in the Dominican Republic with my family: fresh fruits, las banderas, tostones, coconut flan and so on.
Running up to my mom to show her a seashell I found and tell her about a rainbow fish I saw (I’m 25).
Finding croissants leftover from Christmas in the back of the freezer, and suddenly a random March Saturday is fun.
Opening my suitcase back in London and seeing the odd array of things I have brought back with me: mouthwash, moisturizer, 15 boxes of girl scout cookies, lip liner, my mother’s clothes for a work trip in Singapore, Justin’s peanut butter cups, John Muir’s Our National Parks.
Trying a new stall at the market (Hoho, at Broadway) and it being even better than you imagined.
Reconnecting with a friend I haven’t seen in ten years at a random pub in Kensington, and suddenly the drinks and the boyfriends and adult lives disappear, and you’re just girls in high school again.
Conquering my fear of going back to the gym. (I only went twice, but still).
Learning how to light a wood fire for the first time, and feeling the warmth and crackle (all this despite whatever bad stuff I definitely did breathe in).
A really delicious vanilla bean rice pudding, with roasted rhubarb and crunchy oat crumble from Black Bear Inn, in Usk.
The first sunny day in London each spring feels like a little miracle. My boyfriend and I met friends at the park and had ciders and kimbap until it was long after dark because we didn’t want the evening to end.
Mint green nails.
A Tom Collins I didn’t have to pay for from one of the best bars in the world, The Connaught Bar. It is every bit as beautiful and glamorous as one would hope, but the little pleasure is how a Tom Collins still tastes like just a lemonade when made by a master mixologist. Just a really, really good one.
Flying to Asia on business class for the first time, and everything feels like a dream, from the seat that goes flat to the china they serve your meal with to the gorgeous ladies with perfect makeup that keep bringing you peppermint tea for your sore throat.
Seeing the Jewel’s waterfall for the first time.
Sitting in the back room, eating all the leftover canapés after the event I was running finished, and happening across a really good one.
An extra large kumquat iced tea.
Luckin Coffee’s iced ong lai latte. I had three in one day.
Going to a wine bar named “Big Wine Freaks”—I mean, it is just a brilliant name, isn’t it?
Having the opportunity to visit Capella Singapore, where I laid by the pool and got a massage where the kind woman worked the knot in the back left of my shoulder until it (slightly) evaporated.
Coming back to London at the end of April, and finding it sunny every day.
Walking through the park and seeing two women holding a proper glug. of Chardonnay each (they brought their own glassware) dancing to Afrobeats.
A new cookie recipe: brown butter chai snickerdoodles.
Visiting Salad Day Markets in London and being utterly swamped by girlhood and trinkets as far as the eye can see.
Trying a shandy (half beer, half fizzy lemonade, for the non-Brits reading) and it being sunshine in a glass.
A perfect date night at a dumpling restaurant followed by a wine bar where you can try about a dozen different wines at 5 quid a glass.
MY SISTER COMING TO VISIT LONDON! And a perfectly planned week.
Matching bunny Jellycats from said trip, named April Showers and May Flowers.
Getting to go home to see my youngest brother graduate from college.
Baking my favorite cake, chocolate with whipped cream and strawberries, with my mom.
Getting to go back to my hometown’s Greek festival hosted by the local Orthodox church. They have yiayias slinging some of the best food I’ve ever had, including gyros and loukoumades. I haven’t been back since I moved to London, and I just got lucky in being there this go around.
I got a haircut, and it is the shortest my hair has been in almost four years. The last time I saw myself with hair brushing my collarbones, I was younger and at a lot more peace. They say hair holds memories, so I’m hoping this helps me forget some and make others.
A day out with my mom and sister. It was for eyebrow waxing, yes, but then we had lunch and I can’t remember the last time it was just the three of us.
After a few tense days, my cat came out of surgery alright.
for me: tacos, time w my siblings, browsing homey spaces on pinterest, now this post!
The way you noticed all the great pleasures wrapped into a small one. For me: the juiciest watermelons, muskmelons ( no pun intended here hehe ), maapaa and my elder brother went to eat outside, only 4 of us after a long time, tasted swiss chocolates for the first time, feeding my stray dogs ( they are sweetest babies ), binging on the show Anne with an E ( highly recommend to everyone ) and the fact that I could experience all of this. Gratitude in my heart 🤍🪷🙂↕️