Wanting too much
The following quote from this post made me stop and think: “The problem isn’t that we have too little time — we all get the same amount of time each day and each week. It’s the exact right amount of time because it’s all there is. It’s possible that we have too many things to do. But actually, the real problem is that we want to do too much in the time we have.”

We have limited time. Do you know how some of the most successful people get things done? They have help from assistants, nannies, and even full teams. I know it’s sometimes hard for me to be realistic about what I can accomplish in a certain amount of time. That creates unrealistic expectations, stress, and disappointment!

Simone’s Robots
I found Simone’s YouTube channel this month and I am so entertained by her videos and personality.

This Month is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
In celebration, here are 10 books by Asian authors. The Best We Could Do was one of my favorite (and heart-breaking) reads this year so far. I haven’t read Free Food for Millionaires but Min Jin Lee’s newer book Pachinko was also a favorite. I will note, I tried to read Sour Heart and didn’t like it.

Crazy Rich Asians
Speaking of Asians, I’m so excited about the movie Crazy Rich Asians coming out in August! Why? It’s an all-Asian cast and the movie has nothing to do with martial arts! A Hollywood movie that features people who look like me and the traditions and culture that I know!

This romantic comedy-drama is based on the best-selling book of the same name. An American girl goes with her boyfriend (they’re both university professors in the U.S.) to his best friend’s wedding in Singapore. She has no clue his family, while humble and low-key, is one of the richest families in Asia, so in addition to meeting his family, she is in awe and baffled by the show of wealth by his family and friends. Of course, there’s drama with a disapproving mother, family members doing anything they can to gain more wealth (or at least look the part), and all the complicated parts of a rich boy meets not-so-rich girl love story.

Mr. Rogers’ Thoughts on Drawing
Give this a quick look.

This is America
Childish Gambino released a new music video everyone is talking about. It contains possible triggers so don’t watch if you’re sensitive to gun violence. There are so many things to talk about from the video and Luvvie does a good job in this post.

Related to guns, this article from The Atlantic was a sad read. The evidence is clear. Studies show “Americans are no more emotionally troubled than people in Europe and Canada, the stark difference is guns.” Gun access is an issue. The bulk of the article focuses on how school shootings can be prevented and the difficulty in providing for those with mental health issues. Parents have to take the time and money to figure out the mental health issue to treat it and there aren’t enough resources for this. All of this effort is on top of the stigma.

Secret Millionaire Donates Fortune After Death
The NY Times did a story about Sylvia Bloom, who died at 96 and donated $6.24 million (of the $9 million she left) to a non-profit. The noteworthiness of this story is that she was a secretary for the same law firm for 67 years, lived a “simple” life, and no friends or family knew about her fortune. She started her wealth by following her boss’ stock purchases with her own smaller purchases. I’m amazed that she worked for so long, and I hope she took some really awesome vacations.

Happy Mother’s Day
Being a mom is a big deal, even bigger than I can imagine since I’m not one. This post is a clear example of why it’s such an important, hard, and beautiful role. I hope all you moms had a sweet Mother’s Day!

RSVP
Here’s an editorial about why one woman will now always RSVP yes to weddings. It will get you thinking about the relationships in your life and how you perceive them.

Wrongfully Jailed
Can you imagine being wrongfully jailed for murder at age 14 and spending 17 years in jail? John Bunn’s story is incredibly heart-breaking. He founded an organization to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Now Watching
Have you all watched the show Humans? It’s a British show on AMC (and available on Amazon) about life-like humanoids gaining consciousness. Seasons one and two are available and season three is currently on British TV. Watch the trailer below. We also started the quirky Netflix show Love. The third and final season was released recently. Is it a good or bad thing when you know a show you’re watching has an end?

U.S. Fertility at Record Low
The statistics are showing the effects of woman postponing or deciding not to have babies but births by teenagers are also down. I’d love to see the stats of people who are trying to have babies to see if it’s a matter of getting pregnant.

What About Russia?
My friend Yulia wrote about Russia’s Victory Day and the sacrifices Russia made in World War II. (You should read it!) I really enjoyed reading about the traditions and history, and the post made me think about biases and perceptions. She questions why people around the world don’t know about the 26 million Russians that died in WWII. As an American, I blame my ignorance from being a bad student, the patriotic bias in teaching materials and movies, and general patriotism that makes everything outside of the U.S. not as important. Also, there’s so much world history, I probably can’t recall exact American history facts either. What do you think?

Thoughtful and Healthy Conversations
Do you have healthy conversations? My parents were not and are not good communicators, and it’s been eye-opening in the last few years to learn how to communicate better. I think how you communicate says things about your feelings and confidence, so knowing how is a good thing! Here’s a quick article to help.

What’s got you captivated?

P.S. Did you see my recent ax-throwing party at Urban Axes?

The party never ends. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Captivations v.47: Asians, Millionaires, and Robots appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Boyfriend and I flew through the new Netflix show Ugly Delicious recently. While I enjoyed the show, I was left curious about what others think about the topics discussed.

(Side note: I’ve heard plenty of people say they don’t eat crawfish because it’s ugly or dirty. I like that the title of the show pays tribute to the food that is delicious but ugly. Food might look pretty but I’d rather have food that tastes good.)

Ugly Delicious: The Show for Foodies and Wanderlusters

There are eight episodes in the premiere season of Ugly Delicious, released on Netflix in February 2018, and each episode revolves around a dish. The episode topics include pizza, tacos, home cooking, shrimp and crawfish, barbecue, fried chicken, fried rice, and stuffed (dumplings).

Hosted by David Chang, the show takes you to cities and restaurants around the world, showcasing their version of a dish and providing plenty of mouth-watering food shots. Don’t watch this show when you’re hungry because you’ll have all the cravings! (Case in point: after watching the barbecue episode, we went to eat Korean barbecue the next day.) There are cameos by chefs, food writers, and celebrities in every episode.

More importantly, every episode brings in thoughtful dialogue about the origins, authenticity, and evolution of food. I like that there are information and history in each episode, usually conveyed through illustration, stop-motion, and/or a different format from the overall. It gives you a brief and well-rounded overview of the subject. The dialogue can be heavy sometimes but the varying segments break it up nicely.

Who is David Chang?

You probably know David Chang as the chef, restaurateur, and founder of the Momofuku restaurant group, which has restaurants in NYC, Toronto, Sydney, Washington DC, and Los Angeles. He’s also an author and James Beard Award winner, among other awards.

Chang is Korean, and his desire for this show is to break down cultural barriers and discuss misconceptions. While he is honest and blunt, he also has his own misconceptions that he encounters on the show and others aren’t afraid to call him out on them. In other instances, Chang asks bias questions, hoping to change someone’s mind. He admits that he wants to influence others to open their minds and see things from his perspective, and I appreciate his passion.

Authenticity of Food

I like that the show challenges what we think about food.

“I view authenticity like a totalitarian state. It’s something that I think has been overvalued, but in reality it hasn’t been scrutinized enough,” said Chang. “It’s not that I hate authenticity, it’s that I hate that people want this singular thing that’s authentic.”

When I travel, I want “authentic” food, the food of the local culture and history. But does food lose its authenticity if a chef creates his or her interpretation of it? Does authentic food need improvements or is it sacrilege to make changes to the recipes? Does a chef need a specific ethnic background to cook a certain kind of food?

The answers aren’t black and white! In the end, great food reveals itself by how it tastes. You can add in a chef’s personal story of learning how to cook from his grandmother. You can add in a chef’s desire to help people appreciate a culture’s food. You can add in a chef’s creativity of fusing two different cultures in his menu. These things help take great food to another level.

How Branding Makes Us Bias

My preferences in choosing and liking a restaurant may seem a little strange. Before I go, the restaurant’s menu, their website, and their reviews may sway me. While I’m there, I’m a sucker for beautiful interior design and a well-branded restaurant. By well-branded I mean a strong connection is reflected in their logo, interior design, menus, plating, and even their wait staff’s uniforms. The consistent theme is aesthetically pleasing and seems to raise the standards, reputation, and experience in my mind. This might be why restaurants with a similar quality in food perform differently.

I thought about this as I watched the fried chicken episode. In Nashville, they visit Bolton’s and Hattie B’s. Before I visited Nashville last year, my research told me Hattie B’s was the place to visit, its worthiness reinforced by making “top restaurant” lists although they are a newer restaurant. I didn’t see much about Bolton’s, a place with over 15 years of history. Look at their websites and you might note some differences. You could argue target demographics, but you could also question if a beautiful restaurant and modern branding has the ability to sway public opinion.

I think this bias is natural, but it’s good to be aware of it so we don’t leave worthy restaurants in the dark.

Advocating for Asian Cuisine and People

The most poignant episode for me was episode 4: Crawfish and Shrimp. This episode poses a lot of questions about how the U.S. immigration policies today are affecting people and shows viewers how immigrants have enriched our food culture.

The episode takes us to Nam Giao in Houston and owner Al Le is questioned by Chang about why his menu prices are so affordable. Le says, “I want to bring Vietnamese food to the public, to say thanks to Americans, to say thanks to America, who gave us the opportunity here.”

Throughout the series, the value of Asian cuisine is put into question. If you think about an Asian restaurant you eat at, one of the characteristics is likely that you can get a big portion of food for less money. They also discuss silent, unconscious racism, which was eye-opening!

Conclusion

Ugly Delicious is a fun and thought-provoking show for those who love food and love to travel. It made me want to get out of my comfort zone and discover the food for myself. The show is also a reminder that people will like the food they like and there’s no reason to be a snob about it. While there aren’t many solid answers, the show starts the conversations that will make better restaurants and more adventurous foodies.

Ultimately, this show is a celebration of food and the people that make it!

Have you watched Ugly Delicious? There are so many topics to talk about from the show, anything you want to discuss? I’m all ears!

P.S. Do you travel like a foodie?

Let’s keep talking about food! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Ugly Delicious Will Make You Think Twice About Food appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Float Fest
We came. We floated. We fested. We survived! The first part of our experience included waiting indefinitely to park (it took almost two hours) and waiting almost another hour to get to the river. After a quick two to three hour float, we got ready to see Girl Talk, Passion Pit, and Zedd. Camping in a tent is still not comfortable so after a tiring day and restless night, we packed up and left at 8 am as planned. Great memories though! I rented our tent from Enjoyful for $15! It’s a new experience rental service in Austin.

Instagram Food is a Sad, Sparkly Lie
There is so much in this Eater article that I’m not sure where to start. I’ve mentioned in past posts how Instagram and influencers have changed the way we eat, our view on aesthetics, and how we feel about and live life in general.

Reading: Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
I finally crossed this book off my list and it was so good! It has changed my way of thinking about creativity, passion, and what we are each called to do. I’ve had growing clarity about what I want to do with my life for a while but this book echoes the thought that your passions and creating for the sake of creating should not be forced into a box of producing income. The book has many, many more lessons and it’s a quick read so I recommend you check it out.

Crafting
One of the tips Elizabeth Gilbert gives in Big Magic is practicing creativity in new and different ways because you never know where inspiration comes from. Crafting has always been one of my hobbies, and I recently got a loom weaving kit. I’ve slowly been working on it and maybe soon I’ll show you a finished product!

Chef Culture
For those in the culinary industry, it’s known that it sometimes involves addiction and not the good kind. Austin has had its share of celebrity chefs needing to get their lives under control. It’s how Chef Philip Speer opened My Name is Joe Coffee. This New York Times article detailing Chef Sean Brock’s story gives an eye-opening insight into how and why. I’m glad to hear he’s getting better. (One of my favorite meals last year was at Chef Brock’s restaurant Husk in Charleston.)

The Busy Trap
While this New York Times piece was published in 2012, it still resonates today. Why do we glorify being busy? Sometimes I multitask while watching a show with blogging, crafting, or Instagramming to make it feel like I’m being productive. Yes, watching TV can be a form of procrastination but I’m speaking more to the thought that I ALWAYS need to be productive, hustling, and working towards my goals. I need to be busy. The only time I’m completely focused is when Boyfriend and I are eating out at a restaurant. Do y’all feel busy all the time?

The Color Inside
We finally went to The Color Inside, the James Turrell Skyspace at UT! (I loved the Turrell exhibits in Houston.) There’s a hole in the roof and the way that the colors change give you an optical illusion. It makes it look like the sky is changing colors! It’s a free exhibit if you want to go check it out!

Watching on Netflix: Chasing Coral and Tales by Light
The documentary Chasing Coral is a MUST-WATCH! It shows the dire state of our oceans, especially the Great Barrier Reef. You’ll learn a lot in less than two hours and you’ll be inspired to do something. If you like photography, check out the series Tales by Light. These 20-minute episodes follow a different photographer as he/she tries to get their ideal shots. Great cinematography and insight on photography.

Why Aren’t Women Having Children?
Though this article from The Atlantic is two years old, it found me at the right time and I look forward to reading the book this article is focused on. From the friends I’ve talked to, we think society is becoming ok with us not having kids. It’s a more “accepted” life path. The thought I want to explore is how to grieve the loss of that decision. Being a parent is a big role and a huge identity that I won’t experience. Will the regret of that loss be squelched by the full life I’ll have anyways?

Friendships with Mamas
Speaking of not having babies, I’ve had some new feelings in the last year or so. My network is exploding with babies. So many friends and acquaintances at my age plus/minus a year or two are having babies. I’ve been thinking about how this changes my relationship with my mama friends. My biggest concern is if we will still be able to relate to each other even though I don’t know what it’s like to be a mom. How will our relationship change? This post on Love Child echoes some of my thoughts.

Reading: I’m Judging You by Luvvie Aijayi
This book was full of conviction and truth. The first half and the last chapter is what really drew me in. The book is full of logical rants by Luvvie about all the things we shouldn’t be doing. In its deepest parts, it helps explain racism and the state of things in the U.S. It helped me see life, if only a glimpse, from a black person’s eyes, and make me wonder how I can help. Luvvie is wicked smart and this book will make you stop and think.

What to Say to a Grieving Friend
The only thing I could muster when I encountered a grieving co-worker was “I’m sorry for your loss.” I thought it was an overused and empty phrase but I didn’t know what else to say. A few days later, A Cup of Jo published this post about what to say and do. It’s a great reminder to read over.

Do you need that?
This thought-provoking post by Alexandra Franzen echoed my thoughts when reading Big Magic. It asked me to think about my life beyond the box that I sometimes put it in. It asked me to think beyond what I think I need and find different, maybe better solutions.

Paying for a Wedding
I liked this post by Kate of Greatest Escapist. It is apalling to me that people are willing to go so far in debt for their wedding. I know weddings cost more than I might think or hope and not everyone is blessed to have family and friends chip in, but what is so bad about having a wedding within your means? Side note: I read an article recently about a woman who asked her boyfriend if she could pay half the cost of her engagement ring. What do you think about that?

Competitiveness in Friendships
Social media these days makes it easy for competition to arise. I’ve talked about competition, jealousy, and losing friendships because of it before. I think this is especially an issue when you’re a blogger or social media influencer who is friends with others who are also. This post on The Everygirl has good reminders of how to save your friendships from a competition.

So Much Cycling
I’ve been going to spin classes for more than a year and wrote a post about all the cycling studios in Austin. Take a look!

The Day the Fire Came
This Texas Monthly feature about a horrible wildfire in Texas earlier this year is incredibly beautiful and incredibly heartbreaking.

On Soulmates
I read this post about finding love on Oh Joy and was curious what you thought about soulmates. Similar to what Joy said, when I was younger, I thought we all had one soulmate. Now I think we have multiple soulmates and it all depends on the stage in our life when we meet. If you think about all the possibilities your life could go or have gone based on your choices or pure luck, many different people come along with those moments. Thinking about my past relationships, maybe if my understanding of emotions had been more evolved or if someone had decided to act a different way towards me, I would be in a different place today. This is where the cliché line “everything happens for a reason” comes in. It’s interesting to think about the possible life paths and ultimately, it makes me thankful for where I am today.

What’s captivating you lately?
I always enjoy reading your opinions about any of the ideas and links I post. Tell me your thoughts in a comment below!

Keep up with me elsewhere! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Captivations v.37: Float Fest and Babies appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Watching: Chef’s Table on Netflix
After hearing many recommendations for this Netflix original documentary show (see season 1 trailer here), I started watching Chef’s Table. It’s a lot of decadent and brilliant food shots, beautiful stories about chefs and restaurants and a look inside the brains of some of the world’s best chefs. There are two seasons with six episodes each and each episode is focused on a different chef. Five episodes in, they’ve featured chefs in Italy, New York, Argentina, Los Angeles and Australia. Seeing the different culture, style, journey and personality of each chef is fascinating and the show helps you understand the human relationship with food and the creative process of chefs. Have you watched it? Which is your favorite episode?

On Creativity
One of my favorite lines from Chef’s Table came in episode five from Ben Shewry, head chef at Attica in Melbourne, Australia: “There’s a romantic story that says people are just creative because that’s what they like to do, and they just go around all the time creating. Which is just kind of ridiculous in a way. Sometimes people have to create out of pure necessity. If I didn’t create stuff that was inspiring to people and that people didn’t like, we were going to go broke.”

Trying Clothes with Le Tote
I am not fashionable and definitely do not keep up with trends (hello closet of black and grey and white), but I like pretty and new clothes. My friend MJ sent me a free Le Tote box to try. I picked three clothing items and two accessories to borrow for the month. I have the choice to buy the things if I really love them or send them back for new items. Le Tote is a good option for those who like new and name brand clothing and accessories and have a budget of $50 a month to spend. A monthly habit is out of my budget but it’s fun to try on occasion. How awesome is the print of this off-shoulder dress and this popsicle clutch from my trial box!

What Podcasts Are You Listening To?
In true late bloomer form, I have finally discovered the joy of podcasts. I’ve listened to This American Life during road trips, but sitting down and paying attention to a podcast has been my crutch. I’m hoping to make it a habit when I’m getting ready in the morning and on my work commute. I’ve recently listed to a few episodes from some popular podcasts, including Real Talk Radio, The Jess Lively Show, and The Minimalists. What are your favorite podcasts?

Elena and Achim’s Love Story
I don’t think I’ve shared this before but if I have, here it is again! I follow Elena on Instagram and she started this love story illustration project last September. Daily posts show how she and her love came to be and as she writes in the story, this project was a way for her to evaluate and perhaps heal who they are now. Not only are the stories and illustrations so captivating but the thoughts in the story hit me deep.

How to Eat Clean
While I’ve never restricted myself to a certain diet, I’ve been trying to eat as clean as possible the last few years. From this article by A Sweet Pea Chef, “eating clean involves choosing whole foods, avoiding processed foods, and creating a healthy, conscientious approach to what foods you eat.” This means stepping away from packaged chips, frozen dinners, canned soups, etc. and stepping towards home-cooked, fresh vegetables and meat. My diet’s not perfect – I do enjoy fries and doughnuts occasionally – but I make a conscious effort to know what I’m putting into my body. Here are eight different things you can do to eat clean.

Gift Money Through Tendr
I found out about Tendr and it’s the classy and elegant money-receiving and money-giving tool you’ve been waiting for. If you’d rather receive money instead of physical gifts to celebrate your wedding, birthday or whatever occasion, you can set up a personalized occasion page on Tendr for free. If you’d like to give a monetary gift, you can choose a card and give your gift for $3. This would be great for a honeymoon fund if you don’t have a gift registry, baby fund for your second child, or alternative option if you’re a minimalist.

On the Blog This Month
Here are some of my favorite posts on the blog this month:

• One of my favorite Austin restaurants: Detroit-Style Pizza at Via313
• What I’ve learned about spending money on home entertaining: 10 Ways to Save
• An important Life Lesson reminder I got this month: You Belong Here

What have you been captivated by lately? Any cool articles, videos or products you want to share in the comments below?

Keep up with me elsewhere! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin’, or Snapchat (@wanderlustanita). You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

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