worms

I'm back! I'll post pics from my travels soon enough! In the meantime...


I used to enroll in English courses to scope out good books. It never really occurred to me to just check out the online syllabus. Anyway, this eventually led me to declaring a second minor in English. Fast forward to today, and (story of my life) there really isn’t much free time to do recreational reading. When I do have time to catch my breath I usually …sleep…or get irresponsibly drunk. So, on my to-do list this summer is a list of books that I am very intent on reading.

I know many people out there are looking for good reads, so I’ll share my current list:



I’m only halfway through this list so I can’t give complete reviews on all of them.

1. The Complete Saki by Saki. As you can probably see from the pic above, I didn't get a chance to browse this one yet. But apparently, Saki is a classical genius. He’s really good at making fun of pretentious folks and I have no qualms about that.

2. A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. The first thing this author did correct? He’s from New Orleans. The second thing he got right? He set the novel in New Orleans and detailed quirks about the city are dispersed throughout. Don't you love it already? This novel is comical! It kind of reminds me of Voltaire’s Candide. The main character is obnoxiously eccentric and is totally reminiscent of the type of people you might come across in New Orleans today. There’s actually a statue on Canal St at the Chateau Sonesta Hotel modeled after the character, Ignatius. Because of the novel’s frequent mention of Lucky Dogs, Jerry Strahan, a manager of Lucky Dogs for 20 years, wrote a semi-autobiographical book entitled Managing Ignatius: The Lunacy of Lucky Dogs and Life in New Orleans, which takes a good look at ridiculous characters employed by Lucky Dogs who are undoubtedly New Orleans in nature (like the fictitious character of Ignatius). And yes, I do realize I just reviewed a book by also recommending another book. LOL.

3. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris. David Sedaris is my absolute favorite modern satirist ever! His short stories are autobiographical and hilarious. This isn’t my first Sedaris book and it will definitely not be my last. The first time I experienced the pee-in-your-pants work of Sedaris was with his debut book Me Talk Pretty One Day (If there is only one book you read at my recommendation, please read Me Talk Pretty One Day.). It’s still my favorite book of all time. This man writes the way I only wish I could write. He has an insanely witty and dry sense of humor and can turn mundane, everyday situations into laugh-out-loud fests! Honest to God, I lay in bed reading his stories and laugh out loud by myself with every chapter. He is a genius and this book, although not as good as his previous ones, does not disappoint if you’re looking for smart, ironic humor. I adore him and hope he keeps cranking out tell-alls about his crazy family.

4. Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise by Ruth Reichl. This is the literary alternative to watching Top Chef, Food Network, or the Travel Channel. Ruth Reichl was the Restaurant Critic for The New York Times. Her resume is an extensive list that dabbles in all the prestigious words/brands/names that could be associated with world class cuisine. This novel follows her in her New York Times gig where she must undergo transformations and disguises to anonymously critique some of the most notorious and not so well known restaurants of New York. She describes food with so much attention to detail and with so much passion it really gives you an appreciation of what it takes to really break down the essence of a dish and its flavor profiles. The extreme costumes and identities she has to take on to maintain anonymity is the icing on the cake for both food and fashion lovers. I love this book and can’t wait until I have more time to sink my teeth in more novels in this genre.

5. Naked by David Sedaris. Yes, It’s Mr. Sedaris again. I can’t help it. The man is hilarious and I’m trying to read everything he has pumped out. I’m serious. He’s my idol. I see myself in his internalizations except, in his head and in my head, he’s way cooler and way funnier, and as much as I attempt, I’ll never be able to crank out even one sentence as comical as his. And did I mention he's gay? He needs to be my gay guy best friend. on the real.

warehouse district

I currently reside in a condo community called the Cottonmill which is an old restored warehouse in downtown NOLA. So I might be a tad bit biased when I insist that one of the greatest areas to live in New Orleans is the Warehouse Arts District. You're the center of all the attention! Every happenin' event is but a mere walk away. Buildings here have that lofty, dope vibe with historic wooden floors and original brick walls that's so awesome about the area. When I have the chance and when New Orleans weather is willing and cooperating (I'm deathly afraid of heat + humidity), I try to take the opportunity to walk to nearby destinations. Seriously, I only have to pump gas once every 2 or 3 weeks. And I have a gas guzzler.


A great attraction of the Warehouse Arts District - The World War II/D Day Museum
It's literally in my backyard and it's awesome. Here's a tip. If you go about an hour before they close you can save yourself the admission ticket. Instead, you can kindly deposit a donation in a box at the front door for whatever amount pleases you.



Their short documentary video clips are really interesting and you can really lose yourself in the place.



Wars suck.

...

New Orleans rocks.







There's nothing more charming than a NOLA porch and a local neighborhood eatery for Sunday brunch.





lace shirt = Guess outlet 2 years back
shoes = Stuart Weitzman
tights = Urban Outfitters
necklace = Aldo

Before I started medical school, I always considered cooking as one of my favorite pastimes. In fact, my personal essay was probably a major factor in my acceptance and its theme was based on a recipe for gumbo. (If you know me personally, you know I'm pretty passionate about gumbo or any type of soup/broth-based dishes.)

One year has gone by since I matriculated into medical school and what has changed? Cooking is still something I consider a hobby, but time is rather lacking. In addition to dining out, microwaving frozen food, and getting too much to-go, one of my solutions to the time constraint of med schooling is cooking in bulk.

I'll share with you one of my recipes - SMOTHERED PORK CHOPS. I've eaten at a lot of soul food restaurants in New Orleans, searching for the perfect smothered pork chops. This recipe is a culmination of what I look for in the dish. It's boyfriend and family approved and perfect for anyone with a busy lifestyle - like med students.

Why it's great?
1.) It's super simple. Preparation is non-fussy and most of the time it doesn't need any extra attention.
2.) The ingredients are items readily available in your freezer/pantry.
3.) The flavors leave nothing to be desired. I hate bland food and bland this isn't. Comfort food at its best.
4.) It tastes just as great, if not better, days after you cook it and store it in the fridge.

One thing I do need to apologize for is my lack of measurements. I don't do those. Sorry. This is pretty much foul proof so measurements aren't necessary. Just do the damn thing.


First, if you have time, season your thawed chops with some season-all or tony's. If you don't have time, no worries just make sure you season the other steps well.

Next, you need to set up an assembly line of plates. 1st plate = flour. 2nd plate = eggwash. 3rd plate = italian breadcrumbs. Season each plate with season-all, black pepper, and Mrs. Dash. The Garlic and Herb option is the best. I put that jazz in everything! Don't bother with her other seasonings though. Garbage.

Dip your chops in each plate from flour --> eggwash --> breadcrumbs --> frying pan.
Brown on both sides for a couple of minutes until crispy. Do not cook them through.

After browning all your chops. You should have what I call some "good shit" in your frying pan. All the drippings and such. Cut some onions and saute in the good shit. If you have minced garlic, throw that shit in there too.
Take the onions out and set aside.

You should only have a few tablespoons of oil in your pan. Too much? Poor some out. DUH.
On a low fire, whisk in some flour.
Just enough flour to soak up the oil. Brown your roux for a couple of minutes while constantly whisking.

Then, pour in an entire box of chicken stock. I use that big yellow box from Rouses. Whisk. Then, you need to season to taste. I season very well during this stage. Season-all/Tony's and shitload of Mrs. Dash. It's ok if your gravy is thin here. It'll thicken in the oven.

Next, Put your chops in an aluminum pan. Top with your sauteed onions. Here's my secret weapon - bacon. Top with bits of real bacon. Because I don't have time and don't eat bacon on the regular, I find it more convenient to use this in my cooking:


Lastly, poor your gravy on top of all that mess. Put a piece of foil over it and bake for about an hour. This is important: Your pork chops should be soooooooooo fork tender that no knife action is needed! Serve over rice.


That's it! You should have enough to last you a week. More student-friendly sustenance tips to come.

slumdogging summer

-that is the equivalent of 4 weeks of hell-

not to mention the countless 100-slide-powerpoints-in-50-minutes and textbooks and review books and every other resource under the sun that's thrown at us. there comes a time (many times) when you have to throw it up in the air and say, "Fuck, it's just not worth me losing another hour of sleep. I'll just take a hit in that section on the test." And I guess the problem arises when you find yourself saying that every ten pages.

So it's with great relief that I announce to the world: I have officially finished my first year in medical school! Wheeeeeee! Yes, no one cares but me and my mama. But for those of you who plan on cashing in on my success in the future, I'm a quarter of a doctor! Aside from the the fact that this past year has been a whirlwind of emotions that ranged from excitement to utter despair, I can't help but walk away with a sense of accomplishment. I learned a ton, but of all the knowledge I've hoarded, learning that there's about 100 billion tons more to learn is the most riveting facet of medical school. I've never valued free time more than I do now. In fact, it feels positively euphoric to be sitting here at 3 in the morning doing absolutely nothing that benefits my future patients. But before I get ahead of myself and commit to a summer of sedimentary inclinations, I am going to be giving a little and learning a little.............in INDIA!

I'm going to India under the guise of doing volunteer work with a great nonprofit organization called UNITE FOR SIGHT. I'll be working hard, saving the world, one eye at a time (so says a friend of mine). And that's not the best part. I'm excited about immersing myself in the rich culture of India. It's going to be in-sane. What's more insane? Through the generosity of the beautiful people around me, I was able to reach my fundraising goal of $1500 for those in rural New Delhi, India in need of eyecare. For more info or to donate, visit my link: https://maestropay.com/go/uniteforsight/volunteers/ref/7cb0f78fd89f4100a768e0df40867456

And as if that's not enough to have me going into epileptic seizures, I'll continue my travels after India in Thailand, Vietnam, and mainland China!

And consistently, one of the most forceful motivating factors behind me going to Asia every year for the last 3 years - shopping!


I almost forgot about these tulip shorts until a girls' night out left me pillaging through my closet. One of many I picked up in Hong Kong last summer. Those Chinese girls can dress. They can't dance, but they sure can dress.



Forever21 belt = $4


ok. The shoes I'll admit are very American-bred - Stuart Weitzman. Absolutely nothing "Asian" about it but I just love his shoes. Comfort. They're currently my fav pair. The patent nude is so versatile. In fact, these are the only heels I packed in my luggage.


Clutch/Purse by Chanel. These have sentimental value (and I guess you can go ahead and say monetary value too. haha) bc my mom picked it out herself and bought it for me as a birthday gift. I usually find her choice in handbags atrocious so this was a pleasant surprise. I love it bc unlike other clutches I can sling this one over my shoulder if I tie a small knot on top and that leaves my hands/arms free to hold drinks or sling it across the opposite shoulder for a more casual look or the chain can disappear altogether!

In addition to those awesome shorts featured above, I got some great hobo bags in Vietnam the previous summer.



Yes, I own them in a multitude of colors. They have become part of my official Festival wear. Jazzfest. French Quarter Fest. You can catch me with one of those. And for $5 a pop, I can grab a few more this summer for anyone who's interested. =)


I'll take plenty of pictures and eat a lot of food. Bet on it. And don't worry, I've already prepared a couple of blogs to post while I'm away so stay tuned.

I hope everyone else has a fabulous summer as well! As for me, I'll be a slumdog in India and a slumdog when I return June 24th. Hallelujah to no more studying!

in my white tee...yep, in my white tee

Michelle Obama riled up some European designers and fashion snobs and had them foaming at the mouth with her recent j crew-inspired outfit choice overseas.



I happen to think it's charming. Any ole run-of-the-mill gal can get dolled up in whatever expensive outfit a stylist conjures up for her. It takes real balls to wear J. Crew in London & meet the "other leader of the free world" and wear it well. She looks like a million bucks to me. And quite frankly, with the economy as it is in the States, I'm quite thankful some of her outfits veered more on the financially conservative end, and by that I mean - affordable. That's if you think $200 is affordable.

I happen to be a fan of J. Crew. I recently picked up this $39.50 cotton white tee in 2 colors...


That's kind of pricey for a plain white tee, but it's def worth it. Perfect fit. Durable quality. Silky smooth, yet still has that feel of cotton we're accustomed to having.





Cotton: the fabric of our lives.

Michael Kors sandals I dug up at UAL for an awesome $75.

I'll be in the sweltering continent of Asia for much of this summer (more on that later), so a great white tee + sandals will pretty much be my game plan.