This post is inspired by an article from Refinery 29, dated May 2020.
7:00 a.m. No matter how late I have slept the night before, I usually wake up at 7. Since moving to California, my body clock needed to adjust three hours behind. In between that and being too excited nesting in our new place the first couple of weeks, I easily realized how beneficial it is to keep the habit. Choco doesn’t like getting up late as it makes him sluggish through the day, much thanks to his rigid military days. As for me, I have a newfound love for peaceful mornings, just lounging on our recliner couch while feeling the cool breeze from our apartment’s corner windows.
7:05 a.m. I start my day with a simple skincare routine by washing my face with a gentle cleanser, followed by a toner, and then sealing it off with a day cream that Choco’s mom gave me. It’s been doing wonders for my hyper pigmentation and overall glow. I want to be more diligent on applying it every day since I’m often forgetful.
7:10 a.m. I recently downloaded this app called Fabulous that motivates me to a follow a more mindful routine. One of the first tasks is to make sure I’d drink a full glass of water first as our body is in a stasis overnight. I fill the soda glass I use for my iced latte with cold water to make sure I would only move on to caffeine once I’m done with it.
Ideally, Choco wants to be an early riser but truth is, he couldn’t for the life of him move until there is coffee. I make him a fresh pot of drip in his handy coffee maker, making sure I’d fold the corners of the filter the way he likes it to avoid coffee grounds from infiltrating the brew. While waiting for this to finish, I empty out our drying rack from dishes that were washed the day before, neatly organizing them in the shelves. It’s not the most exciting part of my mornings but it’s always rewarding to see each item back in its place.
My choice of mug for the day is Choco’s New York mug from Starbucks’ “Been There” series which I gave him as a thank you gift after his first visit to the city. He alternates this with the Miami counterpart which we got as a memento before leaving his old apartment back in June. I enter our bedroom and he’s still unsurprisingly asleep and would only budge upon smelling the coffee in my hand.
I finish the rest of my water and move on to the espresso machine, one of my most favorite parts of the house, that Choco got me as some sort of a housewarming gift. I love that we have a mutual affinity for coffee. We’ve been trying out different coffee beans from local cafes and so far, our most favorite one has got to be Dark Horse Coffee Roasters’ Best Friend blend. I can hardly differentiate the difference of beans but this one undeniably tastes the best with my oat milk and even as a simple drip. It would already be too hard to top it for us as this point.
7:20 a.m. I settle on the leftmost side of our couch as I get the most natural light from here. San Diego mornings are usually cloudy and cool but transition to bright and sunny as early as 9. It’s been scorching hot the past couple of weeks but we’re inching to colder days now. I can finally pull out my fleece jackets or bury myself under a throw blanket while watching TV.
I spend a good amount of time every day watching YouTube vlogs which has been an effective coping mechanism for me this whole quarantine. I catch up on the latest uploads while sipping my coffee. On some days that Choco wakes up earlier than I do, he would stream the latest news. It’s good to be acquainted with local happenings since we’re new to the area.
8:00 a.m. I change the water of my flower vase which holds the pink and yellow carnations Choco got for me last week. They’re still pretty and in full bloom. He likes buying me flowers on a regular from a small business down the street.
My rattlesnake plant has been thriving ever since I moved it indoors. It’s now sitting next to my small cactus, facing the window. It wilted from probably too much heat outside but is now back to life and in its original stature. I retrieve my plant mister to refresh it a little bit. The roots are still moist and aren’t due for another watering for at least two days. I then check my snake and aloe vera plants outside by our front door and decide to mist the leaves as well. My snake plant is really low maintenance but looks like it’s been appreciating the gesture as the leaves have turned greener and lusher since. Meanwhile, I could use a little more help caring for my aloe vera seeing it’s not the healthiest-looking among the bunch.
Choco, on the other hand, has just positioned his laptop and other materials on our dining table for the start of his online classes. They are purely online-based for now but were given the option to go to school in-person, should they be comfortable, starting next week. I eavesdrop to his professors from the other end of our living room, as if I’m a student, too.
10:00 a.m. Since moving to our new home, both of us have learned to skip breakfast. I sometimes miss Choco making me my favorite French toast like before but thought, I could always use the extra calories for later. I start cooking our lunch as early as 10 anticipating it always takes me at least an hour to finish; some days, even longer.
Today’s lunch is pork adobo, a dish I can proudly say I have already perfected. I only started working around the kitchen last year and now that I’m just in the house full-time, I at least want to learn how to whip better dishes. It’s been very therapeutic for me despite a lot of trial and error. Lunch is our main meal for the day since Choco doesn’t eat dinner either. He’s been keeping an eye on his calorie intake that after some intermittent snacking through the day, he would already reach his limit even before dinnertime.
The first time I tried cooking adobo, I was hoping to recreate Manam‘s overloaded garlicky adobo which is by far, my most favorite version of the dish yet. I like mine more on the drier side and definitely, teeming with garlic. I couldn’t find an exact recipe online but there is one that is quite similar. After one too many attempts copying it and finding the right balance of ingredients, I think I have finally nailed it.
I take out a pound of defrosted pork belly we got from Seafood City yesterday during our bi-weekly grocery run. I love that we finally have an access to a fully-equipped Filipino grocery and can request specific cuts from the butcher. He cut the meat to little pieces just the way I like it. I take out my container of peeled garlic cloves bought from the same store. I learned of this hack from Choco’s mom and it has been very convenient to use since I often cook with garlic. This is going to be a staple pantry item for us from now on.
While waiting for the adobo to simmer for at least forty minutes, Choco washes the dishes and does a quick clean-up of the kitchen. We take turns in doing this, whoever is in-charge to cook for the day. More often than not though, he always takes the initiative than I do.
11:40 a.m. I set the table and take out the new cloth placemats I ordered from Amazon. They’re beautiful with their ribbed texture. The tan color goes so well with our wooden table. I always enjoy a good lunch with Choco given this is the only time of the day we get to share a meal. We usually follow this with whatever dessert’s stocked in our fridge.
I brush my teeth and not wanting to sink back to the couch just yet, I decide to do my daily cleaning of the house. Our Dyson vaccum has been a wise investment so far; an adulting hack I recommend to any one. Our hardwood floors are easy to clean that I already made it a habit to attend to it every day no matter how busy I get. The bed is already made, thanks to Choco, so now I can just do some mopping after. We like keeping the house in a tip-top condition.
12:30 p.m. I call this particular time of the day my “devil’s hour,” because for whatever reason, I always feel sleepy midday. It’s as if all my pent-up energy finally ran out after a packed morning. It’s sometimes too hard to defy that I end up snoozing on the couch until Choco wakes me up.
I always like squeezing a productive activity in a day, either by blogging or finishing several chapters of a book. I pick up the current novel I’m reading called The Perfect Girlfriend by Karen Hamilton. I am so absorbed in the story as the protagonist is a flight attendant. I am somehow living vicariously through her now that I’m on a leave from work. It is surprisingly written quite well, too, despite the absurd premise of her stalking her pilot ex. I’m already thinking of rating it with 5 stars on my Goodreads account.
3:00 p.m. – My package from Urban Outfitters just arrived! I’ve been waiting for it for about a month since it was on back order. I wasn’t into online shopping before until I realized how many good discounts there are and how convenient it is. Choco said he used to do the same back when he was deployed in Qatar a few years ago. Knowing you’ll have a package arriving in a few days’ time is an effective way to cope.
I rip off the packaging excitedly and unfold the New York City tapestry I ordered. It is absolutely beautiful! It is intricately woven and has most of my favorite spots in the city. I lowkey wish they included SoHo there, too. I am feeling a little emotional just looking at it that I think I want to cry. I ask Choco to help me hang it up using push pins which he then tighten using a hammer. It complements the slanted shelf underneath which I also got from the same brand prior. I spend a good amount of time just looking at it and taking every detail in. It truly still is my most beloved city.
4:00 p.m. Choco has free Postmates delivery, I think, for at least another month. This makes it really easy to quench our random bouts of craving. Today, I want some popcorn chicken and boba from SD Boba Tea which is located about 10 minutes away. I choose the mildest flavor this time since they don’t take their powder seasoning lightly. One some days, I go for their Indian curry popcorn chicken which is a surprising delight when I first tried it.
6:00 p.m. Choco heads out to our backyard for his hour-long session of rowing. He recently purchased the equipment since gyms in San Diego were closed for a long time. On a good day, he would accomplish this as early as 6 am but makes up for it when he fails to do so.
My glutes are still sore from yesterday’s workout but I don’t want to skip today. I aim to exercise at least four times a week, either through home workouts or by running in Balboa Park. I’m not a huge gym buff but I like staying in shape to moderate my hormones and of course, for the endorphins that come afterwards. It’s good to set a routine like this as it gives me some sense of purpose in a day. I lay our mat on the living room floor, open YouTube, and play Chloe Ting’s 20-minute workout routine.
7:00 p.m. I took my sweet time in the shower today, exfoliating and all. I make sure I give myself a pampered treatment every few days as it makes me feel good. It really is the luxury of small things that keeps me afloat these days. Later tonight, I’ll make use of the Mask of Magnanimity I purchased from Lush last week.
I requested Choco’s bacsilog for dinner. It is a copycat of Ate Rica’s popular chain back home. Over time, he learned how to perfect his own version, using just three vital ingredients for the cheese sauce. I love, love eating it with runny egg and crispy bacon. I would never get tired of having it for dinner.
7:15 p.m. Choco and I try to do our individual hobbies through the day but he would always try to pull us together with a good movie come the evening. It’s somehow our mini-bonding to make up for the missed time. He always manages to pick good movies among the plethora of options we have in our streaming apps.
Tonight, he wants us to see Tom Cruise’s American Made after we watched Top Gun, his ultimate favorite movie, a few days ago. The film is inspired by the story of Barry Seal, an American pilot who worked for Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar and became his gringo that always delivers. Choco gets up and makes himself a hot matcha tea before we proceed to the movie. The film is not my usual genre but really piqued my interest. Any aviation-centric movie can easily capture both of our attention but this one easily stood among the rest. I think I’m officially converted to a Tom Cruise fan.
Reflection:
Some days, I catch myself feeling sad for still choosing to be on a work leave. I’m waiting for things to be better before I return, as I’m still based halfway across the country. This pandemic had been a test to my mental well-being, if not for all, and I am slowly learning which methods best work for me. It’s good to settle into a routine for now but I’m hopeful that soon enough, we can finally have some semblance of normalcy back.
For now, I am thankful for these quiet days at home. For all the freedom to do the things that fill my heart despite the temporary absence of some. If there’s anything this year has taught me so far, it is realizing that how our life feels is much more important than how our life looks.