50 Random Things About Me

1. I was born in California in 1980.
2. Yosemite is one of my favorite places to visit.
3. I have an amazing supportive husband and we live in San Diego. 

4. I am what others may call a ‘spoiled Californian’ when it comes to weather. And yes, I have a flipflop tan on both my feet. The only time you’ll see us bear the cold is for some great skiing.
5. I have two kids, a 9 year old and 11 year old. They are my LIFE!

6. I have a younger brother who put our giant trampoline in flames when we were young. He has Celiac and is my inspiration for gluten-free cooking.
7. I get my math skills from my dad, cooking skills from my mom.
8. After ~8 yrs of working at my job as a Bioengineer, developing Biosensors (which I loved), I quit to be a stay-at-home-mom. Although I miss my field, It’s been the best decision of my life!
9. My brother and I once fought  & chased each other for an old torn up green shirt…this was when I was 29.
10. I have a undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from UC Berkeley. I finally decided to get my Masters in Bioengineering from UCSD.
11. I met my husband at Berkeley and we got married in 2006.
12. My favorite places  in Berkeley to grab a bite to eat are Zachary’s Pizza (stuffed spinach & mushroom vegan pizza), Thai Basil, and Arizmendi (or Cheeseboard).

14. I’m incredibly thankful for our health and the ability to move. It’s something we tend to take for granted and I try to remind myself of that everyday.
15. My current favorite board games are Spendor, 7 Wonders Duel, Azul, Throw Throw Burrito, Jaipur, Carcassonne, and Monopoly Deal.
16. My favorite items of clothing include warm ups, overalls, and summer dresses.
17. My favorite book is The Eight.
18. My kids are FULL of energy and challenge me to LENGTHS… and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
19. My mom is an amazing cook.  I owe my passion of cooking to her.

20. I started to develop a passion for cooking in college from frequently asking my mom for recipes and instructions over the phone.
21. I find cooking to be very therapeutic and enjoy eating fresh meals, knowing exactly what ingredients were used.
22. I trained for and ran the Vancouver Marathon in 2003.  It was pouring on the day of the race.
23. I once put Diesel gasoline in a standard rental car while working on a military base in Utah. YES… this really happened, and I’m embarrassed to give details. Yikes!
24. My go-to late-night craving is some hot air-popped popcorn with butter, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
25. I could live off nachos with Cholula hot sauce, mac n cheese, my buffalo cauliflower, dark chocolate, and love indulging in a huge salad.
26. I love to oil paint and draw. I can go for hours, and I’m actually pretty good at it.
27. I have recent love for biking around San Diego. Biking has become my new way to relax and cleanse my mind at the end of the day. Whether alone or with the whole family, even if it’s just for 15 minutes, the feeling is surreal.
28. I appreciate sitting down at a coffee shop with a good book.
29. My favorite coffee drink is at HOME. I own a Barista Espresso Machine. Takes in coffee beans, and fully equipped with a steamer. I LOVE it, and can happily say I have a new found appreciation for coffee beans and espresso.
30. I don’t shop much and don’t claim to have a good sense of ‘fashion’ (most would agree). I dress to be comfortable.
31. I only own 10 pairs of shoes, two of them are my running shoes, and another 3 are flip-flops.
32. I wear flip-flops 365 days of the year (I have permanent tan lines from them on my feet).
33. I love adventure or a good challenge.
34. I love running in San Diego along the coast.
35. Our (my husband and I) favorite local place to travel together, with and without kids, is San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle.
36. My favorite ingredient is GARLIC.
37. I could live off of Dark Chocolate and Coconut.
38. I would have loved to live in Portland for a few years…if only I had discovered this awesome city earlier in life.
39. My favorite color is turquoise blue, and my favorite number is 6.
40. My dad had a heart transplant 13 years ago. We are all registered Organ Donors. Are you?
41. I have gone to Hawaii between 10-15 times, and love it.  My favorite island is Kauai.
42. I have traveled to about 30 countries.
43. If I could live in one city outside of the US, it would be Firenze (Florence), Italy. 

43. I am a neat-freak when it comes to keeping things clean and organized in my house, especially my kitchen. But somehow that goes out the window when I’m at my parents house… I’m what they consider a ‘spill hazard’ in their kitchen.
44. I once spilled turmeric tea all over our new carpet in our new home.
45. I secretly love to sing and wish I was in an acapella group…I THINK I have a good voice (although others may disagree).
46. Some of my favorite movies are Begin Again, Spotlight, Love Actually, Love Rosie, & the Iron Man Series (or any DC Comics or Marvel movies).
47. Some of my favorite TV shows are Ted Lasso, MAID, Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, Modern Family, Parenthood, Big Bang Theory, Elementary, and New Girl.
48. My favorite ice cream is Trader Joe’s Cold Brew Boba or Mint Chip from Salt & Straw.
49. I’ve always loved playing basketball, volleyball, and tennis, and enjoy skiing.
50. My kids believe that my Father turned into the brightest Star in the sky. Hearing them talk to their grandfather through the stars everyday warms and breaks my heart at the same time.