August 2021, you were full of surprises. I feel like I’ve gotten back into a good rhythm from the summer blues, and it’s great moving forward once again.
Entertainment
Streaming service(s) might change from the time of writing this post due to the services’ contract with the movie/TV show networks.
学園ベビーシッターズ (School Babysitters) (2018) | 1 SEASON, 12 EPISODES
If you’re into feel-good anime, this is an amazing series. Granted, you might tear up on the first episode, but the rest of the episodes would constantly make you go, “awwwww!”. There is a ton of cuteness overload, and, other than a couple of scenes, it’s truly heartwarming, family-friendly, and connects to the inner child in a lot of us. I absolutely love and admire the bond that Ryuichi and Kotaro share. If I were to have children, I’d be delighted if they’d have similar sweetness, cuteness, and love as the brothers have for each other.
There is currently only one season of School Babysitters, and I wish that there would be more soon. I need to watch and hear more of “Nii-chan!”
Maturity Rating: PG-13 • Genre: Comedy, Slice of Life • Original Language: Japanese • Streaming Platform: Crunchyroll
鬼滅の刃 (Demon Slayer) (2019-PRESENT) | 3 SEASONS, 55 EPISODES
The title itself already portrays a heavier storyline than School Babysitters, and though darker, it’s not as heavy as I expected it to be. The first episode might still have you tearing up though, but other than that, I find it a story of familial love, strength, and courage. There were also a couple of laughing moments, as well as sweetness and true friendships growing.
There is currently only one season of Demon Slayer, and I’ve been reading that season 2 might come out later in 2021. I’m so excited about what the upcoming events will have for Tanjiro and Nezuko.
Maturity Rating: TV-MA • Genre: Action, Adventure • Original Language: Japanese • Streaming Platform: Netflix, Hulu, Crunchyroll
Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008) | 3 Seasons, 61 Episodes
Avatar: The Last Airbender was my childhood. It is very dear to me and is the first animation to have had a strong emotional impact on me. It’s made me laugh, cry, and be angry. It touched a lot on adventure, patience, growth, spirituality, and following one’s heart. I think it’s a wonderful story and the characters were a joy to watch. I also do love the 2010 live-action version of it, and I really hoped that more sequels would’ve been done with the original cast.
Maturity Rating: TV-MA • Genre: Action, Adventure • Original Language: English • Streaming Platform: Netflix
August Playlist
Foods
Spaghetti
I did a couple of home-cooked meals this last month, but my favorite would be my mom’s version of spaghetti. It was delicious if I do say so myself (but my friend also expressed her approval so there’s that). I was thinking of sharing the recipe here, but it is a family recipe that I’d like to keep within my family. Also, please excuse the lack of neatness in the plating. I’m still working on taking food photos.
Coconut Cashew Crunch & Caramel Flavored M&M’s
This is the first time I’ve ever tried these two sweet snacks, and boy did I become hooked on them after my first bite. Although the Cashew Crunch was a bit hard to chew, it was still delicious. However, I do have to be cautious of eating a lot in one sitting because my tongue kind of got sore for about a day afterward. The Caramel Flavored M&M’s are my absolute new favorite flavor of M&M’s. Very sweet, but oh so good.
Relationships
Spending the day with a friend
Sometime in August, I was pleasantly surprised when a close high school friend of mine randomly messaged me saying they’ll be visiting my city for a couple of days and asked if I wanted to hang out for a day. With being indoors for so long, I jumped for the opportunity, and long story short, I had some of the best moments within the last couple of months in one day. It didn’t matter what we did, I just felt bliss when I was with their energy, and I look forward to hanging out with them soon.
We stopped by downtown San Diego and ate lunch at Water Grill. I ordered their New England Lobster Roll – traditional style with fries and it tasted amazing! 10/10 would recommend.
Products
TECH Version Handheld Mini Fan
With the breakdown of my old handheld fan, I had to quickly get a new one because of the heat. I’ve been using the Version Tech mini handheld fan for over a month now and so far I’ve had far fewer troubles with it. I’m able to leave it anywhere without worrying about it falling sideways because its blades are protected. Plus, I love its clip-on function. I almost always have it on top of my laptop screen, and it doesn’t get in the way of getting my work done. Its speeds are doable to which I feel cooled down with its lowest settings. Its battery span lasts a good 8+ hours if fully charged, and I can still use it as its charging. It’s also not too loud.
Gratitude
I AM GRATEFUL FOR...
- Cooking three different meals;
- Blog traffic increasing;
- Updating my website design and brand colors;
- Being healthy;
- Spending a day with a high school friend.
A gratitude list does not have to include major life events (but include them when they do happen). Simple blessings, such as showering with clean water, are overlooked privileges to be grateful for.
Incorporate or reserve at least 10 minutes of your daily routine to write at least three (3) things you are grateful for.
We all need a good reminder to keep our feet on the ground.
“Take the risk you’ve been considering.” – Panda Express Fortune Cookie
