Quadruple W

     It's Week 4. Can't believe I am a quarter into the semester. One step closer to graduating. Yikes. What I can believe though is how happy I am this semester. Don't get me wrong, I still get stressed and worried but more maintained. It feels like quadruple victory in my goals this year: my personal life, exercise, academics, and work. Hence the title name of this post.
     For my personal life, I feel I gained control of it. Last semester, I felt as if the semester was controlling me. Yes, I am still busy this semester and I still stress and worry, but I don't feel as if I'm engulfed by schoolwork. I am trying my best to juggle my school life and my personal life, not only on my health and mental health but family bonding time. Over the years, I always put school first. Yes, I know what you're thinking. What a terrible daughter I am to my family. I agree. I've never been a smart person, a hardworking person is who I am. I know I need plenty of time to study and plenty of time to review what I learned to really understand the material. As a result, I would either not come home to spend time with family (in my college years currently) or bring my schoolwork to family gatherings or not go to family gatherings at all. Family understands and I am grateful for that, but it was always a lingering thought in the back of my mind. I am determined to make more time for my own personal life. That is the goal.
     For exercise, I have been going to the gym twice so far! Every Friday's after work. So far so good. I'm going to keep it up. Working on my physical health in this goal.
     For academics, I must admit, still a little worried about exams, especially for one of my courses that my professor does have the exam dates given to us but we find out when the exams are a week before it happens. At least that is what happened this past Wednesday. I do feel more control with my classes and more enjoyment in them.
     For work, well, this is a new category for me. First job ever, so juggling school and work is a little difficult, but it keeps me busy. I know time is very valuable, so I treasure each minute. As of now, I like my job and the work I do. I know my purpose and how I can better the department in my work. Currently learning how to use a new server system that will be broadcasting the shows we produce on our channel. Pretty cool stuff I must say. Here's to learning more and becoming a programmer in 2019!
     This past week and weekend, I attended a mini art gallery held in the TSU at my school that showcases students' artworks. Love this small exhibit. Makes me feel like an art critic and get to enjoy some artistic work by talented students. I also watched an hour of Crazy Rich Asians that was being showcased at my school in the TSU theatre after work on a Thursday. Went to the gym on Friday as a routine and headed home for the weekend. Enjoyed some good eating. Follow along as I write little captions underneath the pictures!

Amazing work, abstract yet simple.

This was called the Tree of Worlds. I really liked how creative this artist was to come up with a tree concept in glass canvas with the world in mind. Very outside the box.

This was just plain cute! Adorable bird!

After work sunsets.

Workouts on a treadmill. My favorite workout and my only type of workout thus far this semester. 

Pie Hole: Chocolate Covered Strawberry- Verdict.. it was really good. Very light, you taste more of the strawberry mousse than the chocolate ganache. It makes it perfect because many desserts end up having the chocolate overpower anything else included. 

Pie Hole: Banana Cream Pie-It has been way too long since I had this flavor of pie. Delicious! Light, not heavy, not too sweet. Just perfect.  

A beautiful view of the crisp air and sky after a rainy day. Plus some hope for all. 

Headed to the Alhambra Lunar New Year Festival with my parents. Nothing special. Just okay. Got three free mini bottled waters and one grocery bag.

Cute little piggy balloons. 

Summer Rolls: Second time but first time at a different location (in the Camellia Square). Had dinner with the parentals and the dry pho was really good. I even saw an old classmate/friend from high school working that night. I got the Charbroiled Pork Nem. The sauce is spicy, but it was okay. The order came with the two shrimp egg rolls (dried shrimp). I really liked it. I actually finished all of it as opposed to my parents not being able to finish their meats. What can I say, I was hungry and I am a big young lady. The meat was very tender and tasty. The carrots in the picture are actually pickles. Really nice. 

Beautiful Lunar New Year decor in the Camellia Square.

Bistro Na: Ate lunch with the whole family here before going back to Fullerton. This dish was chili tofu skin salad. We had it no spicy. It is by far my favorite dish. Simple yet so tasteful. Just tofu skin and I think cilantro. I don't really know the difference between cilantro and parsley still. Always get the two mixed up. But nevertheless, a very delicious dish. It is  a cold dish.  

Na's secret tofu. Very soft and fluffy. Beautiful taste with a little sauce equals perfection. 

Sweet and sour shrimp. Man, these were very hot and even after a long while eating, my dad ate the last one and it was still warm. Very juicy. Great sweet and sour flavor and a little spicy to give it an extra kick.

Na's braised pork belly. A little saucy but with rice is perfect. The meat is very tender and juicy. Not dry at all.

Fried mixed mushrooms with rice cracker bites. The mushrooms had a great texture and I loved the rice cracker bites (the small white dots on top) as an added touch. You can't taste it so much but when you eat it together, there's that explosion of flavor. A simple rice cracker adds an extra touch. 

Beijing pork bone stew. So so good! The tofu is solid, doesn't break as easily. The meat on the bone was tender and juicy. The soup had so much of the pork bone flavor. The waitress even mentioned we can make more soup with the bones! 

Can't leave without dessert. Crispy rice treats. Very light. Cranberries were a nice touch, considering most Asians do not like raisins. Crispy and not too dense. 

Yin yang sesame roll. I only had one but I didn't like how the sesame on top overpowered the paste inside, at least for the piece I had. Other than that, it was good. Chewy and soft.