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Shikha la mode

Eating Life to its Fullest in San Francisco, CA.

Home » Keeping It Real » 2019 Recap

December 22, 2019

2019 Recap

Brunch in Costa Rica Matcha mochi waffles Made it to Machu Pichu  Fresh Mexican ingredients - 2019 recap Burning Man 2019 Paris for the third time - 2019 recap

Hi y’all! I’m back to share my 2019 recap.

IDENTITY

2019 has been an exhausting, revolutionary, relentless, and transformative year—for the world and for myself. The US contorted in fits of racism and nationalism. In India, a similar trend followed.

For the first time, I thought deeply about what it means to be a woman and a person of color. How can I be stronger and lift up others? How can I educate others and myself?

I turned thirty this year, and then realized that can mean whatever I want it to. So for me, it’s meant:

  • A deliberate career move
  • Buying too many plants (and harvesting my own pineapple!)
  • Running the NYC Marathon
  • Getting 8 hours of sleep a night
  • Starting to write a real, official cookbook (due in spring 2021!)
  • Visiting some amazing places—Costa Rica, Sayulita, Peru, Bolivia, LA, Atlanta, Palm Springs, Paris (again), Burning Man (again), NYC, San Luis Obispo, and soon New Zealand
  • Moving in together with my boyfriend, Orlando

Throughout all this, I started thinking beyond medium-term and into long-term…which is hard! What kind of life do I want? What do these new phases of friendships look like? How do I continue to grow?

Home grown indoor pineapple - 2019 recap

NYC marathon 2019

CREATIVITY

This year, I took a break from blogging. Blogging has been a huge part of my identity in SF. Through blogging, I’ve explored the world. I’ve made best friends and eaten the best food of my life. But priorities shifted, and I no longer feel like it’s is the optimum creative outlet for me, so I allowed other doors to open. I became a better writer. I’ve cooked more than I’ve ever cooked before, and I did it for myself, not for the gram. I got the opportunity to develop recipes for an ice cream cookbook, which has been exciting and challenging.

I learned that I don’t need to be the best, or even really good, at something in order to do it. I’ve never been a star athlete, but I’ve always wanted to run the NYC Marathon and so I did. I was quite slow and man, it was difficult, but it was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life. After running 26.2 miles, I feel like I can do much more than what I think I’m able to achieve.

RELATIONSHIPS

A big piece of slowing down on blog life was a commitment to deepen my relationship to my partner, Orlando. I confronted what my needs are as well as his. I separated myself from my upbringing, culture, and friends. To truly stop comparing and instead look inward has been terrifying. But the outcome—a loving partner, an apartment we call our own, and lessened anxiety—has been unparalleled.

Chocolate souffle cake  - 2019 recap

WHAT’S NEXT

In January, I wrote down some words that I wanted to embody in 2019: Involved. Attentive. Confident. Lifted. Bursting. Calm. Inspired. Sore. Humbled. Full. Pretty accurate!

While I don’t know yet what my 2020 words will be, I have some ideas on the processes they will represent:

  • Push myself in professional and creative endeavors.
  • Hold onto friendships no matter where they are.
  • Deepen my relationship with Orlando.
  • Try new things, even if they fail.
  • Make for the sake of making.

As always, thanks for following along, and let’s slay 2020 🙂

Salar de Uyuni - 2019 recap

Filed Under: Keeping It Real Tagged With: 2019 recap, new years resolutions

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  1. Hokkaido Milk Bread Rolls with Pistachio, Cardamom, and Honey | Shikha la mode says:
    July 14, 2020 at 10:04 pm

    […] way too late to say happy new year, so I’ll just get to it. I mentioned at the end of last year that for the past several months, I’ve refocused my creative efforts on things other than the […]

    Reply

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About

Shikha here - a pastry chef, runner, and writer based in San Francisco. I've worked in several Michelin-starred restaurants and blasted a lot of hip hop during prep service. Now I develop recipes, write, run races, and teach classes so you too can eat life to its fullest.

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