Good morning!

The theme of this week is going to be positivity. I’ve basically dubbed this summer my “problem-solving summer”; in other words, I have a lot of things to tackle and a lot of loose ends to tie up, many of which I have been putting off for a while. I’ve been very busy trying to get all of this done. I usually thrive off of this kind of activity, but lately I’ve been feeling a bit negative about certain aspects of it, like the not-so-exciting stuff (aka the doctor). Cue the cheesy lovefest, but it’s time to put a smile on this face and focus on the destination, even if parts of the journey aren’t always so fun.

He’s just the best.

The latest and greatest is that he has a way of talking me off of a ledge when I’m “contemplating” (read: being an irrational wreck about) my future.

Happy Father’s Day, Dad. I love you so much and wish I could be home to celebrate!

Another year gone by.

I think this year marked a change in this space, particularly in the last few months. It has become less of a focus in my life and more of a supplement. I struggled with this at first, feeling guilty for the times that I couldn’t update consistently or devote every single day to a new post. Now, to be honest, I wouldn’t have it any other way. After all, how can I have the site reflect my life when I’m not even living it?

Life is only going to get busier in the coming months, but I feel like I’m thriving. I have work, a senior thesis to begin writing (!), and several creative projects either in mind or already in the works. I have big plans, and, most importantly, I have options. It’s refreshing to finally think of it all in this way, rather than beating myself up for not being able to decide between all the things I love. Forget it: I’ll just try it all.

Here’s to whatever’s next.

1. The whiff of fresh coffee on chilly streets at 7 o’clock AM.
   
   
   
2. The sudden glow of the subway as it approaches the station.
   
3. Washington Square Park on a summer evening: complete with choreographed light saber wars, the pigeon guy, toddlers splashing joyfully in the fountain, the odd concert, and the Vibe Wall… all at once, of course.
   
4. The almost unexpected vision of the Empire State Building or the World Trade Center when you turn a corner, depending on which direction you’re facing. 
5. The feeling of serenity I get by sitting in an apartment’s crafty outdoor space (fire escape, roof, etc.).
6. The sudden reminder in early spring that it’s certainly not all concrete and steel.
   
7. Puddles on cobblestones. 
8. Little old couples arguing loudly… while holding hands like they’ll never let go.
9. Getting a cab driver who has an epic life story or is just awesome in general.
10. Walking aimlessly around the streets only to stumble into little scenes of people’s lives, photo shoots… or the set of Girls. (True story.)
    
11. The way the skyline looks on the Lincoln Tunnel Helix, no matter the weather or the time of day. On a late sunny afternoon, it’s full of pastel color. On a cloudy day, it’s mysterious and melancholy. At night, it’s full of energy and opportunity. And first thing in the morning, it’s absolutely majestic. 
12. The beautiful assortment of people and produce at the market.
    
13. The random bits of wisdom, inspiration, and hilarity that appear out of nowhere.
    

If you couldn’t tell, I can’t get enough of this place. It’s good to be home.

My shop is still a work in progress, but there are currently a few images and prints available. You can purchase the prints themselves or as iPhone cases and skins, throw pillows, tote bags, etc. Go crazy.

You can access and get a preview of my shop by clicking “shop.” above the blog header. I will also list promotions and sales here- right now, it’s free shipping until May 31st.

If you ever have any image or mantra suggestions that you have seen on the blog but have not quite made it yet to my shop, I would love love love to hear from you. Shoot an email to victoria{at}pursuitofhippieness{dot}com.

On the agenda for this week:

• Classes start tomorrow. Not super pumped about starting school again right after I just finished, but the courses I chose seem pretty interesting. I’m particularly excited about the alternative medicine class I’m taking. It has absolutely nothing to do with my major but is definitely fulfilling some personal interest.
• It’s moving week! I haven’t finished unpacking from Paris yet (oops) but that will be accomplished today. Tomorrow I get my keys, and Saturday, it’s Billyburg, baby.

My Memorial Day weekend was pretty uneventful and low key. My sister was home for the weekend, so it was lovely to see her, and I was happy to spend some time with my hometown friends, especially because this weekend happened to be basically the only two days that we’re all here before going our separate ways. My dear Chelsey is off to Utah to work for the summer, and Liz is thankfully already in the city… so excited to be spending lots of time with her over the next few months!

Have an awesome week, y’all.

So now that I finally figured out the science to it, I’m eager to share! I basically combined a bunch of ideas that I’ve seen floating around to make a single process. It’s a little bit tedious, but totally worth it; the result is perfectly tender strands with perfect pasta flavor. They taste great on their own, but I love to also dress the dish up with a simple sauce.

What you need:

Zucchini. Green summer squash variety works best. When I’m cooking for one, I usually use 2 medium sized, which will ensure some leftovers, so use as many as needed.

Garlic. 1 clove per zucchini is a good amount.

Olive oil. Just a little bit- less than a tbsp.

Sea salt and pepper.

Peeler, large bowl, plate, paper towels, large saucepan or skillet, sieve.

The method:

1. Put the sieve over the large bowl.
2. Peel your zucchini in large ribbons that look similar to fettuccine. Place in sieve.
3. Sprinkle sea salt over the zucchini noodles and toss. Let sit for about 10 minutes. This helps draw out any extra water that is in the zucchini, which will give you mushy pasta.
4. Give the sieve a shake. Using paper towels, try to dab up as much excess water as possible from the noodles. Don’t make yourself crazy over it, but just get what you can.
5. Empty the large bowl if it has any water in it. Line it and the plate with paper towels.
6. Mince the garlic finely. Add a bit of olive oil to the pan, and heat over medium heat until the oil is shimmery.
7. The best thing to do is work in batches. Depending on how much zucchini you’re using, add a proportional amount of garlic to the pan. Give a quick stir, and add a portion of the raw noodles, along with some pepper, and some more salt if you would like.
8. Cook for less than a minute, stirring once or twice. It’s really important not to cook too long, or your noodles will be too soft!
9. Remove the noodles onto the paper-towel lined plate in an even, spread-out layer. Wait a minute or so.
10. Add a bit more oil to the pan, then more garlic, and get to work on the second batch. While the second portion of zucchini is cooking, move the cooked noodles that are on the plate to the paper-towel lined bowl. Replace the paper towels on the plate.
11. Remove the next batch of zucchini noodles to the plate. Repeat these steps until you’re finished with your zucchini.
12. Once all of your zucchini is in the large bowl, toss one last time. Eat plain, or mix with your own sauce. Serve.

The zucchini is really wonderful on its own, especially with just the salt, pepper, and garlic, so I recommend keeping any sauce that you add very simple. I like to add just cooked tomatoes, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, and basil, and maybe some mushrooms.

12 steps might seem a tad overwhelming, but I hope I haven’t confused anyone! It really is a simple process; it’s just a bit long. But it has become one of my favorite light meals to make, and after doing it a few times, it’s a snap.

Her work is ridden with symbols; a marriage of mathematics, philosophy, and nature. Such a cool lady.

I have a lot going on in the coming days, weeks, and, well, months. I’m going to be going through a lot of change, some of which is really sad and hard but all of which is exciting.

{I missed that face so terribly.}

Let’s break it down.

1. My parents are moving. They have an empty nest, and my dad’s commute right now is pretty brutal, so in the name of downsizing and convenience, it totally makes sense. But let me put it this way: the last time I moved, I was four. We have spent 17 beautiful years in our house. I grew up here. It’s time to move on and start the next chapter, but it is so strange and surreal to say goodbye to this place. It’s home, after all. My mom made the point that perhaps we have to redefine the word “home”- it’s where our family is, wherever that may be. I’m coming to terms with it, but as one of the solid constants in my life, it’s still really hard. We still have at least a couple of months left, so we still have some time before we truly have to say goodbye.
2. I’m in NYC for the summer! Williamsburg, Brooklyn, to be exact. I am so excited, because I love the neighborhood and have been dying to try living in Brooklyn for a while. I’ll be taking classes and doing another dream internship- web editorial this time, rather than general fashion. Hopefully doing lots of yoga, concert-going, and living it up in my spare time. Oh, and finding a part-time paying job would be nice, too.
3. I’m graduating oh-so-soon. The plan is to be done in December. The way my credits worked out, even with transferring and taking a semester off, if I took enough classes this summer I could be finished a semester early, and I just decided to go with it. It is terrifying and exciting. So I have about seven months until I am actually a grown-up, god help me.
4. Other little things. Mostly blog-related. I’m trying to revamp the organization and layout of the site. Mainly working on a proper recipe page, as well as travel, and overall appearance.  Also, I’ve been working on developing some of my photography as prints to be sold… more information about that at a later date.

sometimes life (and nature) are so unfair.

xoxo