#questwithambition

[questwithambition]

Something incredibly satisfying about knowing your craft and the confidence that goes with it. Just the casual “yeah I could make that”. Want a band tee? Yeah I can embroider my own with the lyrics I want. Bridesmaid dress too long? Yeah I can hem it. Need new slippers? Yeah I can crochet a pair (and give them bunny ears). And of course it’s not perfect but nothing beats that feeling of being able to craft your own solution with your own two hands

[luxe-pauvre]

I was tagged by @thecynical-idealist to post my top 9 first watches of 2023.

I tag @thecrownedgoddess, @petrichorals, @c-erudio, @detachedperfectionist, @questwithambition, @kxowledge, @expatesque.

[kxowledge]

A weekly update (W41), inspired by @semperfeminae & @questwithambition

The past few months have been hard – partially because of long Covid, partially because of burn out. I also went to India this summer for a research program and got sick on one of the last days I was there and in turn that (and the antibiotics I was given) fucked up my guts and my immune system. Not a lot to do but rest and recover. I hadn’t realized how much pain I was living in until this week – I’m finally showing signs of improvement and it’s such a relief.

Because of this a lot in my life fell into shambles – my studies, my thesis, my work as a research assistant, my routines, my concentration, my physical fitness. A lot of people have been very understanding and I’m incredibly grateful. Yet, I also want to get back on track. The first step is to have a consistent morning and evening routine, which will also help with uni-related work. Moving more will also help, as my body feels stiff and I miss physical exercise. Mostly this will be hiking, as I think it’s the only thing on my level at the moment. I went last week on an ‘easy’ hike and even then I found it quite hard.

This semester I’m also a TA for a undergrad course & I’m enjoying it so much. I get to teach two classes and the first one went well, despite my fears. Currently, I’m grading, grading, and doing more grading.

Been cooking a lot, as I find it relaxing and not too heavy. Lots of beef bone broth, ragù, garlic herb butter, stews, etc. Love it. I’ve also been reading a bit more, which I missed. I finished A Terrible Country by Keith Gessen and Alcestis by Euripides, both of which were both engrossing and heart breaking. I’m currently re-reading The Hedgehog and the Fox, but as a treat for October I bought Tana French’s The Wych Elm, which I’m so, so excited about.

[expatesque]

Tagged by @sealochs (thanks babe, always love these)

Last song: East side of sorrow, Zach Bryan

Favourite colour: Deep forest green, caramel, cherry red.

Last film/tv show: Percy Jackson! (side note: reading these as an adult truly makes me feel like he's my child).

Sweet/spicy/savoury: Savory if I have to choose, but I also love sweet.

Last thing I googled: Cartier Baignoire

Current obsession: Well other than Cartier Baignoires, chunky silver bangles, Edwardian silver luggage tags, cherry red heels, murder mysteries.

I tag @petrichorals @questwithambition @horopito @plum-japonais and anyone else who's keen!

[lostand-notfound]

tagged by @fl0ra to make a moodboard using the first 9 pictures on my pinterest – thank you, yours is lovely! i actually added 10 because i didn't like the way tumblr smushed up the pictures with only 9, since so many of them are short and broad :)

tagging @skelettoine @hiddenlookingglass @naramdil @questwithambition @bbyzantine @mxchaelangelo @krzoska @lilacblossom @quaerendo-invenietis @ukjentdumjente if they'd like to

[bumblin-bees]

How has your day been? Or yesterday- timezones are weird.

I’ve just baked a quiche and am painting my nails a lovely copper colour 😁✨

It’s the next day now that I’ve gotten around to answering this, but that sounds so nice! Very peaceful. I hope your quiche was great (and your nails as well)

My day has been uneventful, but there’s a nice rain storm going on. I live in a very wildfire-prone area, so it’s definitely a blessing to get rain lol. It’s a vegetarian chili and heavy cardigan sort of day :)

Thank you for the ask, lovely🤍

[universi-tea]

How did you manage a healthy lifestyle - especially food wise? Struggle to find motivation to cook well after a long day / way too easy to just buy and devour junk food. Especially chocolate when stressed! Also best of luck for your new adventures, can’t wait to see what life has in stock for you! Love your blog ✨

Thank you babe!!  

I think the biggest thing that helped me eat healthy in college was going vegetarian -- dining hall meat is questionable, and there are a lot more processed options in general. There are ofc still lots of processed veggie foods (i love me a good soy nugget) but I’ve found they’re easier to avoid. 

In general, I try not to keep too much junk food in the house -- I always keep a pint of ice cream in the freezer and I’ll have a frozen pizza on hand for nights when I’m just really not feeling like cooking. When I’m really craving something sweet I’ll treat myself by going out for boba with friends or something like that.

I have a few go-to meals that I rotate through so I don’t have to spend too much time coming up with ideas. I don’t always eat super healthy, but cooking at home makes me feel better than frozen food or eating out. Find some easy recipes you love that you can fall back on. 

Here’s what a typical week of dinners looked like for me last semester:

M: Dinner with roommates (usually pasta)  T: Gnocchi and brussels sprouts  W: Burrito bowl (rice, beans, corn, cheese) T: Veggie fajitas (squash, zucchini, bell peppers) F: Eat out with friends 

None of my dinners took more than 15 minutes to make, and I would put on some nice jazz and dance around which gave me a nice little break from homework. 

I make a smoothie with greek yogurt every morning, and I always carried Clif bars in my backpack since I had a late lunch break. For lunch I would almost always have leftovers, or grab a bagel on campus if I forgot lunch. If I was home for lunch I’d make a quesadilla, acai bowl or avocado toast.

For the none food stuff -- set strict work boundaries. I never work while I eat -- that’s reserved for talking with friends, watching a show, or staring into space. I stop working an hour or so before bed so I have time to shower, do some yoga and relax. Make sure you’re making time for friends and hobbies. Spending an extra hour studying for that test isn’t going to help as much as an extra hour of sleep will. 

It definitely took me until senior year to feel like I had a good work/rest balance !

[colubrina]

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Looking forward to reading some of your words on paper!!!

Sending some virtual cake to celebrate 🎂🎂🎂

[questwithambition]

Sunday: cafes, art galleries and bookshops

[luxe-pauvre]

I was tagged by @questwithambition and @thecynical-idealist ♥️

coffee or tea (neither) | early bird or night owl | chocolate or vanilla | spring or fall | silver or gold | pop or alternative | freckles or dimples | snakes or sharks | mountains or fields | thunder or lightning | egyptian mythology or greek mythology | ivory or scarlet | flute or lyre | opal or diamond | butterflies or honeybees | macarons or eclairs | typewritten or handwritten | secret garden or secret library| rooftop or balcony | spicy or mild | opera or ballet | london or paris | vincent van gogh or claude monet | denim or leather | potions or spells | ocean or desert | mermaids or sirens | masquerade ball or cocktail party.

[lostand-notfound]

ten characters and ten fandoms

Rules (which were blatantly ignored): name ten of your favorite characters from ten different fandoms, then tag ten people to do the same. 

Thanks for tagging @hiddenlookingglass! always a fan of anything fandom related. In very random order: 

1. Gideon the Ninth: Gideon Nav, first flower of my house, the greatest cavalier we have ever produced, our triumph, the best of all of us, Her Most Serene Highness Crown Prince Kiriona Gaia the First, First Lieutenant of the Cohort, heir to the Emperor Divine, first of the Tower Princes, you get it. Love. Was obsessed when I first read of her at 19, would have made her my entire personality had I read the book at 15, no regrets. Still obsessed.

2. Naruto: well, Naruto. I grew up with the anime and, blatant misoginy aside, there is nothing like shonen to believe you too, who come from horrible beginnings and are the subject of ridicule and misfortune, will fight tooth and nail and win and be happy.

3. The Old Guard: Andy. Andromache of Scythia. Because I would let her kill me if it so pleased her. 

4. Avatar The Last Airbender: Sokka. He’s funny, he’s loyal, he’s a non-bender but saves the day anyway, he’s smart, what’s not to like. 

5. The Last of Us: Joel. Who wouldn’t want a reluctant but loving father figure ready to commit war crimes for you, a short, unlucky lesbian. 

(edit) 6. Millennium Trilogy: Lisbeth Salander! How could I forget about my beloved! I support women's rights but most importantly I support women's wrongs. Go Lisbeth.

I know it’s technically cheating but I’m only going to list five because I’m procrastinating and if I were to get to ten we would go back to the roots of my 2014 SuperWhoLock days. And maybe I’m gonna edit later. Tagging @hrimceald @thorlokibrother @questwithambition @krzoska @skelettoine and whoever else wants to

[questwithambition]

“noblewoman who's the only one getting any goddamn work done around here”

Yes.

anyway since we’re all baking bread and dealing with a plague, here’s a quiz on who you would be in the middle ages

[universi-tea]

I started my internship (online) last week and it’s going well?? I think??? It’s so confusing and difficult to see what’s going on when you’re not face to face with people! And it’s a bit slow for now but I think it’ll improve? Am a bit stressed about it all 😅 But I am so happy to be doing it! How are you doing? I hope you’re well!

Ahh that is so weird!! I’m starting a job soon and I know it’s going to be so strange to do that from home. It was easy (ish) to transition to working from home at my old job because I already knew what to do. But I’m sure it’ll be odd to be training for a new job online! Plus, my previous boss was a total sweetheart but came across scary over email so I’m sure I would’ve been scared of her had I not known her for years before working from home!

Anyway, so glad it’s going well for you!! I’m sure you’re doing great and it’ll be a great experience!

✨sleepover saturday ✨

[colubrina]

1 & 18 for the book asks I hope you’re having a good day ✨

1. Which book would you consider the best book you’ve ever read and why?

An impossible question.  I cast looks of judgment on the very idea there is one book that is better than all other books.

Probably the best book I’ve read this year is Cannery Row by Steinbeck.

18. Did you enjoy the Hunger Games?

Yes! Well, I only saw the first movie, but I liked the books very much.  I even liked the new one, Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which has been less well-received than the original trilogy but which I thought answered a question I’ve had about literature for a while, which was: can you write a book from the POV of the antagonist and keep the audience from justifying/explaining his actions.  Snow never becomes the woobified bad guy who we all just love in that. He stays genuinely horrible even though we are inside his head.  In my fics, I’ve written villain POVs and people end up loving and rooting for them.  And if you look at Lolita, you see a whole lot of people read that and justify Humbert, the POV villain (and blame Lolita which is a fucking monstrous read.)  I was starting to wonder if the nature of putting the reader in the head of the villain effectively hijacks our emotions so much that we end up sympathizing with the villain no matter how evil he is.  After all, if Nabakov couldn’t pull it off, maybe it’s simply not doable. And then Collins does it, and I was just so pleased.

from new bookish asks

[questwithambition]

Sir that’s my emotional support New York Public Library bag and the 8 books she’s carrying

[emeralddss]

17 people, 17 questions

thank you @ally-studying for tagging me!

nickname // mainly emerald but my old schoolfriends used to call me mocha 

sign // Aquarius 

height // 5’5″

last thing i googled // kara sevda english subtitles

song stuck in my head // never let me go by lana del rey

no. of followers // 25

amount of sleep // my sleeping schedule is pretty hectic, it varies from 3hrs to 10hrs lmao

lucky number // i don’t have one

dream job // a dentist?

wearing // black pants, black turtleneck and a gray cardigan

movies/books that summarize you // books: Daisy Jones & The Six, one hundred years of solitude, Anne of Green Gables, Anna Karenina. movies: all i wanna do 1998 is my comfort movie

favorite song // landslide by fleetwod mac and pawn shop blues by Lana Del Rey

aesthetic // maximalist even though that’s not the best option for me since I’m super chaotic.

favorite authors // Austen, Tolstoy, Chekov and a contemporary author that I like is Taylor Jenkins Reid

favorite animal noise // I don’t like animal noises 

random // I had a really yummy smoothie this morning

tags: @studywithvictory @alqaraisdead @lexie-wayland @caramelcuppaccino @hazeluvscoffee @fwteinhs-diary @learnelle @roryxalbarn @wotchergiorgia @medstudentblues @violetsnotebook @questwithambition @calvincatalyst

I didn’t find 17 people whom i could tag so I’m hoping 14 is ok