LUXOMME

Dinner with friends is always a delightful affair. 

Right before I left for vacation, I managed to snag a date with these two lovely people. We met in class during undergrad, and after surviving a project involving ginger and it's antibiotic properties, our bond was sealed. I hadn't seen either of them for a while, so we made plans to meet up at Moxies and quickly slipped into fervent conversation as if no time had passed at all.

Dinner itself consisted of a smorgasbord of indulgent things, a gummy frog cocktail (random), tangy and juicy gyoza, a light mango quinoa topped with grilled chicken, savory pasta, and my favorite, a fresh burger stuffed to the brim. In between bites, we caught each other up as to the goings of our life, and promised to see each other more this Summer. 

Taking advantage of our time together, we stayed until the place was about to close, before moving onto our next destination, which was an adventure in itself. There's something so comforting about re-connecting with people and the assurance that despite the time that has passed, not much has changed. I'm definitely looking forward to more adventures with these two.

naomi

One of the great thing about where I work is that it is located right smack in the middle of the exciting and happening part of the city. Everything is a short walk away, and on this particularly sunny and gorgeous day, my colleagues and I finished our morning early and decided to grab lunch together before heading back.

Winnipeg is not known for being the most Asian food friendly place. There's not many options, but one of the more popular 'snack' places is this quaint little place called Kawaii Crepe. Here they serve a variety of Japanese inspired crepes, both sweet and savory, and a delicious selection of bubbletea or fresh squeezed lemonade, all for affordable prices.

You order up front and watch as they assemble your crepe right in front of you, which is a show it itself. Even though I probably should not, I've toyed with the idea of downing two in one go because they're just that amazing. Just don't get the whole wheat version because hey - that takes the fun out of this delightfully indulgent meal. 

Maybe don't eat two though, they're actually quite big.

naomi

My parents recently came back from a quick trip to Toronto and brought back for me a delicious platter of sushi, one of my loves. I devoured it with them for lunch, and saved a few pieces for dinner. My favorite is this piece of creamy uni placed delicately on top of a bed of rice. Seriously yummy.

Good sushi places are few and far between, but my go-to spot is a place that Tiffany introduced me to a few years back. Akane  is located in Richmond Hill. A small mom and pop restaurant with great attention to detail and the friendliest staff ever. If you are there for take-out, they will often offer you green tea and a spicy salmon hand roll -on the house- while you wait. If that isn't great service, I don't know what is.

This meal was the perfect prelude to my upcoming adventures, where I will hopefully consume more uni than one should ever try. Excited to bring you all along with me!

naomi 

 If you have ever had dinner with me, you would have probably pointed out at some time -potentially between starters and the main-, that my phone is always on and I am constantly checking it. It's a nasty habit. and one I can't seem to break out of. However, due to certain circumstances, I have swapped out my highly functional smartphone, for my old pink Samsung (circa before the galaxy existed). The keyboard is T9, and there is no SIRI, or chrome, or any snazzy android apps. 

In fact, a friend texted me today and it took me a whole minute to type out a one sentence reply. One WHOLE minute. Now, while that sinks in, let's also talk about the fact that there isn't an option to take selfies because there is no front facing camera.

Snark and sass aside, not having a smartphone in my life meant eliminating alot of temptation and distraction. I no longer have the urge to have my phone glued to my hand because there is literally nothing to check. Because of that, for the first time in ages, I went for dinner and actually chatted with my company, and had a really nice conversation. I even enjoyed my dinner itself, instead of half pushing it around and half typing on my phone.

That's when I realized how consuming my phone had become, and how much I have probably missed out on because I was busy staring at my screen - waiting for my newsfeed to update. All the jokes I pretend to laugh at because I'm too embarrassed to admit I wasn't listening, and all the conversations that I could have had. If I'm going to be honest, there's a very relaxing and zen feeling that comes with not wanting to check your phone all the time. 

T9 keyboard aside, I kind of like it. 

Even though I have only been without my phone for 12 hours, I've really enjoyed those hours of solitude without the desire to be connected. The disconnect is actually kind of nice because it allows me to enjoy and connect with the presence of the people around me, and everything that is going on. Gone is the anxiety of 'did someone whatsapp me!' or the need to check my e-mail and twitter. It's simply not priority when it's not so readily accessible. 

Having said all of that, I will still eventually be returning to my smartphone, but for now, I'm going to enjoy this time that I have for myself and the people around me. Smartphones are made to connect us,and hopefully at the end, I'll remember this feeling. That sometimes, the best connections are found away from the screen.

naomi

After Winter comes the Summer, after night comes the dawn. 

After every storm, there comes clear, open skies.

-Samuel Rutherford

In life there are battles worth fighting, and ones which are not. The difficulty lies in knowing the difference. What am I fighting for, why am I fighting, and at the end, even in the face of loss, will I look back and say that it was worth it. 

There are some battles we find ourselves in not by choice, but by obligation. And there are others which we choose to willingly engage in. Sometimes we even fight other's battles for them, taking on that responsibility as if it were our own.

In the end, there is always a choice and always a repercussion. If we chose not to fight, we must accept the outcome. If we chose to fight, we must accept the consequence. Either way, there is something to be won and something to be lost. 

Thing is, what am I willing to lose and what do I wish to gain. And when I look back in 10 years at the road I have paved for myself, will I gain clarity or will I gain regret.

Word Picture Credit @ Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows