bookmarked.

// I've been repeating the phrase above to myself a lot recently because hello, end-of-the-school-year!

// 52 ways to bless your spouse.

// This pasta salad looks delicious and perfect for summer!

// Love this 2-part series on changing your career in your 30's.

// 11 reasons to embrace your bush *cry-face laughing emoji*

// Who doesn't love Nora Ephron?

// I watched The Breakfast Club for the first time when I was a kid, because I had a bet with my dad. (I won.) Here's 8 facts from the cast.

// I think I wanna try to make these coconut oil pulling chews.

// 3 New York Times articles about love and marriage: "No Sound, No Fury, No Marriage," "Putting Love to the Stress Test," and "Why You Will Marry the Wrong Person."

// How to Plan for the Expat Trip Home — Something nobody talks about: when you’re living abroad, trips home can be overwhelming and stressful. You’re probably experiencing jet lag and culture shock, evvvvverybody wants to see you, and there are probably home-specific things you really want to do. Here’s a great post on how to plan a trip home and actually enjoy it!

// Really, though: Why is it still OK to be racist towards Asians?

this is important.

I read this just now. And I stopped. And I took a deep breath. And I almost cried. (And if I'm being honest, I double tapped my phone screen because I was on Instagram).

I thought, This. This is what I need. This is what I want. Yes. I should write this somewhere. I should share it on my blog. I'm going to post it on my blog. This is the kind of thing I used to write in my journal. I want to write it in my journal. (I looked up to see if I even knew where my journal was.) Do I need to write it in my journal if I'm going to share it on my blog? I don't know... But I need to share it now, instead of saving it for later, and then never posting it or writing it, and then when I see it a week from now or a month from now, it means nothing. 

So here it is. Just be here with me. Because this, this is important.

And maybe posts like this belong on a Tumblr account, but whatever. This is who I used to be. This is who I want to be again.

Just be here with me.

(@morgandaycecil / via @_amy_melissa)

bookmarked.

I was on the brink of being sick all last week. I told T, This is worse than being sick! I'm almost sick, so I feel like crap, but I don't feel sick enough to stay home from work. I wish my body would just decide to be sick or feel better!

Well, as of yesterday, I'm sick. Runny nose, stuffed sinuses, achy body, sneezing, sore throat. But I still went to work because "there's so much to do." It's in quotations because isn't that what all teachers say? But it's true! Plus, tomorrow's a field trip!

I'm on the couch, a glass of water fizzing with vitamin C beside me, kleenex on the other side, with no plans to move until (an early) bedtime. I'm pretty sure T will offer to cook supper and I'll happily (and almost guilt-free) accept his offer.

For now, here's what I've bookmarked in the past week (or two?):

// Truth. (Also currently my phone wallpaper because I'm hoping it will sink in.)

// Great read for my teacher friends (I highlighted so much when I read it): "Letting Go of 'Letter of the Week'"

// Loved this interview with Dax Shepard and this one with Kristen Bell. (Really, I loved all of the Off Camera interviews with those two.)

// Interesting and heart-warming: On Being a Surrogate.

// Now I want to go back to Hong Kong! (I went last year for my bachelorette!)

// Thinking I'm gonna have to make these freezer breakfast burritos next week.

// Here's How Much the Apartments in Friends, The Big Bang Theory, Sex and the City, and More Would Really Rent For

// I'm not in a long-distance relationship but maybe you are? Here's a sweet post.

// "If my mother was a friend or partner..."

// Breathtaking photos of the Fort McMurray wildfires.

// I want a Conner kind of love.

(Photo: Victoria Smith)

highlights from harbin.

Back in January, Tony, Melissa and I visited Harbin, a city in northern China that is famous for its ice and snow festival. It's been on my list for a couple of years to go, but we just kept saying, "someday." When we found out we'd have a free place to stay this year (thanks, Carol!), we booked our flights almost immediately!

You probably can't read that, but it says 'Reception Plan for Mr. Tony and Guests.' Fancy.

We ended up being treated like royals (thanks, Alfred and Carol!). We were picked up at the airport, given a personalized schedule, and had a great host all weekend (thanks, Jason!). 

In the morning, we had a tour of the school we were staying at and we were impressed. They have awesome facilities including a virtual golf course (I think that's what it's called?) and a pool room!

The afternoon was spent exploring Central Street and visiting Sophia Church. 

Central Street had a lot of shops, food, and fun ice sculptures that made for dorky photo opportunities ;) 

Apparently the Modern ice cream is a famous Harbin treat since 1906 and our new friend, Jason, insisted we try it. 

I was skeptical about eating ice cream when it was so cold outside (have I mentioned I was wearing leggings and jeans?), but the ice cream was actually warmer than the weather! Now that's saying something!

Candied fruit on a stick, one of my favourite street foods! (Also known as bingtanghulu.)

Apparently "spicy Coke" is a thing here? We thought it was more just hot Coke, not so spicy.

From Central Street, we walked to Sophia Church. 

The details inside—especially the ceiling—were gorgeous!

The river! By this point, my legs were frozen—kind of hurting, kind of numb. 

We went back to the school to warm up for about an hour, went to a restaurant to eat dinner, and then went out for the main attraction: Ice and Snow World! (I put on another pair of leggings.)

It was a whole world made of ice and snow! My photos do not do it justice.

The structures were huge! Literally breathtaking. 

Things got a little slippery for T ;)

!!!

My eyes froze shut a couple times, NBD. 

It was so cold, our phones shut down!

The next day, we went to Sun Island, a park filled with giant snow sculptures!

It was really cool to see them using shovels and picks to create their masterpieces.

Most of the sculptures were huge!

Ha! T didn't believe they were really made from snow! 

Visiting Harbin was such a fun weekend trip! Even though this was just a few weeks after my "heart episode" in Bali, I had such a good time! If you're in China, you should definitely go next year!

P.S. Highlights from Datong and Henan.