FEB 14, 2016: WEST COAST DELUXE

photography by Jonathan Pobre

Being a native of Los Angeles, but currently living in New York City, I'm constantly asked to describe the difference between both cities.Interestingly enough, when being asked to contrast my west coast and east coast lives, the number one point of comparison is food. Food like fragrance, can often trigger memory. It also tends to give you an edible snapshot of what the local culture is like. So whenever I'm asked to compare the California king In-N-Out to the New York giant Shake Shack, I always refuse to deem one better than the other because they represent two entirely different things to me.

In-N-Out, for me, is pure nostalgia. It reminds me of my childhood. Red palms on a white ground, that's iconic. From that classic, laid back, retro look of each storefront to the bare simplicity of the menu, there is no way I could compare it to anything else. I used to look forward to back-to-school nights when my school (public school, btw) would treat everyone in attendance to those delicious little burgers. I'm reminded of when my friends and I fucked around at the Plant in Van Nuys, hit the arcade, and grabbed a bag filled with melty double-doubles to sneak into the theater.  When my friends and I started driving and we'd go on day trips to the beach, we'd roll through the drive-thru before hitting the freeway."Are you eating in the car?," the cashier would ask. "Yes." You'd then take your order in a cardboard box w placemats to keep from spilling all that extra spread all over yourself. Even to this day, every time I visit, as soon as I land, I make sure to pick up a mustard fried cheeseburger with the bun extra toasted & fries well done. At the end of the day, In-N-Out is just no fuss, fresh, great quality food that is also affordable. It's easy and that's essentially representative of sunny SoCal living.

I know this maybe seems insignificant to a lot of people, but I wholeheartedly believe that food really can create a bridge to understanding your surroundings. That is why whenever I travel, I try to find out what it is that is considered THE local dish, the cornerstone of the culture. I think there's so much to be said in just one bite and that is exactly why breaking bread with friends and family is such a universal practice.I have a few exciting trips lined up for this year, one of which is with my good friend and photographer, Jonathan. I can hardly wait to share my experiences with you and I hope you all stick around for the adventures to come.

-LEIGH

FEB 8, 2016: SHORTY LET ME TELL YOU 'BOUT MY ONLY VICE

Having been raised in a semi-traditional Filipino & Catholic home, this part of the year always triggers some sense of self-reflection due to the beginning of the Lenten season. While I've never been an extremely religious person, there has always been something about Lent that has struck a chord with me and to this day it is the only part of Catholicism that I will, without fail, willingly participate in.

Growing up, I definitely took it less seriously and as a result would do one of two things:

• I would either pick something to sacrifice so trivial and minute that it really didn't make any impact on me.

-or-

• I would just go halfway into the season without picking something and then pick something that I wouldn't end up sacrificing anyway.

However, as I've gotten older, I've come to realize the importance of this sacrifice, at least in my own life. This isn't just some random restriction implemented by a religious organization. This is a form of meditation, self-discipline, and (as I mentioned previously) self-reflection. For the last 6 years, I've found myself listing out areas of my life that needed improvement along with certain vices that enabled these areas to go unimproved.

In 2010, I gave up social media. My end goal wasn't to quit social media altogether in the long run, but the end result left me feeling less dependent on it. Fun fact: a few years later in 2012, I deactivated my Facebook and while some people question this decision on a regular basis, I still maintain that it was one of the best things I could do for myself. There's no need for me to be connected to people in that way. If I want to catch up with you, I will, intimately and intentionally.

Last year (2015), I gave up red meat, which is something that Catholics typically sacrifice every Friday of Lent, but I went the entire month and a half without it. This was especially challenging for me because anyone that knows me knows that my weakness is a medium-rare ribeye. While I still won't ever deny a great steak, this period of abstinence left me feeling refreshed, energetic, and craving more balanced meals.

So with Mardi Gras happening this Tuesday, the pressure has been on for me to decide what it is that I will be sacrificing this year. For those of you that know me personally, you may know that I already went alcohol-free in January. To my surprise, it was much easier than I anticipated, but it did open my eyes to just how many of my social engagements involved the consumption of alcohol. Luckily, I am surrounded by some of the best people on Earth because I received such an overwhelming amount of support and encouragement. Not once did I feel like I couldn't go out in fear that I might cheat. In fact, I actually ended up partying much more than I normally would around this time in NYC. Had I not done this last month, I probably would've picked this as my sacrifice.

Instead, I am choosing another substance that has begun to overrun my life and that is caffeine, coffee to be specific. Years ago, I was not a coffee drinker in the least bit and now, I'm up to 3 cups of coffee a day during the work week. Sure, that pales in comparison to some, but for me, it's a sign that I'm not only starting to become dependent, but I'm also turning desire into habit. My end goal this season is to find ways to combat this need for caffeine with more positive and productive alternatives. I'm hoping to develop a more regular sleep schedule, alter my diet, and not sweat things that are out of my control.

I'm nervous, but confident that I can get through this season successfully. Whenever I feel a moment of weakness, I like to remind myself that it's always much easier to continue living without questioning anything or setting intentions, but easy doesn't always offer the most fruitful results.

Now whether any of you are Catholic or not, I hope that some of you will be interested in participating in this practice with me. Leave a comment below if you are and let me know what you'll be sacrificing this year.

Good luck and good vibes!

-LEIGH