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@yourmsmoore-blog
“Three things I’ll never be able to attain: envy, content and sufficient champagne.”-Dorothy Parker 📸: @april_riles • • • • • #VCPoloClassic #veuveclicquotpoloclassic #veuveclicquot #willrogers #champagnecampaign #LA #Cali #LosAngeles (at Will Rogers Polo Club) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bouoi-7l5Ig/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=m3iny25k2a6p
“When you discuss your love for lust, just make sure you visit here first, Cali.” • • • • • #Malibu #Geoffreys #GeoffreysMalibu #Zuma #Cali #CaliLiving (at Geoffrey's Malibu)
The Year of Grace
This year has been one for the books and I don’t even like that phrase.
There are some years that I can barely recall, they have no significant importance in my life (not that I’m not grateful I lived through them but...idk?) but 2017 is definitely one I will remember as it’s been pivotal for me. I always name my years in retrospect (the important ones anyways) and this one is the Year of Grace.
I left my J-O-B. Now ya’ll know me, I am a loyalist through and through and I don’t like change unless it's calculated and smart. So, of course, my change was all of that. I started with Anheuser-Busch directly after grad school, and I have been with them ever since. If you had asked me a few years ago, I was a lifer, I would retire from A-B, I would be a beer babe for life. But things CHANGE. I had an opportunity to work for a company that creates content to speaks to who I am as a person, I could pass that up. So I took it. I moved. And I started over again. And it felt good to have a shake-up! My life has always been carefully planned, defined by guidelines and stern advice and drawing inside the lines. I need this change to prove to myself that I can be great without guidelines.
I decided to jump in the dating pool! It’s s been 2 years and I almost jumped back out and gave up swimming (LA dating can do that to you). No, but for real, I dated a person, and it was cool, and then it wasn’t, and that was tough. I am not one to admit when something isn’t working-I don’t like failure. But here I was, trying to make a relationship work that shouldn’t have existed. So I left! And that was challenging but also taught me that I know exactly what I want and my instincts never fail me.
I started giving a damn! Like really giving a damn about the people that are most important to me. I miss you? I’m about to tell you. I haven’t seen you? I’m about to schedule a lunch or FaceTime date with you. I refuse to let anyone I love think for a second that I am not available or emotionally invested in them. And that’s new to me.
Grace is defined many ways, my take on Grace that it is the free and unmerited favor of God. And though this year has been interesting, difficult, weird and rewarding, it has all been a blessing from God and easily my most pivotal year. And for that, I am grateful!
I am super proud of the hashtag #MakinBaliMoves…I didn’t come up with it, but still hella impressed. Our trip was amazing! Over 10 days we traveled to Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. I am both jet-lagged and instantly missing those countries now that I am back in the U.S.!
Singapore:
First thoughts: Extremely clean, beyond the normal scope of a clean city. Overly green.
End Thoughts: Singapore is easily the most beautiful and densely packed city/state I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting (sorry New York).
What else: I can’t believe an entire country is like one big nursery/greenhouse. How lucky are they to see such beauty every day. Turns out, 47% of Singapore is covered in greenery and it’s no mistake. I also learned that Singapore has no natural resources and everything is imported. Also, it is a total ex-pat city/state-I saw more Americans and Australians there than I thought.
We visited Gardens by the Bay, a beautiful floral and art exhibition that literally looks like it is housed inside the Sydney Opera house (google it). Gardens by the Bay is yet another testament to how green and beautiful Singapore is.
We visited the night market and enjoyed satay and kimchee fried rice (so bomb) and sat outside in the sweltering heat taking in all of Singapore. Super touristy.
Bali, Indonesia
First thoughts: This is a bae-cation spot
End thoughts: This is a bae-cation spot!
What else: Aside from being a bae-cation spot (did I mention that?) Bali is absolutely beauty and has a culture and history that should be a mandatory learning while you vacation. Bali is rich in Hindu as it is Bali’s predominant religion (though Islam is Indonesia’s predominant religion). The temples were absolutely beautiful and so sacred. There is always such am humbling feeling I get when I am I someone else’s place of worship. Maybe it’s because I believe that other religions require so much more and there is beauty in that discipline.
The coolest experience thus far was the play of the love story of Sita and Rama from the Ramayana. The play is performed by having a circle of about 70 or so men perform the story in. a series of tongue-clicks sounding like ‘kekack.” My friends and I do not speak Malay (not even a little) but we were able to keep up because true story telling is in action and emotions and not necessarily words. This play took place on a cliff right over the Indian Ocean while the sun was setting and it was like something out of a movie.
We got traditional Balinese massages and I swear all Asian massages are ass-whoopings. Thankfully this ass-hooping ended in a rose petal bath which made me feel like Cleopatra.
Had the classiest brunch at The W Hotel which reminded me why I need (nay deserve) to be rich.
Bal baby you’re beautiful.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
First thoughts: Why is there no pork bacon?!
End thoughts: Culture. So. Rich.
KL was the last leg of our trip and by then we were beat (I know I was). So I definitely took KL with a grain of salt when we arrived. But after a good nights rest we headed to the Batu Caves and climbed 200 stairs and things got good. The temple at the precept is dedicated to Lord Murugan who is the bad-ass Hindu god of war. After that, we played with monkey’s in the bat caves (we don’t mess with bats) before heading back down.
We visited the Petronas Towers which are the tallest twin towers in the world. Hope you aren’t afraid of heights.
I love traveling and getting away. Not just because of the daily rigors, it isn’t an escape (I love what I have back home) its to experience something new, learn a a little something and hopefully come back with a perspective, dish or story.
#TBT Get you a friend that will go above and beyond to capture those angles! • • • • • • #Malaysia #ThatMaylayLife #ExploreIndonesia (at Batu Caves)
Climbed over 100 stairs carrying bricks, played with adorable monkeys and hit a serious yoga lunge to capture a good angle for my friends. Malaysia is pretty dope. (at Batu Caves Malasiya)
"We accept the brunch we think we deserve." • • • • • #MakinBaliMoves #Bali #Indonesia #BaliBrunch #TravelNoire #TheWHotel #StarFishBloo (at Starfish Bloo)
When you dream of a beautiful place, make sure you dream of Bali! 🇮🇩 🌅 ☀️ • • • • • #MakinBaliMoves #Bali #Indonesia #MooreLife ##MooreTravel #BaliBaby #TravelNoire (at Bali, Indonesia)
When you dream of a beautiful place, make sure you dream of Bali! 🇮🇩 🌅 ☀️ • • • • • #MakinBaliMoves #Bali #Indonesia #MooreLife ##MooreTravel (at Bali, Indonesia)
Day 1 in Singapore was so incredibly good that I think Bali is starting to get jealous 😉#GardensByTheBay #Singapore #MooreLife #MooreTravel (at Gardens by the Bay)
Lookin’ over all the houses I can’t afford…yet #LA #Runyon #RunyonCanyon #FakeFit #SnapMeUpFam #MooreLife #MooreTravel (at Runyon Canyon - Los Angeles / Hollywood)
Book Review: The Good Daughter
Shoutout to The Skimm for the epic recommendation!
This whole book was suspenseful and I finished it on a weekend.
Story centers around The Quinn family that lives in Northern Georgia. The patriarch of the family is Rusty Quinn, a defense lawyer that is unpopular in their small city for his belief that everyone deserves a fair chance in the eye of the law. On one fateful night, Rusty’s work finally catches up with the Quinn family and change their lives irreparably. 28 years later, the pieces are finally coming back together while another new mystery rocks the Pikeville town.
That is my corny book review. Mostly because I can’t explain too much without having word vomit and giving everything away.
Go pick it up!
“Somebody almost ran off with all of my stuff. And I was standing there looking at myself the whole time.”
I didn’t understand that quote when I first watched “For Colored Girls.” but unfortunately I get it now.
Somebody almost ran off with all of my stuff: I put trust in this person, and I expected to get the same in return. That’s how the world works right?
Somebody almost ran off with all of my stuff: I was patient, I said and did the right things. I was available, I was ride or die (as ride or die as someone with 2 degrees, common sense and a full time job could get.)
Somebody almost ran off with all of my stuff: I made excuses for poor behavior. Started to expect it, and then almost began to accept it as normalcy.
Did you know somebody almost got away with me!
Almost.
But almost to to close to “Damn, that actually happened.” And now at 28, when I’ve lived an emotionally un-turbulent life, I am coming to terms with the fact that people will not always provide you with the honesty, transparency, love and care you deserve-there are no guarantees. Rather, calm your inner-self, set expectations and don’t falter from them. And most of all, never be disappointed in people who hurt you, they’re hurting and until they get themselves together, they can never truly offer goodness someone else. And that’s not your fault. It will be your fault, if you allow them to ruin your spirit.
Signed,
April (still a G tho)
Twenty. Eight.
I turned 28…yesterday. I didn’t feel anything of consequence, 28 isn’t special. It’s not 21, when you can legally drink alcohol. 28 isn’t 25, where you mid-way and feeling hella grown. It’s just 28, two away from 30. Joy.
I realized I sounded repugnantly ungrateful. And for someone who is typically good-natured, I felt bad for feeling so indifferent about 28.
My friends and family brought me back. They always do.
My friends, who allow me and my wondrous plans (let’s spend a day at the beach and attempt BBQ) to flourish, who give me unconditional love, support and doses or reality which I need. They brought me back.
My family. My mother, who called me at 12:00 central to wish me a happy birthday and then again at 12:00 a.m. pacific to wish me a happy birthday and to remind me that I am loved. To my baby siblings that pooled together and got me gifts even thought I spend more time thinking about ways to spoil them. They brought me back.
I am grateful to see another year, humbled that I can do so in happiness and in light and love.
Thank you for bringing me back. I am loving twenty eight.
I am very weird in that I will spend weeks ordering UberEats and then weeks cooking half-way decent (at least Paula Deen worthy) meals. Life is all about balance right?
Last week I had a craving for red meat. This doesn’t happen often as I prefer my steaks to be cooked by someone else. Is it just me or steaks cooked by someone else (i.e. someone who knows what they’re doing) just taste better?
Anywho gave it a go.
Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons olive oil
3 Tablespoons butter
2-3 Sprigs of rosemary
2 Cloves of Garlic
1/2 Shallot
Decent Steaks (this is subjective, my steaks were like $9 and tasted great #BallinOnABudget)
A good and seasoned cast iron skillet
1. Remove your steaks from the package, pat with paper towel and season with salt and pepper on both sides (salt & pepper seems hella bland I know, but we got other spices!) I’m a huge fan of massaging the pepper and salt into the meat. Let stand.
2. Mince your garlic and shallots. I typically keep mine rather large b/c I’m a fan but whatever works for you.
3. Heat your skillet and add the olive oil over medium heat.
4. Add your steaks and cook on both sides for approx.4 minutes at a time.
5. Add your butter, garlic, rosemary and, shallots and allow them to brown while tilting the pan slightly to capture the butter to pour over your steak. Remember, the key is to let your garlic, rosemary, and shallot soak in the butter and then transfer said butter to steaks (this is where the flavor comes in!) Do this for another 3-5 minutes or for however duration you would like your steak to be cooked.
BAM! You have some well-cooked meat on your hands. Enjoy!
Traveling Show
I’ve always found traveling a conundrum. What starts as a a true experience, an immersion of the senses, and culture, gets drilled down to how awesome your experience looks on Instagram. I am for sure, guilty (my pics had to look right, especially the food ones!). But I wonder if we are missing the point? I didn’t grow up with the ability to travel or even take family vacations- we didn’t have it like that. I used to be upset, remorseful that people traveled the world before 21, that they had yearly vacations that they could go to, hell, that they could even leave the great state of Illinois (no really have you been to Illinois?) Recently this remorse has turned into gratitude. I feel it deep in my bones. To be able to travel now after years of not having the option is humbling and makes me even more appreciative than if I would’ve been able to travel in my younger years. The feeling makes me studious-I study more before and after so I can have a semi-solid (if not a sustained effort) understanding of the culture and people. The feeling makes me patient, I am more resigned and tolerant, realizing that there is more to the world than just myself, my thoughts and my beliefs. I’ve made a promise to travel, rather international or domestic, at least two times a year. My goal is to incorporate a practice from each of the cultures I’ve visited to remind me of where I’ve been and to commemorate the feeling for years to come. How do you travel?
