If you are starting a crochet project with a round center/base, creating a magic ring will allow you to have a completely closed center. Typically, these projects start with a few chain stitches that are joined to form a ring. This isn’t ideal as it would leave a small opening in the middle. The magic ring will allow you to close up the stitches altogether, with no gap in the center. What’s also “magic” about it is that you can work as many stitches as you’d like into the ring, and cinch it closed. Without further ado, let’s get started!

As the entire world shuts down and millions of people are forced to shelter in place, we are extracted from our daily routines and habits. It is in these unexpected transitions that we may experience personal growth or change. When placed in a new environment, we may find another side of ourselves. In these times, without distraction from the outside world, what do you find yourself gravitating towards?

This quarantine has really set off a few trends that I’m sure many will come to remember Covid-19 for. The hoarding of toilet paper, whether Carole Baskin killed her husband, and the viral dalgona coffee.

Lately, I’ve been really into mug cakes. For one, I have a major sweet tooth so it’s a rare occasion when I’m not craving sugary carbs. But especially with the shelter-in-place orders here in San Francisco, most of my favorite bakeries have shuttered their doors. Baking a dozen muffins is also not logical, since I can’t share them with my neighboring friends. So I’ve had to experiment with single serving mug cakes and this is my best recipe yet!

If you’re here, I’m assuming you know THE Levain Bakery cookies. If not, stalk their Instagram, read this review, or watch this video. Hungry now for some thick chocolate chip cookies?? People flock to New York just to try them and retain a cult-like following, aka me who tried it once years ago and have never forgotten the magical experience. They’re ginormous, crispy on the edges, soft and fudgy (even warm!) on the inside. These cookies are so satisfying and will leave you wanting more, even when you’re stuffed to the brim.

Once upon a time, my friend Christy told me about a 6-hour race around a 0.75 mile track that she was signing up for, and I thought she was crazy. But I did dream of doing ultras and am slightly crazy myself, so I signed up too. The course was at Polo Fields with an aid station on the track, and I’d just run as many laps as possible within 6 hours.

While preparing for the Spring Equinox Half Marathon this past weekend, I kept wondering how my running would be affected by the high altitude in Colorado. I knew my training pace had improved but would the high elevation slow me down? Apparently so, after reading various blogs online. So I didn’t set high expectations for myself to PR (1:49:12, 8:20 pace). I sort of gave myself a free pass even before starting the race. Oh, it’ll be alright if I don’t PR. It’s hard running at high elevation. It’s expected that you’ll slow down.

Some people dream of being a doctor, traveling the world, living a grand luxurious life surrounded by warm beaches and fresh coconuts. My dream? I want to run a 100-mile race.

Is that crazy? Is that even possible?? Now that I’ve immersed myself in the ultra world, it doesn’t seem all that insane. But if I take a step back… an average 100-mile race will take 28 hours. That’s running in the heat of the day, darkness of the night, and again through sunrise, without sleeping. If I really think through the details – blistered feet, aching muscles, monotonous running through barren nothingness – I can’t imagine how this came to me as a dream.