This summer was great, and here’s why.

Having a great summer made me realize I need to prioritize the exact things I did this summer in other seasons. In May, I made a list of everything I wanted to do this summer. And I actually did most of it.

Besides that, I achieved some long-term goals this summer, like doing a pet photo shoot with Noah and getting my black belt after six years of training.

So, what precisely did I do this summer that made it so memorable? Let’s reflect.

1. I spent a lot of time at home alone

Because family members were out of the country or at work, I spent a lot of time alone at home. After these 3 months, I realized I enjoyed living alone, and I’m ready for that next stage in my life.   

2. I tried 4 new trendy cafes in Toronto

For years, I’ve been cafe-hopping around the city and have documented my visits on this blog. I felt at home checking out Olivia’s Garden, Forest Cafe, Found Coffee, and Shan Shan Cafe. I’m looking forward to checking out a few more before the year is over.  

3. I started rollerskating at a cool pop-up rink in the city

I was determined to start rollerskating this summer if I couldn’t afford ice time to skate indoors, and that’s precisely what I did. Little did I know that I would spend almost a grand on rollerskates, the equivalent of two seasons of skating lessons. But once you make the investment, you’ll have unlimited skating time forever. In addition, I got to compare Jackson and Edea skates. This winter, I’d like to try the Edea skates on ice and dismount the Snow White frame to mount brand-new blades on the Edea boots. Since my Jackson skates are beaten up and I don’t want to spend $300-500 on a new pair, I might just rock these Edea skates. Let’s see!   

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4. I started playing in Genshin Impact’s co-op mode

I wanted to play a variety of games this year, but Genshin Impact ruined that. I’ve probably spent hundreds of hours playing this game as it’s a stress reliever for me. I made a new friend who gave me the Electro slime pictured below, and we’ve been gaming in co-op mode together to level up my characters.

5. I bought tickets to see my favourite band live! ୧☉□☉୨

I can’t believe my favourite band, ONE OK ROCK, is coming to Toronto this fall and they’ll be releasing a new album on Friday, September 9. I’ve already heard a preview for most of the album and it’s incredible.

The fact that it has so many of my favourite songs like Broken Heart of Gold, Renegades, Let Me Let You Go, Prove It, and Save Yourself makes it my favourite album. When it drops, I recommend you listen to it. My goal is to vlog my concert experience and take tons of photos, as well as share a sneak peek at my outfit.   

6. I ordered a custom Avatar: The Last Airbender birthday cake

One of my goals this year was to get a custom Avatar cake from a local Toronto baker. I planned the concept for it and shared it with close family members and friends. You can read this blog post to learn more about it.  

7. I finally went to an anime convention after 2 years

I was itching to go to Anime North after two years, and I’m glad I planned to attend, with or without other people. I got a media pass again and filmed the whole convention. Wearing new BlackMilk clothing outfits reminded me that I still have a sense of style and should plan outfits more for future events.  

8. I finally got my onigiri fix after 2 years

Attending Anime North means eating Ginko’s tuna mayo and salmon rice balls. This fall, I hope to make these myself with an onigiri maker!  

9. I did a photoshoot with my pet and a self-portrait photoshoot at Monography

While I wasn’t “ready” for any of my photoshoots this year, I’m glad I did them. Despite being quite expensive, the pet photoshoot turned out beautifully. It was expensive to hire a photographer, groom the puppy and buy the Selkie dress. But, I’ll have these photos forever. The Monography studio photoshoot was inexpensive, but I had to prepare to drive downtown, bring multiple outfits, and “beat” my face so it looked put together.  

10. I watched the most dreamy Hades x Persephone retelling ever

I ended my two-month C-drama watching slump a week into August with the most enjoyable drama of the year for me – Cang Lan Jue. A Chinese mythology retelling of Hades & Persephone. The second movie night at my house this summer was a marathon of Cang Lan Jue, which my friends very kindly agreed to watch with me. In Fall, I’m gonna rewatch episode one with some more people to hear their reactions to the epic beginning.

Look, Chinese dramas aren’t for everyone, I get it. Honestly, “foreign” non-American dramas aren’t for everyone. It’s not for everyone to read subtitles or watch shows in other languages, but it’s worth trying at least once. Having grown up watching martial arts movies, this is second nature to me. If I had the chance, I’d love to work on the production or post-production team of at least one xianxia. Due to the language and cultural barrier, it’d be challenging, but it would also be very rewarding.