Mochi Bits

Part of the joy of Burning Man for me is the preparation and anticipation. I put a lot of thought into what I need to survive and thrive at Burning Man. Since I generally take the burner bus where you are limited to two bags, I try to keep what I bring minimal (most people over pack). After a couple years of Burning Man, below is my refined packing list.  Just like everything else I share, use this as a base. You know yourself, what you normally like to travel with and what would make you comfortable in the extreme playa environment. I think it's important to also have some self-care items. For me that's throat coat tea, a robe and journal.  I also made an   Amazon list   which has some but not all of the items below. It's another good starting point (especially if you are tent camping).  If this is your first year, talk to a friend who has been before who can give you a sense of how to prepare. This is list is best understood after reviewing what Burning ...

I love weekend group getaways and I love food prep. So I have put together many meal plans for friend trips. Below is what I use as a base and then adapt it based on the location, length, and my friend's preferences/diets. I try to keep it as easy to prep ahead of time, healthy, cheap and versatile as possible. I didn't list quantities as it will vary based on how many are in your group - really this is just to inspire your shopping list and meal ideas. I will say that most people over buy so aim to truly only get what you need to stay low on waste. I’m into options where people can make their own plates so dietary restrictions can be easily all accounted for. Most of the cooking elements can be done ahead of time which is great for a weekend away if you don’t want to spend all day cooking. You can wash produce, chop veggies, cook rice, etc the day before you leave to just have to heat and lay out a meal when ready.  This is all so the burden of cooking is not on one person...

While we are doing our part by staying home, below are my more-involved virtual hang ideas that could work for a date or larger group get-together.  Check out my  date ideas (in-person or virtual) for more inspo. Competition  Set ahead of time a friendly competition like: Costume Changes - Quickly get dressed in your best 80s costume, animal inspired outfit, prom attire, etc Dance - Come up with choreography to a 16 count COVID related song (like "Toxic" by Brittney Spears) Building - Who can make the best fort, art sculpture out of recycling, toilet paper tower, etc in 5 minutes Scavenger Hunt - Find the saddest house plant, cutest baby picture, item you are most grateful to have in quarantine, etc Facebook Memory Lane - Less of a competition and more of a "spin the wheel." Share your screen and take turns picking random old Facebook pictures of one another and have the person explain the context of the picture. Game Show Play interactive...

Sometimes we are overwhelmed by an emotion and it’s hard in the moment to find a healthy way to cope. I created a Google doc called my “Mental Health Toolkit” as a way to recognize and remember what are my proven healthy coping strategies. If I start going through the things on this list, I do feel better. This is just my a small portion of my toolkit as an example, but yours will look different. I'm not saying what I do will be right for you; you have to explore and understand what helps you. What are the feelings/states that you regularly find yourself in and how can you take care of yourself when you feel that way? Can’t Sleep Read a physical book Journal all the thoughts swimming in my head Self massage including temples, jaw, neck and shoulders Biannual beats meditation Progressive muscle relaxation (ie start at feet and tense each muscle group a few times until you reach your head) Count gratitudes (like you would count sheep) Stress Do an inversion (like brid...

I made this list of questions to get beyond "what do you do" or small talk that doesn't go anywhere. I see someone I want to connect with, I know they have so much to share, but sometimes I have no idea how to start to dive in and really get to know them. These questions became a catalyst for playful and meaningful connections for me. Most of the questions are collected - I didn't come up with most of them. But I have asked all these questions over the years and tailored this list to ones that seem to spark a real conversation. Open-ended questions are always the best and follow up with your curiosity. Be an active listener.   Over the years I've heard stories of how these questions have been used.  Pull it out on a date, scroll and answer the question you stop on. Print them out, cut up each question and stick them in a jar at a party. Liven up a business meeting by having people introduce themselves and answer one question. Enjoy! Openers What is the...

Most things you can buy online, you can find a better price for. I get some small satisfaction (thanks consumerism) for finding a deal. Below is my approach to finding the best possible price for what I'm shopping for (which is generally clothes). If you have 5 minutes to spare, with a little hunting you can generally get a discount. Once you found an item that you want to buy.... Search for It Elsewhere - Enter the product name with and without quotes (for a related and exact match) within Google and see if other retailers are selling it for less. Sites like Poshmark and Ebay also might have the item in new condition for less. See what other retailers sell that brand and see what discounts/sales they may have. Find The Brand's Deals - Check out the brand's social presence (Instagram is the best right now) for promo codes and sales. Often if it's your first purchase with a brand there is a pop up for a discount for signing up for their newsletter. Do it on another email...

One form of play for me is in crafting cutesy dates. Your dates don’t have to be "mushy" but breaking out of your norm allows for you to change your patterned behavior and connect to your partner in new ways.  Get out of the house for a change of environment when you can. Try not to talk about logistics or kids to make it quality bonding time. Boost any date night with some general  thoughtful questions  or relationship specific questions . These are date ideas for a romantic partner or for a friend! I’d recommend picking a reasonable recurring date time and really honoring sticking to it (ex. a weekly date night). We use this list when we have a free night and need to turn to some inspiration. IRL Date Ideas 20 Minute Genie - Each person gets a turn (40 mins total) in having a desired fulfilled. Maybe you want your partner to give you a massage or play your annoying-but-favorite game - then you  return their favor and make their wish come true. For 20 min...

If you can't tell, I love asking questions. They are like portals to new worlds.  In wanting to dive deeper into connecting with romantic partners, below are some compiled questions to consider asking to one another. Make it a date by creating a space to be still, listen, engage and learn from one another. You may think you know someone but there is always more to discover! 36 Questions to Fall in Love with Someone (from The New York Times ) Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest? Would you like to be famous? In what way? Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why? What would constitute a “perfect” day for you? When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else? If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want? Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die? Name three things you...