Thanksgiving week in grad school always feels like this tiny pocket of breathing room, and in this vlog I really leaned into it. I spent the break hanging out with friends, chasing cozy little moments, and doing the kind of “reset” that makes going back to PhD life feel less scary. One of my favorite parts was bundling up (even though it was literally freezing) and going to a Filipino bakery with my friends to try their matcha flowers for the first time. It was such a sweet, homey moment—plus we were being so unserious getting iced matcha in the cold. I also talk about the Black Friday temptation… because wow. I had so many things I wanted to buy and so little resources a.k.a. money, so I had to keep pulling myself back from going overboard. It’s that very real grad student experience of wanting to romanticize life while also being like, “okay but I need to not get broke.” If you’re into cozy PhD lifestyle vibes—friends, food, tiny adventures, and realistic spending restraint—this one is for you.