Socal Sarah

Freelance Writer / Blogger

  • Home
  • Health & Wellness
    • Finding Balance in 2021
    • A Reiki Rescue During a Pandemic
    • Ease Anxiety with these Free Yoga and Meditation Apps
    • Attract High Energy By Raising Your Vibration
    • What Should You Expect During a Reiki Session?
    • Grief and Loss of a Pet
    • How Reiki Worked for Me But Not as I Expected
    • 5 Ways to Reduce Stress and Anxiety
  • Migraines
    • Flare Magazine, Mini Issue 3 is out!
    • Flare Magazine, Issue 1 is out!
    • Healing From Within
    • Acupressure for Migraine Relief
    • My Yearlong Journey on Aimovig
    • A Little Self Care
  • Rosacea
    • A Rosacea Journey – The Beginning
    • Rosacea and its Possible Causes
  • Travel
    • Dumplings, Turnip Cakes, and Pepper Buns, Oh My!
    • Best Won Ton Noodle Soup in Taichung
    • Best Japanese / Sushi in Honolulu
    • The City of Longevity
    • Eating my Way Through Taichung
    • Nature Trips in Taiwan
    • Best Hidden Gem for Breakfast in Taichung
    • Writer retreats
  • About Me
    • Growing Up Different
    • Contact Me
      • Privacy Statement Terms and Disclaimers
  • Home
  • Health & Wellness
    • Finding Balance in 2021
    • A Reiki Rescue During a Pandemic
    • Ease Anxiety with these Free Yoga and Meditation Apps
    • Attract High Energy By Raising Your Vibration
    • What Should You Expect During a Reiki Session?
    • Grief and Loss of a Pet
    • How Reiki Worked for Me But Not as I Expected
    • 5 Ways to Reduce Stress and Anxiety
  • Migraines
    • Flare Magazine, Mini Issue 3 is out!
    • Flare Magazine, Issue 1 is out!
    • Healing From Within
    • Acupressure for Migraine Relief
    • My Yearlong Journey on Aimovig
    • A Little Self Care
  • Rosacea
    • A Rosacea Journey – The Beginning
    • Rosacea and its Possible Causes
  • Travel
    • Dumplings, Turnip Cakes, and Pepper Buns, Oh My!
    • Best Won Ton Noodle Soup in Taichung
    • Best Japanese / Sushi in Honolulu
    • The City of Longevity
    • Eating my Way Through Taichung
    • Nature Trips in Taiwan
    • Best Hidden Gem for Breakfast in Taichung
    • Writer retreats
  • About Me
    • Growing Up Different
    • Contact Me
      • Privacy Statement Terms and Disclaimers
Health and Wellness, Migraines

Flare Magazine, Mini Issue 3 is out!

Flare Magazine has a new special mini-issue about medication and my creative nonfiction piece entitled “Shedding” is included! I love this magazine and what editor Kelly Esparza is doing to…

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April 20, 2026
Migraines, Travel, Writing

“Taking Space” is a Finalist!

My creative nonfiction piece, “Taking Space,” which discusses living with chronic migraine was a finalist in Genrepunk Magazine‘s Editors’ Choice Awards! Thank you to editor, Kelly Esparza, for nominating my…

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November 14, 2025
Migraines

Flare Magazine, Issue 1 is out!

A new chronic illness / disability literary magazine has released its inaugural issue online, and I’m thrilled my creative nonfiction piece about living with chronic migraine is included. Check out…

read more
January 27, 2025
  • Anxiety,  Loss,  Reiki

    A Reiki Rescue During a Pandemic

    May 4, 2020 / No Comments

    Today I have a piece up on P.S. I Love You on my new rescue pup, Zoe. It’s a thank you to her for saving me from what could have been a dark and scary time. I know we’re all suffering from anxiety and fear of the unknown right now. Perhaps we’re angry with what’s happening to our communities and our lives. Yet it’s important to take a moment and appreciate what you have right now. To listen to what the universe is trying to tell you. To tap into that place of forgiveness, hope, and joy. You may find something life-changing at the end of it. Zoe did that…

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    sarahmchb

    You May Also Like

    Healing From Within

    June 30, 2020

    Ease Anxiety with these Free Yoga and Meditation Apps

    March 30, 2020

    5 Ways to Reduce Stress and Anxiety

    October 16, 2019
  • Anxiety,  Health and Wellness

    Ease Anxiety with these Free Yoga and Meditation Apps

    March 30, 2020 / 3 Comments

    UPDATED: August 31, 2026 During these stressful, uncertain times, it’s important to continue practicing self care. Don’t read the news all day. Try to limit it to once in the morning and once at night. Maybe thirty minutes at the most. Stay away from social media or else limit it to 30 minutes a day as well. And most importantly, take the time to be kind to yourself. Maybe that’s going for a walk where you can. If there are no parks or hiking trails open to you, just walk outside your house and around your block. Sitting in sunshine for 30 minutes can do wonders. YOGA If you have…

    Read More
    sarahmchb

    You May Also Like

    5 Ways to Reduce Stress and Anxiety

    October 16, 2019

    Healing From Within

    June 30, 2020

    Finding Balance in 2021

    December 31, 2020
  • Travel

    The City of Longevity

    March 5, 2020 / No Comments

    My travel story is up at Intrepid Times! I write about my visit with my dad in Taichung, Taiwan. Here’s the tagline for The City of Longevity: When a young woman makes a trip to Taichung, her father’s hometown in Taiwan, she struggles to find a window into his busy life. It’s my first time writing for Intrepid Times, an online travel zine based out of New Zealand. I’m excited to be published by them and hope to write more travel stories for them in the future. Check out some of the other stories. They’re beautifully written with gorgeous photographs!

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    sarahmchb

    You May Also Like

    Dumplings, Turnip Cakes, and Pepper Buns, Oh My!

    December 17, 2024

    Eating my Way Through Taichung

    December 30, 2019

    “Taking Space” is a Finalist!

    November 14, 2025
  • Health and Wellness

    Attract High Energy By Raising Your Vibration

    February 23, 2020 / No Comments

    The universe is filled with energy. We are all made up of energy. Our thoughts are energy. These thoughts create emotions inside of us which affects our energy. Haven’t you noticed that the energy you put out into the universe comes right back to you? If you’re depressed or angry, you’re emitting low vibrations or low energy. It’s difficult to attract higher vibrations when you’re in this state. People don’t want to be around someone who is angry or jealous or depressed. You will attract others who are feeling upset or enraged, thus creating a vicious cycle of low energy. So how do you create high energy? By raising your…

    Read More
    sarahmchb

    You May Also Like

    How Reiki Worked for Me But Not as I Expected

    December 5, 2019

    Ease Anxiety with these Free Yoga and Meditation Apps

    March 30, 2020

    Flare Magazine, Mini Issue 3 is out!

    April 20, 2026
  • Identity

    Growing Up Different

    February 12, 2020 / No Comments

    I have an essay up at Mixed Asian Media (formerly known as Hapa Mag) about growing up bi-racial in the 70s and 80s. Being half Chinese and half white in our whitewashed Orange County, California neighborhood wasn’t easy. I wish I could have embraced my Chinese heritage more but I didn’t. However, I’m rectifying that now. My dad and I are closer than ever and I’m so grateful for that. I’ve been spending more time in Taiwan and meeting family members I didn’t even know I had. I want to make up for lost time and am blessed my dad seems to feel the same way. I’m proud of my…

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    sarahmchb
  • Health and Wellness,  Reiki

    What Should You Expect During a Reiki Session?

    January 14, 2020 / No Comments

    Have you ever wondered what a Reiki session is like? Perhaps you’re curious if it’s something for you but are unsure how to find out more information. Or perhaps you’re afraid of how your body might respond. Here are a few pointers: Do Your Research Be sure the Reiki practitioner is certified and has experience. Try to find someone with a website and testimonials. Get referrals from your local yoga teacher or acupuncturist. Donation Clinics These are a great way to test out Reiki without spending a lot of money. Most Reiki sessions can cost anywhere from $50 – $90 / hour. Donation clinics only ask that you donate what…

    Read More
    sarahmchb

    You May Also Like

    Flare Magazine, Mini Issue 3 is out!

    April 20, 2026

    Ease Anxiety with these Free Yoga and Meditation Apps

    March 30, 2020

    Attract High Energy By Raising Your Vibration

    February 23, 2020
  • Health and Wellness,  Migraines

    Acupressure for Migraine Relief

    January 3, 2020 /

    When I first read about this migraine aid, I was skeptical. But this acupressure pillow makes a difference for me as long as I catch the migraine in time. It’s all by accessing acupressure points in my neck and the base of my head. I first heard about it on Migraine.com. If you have migraines and you don’t check out Migraine.com on a regular basis, you’re missing out. I am not affiliated with them. I’ve found their site and community to be immensely helpful. There are stories and chat forums with topics ranging from the latest CGRPs to all natural treatments. They also have a Facebook group where you can…

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    sarahmchb

    You May Also Like

    Ease Anxiety with these Free Yoga and Meditation Apps

    March 30, 2020

    My Yearlong Journey on Aimovig

    December 21, 2019

    Flare Magazine, Mini Issue 3 is out!

    April 20, 2026
  • Medium,  Travel

    Eating my Way Through Taichung

    December 30, 2019 /

    When I went from a fun three-day trip in Taipei to Taichung, the second largest city in Taiwan, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was excited to see my dad but I figured there was nothing to do. It wasn’t as cosmopolitan or vibrant as Taipei. I was proven wrong. The food alone is worth the trip. I fell in love with Taichung and can’t wait to go back. And did I mention the food? I write about my entire culinary journey today at Writers on the Run. Warning: it will leave you feeling hungry!

    Read More
    sarahmchb

    You May Also Like

    How Reiki Worked for Me But Not as I Expected

    December 5, 2019
  • Health and Wellness,  Migraines

    My Yearlong Journey on Aimovig

    December 21, 2019 /

    In October 2018, I signed up for the Bridge to Commercial Coverage program for Aimovig. It offered twelve free doses until my insurance carrier approved. My neurologist started me off with one 70mg dose. The program even offered a nurse to come to my home to help me with the injection. Even though I’m a wimp when it comes to shots, it wasn’t that bad. I also continued with yoga, acupuncture, and meditation, something that had already been reducing my migraines from 15 a month to 6. That first month, I didn’t notice much difference. But by the second dose in November, my migraines reduced from 6 to 2. My last…

    Read More
    sarahmchb

    You May Also Like

    Ease Anxiety with these Free Yoga and Meditation Apps

    March 30, 2020

    Attract High Energy By Raising Your Vibration

    February 23, 2020

    Acupressure for Migraine Relief

    January 3, 2020
  • Food,  Grief,  Loss

    Grief and Loss of a Pet

    December 19, 2019 /

    My essay “I Hated Cooking and Then I Had to Cook For My Dog” is up today at The Ascent on Medium. It’s a tribute to Hana, my brat terrier, who I had to put down on May 27, 2019. It was the worst day of my life. This essay helped me work through my grief and connect with her. I felt her with me as I wrote it. I attribute my joy for cooking to her and that’s what this essay is about. How a non-chef like me was forced to learn to cook when Hana suddenly couldn’t digest commercial dog food. How my own health required a gluten-free,…

    Read More
    sarahmchb

    You May Also Like

    Dumplings, Turnip Cakes, and Pepper Buns, Oh My!

    December 17, 2024

    Best Won Ton Noodle Soup in Taichung

    May 10, 2023

    Best Hidden Gem for Breakfast in Taichung

    November 23, 2019
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Recent Posts

  • Flare Magazine, Mini Issue 3 is out!
  • “Taking Space” is a Finalist!
  • Flare Magazine, Issue 1 is out!
  • Dumplings, Turnip Cakes, and Pepper Buns, Oh My!
  • Best Won Ton Noodle Soup in Taichung

About SoCal Sarah

Hi, I’m Sarah and I live in Southern California where I blog and plan my next trip. For my fiction, go to https://sarahmchen.com/

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