Joanne L. Molinaro (이선영)

These days, there is a lot of uncertainty regarding what it means to be “American.” Despite the plain language of the 14 Amendment to our Constitution, reinforced by decades of jurisprudence, powerful voices have injected fear into a nation that can ill-afford another assault on its fragile democracy. A friend of mine once joked, “I feel like I need to study before I have a conversation with you.” Yes, I felt flattered that someone noticed how much effort I’ve put into speaking clearly, how much I try to know what I’m saying before I say it. Speech is a guaranteed right under that same, largely unchanged document—that proxy for the soul of our Republic. And yet, the consequences of that speech? Well those are, in no way, guaranteed, even if such consequences could threaten our souls. Language is just one prism of identity. An important facet, yes, but not the only one. My grandmother gained her US citizenship as one of the final acts of her life. She studied so hard for that test, spoke as much English as her 80+ year old brain would allow, and passed away as an American. No less American than I am, no less American than those keen on not just eliminating the same opportunity for others, but stripping them of their dignity in the process. My grandmothers didn’t teach me English. But they taught me integrity, resilience, loyalty, courage, and love. And I will use those lessons to school anyone who might try to make me, my family, or anyone else who can’t say the right words feel unsafe. #broccolisoup #american #storytime

Hi Costco 💜 #costco #skincareroutine #lawyertok

I’ve partnered again with @Icelandic Provisions for this hi-protein, plant-based recipe! I saw my friend My make these hi-protein, 3-ingredient bagels a few days ago and knew I had to try them with @icelandicprovisions’ Plain Oatmilk Skyr. And they taste DELICIOUS. Just 1-1.5 cups flour, 2 tsp baking powder, and 1 cup of Oatmilk Skyr. With 16 grams of plant-based protein, low in sugar, no artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners or preservatives, it’s sort of a no brainer for anyone trying to up their protein game. Unlike other plant-based yogurts, there are no gums or starches! Whoohoo!! And not surprisingly, these amazing hi-protein bagels came out PERFECT. #icelandicprovisions #skyr #oatmilkskyr #hiproteinrecipes #bagels

Months after adopting Lulu from a rescue organization here in SoCal, I picked her up, held her in my arms, and started dancing in the middle of the room. It was just the two of us, music floating out from the speakers and into the soft night. I twirled her around in my arms like we were in a fancy grand ballroom. I started to laugh as I stared into her eyes. She must be wondering what sort of crazy lady I must be, I thought to myself. I pulled her closer and whispered, “You saved my life.” And, realizing how truthful these words were, I said it again and again and again until my laughter turned into tears and I was standing there, pressing her head into my heart, trembling. #lulu #dogs #dogmom #adoptdontshop

When you love someone, you often see the best in them. But sometimes, when you love someone, you fail to see the worst in them. When those “worst things” start to trick you into believing you’re not a good person? That’s when you know you’re on a sinking ship and it’s time to get out. Now, getting out is a lot easier said than done. Trust me. Find someone who makes you feel safe—a relative, a close friend, even a colleague. Share the truth of your situation with them as regularly as you can, even if it’s hard. Even if it feels like a betrayal. Because in the end, these are the people who will remind you that you are NOT bad person. These are the people who may save your life. I had a similar conversation with my parents over tteokguk one day many, many years ago. And I wished I’d listened to them. #tteokguk #koreanfood #koreanauntygivesadvice

#fyp #skincareroutine

If you have my cookbook, you already know this story, but forgive me for sharing it again. It’s just that every time I celebrate New Year’s (today is Lunar New Year’s or Seollal (Omma calls it the former)), I can think of little else. And every time I turn this story over in my head, it’s like discovering a new crevice in a stone I carry around in my pocket, a new crater I missed the year before. For years, I thought the lesson was: “love isn’t enough.” And you’ve probably heard me say that many times. Because that was what I yelled at my parents that day, over and over: “love is all that matters.” But, love is NOT all that matters. Respect. Trust. Safety. You can love someone who is unable to provide those things to you and if you do, love will not save you. But this year, instead of focusing on the parts of this story I was there for, I imagined those parts I didn’t get to see. The many conversations my parents must have had that ultimately led them to write me. My mother at the shop, picking out the perfect card for this particular New Year’s and then sitting at her desk to write the message inside. How often her pen paused, partly because she couldn’t think of the right English word to express her fears, and partly because the fears, themselves, were too heavy to shake off. I thought about my father. The way he’d nod his head in agreement but also acquiescence because truth be told, he didn’t want to upset his daughter, he didn’t want to jeopardize the fragile cord that still tied them together, just months before she’d belong to some other man. I thought about my mother spending hours preparing this tteokguk for me and then I thought about the soreness I left behind when I stormed out of their home, that warm bowl of soup getting cold. I love my parents. Sometimes, it’s impossible to love them more than when I think about all the things they did for me when I wasn’t looking. #tteokguk #lunarnewyear #koreanfood

The Menendez Brothers. #lawtok #lawyersoftiktok

Replying to @Green Pill

“Competition is the thief of joy.” It is always a fool’s errand to try and predict how the things I say will be misinterpreted, but I will do so anyway. I am not sharing this to get brownie points or to make anyone feel bad or to make myself look better (I don’t know how anyone could view this as something to make me look good, but I’m sure someone will). And this one isn’t easy for me to share because I think it’s one of the uglier parts of me. I hate that I’m like this, but because I hate it so much, I force myself to confront it, head-on. I share this because I’m guessing others feel similarly and I wanted to create a safe space for you to have those feelings, to acknowledge them, and possibly even to begin asking yourself WHY you have them. You don’t need to be a Korean American woman to feel threatened by other people’s success. But hopefully, you’re like me—you recognize the toxicity of this attitude and you want to do something about it. Or maybe it’s just me (I’m sure there’ll be a chorus of “no it’s just you” below). And if so? Ok! Well, now I know. It doesn’t change anything. I’ve still found the BEST way to get rid of my insecurities, the BEST way to feel good about my success without envying someone else’s, the BEST way to live my life is to support the women who, at first, intimidate me. And it’s not surprising that these women? These badass, powerful, empathetic, loving women? They make INCREDIBLE FRIENDS!!! When I think back on how many years I squandered being jealous of them instead of simply saying, “hey let’s be friends”? I feel so STUPID!!!! And I don’t want anyone to have that kind of regret. love you xoxo #strawberrycake #cookingvideo #veganfood

#stitch @cassey Obviously, I am only providing my legal take on the facts that are publicly available. I don’t know anything more than what anyone else could readily find online and I’ve seen with my own eyeballs! The skirts look identical to me and as a consumer, I would absolutely be confused and possibly tricked into thinking I was buying the patented design. That’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it! #lawyersoftiktok #popflex

❤️❤️❤️@Anthony Molinaro

I will start this with a disclaimer: OBVIOUSLY, this post is not directed at everyone. Not EVERYONE thinks these thoughts. NOT EVERYONE needs to hear this advice. However, I used to think it was “hardly anyone” thinks these things. “Hardly anyone” needs to hear this advice. It is disheartening to realize that I was wrong. Putting to one side the efficacy of DEIA programs, I find it extremely troubling how quickly people are willing to forget why they were implemented in the first place. Do we honestly think equality has been achieved for everyone? Did we fool ourselves into believing that hundreds of years of slavery, disenfranchisement, Jim Crow legislation could be “solved” with a few decades? Rolling back these programs, removing books from schools, legislating against the sharing of an unabridged version of US History… whether it’s intentional, there’s no mistake that all of this will lead to the erasure of voices that have already had to work 1,000x harder to be heard and, conveniently, an unearned absolution for those responsible. So, I suppose it’s up to us to remember the who, what, when, where, and WHY. Let’s remember. #koreanauntygivesadvice #deia #letsremember

We are so grateful to our friends! For lending us their home, clothes, and showers while we got out of dodge for a night! #cookingvlog #koreanfood #cookingofrmyfriends