Thanksgiving

I am so grateful for my supportive family, my awesome friends, my job, my past year in Louisiana, my travels and my life experiences. We're thankful for the obvious.

I want to be thankful for the unconventional, too. The things we don't think about that we never give thanks to.

I'm thankful for my terrible memory when it comes to movies because I can rewatch any movie like it's the first time.

I'm thankful for my OCD when it comes to writing in my diary. I have to record the time, date, and day of the week before I start, and every time I do it, it makes me aware and appreciative of my existence. It's kind of hard to explain this one.

I'm thankful for how I can't memorize song lyrics for the life of me, except when it comes to praise songs. It's like God made me for worship!

I'm thankful for my incapability to feel loneliness easily. Especially on a holiday, seeing people's pictures of being with family and friends can affect someone. But while I am home alone seeing these posts, I feel nothing but happiness to see love being spread all around.

Happy Thanksgiving, all :-)

Palm Trees

I never really was a fan of palm trees until recently. For one, I started drinking the Vita coconut water that everyone seems to drink around here, and it sure is a unique taste. I started with the one with a hint of guava and that one is tasty! But the 100% coconut flavor still has to grow on me. Like cilantro, it's an acquired taste I think. I still hate cilantro though.

Anyway, I found out today more information about palm trees.

1. They grow best when in a group of 2 or more. They cannot flourish as much when planted alone.
2. They only grow well in pure soil, and will not grow in contaminated soil.
3. No matter what weather, they always grow straight up, unhindered by any bad or tough environment.
4. They are always green.
5. The more they grow, the stronger they are.

After finding all this out, I admire palm trees. I think God purposely placed things like palm trees on earth so we have things as guidelines that we can follow and look up to (did you see what I did there..). I want my peers to see these characteristics in me. Let's aspire to be like palm trees!

Diary of a Movie Enthusiast

You know what makes me happy?
I really like good movies. I like it being just me and the movie. I like rewinding back to parts that I liked while watching it, I like thinking out loud, and I like googling the soundtrack afterwards. I just finished watching 'Safety Not Guaranteed' and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I knew it was promising when the first song in the movie was by Guster (one of my favorite bands).

A funny story of discovering 'Safety Not Guaranteed'. It was listed on a random person's blog, and he listed 15 movies that were his favorites. His favorite being 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' and his second being 'Into the Wild', I knew this list was a keeper. Having seen both movies and giving them a 10 out of 10, I moved onto 'Safety Not Guaranteed' and yes, a good one as well! There are these particular movies that leave me with a certain feeling, and I can't describe it...

Actually I do know. And this quote describes it accurately: You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend.

So for movies...You know you've watched a good movie when the end credits roll and you feel a little as if you have lost a friend.

Time

TIME is the most precious thing in our lives. If you think about it, of course we can make more money or buy more things. The only thing we cannot get more of is time. So the best way to give your love to someone is to spend time with them. To use your personal time to be with them.

Rick Warren writes that this is the greatest way one can demonstrate unselfish love. When a person gives his time to another, he is giving of himself—a true act of unselfish love—because to give one’s time to another is to take it from one’s self.

How heavy?

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the “half empty or half full” question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: “How heavy is this glass of water?”

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.” She continued, “The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything.”

It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don’t carry them through the evening and into the night. Remember to put the glass down.

Haiku on March 31

I like my "me-time"
Cooking meals and drinking wine
I'm independent


Watching flowers bloom
God created everything
Praise the Lord, He lives


April is coming
I wonder what is in store
Let it unravel

Things that say a lot about people

        the way which they treat the waiter/waitress
        how they feel about the weather
        whether they dog ear pages or highlight in books
        fingernails
        and hands in general
        their preferred creative outlet
        how much they dread/enjoy talking on the phone
        whether or not they drink coffee
        if they ever forget to eat
        how honest they are with themselves (and others)
        if they correct your grammar
        and whether or not they get nervous before haircuts

What does this say about me?

I treat waiters/waitresses with respect, because when my dad had a restaurant I got to personally know all of them. (Another reason why I would probably won't ever dine and dash). I probably tip more than I should. I used to not do it, but now I try to be generous with it.
Weather determines my mood. But sometimes, I love rainy days as much as I do sunny days.
I like to interact with my books. I highlight, take notes, and dog ear them.
I like nail polish. End of story. And I look at hands, and I don't think mine are particularly pretty. I may have sausage fingers...
I love to WRITE that is my #1 outlet right there. ie....see this blog...sometimes I blog twice a day but who cares this is my blog so deal with it. Also I am in love with my journal.
I am the type to really try and keep in touch with people I care about. And I love talking on the phone and hearing people's voices. I love to talk in general. But I'm a good listener too!
I do not drink coffee. Caffeine doesn't affect my sleeping habits.
I...never.....forget to eat. How is this even a question.
It's hard to be honest with yourself. But I'm learning to be more direct when it comes to the subject of me and how I'm doing. Praying out loud is one thing I'm working on. I first started in college and it makes my relationship with God and with myself to be more honest.
I don't correct people's grammar (okay fine sometimes I do in my head)
Right now I'm in a cycle where I grow my hair, cut 10" and donate, and grow it again. So I enjoy growing it long and chopping it off. How refreshing!

The Best Time of My Life

I don't believe in that. You hear people say this when they look back and remember great times they had, but life is so full of different moments that are so good. There can't be just ONE. Sure I can say a couple things that I remember to be my awesome times of my life but they always get trumped by the next good thing that happens. Because life is full of them!

By the way one thing you must know about me is that I have a Sunday ritual.
It's to wake up, shower, go to church (9am or 11am depending on how tired I feel...he...he..) and then come back home and relax. Sometimes I take my after church nap. And all of the times, I sit down and read post secret.

And this secret today is what made me think...

I agree with this. It makes me sad too. You're missing something and reminiscing something that will never happen again. There is life after college and it is so fun....find a job you love and surround yourself with people you love and live in a place you love and do things you love. Cherish moments- don't say it was the "best thing" because that is still yet to come and will always happen as life goes on. Picking one thing and claiming it as the best is being stuck in the past. It's like that saying.... "it's okay to visit memory lane, just don't live there." What we really should be saying..."I visited memory lane and smiled and then I said, Onto the next one please! Keep em coming"

Designer in Me

My mom is a fashion designer at Jones New York and works on 7th ave (Fashion Ave) in NYC. Before then she worked for Betsey Johnson. She specifically works in the evening dresses department and in high school I remember I wanted her to design my senior prom dress but she was too busy. She also has awesome hipster friends from work with cool tattoos who she goes to trendy holiday parties with. Pretty much I think she might be cooler than me. Sadly she discovered all her 3 children fell a little short in the artistic/creative department which could have possibly opened doors in following her designer footsteps.

However.... Mom, today I decided I am actively motivated to make this new apartment of mine a fun, decorated place. I tried to decorate for Christmas, but the Christmas lights I ordered were stolen because the UPS guy left my packages at front of my door. In Louisiana, most apartments do not have walled in hallways, so everything is outdoors. Since I live on the 1st floor, packages left outside my door are basically an invitation of free things for anyone in the public to pick up. My apartment is gated but still.It was sad and I didn't try again to decorate.


Currently my room is your typical 4 sided white walled room. I have a Beatles poster that I picked up from an event on a night out when I went to visit London that I am super proud of, and that's hanging above my bed.













I want to do more fun things to my room  And I like the idea of hanging things on my walls. So I surfed the web and here are some things I like.... I will slowly start collecting ideas and hopefully something successful will come out of it. This is my short-term project.

Doesn't have to be hearts I just like the color & fun

Something about feathers always draws me in

Get some yarn and clips to put up pictures

Really digging the chevron pattern these days

The Itch

I need to go somewhere.
And I know it's a habit to always look for someplace foreign, someplace far when in fact I actually haven't even been to 15 different states. That's 70% unexplored. A little embarrassed to say I was born and raised here when my life's been limited mainly to the Tri-State area (New York-New Jersey-Connecticut....and I've only been to Connecticut once so let's replace that with Pennsylvania since I went to college there).

Fortunately it's never too late and I'm going to continue my list of places I want to visit. Last year, I went to Washington D.C. for the first time and Atlanta, Georgia too and I LOVED IT!!! Going to new places is so amazing and fun.

1. Seattle, Washington
2. Chicago, Illinois
3. Grand Canyon, Arizona
4. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
5. Nashville, Tennessee
6. New Orleans (Will knock this one out first probably)
7. Alaska (Aurora borealis and the northern lights. And go whale watching)
8. Portland, Oregon
9. Boulder and Denver, Colorado (Wintertime. I want to see those mountains)
10. California (Too many places to visit here. I've never been to the west coast)
11. Albuquerque, New Mexico (Hot air balloon festival!!!!!)

Ending with this video

2-0-1-3

Really reaally enjoying my Satuday night in. I picked up some honey ham (those big ones) thanks to Schlumberger, my manager handed out these coupons from Logan Farms who are known in Lafayette for their hams. It's heating in the oven now and the honey glaze looks delicious. I picked it up on New Years but haven't had a chance to eat it because I've been away on jobs. It's been really busy! Btw Happy New Year!!! I found this online from Karen and I have already started collecting notes:

I like how it helps you focus on only the good things that happened to you, because that's what matters in the end. And also reminds you what you should be thankful for. A positive attitude is key!

It is finally good to rewind and relax. John Mayer's Continuum album while doing my nails is what I need exactly right now. Ha I am such a girl :)