feel so good afterwards

A very wise woman said to me yesterday before we made our way, hiking this terribly dry and steep mountain, "This is going to feel so good afterwards." It was then I coughed and missed her glimmer of optimism. 

Once repeated, I thought about this quote every challenging step I took (I was also weezyMcweezy because of this cold congestion stuck in my chest I continue to try to break up on the incline of this rocky maze) breathing the dusty air and only irritating it further.

I pushed on, although weary at times and wanting the turn back the majority of the hike. By the end, I felt like I wanted to go for round two. I felt empowered! It is in those very trying, difficult moments that projecting the best outcome is the only thing that will get you through. Keep positive and keep pushing. You are enough. xx

DUH!!!

Kitchitivity

Creativity is intelligence having fun. I saw this painted on a piece of wood, when I was home last weekend, and it stuck with me. That being said, being intelligent can also be fun.......duh.

For example, tonight's make-shift menu featured an appetizer of sliced green bell peppers and carrots dipped in a jalapeno Greek yogurt dip, and then for my entree- pan-grilled chicken breasts, over fresh spinach, sprinkled with hulled hemp seeds, drizzled with flavored rice vinegar and white balsamic vinegar for zest and viola! DINNER! And I felt so accomplished while consuming it.

When arriving home this evening, I had all these ingredients but no energy to cook. Per ussszzzz. This is when I usually order out. But tonight my creativity took over (and my sensible mind on budget). I've never been very savvy in the kitch (the kitchen kind of scares me, so does the grocery store....diff blog) but tonight I felt like I was a mastermind scientist in his very complicated laboratory. I knew I wanted a fresh meal and all I had to do was create it in the kitchen.

Kitchitivity. 

A trick is to keep it simple, keep it colorful, keep it healthy. Duh!

coming in late tonight

[sighs] takes a deep breath in and [sighs] again. 

Another busy day around here. Trying to stay busy and active and focused. When you want something bad enough you fight for it, right? At least that's what I keep telling myself. It's a jungle out there.

Something that takes me away from this jungle in mere moments is when I step away from my computer and a slideshow starts on my the screen while the laptop rests. This 'dinosaur' has a pictures of all my travels, all my college events, all my real milestones and the people I met along the way.

I made a promise to myself whenever it appears on the screen, that I would stop what I'm doing and watch the two minute slideshow of my past. 

It is a reminder of so many good times and adventures of a different time in my life and so many extremely different places seen by these two hazel eyes. Thanks for reading, and sometime soon stop and revisit that past. You'll thank me. Duh.

Enough are you. xx

about last night.

So last night, I was a little skeptical about my outfit choice after a kickball game and real quick rush to get ready! It was a speedy decision but a thoughtful one, I concluded.

I dawned a white man's long tunic last night with some distress black skinnys and a leather black omish style hat. On my feet, I rocked some black Creative Recs for a cool, yet casual flair.

I received so many compliments by the end of the night, I didn't know why I ever doubted my initial intuition. From the way it draped, to the material to the over all aesthetic of the look, I was completely confident by the nice words others shared.

I think people appreciate when others take fashion risks. At least they SHOULD! Also, hand out those compliment as frequently as you like to recieve them. Remember, you are enough. Duh! 

Find my look on my 'look du jour' page! xx

friends are like underwear

Friends are like underwear. Every time that favorite pair of undies comes out of the dryer you know which ones you are going to wear next. It’s something about the way they feel when walking or sitting, or how easily you can get them off while in a public restroom (not for like your voyeur fantasies, but) when wanting to make that restroom visit fast and effective.

And as your supply starts to dwindle and laundry day starts to creep up on you, you start grabbing for the next tier in undie status- like friends. Say all my besties are out of town, then you move to the good friends tier to go Hamburger Mary’s for a Sunday brunch- am I right? And if they aren’t available then you move on to the friend category and so on and so forth… Bleak but true.

Your friends are the family you choose, so pick wisely.

But unlike underwear, these people chose you, as well. That’s the funny thing about friendship, it is two-sided, and to build a successful friendship, especially in LA, you must be willing to bend. And sometimes you must bend hard. It all depends on how good a friend you are for it to be reciprocated back. Duh.