On the weekend, my good friend took me out for brunch for my birthday.  We went to our favourite spot and had an amazing meal (and conversation, of course).  She also gifted me with the most fabulous gift (but you'll have to wait and see. Hint). and then we partook in some retail therapy afterward.  A truly fantastic birthday celebration.  Thanks SS.

I found this amazing post called, 'A Better Life in 100 Ways', and while I can't remember how I found this article (I think a friend tweeted it, but I can't remember who), thank you, it's been so insightful.

While reading the list, each point hit some part of me, some points really stuck with me and some even motivated me.  I live every day trying to be the best version of myself, but sometimes that motto slips through the cracks.  We can only be the best we can be, but it's a conscious decision to do so.


If you don't want to read the whole list, here are a few of my favourites:

1.  Accept Your Mistakes

You’re human. We, humans, are making mistakes. Accept what you did wrong and try to do better next time. No need to punish yourself forever. In fact, accepting your mistakes is the only way to make them disappear.


2.  Accept Your Friends Mistakes

Maybe you got hurt by somebody. Happens. Just accept it and deal with it. People are making mistakes and if you can accept that for yourself, accept it for your friends too. In the end, all you need from them is their love.

* so often this reigns true with me and reading this clears all the bullshit and puts things in perspective.  We only need our friends' love, and if they're still offering that to us, and they're trying their best, we can try our best to move past their mistakes too.


9.  Create and Keep a Morning Phrase

Whatever you say to yourself in the morning, it will most likely come true during the day. Why not taking advantage of it? Create a simple morning phrase and say it to yourself first thing in the morning. Is that simple.


21.  Be Better, Not Perfect

Striving too much for perfection will ruin your life. It will wipe out all those little imperfections which are making you… human. Being better, on the other side, is rewarding. Look back at the yesterday you and just say: I’m better!


25.  Avoid Fighting

Fighting is the biggest energy leak of your being. Trying to prove another guy wrong is so against your true nature. You’re here to acknowledge life’s wonders, not to prove anybody’s wrong. They’re not wrong, just have different opinions. And that’s part of life.


40.  Start a Monthly Challenge

Being it physical, mental or social. Intend to acquire something new in your life in 30 days. Improve your health using new methods, or your relationships by starting new things together. Make it count. And count on it.


42.  Follow a Coincidence

Well, there aren’t any coincidences, I lied. Everything has a purpose. If you witness something which may seem like a coincidence, then you’re very lucky, you just got a sign. Follow it with trust, it will lead you well.


48.  Break Up with a Person You Don't Really Like

Maybe you’re friend with somebody just by habit, chemistry being dead for a long time now. Just break it up. Tell him. Ok, let’s unfriend us, this will not work. It will bring up something you thought you lost it long ago: courage.

* this is hard, I've been there, I've done that.  That's not to say I don't miss those people now, but at the time it was the right decision.


65.  Say Something Nice to Somebody

Just like that. Out of the blue. Pick an unknown person and say something nice. After the initial surprise you’ll be amazed by the unmasked joy and gratitude they’re expressing. Admit it: you would like that too, right?


77.  One More Second

Create the habit of looking at things for one more second. Spend one more second before taking an important decision. Delay something. Time will follow your intention and open some unexpected window for you. Slow it down a little.


85.  Laugh

This time is not about smiling. It’s about laughing. Don’t you ever miss another opportunity to laugh. Especially at yourself. The longer your laughing sessions, the shorter your misery ones. Looks like a nice deal, isn’t it?


87.  Trust Your Emotions

Don’t underestimate your emotions. Or overestimate them. Your emotions are your feed-back system and for that they are very important. Trying to ignore your emotions is like depriving yourself from lights in a car running in the middle of the night.


97.  Make Your Own Rules

And stick with them. Go for what works for you, not the others. Go for what you want, not the others. Including me. Make your own system and be proud of it. You may upset some people in the process, but hey, that’s life.


100.  No Regrets

Regretting something is another form of not accepting reality. What you can do about it now? It’s gone. It doesn’t exist anymore. Focus on what you can change: your present moment. Not yesterday, not tomorrow. Now. Live now.


 Dunkin Donuts 'Cool Latta' - I drank a few of these.  We don't have Dunkin Donuts in Canada and these are way better than Iced Caps from Tim Hortons.  Oh, and btw, that's a medium.  Love those Americans.

During my trip to Florida, I kept a bit of a photo diary with my iPhone whenever I could.  Sometimes I didn't bring my camera with me (shocker) or only had a second to snap a quick shot.  I'm missing the warm weather a ton but the snow here is melting and despite temperatures being below zero still, Spring is on it's way.

Daytona Beach

 The cart from my trip to Ross with my mom.  That store is amazing and we clearly don't have that in Canada, either.

 A solo evening at the beach.

My favourite beer which often comes 2-for-1 at many restaurants (another fantastic American thing).  The one on the left was from my dinner at the Washington airport on my way home.  Ending my trip and keepin' it classy: a solo beer and burger.

One morning, during my run, there were tons of seagulls congregated on the beach, just standing around.  I stopped running, pulled my iPhone from my armband and snapped a shot.

 Daytona Bike Week  (psst, spot the dog?)
 
Various Beach Shots

Clockwise from top left:  (1) Peanut butter M&M's  (2) Buffalo Chicken Sandwich from Chili's (my fave)  (3) Side Ceaser Salad from Chili's  (4) Chips & bean dip from Chili's  (5) My almost-everyday breakfast, toast with peanut butter and banana and a huge glass of milk  (6) Chips and salsa from El Toucan  (7) My Dad checking out how they make Salt Water Taffee in Daytona Beach  (8) Chicken Enchilladas from El Toucan  (9) Candy Apples in Daytona Beach  (10) Cowboy Burger from AppleBee's  (11) Steak dinner (which was horrible so I exchanged it for number nine) at AppleBee's

 Dynamite blazer (last seen here), Love Culture dress, Sirens leggings, Delicious booties (last seen here), 
Suzy necklace, various bangles & Guess bracelet

Isn't the top picture so cool?  There was a bus zooming by and the camera caught it. 

Do you guys have casual Friday at work?  We do, and every Friday is like the candy day of the week because I get to put together an outfit with jeans.  All week long it's pencil skirts, dresses and other more business-y stuff, but Friday, Friday is the day to let loose (well, not that loose) and be creative with denim.  And this is what happens.  The pressure gets to me, I try on six pairs of different jeans before deciding I cannot choose what to do with them and I put on something that would work just as equally from Monday to Thursday.  What is wrong with me!?

 Showing off my new Guess bracelet (a birthday gift from my SIL)

Annnd this is what happens when you put the camera on your car's spoiler with the 
vehicle still running (so I could jump back in at a moment's notice because it was cold).  Awesome.
  
I'm frolicking on jennifhsieh today while she frolicks in conference-land.  


Blogger Template Created by pipdig