Thankful

I’ve never really celebrated Thanksgiving. Or at least really appreciated the true meaning behind it. But this year is different. There were so many unexpected things that happened this year and I thought that for once I’d like to actually acknowledge how much positive energy its brought into my life. My family, friends, blog, job and everything else have all grown exponentially than what I could have ever imagined for myself when 2013 just started. I’m also really thankful for you guys who come in here all the time to see whats up and just show that you’re there. On  less serious note, I’m hosting our family dinner later on tonight! There’s just three of us but it’s definitely a big step for me.

I hope you’re all having a great time with your friends and loved ones. And from my little family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!

p.s. In case you missed it yesterday, I’ve teamed up with an awesome crew of bloggers to giveaway an iPad to one lucky reader! Just scroll down and click through the giveaway link and the very bottom. Cheers!

Photos by yours truly

Here Comes the Sun

Last week, The Philippines took a devastating signal no. 5 typhoon killing thousands of people. I remembered growing up there and not having class with a national calamity warning when there was a signal no. 3 storm – a typhoon that’s up 2 notches from that is unfathomable. The videos are unreal and hard to watch especially when you can see familiar places being washed out into a flood that never seems to end. But like many calamities and tragedies before, The Philippines will survive this like it always has. I’d like to thank those of you who reached out to me to see if my family there is ok – you guys are truly the best. I’m blessed to say that my family is safe and my heart goes out to those who cannot say the same. It’s crazy how we can take so many things for granted.. I realize that now more than ever. I hope you guys have a wonderful weekend filled with adventures. Let’s remind ourselves of everything good in our lives, ok?

P.S. Circles Thai is having a Thai Thanksgiving tomorrow if you’re around the Philly area. All proceeds to benefit a relief campaign for the Philippines.

Photo by Andria Lindquist

Jumpstart

Inspired by Trina’s honest post, I’ve decided that maybe writing one might do me some good too. While hers is focused more on the feeling of being overwhelmed, mine is quite the opposite and here’s why..

For the last few weeks or so I must admit that I was feeling a sense of disconnect between myself and my business. I was feeling that way because I had a hard time accepting what it was turning into. And not that it was turning into something bad, it was just not me, or even partially me. And when you’re endorsing something that doesn’t fit, I think that disconnect I was feeling comes out naturally and inevitably. Someone told me “if you don’t like it, then leave”  But that was the thing… I didn’t necessarily want to leave, I just wanted it to be a different. And then at that point, I realized what the problem was. It wasn’t the business. It wasn’t the insane growth spurt. And it definitely wasn’t the positive feedback – it was me. It was because I was too busy with my head elsewhere that I’ve slowly lost my grip over this amazing thing that was initially influenced a lot by my inspirations and thoughts. And slowly my part dwindled down to barely anything. And you know what? I was always good with being in denial and I think that’s partly how I got myself here. I always knew what my issue was, but never bothered to fix it because it would put an ugly black dot on my shiny white paper. An important talk recently forced me to see that and I’m glad it did before it was too late.

So what now? What’s next? I’m going to get back in there and kick things into high gear. Enough on being in denial and enough on depending on others. It’s time to really, and I mean really, do this. Sometimes you just need a quick jump to restart things and I’m glad to be back.

P.S. Thank you so much Trina for writing such a brave and honest post. You’re an inspiration and you rock.

Photo borrowed from Coffee in the Mountains

Life Lately: Clover Market

Nati and I barely ever have a day off at the same time but this past Sunday was one of them. So we got up really early and planned to spend the day together visiting food trucks and do a little bit of shopping. We headed out to Ardmore ( a Philadelphia suburb ) and got more than what we bargained for.

Clean House

The other night I got to take some photos in a really gorgeous downtown bachelor pad. I mean.. this place was beautiful and it was designed by a guy. I was so impressed and inspired after I left that I knew I had to get back into fixing up my place, too. So for this weekend, I have one major goal – to clean and rearrange my apartment. We’re almost 6 months in and we still haven’t fully settled in. We still have no couch, no coffee table or even a decent dining table to eat dinner on. I wish I could just go to West Elm and  splurge on some home decor. But hey a girl can dream right? And there’s always Craigslist and Marshals to save a a freelancer’s wallet. Anyway, I hope you all have some fun things lined up for the next 2 days! See you back on Monday! And Happy November!

– C.

 

Original source of image unknown but you can find it in my Tumblr.