Does anything ever happen in your life where you just kind of have to take a moment to laugh? It wasn't a knock knock joke, or any kind of joke, really, but you just can't help but laugh. I had a lot of those moments today.

I woke up 15 minutes before my alarm, which is personally one of my favorite ways to wake up. I had my outfit pre planned, and knew that I was going to grab breakfast and coffee at Starbucks. El Niño decided to make its grand entrance last night, so I also knew I wasn't going to do my hair, as it would just get ruined in the rain anyways. I had a plan. I was going to get to work early to possibly leave early, I packed a healthy lunch, I brought my planner, and my iPad was fully charged. I was so ready for the day. I even printed out agendas for the meeting I had at 10am for work. 

I did all of this just to realize it was pouring rain and traffic going downtown would be horrible, I dropped my Starbucks breakfast sandwich in my lap while driving, I had cat fur all over my leggings, and when I got out of my car after parking at work, I stepped into a puddle. And this was just the morning. I later realized that I had left my lunch in my car and decided to go get it because it had stopped raining, yet the second I stepped outside it started down pouring. But you know what? I did this all with a huge smile on my face. Because even writing this, I can't help but laugh! Life is funny that way... And I don't know if it was because I "woke up on the right side of the bed" this morning or if the audiobook I am currently listening to is taking a toll and putting my New Year's resolution of being more positive into play, but I love it. 

I can 110% say that I am happier now, and this past week, than I have been in months, and maybe even years. I finally feel happy with myself in most facets, and so why get upset that I stepped in a puddle? It washed my Nikes. Or why worry about dropping my breakfast sandwich? It was just the bread part anyways, who needs the extra carbs. And leaving my lunch in my car? I got more FitBit steps! 

I am slowly starting to realize that life is what you make it, and as cliche as that sounds, I truly believe it. If I wake up in the morning and say I am going to have an awful day, 9 times out of 10 I will have an awful day. What should you do instead? Buy yourself flowers and put them on your work desk. It worked for me!

I used to think I had a second date curse. I have been on several first dates, a few second dates, and it is very rare if I go on a third date. Like my last third date was with my last relationship. It was a serious curse. Key word "was."  If I continue to tell myself I have this curse, I most likely won't have a third date for awhile. Which, I would be totally okay with that seeing as I love being single, but hey, a third date here and there doesn't sound awful.

Another example: today at work I began prepping my blog post for the website tomorrow. It has to deal with a wine milkshake, so I suggested a team outing to in-n-out so that I could take photos of the wine milkshake with an in-n-out burger, because when I think of a milkshake, I think of in-n-out. So, guess what we're doing for lunch tomorrow? Going to in-n-out. Simply because I suggested it, and everyone loved the idea. (Plus, who would ever say no to in-n-out?!) 

What are some things life has thrown at you recently? Have you combatted them, or just let life walk over you?

P.s.: I got some new books today, and I am most excited for my adult coloring book! My dad asked if it was rated R...... No, father, it is just a very intricate and detailed coloring book. Thank.You.Very.Much.

Sometimes Life Isn't a Perfect Scale

Life is all about balance. Finding a balance between work and social, health and wellness with your cravings for pizza, family time, friend time and you time. The struggles with finding balance is always asking when, where, and how much.

As much as I try to maintain a balanced life, things will never be perfect. Of course, everyone's life is perfectly imperfect. Each individual is perfect in their own kind of way, no matter what that may be and with whatever flaws that makes you unique.

So, let's balance out some things right now.
Want frozen yogurt? Go to the gym, work up a sweat, and go get you some fro-yo.
Want to go on a vacation? Save up, don't go shopping for a bit, and book your flight.
Cold, but don't feel like putting on socks? Throw on some Uggs.. I won't judge you.
Watching a video that scares you? Throw on some Spongebob and question why the inside of his round pineapple is square.


Starting to plan both my work and my social life in one planner is definitely the start of some balance, or at least so I think. What do I know, it's January 4, 2016 and I tweeted about starting 2015 off on the right foot this morning. You know, I'm human, I make mistakes.

Ironic how all I have been looking forward to is making this year great, and I am already back in the past year. See? Balance. Balancing reflecting on the past with planning the future, all while focusing in the present.

Then again, life could all be like riding a hover board and you think you're great until you fall forward, turn around too fast, fall backward, or your hover board bursts into flames. Who knows anymore.

Planning Is Key

As the supposedly wise DJ Khaled says on his SnapChat, many things in life are the key to success.

Personally, I had to Google the whole DJ Khaled and key emoji thing, so we are going to stick to something I know. And I know Friends. I have always been one to plan, whether it is my week, my day, my work schedule, etc. In school, it was definitely easier to use my planner, and it was also very helpful when applying to jobs and when I worked part-time, to see when I was working weird hours, etc.

Now that I work 10 to 6 every day, I rarely use my planner. I have always decorated my planner, as motivation to use it, but recently (meaning the last like week or two) I would only write in my extracurriculars. Though this is informative, it leaves me feeling weird looking back on my week and ultimately takes away form the whole "journal" aspect of my planner, which is why I have the planner I do.

So, why are DJ Khaled and Friends in the same blog post with planners? This weekend fell short of my Sunday plans. Ironic, because Sunday is normally my planning day for the upcoming week.

My plans for Thursday through Saturday were pretty solid for the most part, but Sunday is where the problems occurred. Timing kept getting pushed back, we didn't have reservations for the museum we wanted to go to, there was miscommunications, the list just continued. So, we postponed until another weekend. This just made me realize how important planning is, and how necessary it is for that to be a key aspect on all sides, no matter how large the party.

Planning is a major key to success, and if you're gonna start at anytime, now is it. Don't wait for your plans to fall through to pick up your planner again, or be ready waiting in your car for an hour just for plans to be cancelled. Take it from my experience!

My challenge for myself this week is to bring my planner with me to work, and begin using it for both my work life and social life, so that I can visually see the balance. I am also hoping that this will get me to use my time more wisely, and be able to figure out a proper gym schedule. (Which is actually really hard when working a 10 to 6 job downtown...)

Planning can also be a very calming thing! It is for me at least.. well when I do it!

What are some of your favorite ways to keep track of plans and work?
Have a great week!

Just Keep Swimming

Happy Saturday!

Today I went to the aquarium, which was SO MUCH FUN. No sarcasm. It was really fun. Minus the kids in strollers everywhere, but hey that's just like Disneyland you just have to live with it.

I headed over to Rachel's, aka my other half, and we went to Kreation... because we are addicted. After my coffee fix and her wanna-be-acai-bowl fix, we made the trek down to Long Beach and met up with two of her coworkers who are just as sassy and sarcastic as me, so that was great. I pet jellyfish, took a picture with a fake penguin that my mom thought was real from the picture, and I fed birds (I hate birds). Of course, I did all of this and took tons of pictures so here are some of those in case you don't follow me on any other social media platform:

Beautiful photos, I know, I try. Just kidding. Also, yes, I'm wearing workout clothes because why would I wear cute clothes to just walk around. I have done that before and learned my lesson. Plus, my Nike addiction got kind of bad last year and I need to wear them more.

Reality check time: I'm actually the annoying friend who is always like "OMG take my photo!" and my friends get really annoyed but they know the effort I put into my Instagrams and now my blogs so it's okay... I think, I don't know, actually... I don't really ask because I'm afraid to know that they actually hate taking my photos so let's just pretend my friends love taking photos for me. 

After the aquarium, Rachel and I headed to Silver Lake to check out a crystal shop, but we ended up getting hungry so we made a Pad Thai stop first. After Pad Thai, we went to the crystal shop and explored our inner chakra, what different crystals can do for the individual, and got a very brief, like very very brief intro on that area of spirituality/calming/meditation/whatever you want to call it. 

One of my newest things, not just for 2016 but for life, is to be more open to different experiences and views on the world, so why not learn about different things if it's right down the street from my friend's house!

(Plus, they're all like really pretty...)

My only "resolution," per say, for 2016 is "16 in 16": 

16 new things that either challenge me, get me out of my comfort level, or leave me with memories over materials. 16 isn't a lot, and the list definitely isn't done, but I know that I want one of them to be to try new books or podcasts, and at this point in my life, I am just open to positivity, in whichever form that may be. 

What are some of your favorite lifestyle or positivity books or podcasts? 

Hope you had a great first Saturday of the year!

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I felt so cliche even writing the title of this blog post, but sometimes we all need a fresh start. I have definitely been one of those people in the past who is determined to change on the first day of the New Year, because it is a New Year, new hope, new experiences, the list goes on and on. What I currently don't understand is why we don't celebrate New Month? Every day is an opportunity to change who you are, and whoever that is, only you can decide.

Okay enough sentimental boring New Year, New You stuff... let's get real here.

2015 was a whirlwind of emotions for me. My heart was broken, I disappointed people, I experienced new things, I learned a lot about myself, I grew up, I created memories that will last me a lifetime, I graduated college, I changed, and I realized what I want in life for myself and from others.

New Year's Eve is just an opportunity for clubs and bars to jack up their prices, and for people to get extremely drunk, and for random people to make-out. As cool as this may sound, I wanted to be in bed. Which is what I was when the clock struck midnight.

Didn't get a kiss at midnight? You're still alive, it isn't the end of the world.
Didn't get drunk? Look at all the calories you saved!
Went to bed early? Look at you, getting that beauty rest for 2016!
Didn't set any resolutions? Yeah, because you're probably already perfect.

I have no regrets from the year of 2015 and hope to only become a stronger individual, both physically and emotionally, in the coming year. Instead of celebrating the New Year, I challenge you to celebrate every month, every memory, every experience. When things close, it just makes room for something bigger and better. (And this is coming from someone who has little to no patience.)

All I can say is this: happy you year. Take a moment and reflect on what you want, and what you don't want in your life, and start collecting more moments and memories than things.

You are beautiful and smart and you deserve the world, so go get it!