Easier Said Than Done

Worry Less.
Smile more.
Accept criticism.
Take responsibility.
Listen.
Love.
Don't hate.
Embrace change.
Feel good anyway.

Love the life you live. Live the life you love. 

Baby, it's Cold Outside

Being in the Pacific Northwest has its ups and downs. Well, first off, we get all 4 seasons so we get to see rain, snow, hail, shine, and the trees changing colors magically. When we have a beautiful day, we take it as a blessing and maximize our day with it. When it snows, we think of excuses to call-in work/school and say “we can’t make it” to just to play in it.

There’s nothing more I hate than being cold. Yes, I know hate is a strong word. But I absolutely hate it! I know most males would disagree just because they all “hate” being hot. But I would rather be too hot than too cold. I feel helpless, dysfunctional, and feel like I can never get out of it! 

Lately, it’s been so cold my intestines hurt and my blood flow stops. But the thing is.. it’s going to get colder. -__- Dealing with frosted cars in the morning and having to wear too big of a jacket I can’t check my blind spot is how I try to manage the cold here. And my biggest worry in the mornings are: "What do I need to do so I'm not cold walking to my car? Is my car frosty? Should I scrape the ice or let it defrost?" Seems anal and tedious, but like I said... there's nothing I hate more than being cold. 

With all this weather approaching, it makes me excited for SNOWBOARDING SEASON! I haven't decided if I want to get a season's pass this year but we shall see. I've had one the past 2 years though. There's nothing I love more than snowboarding even though I suck. And for this one activity... I'm okay with my teeth clattering. 

Don't Justify

Everything in life is subjective. Okay, maybe not 100%. But most of the things in life are subjective. We all have our own opinions, thoughts, and justify it in our own brain to say "It's all good!" But once in awhile we fall into a pit that is not right, but do nothing about it. We know it's not right, we need to get out, we need to run, open another door, and book it. Yet we sit there and sulk in our own misery.

Next thing you know, the sulking we do brainwashes us to think it's okay now. The job you hated became "manageable." The relationship that was making you pull your eyeballs out is now "tolerable." The friend you had a problem with is "dissipating" by silence.

Over time we get used to things. Whether it's a new home, a new friend, a new facebook layout, an upgraded version on our iPhones or even the way Costco has their aisles organized. Over time, we get used to it. But this goes for even negative situations. We tell ourselves it's okay to be in this and/or feel this way that it becomes normal. Therefore why I hear girls say "It's okay, I got used to him yelling all the time." Or better yet, "It's okay he hits me. It's not like he's going to kill me." I think this is a right time to use this face --> O_O

It's funny how far we go to justify something because we are comfortable. Or even to not disappoint anyone. We brainwash ourselves in this negative energy that we turn it into "positive" energy. We become accustomed to something appalling it's gross. And over time, that grossness becomes normal.

Never settle for anything less than the best. Never sell yourself short. Never tell yourself you don't deserve the best. Never justify something to make it okay. When you think you've reached the best, strive for more.

Comfortable

Comfort. Who doesn't like it? It's that point where everything is all good and everything is in place where you want it to be. As an interior design student, the number one thing clients want from their home is "comfort." They ask for comfort, they want their space to be homey, and inviting. Who wants to live in a place where it's uncomfortable? That just sounds absurd.

When we get a locker at school/work, or a new cubicle/desk, the first thing we do is make it personal. We do this by adding our own pictures, statues or figurines, and arranging things in the way we like it. Why? To make it comfortable for us. And make it "who we are," that way that desk is screaming our name everywhere.

When we lie in bed, we scrounge, we shuffle the sheets, we flip our pillows to the get the right fluffiness to be comfortable. We can't seem to fall asleep until we find comfort unless we were at an amusement park for 13 hours screaming our lungs out. So wherever we lie our head will be good enough. Or, you're just me and fall asleep wherever, whenever. But we usually flip over backwards and forwards until we're comfortable.

But then there's a bad kind of comfort where we lose ourself in the comfort. Especially in relationships. Not just boyfriend/girlfriend, but even friendships. Where we become so comfortable we don't know how to draw boundaries, cross lines, and even go overboard with things we do/say. Or just ignore the discomfort we find in the comfort we have so much of.  What we do with the comfort we find shows where we'll end up.

You don't want to be so comfortable in your own home that you never clean, pick up, and wash dishes. You don't want to be so comfortable you stop dressing up for your significant other. You don't want to be so comfortable you stop caring about anything. Too much of anything is never good.

If you pay attention to your conversations with people, see how often someone says the word "comfortable" and what context it's in. It's surprising how we all desire it and what we do with it.

p.s. The most comfortable thing to me is having pillows all around me so I feel like I'm on a cloud and falling asleep when I'm not supposed to.

Something New

After traveling to New York and living the city life for just a brief 6 days, I have broadened my outlook on life. Not only that, but has shown me a lot of what I have been missing. Or… just showed me everything Seattle doesn’t have haha.

Being born and raised in Seattle has made me in the comfort zone. I like knowing where I am at all times, which coffee shop has the best americano’s, and know the back roads to every place during peak rush hour. The occasional freak out of feeling suffocated in 1 city happens once in awhile and I rage about wanting to move elsewhere. But Seattle is always, and no matter what, will be home. However, the world has so much to offer. I understand why my dad is always encouraging me to vacation different places, countries, and cities – you always learn something and grow as a person from it.

Even a New Yorker will say that the city offers too much for them to experience everything. I can definitely not say that about Seattle. -___- I know I’ll be here for another 2 years or so to finish up school, but my anxiety level of wanting to get out is becoming uncontrollable.

Wanting to know more about what else is out there, feeling lost, and meeting new people are the ingredients of growing up. And I believe that we all need to do this for ourselves and no one else. Or at least feel all of these at one point during this thing called life.

With that said, I can’t say how exciting, crazy, fun and hungover I was on this trip. Being a first time visitor and being skeptical of how great New York really is compared to what people say, I went on this trip with minimal expectations. And I came out with more than I had even fathomed. But the saying of “it’s not what you do, but who you’re with” that I always say comes into play. I went with Chris for his cousin’s wedding and ended up being with the Acabs majority of the time. And then being stuck on Staten Island due to Hurricane Irene made us into sardines in 1 little house.

The Acab’s have a great bond and it’s too bad everyone is all over the country. They have a great relationship with one another with their craziness. Are all Filipino families crazy? Regardless, I love Filipinos. I can never get away from them. 

Concrete jungle where dreams are made of definitely showed me there really is nothing you can’t do. Do yourself a favor and if you haven’t been to New York, take a visit!

I’m going to say this. But I love New York better than Vegas. Yes, I said it. :) 

Time Square 

Best Boy Friend

So today is this guy named Joel Acab's birthday. AKA Chris. Well, his middle name is Christopher and he just likes to go by his middle name. One of the reasons is cause people don't know how to pronounce his name correctly. I guess it's Jo-elle, and not Jole. -___-

He's finally 24 and I've been 24 for already 6 months. sigh... WTHECK CHRIS! sluffin haha

Anyway, let me just say all the annoying things about this guy. hahaha jk. But to be honest, I have to say he's my best boy friend. I never thought I'd have a best friend that's a boy... But I guess he fits the definition of what a best friend is. He's always there for me, gives me an honest answer, tells me how he feels about what I ask him, listen to me ramble about stupid crap, and will help me out whenever I need! Even though he's incapable of doing something! Not only that, but helps me be a better friend/person. Now, isn't that all you want from a friend? Oh, wait... 1 more. He gives me advice whenever I have a digestive problem haha! The soon-to-be-doctor tells me what's wrong me all the time. :)

He's always wanting to turn anything into a game to play. And adamant about teaching me Craps to a point where I don't want to learn anymore. Kind of like when he wanted me to like the show How I Met Your Mother so much I wanted to regurgitate. He wants to teach me so bad he printed out a Craps sheet apparently. haha! Fine, I'll learn it sooner or later for you, Chris. And we shall go to the casino and win big.

I know I can always turn to him. He's given me good advice and he's full of fun ALL THE TIME! So what can I lose from this guy? Minus the fact that he's not a girl and I can't always share everything with him haha! Although, I think he wishes I don't share some things with him.... He helps me see things from a different view and is always on the lookout for me. And always taking care of me. Not to mention super protective of me. He used the analogy as "Father being worried for his daughter" once. -__-

p.s. sorry for being a bitch sometimes and for dealing with it. :P love you chrissy poo!!!! haha 

I am a Giant Cheesecake

A lot of people say "You are what you eat" to help you manage your intake of "bad foods." Cause who wants to look like a giant piece of Big Mac? But this doesn't really stop me. :T It's bad, but I do try to be healthy. Actually, I eat lots of greens, veggies and fruits daily. But I guess I cave into ice cream, candy, sweets, snacks and smoothies too much so all that hard work of "being healthy" throughout the day is just tossed out the window. sigh...

So since we are what we eat... we are also who we surround ourselves with. Recently I've realized I'm unhappy at my work. A lot of factors come into play to feel this way (if I'm close enough to you, you've heard my stories).  I've managed for two and a half years to be here. I'm surprised at myself how long I've lasted!

Well, our workplace doesn't seem like a big deal but it actually is more than you think. Most of us are at our jobs minimum of 30 hours a week; that's 120 hours a month; 1440 hours a year! AT LEAST! We all have coworkers we dislike, hate, get annoyed of, and want to slam their heads into a wall... But we just roll our eyes and walk away (usually). Not only that, but the workplace affects who we are, how we feel, and our mood. I've decided to make a stern decision to quit one of my jobs because it's an unhealthy environment for me. I haven't had the guts to do it for so long but just like people say, "When you know, you know..." And I KNOW. Now is the time. Regardless of when I do it, my boss won't be happy. So why prolong it and make my heart race every time I work? (My heart is racing as I type this -- I have yet to quit. I will do it tonight haha. Or let's hope I do!)

Continuing on, positive and negative energy is so apparent that we miss it. Ironic, huh? We sometimes become oblivious to what we are always around that we get used to it. Even when it's bad, we think it's good. Or perhaps justify anything to make it a positive energy. Our friends show a reflection of who we are. Therefore surround yourself with who you are like and love to be with. Who you become when you're with people can show what kind of friends you have. Also, loving the person you become is very important as well.

Surround yourself with good people, good food, good music, and God. What more could you need in life? :)