Category Archives: Thoughts & Stories

Observations, thoughts and stories about work, love, friends, family, and everything else I love.

Fill your own cup

Posted in Inspiration, Thoughts & Stories by

my new pretty lovely water bottle - beautiful to look at, inspiring me to drink more water!

Have you ever seen something and thought “I have to have that!” but you don’t buy it and then you can’t stop thinking about it?  That was the case with this here lovely. 

I’ve really been trying to drink a lot more water lately and with all the “don’t use plastic water bottle” messages and scary BPA negative health effects, I try to keep reusable tumblers at my desk at work.  For a while my daily routine was a glass of juice in the morning, a cup of coffee (or three) in the office and a glass of wine at night.  I was getting no hydration at all during the day – caught up in work, too busy to even fill my cup.  So now I have this beautiful glass water bottle to inspire me and remind me to fill my own cup. 

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about stress, work/life balance, being a better manager, leader and employee, serving others better and more effectively and then settled on this: how can I serve myself better?  If I’m happier, more productive, healthy, that’s how I can better serve others.  So, my new question is “what do I need to do today to be happy and feel successful?”  I’d challenge you to ask yourself the same thing.  It’s so often that I get into the office, get wrapped up in answering other people’s emails that I don’t have time to do the most important things I had on my own list of things to do. 

Speaking of which, writing is something I’ve been seriously slacking on too, and I can tell because I feel similarly to how Mumbles does when he doesn’t get to exercise enough – lathargic and kinda cranky. Writing is one of the many creative outlets I love so I also scooped up this darling retro and bold lovely to inspire me to jot down creative inspirations, thoughts and ideas throughout the day. 

the paper has lines of type that say “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” – a good reminder to get creative throughout my work day!
What do you keep with you to inspire creativity and good-for-you thoughts and behaviors?

Stress & the 3 things happy people have in common

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Did you know that prior to 1960 the term “stress” did not exist outside of architectural references (ie: stress on a building)?  Now, it’s nearly impossible to get through a day without hearing the word stress.

At the 3rd Annual Women’s Conference held at Cal State Fullerton (my alma mater), I attended a session about stress and achieving a work/life balance led by Kristin Welsh-Simpson, the Senior Employee Assistance Counselor with the U.S. House of Representatives Office of Employee Assistance.  She gave great, sensible advice for women who have very busy lives and wish to have peace and balance in their daily life (isn’t that everyone?). Simpson, also a certified executive coach and a mom of three boys (this lady knows what she’s talking about!), is devoted to taking time out of her busy schedule to help women achieve this peace of mind.

I took a lot away from her practical and approachable talk and thought I should share some of her great ideas for erasing stress from our lives and achieving a better work/life balance.  Check out my post with her tips here.

Also, I loved this…3 things happy people have in common:
o        Something to DO
o        Something to LOVE
o        Something to LOOK FORWARD TO

Judging books by covers

Posted in Thoughts & Stories by
Books make me happy.
Pretty things make me smile. 

The book store chain Borders has filed for bankruptcy (sad face) and my fabulous friend Sarah told me to get on over to the location near us before the masses had picked through all the good stuff in their huge “we-need-to-get-rid-of-everything” sale. 

I was looking forward to getting books that I love but don’t own and I’d had my eye on some editions with newly redesigned covers to add to my library collection.  After being in the store for an hour perusing the disorganized store I realized my arms were sore from the growing, toppling stack.  I set down my selections and looked at many of the ones I’d scooped up.  Some didn’t excite me much but were protectively cradled in my arms nonetheless for fear they would be picked up by the other book-worm eating vultures scavenging through the eerily picked-through shelves…like Bridget Jones’ Diary. I didn’t really need to have Bridget Jones’ Diary sitting on my bookshelf at home nor did I actually want to read it (a rare occasion – I’ve never read the book but seen the movie a million times. Fact: books are always better than movies).  As it happens, I was just taken with the stunning cover illustration. 

Instead of frivilously buying all the books with pretty covers to keep on my bookshelf where no one but me will admire them, I had a novel idea (see what I did there?!): I’ll post a few of the ones that I’m pretty obsessed with so you can see for yourself what fabulous taste I have whilst I save myself a heap of money. 

“Couture Classics” edition of Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, jacket illustration by Ruben Toledo

Penguin Ink edition of Bridget Jones' Diary by Helen Fielding with jacket illustrations by Tara McPherson

"Couture Classics" edition of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

50th Anniversary edition of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

"Classic Couture" edition of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, cover illustration by Ruben Toledo

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carrol, illustrations by Camille Rose Garcia

Love is Sweet

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I remember a Valentine’s Day when I was in elementary school – I got up, put on my pink stretch shorts, red t-shirt, red scrunch socks, pink tennis shoes, and tied my hair with what I’m sure was a pink and red scrunchie covered in hearts or flowers.  Pride swelling at my appropriate attire for the occasion I was quickly out front running around with the dog waiting for my ride to come get me.  It was a rare occasion that I’d be ready and waiting before school but I was jazzed (probably about my awesome scrunch socks) that I was all decked out in a festive Valentine’s Day getup.  My mom came outside, took one look at me and told me to go inside and change.  WHAT?!  I was the epitome of Valentine’s Day cuteness.  Looking back now I can see that dressing up like a supermarket stuffed animal in red and pink did look a little over the top; that just because it was Valentine’s Day didn’t mean I needed to look like an idiot just to show I was in the celebrating mood.  And I think that little lesson stuck with me.

I’m not a fan of Valentine’s Day (forced public displays of affection and the obligatory, overpriced flowers) but I am a fan of love, baked goods, and greeting cards.  I woke up early this morning to melt some chocolate to get my plate of long stemmed chocolate covered strawberries dipped and in the fridge, ready and waiting to greet Mumbles when he gets home today.  I know Mumbles will appreciate that I woke up a few minutes early to do something nice for him because he knows me well enough to know that it takes a lot of energy and will power to get me out of our comfortable bed every morning.

I believe the small things are the big things in life and that simple, kind gestures make people smile and remember that there are things to look forward to in life, and in love.   So tonight I’m going to give Mumbles his first “To my husband” Valentine’s Day card and enjoy the chocolate covered strawberries just as much as I’d enjoy going home and enjoying a glass of wine or a beer on any other night of the year with my husband. 

Here’s to hoping that this year you’re celebrating love and what really matters – not just buying anything red or pink with hearts on it because you feel like you need to – and appreciating the people you have in your life who show you you’re special every day.

The BFOTB & The Bachelor. How it all came to be.

Posted in The Bachelor/Bachelorette Recaps, Thoughts & Stories by

Before we get to this week’s recap I just have to share that this all started because BFOTB Ashley and I would love to get together each week to catch up, drink wine, have dinner, and revel in the awkwardness that is each episode of The Bachelor.  We started giving participants fun nicknames then writing down memorable quotes to share on Facebook, and soon therafter we escalated into full blown summaries and high/lowlights of each episode.  Well, it seems others are beginning to see just how fun watching The Bachelor can be!  Take this drinking game from Reality Fishbowl, for example. Absolutely hilarious.  My personal fave requires two shots anytime Chris says something that’s completely obvious.  As in, “Brad, girls, this is the last rose…”  Don’t play, though.  You don’t stand a chance. 

BFOTB has been across the pond in London these past two weeks making my solo Bachelor watching and recapping a little less fun. I look forward to welcoming back her witticism next week!

If this is your first time on this blog and you want to catch up on the first three episodes this season you can read them here, here and here.  We love hearing your thoughts on the show so feel free to leave comments!

Cheers!