Monthly Archives: April 2012

Life got you down?

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Life ever feel like this?

 

You’re happy and content but doing the same thing day after day, week after week. I don’t  want to sound like a downer or anything, not when tomorrow is Monday and a new week is about to begin. But I can’t help but wonder when I will feel like I’m really living.

I’ve begun the process of sprucing up my resume and LinkedIn profile in hopes that as I  browse around the web for a job, something will catch my eye. I think that I am ready to look for a career, to pursue my writing, and to get back my passion. I think that after my sister’s wedding I’ll be able to get my ass in gear even more! A week of sun, relaxation, and exploring a new place is exactly what myself and this blog needs!

“Fear doesn’t shut you down; it wakes you up.” – Veronica Roth

That is going to be my new mantra. It is possible to let the fear of getting out of you routine wake you up and not only kill off your fears but make you feel more alive than you ever have. I’m hoping that I can use my fear as a weapon to achieve greatness, to do what I want, and to be who I am.

Hope you all had an amazing weekend! I’ll be experiencing some new things this week that I’m hoping to blog about before I leave on Sunday. Until then… XoXo :P

–
Love Always
Vanessa Xo

Flying or Falling?

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I love driving on the 407 – the part where you get onto the highway and you have to loop-de-loop on a kind of bridge. Being that high in the air (sort of) makes me feel like I’m driving on the clouds. Like I’m falling flying free.

Yesterday as the sun was beginning to set, I found myself driving on said highway cloud. There were dark puffs looming above me – heavy black clouds containing a crushing downpour, I’m sure. But just up ahead, I could see that the clouds were whiter, lighter, fluffier. I watched them part slightly, allowing the sun to shine through, illuminating my path and my destination.

Even if the darkness is looming above you – just up ahead you will find light, clarity, and answers.

Happy Friday! Hope you have a great weekend!! :P
–
Love Always 
Vanessa Xo

Damsel in Distress

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Just finished this book:

Michael Ondaatje is my FAVOURITE author and this novel did not disappoint. I’d like to share with you my fave quotes from it.

“There is nothing more seductive to a man than a woman in distress” (Page 46).

I wonder how true that statement is today. I mean with the amount of women succeeding in education, their careers, and in their goals, does today’s man get more turned on by that or a woman in distress? Of course “distress” can be many things to many people but it still makes me wonder.

–

“Could you waste your life on a gift? If you did not use your gift, was it a betrayal?” (Page 79).

I love that quote for many reasons. There are many people out there who are full of talent and passion. Who are artistic and creative. Everyone is given some kind of talent or gift and the worst thing in the world is wasted talent – okay there are worse things but wasted talent really saddens me. If you don’t use your gift I think you’re betraying yourself and all of the potential that you have to do something great. Be someone great. 

–

“Curiosity, courage, it was what they both wished for beneath their pounding hearts” (Page 95).

Be curious. Ask questions. Have the courage to take risks. Be silent and observe when necessary. Act when the time is right.

–
Love Always
Vanessa Xo

L’ottimista Grande

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Last year this happened – my second flat tire in six months. I wasn’t exactly an optimist last year, let alone a grand one.

Today I got this email (from Timehop), you might have to click on the picture to read it better…

I don’t know why I felt something while reading that email. I mean really, it’s just a little dinosaur telling me to GO CONQUER MY DAY (and I am probably not the only person with a Timehop account that got that email) but there is something true in those words. Last year I didn’t feel challenged and let’s be honest I haven’t really been grabbing anything by the horns within the last 8 months. Maybe the issue is that I am not 100% sure where I want to be or what I want to do. What job am I going to be looking for? Is it going to be downtown? Am I going to be writing? Yes. I hope. What about working for a magazine and working on a BOMB novel on the side? Yeah, that sounds awesome. I also want to be apart of some kind of organization that will help teens, or kids. Like the Love is Louder movement, how cool would it be to be apart of that? Or read stories to kids at the local library, that’d be pretty cool too.

I think I need to research jobs and volunteer avenues. I think I need to network PROPERLY and get my stuff out there. I think I need to make a plan and being an optimist will be a huge part of if.

Make a plan. Grab life by the horns.

Conquer your day.

It is YOUR life after all.

–
Love Always
Vanessa Xo

People (Personal) Problem

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A huge problem with people (myself) today is that we’re all so DRAMATIC. I mean we never sit down for two seconds to reflect on what’s going on – we simply react.

I don’t know how to control my emotions or thoughts, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. I’m all for a bit of passion, energy, and spontaneity, but you can cause serious strain on a friendship or relationship if you allow yourself to simply react to every situation. If you react and then reflect, the damage is already done BUT if you take the time to THINK about the situation and be fully aware of your surroundings, you could save yourself from the embarrassment and guilt that comes with hurting others.

I truly believe that if you think before you speak or reflect before you act you can save yourself from a lot of unnecessary anxiety.

On a completely different note, I’m going to leave you with one of my brother’s favourite songs (@JoeGrillone2) because he’s in Myrtle Beach at a Band Competition and I miss him. Also, I have always loved this song – makes me feel like I can do anything.

“Read more, learn more, change the globe” 
–
Love Always
Vanessa Xo 

“If Everything is Perfect, Nothing is Real”

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Perfect moments, like going to your sister’s FINAL dress fitting for her wedding, spending quality time with the family, reading before bed, writing a short story, spending at least five minutes with your brother and not fighting with him, going for coffee with a friend, spending a lazy day with the person you love, going to a Jays game and screaming at the third basemen until he finally gives in and looks over, are often overlooked. They become a fragment of a memory overshadowed by the day’s anxieties.

There are no perfect people or relationships. Perfection is boring. Imperfection keeps you on your toes. Life is filled with so many imperfect moments (like making a rude comment about a horrible waitress and having her overhear you) that it’s sometimes hard to appreciate the perfect ones. My life is not perfect and neither am I but I try really hard to thoroughly enjoy my life. I love to laugh, I love to write, I love to work (most days), I love to spend time with the people I LOVE, I love to be challenged, I love to learn – so each day I make sure I do each of these things. And if for some reason I don’t, I remember that ”…daylight, morning, would bring a return of confidence and reason” - The Historian.

A new day = an opportunity to make a difference or a change in your life.  

You only live once (that’s tha motto baby Yolo), make each day count. 

–
Love Always
Vanessa Xo

Best Medicine

“If laughter is the best medicine, then this weekend cured me of all that ailed me.”

This weekend I hosted my sister’s bachelorette party and I have to admit that I had an amazing time! It’s not very often that you get 20 women in a room and they ALL get along!

Friday night mission to Wal-Mart - time to prep!

Making cakes after a long day of work!

Limo full of ladies!
Thanks Diamond LIMOS!

The beautiful bride-to-be ready for some belly dancinnnn!

All the ladies upon arriving at FLIRTY GIRL FITNESS...

... I wasn't included in that last picture.

After our hour of belly dancing!
Good times ladies ;)

After dancing it was time for pizza, drinks, games, and CAKE!!
I helped make them!

A few drinks and a game of Kings later - Vanessa is ready for sleep.

As you can probably tell, I spent the entire weekend at my sister’s house and I can’t explain how surreal it was. On Friday we went to Wal-Mart and did all of the prep work for the next day. While icing the penis cakes, I found myself thinking “Wow, I’m icing cakes for my sister’s bachelorette… in her house!”

And then this happened…

It was really amazing to hang out with my sister all weekend but now that the bachelorette is over, I realize that she is getting married in only two weeks and six days! WHERE DID THIS YEAR GO?! I could’ve sworn that I was just helping Richard pull off the-best-proposal-ever and now it’s almost time for me to write my wedding speech, help my sister move out of my parent’s house, and watch her walk down the aisle.

WTF! Time, can you please slow down a little?

I think I should stop this post now, before the waterworks begin. But first I’d like to thank all of the ladies who attended the bachelorette for making it an amazing experience! I cannot put into words how much you all made me laugh and how great it was to spend the weekend with all of you! Thank you for being there for my sister and for being good sports when the dance instructor said we were AMAZING and HOT – even though we knew she was lying ;) . And thanks for teaching me how to play KINGS, you all have great singing voices :P . With all that said, I’m sure Jessica appreciates it even more so than I do – so thanks!

And Jess, thanks for trusting me to plan such an epic party! I love you and we will have more sister-bonding-sleepover weekends soon!

Hope you all had a great weekend and a happy Monday!

–
Love Always
Vanessa Xo

I Keep My Dreams in Jars

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A few weeks ago I started my very own Dream/Wish/Hope Jars..

20120412-201539.jpg

…It’s like having a Bucket List written in little pieces of paper that you can see every time you sit down at your desk. Whenever I think to myself I want to do this or it would be so cool to do that, I write it down add the date and put it in a jar.

I decided that I would take a look at them once a month to see if I did anything that I said I would or if I’m taking the necessary steps to make my dreams come true.

One day I hope to make a scrapbook or a collage of all these strips of paper and pictures to prove that I’ve done them all.

A collage of dreams come true…sounds wonderful doesn’t it? :)

–
Love Always
Vanessa Xo

Just a Few Feel-Good Favourites

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So, this blog post is going to be all about music. I tend to post my favourite songs every once in a while, especially if it really fits with the message of the post, otherwise I don’t usually mention it.  But music plays a huge role in my life – it’s a great source of inspiration. A certain song can turn my bad mood into a good one, it can make me work out harder, it can help me focus, it can help me sleep better. Music can bring back memories but it also helps create new ones. I <3 music.

Here are a few songs that I listen to when I really need a pick-me-up. I hope you enjoy them :)

 

It’s the little moments in life that really make it worth living. I know exactly when I’m having one of those moments and I do my best to appreciate them… to engulf them.

Ever had one of THOSE moments? I hope you have... <3 The Boy with Bread.

Probably my favourite Beatles song ever.

I don’t really care much for The Wanted but I really love this song.

“ALL THAT COUNTS IS HERE AND NOW (Live in the moment!)” 

Hope you enjoyed these songs! Probably won’t be blogging again until after my sister’s stagette this weekend – but hey, who knows! ;)

–
Love Always
Vanessa Xo

Have a Little Courage

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“If you have courage, any situation can easily become an opportunity.” - Loosely quoted from Catching Fire. 

I’m rereading Catching Fire and I really love that courage plays a huge role in it. Okay, so no one I know has ever been through a reaping, volunteered as tribute, and had to fight to the death in an arena of 23 other teens BUT I think that everyone has to be a little courageous each and every day.

Whether it’s volunteering to present a project in class, or telling that girl you like her, or sticking up for yourself – it all takes courage. Or maybe you’re thinking about quitting your job and finding one that you love, or maybe you’ve had a great opportunity thrown at you and you’re terrified to jump at it. Maybe you have to make sacrifices to provide for your family. Or maybe you have so many negative things happening in your life at the moment that just getting out of bed each day is tough and agonizing.

Life can be pretty intimidating and rough at times.

You need to have courage to get through it - no matter how important or trivial that “it” may be.

Here’s a song from The Hunger Games Soundtrack – love the song, love the books, love the movie. LOVE LOVE LOVE!

–
Love Always 
Vanessa Xo