I recently read an article about the happy chemicals our body produces and I realized I wanted to have this information live permanently on my blog for my future reference! (and of course for anyone else who may find this useful!)
I’ve always had an interest in personal growth and how we naturally tend to support ourselves so this topic is right up that alley. So sharing each happy chemical, what it does and how to activate it. Please be sure to like, comment and share!
(Scroll to the bottom for outfit details)
Serotonin – Stabilizes our mood
Deep breathing
Meditating
Walking in Nature
Go for a run
Endorphin – Pain Relief
Laughing
Dancing
Stretching
Essential Oils
Oxytocin – Building love & trust
Hugging somone
Giving someone a compliment
Helping someone
Playing with a pet or a child
Dopamine – Reward & Motivation
Finishing a task (hack: ANY task no matter how big or small)
Eating your favourite meal
Listening to music
Practicing self care
Dress – Urban Behaviour | Sunglasses – Amazon | Shoes – Call it Spring | Purse – Channel
As we round out the first half of the year and slide into the second half, I thought it would be a great idea to provide some inspiration to reset, readjust, restart and refocus.
Greenery in ParadiseSunset in Tulum
Review your goals and determine priority Before blindly continuing to do something that may no longer be serving you, take some time to review your goals. Maybe you’ve plateaued in some areas, or maybe you haven’t given enough time to one area of your life. Even better, maybe you’ve accomplished a goal and it no longer requires your attention. Creating self awareness is really important and it’s also a good idea to get organized in a way that makes sense to you. Maybe writing the goals that you will continue to work on on a sticky or using a Moleskin to help refocus an area where you’ve been lacking.
Disrupt and edit your routine Once you’ve figure out what you want to focus on, redesign your daily habits to meet those goals. It’s true what they say…success is a series of small wins. Use your day planner, Gcal or Notion to structure your day and include activities that help you work towards ticking off those goals by end of year
Level up, track your progress & give yourself grace As you continue your goal achievement journey, do you best to stay accountable (whether that is through a private IG account, blog or good ol’ pen & paper). I’m a big believer in documenting your life and it’s always nice to see how far you’ve come. But what’s even more important is giving yourself grace. Working towards your personal and professional goals are not meant to be invigorating and inspiring so remember to take breaks/rest, celebrate your wins and smile!
Waves hitting the break wallReflections are everywhere
Happy Thursday! Lately I’ve noticed a shift in my confidence. In my desire to get out of my comfort zone, meet people, wear all the jewelry, be extra and bold in my style choices & courage in my work and personal goals. So today I’m sharing some words that really resonated with me recently. Along with some fit shots from a few days ago… Enjoy!
Imperfection is a form of freedom
Let your process, your struggle and your progress inspire others.
You don’t need perfection to encourage those who are watching you
So our last 2 days in NYC we kept pretty light. We decided on a few things we wanted to definitely see but did not stress if we didn’t get around to actually seeing them. So here was the list:
MoMA
Fao Shwartz
Statue of Liberty
Central Park
DUMBO
Although, I had a longer list (always positive!), with the kiddos we knew it wouldn’t have been possible to make it all happen (and that was OK).
Day 3 We wanted to keep it an easy day outside of the downtown core. We went to a mall in Hoboken, tried Chick-fil-A (hated it!) Later for the day, we had made ferry reservations for the Statue of Liberty so we headed straight there! The girls were really enamoured by the statue and it’s history. Glad we made it happen!
packed the wrong colour socks :P
Day 4 Saw us with a start at the MoMA! After a quick bite to eat from a falafel vendor (there on every corner!) and few blocks down from Times Square – we were in. TIP: Buy your tickets online before you go! Like the theme for the last 2 days, we had a good idea of what we wanted to see in the art gallery, which was every Van Gogh, Picasso and Salvador Dali then had on exhibit. Anything else would be considered bonus! It was such an honour and treat to see these works of art in person. It confirmed for me that I made the right decision getting an annual pass to the AGO (Check out those trips here and here).
We finished the day by checking out Macy’s, having dinner at Olive Garden and packing to to hit on the road the next day…but not before getting a few shots at DUMBO.
Day 5 Now IYKYK that every influencer on the block wants their elusive picture at DUMBO. And I was no exception (well the influencer title is debatable 😆). So what exactly is DUMBO? Well it stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. Although it refers to the entire neighbourhood – it’s really popular because of the well framed view of the bridge (and if you look closely – the Empire State building!). Because of the locations popularity (ahem ahem social media) there are a few things I planned for:
Getting there early! Anywhere between 7:30-9am is your safest bet. I did read online that pretty much any day the weather is good, the street would be swarming with isntagrammers.
Consider taking the picture at a different angle. The road is either busy with people or lined with cars so move around the road and sidewalk to see where the different angles are and you can get the best shot.
Go on a day when the weather is bad! We went on a morning that was was windy and below zero. Only a few people were there and I didn’t feel rushed to get my shot!
Want to know more about our trip – feel free to reach out at thru les yeux at gmail dot com. Or leave a comment!
Although is been almost a month since we went to NYC, I still have 3 days left to cover on the blog (for my memories and for any families out there wondering if they can road trip to NYC with their kids and have a good time – spoiler alert …you can!)
The second day was planned as a full day in Manhattan and it did not disappoint. Our New Jersey hotel was a 30 second walk to the bus stop that went straight to Times Square, so we took advantage of that (with a backpack full of snacks). However, we did purchase tickets to the Big Bus Tour. I got a deep discount for the bus and we were glad we got it. More on that in the next post!
At Times Square we enjoyed all the screens, the people watching and the energy. And a few blocks away was Brant Park and the New York Public Library. Because it was so close – we just walked! Totally do-able!
The NYPL was on quiet hours so we didn’t get to explore any of the book rooms but the kids were just as mesmerized by the interior structure. Another few blocks away was Grand Central. Perfect place for more people watching and Magnolia cupcakes!
We then spent 2 hours at Empire State building LOL. Given that we’ve already seen sky high views at the CN Tower (Toronto) and the Twin Towers back in the 90s – I wasn’t sure there would be anything novel here. However the Empire State had a completely different vibe. Maybe it was the NY history (the story and details of how it was built) or the related culture of the landmark (King Kong move) or how art was incorporated into the experience (helicopter city sketch) – the whole experience was really all encompassing. We could easily have spent another 2 hours there.
After the Empire State building, we grabbed some NY Pizza and hopped on the Big Bus, which ended up being a great way to see some of the sights and learn history about the neighbourhoods. We did get off at the Brooklyn Bridge to take some pictures and get a few souvenirs.
The bus took us back to Times Square, where we grabbed dinner and watched some street performances. The girls did really great given it was a lot of walking and standing. But I think having a place to sit and just take in the sights as they passed through thru a window (without actually having to drive) – definitely helped the whole family.
Next up we have the MoMA, Statue of Liberty and DUMBO!
If you are in the GTA / Southern Ontario area, you are probably thinking what I’m thinking… aka waiting for Spring to actually spring!
Cold days mixed with wet snow precipitation do make it harder to get into spring spirit but I did welcome spring by celebrating Holi with my family, setting intentions for the new season and sending my friends Nowruz and Ramadan wishes.
And I also got to thinking about things I wanted to change as I entered the new season. So sharing below 7 ways I’m romanticizing my life this Spring!
Why would I want to romanticizing my life?
For me, I think it’s important to remember that this is a journey and I must always remember to enjoy the journey and find the magic in the process. I’ve recently read about the term “toxic positivity” which this isn’t. Romanticizing ones life is about working through and appreciating all types of experiences. But it’s also about ensuring your habits and routines allow you to be present and grateful. I’m a big proponent of the art of leisure and dreaming big – which I think folds well into romanticizing my life.
Drinking more Herbal Teas: I love me a double (or triple) oat milk cappuccinos! But I know I should be balancing them with lighter options. What better time than spring to infuse my days, evenings & body with orange blossom, chamomile and tumeric-ginger. Just writing it out sounds beautiful 💖
Wearing lighter & brighter colours: I wear many shades of black and this winter I think I to it to another level. Costco had these kirkland brand oversized sweaterswith pockets and I LIVED in those and black leggings. I’m not proud but I was comfy. That said, I need to step out of those threads and take pictures of myself fun/light/bright clothes that make me shine.
Finish art projects abandoned in the dark cold of winter: For someone like me, creating art for the sake of it means that you’ll want to abandon some projects that are too difficult or feel overwhelming. But I also think it’s okay to put yourself in comfortable for the sake of growth.
Deep dive into my HDC and Enneagram: A refreshed self-awareness, just in time for the change of season just feels right. Although I’ve dived into my HDC, I’ve yet to figure out my Enneagram. The potential in knowing these things about yourself can support your journey as well as broaden your horizons!
Volunteer in place of donating money to charity: With the weather warming I think it’s a great opportunity to connect with people through common interest and shared community efforts.
Start a Joy-Jar: I love this analog way of documenting your days. Instead of recording videos or taking pictures, take this opportunity to write down happy memories and store them in a jar. At the end of the month you’ll have handful positive reminders 🥰
Create for me: Kind of like this blog, I want to CREARE & SHARE my art for nothing but me. Something between a persona scrapbook on a digital platform. So I’ll be sharing more of the art gallery trips, WIP art projects and street art. They unique way I see joy in every day beauty needs to be shared with the world (for me…)!
