7 ways I’m romanticizing my life this Spring season

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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.

 

  1. 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 💖
  2. 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 sweaters with 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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!
  5. 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.
  6. 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 🥰
  7. 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…)!

Book Review: Book Lovers by Emily Henry

I’ll just have to start with, I really did not like this book. #UnpopularOpinion

So much so, I was tempted to abandon it. But I continued on…well because #2023ReadingChallenge.

And I’ll also say, the only reason I decided to read this book was because the internet made me do it. My preferred reading genre is scifi but I thought it Verity was good, maybe this would be do. I was wrong!

The characters were unrelatable and seemed too extra. The story line was so unnecessary. And the 2 leading men were so odd (eyebrows and adonis?! – like why?). The backstory about their mom was cute but the rest of the story was kind of a waste.

I’d give it a 2 out of 5 ⭐️s. And the 2 stars are because the quotes were so good that I annotated like crazy!

Quotes about being a woman, having a career, fashion, running, lifting up other women and owning your joy. It’s the quotes that kept me reading this book.

“One must always be careful of books, and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us.”

Adding some of my favourite quotes from the book here. They inspired me and I’m sure they’ll inspire others.

Career

One never really forgets the first time a colleague drove her to extreme unprofessionalism

That’s manageable, It’s fixable. List-able

Hidden there, under my rigidity manufactured sense of control and my checklists and my steel exterior, there is always fear.

I really do f—— love a checklist

C’est la vie

The ones [books] that speak to me are the ones whose final pages admit that there is no going back. That every good thing must end. That every thing does end. That everything does.

What is the right course of action when the planet’s been punted off its axis?

Maybe this is why people take trips, for that feeling of your real life liquefying around, like nothing you do will tug on any other strand of your carefully built world.

It’s just that, when hilariously bad things happen, I leave my body. I watch them happen from outside myself and think …Really? This is what the universe has chosen to do?

Most things, are a solvable puzzle

The more you tell a person about yourself, the more power you hand over.\

Is there anything better than an iced coffee and a bookstore on a sunny day?

Fitspo

I put the thought away and lost myself in the delicious burn of my muscles, the thudding of my feet against the pine-needles-dusted earth. The only two ways I’ve ever managed to get out of my head are through reading and rigorous exercise. With either, I can slip out of my mind and drift in this bodiless dark.

Womanhood

I used to think it was because people like me don’t get those endings. And asking for it, hoping for it, is a way to lose something you’ve never had.

There is still no happy ending for a woman who wants it all. the kind who lies awake aching with furious hunger, unspent ambition making her bones rattle in her body.

That’s the thing about being an adult…time collapses and instead of the version of you you’ve built from scratch, you’re all the hackneyed drafts that came before, all at once.

Sometimes, even when you start with the last page and you think you know everything, a book finds away to surprise you.

My mind has become one of those FBI cork boards with zigzagging red string between every pushpin it can find, trying to make things add up, to make all of it fit into one uninterrupted pattern, proof that this can work, that I can have this, that its not too good to be true.

I can see the scene playing out like it’s happening to someone else. Like I’m reading it, and in the back of my mind, I can’t stop thinking. This doesn’t happen.

It’s a strange reversal, seeing the things my baby sister has mastered that I never got around to. It makes me proud, but also sort of sad. Maybe this is how parents feel when their kids grow up, like some piece of them has become fundamentally unknowable.

I have an intense nighttime skincare routine. I don’t like to miss it and it doesn’t all fit into a handbag. My mom used to say you can’t stop the passage of time, but you can soften it’s blow

Not every decision a woman makes is some grand indictment on other women’s lives

She definitely notices that my heels keep puncturing the grass and spiking me into place

Mom’s theory was that youthful skin would make a woman more money, good underwear would make her more confident and good books would make her more happy.

New York

New York is a great place to have no money. There is so much free art and beauty, so much incredible, cheap food. But having money in New York – now that would be magical.|

Once in college, a group of my transplant friends had unanimously agreed that “they could never raise kids in the city”, and I was shocked. It isn’t just that I loved growing up in the city – it’s that every time I see kids sleepily shuffling along en masse at the Met, or setting their boom box down on the train to break dance for tips, or standing in awe in front of the world-class violinist playing beneath Rockefeller Center, I think – How amazing it is to be part of this, to get to share this place with all these people.

But you cant eat, drink or sleep on top of dreams. I landed the next best thing. Everyone has to give up on their dreams eventually

I once saw a bike courier get hit by a car, get up and scream I become God. He tested this limits of his own mortality and found they didn’t exist.

Stayed for the next eleven years (in Alphabet city), working my a– off. Sold some paintings, applied for shows constantly. Worked for three or four different artists and spent every night trying to network in galleries.

New York is like a bookstore, all these trillion of paths and possibilities drawing dreamers into the city’s beating heart, saying I make no promises but I offer many doors.

New York is exhausting, yes there is millions of people all swimming upstream but you’re also in it together

I want to carve out a piece of the city and its magic, just of us. But carving turns your into a knife: cold, hard, sharp at least on the outside.


Would love to hear your book recommendations! Or check out my book reviews here!

What’s in my bag – Winter Edition

Winter is all about feeling cozy and nourished. And sometimes all of that needs to be carried around in an extra large shoulder bag! And ofcourse, come summer I have reduced my everyday go a tiny top handle ;) + a few cotton tote bags for my round year favs!

Sharing what I have in my bag during the winter months!

  1. Planner & Stationary: I love this vertical daily physical planner to keep with me always. I like to be able to jot down activities, plans or to-dos as needed
  2. Camera: Whether it’s my Instamax or my DSLR, I like to have a camera because I want to be ready when creativity strikes
  3. Water Bottle: Winter means dryness, so helping my prevent that from the inside out
  4. Jewellery: If it’s not on my hands/fingers, then I’ve got some stashed in my purse. Whether its an extra set of hoop earrings, rings and bracelets, I like to have options
  5. Literary Entertainment & Annotation tools: I once read a quote about never leaving the house without a book under your arm, I take that advice very seriously
  6. Change: Yes I’m a Woman in Tech (and usually pay with my phone/watch/digital wallet), but having some form of cash on me just makes sense (random coffees or treats for the kiddos)
  7. Hydrating potions: a few Sephora products because they are just that good (and required for the cooler months)
  8. Everyday Essentials: Nail polish, extra hand cream, claw clip and nail necessities.
  9. Handbag of choice: A little tattered but still loyal… my LongChamp has gone the distance!

Making the most of your next art gallery visit (with kids)!

The kids had a PA day on Friday and we decided to go to the AGO!   PA days can be hard to accommodate as a working parent and our usual PA day is some form of winter activity and lots of TV.   But we decided to change things up and I took a day off to spend time with the girls!

It’s been about 12 years since the last time I went to the AGO (embarrassing!)  And in hopes of not repeating my 12 year absence, I got a yearly pass!

The girls had a great time.  The big open space, engaging environment and children’s spaces made for a great few hours of culture!

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Below are some tips on how to make the most of your next trip with the kiddos to the art gallery!

  1. Plan to spend 2-3 hours at the art gallery. That might mean packing snacks, water or even a lunch
  2. Find out if the art gallery has amenities like coat check, digital passes & free stroller rentals. This will just help you plan your day
  3. Figure out what exhibits you want to check out. Maybe there is a limited time on an exhibit or maybe the theme/topic of the exhibit will resonate with your family (ex: for us it’s Indigenous or anything related to South Asian culture)
  4. View the art in different ways: up close, at at distance, on an angel and don’t forget to read the plaque!
  5. Talk about what you see. It could be as simple as “did you see the bottom of their shoes” or “how many of xyz do you see in the painting” to “what does this piece make you feel”
  6. If it’s a sculpture, copy what you see!
  7. Don’t forget to visit the gift shop :)
  8. Plan your next / follow up visit!

A day in my life – on a Friday

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I love reading people’s day in the life posts & vlogs.  I find learning about other people’s daily routines and schedules interesting.  So much so, that I’ve decided to share a typical day in the life of my own.  Albeit a Friday! 

Friday’s are a usually a lighter day of meetings which means I will try to add some tasks to get ahead (or catch up), admin and personal activities (related to my goals or life in general).

I also feel that #DITL posts need context.  I have a corporate career, happily married mom to 2 kids with busy extra curricular schedules.  But I’m also creative (running this blog, my Etsy store and pursing creative hobbies to ensure I build skills), habit stacker who is very intentional about how I spend my free time and what content I consume.

That said, there are a lot of things in my day that are non-negotiables, almost to the point that I don’t even think about doing them anymore – they just get done.  (When people ask how I make the the time or prioritize my non-negotiables, I don’t know what to say other then “it’s like when I get up I brush my teeth…I do these things because I do them).

Anywho on to my Fri-yay!

632am –  Today I was working from home but I still I meditate right after awaking.  I love that early morning meditation.  I feel like it works wonders for me.  Following that,  I put on my apple watch, drink a sip of water and journal.  I get my AM hygiene routine out of the away before the rest of the house wakes up.

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7:05am – Kids alarm goes off and I’ll hop on over to see how they are doing.  There is usually some fight that needs to be broken up (slammed door, hogging the sink etc) but after that is diffused I’ll head downstairs to start breakfast and pack lunches (the hubby and I will rotate that job daily so if I’m not downstairs, I’m helping the girls get ready).

750am – Kids lunches are packed, breakfast is mostly eaten and we are out the door on the way to the bus stop!

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8:10am – As soon as we get back from school bus drop off, I start my workout.  I’ll warm up for a run with my air buds playing affirmations.  This is a new routine and I find it works really well.  As for my run, I have a daily rotation: 20 min, 3km or 4km. During that time I’ll watch a TedTalk or a podcast on youtube.  Because it was Friday – I decided to treat myself to a little Netflix and a long run.

8:45am – I like to do a little resistance as well, so thats when I’ll turn on a motivational podcast (well slightly aggressive motivational speeches.  (Think: Zig Ziglar, Coach Pain, Eric Thomas etc).  I rotate between legs, full body and multiple arm days per week.  After the long run, I wanted to cool down and stretch today.

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9:00am to 11:45am – After a quick breakfast, I jump straight into meetings. But because I documented my day on a Friday – my meetings are light.   So I try and keep my time blocked for sessions with my mentees, networking & skill building.  On this day in particular I had a training session and then I did a brain dump of my work tasks before continuing a self study course.

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1:30pm – Before grabbing a bite, I did a Move with Nicole 15 min Pilates class.  Her classes are soo good!

3:15pm – Today I picked up my daughters early as we were going to my in-laws house.  And it was straight to Karate for them.

6:00pm – Last Friday we celebrated Lorhi.  Lorhi is the celebration to mark the passing of Winter Solstice.  I love celebrating anything that follows the lunar phases.  Time spend with family, playing games, building a fire, throwing peanuts into said fire, eating and drinking great food!

And that’s it!  How do your Friday’s look?  Is it the same every Friday or varied?  These kind of days offer me the most work life integration – which is what I strive for everyday!

How to make better to do lists!

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To do lists are the micro levels of my big dreams.  Big dreams are astronomical, may take months or years to achieve them, require persistence and consistency.  Consistency is where our daily to do lists come in.

I do want to preface this post by saying the following:

  • we shouldn’t be slaves to our to do lists
  • to do lists don’t own us
  • to do lists are meant to serve us 

So if your daily to do list, post it or weekly planner spread is making you feel bad about yourself – throw it out, take a beat and start over again when you are ready!

We shouldn’t feel productivity debt (feeling like you always need to be doing something and rest is not deserved unless your to do list is completed) from not completing everything on our to do list & there is nothing you NEED to do to earn your existence.

But when you are ready to schedule the day you want to make it amazing – read on!

Side note: I’m writing this as I was feeling overwhelm trying to use notion.  Notion is meant to be a tool to keep your life organized but there was too much scope creep in their product – for me at least.  The idea that it might also need to look aesthetic, link to a Spotify playlist and my Pinterest mood board was a little too much.  So I realized I need to step back and figured others might need to too.

So how do we make our to do lists work for us?

  1. Figure out your big dreams, goals, priorities and projects.   But also think about the habits you want to build and routines you want to have.
  2. Pick a medium that works for you.  Could be paper or digital, simple or complex.  You’ll also want to choose a template: Is it just 1 sticky note for the day, or multiple colour coded ones, is it a weekly spread planner or an hour-by-hour list of tasks.  This can obviously change but it’s a great idea to try something out.
  3. Fill your list with your daily living + tasks that will help you got to your big goals.  Example are meetings, but also your workouts (goal: to focus on fitness).  It could be having lunch with someone and blocking 2 hours in the morning for writing (goal: to write a book).  
  4. Pick something to fail at.  Not everything has to be checked off and not everything has to be done well.  So knowing what can be moved to another day vs a non-negotiable will help you stay intentional and not feel like you aren’t moving forward.

Remember – it’s all about getting to outcomes (not getting things done).  Your to do list should be on your side helping you build intentional habits and keep you 1 step closer to your goals!

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