On Being Beautiful

I was listening to the radio on my way to work. The hosts were talking to these two teenage girls at a local high school who were working on a project which slowly became a great initiative for young women's self-esteem.

The girls were talking about the stigma around the media and how it puts stress on girls/women to look and act a certain way. They got permission from their school principal to post positive messages on the bathroom mirrors, "You're beautiful just the way you are." 

It is all in the hope that when the girls go to check their make-up, they have a reminder that they don't need it to be or feel beautiful.

Although, having make-up is a bit of a security blanket. But that's a post for another day.

It's a bit sad though how we are so pressured to buy make-up and try so hard to look beautiful. And it's true. It is absolutely 100% posilutely true. Being a young, twenty something woman, I can totally relate.

It's funny how this realization came on my way home from a dinner I had with Mister last night.

We were talking about photoshopping heads on the bodies of Hooters girls (because who doesn't wanna be a Hooters goddess?) and  I made a comment about how he should photoshop our heads on to bodies so that we would actually have a photo of us. He came back with how he did not like his photo taken, which honestly disappointed me because I would love to have a photo of us together. Honestly. But then, I had an epiphany of sorts...if I can even call it that.

I don't like my photo being taken either....unless I have make-up on. Which I know is silly and probably preposterous, but it's true. I just feel prettier being made up. Then again, don't we all?

If Mister was here, I know he would be saying otherwise. He always says that I look pretty/beautiful without make-up and in fact, he prefers it. I often think that it is something all Misters say to make us feel good about ourselves. Like it is in the Relationships: For Men handbook or something.

I wish I had someone telling me all this through my several years of being bullied and outcast because I wasn't my peers' idea of pretty or beautiful. If anyone can relate, they would know that this does a number on one's self-esteem.

However, I grew to learn that being beautiful isn't just what is on the outside, that is only a tiny fraction, it is being a beautiful person on the inside which matters most.

To be able to feel good about yourself.

"You should feel beautiful all the time."
                                         - Mister

I think those girls are on to something.

Lessons I Learned Down Under

Lately, my mind has been in a zillion different places. I often find myself thinking and congratulating myself on how far I have come and how much I have grown, especially since returning from Australia.

I have realized that while the past year and a bit has been one hell of a roller coaster ride, so much of me has changed, the credit goes to the lessons I learned Down Under.

Take opportunities for adventure. Even day trips. Half day trips. Two hour trips. Anything is an adventure if you make it one.

Never forget how significantly insignificant you are. When you stop and look at something so vast, it really hits just how insignificant we really are on this planet. 

Enjoy the little things. 

Emotions are connected to the heart, if your heart isn't invested, you aren't invested. For a long time it was easier avoiding getting hurt. Heart break is terrifying, but dating is no fun when you know there is no future. 

It's important to meet people. They have the potential to be a part of the rest of your life. It hurts terribly missing them, but some people are just meant to be in our lives. 

An adventure is more exciting when you have someone to share it with. Results: Extreme laughter and inside jokes. 

Invest in things that make you happy

It's okay to be afraid. Of love. Of adventure. Of letting go. 

Happiness comes from letting go. 

Life is meant to have obstacles. You've just gotta work with what  you have and hope for the best. 

It doesn't hurt to try something new. Like Kangaroo steak. 

Each day is a new chance to get up and try again. 

Don't give up on yourself. This one is a constant test and struggle for me at times. Still not giving up. Life is too much of an adventure. 

I don't know why it took so long to have to learn these lessons, but I suppose when you have one year of adventure, you are handed lessons and you have the potential to learn more about yourself than you thought possible. Why can't it be that easy being on home soil?

I just wish that it was easier finding adventure in the mundane. 

Thoughts?

Insomnism and Disney Raves

First of all, insomnism is a word. I promise that it is a word I just made up. But a word nonetheless....in the dictionary of Stephanie, anyway.

Every now and again, I have a night where it is especially difficult getting to sleep and equally difficult staying asleep. One of those nights graced me with its presence at the beginning of the week. And by graced with presence, I do mean barged in and rudely interrupted my beauty sleep. Can't anyone stay pretty without being rudely interrupted by insomnism? Sheesh!

Granted, my mind was still busy trying to shut down after finishing my 101 in 1001 post (which I am very proud of by the way), but still that is no excuse to keep me up all hours of the night, Brain!

As I lay on my pillow desperately trying to calm my brain so I could somehow doze off, Just Around the Riverbend  starts playing on an endless loop in my head. I am well aware that I am a sucker for all the Disney classics and I adore Disney tunes, but it's sort of a bad time Brain when I am trying to fall asleep at a decent hour on a work night.

Busy thoughts at any hour are enough to make your head explode.

In fact, I had never wanted to fall into an 8 hour coma more than I did that night. It is always when you want to put your thoughts to rest that they instead decide to throw a Disney rave. Thanks Brain. I love when you keep me awake at night.

Maybe I should just be a bat.

I could sleep several hours a day. Only come out at night. Have a strict diet. And have no idea what Disney music is even. Poor bats.

I would fly without a care in the world. Literally, because they only care about eating bugs and sleeping. Protein and sleep, I can live with that.

Oops, looks like I was dreaming again...that must mean sleep is on the horizon.

Until next time

101 in 1001

Recently, I was inspired by Kate's post ( A Sprinkle of Kate ), 101 things to accomplish in 1001 days. I think it's such a clever way to set goals with a realistic time frame to accomplish them.

I am so prone to procrastination, it's unreal. It takes me nearly two weeks to complete housework because I keep putting it off due to finding more "important" or interesting things to do.  I am always so full of excuses as to why I can't or won't do things. Mister Right experiences it on a fairly regular basis when he tries to get me to go to the gym, saying that I have nothing to lose and it's good because it lowers stress and anxiety.

I am always making excuses or finding reasons against things that I don't wanna do, to be honest, my reasons are slightly terrible.

Now is just as good as any time to stop making excuses and get my butt into gear.

Start Date: January 10th, 2016

End Date: September 27th, 2018

1. Visit Australia again (2017, fingers crossed) 

2. Keep up with my professional development (ie. attend work shops, online modules.)

3. Make my classroom more interesting for the babies I work with

4. Simply put, photograph more

5. Read all of Mister's favourite books

6. Post at least twice in a 7 day period on a regular basis

7. Treat myself to a massage

8. Visit somewhere new

9. Cook healthy meals at least 4 times a week

10. Camp at Algonquin Park

11. Catch up with old friends

12. Visit British Columbia

13. Take yoga classes for a summer

14. Put away at least 5 dollars at the end of every week

15. Exercise twice a week for 2 months

16. Clean my apartment every Saturday or Sunday

17. Go two months without shopping

18. Get my fourth tattoo

19. See my sister once a month

20. Turn my phone off for 12 hours one day a week

21. See a show at the Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario

22. Try more recipes from my Pinterest pages

23. Write down something positive every day

24. Go hiking

25. Colour in my meditation book

26. Learn meditation techniques

27. Spend more time visiting with relatives

28. Volunteer somewhere

 29. Buy a fish

30. Establish a daily routine

31. Do the dishes within a few hours instead of waiting a few days

32. Use a planner

33. Perfect a family recipe

34. Go meat-free for a month

35. Read every night for at least a half hour for 3 months

36. Make a trip to the Donkey Sanctuary

37. Create a regular skin care regime

38. De-clutter every six months

39. Go to a drive in

40. Eat somewhere fancy

41. Learn a type of dance

42. Watch only 2 hours of Tv at least five  days a week

43. Make a few new friends

44. Let Mister train me, and be consistent (I have avoided free personal training far too long)

45. Eat more greens

46. Keep consistent with my blog

47. Spend a day at the beach

48. Go on a weekend long trip 

49. See Niagara Falls

50. Photograph the country side for a day

51. Rockclimb

52. Attend a baseball game

53. Go strawberry picking

54. Say something I love about myself each day for a week

55. Buy fruit and vegetables from the farmer's market during the summer

56.  Spend 5 minutes stretching in the morning and 5 minutes stretching before I go to bed for a month

57. Go to a Disney on ice show

58. Watch all the classic Disney movies 

59. Develop storage solutions for small spaces (ie. my apartment)

60. Go make-up free for a month

61. Run another colour run

62. Make Mister one homemade meal a month

63. Watch a hockey game with Mister

64. Reach 100 followers

65. Collect more antique/retro decor

66. Eat at 5 restaurants I have never eaten at before

67. Clean out my car

68. Organize all my insurance documents, pay stubs etc.

69. Get another dresser

70. Replace my old bed frame

71. Learn ASL (American Sign Language)

72.  Borrow 20 books from the library

73. Transfer all my photos to my external hard drive

74. Pay off student loans

75. Take a local river cruise

76. Visit New York

77. Get a manicure

78. Stay at a hotel for a night

79. Get a boudoir photo done

80. Do a home tour on my blog

81. Comment on more blogger posts

82. Invest in a new camera lens

83. Take Mister to Melt Down (my favourite sandwich place)

84. Feed animals at a petting zoo

85. Go on a horse drawn carriage ride

86. Keep my apartment clean for a week

87. Go to some sort of expo

88. See a psychic

89. Go to an art gallery

90. See a fashion show

91. Moisturize for 2 weeks straight

92. Visit a vineyard

93. Go ziplining

94. Go to a comedy night/show

95. Go on a double date

96. Go on a brewery tour

97. Lay and look at the stars

98. Write 100 blog posts

99. Try to get one of my children's stories published

100. Guest post on another blog

101.  Follow through with all the above goals. 

I am actually excited about this and can't wait to accomplish so many goals. Let me know your 101 in 1001. I'm curious.

Until next time,

Love Vintage

For as long as I have been making my own money, I have loved adored shopping. It is a favourite hobby of mine. For the past couple of years, I have taken to vintage clothing and just love shopping for interesting and unique pieces.

From the first piece of vintage clothing I tried on, I realized that I was built for circa 50's - 60's clothing and beyond. I love how the clothing is made to last, unlike clothing we wear these days.

The other day I was out antiquing, with absolutely no intentions of spending much money whatsoever. Not at all actually. I just like browsing. And then a terribly amazing thing happened, I found a handful of vintage and retro clothing pieces.

Once I saw them, I already knew there was no hope for me. After trying them on, that was it. It was a disgustingly adorable love story between me and the vintage clothes. Love at first sight if you have to label it.

Just have a look though. If you had a love/joy/excitement for vintage clothing you wouldn't be able to put these pieces down either:

My purchasing of this shirt has nothing to do with the fact that I both adore and lived in Australia. Honestly, I so much adore Australian vintage clothing. Always so beautifully made, and this shirt is so comfortable.  

 This is only the second retro jumpsuit I have come across. Granted, it will probably just hang for ages in my closet, but I couldn't leave the shop without it. These a difficult to come across, and for 20.00 it was pretty much a steal. 

 Loved these shorts the moment I saw them on the rack. They fit PERFECTLY, not to mention are so freakin cute! I just wish that summer would come quicker so I can start wearing them. 

 I wish I knew exactly what era this dress was from, because it is so sophisticated and fits beautifully. My best guess is mid 1960's. I found it in a booth at an antiques centre. I certainly didn't expect for it to fit so well. I just love it. 

This has to be one of the most adorable skirts I have ever found vintage clothes shopping. It is just so cute and darling. The fabric is a bit thicker but is still so light and flowy.  I just can't wait to wear this adorable piece. 

Granted, I had to dig deep and make sure I wasn't missing out on groceries before purchasing these. I don't regret the purchases though. How could I? Maybe I went a bit over my budget but they are all so adorable. It's just unfortunate that I have to wait until summer to wear a couple of these pieces.

Oh well. At least I can still get a few years out of them if they have lasted this long.

365 days of positivity

If there is one thing I have learned from New Years past is that resolutions only last for about thirty days before you fall back into the same old habits you tried to break. You can't just quit binge watching Netflix when you have just started a new show, that's uncanny. What else could possibly be more interesting than lying on the couch all Saturday staring into the boob tube? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Of course, there is that thing I think they call outside and fresh air. Although, it seems pretty foreign to most of us. I do hear it is good for you. But what do I know?

I do know that even though I would rather sit around and binge watch Friends and Breaking Bad simultaneously, I still have that thing that goes from Monday to Friday called a job. Diapers don't change themselves, you know. After all, carrying the babies around all day is my only work out of the week. Gotta make it count, right?

It's all about being positive. Several of my new years goals have revolved around some term or another relating to positivity or trying new things. I hear that being more positive actually makes you happier. How could it not? Being positive makes you feel good. And feeling good, feels damn good!

Pinterest has been my go to place when I have nothing to do on the interwebs for a couple years now. It's great, you learn so much and it is the best way to be lazy in my books. All ten of them. I come across a lot of really cool things I have been wanting to try, or rather thinking about trying but will probably never make it to the store to get the supplies. Let's get real, it's me we are talking about here.

There is this one Pinterest page I keep coming back to or keeps coming back to me I should say; (Maybe it is a sign, maybe it's telling me something, maybe I am crazy. But that's neither here nor there.) and it seems that 2K16 will be a great year for it. I am talking about the 365 days of positive things. Instead of writing down New Years resolutions and having them fail miserably (giving myself thirty days even would be quite generous), every day of 2K16 I am going to write something positive that happened and put it in a jar. And then on New Years next year, I will read about all the great things that happened this year.

It is one thing that I know I can achieve this year. There is so much to be positive about.

No complaining here.

What are your goals for 2K16?