Random Channel Surfing

For close to fifteen years, September 21 has been a day of big events. I've had my heart broken on September 21 (twice); have moved clear across the country; have celebrated loved ones' happy occasions. But this year, nothing happened. In fact, I'll go as far as saying that today was a happy day. Thank goodness today was a good day.

When I first visited my sister and her husband in Frankfurt ( 2012 ), I went to this amazing store called   Primark . I equate this Irish store to the US's Forever 21 or the UK's TopShop. It's an affordable clothing store that has very trendy and fashionable clothes and accessories. I spent around  € 300 on new pants, shirts, blazers, cardigans, shoes, and dresses. In short, I created a new wardrobe for myself. After that trip, I think I really created my "fashion identity". These amazing shoes have become a staple in my outfits. They're comfortable, they're pretty , and they're my favourites. Alas, after the past three-ish years of wear and tear, I think they're ready for me to say goodbye.  I've done some research on the subject and have learned that Nike has a Reuse-A-Shoe program and that Edmonton's Salvation Army (a society I rarely support because of its stance on homosexuality and, well, marriage equality ) have shoe r...

And, it's off to a really happy and loved-up start! The following is a list of lovely, loving, wonderful things that happened today: 1) Woke up to:         -my parents singing happy birthday to me ('cause they're sweethearts) and         -a few texts from some of my night owl friends. 2) My older sister called while I was getting ready for work. 3) My father's brothers phoned me on my way to work. 4) Happy birthday tweet from Tracey! 5) Morning text from Janny! 6) Morning text from Nix! 7) Morning text from Nic! 8) Morning text from Clea! 9) Morning text from Anna! 10) Morning text from Zee, which included:         -us making plans to go for Bday drinks next week!  11) Morning text (and song!) from Elizabeth! 12) Morning text from Tasha! 13) Morning text from Ross! 14) Birthday phone call  from Ivan! 15) Birthday email from Aaron at work (he even found a cake online that has my name on ...

It's easy for me to stay quiet to avoid confrontation because, you guessed it, I don't like confrontation; it scares me. I shy away from letting people look too closely into me lest they see how scarred and ugly I am deep deep deep inside. I rarely speak up. I love my comfort zone. Bravery is one trait I lack. But lately I've been realizing how detrimental that is to me. I want to change this, but I don't know how to do it. How does someone who's never been brave, grow a spine?

This questionnaire has been in my drafts since 2013, when I was going through a bit of a "reading crush" on Thought Catalog, particularly articles written by Ella Ceron , Kovie Biakolo , and  Brianna Wiest . Their articles were usually on feminist issues and self-love and relationships and, more importantly, self-care. So when Brianna posted this questionnaire, I figured it was a good idea to poke at these issues to gain a better understanding of how I feel about my life. Anyway, two years ago, I completed only the first question but, as I said in my last post , something about 2015 makes me tingly on the inside with an admittedly over-optimistic anticipation for this year, so I figured I should complete this questionnaire. I hope they'll be a good reminder of the things that matter the most to me--a bookmark on the things I should cherish for the entire year. Here's hoping, at least. 1. What would you do with your life if you didn’t have to pay the bills? I woul...

Wearing red lipstick does make you more visible. The correct terminology to use here is probably "noticeable", but for a shy girl like me, you definitely feel visible . I mean, let's be honest: you can't hide when you're sporting a bright, bold colour on your lips. People point it out sometimes and those who don't see you often may just say, "You're wearing more makeup than usual!" as though wearing lipstick is the same as slapping on three coats of foundation. [Cue eye roll] Wearing red lipstick teaches you how to properly apply lipstick. When you commit to wearing red lipstick every day for a full year, you need to learn how to properly apply it. That means that I learned the importance of investing in lip liner and actually used it. I learned how to apply lipstick so that it was long-lasting, so that the colour was bright, so that it was as bold as I was pretending to feel. (I only half-kid.) I also learned how many coats to apply, where...

I've written my first short story for my 2014 challenge. You can read it here . And I'm writing this, basically, to express the discomfort I feel for having written it. Most of what I write is at least partially based on events that happened to me; I'm not used to writing things from someone else's perspective. I've done it in the past, sure (several times on this blog, even!), but I'm more at ease when I'm writing about things that have actually -- physically and truly -- happened to me. So it was weird when I started about a dude who was literally dumped the day before his wedding. And it's not that I take issue with the subject matter, but it all felt so f   u       c           k               i                  n                      g forced . All that to say, I'm really happy that I'...

I'm so happy I live in a time where cameras are fairly standard; I mean, some people have a fancy camera that they use for documenting travels or family holidays, but the majority of cell phone users have another, more easy-to-use camera on their mobile phones. And the quality of the shots you take on your camera phone is improving with every new smartphone that comes out. I document my outings with friends so that we can have a small glimpse of those happy moments preserved for time. I photograph my nieces and nephew so that they can remember how happy their childhood was. The reason I document those moments when I'm most happy, is so I can re-live those happy occasions time and again. Photographs are frozen memories; how I long to live in one, re-living the happiness I felt day in and out. Thirteen years ago, I came to the realization that my parents have only a handful pictures of me as a baby. I was hurt, to be honest, because it seemed as though my parents couldn't...

Most years we quietly celebrate Jenn's birthday; it's just us seven, we have some dinner, and then we go home. For her birthday this year, she asked one of her fellow nurses, Milly, to read our handwriting and interpret our personalities. Milly's interpretation of me was not that far off-base; she inferred that I'm reserved, prideful, loyal, hard-working, stubborn, and creative --- but she also told me that I can come off as "cold". Now, it's interesting to me that what stuck with me most is the fact she called me cold. Not the fact she correctly guessed that I like to feel people out before baring my thoughts to them. Not the fact she told me I'm creative, but am wasting my talents. Nope. What affected me most about her reading is that I can come off as cold to certain people. I've been called so many things in my life (haven't we all?), but the things I've been called in the past have always had a more... well, a positive spin. I...

A few weekends ago, my friend Anna married Rodrigo. In two short days, my friend Tamara will be marrying Sean. And in July, two more of my coupled friends will be tying the knot (Pasquale with Carmella, and Jen with Mark). It's a change for me; last year, I went to only one wedding, my cousin Quena's, and attended two funerals. And before Quena, I hadn't gone to a wedding since my sister Pily's in 2011. So you could say that this is a year for new beginnings and, while totally cliche, it's a thought that makes me smile. All around me people are falling in love and wanting to share their lives with the one they love most; it's inspiring and oh so sweet. I guess 2014 is officially the year of the happy couples. And that's a thought that makes me smile.

There's a look you get and it makes me fall in love with you. Sometimes, it's the face you make when you're embarrassed. When the rosy hue in your cheeks darkens and your eyes adopt a vulnerable quality that betrays the tender soul you have. When it's clear you feel naked and exposed; when I can see who you really are before you hide behind your sarcasm or wit, your charm or your grace. That's the face I see before I fall asleep and dream of you. Other times, it's the face you make before you say whatever it is you want to say. When you motion with your hands; clawing, grasping, trying to pull the elusive words from thin air, your speech stuttering because the thought you want to express fills you with so much passion, you don't know how to vocalize it. When you gently bite your lip, your eyes to the sky as you try to articulate the point as best you can. When your inability to make yourself understood helps me read you better than I ever have before....