Tahiti Highlights!

Hellooo!

I just put in a new theme! balloons! So happy about it cause it’s super fun and cute. Hope you like it!

Well it has been a crazy week! Unpacking, loads of laundry, still a little sick with food poisoning and going back to work has been stressful. I’ve been wanting to get Photoshop so I can make my Tahiti pictures all cute and stuff but it doesn’t look like that’s panning out and I’ve been wanting to share pictures of the island with you so badly… so raw pictures will just have to do. I apologize in advance for the next couple of posts. It will be all Tahiti pics because I loved it so much. ha!

Here is just a few quick photos of random stuff:

Now these are just little snippets of our trip but more pictures are coming soon. Get ready. :]

Framed String

I made a new art piece for my room:

I used an old frame from the thrift store. It was only $4!

I was inspired to do this when I found this pinkish, scalloped-edged ribbon at 3 Way Thrift. It was steal at only $0.79! (Plus, it was a yellow ticket… meaning it was %50 off! Score.)

I tied short strings of it on the frame. This took a VERY long time.

Add letters and Tada! done. (I added these letters from an Anthropology After-Christmas Sale.) For less than $10, now you have a custom art piece out of random scraps. I typically start without knowing where I’m going and this was definitely one of those times.

See, my room is getting a little more crazy.

 

Palm Springs

A couple of weeks ago I got the chance to take some of our social workers on an outing to Palm Springs.

We started off taking a trip to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway which is basically a giant ski-lift machine thing that takes you up the cliffs of the Chino Canyon. It was breathtakingly beautiful.

I can’t believe there was snow up there! Now that it’s super hot and spring-y it’s weird to think that a few short weeks ago it was cold, winter weather… although, this year it felt like winter was only a month.

After, we went to the Mira Monte Resort in Indian Wells where I got to enjoy a nice brunch by the pool while they went off to the spa. It was pretty great.

This Spanish-style resort was so pretty. I can imagine taking a weekend and relaxing here…

Halloween Give-a-Ways

I always have fun making things at work. Now that it’s nearing the end of the year, I’m trying to come up with some new items.

This month’s focus: Halloween!

Here are some things I made last week to give out:

I bought these cute buckets from the dollar section on Target, then filled them with candy. These usually sit on people’s desks at hospitals or health care centers. Perfect for the nurses who walk by!

(Everything looks better in cellophane!)

These small bags are packed with goodies:

I got these cat bags from Michael’s on sale: four for a buck. Not too shabby.

These cute Jack-O-Lanterns were found from Goodwill still in its wrapper. Thrift stores are actually really great for buying holiday stuff for cheap. Especially if they aren’t even used!

Halloween is a great time for cute little things like these!

Best Beignets in New Orleans

New Orleans has always been famous for their beignets. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, they melt in your mouth and leave you craving more… at least, that’s what they say. There are many great places in NOLA that feature these beauties in their restaurants. Heck, mostly every place MUST have their version of beignets.

Two favorite beignet places that come to mind are Cafe Beignet and Cafe Du Monde.

First off, may I say that Cafe Du Monde’s famous box of beignets is sold around the world, and hold a sentimental place in my heart because Martin and I used to get them after our weekly trips to Disneyland when we had our passes. Sadly, with the expiration of our passes, our trips to Downtown Disney halted. They proudly stand in the entrance on their cool bookshelves:

On our trip to Cafe Du Monde on Sunday Morning, we anxiously waited to see if their infamous beignets were the same as Disneyland’s and if they were really as great as people say they were.

…um yes. Yes they were. No doubt about it.

The whole place was great. We had a great time people-watching and enjoying our frozen Cafe au lait and warm coffees.

Cafe Beignet on the other hand, was a smaller restaurant on Royal Street with more locals eating there than tourists. (Score!) This small, cozy breakfast/lunch spot was the perfect way to start the day. Martin scoured Yelp and we seriously lucked out finding this place.

Unlike Cafe Du Monde, This place had real food, such as their craw-fish omelet. Delicious!

 They also had amazing Jambalaya:

We tried mostly everything on their menu. Everything was oh, so good!

…and the beignets?

…really really great.

If I had to choose between Cafe Beignet or Cafe Du Monde’s beignets, I must go with Cafe Beignet. They were a little bit more crunchy, tasted a little more fresh, and I really enjoyed the atmosphere better. They had more choices and you can really tell they pride themselves with great breakfast food. Cafe Du Monde was too touristy and crowded for my taste.

Must say, if you are ever in NOLA, check out these two places and see for yourself!

60 Ways to Make Life Simple Again

Hello!

 

I realized something today. I want to be young again. To be young in terms of thinking simply about life. The moral lessons that I learned before have become more distant and faded within the last few years of my life. Last week at the Cross+Trainer meeting, I was talking with James Michaud about needing to go back to how I was before. Back to the High School-Teen Council-Officer Meagan. To the “go to JAM every Friday Meagan. To the “Celebrate Life” Meagan. And no, not in a young, “Like, c’mon, God is so great, guys!” kind of way, but a more realistic, “God is real, He is good, and life is great…because of Him” kind of way.

 

I realize that God has given me so many things to be grateful for. For a supportive family. For friends. For love. I get too caught up in the little ityy-bitty details I fail to see the love that’s in every single say. Driving home from work today, I tuned into to a Christian music station and just took a deep breath. The sun was setting, the clouds were parting, and for a split second, I remembered who I was before. Someone not clouded by life, but someone who lives and loves.

 

No, I’m not saying that I’m different now, nor do I go around hating everyone and everything. But I do need to keep in mind a simple form of thinking. That people are beautiful. That God has a plan. And to forget the stress, anxiety, and fear that comes with growing older (I’m a worry-wart). So today, I stumbled across this list of things to be mindful of. These are day-to-day things that will make life easier and more simple. Read through it if you want. Remember the ones that stick out to you. Life is more complicated when you make it out to be.

 

  1. Don’t try to read other people’s minds.  Don’t make other people try to read yours.  Communicate.
  2. Be polite, but don’t try to be friends with everyone around you.  Instead, spend time nurturing your relationships with the people who matter most to you.
  3. Your health is your life, keep up with it.  Get an annual physical check-up.
  4. Live below your means.  Don’t buy stuff you don’t need.  Always sleep on big purchases.  Create a budget and savings plan and stick to both of them.
  5. Get enough sleep every night.  An exhausted mind is rarely productive.
  6. Get up 30 minutes earlier so you don’t have to rush around like a mad man.  That 30 minutes will help you avoid speeding tickets, tardiness, and other unnecessary headaches.
  7. Get off your high horse, talk it out, shake hands or hug, and move on.
  8. Don’t waste your time on jealously.  The only person you’re competing against is yourself.
  9. Surround yourself with people who fill your gaps.  Let them do the stuff they’re better at so you can do the stuff you’re better at.
  10. Organize your living space and working space. Read David Allen’s book Getting Things Done for some practical organizational guidance.
  11. Get rid of stuff you don’t use.
  12. Ask someone if you aren’t sure.
  13. Spend a little time now learning a time-saving trick or shortcut that you can use over and over again in the future.
  14. Don’t try to please everyone.  Just do what you know is right.
  15. Don’t drink alcohol or consume recreational drugs when you’re mad or sad.  Take a jog instead.
  16. Be sure to pay your bills on time.
  17. Fill up your gas tank on the way home, not in the morning when you’re in a hurry.
  18. Use technology to automate tasks.
  19. Handle important two-minute tasks immediately.
  20. Relocate closer to your place of employment.
  21. Don’t steal.
  22. Always be honest with yourself and others.
  23. Say “I love you” to your loved ones as often as possible.
  24. Single-task.  Do one thing at a time and give it all you got.
  25. Finish one project before you start another.
  26. Be yourself.
  27. When traveling, pack light.  Don’t bring it unless you absolutely must.
  28. Clean up after yourself.  Don’t put it off until later.
  29. Learn to cook, and cook.
  30. Make a weekly (healthy) menu, and shop for only the items you need.
  31. Consider buying and cooking food in bulk.  If you make a large portion of something on Sunday, you can eat leftovers several times during the week without spending more time cooking.
  32. Stay out of other people’s drama.  And don’t needlessly create your own.
  33. Buy things with cash.
  34. Maintain your car, home, and other personal belongings you rely on.
  35. Smile often, even to complete strangers.
  36. If you hate doing it, stop it.
  37. Treat everyone with the same level of respect you would give to your grandfather and the same level of patience you would have with your baby brother.
  38. Apologize when you should.
  39. Write things down.
  40. Be curious.  Don’t be scared to learn something new.
  41. Explore new ideas and opportunities often.
  42. Don’t be shy.  Network with people.  Meet new people.
  43. Don’t worry too much about what other people think about you.
  44. Spend time with nice people who are smart, driven, and likeminded.
  45. Don’t text and drive.  Don’t drink and drive.
  46. Drink water when you’re thirsty.
  47. Don’t eat when you’re bored.  Eat when you’re hungry.
  48. Exercise every day.  Simply take a long, relaxing walk or commit 30 minutes to an at-home exercise program like the P90X workout.
  49. Let go of things you can’t change.  Concentrate on things you can.
  50. Find hard work you actually enjoy doing.
  51. Realize that the harder you work, the luckier you will become.
  52. Follow your heart.  Don’t waste your life fulfilling someone else’s dreams and desires.
  53. Set priorities for yourself and act accordingly.
  54. Take it slow and add up all your small victories.
  55. However good or bad a situation is now, it will change.  Accept this simple fact.
  56. Excel at what you do.  Otherwise you’ll just frustrate yourself.
  57. Mature, but don’t grow up too fast.
  58. Realize that you’re never quite as right as you think you are.
  59. Build something or do something that makes you proud.
  60. Make mistakes, learn from them, laugh about them, and move along.

From Marc and Angel Hack Life

Life really is beautiful. I just don’t see it in every moment like I should.

Fish Market

Last weekend, the family went to San Pedro to celebrate Martin’s birthday (finally). We had a great time! It was picnic-style, so naturally, my family sprung into action. We brought our own rice, steamed vegetables, water, sodas, plates, hammers, crab picks, and anything else you can think of. My mom is really good at preparing everything.

Melinda and Eddie have been there before and recommended it. Good job guys! I had no idea what to do, so I just followed them around and took pictures of everything. It was pretty awesome…so many interesting things to see.

All that turned into this:

It was so good! What an amazing day. Next time we go there, thrifting for sure. I saw some really good places passing by :]

favs: old books

I love vintage books! I try to buy them when I find them at the thrift store, but they are so hard to come by. Tracy, Sylvie, and I saw these super cute ones at Goodwill one time, but we didn’t end up buying them.

I’ve been starting my own collection. ah. They have so much history, and they look amazing!

From posh Chicago

This is so cute to display the programs for a wedding:

or guest book:

from Style Me Pretty

For Katrina‘s Graduation Party, we made centerpieces that look a little like this:

From Zenadia Design

Same Colored:

via 79Ideas

Vintage Book Wedding Invitations! These are unbelievably amazing.

Created by Jessica Claire. Read the How To here.

Now, off to go find some.