therapeutic thursdays: comfort

A cupcake a day would probably bring an eternal stomachache, a few too many extra pounds, and would make you take cupcakes for granted. By having it once a week, once a month, or just once in a while it becomes something special, something that brings comfort.

And when the weather was disgustingly miserable and that time of the month kicked in with its punches to the gut (too much information?), having a banana caramelo cupcake this past Tuesday was the ultimate comfort I needed to take my mind off of pain, off of the weather, and just concentrate on something delicious.

My cupcake before and midway through, when I became sad that I only had one haha.

When times are rough, when there's too many things on your mind, I think it's so important to take a step back, shake yourself off, and emerge yourself into something you truly enjoy and brings you comfort to push you that extra mile and encourage you to keep going. Whether it's a walk in the park, being with your friends, taking out your camera and just taking pictures of what you see, reading a book, blasting your favourite song and making up a dance routine in your bedroom, taking a drive to somewhere you've never been before, or something food-related (yum). It could be something you haven't done in a while (for me, that's shaking the dust off my guitar and playing a tune). Or my ultimate favourite 'thing' that brings me comfort: bearhugs.

I've been making a list lately of what's better than coffee (something I attempted once on this blog and never did again, whoopsies) inspired by "The Book of Awesome." The first two things on that list are definitely #1) bearhugs and #2) cupcakes.

I feel like I'm cheating by putting cupcakes on the list since I was enjoying a coffee with my cupcake, but shhhh.

And #3) on that list of what's better than coffee are countdowns - it's officially sixteen days until I fly off to Vancouver! Whoopah! Having that moment to think about these things, to enjoy a yummy treat or a tight squeeze from someone you love, to have that satisfactory moment when the countdown turn from double digits to single digits, gives me comfort and happiness when the weather looks like this:

April showers I understand, but please go away fog and crazy gusts of wind.

I wish you all an abundance of cupcakes and bearhugs, and something to look forward to (maybe a countdown to the weekend or nicer weather?). Now, I have to ask:

What brings you comfort?
What's that thing you do
to make you feel better?

Hope you all have a great weekend!

simple smiles #42

When two weeks go by without posting it means that either a) there's lots of stuff going on or b) I'm playing way too much Sims. Fortunately it was more of an a) mixed with me just feeling extreme gratitude for all of your comments on my last post ... you all made my heart warm and fuzzy with all your congrats. THANK YOU! :)

Since then, life has been about enjoying the quiet moments, trying to remain calm in the moments where you're in a hall for 25 hours with a bunch of hormonal teenagers and you tell them not to eat to raise money (craziness, I tell ya), and counting down the days until I go to Vancouver!

Strange to think that in a month I'll be celebrating mine and The Boy's three-year anniversary while standing at the front of a room, watching my sister walk up the aisle and marry her man :) And that in less than a month I'll get to meet Patty (/Kym) again! YIPEE!

For now, here are some moments of simple smiles or simple realizations that I've had over the past couple of weeks.

Simple Realization #1: I never really understood my sister and mama's fascination with footwear - until last week when I acquired three new pairs of shoes. On the left - the heels I'll be wearing for my sister's wedding. In the middle - shoes my mom purchased 3 years ago that were too small ... and which she (I would like to think, somewhat reluctantly) bestowed onto me. On the right - nude pumps for my size 9 feet. Looking at this picture, I tend to like neutral-coloured shoes, hmm.

Simple Smile #1: Snailmail in the form of a 'will you be my maid of honour' card from my sister (I responded with a resounding 'no', hehe) and a lovely postcard from Sierra courtesy of the postcard project! Annnd if you're reading this and haven't sent out your postcard yet - please do it haha. I promise I'll be sending out reminder emails soon :)

Simple Smile #2: Delicious food in the form of Subway with The Boy before seeing Your Highness (hysterically weird) and my latest creation in the kitchen - chocolate chip cranberry cookies (a modified version of this recipe!).

Simple Realization #2: How each bus trip adventure, each tickling fight, each hug can make me fall more in love /cheeeeesy.

Simple Smile & Realization #3: That nights with bubble tea and trying out Soju while watching Boys Over Flowers is a perfect way to spend a night with friends.

Simple Realization #4: That keychains don't last forever. A few months ago, yoyo (the green one) started to lose all of his colour, and then last week, hoops (the pink one) decided to breakaway from my house keys. 'Twas a sad moment ... and also made me realize I'm a tad bit obsessed with anything hoops & yoyo.

Simple Smile #4: Books. I love to read, and the library feeds that craving magnificently. I also borrowed The Book of Awesome which is, in a word, AWESOME! and inspired me to create my own little series ... if I can actually stick to it (this is a reminder for me to stick with it!).

Simple Smile #5: Two pigeons sought shelter on the ledge outside my kitchen window from the crazy weather this past Sunday - in the span of two hours it went from ice pellets and extreme hail to a thunderstorm to ... snow. In April. So two little pigeons decided to just hang out by my window, though one flew off when I took out my camera (my dad thought maybe he was camera shy).

So that's what I've been up to in a few random snapshots; this year seems to be going by more quickly than any other year, which only gives more leverage to that whole "time goes faster as you get older" idea. That could be part of the reason why I haven't updated here, but either way I'm excited for the weeks to come and promise to keep more in touch!

Now I must ask:
What's your simple smile or
simple realization of this past week?

Hope you had a great weekend!

between two cups of coffee

Lately, I've been on a little bit of a caffeine fast (and I feel like admitting that on a blog whose title relates around coffee is a bit blasphemous!). In the past week I ended up having two cups - one in a moment of weakness, and one yesterday in a moment of celebration - and they felt like bookends to some amazing days in my life.

Bookend #1 - A Moment of Weakness
in the form of a Second Cup Chillatte

This past Wednesday I realized I've become something of a hermit who hadn't left the house in almost three days. So I took a journey to the mall - a little bit of a fresh air on the walk, and then letting myself get distracted by a building full of people and clothes. I was feeling nauseous and on edge - in a matter of days I'd be finding out if I got into teachers college, and I was wondering if I was jinxing myself by not really preparing any back-up plans in case I didn't get in.

Before I left the mall, I stopped by Second Cup. I was the only one in line and decided to order something cold - a Chillatte. Even though her co-worker was right next to her, the barista still wrote my order on the cup. When I got my order, I was surprised to see the cup read Chill. And for some reason, that word worked. I realized I can't control all the outcomes so, until I find out the results, I should just chill.

The Amazing Days in Between

Thursday was a day full of seeing The Boy, catching up with friends we haven't seen in a while, indulging in a massive burger + pint deal at a restaurant we've never tried before, and then accidentally getting a pitcher of sangria when I only wanted a glass (though the pitcher was awesome). That was followed by dancing in the car, and then picking out delicious candy from Bulk Barn to munch on. It helped take my mind off of things, and almost felt like a pre-celebration now that I look back on it.


Friday is going to be forever dubbed as THE DAY - not because it was April Fools Day (and it seems like a really cruel joke to give out offers of admission on April Fools) but because:

I GOT INTO TEACHERS COLLEGE!

I spent the wee hours of the morning hovering over a computer, just waiting - and I got into all three that I was waiting for results from. Oh, happy days! To finally be awarded the chance to become what I've always wanted to be ... ahh, made me happy that I decided to chill.

Saturday was full of more catching up with friends by helping out on a short film set and being a clapper which was a ton of fun, then eating yummy celebratory burgers with The Boy (my idea of healthy eating went out the window this weekend).

Bookend #2 - A Moment of Celebration
in the form of a Cinnamon Dolce Latte

And then Sunday was spent in Starbucks, celebrating mine and my friend's good news over a cup of cinnamon dolce latte and a deeeelicious red velvet whoopie. Followed by watching adorable videos, like a baby being scared of his mom blowing her nose. You must watch it.

I'm starting to feel like it's worth it to take little coffee breaks, because amazing things can happen in between two cups of coffee. /cheesy blog is cheesy

And a MASSIVE thank you to everyone who joined in on the Postcard Project! I'm so excited for everyone to swap and hopefully share on their blogs once they get it. And since I was so late in sending everyone their postcard partners, I'll send out reminders this Friday to anyone who hasn't sent theirs yet!

Now, I have to ask:
How was your weekend?
Did anything make it amazing? :)