the weather outside is weather

Lately, I've found myself indulging in fifteen minute walks. I used to take these walks all the time when we had Shadow, but they got left by the wayside when we had to put him to sleep. It felt weird taking walks solo, and I honestly become intimidated by all those runners around my neighbourhood who would jog in freezing weather in workout gear while I trudge through the snow in ten layers of clothing. 

In the past two weeks, though, I've kind of ignored the runners and just focused on one step in front of the other, clearing my head, and enjoying being outside even if the weather outside is weather (oh Paul Rudd, how I love thee in Forgetting Sarah Marshall ... and now that I'm starting How I Met Your Mother I'm rediscovering Jason Segel, too). 

These little walks make me feel kiddish again and bring me back to those years where I would crave being outside; even before I had neighbourhood friends, I would pretend to be an athlete named "Aimee" (which was my favourite name in the world) on my rollerblades or Tony Hawk's protege on a skateboard, whizzing around the block. Those were the days where you would skin your knee and cry, but then admire the battle wound. 

As the years go by, it's almost as if those moments get lost in disarray and replaced by everything needing to have a purpose; that voice in my head would keep saying, "What's the point of going outside for a walk when there's so many other things to do on your to-do list?" In defense, I respond, "Why can't you just enjoy something simply because you enjoy it?" 

When I see bloggers like Krissy become suddenly inspired to write a novel, seeing Kat's determination to tackle her 2012 goals, Kym's awesomeness in creating a clothing line and having it soar, seeing Tiara's art on a pendant, seeing my sister Margarita (who just had her birthday - Happy Birthday!) looking absolutely fab as a soon-to-be mom of two children, and looking at Katy's set of rules inspires me to indulge in those things that make me happy, follow my dreams, and constantly better myself. 

And fortunately, I have a few supporters.

Even though I loved sitting in the theatre watching Sherlock Holmes 2 and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (both phenomenal films, by the way), two of my favourite memories from these past two weeks were walking around the bayfront with a friend when the skating rink was a bit too watery followed by checking out a local coffee shop and, just yesterday, going on a random walk with The Boy. We had planned on an all-out road trip but instead hit up a local hiking area with a waterfall across the street and enjoyed looking at bunny tracks and amusing ourselves by seeing which parts of a lake were frozen or not.

Walking in a winter wonderland ...

Being a pair of "hoodlums" (and calling him Pippi Longstocking because of the strings).

Moments like taking a little stroll really bring about those simple smiles for me; and I really want to make this year one of indulging in those simple smiles. 

What are those simple things that make you happy?

What's one thing you've lost sight of but want to rediscover?

Hope you had a great weekend & have a happy start to your week :) 

the new year

Happy 2012 everyone! How did you spend your midnight ringing in the New Year? I'll admit, mine was a tad blurry and my nude heels are now completely ruined, but it was a great night overall! The Boy and I decided to go "all out" for the first time (since we usually just do dinners and watch the ball drop on the TV) and went to Toronto with some friends. We watched some hockey at the hotel where someone came up with the brilliant but not-so-brilliant idea of taking a shot any time someone scored a goal (that might have been me), playing with a lot of glow sticks, and wandering up and down the stairs of a three-floor club with pretty good music before a kiss or two at midnight. 

About to ring in the new year!

Getting ready, getting set ...

And GO! With my glow sticks leftover from a science experiment :D

Wearing a H&M top, Forever 21 skirt, and heels (RIP) from Spring :)

Now it's four days later and I'm thinking more about the 'long-term goals' (my alternate term for 'resolutions') for this year. It's broken down into three categories: goals for myself, goals for others, and goals for the future.

take better care of myself - workout like this if I find myself short for time instead of setting myself up for failure with 'workout five times a week'; make my space less cluttered (just as I wrote this I noticed three leftover hot cocoa mugs and went to wash them haha) and more of an organized chaos (keep a jar full of memories); eating a tad healthier + sleeping longer = less illness (YAY!); and, of course, the one I've had on my list for years: stop biting picking at your nails, woman.

stay in touch with those I care about - instead of being a hermit as soon as school comes, I want to take the time to make random plans like coffee dates, hikes, skating nights, and playing Just Dance 'til our limbs wear down rather than just catching up with someone around the holidays or birthdays, even if it is great that it feels like no time has passed at all when I do spend time with someone after months. And of course, meet those bloggers I've been wanting to meet this year!

keep the future in mind, but live in the present - Save my money and read library books instead; plan for those amazing trips I want to take in the future like British Columbia, Europe, the Philippines, but also keep in mind my future car, home, and family; find the less expensive but still thoroughly enjoyable things to do in my city rather than splurging on one-day things.

The reason why I don't want to call them 'new year' resolutions is because these are things I have in my mind all the time; it just feels like the perfect time to write them down and solidify them as goals at the beginning of the year. Here's hoping I can keep them going all-year round and beyond, and let's hope I don't run into John Cusack trying to save the world in the meantime.

What are your 'long-term goals'?

And how is your 2012 so far?

Hope you're having an amazing day :)