new look, new ... me?

So I finally managed to find the time to revamp the blog! There's still a few things I need to get done, but I hope you all like it. I combined my love of coffee with my appreciation of photography ... it's as cheesy as it can get, without unicorns and rainbows.

One new thing that I added that I hope you'll take advantage of is the recipe of the week off to the side. Every Sunday, that link will be changed to another recipe that I hope you'll enjoy! Of course, they're not my own recipes 'cause I ain't no chef. This week, it's cappuccino cheesecake! I'm drooling already.

I feel like this new look represents the 'new me', as in, trying to be brave and learning that it's okay to say 'NO' sometimes. This weekend, I finally made that attempt to cut the ex-boyfriend out of my life. Funny thing is, this isn't the first time this kind of situation has come up.

Years ago, when I was still in my early teens, I had a friend (who was supposed to be my BFF) who I had fun with watching Sex and the City and covering up our eyes and ears at the raunchy parts. She wanted a blog just like I had at the time. Which means, I made her layouts, I made her cool blog name, and I constantly did favours for her. I never asked for anything in return. Until I realized she just kept calling me over to do things for her. I felt taken advantage of. That, combined with other things, led to the friendship's demise.

Now, years later, I'm dealing with an ex-boyfriend who constantly wants me to do favours for him regarding graphics and websites for his job because I have, and I quote, 'a talent'. In the words of Chris Crocker (and I hate that I'm quoting him), "Leave Britney me alone!"

While I don't mind doing things for others, when I know it's only for his benefit, he doesn't care about me, and that it's been a full year and a half since we've stopped dating, I just don't want to do it.

So ... new me. Let's hope it lasts.

testing testing

1-2-3 :)

Just a temporary entry, I'm changing how this blog looks but I don't have much time until Saturday to fix it up, so don't mind the unfinished look right now!

my modern form of therapy

About two weeks ago, I started writing a novel without planning it whatsoever. I just thought, "Why not write a story about a tech-obsessed girl in her mid-twenties, working at a graphics design company and dealing with love lost and current crises?"

Almost the story of my life, save for the age and occupation. But I've found, more than anything, that writing it has become a form of therapy for me. While I have blogs/journals that I talk about daily life with, reflecting on past mistakes would just bore everyone beyond relief. Writing it out, even with falsified names and exaggerated situations, helps me realize that it was better to lose what I thought I loved in order to find that someone who I do love.

This weekend, me and The Boy are celebrating our one-year anniversary. It might seem like a small milestone compared to so many who are onto their two, three, or sixth+ year together, but to know that we've made it to one year without him ever making me cry, without him cheating on me, without him making me feel lesser than him ... is amazing. FYI, those three criteria were exactly what my ex-boyfriend did to me on a continuous basis. I'm a smart cookie.

Regardless of whatever I've done, writing it out helps me put things in perspective and truly helps me to appreciate what I do have now, rather than obsess over what I don't have. I don't have a gorgeous apartment in Europe above a coffee shop where I'd go with my laptop to have breakfast with The Boy and write novels ... but I do have The Boy, love, and a Shakespeare course to get an A+ in over the summer. So at least that's something!

Also, Margarita over at Ramblings Of A Fab Brunette gave my blog an award! Yay! Even though I'm just getting started and have a lot more planned, it means a lot!



Rules

1. Pass the award on to five other blogs.
I bestow this honour to the following blogs:

1) Sushi Cat
2) Twenty Four Carat
3) Chick Lit Is Not Dead
4) Ask Allison
5) Cafe Fashionista

2. List five of your fabulous addictions.
My five fabulous addictions:

1) Coffee. Gimme any kind, as long as it has a hint of sweetness.
2) CoverGirl Wet Slicks Fruit Spritzer lipgloss. The first drugstore lipgloss I've found that doesn't dry out my lips! (Miracle.)
3) Europe. Anything to do with Europe.
4) Strawberry kiwi juice. It's yummy with anything.
5) Carrying my Marc by Marc Jacobs wallet around like it's a clutch!

3. Copy and paste the rules and the instructions below.

Instructions: On your post of receiving this award, make sure you include the person that gave you the award and link it back to them. When you post your five winners, make sure you link them as well. To add the award to your post, simply right-click, save image, then “add image” it in your post as a picture so your winners can save it as well. To add it to your sidebar, add the “picture” widget. Also, don’t forget to let your winners know they won an award from you by emailing them or leaving a comment on their blog.

Now I'm off to bed!

inventory time!

Spring cleaning is upon us. Having the end of a school year usually means 'inventory time' for me -- throwing out all those notes and review sheets that will be of no use to me now that the class is over. But, this year I decided to do another type of inventory -- in my closet.

I'm a bit of a pack rat and find no greater delight than spending an afternoon digging around in my drawers/closets/etc, finding things I forgot I had. Not exactly the best thing. So, I decided to make some room in my closet for those 'fashion staples', and throw out the jeans I wore when I was 16. Yes, that is almost 5 years ago, and they were still in my closet. Now, they'll be going to the local Salvation Army.

It's hard, throwing out things that you attach meaning to. You remember the nights you spent wearing that sweater, the compliments you got while wearing that dress shirt. But it no longer fits you, or the dryer made it shrink a little so the arms no longer meet your wrist. And so, I've shrunk my closet, and increased my closet space. Letting in room for high-quality clothes that I know will last. I went on a shopping spree last Sunday, getting myself a few shirts, dress shirts, and pants, and now, am ready to make new memories with my new wardrobe.

Of course, this led me to think about making an inventory in the rest of my room. I found myself finding letters from old boyfriends and realized these things don't matter to me anymore. So, I'm going to throw them out. Leave room for the significant other in my life now, rather than have crowded drawers full of 'promises of forever' that only ended in heartache.

Spring cleaning means more than just the house or the closet. What kind of spring cleaning are you going to do for yourself this year?