The Hunt is Over!

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Ahhhh, so many wonderful things are happening this month, it's unreal. 

The never-ending job hunt ENDED yesterday! Praise the Lord! I still have to sign the contract and go through weeks of training, but man does it feel good to have all of the countless weeks spent applying and interviewing pay off (literally)! 

I will be honest here, the past few months have been extremely difficult at times. Finances were stretched, wedding expenses were piling up, I was not getting the jobs I thought I deserved. My confidence began dwindling. I thought, "What the heck! Is this suppose to be this difficult?" But you know what, I just had to keep reminding myself that things will happen, and they will turn out the way they are meant to turn out. I had to let go of trying to control the situation, because otherwise, I would be grumpy and bitter...and who wants that? The past few months tested my patience and allowed me to intentionally focus on the things that I was grateful for in my life. For that, I am a stronger, more patient, and an even more optimistic person. I am thankful for this waiting game, because it has humbled me. 

In addition to beginning this new position, I will continue to steadily growing my therapy practice, AND Karl and I will be hitting another milestone. We will be saying good bye to our little ol' beach bungalow and hello to a new, swanky one about 15 mins inland. We've decided that we want a fresh new spot to begin our soon-to-be married lives...and the luxury of an on-site gym, pool, and personal washer and dryer doesn't hurt either. Yay, no more scrambling for quarters!

For all of you who are striving for something great. Keep at it. Be patient. And most importantly, focus on practicing gratitude for the things that you already have. 

Cheers to life (and all of it's adversities)!

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Love(ly) Month

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Oh, Hello February, how nice of you to arrive. I know that you will have plenty of fruitful moments in store for myself and my loved ones. 

Tis the month of "love", which is kinda silly, bc every month should be focused on that very sentiment. In my mind, it's just another great excuse to wear bright pink lipstick, eat chocolate (yes, I am still on my fast, but I will make an exception for the 14th), and fill the house with pale pink flowers. 

Valentines day will be HUGE this year...there is a special moment that I am looking forward to, yet cannot quite reveal just yet. I'll give you more details once it happens, promise.

Oh, here is an update on the never ending job hunt: I am getting extremely close to finding an amazing gig, I can feel it! I am certain things will pan out in the next week or so, and when it does I will let ya'll in on it. In the mean time, I will be hustlin' like a mo'fo with my practice, babysitting gigs, mentoring students, volunteering, and attending local therapy workshops. I have realized that I know how to keep myself quite busy...Ahhhhh, life, it never gets dull.

 #blessed.

Have a stunning first day of February, Plummies! AND, let's go Niners!!!

I Ran This Morning

I ran this morning.

Very slowly.

Up a very steep hill.

It sucked.

...I will probably do it again tomorrow.

To Date, or not to Date...

Happy Thursday afternoon, Plummies! After a work meeting this afternoon I found myself hungrily roaming the isles of my neighborhood Trader Joe's. Gotta love that place. I picked up a few things to throw in the crockpot for dinner, and also happen to grab some healthy snacks. Two of which being: dried dates and dehydrated banana chips. Wow! Who knew that this combination could be so satisfying?! The chewiness of the dates paired with the crisp-crunch of the banana made for such a delicious mid-day treat.

Yes, I am still going strong with my coffee/ chocolate fast (read the last post for more info). So plugging more fruit into my diet is giving me the natural boost of energy I need while also calming my sweet tooth.

What are your favorite fruits during the winter months?

Time of Fasting

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If you know me, you know that my obsession with chocolate is, well, kinda out of control! Same can be said for a good latte.

Over the last year, I have become habituated to the routine of: waking up in the morning, reaching for my cell phone, checking emails, Facebook, Instagram (all from my bed, and I am usually still laying down). Once that has been accomplished, I head straight for the kitchen, fire up my Nespresso machine, scramble up some eggs, and bring my meal to the living room wherein I watch about 15-20 mins of my favorite Youtube channels before tossing my dishes in the sink and getting ready for my day.

That exact routine happens pretty much 90% of the time. Which is fine, but recently I've found that when I don't get around to checking my social media sites, having my coffee, having my daily bite of chocolate, or watching my Youtube, something feels...off!

Am I addicted to those things? Do I depend on them too much? Could I benefit from mixing things up?

After thinking about those questions, and attending an inspirational church service on a similar topic, I have come to my answer: YES, I am addicted to those things to some degree. So, to challenge myself to not depend on those external factors for fulfillment throughout the day, I will fast from them for 40 days.

What?! No Facebook, no Instagram, no Youtube, no coffee, no chocolate, no dairy!? Being without the comfort of my routine, will surely be trying. Hopefully I will come out of this fast with a renewed awareness that I do not need anything external. This time will allow me to focus my energies on things that are more important, and to prove to myself that I am going to be fine without being dependent on the things that I assume bring me comfort and joy.

Are there things that you have become accustom addicted to? What if you took a break from those things? How else would you spend your time, money, energy? 

First Monday

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Happy First Monday of 2013, Plummies! Before anything else, I would like to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my fabulous friends, Patty and Susana! I am so sad I am not able to be up in NorCal to celebrate with you, but trust me, I am definitely there in spirit. I love you both so much.

This weekend was a tough one for me, particularly yesterday. I was literally on the couch battling a head cold all day long. I got up briefly to bake some chocolate chip cookies (haha, of course it would be chocolate that gets me up!), but that's about it. Oh, and my friend Anna suggested a Netflix documentary called "Happy", which I was able to watch. It is a must-see fo sho! Thanks, Anna. Otherwise, I was bundled up on the couch with a Kleenex box by my side, listening to the pitter-patter of rain drops outside (it was rather relaxing and exactly what I needed).

If you don't recall, one of my new year's resolutions was to "spend more time in my local library". So today, after an interview (God-willing, this one is fruitful) and a couple sessions with clients, I will be heading straight to the library for some "me-time" reading books that are on my book-list.

What is on your agenda this first Monday of the year?

Welcoming 2013

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Dear 2013,

I am not gonna deny that you have a lot to live up to because 2012 was, well, let's just say...WONDERFUL. Plenty of blessings happened this past year: friends' weddings, finishing grad school, traveling to Spain, and getting engaged to my best friend. It has also had it's share of challenges, all of which I am equally grateful for.

With a new year comes a fresh beginning and renewed energy; You know, the kind of feeling you get when waking up particularly early in the morning ready to tackle a lofty to-do list? Kinda like that.

To keep with tradition, I might as well share with you my list of goals (Which I actually do every single month an keep in my phone and bedside as motivation).

This year I will...

• find myself a second job that will allow me to utilize my skills as a therapist and help others achieve their goals.
• practice yoga at least 3 times per week.
• cook more dinners and invite friends over for no reason at all.
• spend more time at my local library.
• continue to volunteer each month.
• plan monthly stay-cations (San Diego is too beautiful to not do so.)
• stay within our wedding budget!
• conquer my dslr camera.

"You cannot plough a field by turning it over in your mind" -Unknown

Basically: JUST DO IT! 

Have a great year friends!