balance: is it possible?

Balance. This is something that is constantly on my mind, especially as I get older. I am already wrestling and reflecting a lot on it-- and I don't even have a family of my own yet! Just thinking about how long it's been since I've posted on this blog makes me cringe a little - I'm going to be better, I promise! ;)

Only after I started dating Ben did I realize how hard it is to maintain balance when you're in a relationship. I think it's true when people say being single means being productive without even intentionally doing so! You have the precious time to invest so much in your own learning, meet new people constantly and deepen your friendships. I loved being single, and I love being in a relationship, though balancing is certainly a learning process. Spending time with Ben is my priority, but we both never want to be that couple who disappears into their own world, lost in each other while neglecting other relationships.

Also, I love my "doing me" time: taking long podcast-listening walks, reading in bookstores, and working out. Even running errands like grocery shopping or giving myself a manicure at home feel relaxing and irreplaceable. My Saturday morning runs across the Williamsburg bridge are sacrosanct too, yet I haven't gone in two weeks. Ah, balance!

So here's the question... How can I continue to lean in and invest meaningfully into my friendships, my family, my work, my relationship, and my personal time and do them well? Is it even possible? Do you agree with the saying, "You can have anything but not everything"? One thing I'm working on now is to stop trying to control my performance and just go with the flow. When I have the perfectionist mentality of being everywhere with everyone, I can quickly begin to see my day as a long list of to-do's and my friends as a thing to check off, done! (How sad is that.) Not good for anyone. What are your thoughts on balance? Is it possible?

(Yoga photo via here)

what are your plans this weekend?

I know it's only Wednesday (hump day), but I'm already really looking forward to my first weekend back in New York in what feels like forever (after SF, Bahamas, and Philly visiting my family). My goal is to be outside as long as possible since the weather is improving (thank goodness!). On weekends, I have a habit of power-walking through Soho, West Village, and East Village while chatting on the phone or listening to a podcast, people watching, and taking photos. I actually just stumbled upon the above photo of a restaurant called Freeman's which I had instagrammed 2 years ago while on such a walk! Isn't it so cute? I love how off the beaten path it is, tucked away in Chrystie St.

I'll also be catching up with my friend and former L'Oreal colleague Adam at brunch, meeting another friend Adam (funny coincidence) for coffee to plot out his career path (which sounds so devious, no?), attending a Crunch workout class, and working on my application to a theology seminar. What's your weekend looking like?

(Top photo via Nicole Franzen, bottom photo of me taken by my friend Danny in Soho)

5 in-transit thoughts

I was just telling Abby my roommate that I wish I had several hours after work to decompress, read silly Buzzfeed articles, catch up on my Facebook newsfeed and just... relax. Reconcile the random thoughts in my head from throughout the day (I call them 'in-transit' thoughts because they float around and then are gone before I get a chance to contemplate more or write them down). That's why I thought I'd just write them here before bedtime (and maybe stumble upon this blog post sometime in the distant future and think back about myself, 'What a baby I was!' That would be pretty cool.).

- Two contradictions: I'm trying to be more minimal in life -- give away clothes I haven't worn in a year to my sister, own less things, etc. -- and yet I am totally hooked on Pinterest, which is all about excess everything. It's like... I need to go on Pinterest and pin pretty things to my boards to unwind before bedtime. What a goof.

- For the Bahamas, I was still putting all of my sample-size toiletries in ziplock bags for my flight carry on and felt like something was amiss. Why haven't I bought a real-person plane bag? I just ordered this Stephanie Johnson yellow jumbo zip bag and am abnormally excited to pack for my next trip in style, for once.

- My internal dialogue lately has been unnecessarily dramatic: "I really want babies. I love babies!!!" "No, you can't have babies, you're not even married and you have too many things on your bucket list to do!" "But I'm really good with them. Get on with it already, have a baby." "No. You're not having babies until age thirty." "Ugh, fine. But don't wait to long...." Seriously, estrogen is such a nuisance sometimes. I sincerely hope this is every mid-twenties woman's inner turmoil so I'm not the crazy one.

- Yesterday I went to Art Bar in the West Village for late evening drinks with some girlfriends and loved the ambiance of the back living room-- very 1940s velour couches/fireplace chic. Need to visit again soon.

- My friends Sarah and Evan are getting married on March 30 and I'm beyond excited. Abby and I are both thinking first: What am I going to wear? Second: What does this mean we're old now? And lastly: Holy crap, Sarah's going to be a married woman!!! I 'm so excited. I'm totally going to finagle the microphone and give a rowdy, tipsy toast because I love that girl.

(Photo via here)

is 'everything is good' actually a bad thing?

You know when your friends ask you 'how are you?' and the answer sometimes is an automatic 'good!' Well I try not to do that -- I usually give a specific answer with lots of details and examples (I love story-telling and sharing after all). Lately though, I've been surprising myself by giving an answer that is, very genuinely, a simple 'everything is really good.' Gosh, it feels so weird to report smooth sailing. No dramatic stories, no complaints or anxieties. Not many internal of external struggles. A new level of continuous stability that I've never felt before.

What do you do when life is so calm and quiet? I am really grateful for this peaceful stage right now -- the fact that I enjoy my work, feel content with all of my relationships, and genuinely like the person I'm growing into and the communities that I'm a part of. But it's weird. In a city that is constantly stimulating and full of drama, am I becoming a bore? Is 'everything is good' actually a bad thing, an indicator of complacency? Should we always be struggling in life? What are your thoughts? Tell me if I'm being crazy here. :)

(Photo via here)

can we really select our soulmates?

Last night I stumbled upon a short video of a couple discussing the likelihood of finding a soulmate. While beautifully shot and expressed (I liked the montages), I found myself disagreeing with some of the logic, which ultimately filtered down to conclude that each person actually has a chance of meeting less than one soulmate (or 0.53 soulmates to be exact). Here are my issues with this process of elimination...

First of all, attraction is a fickle mistress, so the whole immediate elimination of people based off of first or even fourth impressions seems rash. I've found some guys insanely attractive after being friends and getting to know them as people. Each of these revelations was shocking, especially since I always thought I had a type: tall, brawny, dark-haired, etc. It's time to stop vetting people in our near-sighted "dating goggles" and start committing to them first as friends (which seems so counterintuitive in our quick fix online dating world, à la Tinder). Dustin Hoffman sums this up nicely in his interview for his movie Tootsie where he plays a woman:

"It was at that moment I had an epiphany, and I went home and started crying. Talking to my wife, I said I have to make this picture, and she said, "Why?" And I said, "Because I think I am an interesting woman when I look at myself on screen. And I know that if I met myself at a party, I would never talk to that character because she doesn't fulfill physically the demands that we're brought up to think women have to have in order to ask them out." She says, "What are you saying?" And I said, "There's too many interesting women I have…not had the experience to know in this life because I have been brainwashed."

Secondly, what about life stages? I have far too many friends who fall in love with emotionally unavailable men and feel at a loss. These types of relationships have mutual attraction, common values and interests, but one party's heart isn't available for all too many reasons. You can't force someone whom you think is your "soulmate" to commit to you and actually be, well, soulmate material. Even if you meet someone who fits all of your many levels of filters and criteria, how can a person make you happy if you expect to get all of your contentment from them? What if you're really happy together and then one day, you're not; or if you can't handle their baggage, imperfections, and different set of flaws. Are they no longer your soulmate?

So what does my revised soulmate logic suggestion look like in the end? Throwing out the dating goggles and not eliminating people who don't seem immediately attractive will increase the soulmate selection choice. Not dating emotionally unavailable/conflicting life-stage people will lower it. But can we really select our soulmates based on an algorithmic process of elimination? I don't believe it -- but maybe if we stopped worrying about finding soulmates altogether and started committing to people as friends first, we'd be pleasantly surprised.

(Photo via here)

thank you, body

I don't know if it's just part of the process of getting older, but I am appreciating my body more, noticing the little miracles-- and not just in a superficial appearance-related way. Like... thank you knees, for helping me climb my 4 floor walk-up multiple times a day. And thanks, skin for not getting winter-dry or really needing any lotion. Thanks hair for growing so freaking fast that botched haircuts can quickly fade away. 

I had been praying to see myself the way that God sees me as: His beloved creation and daughter. What's neat is I am seeing the beauty in my body's small abilities, the gestures I usually take for granted. I can walk for miles and carry bags of heavy groceries. I can do 10 push-ups in a row. I can walk gracefully in 5 inch heels. I'm thinking less of how I'd like for it to change (growing those extra 2 inches, losing 5 pounds) and excited for how it will inevitably evolve in the future (creating children, etc). Little miracles, all God's creation. Pretty cool.

(Photo sources 1, 2, 3)

5 resolution themes for 2014

I struggled the past two weeks with making resolutions but then read an article on Huff Po about creating themes for the year that we can think about every day instead of specific resolutions. Maybe measurable resolutions are too serious and broader, more general themes are just-right? They seem gentler anyway. Here are five 2014 themes I'd like to be intentional about on a daily basis...

Stop guilting. 
If I want to sleep in, eat a third portion, read at night instead of going out, so be it.

Don't be afraid to go it alone (be it a vacation, a movie, or a walk).
Enjoying your own company is underrated. 

Think of myself less.
C.S. Lewis once defined this as true humility, and it really stuck with me. 

Be real.

Remain authentic in my feelings, actions, and relationships.

Be present. 
The future will worry about itself.

(Photo source: 1, 2, 3 - originally from Breakfast at Tiffany's- 4, 5, )

HOT OR NOT, DO OR DON'T: when did female beauty become front page news?

Every day the articles that I read on blogs and even reputable publications make me a little uncomfortable. The content is always the same, but there has been a lot more of it: an overwhelming focus on the appearance of women -- from actresses like Kate Winslet to politicians like Hillary Clinton-- every. single. day. When I read about Hillary Clinton's new bangs several times today on various news outlets, a vein started throbbing on my forehead, and my uncomfortable feeling turned into fury.

Hot or not. Do or don't.

Every day, amazing women's appearances are being dissected or cut down: what they wore, how big their thighs are, how photoshopped their magazine covers look, their new haircuts, their dramatic weight losses or gains, their cellulite or tummies revealed on the beach, how they look without makeup, how fast they bounced back from their baby weight or not... the list goes on. 

Hot or not. Do or don't. 

Beauty has changed -- it is an obsession that has become a communal property, not a personal pleasure. In model Cameron Russell's TED Talk, she admitted that models are the most insecure people you will ever meet because they have to think about how they look every single day. But really -- what is the difference between the hearts of models and those of normal women? Every single woman has to think about her appearance every day because what she reads online or watches on TV keeps telling her that this is what matters most. Every woman is sold this fake standard of perfection, and reminded: you're not it -- even the models who are commercializing these standards are just products of hairstylists, make-up artists, and photoshop whizzes. 

Hot or not. Do or don't.

Women are reminded again and again of how much we should eat or exercise, of the countless ways that we should be improving our appearances. Our outfits are too revealing/sexy or too boring/not sexy enough.  We need to lose 15 pounds or gain 15 pounds. Our boobs are too big or too small. When you critique the appearance of one woman, you critique the appearance of ALL women. The saddest thing is, women are the harshest critics of each other, regurgitating these ridiculous standards that are so deeply ingrained. 

It's mostly female journalists and bloggers who write the headlines: Hot or not. Do or don't.

The fashion and beauty industry's lifeblood is fueled by consumer behavior, but these behaviors are molded by the media. Consumers decide what they want to buy, but the media tells them why they need them and all the countless things that they need to fix about how they look. Beauty companies market products with good intentions - to empower women to own their unique beauty, to enhance what they love about themselves; yet sometimes their media and advertisements scream: you should look like this. You have a lot of work to do.

78% of 17 year old American girls are unhappy with their bodies (source) -- and every single person working in women's consumer goods is responsible for decreasing that number. We should be on our customer's side and do everything we can to protect her self-esteem.

I've worked in beauty marketing for the past few years from the biggest beauty manufacturer to beauty e-commerce retail. I often feel guilty that the products I help sell are sold at the expense of women's insecurities. But that is NOT what beauty is about.  I pray that feminine beauty can be more and more empowering and sacred and less of a social and consumer commodity. I pray that women will be told every single day that it's what they DO that ultimately matters, not whether or not they should get bangs.

(Photo source from Life Magazine via here)

6 tips to driving your career

There are many things in our careers that we have no control over, so I started thinking about the things that we actually can control. Isn't it true that we often undervalue our own power to improve our work lives? In a recent NYTimes article, Birchbox co-founder Katia Beauchamp said something that I find very honest from an employer: “This is your life. This is your career. I’m here to set you up for success. But you’re driving.” Inspired, I compiled 6 tips to driving your career that I hope will benefit your company, your colleagues, and yourself.

1. See the potential in yourself. Know your own weaknesses and opportunities for growth better than anybody else -- having humility in all the things you don't know will drive you to work harder and learn faster. You should never be blindsided during mid-year and annual reviews with your manager. In fact, you should be adding to the list of things you'd like to develop further within yourself.

2. Banish that concept of "beneath you" kind of work. Some of the most junior team members are closest to tracking data, executing on your business and watching your competitors. Keep your fingers on the pulse of your business: don't look down on the "junior" tasks (i.e. pulling and analyzing data) that are often most critical to influencing strategy.

3. If you don't feel intellectually challenged, find your own challenge. Put in longer hours to take your projects to another level beyond what's asked. Think of work as getting paid to learn and investing in your professional development, instead of just a means to pay the bills. Remember: some people go back to grad school to learn the kind of things that you get to learn for free!

4. Don't obsess over your job description. Your actual job will never completely match your job description, so don't obsess with what's on paper. Stubbornly committing to a defined role makes you inflexible to change, and guess what-- industries change and evolve all the time. Your title may not be reflective of your actual responsibilities, but remember what's actually important (your responsibilities).

5. Say yes to projects that are not in your field. Raise your hand for new work on new teams. Deeply understanding other teams' contribution to the company will help you understand the entire business in a more comprehensive way. Your perspective may actually provide great insight to a team that has only been seeing things in one way.

6. Practice communicating the hard stuff. If you have any working relationship issues with your team, ask if you can do anything to help. If your manager is too micromanaging or doesn't manage enough, it's your responsibility to schedule that one-on-one meeting to identify ways to improve working together, and to do it with compassion and respect.

These are my tips... what other ways can we drive our careers? Do you agree or disagree with anything in the above?

PS: 16 tips to rocking your job interview.

(Photo of Wonderwoman via here)

our everyday habits

I'm currently hanging out on my couch, drinking chocolate milk after a great run along the East River Park and got to thinking about the power of habits. I used to hate running, but now that Saturday runs (with Danny, Abby or Steph) have become ingrained in my routine for the past few months, I am loving it and getting better at running longer distances. How powerful: habits can rewire our brains to look forward to something that once felt so grueling!

My good habits include reading (currently: this and this), going to workout classes, and maintaining this blog/my writing. My bad habits include eating out too much/not cooking at home, making excuses to justify frivolous spending ($16 cocktail, sure why not- it's an experience!), and not being committed to learning new things outside of my job. Hopefully, the knowledge that routine habits inform our lifestyles will kick out some of these bad habits. What are some of your everyday habits?

(Photo of Jane and Serge via here) 

16 tips to rocking your job interview

Five of my close New York friends are currently interviewing for new jobs right now, so I've been emailing tips and mock interviewing the past couple of weeks. Until this year, I didn't really have much experience interviewing. I had received a full-time offer after my junior year college internship at L'Oreal, so I was out of practice until Amazon/Quidsi reached out on Linkedin three years later. (That led to 5 interviews, which then led to an offer). Anyway, I wanted to share some advice that I've accumulated from very smart people in my life and through personal experience. Here are 16 tips to rocking a job interview...

The First 11 Basic Rules: These rules are tweaked by me but originated from Josh Golden, CMO of Story Worldwide, a millennial in a Gen X body and a great advice giver. (Thanks Josh!)

1. Dress appropriately -- either plus one over the interview if it's a corporate job, or reflective of the company's culture if it's a start-up (i.e. don't come in wearing a suit if everyone wears jeans).
2. The interview starts before you arrive. Be nice to everyone and turn off your cell phone.
3. Bring multiple copies of your résumé, which should be customized to reflect the job you're applying for.
4. Rehearse your interview with someone. You'll be surprised by how often you say "um".
5. Do your research. Seriously... research voraciously.
6. Write down 3 things you remembered from the interview. Take notes during or immediately after so you can reference some nice details in your thank you note.
7. Thank you note within 24 hours. Under 3 hours is too short. Over 24 hours, not interested enough.
8. Have 3-5 questions ready. More on that below.
9. Stalk them beforehand (on Linkedin). Not knowing who you'll be talking to is just irresponsible. You don't need to share this info with your interviewer, but being prepared is always a plus.
10. If it feels right, ask what next steps should be. 
11. Follow up within 2 weeks with an appropriate email that highlights something you read or is related to what you talked about during the interview. This shows that you keep up with industry news and that you're on the same page as your interviewer.

The Next 5 Rules to Raise The Bar: These are my gold stars that will take you from standard to exceptional.

1. Be an Active Listener. Never interrupt. Actively listen, then answer questions without a 5 minute long prelude. Don't ramble so much that you forget the question they asked in the first place.
2. Be positive and additive. Why would you ever complain about your current role? Even if the complaints are warranted, the negativity will cling to you. Suddenly, you're a Debbie Downer with a sense of entitlement. Also be careful when giving feedback on the company you're interviewing for, because you are probably about to critique something your interviewer directly works on. Be additive, not negative. 
3. Have your 5 good stories. Learn them so well that you can fit them into any question coming your way.
4. Use the STAR methodology. Before the interview, take out a piece of paper and split the page into: Situation, Task, Action, and Results. Now write down your 5 stories, find the STAR in them, and practice your narrative.
5. Make your questions count. Don't be redundant and ask a question that your interviewer already addressed. Here are a few general favorites:

• What's your background and how did you end up here at X?
• What are some of your key challenges in your career and how did you overcome them?
• What’s your favorite part about your job?
• What kind of challenges is the business facing and how can I help?
• What type of skills and characteristics will help a person in this role thrive and succeed?
• What are your key priorities/projects for this year?

Any other tips to add to the list? Hope this helps, and best of luck on your interviews! I'm here to mock interview you, if you need me. :)

as faith grows, trusting that God is enough

Three weeks ago I found myself on the couch sobbing over the passing of a woman from church who I barely knew. She was 32, beautiful, a deaconess at my church, very successful in her career, and single. I can count in one hand the number of times I've cried in the past year, and I rarely feel stressed or anxious. So why was I losing it on my too cheerful yellow couch, in a complete 180?

Two years ago, this woman shared her testimony at my church. She got up in front of 500+ people at service and talked about her dating struggles; how as her faith grew, she felt convicted to stop dating a man who she loved but who didn't love God. She felt at peace with her decision and was happy. Though it was difficult, she felt that God had rescued her and generously given her the strength to move on.

Recently, I did the same thing. I told a guy who I could easily have loved that I needed to be with someone who loved God more than he loved me. Internally I cringed at the awkward conversation -- two years ago, I never imagined religion being a deal breaker in my dating life. I had never dated a Christian. But I felt at peace with my decision and remembered this Maya Angelou quote: “A woman's heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her.”

But do I really trust God? Will he really lead me to a man who pursues both Him and me? I constantly struggle with entrusting my life to him, especially my love life, even though I know he is sovereign and trustworthy. Sometimes I think about one of my favorite books, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and equate it to the story of my life: Faith Grows in New York, The City of Temptations.

How amazing it is that our relationship has grown, that I've fallen in love with Christ and found a community of fellow Christians... in a city filled with idols and temptations that pull me away from resting completely in God's hands. A city that encourages taking control of our lives and celebrates making things happen.

I was sobbing on my couch because I idolize marriage. The deaconess’s passing triggered the deepest fear in my heart: that I will be like her, as successful and beautiful as I can be, but alone. As the tears streamed, I lamented, “What good is beauty and success if I’m single?” And then I was reminded, through friends and scripture, that the deaconess is in a better place than the happiest wife on earth. This sparkling, exciting life we have is but a waiting room compared to being with Him in heaven.

Instead of worrying about being alone, I need to remember that God is enough. He is the ultimate and perfect husband, and human marriage is just the closest comparison – and it is still broken. Instead of fearing that I’ll never meet the right guy, it's dawning on me that truly, his love is better than life (Psalm 63:3). He is in control, and I completely surrender to his plans. Through Christ, I have received freedom and wisdom – and I appreciate them in new light, as I continue to learn lessons while single.

(Photo via here)

the most helpful book ever!

This weekend after I got back from a week in Texas (photos soon!), I started and promptly finished this book. Highly, highly recommended for all friends in their 20's.... it was so wise and affirming, perhaps the most helpful book I've read this year. I immediately lent it to a fellow twenty-something friend as a must-read.

a to-do list of self-improvements

You know that little self-improvement to-do list that floats in and out of your head? Well, I really need to write some of the key points down because I've been totally distracted by summertime and my new job. So here are three things I'd like to be more intentional about...stat!

-- Writing thoughtfully and honestly on this blog. Sometimes I go through phases of really sharing my life and heart, and sometimes I can barely write an original blog post. I'm definitely experiencing the latter... darn those blogger blues. I'm going to keep challenging myself to write with integrity and vulnerability -- and discipline!

-- Really cooking an adult meal. It's sad -- my rice cooker and crock pot have been untouched for almost a year. Nowadays, typical cooking consists of heating up oatmeal, whipping together salads, or boiling eggs. Even a nice avocado, spinach, and goat cheese sandwich like the above would be a good start.

-- Grabbing coffee or drinks with friends. I don't know if it's because I work in Jersey City now, but I definitely haven't been meeting up as often with friends who don't live in my neighborhood. Sorry, everyone who I haven't seen 1-on-1 in forever! (Johanna, Riley, Sam, etc. etc!) This needs to change, starting now!

I'm sure this list will keep growing, but I'm really glad I'm putting these three out there -- accountability is welcome! ;) What's on your self-improvement list? 

(Photo via here)

words of wisdom: be all there

I love this little reminder... So helpful, because I've been working on focusing more on the joys of the present, instead of planning for the future. This summer really has been full of spontaneous decisions (I'm heading to Austin in 2 weeks, just 'cause!). Here's to living with a light heart, grateful for the present. 

(photo via here)

a moment, a break: new york summers

Sorry it's been awhile since my last post-- you see, I've been distracted with a series of summer breaks! When was the last time you felt like you took a true mental break? Maybe your latest vacation? I don't meditate, but I definitely think taking a break needs to be a daily exercise: placing yourself into a state of mind where you are fully relaxed in whatever life hands you. Here are a few "breaks" from summer that I still relish in hindsight...

Moments of quiet, like watching the sunset from a Lower East Side rooftop, sunbathing in Central Park, or thinking about the inspiring quote on a park bench while people watching. 

Moments of activity where you feel "all in" on that bike ride in Governor's Island, that hike in Central Park, that awesome yoga class that makes you feel like you're on fire (in a good way), that big day cheering for a friend, or that soccer game with your co-workers. 

Moments of culinary indulgence... enough said on this one. Trying new, spicy drinks in different cities, girls' dinner over lambchops and wine at Rustic LES, eating too much BBQ at Mighty Quinn's (and then getting a stomach ache), and trying as many flavors of gelato as the cup can hold. 

 

Last but not least, vacation time! Spontaneously spending a week in Miami for Independence Day to nap on the beach, take evening bike rides down Ocean Drive, feast on Cuban food, and splash in the W South Beach's pool. What a treat!

What are some of your summer break highlights? A walk around the neighborhood? An impromptu vacation?

words of wisdom: what succeeding really looks like

I always found this so poignant...

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

(photo via pinterest)

life lately + a beautiful mess iphone app

Two weeks ago I stumbled upon the A Beautiful Mess app and now I am addicted to doodling all over my photos... perfect timing to showcase them and also share an update on life! And not just the usual yummy dinner photos...

One big piece of news is I started a new job 3 weeks ago! It was such a crazy and amazing experience because I wasn't looking at all. Getting recruited was such a pleasant surprise, although at first I was like, wait... what? 

But then when I received the offer, I never felt so sure about something in my life. As noted in my previous post, timing can really be quite perfect. Over the years, I've learned to trust my heart and instincts... so I accepted! You can read all about the details on my LinkedIn, but I'm now working at a subsidiary of Amazon and still located in NYC. I had a great 1-week orientation where I fell in love with the startup company culture and was awestruck by the Kiva robots in action at the Pennsylvania fulfillment center -- Amazon technology is just incredible!

Another fun update is I went intense hiking for the first time ever this past Saturday! Through a Living Social deal, a few of us went on a Catskills hike with Destination Backcountry Adventures. It was AMAZING. We left Manhattan at 7:30am and hiked in the Catskills until sunset, climbing Indian Head and Twin mountains. Our guide Dave said we hiked for about 9 miles up and down 2000+ ft of elevation! (Crazy!) After the workout, we treated ourselves to a very calorific dinner at Hickory BBQ. So grateful for that awesome day.

Have you ever hiked before? I think I need to do it again soon, but I'm really excited to chill out for Memorial Day weekend. Any fun plans?

(All photos by Helen Hearts, edited via A Beautiful Mess)

living with purpose: the best advice I've ever heard

What's the best advice you've ever heard? Today I had phone conversations with friends in which I literally raced to grab a pen to jot down their wisdom (thanks Neetu, Emily, and Jasmine!). Here are some favorites pieces of advice that I'm treasuring in my heart...

From Neetu on taking risks and living fully: "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards." This is Neetu's favorite quote and really resonates with me because how often have things only made sense in hindsight? So why not take risks and live boldly-- knowing that life will all make sense someday?

From Emily on faith: "God's timing is perfect." Relating back to the previous piece of advice, wouldn't it be amazing to not only believe that we'll understand things in hindsight but also that timing is absolutely perfect? As I grow in my faith, trusting in God has given me such an amazing feeling of freedom and hope that everything is going to be okay, and all will happen in its perfect due time.

From Jasmine on relationships: "Don't focus on the leaves and the branches. Focus on the roots, because when the wind blows, the leaves and the branches will inevitably fall. Only the root will stay firm and secure throughout the storms." To break down the metaphor: the leaves and branches are superficial ideals (how often have we heard "I only date men over 6 feet" or "he needs to have so and so job"). But all of these things will fall away -- beauty and success are temporary. Look at a person's roots: his/her heart and character.

So thankful for my wise, encouraging friends. Any words of wisdom on your mind that sticks out? What I most often tell my friends is to be unconditionally gentle and loving with themselves, as one would love a child... and as God loves us. (Cheesy, but I think it works :)

(photo sources: 1, 2, 3)

words of wisdom: abandon impatience

I think this one was made for me...

"When you plant seeds in the garden, you don’t dig them up every day to see if they have sprouted yet. You simply water them and clear away the weeds; you know that the seeds will grow in time. Similarly, just do your daily practice and cultivate a kind heart. Abandon impatience and instead be content creating the causes for goodness; the results will come when they’re ready." -- Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron