Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Figuring It Out

This time last year I was miserable. 

I was working nights, I was barely sleeping, I had a broken foot, I was 20lbs heavier, I felt like I was missing out on everything social, and I didn't know how to communicate my feelings. 

It's a year later and I am learning to be happy again. 

I work early mornings (almost nights), I sleep in often, but I also wake up way to early. I have no broken bones, I'm not letting the scale define my mood, I attend the events I want, decline invitations when I'm not interested, but I do still feel left out when I can't make the events I want. 

Simple happiness doesn't always come easy to me. I often take the life I have for granted but I've learned to recognize that it's okay to not always be 100 percent satisfied 100 percent of the time. I'm generally a very negative person, and I don't always see the bigger picture, but I am happier in my skin today than I have been my entire life. 



I didn't make any particularly drastic changes. 

But I am changed...still changing. 

I don't always know how to succeed at life on a day to day basis, but everyday I smile more, I laugh more, and most importantly I relax more. 

Do the things that make you feel like you are worth more, because if I've learned anything in the last year, it's that not everyone is willing to show you your worth, so it's up to you to find it. 

Some days all I need is a quick pick-me-up, other days I need an overwhelming amount of support to hold me up. 

Balance is key, and I'm working on finding mine. Today I know exactly what I need, a good book and some fresh air. Other days I still feel lost but I know it's okay because I just have to ask myself simple questions to figure it out. 

Life is a work in progress. No one has it all figured out all the time...especially not me.
-Linds

Monday, June 27, 2016

Weekends

Since I work shift work, and Mark works office hours, it's not very often that we get full weekends off together (especially without any pre-scheduled priorities), and sadly it's going to be even less frequent starting next month due to a new position I took at work. 

This weekend however, was one of the few rare occasions where we didn't have any pre-booked plans (ie weddings, volleyball, bbqs, etc.), and we had both Saturday and Sunday off together. 

These pictures and video basically sum up our weekend: 



Coffee, outdoors, puppy...in other words: perfection! 

It's these simple weekends that remind me how in love I am with the life I am lucky enough to have.  Sure, not everything is perfect all the time (life gets busy, expensive, overwhelming), but there's more than enough on any given day to make me happy and really that's all I'll ever need! 

Let yourself fall in love with the life you already have, instead of stressing about the life that it hasn't yet become. 
-Linds 

Thursday, June 23, 2016

I Believe

I believe in happiness...


and this is my happiness.

What is your happiness?
-Linds 

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Sunday Fashion Fun-Day: New Dress

I have recently discovered what might now be my new favorite store: Plenty

My girlfriend Vanessa and I went shopping a few weeks ago at Metrotown and she introduced me to this delightful little boutique. 

It was one of those stores where pretty much everything I picked up I just had to try on! So many of the items were so simple yet they had a unique little flavor. The big downside of this store though was that everything is a wee bit on the higher price range so sadly I had to pick and choose a favorite instead of getting absolutely everything! Quality over quantity is something I am getting more and more on board with these days. 

This dress is what I ended up with: 

It's Monk and Lou, 100% polyester, and falls just so, that it is literally effortless to wear. It is a teency bit wide in the underarm area (I am pretty small chested) but regardless this is still the most comfortable dress I have ever owned. Also, it's sooooo versatile. I could wear it as is-super simple, with a jean jacket and sneakers-cute/casual, or with some heels and glamorons jewelry for an evening look (I plan on wearing it to an upcoming wedding)! The possibilities are endless!

I love finding new treasures and this is one that will be long lasting in my closet. I have no doubts it will stand the test of time!  
-Linds 

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Top Gun 2016

Last weekend was Cambie Sports "Top Gun" Mens/Womens 2s outdoor grass volleyball tournament.


I partnered up with my friend Vanessa, and Mark played with his friend Steve.

Vanessa and I registered for the A pool, and after a 2-2 record in the round robin, we got seeded in the AA\A+ pool for the double knockout playoffs.

After winning our first playoff match in 2 sets, we then lost our next one which put us to the back door bracket. We won our first backdoor match, and then lost the match following that, which put us finishing in 3rd place in the AA\A+ pool.


Outdoor volleyball is definitely not my strong suit, but partnering up with Ms. laid back Vanessa was probably the most fun I have had in the 6+ years I've been playing in this tournament! 

Also, since the weather was a bit cooler this year, Mark and I decided to bring along Captain. He literally spent the whole day just chilling at the tent with us (we had him on a long tether). He loved all the people coming to say hey to him, and he was so content to just bask in the sunshine I think he enjoyed the day just as much as we did. 


I can hardly wait for the next tourny! 
-Linds

Monday, June 13, 2016

Going To Bed Alone

Currently my position at work has me working unusually early hours, and therefore I am attempting to fall asleep at night at exceptionally early hours ie. before 9 pm. This is very challenging, especially in the bright sunshine that we've been having lately, but more so because, I miss the company of my husband in bed. Sure once in a while I loooooove having the bed to myself so that I can sprawl out and hog all the covers, but most of the time, I would much prefer the hubby's arms around me.

I don't know about you guys but I thrive on the closeness you get from knowing that no matter how my day goes, I get to fall asleep with my hubby every night. I take comfort in knowing that no matter how independent we are during the days, we always can always come together at night. Sadly though, because of this new shift schedule at work, I feel myself yearning for that closeness. Sure we still sleep in bed together, but he comes to bed much later, usually once I'm already asleep, and so that intimate cuddle time, being nestled tightly in his arms, just doesn't happen.

I know my hubby isn't intentionally neglecting me by not coming to bed with me. It would be silly for him to be going to bed before 9pm when he doesn't need to be up for work until way later than me the following day, but it's hard not to want him to come snuggle with me anyway. But then, the funny thing is, the odd time, when he does come to bed with me, I do notice I have a harder time falling asleep because I feel like we're crammed in the bed together. I don't want to get used to going to bed solo, like I said before, it's a nice treat once in a while, but I don't want to get in the habit of it, because that time together is so important. 

Do you have a preference on going to bed solo or not?
-Linds

Saturday, June 11, 2016

First Outdoor Tourny Of The Season!

Last weekend the hubby and I played in our first outdoor tourny of the season. It was hosted by Doan Nguyen with Play For A Cause, and it was held at Sir Charles Tupper Secondary School in Vancouver, B.C. Our team consisted of myself, Mark, and another couple, Natasha and Lucas. 

The tournament format was grass co-ed reverse 4s and was set up so that each team played through two round robin pools (ie. two chances to be seeded for the playoffs based on how you did in each pool).

During the first round robin pool we went 3-1 and ended up getting bumped down a pool based on point differential, and during the second round robin pool we went 2-2, so we went into the playoff round in the C pool (the pools ranged from A-D).

After taking all of our playoff games to three sets, we ended up in 2nd place in our pool, 9th out of 16 teams overall! Not to shabby of a way to start off the outdoor season, especially considering we were playing in 34+ degree weather for most of the day.
(Mark & I)

(From left to right: Mark, me, Natasha, and Lucas)
Playing with another couple was so much fun, and our team dynamic was really upbeat the whole day! I could not have asked for a better group of people to spend the day competing with!

How do you like to kick off the summer season that is quickly approaching?!
-Linds 

Saturday, June 4, 2016

Monthly Mayhem: May 2016

Travel:
-none...but after April's travel adventure I am already itching to go somewhere!
-We bought our plane tickets to Edmonton for a wedding coming up this summer

Volleyball:
-Still in the middle of Co-ed 6s POCO league, and almost finished Co-ed R4s Aldergrove league
-Beach volleyball at LEC May 7, 2016

-Beach volleyball at Semiahmoo May 29, 2016

Events\Activities:
-Saw the "Jungle Book" in theatre May 1, 2016 - Loved it!
-Shopping Friday May 6, 2016 (Plenty - I have since purchased a dress that I tried on there)

-Roller Derby May 7, 2017
-Mother's Day dinner Sunday May 8, 2016
-Mark got a tooth pulled Friday May 13, 2016
-Bought glasses
-Sister, Christina's 32nd Birthday!

Fitness:
-Finished FBFit Round 2 (Physical Fit Test Results + progress photos)
-Started FBFlex & FBBooty Round 2
-Bought a workout bench for $5.00 at a garage sale

-Ran minimum 3km once per week
-Went to bootcamp at the Rec Centre with my girlfriend, Vanessa

Food:
-Salmon

-Banana Oatmeal Blueberry Blender Muffins
-Raspberry Yogurt Muffins
-Blueberry Bakery Muffins - recipe to come

Ink:
-Working through the French version of "This Lullaby" by Sarah Dessen (about 80 pages in)


How did you enjoy your May?
-Linds