Category Archives: Wonderful

Asking for help

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What do you do when you feel like nothing is going right? You try really hard to get things to go your way, but the rain is hitting the windshield so hard you can’t see, and all of a sudden there are brake lights in front of you. They say when it rains it pours. When I was younger, if some sort of shit hadn’t hit the fan in a couple of weeks or months, I always went to church because I figured something bad was going to happen soon.  We’ve all had our fair share of storms.

There are times when it can be hard to wake up in the morning and face the day. I always try to stay positive, but sometimes it can be hard. A year ago, R and I had just moved back to the PNW from Utah, leaving 4 years of fast friendships, memories, and life behind. When I got here a few weeks before R, I started a serious job search, sure that I would find something easily given my (insert eg0) extensive experience. Rejection after rejection came and I was pissed. You can’t force someone to get to know you within an hour or less of talking, so how do you convince someone in that time that you’re fit to do the job they are looking to fill, and that you’ll bind with their team? You can’t. You can only do your best. Luckily, I was able to step into a role with my parent’s business. They trusted me, even though I didn’t have experience. Why can’t more companies do that?

We live in the generation where we are expected to know how to do everything quickly and easily, but if we don’t have the exact experience someone is looking for, our resume won’t make it past HR. I was listening to a radio story the other day about how in Asia, teachers expect their students to fail, and understand that they will learn from their mistakes. In the U.S. we are expected to get it right, and if we don’t, we’re expected to do what it takes to figure it out on our own.  This article was highlighting elementary classrooms, but I couldn’t help but think of how engrained into us this is.

Asking for help, is seen as some sort of sign of failure, but in reality, everyone needs help.  Whether it’s finding a job, or learning how to draw a 3D cube, everyone has to learn from somewhere or someone else.

xx

-h

Tuesday Shoesday: Loafer

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The loafer is the trendy flat right now, and I have to say, I hadn’t gotten on board, until I saw these on Gilt yesterday. The Delphi by DV by Dolce Vita, is the right about of sass paired with polish. Plus the price is right.

Delphi Loafer by DV by Dolce Vita – $39 on Gilt, $79 Regular

xx

-h

From Safari Dancers to REAL Safari Animals

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Two weekends ago I went to an amazing show called Safari Cat Dancers and Acrobats and it was fantastic, but this last weekend I opted for a real safari through Lake Nukuru National Park.  Here are some of my favorite pictures from the trip…

Vifaru (Rhino) and Nyati (Buffalo)

Flamingos

pundamilia (zebra, but directly translates to “donkey with stripes”)

View from Baboon Lookout

Nyani (Baboon)

View from Out of Africa Lookout

xo

-s

Breaking the Routine

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I’ve been thinking about this post for a long time. When I started this blog, I wanted to give insight into things that I like and that make me happy.  It hasn’t been super personal, but sometimes I think that getting your thoughts down, is the best way to start anew.  I’m sure as you start to get older you start to have realizations about yourself, the people around you, and the things that you want in life.  At what point do you take those realizations and change, or continue doing exactly what you’ve been doing. Every single person, full of wanderlust or not, craves and exists in some sort of routine.

For the past whatever it is many years (8?), I’ve been in this routine of body image negativity.  I don’t binge eat, I don’t have a history of eating disorders, I’m just your average girl who hates stepping onto the scale.  I love baking, cooking, and all good food.  I know that these things mean that I have to work out, so I do.  I eat right, but I can’t seem the shake whatever bad habits it is that keeps my middle soft, my legs rubbing together, the scale number reading 10, 15, 20, lbs more then I want, and my clothes from feeling tight.  Here’s where routine comes in to play. I get mad at myself for not being able to meet my goal of losing 5 lbs a month, but when someone offers me cookies, french fries, a cocktail, I don’t decline. I don’t track my calories daily, and I’m ever willing to skip a workout. So that routine, of eating right and working out, is it all in my head? No, not all of it. Part of the time, I’m working hard, and part of the time, I’m not working at all on those goals. The only logical place for these two to meet, is exactly in the middle at no change.

What does it take to tell yourself that you can’t give up? How do you mentally take the step to embrace all the will power you have and attack what will truly make you happy with the same passion you use to plan your next vacation? Blame the media, blame whoever about body image issues. The truth is, the only person that is giving me my body image issues is myself, the same for the only person that can fix these issues.  So what are the steps? I don’t really know.  Start with a cleanse, start juicing, drinking green smoothies, go vegetarian, there are a million messages being sent my way, but I have to be the one that takes them instead of deflecting them.  I’m only 25, I can’t expect to decline every happy hour invitation by saying no I have to go the gym. But I can commit to making better choices throughout the day if I know that is going to happen.

Here’s to breaking routine.

xx

-h

Luxury Bazaar

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Last weekend Dormans was one of the vendors at a Luxury Bazaar that featured catering, fine wine, gourmet food, high fashion, designer cosmetics, eco furniture and live music.  I was pleasantly surprised that this Kenya Concierge guided event was handing out free Rift Valley Leather bracelets and champagne at the door.  While perusing around, champagne in hand, I tried pie from KOS Delights, got a foot massage from Nothing Like It, tried Browns Cheese and jellies, drank Sierra beer and Kenyan made wine, had sushi from Talisman restaurant and checked out MIA designs.  I, of course, also enjoyed Dormans, who was handing out coffee samples and selling a special blend of espresso.  They were also selling coffee accessories, spices, salts and chocolate.  Every time I passed by, I was happy to see that there was a line of people waiting for coffee samples.

I heard people saying that the bazaar wasn’t very big, but I liked the intimate setting under a tent as the Nairobi rain misted the outside.

The entrance to the Luxury Bazaar

Talisman sushi making

Inside the Luxury Bazaar

Browns Cheese

Dormans Coffee – Happy workers!

xo

-s

Two Birds Events offering free planning to their first R74 couple

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Check it out!

Two Birds Events is thrilled that Washington State voters passed Referendum 74, allowing gay couples to legally marry. In celebration, Two Birds Events is offering a FREE wedding coordination package to their first R74 approved wedding.

The package includes: final details planning meeting, survival guide creation, rehearsal coordination, and day of wedding coordination.  Valued at $1500.00, dates are based on availability.  Simply enter by liking the Two Birds Events Facebook page, and contacting Erica Hoffmann, Principal of Two Birds via their website. The first couple to contact Erica will receive this package.

Additionally, Two Birds Events is offering 20% off all services for all weddings booked by January 31, 2013.

Two Birds Events, was conceived in 2009 by Erica Hoffmann. Since the launch of the business Erica and her team have planned a variety of weddings and events varying in style, location, and budget.  Two Birds Events believes that your wedding is more than just a celebration but also part of how you express your unique personality.  Each event planned by Two Birds Events is delivered with impeccable attention to detail allowing clients to enjoy a memorable, worry free experience.

*Winner of the R74 planning package must book with Two Birds Events by December 01, 2012 after the initial contact.

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YAY R74, can’t help but think Macklemore helped get the word out via his song Same Love!

xx

-h

 

Voted.

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I voted last week. I read about each issue, developed my own opinion and then marked my ballot. And, I’m very thankful I don’t have to go stand in a line to do that. Every single election day changes parts of government that effect the way we live.

 

Political who-ha aside, be sure to sign your ballot, and take it to a drop box.

Every vote counts.

xx

-h

 

Tuesday Shoesday: Boots with the Fur

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Several years ago, UGG was notorious for their “Classic Boot”.  Companies around the world were creating knockoffs and everyone I know probably still has a pair, real or fake.  The real UGGs are made sturdy, with soft shearling insides and last an awful long time.  For me, the classic UGG boot is more of a large house slipper than a fashion statement, but to each their own.

UGG Australia “Classic Tall” Boot in Chestnut
Photo from: Nordstrom.com

While many variations of the classic UGG are still in the market and selling like hotcakes (my personal favorite: the ones with sequins), I have been pleased to see UGG branch out in the last few years.  They have been creating some really great, high-quality boots and shoes made of more than just shearling, but fine leathers.  One of my personal favorites that is out now is the UGG “Foxley”-  made with leather and genuine lamb fur.  Is there really any other boot that better fits the “boots with the fur” description?  I think not.

UGG Australia “Foxley” Boot
Found at Nordstrom for $499.95

xoxo

-s

Safari Cat Dancers and Acrobats

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Last night I went to Safari Park Hotel for dinner and a show.  To start, the hotel is amazing.  It has beautiful grounds and includes six restaurants, a casino and a nightclub.  I visited the Nyama Choma Ranch where they have a large variety of meats that are cooked in a massive barbeque at the entrance of the restaurant and the chefs walk around and serve you off the skewer.  I tried the lamb, beef, pork ribs, crocodile, ostrich and goat.

The menu at Nyama Choma

One of the chefs at Nyama Choma and the giant BBQ filled with meat

Getting my first piece of meat (pork ribs)

After dinner, there was a really fun show of dancing and acrobatics that was on the stage right in the restaurant.  From my table, I was basically front row.  The acrobats were my favorite, doing tricks like standing four people tall on each other’s shoulders and limboing under a flaming stick.  After the show, I sheepishly went on stage for a photo-op with the performers.

Safari Cat Dancers

Fire Limbo!

With the Safari Cats

All in all, it was a really fun night!  I would definitely recommend, that if you are visiting Nairobi, you go to Safari Park Hotel’s Nyama Chroma for dinner and see the Safari Cat Dancers and Acrobats.  The performance is every Saturday night at 9pm and the show is 500 KSH or free with dinner.

xo

-s