Sunday Reading & Coffee

I always felt reading the Sunday newspaper and drinking coffee was a very grown up thing to do and something I should  be doing, so I did. While I no longer have a newspaper subscription, I still feel that a great Sunday includes coffee and reading.

With this concept, I decided each week- on Sunday- to share some of my favourite articles from the past week. So grab a cup of coffee (or your beverage of choice) and enjoy!

Whether or not we admit it, we all have (or want) an appreciation for the finer things in life. How to Be a Bon Vivant has some great tips on how to live well.

Elle Canada is one of my favourite magazines, and I love their column by Stephanie Gilman. Stephanie writes about rebooting her life after cancer and each month she takes on a new challenge- social media cleanse, CN Tour Edge Walk, improv class, and finding her new calling.

I have a tiny apartment, and after 3 years, I'm finally ready to decorate. 10 Mistakes To Avoid When Decorating A Small Bedroom has some great tips.

Flamingos are one of my favourite animals. I love them!! I'm not sure that I can pull off any of the looks from 15 Ways We're Wearing Flamingo Print This Summer, but a girl can dream.

Make sure you come back tomorrow for the first day of a fantastic giveaway!

Weekly Wrap Up

A blog friend of mine, years ago, had a Saturday link up called 'Weekly What'. She eventually cut back on her blogging and the link up came to an end, but I kept doing it...I liked the concept; basically you put all of your Monday-Friday posts in one post on Saturday. It's essentially a summary of the past week on your blog. 

I thought for 2015, I would bring the concept back...

MONDAY: I started the week with no post.

TUESDAY: I didn't link up with Amber for Hey, It's Ok; another no post day.

WEDNESDAY: I wrote about where I've been recently and why I've taken a bit of a blog hiatus. 

THURSDAY: I reviewed The Da Vinci Code.

FRIDAY: I finished the week by updating my 2015 Friendly Resolution.


Hope everyone has a great Saturday...make sure you come back on Monday for a great giveaway that you do not want to miss!!

Friendly Resolution- May

I'm not big on New Year Resolution, because let's be honest, most of us rarely stick to them. This year, I decided that every month, I would make the point to connect with two friends that I haven't seen recently (at least 3 months).

How did my resolution turn out for May?

J- A sorority sister that I did see in February, but my goal is to connect with friends I haven't connected with in at least 3 months, so J counts. Plus I had to reach out to her to schedule our visit, so it counts. We did our usual, drinks and appetizers. So great to see her and catch up. She is so genuine, opinionated (in a good way) and the one of the most encouraging and supportive people I know.

Taco Tuesday- This was actually a Young Professionals Networking event. While these people aren't friends, I hadn't been to this Networking group since last year (I skipped the January and March events). Saw some people I knew, met some new people, and had an overall blast.

S- I met her at a speed networking event back in January, where I had 5 minutes to talk to her. We have connected on LinkedIn and seen each other out at other networking events. We actually went for lunch. It was nice to connect with her and get to know her a bit better.

Brock Alumni- 5 of us went out for dinner and haven't been out as a group since December. Always great to connect with Alumni, especially this group. We essentially laugh the entire time. We support each other and are genuinely interested in what is going on in each others lives. Everything with them seems so low key and effortless, plus tons of fun.

K- My psychic friend. I haven't seen her in months! We Facebook and text, but we've both been too busy to actually connect. This month, we were able to meet up. I saw her on the long weekend. We had dinner on the patio. Always great to see her.

My Uncle- Not a friend and I did see him on the long weekend, but the following weekend, we met in our second hometown for lunch. My Uncle will drive 3 hours to have lunch with me and then drive back. Just the two of us go for lunch and we only do it in the summer, although we didn't do it at all last summer. I love spending one-on-one time with my uncle and these lunches mean the world to me.

L- A new friend! I met her at a 2 day workshop. She was from out of town and staying at the hotel. I offered to have dinner with her, which she accepted. Dinner and drinks on the patio. We had the chance to get to know each other on a personal and professional level. I really enjoyed the time we spent together.


I know that some people on this list- new friend, family and networking event- might not technically count as "connecting with two friends I seen recently", and even if you don't count them, I still managed to connect with a number of people this month.

I'm five months in and I've been really great at sticking to this resolution. I have high hopes for the rest of the year!

January // February // March // April 

Book Club: The Da Vinci Code

 

Book: The Da Vinci Code

Author: Dan Brown

Amazon Summary: 

With The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown masterfully concocts an intelligent and lucid thriller that marries the gusto of an international murder mystery with a collection of fascinating esoteria culled from 2,000 years of Western history. 

A murder in the silent after-hour halls of the Louvre museum reveals a sinister plot to uncover a secret that has been protected by a clandestine society since the days of Christ. The victim is a high-ranking agent of this ancient society who, in the moments before his death, manages to leave gruesome clues at the scene that only his daughter, noted cryptographer Sophie Neveu, and Robert Langdon, a famed symbologist, can untangle. The duo become both suspects and detectives searching for not only Neveu's father's murderer but also the stunning secret of the ages he was charged to protect. Mere steps ahead of the authorities and the deadly competition, the mystery leads Neveu and Langdon on a breathless flight through France, England, and history itself.

Brown (Angels and Demons) has created a page-turning thriller that also provides an amazing interpretation of Western history. Brown's hero and heroine embark on a lofty and intriguing exploration of some of Western culture's greatest mysteries--from the nature of the Mona Lisa's smile to the secret of the Holy Grail. Though some will quibble with the veracity of Brown's conjectures, therein lies the fun. The Da Vinci Code is an enthralling read that provides rich food for thought. --Jeremy Pugh
 

What I have to say: 
This book has been around for over 10 years, but I just got around to reading it earlier this month. It is a compelling read, with lots of twists and turns. I enjoyed learning about the secret society, the symbolism and the historical theory. It was by no means a boring read. 

This book, however, followed a formula and one that I am familiar with. If you have read one book with historical connections and a mystery, you've read them all. Historical secret, secret society protecting the secret, another society wanting to uncover the secret, mystery that needs solving, one person working to solve the mystery can trace ancestry back to the original historic event. Throw in a sub-plot involving a family secret and a long lost family member, and you've got your complete formula.

Final verdict: Worth a read, but note if you are familiar with this genre, you've already heard the story. I would recommend this book and will likely read it again. 

Where'd You Go, Melissa?

Things have been pretty quiet around here...my life has kept me busy, which resulted in an unplanned blog hiatus. I haven't forgotten about my blog, there were just other things that were taking up my time, and my blog had to take a backseat. I think things have settled down enough for me to get back into blogging on a regular basis.

So, what has been going on?

Back in March, I left my job in non-profit fundraising. This was something that I had been trying to do since November, as I found myself working for an organization that I did not want to be associated with. This departure, a blessing in disguise, was not without drama. My former employer has been nothing but difficult. Things that I don't want to deal with, don't have time to deal with, but must deal with. I will spare the details, but I will say they have been acting unethically and illegally.

I've started two new jobs! Back in April I accepted a part-time position with a fantastic and reputable global organization. I was excited to work part-time; I had hopes of focus more on writing, building my blog, volunteering and take on projects that I just never had the time for. After 3 weeks at my new job, I was offered a part-time contract to work on a special project. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I just couldn't say no too. And I didn't say no. So, my part-time job turned into 40 hours a week. I'm really enjoying it so far and I'm excited to see what the next few months will bring.

My social life has been packed; friends, networking, family, and events. I haven't had a free night of 'nothing' in weeks. I'm not complaining about that. I love being busy, seeing people and doing things. I'm working on a really fun event- my dad's charity gala- and I've been spending a lot of time with a new friend. 

The little time I have left, and it's very little, has been spent getting caught up on Big Brother Canada episodes and following the New York Rangers on their playoff run. 

May has been a busy, life changing and exciting month for me. But I'm happy to be back here...I've missed this place and all of you.

Coffee & Reading

I always felt reading the Sunday newspaper and drinking coffee was a very grown up thing to do and something I should  be doing, so I did. While I no longer have a newspaper subscription, I still feel that a great Sunday includes coffee and reading.

With this concept, I decided each week- on Sunday- to share some of my favourite articles from the past week. So grab a cup of coffee (or your beverage of choice) and enjoy!

I love being a millennial, but I agree our generation are not good conversationalists- and it drives me crazy! Millennials: It's Time to Start Talking to Strangers, should be mandatory reading.

There are some good points on this list, and some nice reminders too, so it's worth reading 20 Things To Do When You're 30 That Will Make Life Better At 50.

I jumped on the Epsom Salt bandwagon a few years ago, where I would use it in a bath or foot soak.There are so many more uses, and this article, 22 Uses For Epsom Salt – Why It Should be in Every Home & Garden, lists some of them. 

In honour of the Kentucky Derby yesterday, The 18 Most Absurd Kentucky Derby Hats Of All Time.


Hope everyone has a great Sunday!

Weekly Wrap Up

A blog friend of mine, years ago, had a Saturday link up called 'Weekly What'. She eventually cut back on her blogging and the link up came to an end, but I kept doing it...I liked the concept; basically you put all of your Monday-Friday posts in one post on Saturday. It's essentially a summary of the past week on your blog. 

I thought for 2015, I would bring the concept back...

MONDAY: I started the week with my blog series, The Your Professional, and cover letters. 

TUESDAY: I linked up with Amber for Hey, It's Ok.

WEDNESDAY: I posted a song that I'm currently loving, Say Hello. 

THURSDAY: I shared decor and entertainment ideas for a Kentucky Derby Party.

FRIDAY: I finished the week by reviewing the Spring Fab Fit Fun box.


Also, today is the Kentucky Derby!! Can't wait for the race later this afternoon! Hope everyone is having a great weekend and has a chance to watch the Derby!!

Fab Fit Fun- Spring 2015 Box

I love a subscription box just as much as the next girl, and I have to say that I love Fab Fit Fun! This is currently the only subscription box I subscribed to. 

Fab Fit Fun is a seasonal box that is $49.99 a quarter or $179.99 a year. I bulked a little bit at the price tag, but the value of the boxes are amazing and you get full size products. Also, I like that Fab Fit Fun is not just a beauty box, they send a variety of products. They also include a card with product information and price, which I like.

So, what did I get?

 

Jules Smith Scarf- A favourite design with celebrities, this scarf is lightweight and perfect for the spring. The splash of colour will be perfect for some of my work outfits or pair well with jeans for a weekend look.

Value $42

Cosmos Creations Premium Puffed Corn in Salted Caramel (sponsored)- Fab Fit Fun will included some sponsored items to offset the cost of the box. Said to be gluten-free, made without GMO corn, and with all-natural ingredients. Salted caramel is one of my all-time favourite flavours, so I can't wait to try this!

Value: $1.49

Merriweather 3 DVD Set "Intense Body Blast" and $25 gift card- This is a full body workout that takes basic high intensity interval training and combines it with Pilates (which I love). Each DVD is a different level of difficulty and the run roughly 30-40 minutes. I'm really looking forward to using these!! The $25 gift card, which I likely won't use, can be used towards one of over 500 products.

Value: $61

OFRA Cosmetics Eyeshadow Brush Duo (#11 and #20)- I have had the same makeup brushes for years and I'm slowly replacing them with different brushes that I've gotten from subscription boxes. Brush #11 is for eyeshadow application and brush #20 is for concealer or liquid foundation.

Value: $45.90

Yasi Metallic Flash Tattoos-  A variety of designs to pick from and perfect for music festivals, or the summer in general. These aren't my personal style or preference, so I may or may not use them. Might be fun to try.

Value: $36

Rifle Paper Co. Cities Coaster Set- First of all, the box they came in is really pretty and the coasters themselves- featuring New York, London, Tokyo and Paris- are super cute! 

Value: $16

Sprout It App Card & Miracle Grow Gro-Able Seed Pod- I got the Cilantro seed pod, but there are a ton of different vegetables and herbs available. I love the concept of grow your own stuff, but I do not have a green thumb. This sounds super easy; take the lid off, plant the pod (which is biodegradable). The Sport It App (which is a free download) can be customized to your location, and will provide tips and reminders for gorwing your plant. 

Value $1.49 (pod only)

ORLY Nail Polish in Cake Pop- A "subtle pink creme colour", which I'm not crazy about it. It's a good colour for the tips of a french manicure. I do not like this product...it went on really streaky and I had to apply multiple coats just to cover my nail. Even then, it just looked horrible...like a 5 year old painted my nails.

Value: $8.50

 Palmetto Derma Collagen Booster and Restoration Serum- This product promises to do what a lot of serums do: increase collagen, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, slow down aging. Does it work? Only time will tell. It has more of a water texture, as compared to other serums, which I liked, and didn't feel heavy or greasy on my skin. This is something I will definitely use.

Value $48

ORLY Nail BB Creme- You know BB creams for your face? This is supposed to be the same thing, but for your nails. It is supposed to "help smooth, moisturize and brighten natural nails". It's not a top coat, base coat and you're not supposed to use it with nail polish. It has a "peachy tint". Does it do what it's supposed to? No idea, but it did add shine to my nails, which I liked. It also went on MUCH better than the other ORLY nail polish. 

Value $15

Total Value:  $273.89 (doesn't included sponsored item)

What a FANTASTIC value!!! I got 9 full size products (plus a sponsored item) and the value is well over what I paid. I won't use every item, but I will use most of them. Plus, I love the variety of types of products included. I can't wait for the Summer 2015 Box!

If you like what you see, you can order your own Spring 2015 Fab Fit Fun box.