Photo Diary 03 :: Frisky Friday

What better way to celebrate the night of Lunar New Year, then to spend it with my girlfriends eating soup dumplings in Chinatown and going to see a men's strip show?





We ended up at Fifty Shades Men's Revue. 
There were things that could not be unseen. 
There were things that could not be unheard. 
Birthday girl wanted to kill us, but it was worth it! ;) 
Glad you had fun! xx

I like any excuse to dress up. In love with this outfit and the pieces. 
Couldn't go without the earrings I got at a flea market while I was in Thailand, purely because they were red haha 
It's not Lunar New Year without red!

The only thing my mother had to say after I told her about the show was "you paid for that"? So unimpressed lol

Hope everyone had a great new year!

-Chelle

Places I want to travel in 2018

They say that January and February are the best times to plan some nice getaways. You know, with the weather being all cold and un-motivating to go out.
With the travel bug still strong in me, I've crafted a list of where I want to go this year. I won't hit all these places, but I do love a challenge and a girl can dream!

Chile
A friend of mine recently quit her job to volunteer in a small community in Chile. So of course, I must visit her. Easter Island, Santiago, the world's largest swimming pool, eating our weight in empenadas and other South American foods, they're all on my list and hopefully we'll be able to hit a few of them along with some surprises! My travel buddy and I always have a good time. Maybe we'll get our fortunes read again and come back with some new body art haha

Las Vegas
A few friends and I were trying to snag a deal on a vacation for a few days in Vegas. My friends didn't end up being able to make those dates, but my mom and aunts caught wind and, of course, volunteered me to plan a vacation for them. Not even a week after they heard about it, my aunt texted me saying that she already took the vacation off haha Of course I'll go with them, to make sure they make it out of Sin City alive. Besides, 4th of July fireworks on the strip sounds like an amazing idea.

Mexico
While browsing CheapCaribbean.com (cause, you know, that's what I do in my spare time) my friends and I are trying to go some place tropical, and Mexico is not only within our budgets, but also have some lovely resorts and beaches! Whether it's Tulum, Cancun, Riveria Maya, we may find our way to Mexico somehow...

San Antonio, TX

As I was searching the interwebs for different festivals around the U.S. (you know, for shits and giggles), and one in San Antonio really caught my eye: Luminaria. It happens every December, and time away from the cold seems like a marvelous idea. I have a thing for lights, and the idea of walking by the river being lit by lights and lanterns excited the romantic in me. Plus, there's always Texas BBQ. BBQ is always better down south.

Norway

Did someone say Northern Lights? They've been on my bucket list for forever. And if anything, they're even more so since there's no guarantee of seeing Northern Lights. There are seasons where there are higher chances, but it's never a guarantee. Norway in December we hear are a good time to go with a high chance. As I said, I have a thing for lights. I can only imagine what this could be like and I am excited beyond words.

Thailand

Ever since I studied abroad in Thailand for 8 weeks, I've left a peace of my heart there, with the friends I'll never forget. I went to Thailand  5 years and it was life changing in the best, most challenging way. Bangkok, Krabi, Chulalongkorn University, some of the more memorable places. I have yet to see Chiang Mai. A friend of mine is going to Thailand to tie up some potential wedding stuff, so perhaps I'll meet them there and see some old friends :D 

What's on your travel list?
-Chelle

January 2018 in Review

For the month of January, I gave up Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, and going out to eat for lunch. Because 1.) It's healthier and 2.) to save some money.

After two of my friends had to have their gallbladders taken out, it has really lit a fire in me to take my health more seriously. And as I grow older and have other goals in mind (going back to school part-time, buying a house, etc.), I need to manage my finances better.

As you can tell by the smile on my face - and the fact that I took the effort to match my lipstick to my pink drink - that I surely missed Starbucks after 31 days of resistance. There were a few moments when I really wanted to give in and get a drink as I exited Target with a Starbucks conveniently by the front door; or when I was too lazy to cook anything to bring to work in the morning.

But after 31 days of resistance and taking the responsibility to utilize my kitchen, and tabulating how much I've saved, it was a VERY worthwhile experiment. From this challenge it's reinforced a few things I already knew, but sort of re-learned:

1.) I don't NEED to go to Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts. I can make drinks myself. It's just a weekly treat that's nice to have, but only in moderation. If you think you NEED a drink or snack from a chain because it's conveniently right there or has a rewards system - think again. You don't NEED it. You only WANT it.

2.) Save yourself some money and cook your own lunch. You will not only be more creative in the kitchen, but also appreciate more your own home-cooking. Plus you'll know what you're putting into your body as opposed to anything from the surrounding chain restaurants.

3.) Moderation isn't always easy, but it's pretty much always worth it in my opinion. It will be hard at first, but you can do it. There is no excuse.

-Chelle

Dear 2017

Dear 2017,

I have to say, 2017, you had way more in store for me than I have ever expected. 

I started the year, not at my best - I was unemployed, had some personal issues with people who I thought were my friends, and had a few inner conflicts - as any 20-something struggling to "adult" would. I stepped into the year 2017, thinking "okay, well I can try to figure my life out, maybe find a stable job, and maybe feel less lost than I am now, maybe get my life together, maybe get myself together, maybe just feel more together in some form."

And I have somewhat in 2017. I've been lucky enough to be on a job I absolutely love, with a supervisor and co-workers I absolutely adore; I've had opportunities to work on projects beyond my level, and have somehow had the best group a #real friends anyone could ask for fall into place when I needed it most. I've traveled to new places, tried new foods, and even re-connected with old friends who live across the globe.

Of course 2017 has highlighted some of the things I can improve upon, I still don't have a solid direction of what I really want to do with my life, but I'm sure as hell enjoying the journey as I go.

And I'm so incredibly grateful for it all.

I've never been one to dwell on the past too much, but there will always be parts of me that wondered the "what if" for things I didn't do. 2017, I do apologize for the delay in this letter to you. It took me a while to write this, because with this letter, I want to say good bye and let go of the past. The memories I'll keep, the inhibitions and doubts I'll gladly leave behind. Rome wasn't built in a day, and I will never grow if I keep holding myself back.

Some of my favorite memories from 2017:

Road tripping to Montreal in time for Canada's birthday.

I can always depends on you two boss ass bitches for the most interesting and inappropriate yet enlightening conversation topics haha

Reconnecting with old friends who life half a world away.

We all met during study abroad 5 years ago, and it was so great seeing you guys again! You guys inspire me in different ways, I hope you keep being your totally awesome selves, dudes. It was a high time! Of course holding butterflies on our fingers was also magical!

Finding some spiritual enlightenment in New Mexico. 

After driving around nearly 800 miles around the state by myself, while fighting altitude sickness, through desert, forest, and the occasional barren waste land. Happy that my rental didn't break down, that I got to stay in a vintage trailor in the mountains of Taos, soaked my worries away in the natural mineral baths, and tried the famous green chili burger. I let my inner child out at the Balloon Fiesta, touched my toes in gypsum, experienced Meow Wolf, and made some amazing memories for myself. Accidentally trespassed on government property, but it was worth the instagram photos lol
If any of you have any doubts about traveling by yourself, all I have to say is - DO IT. It isn't for everyone, but SO worth doing at least once.

The best girls trip I've had yet. 

It's one thing to be in a nice place or travel with some great friends. It's a blessing to be able to do both. We keep it #real and we keep it fucking fun with a little bit of crazy and a dash of savagery. Mixed drinks, tanning pool side, living like the local Dominicans with an interesting bus ride, trying not to get ripped off for souvenirs, sustaining injuries from mermaiding too hard, making friends people of different countries, and of course...

My first tattoo. 

What says a good trip like coming back with a new piece of permanent artwork on your body? Surprisingly my mother did not want to kill me. She even smiled and said it was cute. My mother never fails to surprise me.

Work Shennanigans. 

Whether it's trying to get the EDTA to dissolve, suffering through UAT together, or overall just laughing about technical difficulties, I couldn't ask for better coworkers, or a better supervisor (shout out to Sam, we have no selfies together, we need to fix that). You've all impacted my life in ways I can't really describe, but feel very deeply.

So here's to you 2017. Thank you all for being in my life last year, I can only imagine what 2018 has in store.

:D

Cheers!

Chelle