awanderlustaffair

[awanderlustaffair]

26 years. I feel like turning 26 has been surreal. I don't feel that much different (do we ever?) yet something's changed. Last year, when I turned 25 I thought I had a quarter century crisis. I panicked about my life and questioned everything. It could've also been because I had my mother staying with me and nagging about everyone getting masters degrees and making 6 digit figures... The truth is, after my 21st birthday, each new year greeted me with a new set of requirements and a list of achievements to check off. How did birthdays went from being fun and celebratory to a state of denial and dread? Why are some people so secretive about their age? What is there to be ashamed of? It seems like we're always looking for the next 'big thing'. This year, I'm learning to take things easy instead of feeding into my anxiety. "I am exactly where I'm supposed to be, doing exactly what I'm meant to do" So instead of thinking what I have yet to accomplish, I'm celebrating the little victories and the goals I have reached. I'm grateful for the amazing people in my life; my friends from school, from OCAD, my mentors, my family and coworkers (old and new). All these people continue to fill my life with meaning each day. I am grateful for my health, for being able to have the tools to help myself and help others and being able to push myself while getting physically stronger each day through boxing and yoga. I am grateful for photography; helping me satisfy my creative thirst while allowing me to capture the beauty of the little things everyday. Grateful for INN, helping me connect to my calling. And the list goes on, I can't even describe how incredibly grateful I feel. It's been an amazing 26 years! And more to come!

[awanderlustaffair]

"You can measure your worth by your dedication to your path, not by your successes or failures." - Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic (@elizabeth_gilbert_writer ). Reading Big Magic while vacationing in this heavenly place. Loving every second of her new book on the process of creativity from inspiration to reality. We all have a desire to create, it's how we nurture that part of us. Which can ultimately free us or chain us forever.

[awanderlustaffair]

I couldn't help but giggle when I first saw this sign during my trip to Vancouver. There's something about this that I find endearing and inspiring. Slugs take forever to go from one place to another. Why do they even bother? What's the point if they might have to go back anyways? But then a little voice call reason asks me why am I always rushing? Sometimes we hold on to a lot of things that do not serve us. We hold on to anger, disappointment, fears, resentment, stress...the list keeps piling on. It may be our feelings or it might be us absorbing other people's energy. Think road rage, when someone races through you swearing you feel a wave of anger as a reaction, even if it's only for a split second. We absorb everything that's around us; the vibration of our surroundings, the emotions of our loved ones, the stress of a coworker, the energies of people passing by and we do so, unconsciously that we're not even aware of the overwhelming effects it can have on us. It's hard to detach but it's not impossible. Take a daily timeout. Try to be aware of your emotions and reactions. Consider if it's the way you'll usually react, think calmly and not only will you be looking more inwards, but you'll be able to stay away from the effects of external/other people's vibes. Which will ultimately allow you to feel lighter, to see a lot more clearer and even tame your restless mind. With just a couple minutes a day, make sure you've allocated time for self care. to reconnect, to refresh your mind and body. Take it easy, you've got nowhere to be, but here now.

[awanderlustaffair]

“Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark in the hopeless swamps of the not-quite, the not-yet, and the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved and have never been able to reach. The world you desire can be won. It exists.. it is real.. it is possible.. it's yours." - Ayn Rand It's so easy to lose sight of what my goals and purpose are when I fall into the spell of monotony. Wake up, mentally prepare myself prepare for a workday, get to work, do my job. Wait for 5 o'clock or whatever time I'm done to get out. Get home feeling somehow exhausted from sitting in front of the computer. And then what? Workout, make some food and it's almost bedtime. Shower and repeat the next day. I'm in survival mode. Doesn't feel like I'm fully living each day. I've been striving to find more meaning in my days. A lot have happened in the past couple of months. There's been a lot of challenges and growth. I am grateful for being where I am today and who I am. I've had so many support from my friends and family. I feel so love yet I feel like my days are repetitive and too ... ordinary. Lacking inspiration. I need to keep repeating to myself: I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be right now, right here. The urge to travel is strong. But is it the urge to travel or the simple desire to run away? Ever since I was little, I've had this innate desire to run away from home. The desire lingered more so in stressful times. Still not sure why I wanted to do that. Am I stressed now? Overwhelm maybe. With what? Can't quite pinpoint it. Am I just bored? Possibly. I know I haven't had a lot of proper alone time lately. And by proper I mean disconnected, meditative time. No internet, just me and myself. Maybe what I really want to run away from is myself or perhaps from responsibilities. Because it's just so easy and tempting. I want to live a life where I get to live my full potential. Where I connect with people, where I can be creative. Open my heart and mind. Where I can do something meaningful. I am learning a lot in my current job and enjoying the opportunities to be creative. But I guess I just miss my friends from the old place. I'm so busy that I don't get to create for myself as much as I used to before. Trying out new recipes, going for photo walks, cafe time. I need to make an effort and actually allocate time for myself. To nurture my creative thirst and curiosity. I know it's all temporary. My focus this year is to nurture myself, complete my Health Coach training and learn from design as much as possible. And sometimes I lose sight of that. I feel like I should be doing so much more. Neglecting all my other accomplishments. More me time, meditation to keep myself grounded and inspired. It's all a work in progress. And without focusing on the little things we do each day, we can easily lose track and feel like we're not accomplishing much. That's the struggle of a work life balance. There are too many distractions in our days to days that we lose sight of our bigger goals and purposes. All it takes is 10-20min a day to reconnect, breathe and just listen to your thoughts. Being grateful is key, celebrate the tiny and big victories because that's what will build you up, that's what gives your life meaning. Take care of yourself and open your heart. You will see all the great things in your everyday life.

[awanderlustaffair]

It is absurd that a man should rule others, who cannot rule himself.

Latin Proverb

[awanderlustaffair]

It's been almost 2 weeks since my social media 'cleanse'. I haven't avoided it entirely but limited myself into checking once or twice a day only if necessary. I've definitely been a lot more calmer and present. Why did I do a social media cleanse? Well, because I was spending way too much time scrolling through fb and Instagram. Emails and social media would be the first things I see in the morning when I wake up, I would spend a good 5-15 min just browsing. And before bed time as well, for which my attempts to sleep early were hijacked by my mindless browsing. I became somehow addicted after getting a smart phone, I would pull my phone up whenever I'm waiting in line, waiting for the traffic lights to change, in the elevator...I've been on a quest this year to become more mindful (now I why it hasn't been working!) I feel time have been slipping by as i witness from far away.

I haven't read the books I've brought throughout the years, yet my bookcases are running out of space. I miss the spontaneity of randomly walking around and taking photographs, reading a book at a new cafe, just biking for the sake of (and not because I have to be somewhere) Instead I've spent a lot of my time, unconsciously hooked to my computer watching shows, movies and not really doing much. Because I was "unwinding" Yet I still feel burnout, because I haven't really relaxed, I was overstimulated by pulling out my phone and "multitasking". Not really being here, nor there. Being busy yet not productive.

Small changes to create lasting habits! Step one for me: check my phone/social media only when I have a purpose and control my time. Am I answering messages? Catching up with a friend? Posting something relevant? Getting inspiration? Or I'm just procrastinating?

[awanderlustaffair]

Whole grain PB Toast topped with banana and sprinkled cinnamon. For a quick easy snack or breakfast!

[awanderlustaffair]

“How we start our days determines how we spend our days. How we spend each day determines our future. ” #dailygreatness

[awanderlustaffair]

“Our lives are not our own. We are bound to others, past and present, and by each crime and every kindness, we birth our future.” - David Mitchell

We’re aware of the fragility of our lives from a very young age. But somehow in the middle we forget and we dwell in nonsenses. Spending time in things that doesn’t matter, even taking loved ones for granted. We’re here for a reason, we all have a purpose. Are you living life to the fullest? Are you telling your loved ones how much they mean to you? Are you doing things that make you happy?

[awanderlustaffair]

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou

These past two weeks have been quite eventful. I’m finally back after 30+ hrs of travelling last night. There are still so many raw emotions to process and fully digest. Some might say I went to HK and China at the worst timing ever or that I got there exactly when I’m meant to. I would chose the lather. Even when things don’t pan out the way you anticipated. Even when it seems like one tragedy strikes after another, there is always something you can hold on to. Something precious that reminds you that we are all loved, that life is a journey to be walked, an experience to be lived. Sometimes we forget how fragile life is in this chaotic lifestyle. We’re the only beings who are aware that our journey eventually meets an end. All I can say is that I am grateful. I am blessed with so many things. Filled with immense gratitude for all the people in my life, for the opportunities I have to travel and see the world, for being able to connect with my loved ones overseas, for slowly finding my voice and purpose, for being able to follow and live my passions…i am humbled, I am grateful, I am alive.

[awanderlustaffair]

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…” Dr. Seuss

Sometimes we plan things, sometimes they turn out exactly like we’ve anticipated. Yet many times they lead as to a different path. That’s ok, life has an ever guiding flow. There’s a lesson to be learnt, moments to be experienced. Surrender to the flow, learn to enjoy the little things and whatever you do, be fully present, truly engaged and feeling everything. Because no moment is the same. Because even us are changing in every breath we take. Give your all in whatever you do, live truly and genuinely and enjoy the ride!

[awanderlustaffair]

I’ve been struggling lately to understand the idea around “being positive” and why it is often misunderstood in many scenarios. Being positive is not about neglecting your thoughts and feelings to create a reality that seems better. It’s not about being happy all the time, or being immune to feeling any anger or pain nor is it about being fake.

It’s about feeling and honouring all your emotions no matter the situation. If you’re disappointed, mad, scared, defeated…you feel all of that. You look inwards and find the root of it and try to understand where/how/why. It’s to look inwards, to see the light in yourself, to find a way to adapt and see the bright side of things no matter the situation. It’s being able to be vulnerable, to feel down, to feel helpless at times and still be able to get yourself back up. To recognize the changes and growth in you. We all have our ups and downs. It’s not shown through social media because no one wants to show their struggles, but we all go through them.

“Be yourself, everyone else is already taken” - Oscar Wilde

[awanderlustaffair]

Food & Recipes

BREAKFAST & BRUNCH

Vegan Whole Wheat Waffles

Smoothie bowl: Banana Cacao Bowl

Strawberry Overnight Oats

PB Banana Whole Wheat Toast

MEALS & APPETIZERS

Raw Vegan Pad Thai (V)

Veggie Spring Rolls (V)

Sweet potato buckwheat soba noodles with lentils (V)

Vegan Mac & Cheese (V)

Vegan Black Bean Burgers (V)

Quick Mashed Avocado Noodles

Kale with PB dressing (V)

Lentil Soup (V)

Baked Salmon Fetuccini with Tomato Cream Sauce

Barley Vegetable Medley

Butternut Kabocha Squash soup

Spinach Pie (V)

Chicken Pad Thai

Basil Parsley Pesto

Lomo Saltado

Chicken Empanadas

SNACKS & SWEETS

Nori Kale Chips (V)

Chocolate Banana Soft Serve (V)

Lemon Poppy Seed (V)

Decadent Chocolate Cake (V)

Red Velvet Cake (V)

Vegan Banana Bread (V)

Key Lime Meringue Pie

Alfajores de Maicena / Peruvian Recipe

SMOOTHIES & JUICES

Mint Watermelon Pineapple Smoothie

Spring Green Juice

Citrus Grapefruit Delight

Sweet Coral Grapefrui Juice

Deep Immune (Hot)

Sweet Beet

Green River

INFUSIONS

Strawberry + lemon + mint + cucumber

Lemon + mint + strawberry

Strawberry + nectarine + red grapes + lemon

Cucumber + lemon + mint

[awanderlustaffair]

Don’t stop exploring. Travel where your heart guides you, take chances, get out of your comfort zone. Live life to the fullest by being genuine, follow your passions and believe in the power of your dreams. Whatever you do, don’t ever just stop and give up. Don’t conform and settle for less then what you aspire. A fulfilling and happy life is possible. Just be true to yourself and believe you truly deserve it; just like that, you’ve already won the biggest of all battles: not letting fear dictate your life.

[awanderlustaffair]

“When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not yet ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back. A week is more than enough time for us to decide whether or not to accept our destiny.” Paulo Coelho

Everything happens for a reason. There is never a good nor bad decision. Whatever path we chose, wherever we decide to go, there’s a lesson waiting to be taught. Keep your eyes at the horizon and always be ready to take upon new opportunities and challenges. Be open, be free and don’t let fear dictate your future. No matter what you do, you will not fail! It’s just stepping stones until we reach our dreams.

[awanderlustaffair]

“The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people.” - Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture

[awanderlustaffair]

I’m not sure what the purpose of this Chinese artefact is exactly, but it was at the ROM and I couldn’t help but giggle when I saw it and I still do. It’s the little things in life that matter! The little things that lift you up and make it all worth it. Notice these little moments in your day, do the things you love and find a way to enjoy the things you don’t! You are the boss of your feelings and intentions. You decide how each day goes. Even though we can’t control everything that happens; we can control/shift our thoughts and how we feel. So make today the best day yet!