Las Canarias

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I don’t want to stress about anything today. Not only is it Friday (yey) but I feel like I’ve been surrounded by so much stress lately, that it is my responsibility to chill out, just like the little bug on this flower.

Growing up in Puerto Rico I loved this flower, “canaria”, how I’ve always known it. Its bright yellow always brought out the best of its surroundings. I loved to play with them, I would put them in my hair and got so excited every time my grandma had some in her garden.

It’s funny because if you ask me what my favorite flower is, I wouldn’t say the “canaria”. I would most likely choose sunflowers or tulips, but still, this little yellow flower makes me so happy in a way that it’s so simple, some might find silly.

I was pissed that the little bug made it into my picture and I did not notice it until later when I could not retake it. But you know what? Good for you, little bug. You stay there and chill in that awesome flower.

So there it goes, that was me, not stressing out about things and trying not to dig too deep into my thoughts for a moment.

It’s Friday, let’s all chill and be happy.

Five Quick Reminders to Make Life Better

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Summer is finally here. Wait, let me say that one more time because that just felt too good. Summer is finally here. After a long, long winter in the northeast coast, I now dare say we’re pretty much out of the woods.

Right now there’s a lot of wheels in motion and I’m excited for what’s coming up next for me. I don’t want to say I’ve been slacking with posts (since I am trying not to be too hard on myself) but I do want to get back to the swing of things. Again, there’s a lot going on, so bear with me.

Below are some things that have been on my mind recently. I can’t always follow my own advice properly, but maybe this can help someone else out.

  1. Everyone has a struggle – Whether they share it or not, everyone has something they’re fighting for or against. You may not be aware of it, but it’s so important to keep that in mind when you are meeting new people or even catching up with old friends and colleagues. Be mindful, but don’t worry too much on being a mind reader, people will share what they want to share and you need to be ok with that.
  2. Don’t be so quick to judge – I catch myself judging people way too often, I hate it. I’ll think things like “they are not doing anything with their lives” or “what are they thinking, that’s ridiculous” and honestly, I want to reduce those thoughts to the bare minimum. Come on, you know you have to indulge in at least some gossip to keep things fun. Still, at the end of the day, you will never know someone’s whole story so be kind when need be.
  3. You are your best advocate – Seriously, nobody is actually capable of fighting for you as much as YOU. Support is always great and hopefully something you have in your life, but at the end of the day, you are the only one that knows what you truly want. It’s a decision you need to make for yourself, nobody should tell you: “this is what YOU want”.
  4. Be grateful – So simple, right? Yet this little one always seems to slip by. You may think your life is a mess and that it’s all in shambles, but I am hoping you have at least one thing to be grateful for (just think about cheese if you’re running out of ideas).
  5. Don’t make excuses for fear – At times, we will walk away from things we want simply because of excuses we make ourselves. Why do we do that? Excuses are usually rooted on some sort of fear (says me, humble non-expert). It’s ok to feel fear when you’re working towards something big, it’s normal, no need to make excuses for it. Beware, don’t let fear make you want to create more excuses, those excuses will later turn into reasons to walk away from what you want.

Life is fun, it can be a mess at times (just see my room right now for quick reminder) but it’s always good at the end. Take a moment to think about what’s brewing on your life and keep the wheels turning.

Oh and please, PLEASE enjoy summer! * Insert peace sign emoji here *

– Photo and edits by Cristina Nogueras © –

Wordless Wednesday: City Delights

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I love being able to casually walk around New York City with deadlines, worries and pending items on my mind, only to be amazed by buildings like this one. Almost like it came out of nowhere, demanding my attention.

If you’re looking for a new mantra…

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Why hadn’t I heard this before? This, my friends, is my new mantra. I admit I worry too much, if you know me you know that I do. I sometimes even worry about worrying, which is the ultimate worry and totally pointless when you think about it. It’s really a vicious circle.

This phrase, however, feels like empowerment. Maybe if I tell myself enough times not to worry, it will all be ok. Warrior, not worrier. Think about that.

Worrying just drains our energy supply. People that worry less can ultimately do more because they put that “worrying energy” into good (or better) use. Careful though, not worrying at all can also be fatal. You do need to keep a sense of worry alive to keep yourself alive.

Still, worrying sucks. A warrior fights and in the midst of chaos and fear, a warrior perseveres. Warriors can worry at times, but they are not worriers. Whenever you feel like you’re worrying too much, just repeat this magical phrase to yourself. If you still need something else to get you through just think that worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but it gets you nowhere. I believe Glenn Turner said that, thanks Google.

P.S. I’m proud to say that I edited the quote myself, it’s not rocket science, I know. Still, I find the world of typography fascinating and I’m always happy to play around with Illustrator for no reason. Don’t we all?

Human Connections > Networking

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I’m not a big fan of networking events. I know everyone says that networking = life and that you have to do it in order to find success, but I honestly find the whole process very uncomfortable most of the time. I tend to find a lot of people that are full of themselves, I struggle to be polite and keep track of what they’re saying. Imagine this after a full day of work when my attention span is almost nonexistent and the energy to properly debate a subject has been mostly drained for the day.

Still, once in a while you find strangers with which you end up having deep conversations about life, goals and whatever motivates us. All of the sudden, you find yourself expressing great ideas and genuinely interested in the other person’s responses and opinions.

That is what’s really at the core of human connections. You find that other people have the same questions, feel the same restlessness as you do and that you can provide for others that reassurance that you are looking to find yourself. Don’t get me wrong, I like my job and I love the people I work with, but let’s be real, nobody wants to be in a desk Mon-Friday from 9-6 (or more). We all have things we enjoy doing at work (I hope!) but you know that if you’re offered free unlimited travel for a year you would set sail, no questions asked. This person I was talking to was SO refreshed to hear someone say that, he said that in 3 months he had not heard anyone complain about work in some way and some even expressed they wish they could work more! Think about that for a moment!

If the word networking makes you shudder a little, like it does to me, just think about it as making basic human connections, helping you exercise your mind. You’re not going to enjoy every single conversation, but if you don’t put yourself out there, you remain static and static becomes boring.

What I Can Do in 38 Years

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Cape Cod by Cristina Nogueras

What are 25 years? They are nothing without perspective. I think of all I’ve done in my 25 years of life so far, it seems like a lot. Now I think that the time I’ve lived is the same time that is standing between me and hitting 50 years of age. It feels like another world of possibilities. Then I think of all the people that I see every day reinventing themselves after they turn 50, just like my mom is doing now. That’s now a third lifetime, according to this perspective.

That being said, a year seems like nothing, right? The thing about time that makes it so painfully wonderful is that it’s relevant. Waiting a year can seem like an eternity, yet it can go by in a second. Whatever struggles you are facing now may seem small and simple compared to the big picture. A year apart for a long distance couple may seem like torture, but all worth it when you then have 20 years of marriage. Five years of school might seem endless, but it pays off when you’re thinking of a career that spans over three decades. Yet a month of unpleasant tasks can seem like a lifetime.

In life, day-to-day struggles seem big and unbearable. You can’t seem to understand just how small they are until you overcome them. That seems unfair because you really need something to get you through each day and you know that at the moment of struggle, every pebble seems like a boulder.

It’s beginning to scare me how fast time can pass. If you don’t sit and think about it, it really does fly by. You have no control of how quick time goes by, but you can control what you do with it. Time is going to pass anyways, might as well spend it towards something that will make you happy, something that will make you feel complete. That’s the eternal journey, isn’t it? It’s all about being happy, right?

So now that I’m 25, I can keep hitting myself in the head saying that “it’s too late to start now” or I can quit moping and get some perspective. My dad is 63 and he is still doing amazing things each and every day. He challenges himself every day and never ceases to amaze me. I still have 38 years to be where he is.

Heck, I can conquer the world with 38 years in my hands.

P.S. – Just in case you don’t know my dad and you still need some perspective, Hillary Clinton is 67 years old. I’m good.

* Photo by Cristina Nogueras *

Wordless Wednesday: Simplicity

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“There is a beauty and clarity that comes from simplicity, that we sometimes do not appreciate in our thirst for intricate solutions.” – Dallin H. Oaks

Photo by Cristina Nogueras ©

Dear Cheese, We Need to Talk

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Dear Cheese,

You know my love for you is true, but we need to talk. All I’ve ever done is praise you and treat you with love and what do you do in return? You hurt me. You hurt me when I least expect it and it drills a Swiss cheese hole in my heart.

You know I want to be with you every waking moment. I want you in my breakfast, as my snack, with my lunch, before dinner and for dinner. You make me happy in so many ways and you’ve given me some amazing times I will cherish forever. Your versatility provides for unexpected delight in different situations. Melted, hard or spread, you’re still amazing.

But Cheese, you’ve been hurting me too much lately. I can’t fathom the idea of life without you, the mere thought is too painful to bear. Still, my love, I think we need to spend some time apart. I’m not going to say goodbye forever because that’s impossible, but I think we need to see a little less of each other for a while.

I know you mean well, how can’t you with all the cheesy love you have to offer? You bring smiles to everyone who is lucky enough to encounter you, you make boring meals so much more exciting and even on your own… you are a wonder.

We’ve both seen what you can do to me. I know you’re sorry and you don’t mean to hurt me, I still love you in spite of the pain.

This is not farewell, it’s just a “see you soon” (and in smaller amounts).

Forever yours,
Cristina

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[Dinner] Grano Trattoria

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I love Italian food, as any sane person should. Cheese is everything, no questions asked. When it was time to pick where to go for my first birthday dinner (yes, there is more than one, duh) I wanted to go somewhere Italian.

I’ve been dying to try Rosemary’s in the West Village, many friends have recommended it, but there were no reservations available when I checked. Thanks to the Open Table app I discovered another option for dinner, Grano Trattoria.

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Obviously, I started with the daily selection of cheese. These were particularly more special since I had been on some sort of cheese deprivation period, which basically means that I was eating normal amounts of cheese and no the ridiculous amounts that my heart desires.

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This is what got me. This risotto was DELICIOUS. It was the perfect balance of thick and creamy. I think by some, this risotto can be considered more on the cheesy/creamy side, but in my eyes that equals perfection.

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My boyfriend got the veal parmegiana, which looks messy but was actually pretty good. I’m not a big fan of veal, but he said it was good. He’s usually an easy chicken parm kind of guy, so I think that says a lot.

So that’s how my birthday celebrations began! If it was up to me, I would celebrate all month (which I kinda do in some way) but I tried to be normal and kept the celebrations down to a week. I always love to go out to dinner and try new places, but there’s always a nice extra touch when you’re going out for a special occasion. You don’t need to get me any presents, just feed me, seriously.

Boston: Seafood & Sea Life

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Who decides to visit Boston during a blizzard? Well, this lady over here! Nothing says romantic Valentine’s Day weekend like a frozen face, right? Thanks to some nonrefundable tickets, I went from bitter cold New York to over the top freezing Boston. I had a really good time, there’s something about being stuck in one room that makes you appreciate your company even more. There’s not a lot of people I would want to be stuck with during a blizzard, thankfully my boyfriend is one of them.

I’ve been to Boston like 10 times and even spent a summer there, I’ve always loved it. This time, we started things off a little bit more touristy than usual and I was ok with it. Union Oyster House is America’s Oldest Restaurant and there’s a reason it’s still up and running, it’s actually really good!

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I obviously went with the classics. Started out with a Oyster House Clam Chowder (which I believe is the same thing as a New England Clam Chowder) and finished it up with a delicious Lobster Salad Roll. I can’t help but get a taste of summer each time I have meals like this. It makes me think of dinner by the water, salty hair after the beach, sunglasses and happy days.

We also tried out Legal Seafoods… delicious! We had the shrimp coconut as a starter and honestly, they might have been the best ones I’ve had so far. They were also gluten free so my friend who can’t have gluten was also able to enjoy them with me.

Then the snow started and the fun ended. Just kidding, we went out anyways and had a delicious dinner at Lineage Restaurant. I must say, our cab did slightly crash into a pile of snow on our way back, it was scary.

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Best part about a blizzard? Room service! Worst part about a blizzard? Room service!

When you have 2/3 meals through room service you know that your final bill is going to hurt. In my defense, everything else was closed.

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I love nature and as much as I know that an aquarium and a zoo are not natural, I can’t help but still enjoy visiting them. It’s unfortunate that these animals are never going to experience real life, but if a visit to an aquarium or zoo is what it takes for someone to be inspired, care a little more about these creatures and somehow contribute to the greater cause, then I guess it’s worth it.

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I think that it’s pretty cool that even though it was freezing outside, these little creatures can have their little piece of paradise stay intact.

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Don’t worry little fishy, I’m counting down the days for summer…