This was too damn cute not to post. Via Caroline, ages ago!
Four years ago, when i was 18, i noticed that at night my front window is very reflective so i was pretending to dive in slow motion and shoot, dual pistol style. Suddenly a really hot girl walked past and i was startled and fell over. Embarrassed i waited for a bit and then stood up. As i stood up i saw her slowly shooting an imaginary rifle from behind a car. We then proceeded to do this for 10 minutes until she did an extremely dramatic death. She wasn’t getting up so i went outside to meet her. Once i got to where she was, there was nothing but a piece of paper with a mobile number on it. Today, we are getting married. MLIA.
What do you guys do when you’re so ill you can barely move? And I’m not just talking about headaches, I’m talking about some of the unpleasant ways your body has of de-toxing (i.e. vomiting)? Tuesday night I went through one such unpleasant de-toxing for a few hours, and I’m not usually the weak stomach type. It’s times like those when you realize how great it feels to feel alive and not so close to death.
I could barely keep water down, which was frustrating because by the end of it all I was so dehydrated and exhausted. Luckily my grandmother came around with an amazing remedy: flat Coke. Half a cup of it and I was fast asleep! The next day my meals consisted of plain mashed potatoes for lunch and bread and flat Coke for dinner. My stomach muscles are a bit sore today but I have my appetite back and have re-discovered my love for water and fruits. Yay for being healthier!
Hi lovelies! How is everyone and what have I missed?
Barcelona + Tom = amazing weekend! It was incredibly windy and cold (as opposed to last week’s 16 degrees!) so we were wrapped up and kept walking into shops and cafes just to keep warm. The city was beautiful, though, so it was all worth it. I hadn’t had a sore throat in a while, so of course my body decided this would be the best time to act up, but Tom is a sweetheart and got me some hot chocolate before bed and lemons in the morning so our Valentine’s was saved! We mostly spent it eating and in the metro talking about important things like the soul/body division and space. It was perfect.
So being a tourist for the weekend made me realize the importance of not looking like one; we all know pointing upwards every few meters and wearing a camera around our necks are obvious no-nos, but having a huge sign in red print that reads ‘I’m a tourist — come get me’ may lie in the subtleties. Here’s how to avoid that and a few tips to keep in mind while you’re out exploring the world:
- Know where you’re going. Metro stations you need to get off on, bus numbers and relevant street names.
- If you must check your map, do it in a cafe or inside a shop.
- Bring only the cash you’ll need for the day, preferably in small bills (seems simple enough, but I’ve seen a couple of people flashing big bills around! The reason they are so noticeable is because not many people walk around with them…And they tend to come in pretty colors.)
- Keep change and metro/bus tickets separate from your wallet so you don’t have to keep reaching for it.
- Dress as you would at home, keeping in mind the local weather. Unless of course, you’re going on a Safari across India or something that would require shorts or hiking gear. Keep in mind dress codes you might have to adhere to depending on the culture you’re visiting. *There seems to be a common misconception that Southern Europe (France, Spain, Italy) are always warm and sunny year-round. This is only really true in the summer months, but even then there are alternatives to wearing shorts and sandals: skirts and dresses for women, light pants for men, stay away from synthetic fibers and you’re good to go!
- Pay attention to your choice of bag — big sporty bags are usually a good sign you’re a tourist.
- Be wary of people who stop you for help/conversation/etc in the middle of the street; just keep walking and shake your head in a “No, sorry” motion.
- Look for street names subtly, definitely not pointing or straining to look upward for them!
- Keep your camera in a regular bag or purse, avoiding camera bags and backpacks! While taking a photo, do hang it around your neck so that nobody can snatch it from you. But as soon as you snap just put it back in there.
- Be polite — research local customs before your trip and if possible learn a few keywords in the local language; most people try to help out someone making the effort to communicate in their language.
- If you want to experience the authentic local culture, stray away from tour guide books and guided tours and ask at your hotel lobby (or in any shop) what areas of the city might be interesting for you to check out.
The point isn’t to blend in completely, but to avoid becoming an easy target for savvy local robbers. Always keep an eye out and notice your surroundings!
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We all know the deal — in a relationship, every day should be Valentine’s Day. Designating a specific day of the year to celebrate your love is redundant and the Hallmark Holiday is bound to drain your pockets. Some of us used to be rebels, but somewhere along the road we became smitten with someone, and now Valentine’s Day seems like a good excuse to maybe show a little bit more affection than usual; cuddling with some popcorn and a movie, exchange of hand-made gifts or even a fancy dinner out.
Unfortunately, there are still those who despite wanting to be extra cheesy with their significant other, can’t due to a slight problem: living in a different country (or state/city.) Here’s what you can do for your sweetheart for a long distance Valentine’s Day:
- Send them a video of you singing to them, reading poetry, or just talking about how amazing they are. Be creative with editing!
- Make them something cute on Photoshop (follow tutorials if you’d like) and post it on their Facebook for everyone to see! If you’d like to keep it more private just email it to them.
- Send them a package with all sorts of goodies: a mix CD/tape, handwritten letters, candy, a personalized bookmark…
- Text them at different times during the day with cute quotes.
- Set up a Skype date! Dress up, have some champagne and watch something together.
- If you have been saving up (and if you haven’t, keep this in mind for future reference), buy yourself a ticket to your love and show up unannounced the morning of Valentine’s Day. Have their friends or family help you out if needed.
- Send them a sexy self portrait along with some coupons for possible activities on your next encounter!
- Prepare a gift, any gift, to send. Have it sent to their friend or relative and have them help you hide it. Next, send them clues (a letter per day two days before Valentine’s, or through email, Facebook, texts…), of where to find it. With each clue, include information on what this might be. If everything goes well they should find it on the day :)
- If you are close enough, send them a cake or small cupcakes with a note!
- Send them a box of candy. Wrap each individual candy in a little note where you tell them something you love about them.
- Whatever you decide to send, do it without previous warning!
Last year I spent Valentine’s Day in Miami with my mother while Tom was still in Beijing. Luckily, this year I get to spend it with him in Barcelona :) It has obviously been planned, but on the actual day we have decided to cuddle, have room service and get drunk on wine.
What are your plans for Valentine’s Day?
- If you’re next in line to put your week’s worth of groceries through, let the person behind you with two sodas and a bag of chips go first.
- Give up your seat on the bus so that two friends can sit and chat together.
- Spare some change or be as generous as you’d like with street musicians; when you tip them make sure you tell them how well they play/sing.
- If you see someone looking confused or lost, ask if they’d like some help.
- In controversial matters, speak your mind but agree to disagree so as to avoid useless confrontations (you will not convince anyone against their ideals and they will not convince you against yours.)
- When someone expects you to rise in anger, do the opposite.
- When working on projects, encourage your teammates by complimenting their bit of work.
- Be welcoming to ‘the new kid’.
- Hitting your computer won’t help. Hitting anything won’t help. Calm down, assess the situation and ask for help if needed.
- Say thank you. Sounds simple but we don’t say it enough.
- Treat your parents or friends to dinner or a movie, just because.
- Give because you want to, not because you expect anything in return.
- Leave uplifting quotes inbetween library books.
- Confide in a good friend. Let them do the same.
- Throw a party to celebrate your friend/boyfriend/brother/sister.
- When someone is talking to you, ask more about their story. (If you want to be interesting, be interested.)
- Apologize. Even if it wasn’t your fault to begin with, there is nothing worse than being in a fight with a loved one.
- Be confident in yourself and others.
- Be happy for your friends when they shine.
- Don’t insult others; it is neither classy nor useful.
- Never wish badly upon someone.
- Grab a flyer passed on to you on the street. Even if you end up throwing it away, at least take a glance at it.
- Set up a local fundraiser for a cause (who doesn’t love bake sales?)
- Make everyone feel like they count.
- Hug often.
- Donate even if just a few dollars to artists, web developers and fellow bloggers just to show your support.
- Smile in photos!
- Leave a good tip, even if you are a broke student (like me.)
- Spend time with kids. Learn from them (and their brutal honesty!)
- Tell your mother how amazing the meal she cooked was.
- Empathize.
- Talk to your pets.
- Pamper yourself. Love yourself, feel pretty and help others feel beautiful too.
- Every day should be Mother’s Day/Father’s Day/Valentine’s Day.
What do you do to spread the love around?
