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Floradise

A lifestyle blog by Marette Flora

30 Lessons I’ve Learned in 30 Years

I’m 30. Do I feel 30? Yes, I guess so. Do I look 30? Definitely not if you ask the server at Gumbo Shop in New Orleans; she didn’t believe I was even 21. Despite my looks, I’ve learned a thing or two (or 30) in my three decades of life.

1. Don’t care so much what people think.
2. Don’t be shamed of your hopes and dreams. I used to be afraid to tweet out my blog posts. Can you believe that? Not anymore. 
3. Show more affection. Don’t assume people know how much you care.
4. Planning pays off.
5. … But leave some days unplanned.
6. Live in the moment.
7. Don’t work your life away. “All work, no play? No way, Jose!” (If you know what song that’s from you get a gold star.)
8. Life won’t always be in balance.
9. Be happy for others.
10. Take care of yourself.
11. Never stop exploring. See as much as you can, while you can. 
12. Never stop learning.
13. Don’t compare yourself to others.
14. Speak your truth!
15. Experiences matter more than possessions.
16. You can do amazing things if you work hard.
17. There’s more than one way to define someone. I am more than solely a wife, runner, yogi, etc.
18. When you are uncomfortable, that’s when the growth happens.
19. Put more effort into friendships.
20. Showing emotion is not a sign of weakness.
21. Live and let live.
22. Surround yourself with positive people.
23. Be kind, not just to others but to yourself.
24. Give without expecting anything in return.
25. Analyze your motivation for doing things. Are you doing it for the right reason? 
26. Practice patience. This is probably the most difficult lesson to implement.
27. Be confident!
28. Don’t let fear win!
29. Don’t take on too much; give yourself a break.
30. Just keep swimmin’.

P.S. Congrats to Marie for winning the Denik notebook and Starbucks gift card! 

February Goals

Let my birthday month begin! I can’t believe the first month of 2016 — and the past 30 years — has gone by so quickly. I started the year a little off routine-wise because of my vacation and visiting Phoenix, but soon it’ll be time to settle back into normal life in Chicago. Here’s what I want to tackle this month:
  • Start training for my half marathon. It’s super early to train for my half in May, but I want to get into a weekly running schedule. Also, I’ve been neglecting running outside in favor of training at Orangetheory. To make matters worse, I lost these Brooks running shoes in Costa Rica and just recently replaced them. I immediately signed up for the Chicagoland Half Marathon Series, in which I’ll earn an extra medal for running both the Chicago Half Marathon in the spring and the fall. I’m excited for this new goal!
  • Get back into studio yoga classes by attending at least three times this month. I’ve been practicing at home for months, but it’s time to reconnect with yoga in the studio. 
  • Continue saving money. I’m following a plan to save a certain amount each week; I save an amount equivalent to the week of the year it is. (So $4 on the fourth week, $5 on the fifth, etc. I got the idea from Communikait. Thanks, Kait!)
  • Work on my list of simplifying tasks.
Do  you set monthly goals? What’s on your list this month? 

My Birthday Wishlist

I turn the big 3-0 in 3 weeks. I know I have some big changes ahead, and I can’t wait to share of those experiences. When I think about what I’d like for my birthday, it’s a short list. I’m a firm believer in collecting memories over possessions, and I plan to simplify more in the coming months. But if you’d pull my arm, here’s what I’d like to get for my birthday.

  • Irie Shells Aloha pearl necklace. I love everything about it. Irie Shells also makes cute tanks, earrings and starfish headbands for all the mermaids of the world.
Photo credit: Irie Shells
  • A trip to New Orleans. This has been on my wishlist for more than 10 years! I have always wanted to taste the food, check out the French Quarter and listen to the music.
Photo courtesy of New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, Jeff Anding

Photo courtesy of New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, Jeff Anding
  • A race medal holder and entrance into the Chicago Marathon. The lottery application process doesn’t start until March, but my birthday wish is to be selected. I was inspired to run my second marathon when I watched the runners during the 2015 race. It was amazing!
Photo by Eat a Mango Creations.
Last year I put Chicago on my wishlist and we ended up moving to the city, so I’m excited to see what this next year brings for me. What’s on your wishlist right now? 

P.S. Joining the Tutu Tuesdays Linkup today!

“Tutu

32

Today I celebrate the life of my best friend. We’re traveling from Tortuguero to Puerto Viejo by boat, then doing whatever the birthday guy wants. If you’re into sappy posts about why I love my husband, stick around. In honor of Graham’s birthday, here are 32 reasons I love him:

  1. He’s the hardest-working person I know.
  2. He is handsome.
  3. He is goofy. He makes me laugh every day. (Sometimes without meaning to.)
  4. He is great with kids. Our nieces, nephews and friends’ kids love him.
  5. He loves adventure. He goes along with my ideas and has plenty of his own.
  6. He’s patient.
  7. He has the best smile. And he never needed braces, that lucky duck.
  8. He’s generous. He almost always outdoes me on gifts for birthdays, Christmas and anniversaries.
  9. He is passionate about his career. And he has an awesome job.
  10. He lets go of his stubbornness and apologizes more often than I do.
  11. He’s thoughtful.
  12. He loves helping others.
  13. He loves to do his own thing and doesn’t care what people think about him. I wish I could be like that.
  14. He’s tall. I can only hope our future hypothetical kids have his height.
  15. He’s affectionate. I need to be more like him.
  16. He surprises me often with flowers, doughnuts or Doritos, aka all of my favorite things.
  17. He appreciates good food like I do.
  18. He’s kind to everyone.
  19. He gets emotional when watching sad or happy moments on TV or movies, like I do.
  20. He can fix things around the house, and he can install new doors, tile, wood flooring and basically everything.
  21. He’s a perfectionist. If you can him to do something it will be done to the best of his ability.
  22. He gets along with my friends and family.
  23. He’s not afraid of change. Or at least he doesn’t show it.
  24. He supports me in anything I want to do.
  25. He has introduced me to movies and music I never would have known about or watched.
  26. He has a love of life and wants to do as much as he can.
  27. He wants to learn Spanish so he can communicate with my family better.
  28. He is willing to drive us around 99 percent of the time.
  29. He writes me sweet notes or texts to read when I wake up.
  30. He lets me sleep in. (Most of the time.)
  31. He’s obsessed with weather and I know we’ll always be prepared.
  32. He’s smart. He’s so knowledgeable about things I would have no clue about, too.

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Intentional Gifts

Is it too early to start thinking about holiday gifts? I recently came across some items I already know I’ll be buying as gifts this Christmas. (They work for birthdays, too!) Best of all, these products help others. 

  1. Start Where You Are: A Journal for Self-Exploration. I came across artist Meera Lee Patel’s work on Instagram. I was drawn to her ethereal pieces. I bought a journal for myself recently, but I haven’t started filling it in yet because it’s too lovely to use. It’s filled with inspirational quotes and illustrations. The start of a new season is a good time to begin. While this purchase doesn’t benefit a charity directly (that I know of), it is all about self-improvement and reflection. 
  2. LifeStraw. Graham told me about this portable water filter recently. We ordered a water bottle and extra filter for ourselves to use on our adventures — and in case we ever find ourselves on “Naked and Afraid. We plan to give these as gifts. For each sold filter, one school child in a developing country will be provided with safe drinking water for an entire school year, LifeStraw says.
  3. Little Market Braided Beaded Bracelet in Mint and Rose Gold. The bracelet is handmade by artisans in Guatemala. According to the item description, “Wakami also provides a support network, meeting nutritional needs with organic gardens, home needs with solar energy and water filters, and income needs with business training programs.” There are many other color options to choose from, too.
Have any more ideas for gifts that give back? Send them my way!
Image credits: 1. Amazon image of the journal 2. LifeStraw 3. Little Market

post signature Joining Tutu Tuesday this week with the Blush Blonde and the Fairy Princess Dairies!

“Tutu

Weekend in Rocky Point, Mexico

Graham and I spent the weekend in Puerto Peñasco, aka Rocky Point. This short trip was a celebration of both Valentine’s Day and my 29th birthday. It was also an opportunity for Graham to see a town that has meant so much to me. My family is from there and many family members live there now, including my dad. Graham finally met him over the weekend. My niece also met him for the first time. Needless to say, a lot went down in less than 48 hours.

We could have stayed at my grandma’s house for free, but I wanted to be near the beach. We waited too long to book a condo for a reasonable price, so we chose the Peñasco Del Sol hotel (which we booked on Hotwire). The master suite was spacious and clean, though the walls were a bit thin.

 

 

A highlight was a sunset walk along the beach. Saturday was a cloudy day, but the sun made a last-minute appearance. Shrimp boats in the water reminded me of my grandfather, who was a fisherman.

 

 

 

On Sunday, we went out to breakfast with my sister and niece. Mario’s Cafe is located on Benito Juarez Boulevard, the main road into town, as you head toward the Old Port area. I devoured the chilaquiles, served with breakfast potatoes and beans. My only complaint was that I wished it came with more beans. (I always want more beans.)

Graham ordered pancakes, while my sister ordered huevos rancheros. Each dish was 85 pesos or less, which came out to less than $6 each. Such a good deal. For 40 pesos we got mocha and iced coffee. The iced coffee reminded me of the coffee I loved on Maui. I would order all of it again. (Our three meals came out to only $23.50.)

The rest of Sunday was spent celebrating my birthday with family. I learned both my parents make excellent ceviche and fish. We were completely stuffed. My dad also got me a birthday cake, which was smashed in my face twice by my aunt. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me!

Overall, the weekend was perfect for reconnecting both with family and Rocky Point and for celebrating my 29 years.

Happy birthday to me!

Related post:

Spring Break Packing List

Birthday wishlist

I’m looking forward to turning 29 next month. Planning how I want to celebrate led me to think about what I would give myself as a gift. I was intentional with my birthday wishlist this year, choosing an experience and a couple of things that will make me look good while achieving my goals for 2015.

1. Toms Pink Boucle Women’s Classic. I don’t often buy shoes — even when I need to. But these will serve me well during spring training and upcoming trips. The bonus is that Toms gives a pair of shoes to a child in need.

2. Athleta Floral Fade Chi Tank. I don’t ever buy yoga clothes either, though mine get quite a bit of use. This tank is both functional and pretty — perfect for teaching.

3. A trip to Chicago. I have a feeling Chicago and I would get along. I wish we could go for my actual birthday weekend, but the temperature will be in the 30s. Who leaves the 70s for the 30s? (Well, I would, but I imagine the city would be even more fun in the summer or fall.)

Image credits: 1. Toms 2. Athleta 3. City of Chicago

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