Beyond Borders

Yoga Love!

noreply@blogger.com (Bibi) — Fri, 28 May 2010 17:34:00 +0000

I noticed that I haven't written much about my love of yoga. It's funny because I've been practicing for the past 7 years or so and it has truly become one of the things I most love to do. Recently I've been telling a few more people about it and I figured I should probably write about it on here as well.

Not exactly yoga, but ready to workout nonetheless!

{Image from my personal collection}

I started in high school practicing with a Vinyasa DVD after I quit swimming and water polo as a way to stay in shape. I continued in college by taking Iyengar yoga with one of the instructors on campus and it soon became the thing I looked forward to every week. Upon graduating, I took a couple classes at my gym, but craving more of a challenge, I started doing Bikram yoga. With Bikram, I definitely found a challenge and also a way to reconnect with that zen feeling I've been missing since college.

Partaking in my love of swimming

{Image from my personal collection}

Yoga has definitely changed my life. It's not only made me more aware of my body and the things it can do, but also given me a new appreciation for the things around me. Honestly, I think the world would be a much better place if everybody practiced yoga. I've been trying to get everyone I know to try it and I've even been considering getting certified as an instructor so I can share it with others. For now, I'm just excited to talk about it with anyone and everyone!

"I want someone. Not just anyone. For a while. And then longer."

noreply@blogger.com (Bibi) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 18:51:00 +0000

It's funny being single. It seems like everyone (and their mom) literally, is trying to set me up with this great guy they know, whether it's a friend's son, their nephew, their stepdaughter's best friend's brother and so on. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the help, but is it so impossible that I'd like to do things my way. I don't want just anyone and I'm happy in my life. I'm happy enough that if I don't meet that someone, then I refuse to settle for just anyone.

"All is fair in love and war." ~ From Renaissance English poet and playwright John Lyly's Euphues (1578).
{Images from: Audrey Hepburn Complex}

And when I do meet a guy I think is worthy of my affections and it doesn't work out for one reason or another, I don't want to be comforted by someone telling me "You're a pretty girl. There's so many ugly people that find someone. Of course you'll find meet someone." As if that makes me feel better. It only points out that so-called ugly people are getting more lovin' than I am!

"The course of true love never did run smooth." ~ William Shakespeare
{Images from: Daydream Lily}

I also don't want to be told that I'm being too picky or that I'm looking for the wrong kind of guy. That just questions my judgment when I'm already down. I know that the people who say these things mean well and only want to cheer me up, but I know what I want and maybe it's not what everybody else thinks that I should want, but it's what I know will make me happy.

"Tis better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all." ~ Alfred Lord Tennyson
{Images from: Daydream Lily, So About what I said}

I'm sorry for the rant. Normally these types of posts are reserved for my private blog, but the quote I posted as my title (via Single-ish) really spoke to me today because it's exactly how I feel. So, I just want to say that I'm going to keep searching for that special someone and in the meantime enjoy my single-dom and be happy in my life until I do.

What would Angie do? She'd tell them all to take a hike! {Image from: Tomb Raider}

Have I Gone Mad? I'm afraid so. You're entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret. All the best people are.

noreply@blogger.com (Bibi) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:36:00 +0000

So last night I finally watched Disney's new Alice in Wonderland. Although I'd heard some negative reviews, I loved the film! It was just sheer visual eye candy, and I loved the storyline.

My favorite part though was when Johnny Depp's Mad Hatter recited the poem "Jabberwocky" by Lewis Carroll. Of course, it might have helped that my movie companion also knew the poem and chose to recite it along with the Mad Hatter. ;) In any case, I had never heard the poem before and it was just so hauntingly beautiful.

Here's the poem in full:

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
{Poem from: Jabberwocky}

Isn't that lovely? I thought the cast was perfect with Johnny Depp as a phenomenal Mad Hatter. I also loved all the other minor characters like the Cheshire Cat, Rabbit, and Mouse.

Anne Hathaway was appropriately dreamy as the White Queen and Helena Bonham Carter was pretty perfect as the Red Queen.

My favorite characters were definitely the tweedles. Especially when the Red Queen called them her "fat boys." Hilarious!

And of course I loved Alice. Her clothing was to die for and I loved all the little details like calling Alice "Um"... priceless! Overall, I had a wonderful time and I definitely recommend it for children young (and old)!

{All images from: Disney}

Yesterdays in the Making

noreply@blogger.com (Bibi) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:00:00 +0000

I was reading a post from one of my favorite bloggers (Melissa from So about what I said) about enjoying the moment and remembering ourselves as we are right now (the title was borrowed from one of her songs). It's funny how we can get so caught up in things that we let life just slip right on by. Over the past few months, I've been so focused on my job and classes, that I feel as if I haven't devoted enough time to the things I truly love.

I can't always be looking out the window...{Image from: Audrey Hepburn Complex}

Thankfully, my current read (sent to me by a friend) reminded me about getting back in tune with myself. The book is called "Entre Nous: A Woman's Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl." Normally, I wouldn't necessarily read a book like this, since I'm an advocate of being comfortable with who you are, but that's the reason why this book is so enticing.

{Image from: So about what I said}

The whole concept of being a "French girl" is about being comfortable in your own skin, with your looks, taking care of yourself-- body and mind, and spending time with those you love. Seriously, while reading this book, I must have said "Wow, that's so me!" about 10 times within the first few pages. However, I also had to pause a few times and remind myself to be more in tune with myself and to be present during whatever it is I'm doing.

This girl is definitely comfortable in her skin... how very French! {Image from: Ms. Muse}

The book has also reminded me to be sure to devote time to all aspects of my life-- not just myself, but also the people around me. While I do spend quite a bit of time with my family and friends, I'll admit that I haven't exactly made love a big priority in the past few months and I've used my job and all my other interests as an excuse.

The post-it says it all. {Image from: So about what I said}

I think I'm ready to start dating again, but here's the thing-- I don't want to date someone just for the sake of it and so I only want to date someone with whom I can see a future. Period, end of story. Life is too short and I'm too busy to be with someone who is only so so.

{Image from: So about what I said}

And so, here is to making today wonderful so that tomorrow's yesterdays will only bring a smile to my face.

Live like there's no tomorrow...{Image from: That Unreliable Girl}

Channeling Indiana Jones

noreply@blogger.com (Bibi) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:24:00 +0000

Who is your favorite fictional hero? I actually have a few, but one of my favorites is Indiana Jones. He's incredibly smart (i.e. he can speak multiple languages and is a college professor), he spends his free time traveling the world in search of treasure, and he's saved humanity from evil threats time and again.

Indy always saves the day! {Images from: Indiana Jones}

I remember the first time I watched Indiana Jones. To me, he was the epitome of cool and ever since I've had a fascination with all things related to Indy. I think it is probably one of the reasons I love to travel and why I played so many explorer-type games as a little girl. I know he's not a real person, but Indy inspires me to step out of my comfort zone and turn life into one big adventure.

Indy can always get out of a scrape...

So, I've finally decided to go to Machu Picchu this summer! I've booked the trip, so that I officially can't make any more excuses for delaying the journey. I'm also going alone. Before you feel too sorry for me, this is a solo trip by choice. I've taken a few solo journeys in the past, but I've been feeling a little off center, and so I think that this will be the ultimate journey, both physically and mentally.

Hopefully I won't encounter any of these guys...

On the one hand, it's scary thinking that I will be fending on my own for a whole two weeks in a foreign country...

I know how you feel big guy...

But on the other hand, I know that this will probably be the adventure of a lifetime. Just to give you a little taste of it, I'll be sleeping in airports, rafting through some rapids, and then hiking for 3 days down the Inca Trail to reach the ruins. After this, I think I'll finally be worthy of wearing the infamous fedora... maybe.

Looking good wielding a whip, machete, or gun!

Let the planning begin! So tell me, are any of you taking any adventures or do you have any fictional heroes you'd like to tell me about?

The Ties That Bind

noreply@blogger.com (Bibi) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 01:12:00 +0000

I've been thinking a lot about friendship lately and how sometimes you come to a point where you realize that you no longer have the need or desire to maintain a particular friendship. When I was younger, I went through several "best friends." I don't think I ever intentionally drifted apart from them, but I did. As I've grown older, the relationships I have with my friends have grown to mean much more than just "hanging out at recess," and yet right now I've reached a point where there are some friendships that are on the line and I'm not sure I want to resuscitate them.

{Image from: Daydream Lily}

In some ways, I feel as if I've outgrown them and I feel as if we've changed so much in the past couple years that we no longer share the things we once did and now our friendship is based more on memories than on new experiences. Even the times we hang out now are spent reminiscing and doing the same thing we did before rather than evolving and becoming something better than it was before.

{Image from: That Unreliable Girl}

Maybe it's me and maybe I change too much for the same things to always satisfy me, but the truth is that I've grown bored. I've also come to realize that my time is incredibly valuable. I have very strong ties to my family and they are the only non-negotiable aspect of my life, and so in my spare time, I've grown more selective about what I do. I think that because of my strong relationships with them, it also makes me realize exactly what it is to be there through thick and thin and so I feel that with certain friends that is definitely not the case.

I think it may be time for me to go it alone.

Bob and the Real Girl

noreply@blogger.com (Bibi) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:30:00 +0000

Valentine's Day is coming. It's kind of made me think about relationships and how we can all get a little carried away when we meet someone new. Let me tell you all a story. I have a friend. We’ll call him Bob. Bob is a great guy. He’s funny and smart and definitely very handsome, but he has some issues with love and relationships and so he tends to seek my advice regarding one love crisis or another. There are usually some recurring themes, but the one I find the most curious is his ongoing crush with this girl who definitely does not return his feelings. Granted, she’s never outright told him “you have no chance with me,” but her actions definitely speak louder than words.

Yep, this guy has it bad!
{Image from Vt Peach}

Most people have had an unrequited crush or two, but my fascination comes from the fact that the majority of his feelings are based on snippets. He was never really good friends with her, he’s never had any semblance of a relationship with her other than slightly more than acquaintances. They were never even classmates, and yet here we are 6-7 years later, and yet, I’m almost positive that if she gave him the time of day, he would probably drop everything in his life for the tiny glimmer of a chance that she might want him.

The parts of her you can see are absolutely gorgeous, but you can't judge a girl by her lips alone!
{Image from: Alkemie}

My story probably makes Bob sound like the prototypical geeky guy in a teen flick who’s lusting after the cheerleader. The funny thing is that Bob is actually not that hopeless, but he’s head over heels for a girl that mostly exists in his mind. He met her and talked to her a few times-- they even went out once or twice and from that alone, he feels like he knows her, but the fact is that he doesn’t. I promise, Bob is not a loser! The thing is, this is what we all do when we fall for someone. We meet them, we like them, and before we know if we’ve formed an image in our minds of who we think this person is complete with fictitious storylines that make this person out to be some Hollywood perfect ideal of a human being. Now I’m not saying that there’s anything wrong with a little bit of idealism in a relationship, but what if your perfect person solely exists in your head? I can almost guarantee that if this girl were to suddenly develop feelings for Bob and they went out for a little while, he would probably get tired of her and realize that she’s not as great as he thought she was.

This is taking the fairytale fantasy a little too far...
{Image from Vt Peach}

Case in point, when I was in high school, there was a guy who liked me. He was really cute and pretty popular, but I’d never really thought of him in that way. One day, I found out that he had a massive crush on me and so we proceeded to talk for the next month or so. I remember in one of our first conversations he mentioned how perfect I was. Then he proceeded to detail exactly what made me so perfect—the fact that I was so smart and sweet and pretty, etc. At the time, I thought it was really cute, but then every subsequent conversation, if I said something not quite in line with his idea of me, he would brush it off and kind of say oh that’s not really you—but what I was saying was me. Little by little he got to know me and then one day out of the blue, he told me he didn’t like me anymore. Well, being the young naïve thing I was, I was completely blown away—what had I done? It wasn’t until later that I realized that this boy had constructed this whole image of me in his head based on minor interactions at school and then when he finally saw the real me, there was no way I could compare to his perfect picture.

Audrey's probably the only exception to my theory!
{Image from: The English Muse}

I’m sharing these stories not to embarrass anyone, but to illustrate how easy it is to get carried away with someone. I’ve done it. We’ve all done it. The key is to remember that everybody is human and that no matter how much you think you know someone just by your observations and from what other people say, you really don’t until you actually get to know them.

500 Days of Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Bibi) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:36:00 +0000

Last summer I kept hearing good things about a little movie called 500 Days of Summer. One day, while I was feeling completely miserable about my love life and my head was in a complete funk, I went to the theater and caught it during the matinee wondering whether this movie would actually make me feel better. From the opening scene, the movie had me enthralled and by the end of the movie I’d laughed, cried, and overall gotten the emotional makeover I’d been after.

I think Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt make THE cutest couple!

Fast forward to the winter, and I bought the movie on DVD. After watching it a few more times, I can honestly say that it has now become one of my all-time favorite movies. The story is so completely real and painful at parts, yet at the end of the film, you’re left with a sense of hope and for me at least, the knowledge that everything that happens, happens for a reason.

2009 was a difficult year for me. I was stuck in a seemingly endless limbo where I didn’t know what to do and how to get there. To quote another of my favorite movies, I felt like I was “standing in the middle of a crowded room screaming at the top of my lungs and no one even looks up.” There were so many parts of myself that had somehow gotten lost in the shuffle and last year I spent the better part of it trying to reconnect with a part of me I had somehow misplaced. Well, here we are in 2010 and in a way I feel as if I’ve reacquired some of it, but there’s still a long way to go.

I turned 24 last week. A birthday always feels like a fresh start for me—a new beginning—and it’s really made me contemplate my life as it stands right now. There’s a large part of me that still feels as if I’m right back where I was last year, but there’s another part of me that knows I’ve grown. There’s also something that was lacking in some parts of last year—hope. Hence my reference to the movie. I’ve realized that nothing is ever as it seems and every point of my life has led me to another part of it. Sometimes seemingly good things lead to horrible experiences in my life and other times, bad things lead to incredibly wonderful experiences that I could never have imagined. But at the end of the day, everything happens for a reason—everything that’s happened in life has brought us to where we are today for better or worse.

I guess I’m just writing to say that although 2010 hasn’t brought anything extraordinary yet, the year is young.

Updates & Alice In Wonderland

noreply@blogger.com (Bibi) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:43:00 +0000

Well, it's been a little while. I've been so super incredibly busy at work, my gym time, and writing my novel, that my blog has kind of taken the backburner. I just finished reading the Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, I'm currently reading the Philosopher's Apprentice and I'm going to start the Lost City of Z. I'm such a bibliophile. :)

In other news, Father's day and my sister's birthday went off without a hitch. We had a great time grilling some steaks and I served the role of bartender and made some super yummy drinks. I'm also planning on starting Bikram Yoga this week. I took one class a few months ago in LA and was completely blown away. I've been practicing yoga for about 5-6 years now and consider myself to be pretty limber and so when I took the class, the poses weren't that intense, but combined with the heat created one of the best workouts I've ever had. It will be a bit pricy, but I think it's totally worth it to get fully in shape.

So, the reason why I just had to post today is because I just saw the stills for Tim Burton's ALice in Wonderland, and I was so blown away. The movie looks like it's going to be a whimsical and creepy take on the book, and I have to say that I am really looking forward to seeing it. So without further ado, I'm posting the stills below and I'm also posting some pictures from Annie Leibovitz's Alice in Wonderland shoot for Vogue. Stunning!

{Images from: Coming Soon, New York Post}

And... here are the Vogue images I was referring to. Aren't they great?

{Images from: Vogue}

What two words would describe you?

noreply@blogger.com (Bibi) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:18:00 +0000

In one of my first posts, I mentioned that I was reading the book Style Statement. Well, I finally finished it and I came up with my Style Statement! It is... Classic Adventure. Now, for those of you who have not read the book, you might not know what it means, but basically these two words are supposed to be my very essence. The first word makes up my core-- my 80% and the second word makes up the part of me that is uniquely me, so the 20% that gives me my flair.

Angelina Jolie's photoshoot in Vogue by the fabulous Annie Leibovitz

personifies for me what it means to be Classic Adventure.

When I came up with the statement, all I could think was: I knew it all along! I've always known that deep down I'm very traditional and I tend to be attracted to things that are timeless and universally appealing. However, there's also a part of me that is very adventurous and spontaneous and vivacious that craves the new and exciting.

I've always been very introspective, and I pretty much knew these things about myself already, but it's amazing how after reading the book and answering all the questions I was able to realize that the biggest problems in my life-- whether in outfits, relationships, or health have come about because I'm trying to be too much of one and not enough of the other or neither entirely. For example, sometimes when I meet new people I feel the need to portray my adventurous side overly much and in doing so, they are usually surprised when they realize that I'm not actually a crazy, wild, spontaneous person all the time-- or even much of the time.

This has definitely given me a lot to think about and now I'm curious to see what my friends and family get out of it.

So tell me, even if you haven't read the book, what two words would you use to describe yourself?

Things that Make me Happy

noreply@blogger.com (Bibi) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 23:32:00 +0000

I asked you all what makes you happy, but I never actually told you about the things that make me happy. So, I've written a handy dandy list in no particular order. Enjoy and have a fabulous weekend!

Adventures
I love not knowing what's going to happen. I love the spontaneity of life and having the freedom to go anywhere or do anything you want, even if it's just for the day. Sometimes I take my freedom too far and need to be rescued, but that's part of the fun!

My next big adventure... I hope.
{Image from Vagabondish}

Sunshine
I love the feeling of the sun on my face. This is especially true after a long stretch of cold weather. I also love being able to wear flip flops every day and putting all my winter clothes away.

Good food
I love eating. Food can satisfy you in ways that nobody ever could. I take equal pleasure in healthy light fare as I do in richer, more extravagant courses. Good food is particularly enjoyable when you've made it yourself or after a long day of strenuous activity.

Strawberry ice cream... my favorite!
{Image from The Busty Baker}

Beaches
I was born a fish. For the longest time, I pretended that I was the Little Mermaid and I would splash around anywhere I could find-- the bathtub, our local pool, and of course the ocean. After that, I swam for several years and played water polo. Needless to say, there's something about the water that calls to me. I enjoy most water activities, but sometimes, all I need to be happy is simply to sit on the sand and stare at that massive expanse.

Music
I'm generally a happy person, but my moods can vary drastically. Sometimes certain songs hit me in such a way that I get goosebumps up and down my arms and tears in my eyes. Music is that powerful. It can move me when I'm not feeling particularly sentimental, pump me up even when I'm completely fatigued, and also comfort me when I'm sad.Listen to 23 by Jimmy Eat World (or Jem's cover of Yellow) and you'll know what I mean.

Movies
I'm known for quoting movies at the randomest of times. This is one of the ways I interact with my siblings. We watch a movie over and over until we know every line by heart, then we proceed to spend the next years spouting the same lines back to each other. I crack up every time. If anybody ever wanted to gain my friendship, just quote something from Old School, Wedding Crashers, or even movies like Matilda and Titanic.

Books
Along those same lines, I love books. I love getting inside of somebody else's head and being transported to other places. When I read, I feel like I know the main character better than anyone else. For just a few hours I can get out of my head and be somebody else-- experience their joys, sorrows, and loves.

Gorgeous scrapbook filled with all kinds of lovely things, I'm sure.
{Image from Frolic}

Adrenaline
I'm not an adrenaline junkie, but I love the kick. I love driving fast and boarding in fresh powder down a mountain I've never tackled. I love the feeling when you catch that wave or feel the air whip against your cheeks when you're riding a bike. I love the post-workout high I get after my kickboxing class-- the feeling that I can do anything (or at the very least kick some major butt), and I love the excitement that comes from standing in the middle of a crowded arena waiting for the opening band to play.

My family and friends
I love being surrounded by the people I love (if this were in order, I think this would be at the top of my list). They know exactly what mood I'm in just by looking at me. They can calm me down or pump me up. I can go on adventures with my friends or just hang out in my PJs. Family to me means comfort and security.

What makes you happy?

noreply@blogger.com (Bibi) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:02:00 +0000

I've been thinking a lot about happiness lately. Let me explain. I have a pretty big family. I have a (nearly) 22 year old sister, a 19 year old brother, and two 8 year old (half) brothers. The two little ones are mainly interested in video games, legos, and their friends. Their greatest happiness is getting some ice cream or a new toy. It's funny that such simple things can make kids feel like they're on top of the world. For the older ones it gets a little tougher because life gets more complicated. My other brother is very similar to me. He's been out of high school for a couple years now, but he seems kind of stuck. On the one hand, he has very distinct likes, but on the other hand, I'm not sure if he quite knows the direction he wants to take in life or is meant to take in life.

"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned...
so as to have the life that is waiting for us."
--Joseph Campbell (via That Unreliable Girl)
{Images from: Ms. Muse and from my own personal collection.}

My family worries about him. I do too to a certain extent; however, I have different reasons for worrying. They worry that he won't find a way to completely care for himself and be independent. I worry because I'm afraid that he'll settle for something and realize that he's not happy doing that. I mean, maybe someone will be happy becoming a monk or working for a little candy shop, or becoming a surf instructor. None of those professions make a lot of money, and yet all the people who choose to do them seem a lot happier to me than the people who rely on money to satisfy them. Has anyone read The Alchemist? That book was so inspiring to me-- especially the idea of having a personal legend.

"Everyone has a treasure that is waiting just for him."
--The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
{Image from my personal collection. The ocean is my treasure.}

I think that sometimes people get so hung up on money and security that they don't realize that we don't really need all that much to get by. My family thinks I'm a little crazy for my thoughts, but I'm not saying that making money is a bad thing. It's not! We all need it to survive, but there has to be a balance between following your heart and following your head. If your only concern is making money and getting security, then what's the point? On the other hand, if you value your job and you feel satisfied in it from a personal perspective, then you'll not only be more fulfilled, but you'll probably be better at it. I recently read a really great interview with Sandra Bullock (of all people) who kind of stated my point. She said,

"I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions
of the choices we're supposed to make.
We waste so much time making decisions based on someone else's idea of our happiness – what will make you a good citizen or a good wife or daughter or actress.
Nobody says, 'Just be happy – go be a cobbler or go live with goats.' "
--Sandra Bullock, Interview with Glamour
{Images from In Style and Batman Begins-- Bruce Wayne followed his own path in life.}

Kids have it right. They just are. They can be just as happy with designer clothing as with a homemade t-shirt. I wish that more people would have that outlook in life. I would be so happy knowing that my siblings were happy in what they were doing, even if it wasn't a "successful job." I really want my brother to be happy. He's a good kid (well, he's not so much a kid anymore), and he deserves to be happy, but I think that he really needs to find himself first before he can know what will get him there. I think he needs to get back to that childhood mentality and then find his own personal legend.

What about you? Have you found what makes you happy?

What's the best movie you've seen lately?

noreply@blogger.com (Bibi) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:13:00 +0000

This weekend was awesome! Although it was supposed to be chilly, the weather in Tahoe was absolute perfection! My dad, brothers, and I went fishing on Saturday and I caught the biggest one! We also played tennis and went to dinner at our favorite restaurant. I also got some new snowboarding gear, which I can't wait to wear next season and overall had a great time with the fam.

This weekend, we also caught the new Disney/ Pixar movie: Up. Has anybody seen it? I was crying within the first five minutes. I've noticed that old men and children are a sure-fire combination to get me crying in movies-- even computer animated ones! I'm a bit of a sap... ok a lot of a sap... but it was definitely heart-warming and heart-breaking, as well as inspiring, and just so completely good. I highly recommend it to anybody-- young or old!

This was such a funny scene!

On another note, although it's definitely complete fantasy, it really resonated with me because one of my life-long dreams has been to visit South America. I won't give anything away, but let's just say that South America plays a big role in the film and so I have decided that instead of always talking about it, I'm going to do it. I'll post more on my exact plan later, but in the meantime, step 1 of my plan is to set a date. I'll update soon.

So, what about you? Have you seen any great movies lately? I'm really looking forward to watching The Proposal, which stars Sandra Bullock and one of my favorite leading men: Ryan Reynolds. Last night I got to watch the MTV Movie awards and they showed some clips from Harry Potter 6 and Transformers, both of which look phenomenal, and of course the trailer for New Moon which is definitely coming along quite nicely (didn't Rob Pattison look amazing?). So, needless to say, I'm definitely looking forward to watching quite a few flicks.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

noreply@blogger.com (Bibi) — Fri, 29 May 2009 19:29:00 +0000

My dad is 48 years old tomorrow and we're celebrating by going to Lake Tahoe this weekend!

Me and my daddy in Tahoe this winter!

I'm such a huge fan of Tahoe! My family goes at least 4 times a year (usually more) and whether it's snowing or sunny, we can always find something to do. The rest of the fam is already up there-- they left this morning-- and my brother and I are meeting up with them tomorrow morning. I can't wait!

Tahoe in the summer. Isn't it a beauty?

Tahoe in the winter is equally as gorgeous!

What are you all doing this weekend? Are you having a weekend to wind down, hitting a carnival, spending some time with the family, or something else?

Who's your style icon?

noreply@blogger.com (Bibi) — Thu, 28 May 2009 18:49:00 +0000

In case you couldn't guess the reference on my very first post, here's a hint, she's one half of one of the most famous (not to mention controversial) couples in the world. Angelina Jolie is not only my favorite actress, but she is also one of the people I look to when making style choices. She's is absolutely gorgeous and she's grown up quite a bit in the past few years choosing articles that are not only comfortable and versatile, but classy and elegant in a non-pretentious way.

Check out some of her pictures from her time as the face of St. John's. Aren't they gorgeous?

I love how mischievous she looks here, almost like she's been up to something.

I love this dress!

So pensive and moody.

This reminds me of a scene from Mr. and Mrs. Smith. I'm not sure why.

This is one of my favorites.

She looks so much like her character in The Changeling here with that hat.

I really want to take a picture like this.
It might be the reason why I own so many off-the-shoulder sweaters...

Reading after a long day of work.
I want to look that glamorous reading in bed!

Is it just me or does she look a lot like Julie Newmar here?

Now tell me, if you could dress like anyone, who would it be?

What gives meaning to your life?

noreply@blogger.com (Bibi) — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:11:00 +0000

Last night I worked on my novel for a couple hours and didn't even feel the time fly by. The wonderful thing about writing for me is that it never feels like work. Somehow, my fingers fly over my keyboard as I think and before I know it, I have several pages completed. Sometimes what I write makes absolutely no sense to anyone but me, and other times it comes out exactly the way I intended it to, but at the end of the day it's something that I created. When I write, everything is peaceful. My head no longer thinks in multiple directions, and I completely tune everything out until it's just me, my thoughts, and my computer. I've always felt this way when I read, but somehow I never realized just how much I enjoyed writing until recently. I've kept variations of a journal since I was about eight years old, and writing has always helped me get past some hard things in my life and yet I never considered it as my life path.

In this scene in The Notebook, Noah asks Allie what she does for her and she tells Noah that she paints because the world gets quiet when she has a paintbrush in her hand.
{Image from Fanpop}

When I was little, I would constantly change my mind about what I wanted to be when I grew up. One day I wanted to be a doctor, the next a marine biologist, the next a lawyer, and so on. This indecision was a constant hassle for me, especially when I reached college and I knew that I had to decide on something soon. Even when I'd finally chosen a major, I still felt drawn to all kinds of classes and so I became a dabbler in subjects like oceanography, history, design, Spanish literature, philosophy, even negotiation. However, I spent much of my college career writing for our newspaper and it was there that I learned so much about different writing styles, editing processes, and picking interesting subjects. My articles ranged in topics and even though I highly enjoyed journalism, I decided that it wasn't the career for me when I realized just how constricted so many journalists are in their path. I wanted to write about what I like and not be told what I should write, otherwise it was just a job.

Upon graduating, I took a job that I still have and that I love. Although my official job is to do marketing, the company is small enough that I have the flexibility to work in a lot of different areas-- one of which is writing for the blog. I pick my topics, I write, I post pretty pictures, and then it's done. However, I still felt as if I was missing something. Maybe this was because I still didn't know what my purpose in life was since I liked so many different things. I decided to really think about this seriously and so I thought about the things I liked, my passions, my interests, and I realized that my answer was staring me in the face all along. I liked to write. Even though I like different subjects and my interests range from the mundane to the intellectual, writing has always been a way that I've combined my likes. If one day I'm feeling passionately about patient rights, I can write about the subject and hopefully gain supporters for my cause. If the next day I want to talk about a great movie I just watched or a great concert I attended, then writing offers me a way to tell others about it too. That's why I started this blog and why I've decided to pursue my writing more seriously-- it gives my life some meaning and helps me make sense of all my thoughts.

So tell me, what is your life purpose or what gives meaning to your life? When does your world get quiet?

What do you think of patient rights?

noreply@blogger.com (Bibi) — Tue, 26 May 2009 23:22:00 +0000

I debated writing about this topic because I'm not sure how political I want to get on my blog, but I feel very strongly about this issue and so I need to say something.

How many of you have heard about the 13 year old Minnesota boy who refused chemo and later tried to run away with his mom? It's been all over the news, here's a link from Yahoo news. Basically this boy had Hodgkins Lymphoma. Doctors claim that he can be cured if he undergoes chemotherapy, but the boy and his parents would rather go with alternative treatments to the cancer. They are involved through some court proceedings where the judge was supposed to rule over what should happen to the boy-- the state was even threatening to remove him from his home. As a result, the boy and his mom fled the state, but have now returned because they threatened her arrest.

Now, I just read that the judge ruled that the boy should see an oncologist and follow the treatment that they deem is best and of course the parents are agreeing to this because they don't want their son to be sent to a foster home.

I don't know how many of you have every dealt with cancer before, but someone very close to me died from it some years ago. Many of us live with the notion that we have complete freedom over our bodies and can choose what is done to them. We also like to think that as long as we are loving parents, our kids will be granted those same rights and freedoms. However, that's not always the case. If you're affected by cancer, you're free to do what you will as long as it follows procedure-- mainly surgery, chemo, or radiation. That's it! There are so many other alternative treatments out there and yet so many people don't have access to them because 1) health insurance won't cover it, 2) doctors won't approve them for the procedure, or 3) judges and social workers threaten to take your kids away if you don't follow the rules. Other times, patients are told that as long as they undergo chemo and radiation first, then they can use their alternative treatment, but by then it's too late-- almost like adding sugar to a cake after it's been baked!

I know what you're thinking, and I'm not proposing that everybody be forced to undergo alternative treatments. Obviously they are called alternative treatments for a reason, but the reason why having a choice is so crucial is because it's your body or your child's body. Chemotherapy and radiation are horrible treatments that do terrible things to your body-- some of the so-called side-effects make the quality of life worse than it would be with the cancer alone and often times the patients still die from cancer that has mutated (and thus become stronger than the chemo) and spread to other parts of the body.

Look, I don't propose to be an expert on this topic, but I do know that everybody should have a choice. With so many options out there, why should a mother resort to running away just so that her child can get the treatment that she thinks is best for him? What good is it to do all this research on different cancer treatments and spend millions of dollars every year on it, when many of these treatments will never be used by the people who most desperately need them?

My next post will hopefully be about something happier, but tell me what are your thoughts on this case?

What are your goals for the summer?

noreply@blogger.com (Bibi) — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:00:00 +0000

I think that starting a blog the day before memorial day weekend might have been a mistake, since clearly I didn't blog for the entire weekend! I meant to, but somehow time caught up with me!

The weekend: Friday, I headed up to the city to hang out with my old college roomie. We had a great time that night, although Saturday we definitely slept in and then did nothing but lay around, drive, and eat. Ha! Actually we drove around SF, and then drove down to MV so that I could grab some stuff, and then drove down to Santa Cruz. The weather was a bit crummy, but I was so happy to be at the beach! Sunday, I came back to MV and spent the day with my mom, then yesterday I went on a cleaning and mini shopping binge. I completely organized my closet after almost a year of living at my apartment, and bought some new goodies for the living room. I absolutely LOVE home decorating! Oh, and I watched a Star Wars movie marathon on MTV. I'm kind of on love with Han Solo, not gonna lie!

How can you not love that face?

Overall, it was a BUSY weekend, but pretty much exactly what I needed. I had so much me-time, it was ridiculous, and now I feel ready to be social again!

Other stuff: One of the reasons that I started this blog is to keep me on track with some of the things I want to accomplish, so I'm including some of my goals, just to keep me honest!

Personal: I just bought the book Style Statement and so far am really enjoying it. It asks you a series of questions to come up with your own personal 2 word style statement that conveys the essence of you. I'd like to finish this within the next couple weeks. Can't wait to see what I am!

Wonderful book! Carrie & Danielle are geniuses!

Body: I finally got into a workout routine again! This was pretty difficult to start, but now that I've started, it's become habitual. I've been going between 3-4 days a week, and I lost about 10 pounds since I started. I'd like to step it up a bit. I'm already doing a kickboxing class once a week, and I'm thinking about buying a workout video like Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred (which I've heard wonders about) to do once a week as well. My goal is to lose another 10 pounds, which should get me to my weight when I started college. I really want to maintain that weight and also keep the healthy lifestyle I've adopted (minus my splurge this weekend), so even if it takes a few months to do this, I think it would be better than losing it all at once just to gain it again!

Will she whip me into shape?

Mind: I've always loved writing, and I've decided that I want to pursue this more. It's something that always makes me feel happier once I've done it, and so I think that having all these creative outlets might help. I'm already blogging for my company blog, and this one is for me to say the more personal stuff. I'm also working on a novel-- I have about 20 pages written, which is a pretty big accomplishment I think. I won't say too much more about this, but my goal is to write a little bit every day and hopefully finish by the end of the summer.

How great is this writing space? Image from Decor Amor

So, these are some of my big summer (and life) goals. Wish me luck and tell me, what are some of your goals for the summer?

Hello World!

noreply@blogger.com (Bibi) — Thu, 14 May 2009 23:53:00 +0000

I've decided to start blogging... publicly.

Why you ask?

Well, many times I feel like I have so much stuff going on in my head and writing is the only way that I can logically look at everything. I've been blogging for myself for years-- I guess they were more like online diaries-- but oftentimes, these stories are the same ones I end up telling everybody else anyway. Also, sometimes there are things I'm dying to share with someone, and what better way than through my own blog?

As for my blog name, it actually makes reference to two different things. The first is a reference to my favorite actress (guess who that is!), and the second is a reference to the fact that I like to live my life as if there were no borders, no rules, and no limitations. Sometimes that tends to be difficult, like when I want to take a month-long (or even week-long) vacation in South America, but I have no time off available from work, but I try to make the most of it.

So, a little bit about myself. I am a 23 year old recent college graduate. I've had a passport since I was only about a month old, and so I have definitely got the travel bug bad! I'm a huge book nerd (which shouldn't come as a shock if I told you where I went to college) and one of my favorite places in the world is the beach-- anywhere.

Me enjoying the beach. :)

I'm very social and can usually be found with a smile on my face, but I love having plenty of alone-time to recharge my batteries. I love food and especially baking yummy things. I also adore my family and can't go too long without seeing them. I also really enjoy movies-- particularly comedies of the Old School/ Wedding Crashers variety and you can usually find me quoting obscure movie lines from said movies (which usually leads to me ending up in fits of giggles to the extreme confusion of my more mature friends). So, that's me in a nutshell! I'm looking forward to posting much more later!

In the meantime, tell me a little about yourself!