New Things 2015

I decided to chronicle each day of 2015. Cliché, I know, but scroll down to see why 😉

[a-mandi-a-blog]

Banana, oats, vegan chocolate chips, and agave. Hot damn!!!! #vegancookies #happybelly

[a-mandi-a-blog]

01/11/2015: Went to a Goodbye Dinner and Dancing

So my friend Pam, who is an amazingly talented dancer/artist got a contract to do aerials/dance on a cruise and she'll be gone for the next 8months!!! Yay! But sad for those of us here...in ...Vegas. Lol! Anyhow, I went to Her dinner at Brio and then went to Blue Martini where it was neo soul night and there was a more...mature crowd. But I totally have to backtrack because the FUNNIEST thing happened on the way there! I wanted to pick up a gift for Pam so I stopped at a store and picked up her gift and walked to the store next door to pick up a gift bag. Well, I was trying to be cute in heels, even though it had been raining all damn day. So I walk into the second store and not 5 feet in do I begin to completely slip and slide in these heels across the fucking floor. Oh no, I didn't fall. I looked like a child taking her first ice skating lesson! My arms and heavy ass purse on one of them flailing about trying not to fall or knock anything over while keeping my balance. Holy shit, I'm crying laughing as I'm writing this!!! It's hilarious every time I think about it, because I'm hoping that if the surveillance video does go viral that they have the decency to blur out my face! It was seriously that funny. I didn't fall but I looked crazy as hell, since the guy in the line touched my shoulder and with a smirk asked if I was okay. I was trying not to laugh but I totally smiled back and said I was good. So anyhow, I get what I need and go to Brio. I, for the first time, had the quinoa asparagus salad. It was pretty freaking good. I do have to admit I sometimes feel guilty about not trying to have more vegan choices when I go out, but I only cook vegan at home and I feel like there are so many things as far as food I haven't tried before that I want to try, and this is all over the world, not just America. But the dish was good. And to top it off Pam's friend Aaron made her a chocolate cake with red wine in it (beautifully amazing and sexy). After dinner we went to Blue Martini where the band wasn't bad, but the DJ played the best songs of the 90's and early 2000's and I found myself sipping a glass of a red blend as I belted out damn near every lyric of every song played. So fun, and new!!! Quinoa and asparagus salad, Red wine chocolate cake, and neo soul night out!

[a-mandi-a-blog]

01/07/15-01/10/15: Quite a bit

Okay, so I’m being a little lazy putting 4 days together but guess what: my posts so I don’t care :) okay so 1/7/15 wasn’t very exciting. I’m not sure I did read some cool articles in the latest issue of psychology today. One about laughter and how humans sound more like our ape ancestors than humans when we find something genuinely funny. I thought that was pretty accurate because when I’ve laughed during a business meeting it was to be courteous and more of a “haha”. When I watch Key and Peele, it’s loud, and I’ll sometimes check to see if the windows are open because even though I live in a house, I’m afraid my neighbors would hear me cracking the hell up.

1/8/15: okay so this day was very cool in fact. I took a tour of Zappos, if you haven’t you totally should, and then ate at a downtown sushi spot. Bocho Sushi I think… Anyhow, I had a few aha moments during the tour. I became a little more excited about moving forward and starting a business. It was inspiring to see a multi million dollar company operating the way all workplaces should. One particular thing that stuck out was how Tony Hsieh stated that they hire people based on whether they will fit into the culture. So many places don’t do that. And they absolutely should; I’ve said it before that people can learn tasks easily, but they can’t (not in a workplace where the goal is task completion so there is pressure to complete the tasks assigned) learn personality. People are who they are, adults at least. And that’s if they aren’t into lifelong growth and improvement. There’s so much more I got from the tour but that’s just a whole damn book in itself; it’s called Delivering Happiness and Tony Hsieh wrote it!

01/09/15:

wow, I'm a little behind :) okay so on this day, I was pretty chill. I think because I knew I'd be a busy bee on Saturday and then Sunday. I went to the movies, by myself since it was 11 am and my friends are at work or going to sleep from working. I saw Mockingjay part 1 and I enjoyed it. At times I'm sad I didn't see the book, but I'm glad also because I totally didn't see the ending coming. I did start reading a new book, one of the two that I picked up from Zappos after the tour. They have an awesome booklist that they recommend their employees read and I got a copy of the list but chose to purchase 2 from there; the profits from the purchases go to a local Vegas charity that Zappos sponsors. I believe they have a new one each month, or quarter I don't recall. But the book I started is Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath. It's a good read so far and as someone preparing to start a business, I think it's exactly what I need to engage in.

01/10/15:

so I didn't do anything "new", but I did do something I needed: nothing. Outside of getting up to take a shower around noon and picking up some grub later in the day, I really didn't do anything too productive. I watched Twilight movies and then worked on finding more items to add on to my vision board. Tomorrow I'll be doing fun stuff, so that should be more interesting :)

[a-mandi-a-blog]

01/06/15: finished the board for my vision board

Haha! Okay, so my vision board is definitely started but it's got a long way to go. I guess I see it as a work in progress as I myself am also. But yesterday (because I'm posting a day late) I completed the background on the cork board I'm using as my vision board. It wasn't much, I used decorative paper to line the back of the cork board. That's right, the actual cork board is still intact on the other side. I think the original idea was that the brown paper lining on the back would be good enough to collage over. I obviously changed my mind :) I'll take pictures of my board as it goes along, but I won't post them until it looks pretty :) so that was my new thing yesterday!

[a-mandi-a-blog]

01/05/15: Got up Early for coffee with a friend

Okay, so this isn't really a new thing. I have gotten up early to meet up with friends for breakfast and what not, but I had never done it while being laid off. Partly because I've never been laid off, and I have to say I'm not too disappointed about the whole thing. It is certainly part of the reason I know I need to cherish every moment and do what makes me happy; playing with kids, talking/listening to people, doing the little things that make me happy. And starting a business that will allow me to do all of those things. Pretty stoked about it. But this was one of the things I talked about with my friend Coreen, and she's so amazing that she listened and gave feedback. And of course we discussed other things, and that's what I absolutely love about her! We can talk about so many things and go back and forth from subject to subject and it flows and we catch up on life and it's just fulfilling. I love that I'm at a point in my life where I truly recognize and fully value real, honest, fulfilling friendships. I have some of the most amazing and brilliant people around me. I'm pretty damn picky so I wouldn't have it any other way, but even being picky, I still got lucky with the wonderful humans who made it into my path. As much as I miss the Bay Area sometimes, I'm glad I got to meet my amazing Vegas family :)

[a-mandi-a-blog]

[a-mandi-a-blog]

01/04/15: joined Tinder and ate at Park on Fremont

Okay so I’m a little excited because I did 2 new things today! Woohoo! First, I went with my friend Joy to a very cool bar/restaurant called Park on Fremont. I loved the atmosphere; it was like a hipster/lodge style (you’d have to see it and I didn’t take pics). Also we had an amazing server named Erica. She was totally upbeat, funny, and still managed to be a phenomenal server. She gave us some advice which was perfect for the conversation we were having before she walked over. She said to make sure that we have sex every week because it keeps us young and our skin glowing. But what I really love that she said (I loved the sex advice btw) was that our experiences are worth more than money. True statement and nothing new to me, but it’s something I don’t think I hear enough. I need to say this everyday as soon as I open my eyes. In addition to the advice and phenomenal service, the food was fucking amazing to say the least. I had I think the San Diego burger. I’m not a burger person, but DAYUM! I think that and the sweet potato tater tots with hot mustard , yes sweet potato tater tots, were the sexiest thing I’ve had in a long time. So good. I forgot to take a picture before I devoured so I figured it would be amusing to take a picture of what was left. There are also 2 Mac and cheese balls, also fucking amazing, and what was left of my friends chicken and waffle sandwich in the background. Now while at the restaurant, Erica said I should try Tinder because she met her boyfriend on it. I was hesitant because it connects to Facebook and I didn’t want everyone to know I was on there. She assured me that it doesn’t post without my permission and that I should join. I then opened my phone and the app, and she got me all setup. She also provided some stellar commentary and opinions about some of the people “he looks like he does drugs”, “oh hell no he’s in the pic with 9 other girls”, and “well are you into preppy white guys?”. Love her. So basically, today was awesome and this was all before 1pm. My two new things for the day. I’m really loving celebrating each day. I find that I don’t even really have to try to find new things, I just have to recognize them.

[a-mandi-a-blog]

My actual outfit I created. The first of many I'm sure as I'm pretty much loving the app!

[a-mandi-a-blog]

01/03/15: Created an Outfit on Polyvore

Okay, so again I'm totally not the social media/app using person. But I was motivated to, uh, improve my fashion styles to more than jeans and layered shirts. Yeah, late I know, but better late than never right??? Anyhow, I was on Polyvore, which I absolutely love right now, and discovered I could create outfits/look. Not a fashionista so not too sure of what the correct term is. But I was sooooo excited about it. Not just that I found a fashion app I'm having fun with, but that again I did something new and fun! I never thought I could enjoy playing virtual dress up. I can't believe I actually just typed that. But it's true.

[a-mandi-a-blog]

New year, new outlook

I was texting a friend who asked me why I didn't go out or do anything to welcome the new year. I explained that to me it wasn't that big of a deal, it was just another day. Then he said "why celebrate anything if everyday is just another day?" And he was absolutely right. So, instead of everyday being just another day, everyday I'm going to do something new. And I'm going to post it, no matter how big or small, because everyday should be celebrated! And since I'm starting a day late, I'll post something new everyday through January 1, 2016. Who knows, maybe I'll enjoy this and do it forever :) my something new today is starting this page/blog. Each day will post a pic, brief (or not so brief) explanation of my something new. I'm pretty bad with following through on social media so this should keep me engaged. And my pic for today, is my new profile pic. Yay!!! Happy new year!!!