Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Balance

How do you find balance between being knowledgeable and not coming across as arrogant. Or how do you open up without revealing too much. How can you be honest and truthful without being hurtful and mean.
I find that there are people who know what to say and do in every situation. It's like they are very wise, proper humans. And then there are people like me who panic and not know what to say or do on the spot, but come up with great solutions hours or days after the incident. 

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Conditions

I had worked at 6 different places so far. I was a student assistant, a coffee barista/waiter, a teller, a marketing assistant, a finance intern, and a financial analyst. Different companies, different teams, different roles.
For me, work places come in 2 categories. The first one is where your work is your family. You know most of the coworkers, you have good friends at work and you feel very comfortable and easy at work. I was lucky to experience that kind of environment. You get to find people who genuinely  care about you and make your work so much more enjoyable. You get to know people and their problems and share yours in return. You feel appreciated and supported there.
The second type is where you feel out of place. The company is nice and you get along with your colleagues, but there is something missing. You don't share much about yourself, because when you do people seem to misunderstand you and not care. However, the same people think that you should care about them and over-share a little bit too much. I call such workplaces- money fields, because I am there only for a salary. It is unfortunate that this happens. May be there is a disconnect between people's personalities and work environment.

It makes me appreciate a job where I feel like I am in a right place. Good supportive people at work make me overlook a small salary or long crazy hours. I still have a good feeling when I get home, and I am looking forward to go back to my office the next day.

I am starting a new life right now, and I am ready to take up any kind of work circumstances. However, I hope I will find my match in a long run. Good thing is- I know what to look for :)

update: my opinion has changed since then. I think you  just have different people at every job. There are mean, egoistical types and nice, warm people at every job place.  Ah, the wisdoms of experience.. 

Friday, March 16, 2012

Surprise

One time, about 10 years ago, I found an envelop with great drawings. The envelop was in one of those heavy, old, beginning-to-tear apart albums. I was even more surprised when my mom told me it was hers. My mom could draw some badass pictures, with colored pencils. There was Mowgli, running with a torch, there was Sheherazade dressed in beautiful Arabic dress.
I could never imagine that my mom could draw like that. I knew she used to play guitar and sing and was very popular in college, where guys would ask her to teach them guitar. I knew she could make play dough roses, stick them on naked branches and put them in vases as decorations. 
But it was hard to see that romantic, dreamy girl who was looking at me through those drawings in my Mom. Besides, she has a terrible handwriting that -fortunately for me-  was inherited by my brother. 
I have my dad's beautiful, neat handwriting, ability to write in different beautiful styles and absolute lack of drawing skills. 

And now, decades later, that drawing skill came back to surface. My brother draws wonderfully in a drawing app on iPhone. He, with his big fingers, tracing correct smooth lines on a relatively small surface of iPhone 4S. He makes very few mistakes and I can almost see how he thinks. I love it.


Thursday, March 1, 2012

March 1, 2012

I know, I am so creative with the titles of my entries...

So, since I can't jump around burning calories now- it's time to evaluate my consumption of "evil" sweets.
I still want cakes and cupcakes and pastry, but I'll try and restrain myself. Instead, I will eat this

Mango avocado parfait

Marina, from Raw in Russian has a wonderful site with beautiful pictures and recipes. So far I have tried only this one and it was great. Very tasty.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

February 29, 2012

After looking back at  this post about flat belly, I decided to post an update. I managed to get a flat belly. I am currently in the best shape of my life since I was 18. And I eat everything I want.
My secret is - running. I started a program to increase the mileage, and I've been running about 10-13 miles a week. It's a lot for me.

However, I didn't expect to get my foot so injured that it would hurt to walk, not to mention run.

Today the pain was so strong, I had to slow down my pace. When I walk, I step on the outside of my foot, which is hurting now too. After consulting my doctor, the Internet, I know it is metatarsalgia. I know exactly how and when I got it. It was last year, from my stupid high-heel boots. They were the only presentable winter footwear that I could wear to work. It took me several months to heal that pain. And it took one day of wearing heels a month ago to bring the pain back.
This time I ignored the pain and kept to my weekly running routine. Until today. After the articles and videos my "doctor' showed me, I decided to give my feet some rest.
I don't want the pain to get worse and with the increased mileage and all.... it's just better to wait a little.
I do want to start walking normally again, not thinking how to angle my foot every time I make a step.
Big sigh......

I am still going to work on elliptical machines

P.S. Today managed to be different

Tale

I need to buy this print when I get back to the States. It's so magical and makes me feel peaceful, dreamy, happy :)
 More here thefiligree


Mermaid & Seahorse - 7x7 Fine Art PRINT - Steampunk Fairy Tale Illustration
zoom

Saturday, February 25, 2012

More pillows

This time,  it's something of an inspiration. I look at these beautiful pillows and I want to try make them myself (if I could only sew)
They look so fun, modern, effortless, that I just want to cuddle them.
















I found them at this beautiful store sukanart, that is based in Turkey.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Home decor

The pain of decorating any space is getting here. We have a dark heavy leather couch that needs some color. We already have bright red and orange pillows and throws on it, but I am itching to buy more. I also want to dress our bed and make it look hotel-like polished, but with colors. And what will bring those colors?- pillows of course.
I've found these beautiful pillows on etsy from StillLifeHome. They would go great with shades of blue we already have in our bedroom and bright colors of the living room:






















Saturday, February 11, 2012

Funny sexy quotes




"You know 'that look' women get when they want sex? Me neither" Steve Martin

"Having sex is like playing bridge. If you don't have a good partner, you' better have a good hand" Woody Allen

"My girlfriend always laughs during sex - no matter what she is reading" Steve Jobs

"Women need a reason to have sex. Men just need a place" Billy Crystal

"See, the problem is that God gives men a brain and a penis, and only enough blood to run one at a time" Robin Williams




Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Aging

I moved several times last year- different continents, climates, time zones. It was interesting to see how my body, hair and skin reacted to the changes. My face especially would either glow with grease or dry out and show all wrinkles I had. Airplanes, travel and stress- all influence my skin in a bad way, leaving marks around my eyes and mouth. I, naturally, started to look for something to protect my skin. I found out that nothing works as well as water. I drink lots of water and the skin on my face stays plump/tight. Another thing I noticed, is that when I drink 8 or more glasses of water a day, I feel happier. On the days I felt grumpy, I didn't drink much liquids. May be there is another link I am missing, but for now water is my best friend. And living in a cold climate I make some hot tasty tea and drink away