5 Things that Inspired Me this Week

One of my goals is to start sharing more of myself with all of you. That being said, one way I plan on doing this is by sharing, every couple weeks, 5 things that have inspired me during the week!

It’s so easy to rush through the day trying to get all your work done and not take the time to be present and find inspiration in even the smallest things.

Here’s what inspired me this week:

1 – I started the year with a family dinner. We do this every year on January 1st and I love it. A delicious turkey dinner with all my favorites; stuffing, cranberry sauce, creamy mashed potatoes and gravy. It’s not really about the turkey for me! GIVE ME the cranberry sauce and stuffing please!!! We always bring out the good wine and it’s kind of become my mission to impress one of my family friends with my selection as he is quite the wine connoisseur. One of my favorites is Burrowing Owl Merlot. It’s a great atmosphere with lots of activity going on; kids running around, the dog running from person to person, kitchen full of action and so many great conversations!

I tried to help in the kitchen this time. I’ve mentioned it before but just a reminder – I SUCK at cooking, but I can bake. I always burn my food. HAHA I don’t know why… it just happens that way. I was given the easiest of tasks – make the stuffing. I was so hopeful…it turned out yummy, but I still burned the bottom of the pot.

We ended the night with Heads Up for the kiddos. I love games – any type. I get super competitive so it’s a big struggle to suppress my instincts to take it seriously. (A bit more info about me: even my co-workers have refused to play games with me because of my competitiveness HAHA)

Picture below is of me (stuffed after 4 helpings) getting cuddles with Bruno – the best fluff ball to cuddle.

Time with family and friends really help you unwind and reset. Finding the right balance between work and social life can be hard when you have so much you want to get done, but it’s so important to make that time. Your energy levels will be restored, you will happier and well rested which in turn will help you accomplish everything you need to do work wise. This gave me the boost I needed to dive into the tasks for the week.

2 – I am a huge fan of Starbucks. I love all their drinks, I love their mugs and I love their rice crispy squares or dark chocolate peanut butter cups. This was a nice little break to sit down and have a Teavana® London Fog Tea Latte (with almond milk) and treat. Earl grey tea is my all-time favorite, I love the taste of bergamot. Again, take the time to enjoy the little things.

3 – Food is the way to my heart. I am perfectly happy with a healthy salad and typically prefer to order this or salmon when out at a restaurant. I like feeling good after I eat, and after all the unhealthy food I stuffed myself with over the last few weeks, I was craving veggies. It was so good to finally get some greens and grilled chicken in me! This one was from Browns Social House and is called Ancient Grain & Kale.

4 – No matter what I try to cut out of my diet – chocolate will never be one that I can or will live without. It’s also one of the items I include in my Spotlight Feature gifts. I love finding new flavours to try and the moment I saw this at Mink Chocolates I had to buy it. I absolutely love the hint of rosemary. It’s unique and maybe not for everyone, but it has become one of my favorites. It reminds me of my trip to Whistler last summer where I stopped by purebread as I was recommended a cookie to try by a friend. It’s called their Adult cookie and has rosemary in it – it was DELISH!!! I love finding new things to give as a Thank You that I hope my vendors will enjoy just as much as I do. It always feels good to give.

 5 – And lastly, a very special purchase I had been waiting to make since I started REVUE BLANC. My phone takes “good enough” pictures and works well for my Spotlight Feature videos, but the more interviews I am taking on the more I realized showing up with my phone was just not the image I was wanting to portray any longer. I wasn’t sure at the beginning what REVUE BLANC was going to turn into, I was wanting to finally start it as it was a goal for quite a few years but really I just wanted a creative outlet. 8 months later, and I am in love with it, so it is no longer just a hobby and is now something I plan to take very seriously.

Therefore, the proper equipment is required and will enable me to further my creativity. I cannot wait to learn how to use this fancy Nikon D5600 camera! It took a lot of research to figure out which brand and model was the best fit, as I had very specific requirements. I was fortunate enough to nab the last one Kerrisdale Camera had in stock before the holidays. BTW, the staff at Kerrisdale Camera are awesome! So knowledgeable and helpful without pushing or making me feel like I had no clue about cameras (which I didn’t). I highly recommend them.

I have so many upcoming exciting projects that I am looking forward to now that I have my new camera!

That’s a little glimpse into my life and what is inspiring me. What inspired you lately? Would love to hear about it.