I watched ‘Despicable Me’ and enjoyed it. This was my favourite scene from the movie with Agnes squealing over a fluffy unicorn:

The second best scene was when he was having a tea party with the girls:

I’ve been going to yoga pretty regularly and feeling a lot better.

Usually, this is where I’m at:

This is me now:

A membership in the end, is totally worth it.

1. Makes me want to use it because I paid for it
2. Different teachers really put you through different workouts
3. I have a competitive streak to finish the class no matter how I feel
4. I always feel better afterwards

Moving on…

It’s macabre, but I found this hilarious…especially since I LOVE eating sushi.

Via

And here is some smart thinking when you run out of beer:

Or the reason why you don’t let men answer advice columns:

Hope your week went well

First, a little beauty…

EXPLODING FLOWERS BY QI WEI

Check out these beautiful Exploded Flowers exhibition Qi Wei.

Here are my four favourites but there are many more on her page!

I HAVEN’T BEEN BUYING MUCH LATELY

Proud? Or disappointed?

I haven’t purchased any clothes, or things. The most frivolous I got, was a set of 5 chopsticks for $3 (made in Japan, not China) from Pearl River Mart.

Otherwise, I repurchased a staple toiletry: Korres White Tea Fluid Gel Cleanser for $21 (on my 4th bottle now!). I’m also pleased that they finally fixed the bottle. The last design exploded all over my fingers when I tried to squeeze out the cleanser, and I was not a happy camper.

Other things I bought:

• Stamps (yawn)
• Medication for my eczema (yawn!)
• Eyedrops
• Mixing bowls (set of 3)

And for frivolous food, macarons (YUMMMMMO!!!!)!!

The Laduree NYC ($2.70 each) ones were MUCH tastier than in Paris, but not as good as the Bar Boulud macarons ($2.50 each).

Laduree NYC

864 Madison Avenue  New York, NY 10021
(646) 558-3157

Bar Boulud

1900 Broadway  New York, NY 10023
(212) 595-0303

IN OTHER NEWS, I GOT A CREDIT CARD!

Love me some TD Bank. I’m having a newfound respect for them.

They approved me for a credit card. No prepaid strings attached and I am thrilled beyond belief.

FINALLY. A U.S. CREDIT CARD!!!!!!!!!

What’s been happening on your end?

“Money is a language for translating the work of the farmer into the work of the barber, doctor, engineer, or plumber . . . Money is the store of other people’s time and effort.”

- Marshall McLuhan

Very true.

RACKING UP THOSE MILES & POINTS

My flights are starting to rack up. I’m looking at about 10,000 miles a month so far. I hope I’ll reach some sort of status soon!

Same with hotel points. I’m saving up as much as possible for my upcoming vacation — I’d ideally like to pay for nothing for this trip.

WORKING IN ONE CITY OR ANOTHER IS THE SAME

Whether I am in NYC or when I travel to other cities for work, I am on the same schedule, regardless of where I am.

• Wake up.
• Go to work.
• Work late.
• Get out late.
• Hunt down some dinner.
• Sleep.

People think I have time to be a tourist at night, but you are damn tired and you have to get up early the next day, so you hunt down some moisturizer if you ran out and you eat your dinner in your hotel room.

It’s only fun if you get to stay the weekend and if you’re in a great city, but many companies won’t pay for that.

TRYING TO LOWER EXPENSES

Even with BF paying half, my rent is $1500/month.

I feel sick.

I only feel better about the fact that for most of the week, I don’t pay for my food, so at least I’m saving there…. even if I am paying for a room in another city in the meantime.

I need to get this down ASAP, but being in a new country is hard at the start.

Still working on getting that U.S. credit card.

I am also pondering NOT buying that leather jacket, just because it’s a really, REALLY big chunk of change ($600~), and it’s not a necessity. Plus it adds bulk to my wardrobe/suitcases.

MADE IT TO GOLD LEVEL FOR STARBUCKS

A very nice customer service rep upgraded me to Gold Level Starbucks.

Now every 15 drinks I buy, I get a free one. Sweet!

PARING DOWN EVEN MORE ON MY STUFF

I’ve started becoming a lot more ruthless in getting rid of things.

Anything is subject to being scrutinized to be downsized when I come across it.

I got rid of another half a carryon’s worth of stuff. I still feel like I have too much.

I need more time on these weekends to go through my bags, over and over again until they get smaller.

WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW

HELL YES.

MY OFFICE IN THE SKY

(Shot I took with my iPhone using the $0.99 Camera+ app)

MY OFFICE IN THE HOTEL

I came, I scanned, I shredded.

• Fujitsu ScanSnap S1100 mobile scanner (it is AWESOME)
• Baggallini Traveling Hair Iron Case to hold it (fits perfectly, cord goes in the back pocket)
• Shredding scissors

MEGA LOTTERY CRAZE

My parents phoned me from Canada and sent me numerous emails begging me to buy them tickets in the U.S. for this Megamillions lottery craze.

Biggest in history, apparently.

At any rate, what would anyone do with all that money? Seriously!