Girls Weekend

This is a topic which has been popping on the blogs I follow, which kind of tells me something: great minds think alike! but seriously, maybe it was the timing, but it seems like girls all over the blogosphere were hanging out with their besties at the same time. I know I was.



When I was studying a master in England, one of my best friends was doing the same in Spain. It was established quite early that at some point we’d visit each other. Not only did that happen but also a couple of our (mutual) best friends decided to tag along, and so began our almost two week European adventure around London, Paris and Madrid (which I didn’t get to go to since I was on #thesismode).

Now this was five years ago, and ever since then so much has changed in all of our lives. Basically the four of us live in different states now and even though three of us were living in the same place for almost three years, we rarely saw each other, other than during long breaks like Christmas or Spring, and not even where we lived, but where we are from! 

But this year, one of them is getting married!*, and we decided such occasion called for a reunion! So we each packed our things and met in Mexico City for a girls weekend.

We met for lunch in Polanquito before heading to the theater to see ‘The Lion King’ and headed to a club afterwards in a sort of ‘bachelorette party’ kind of way. We even brought props! (apparently I'm the bride's chic friend) The next day we met again for a ‘bring me back to life’ lunch and then headed over to Mercado Roma for desert (carajillos and churros). The reunion was short but sweet and it gave us all a chance to catch up over drinks and food, which in my opinion is the very best way to catch up with girlfriends. 

Moreover, the reunion made me think about friendships. They evolve with time and it takes work to keep them alive. Whether you are married/in a committed relationship, living at home/away, have a time consuming job or you're simply too busy for whatever reason, it is important to take the time to see friends. You don't have to get away for the weekend or go on a week long adventure to a foreign country, I say as long as you got your girls, you're covered. Get a coffee or better yet, a cocktail. Call each other. Reach out. Even if you haven't seen each other in a long time, once you are together, it'll be as though as no time ever passed.

Now go and call your girlfriends ;)

G.

*The wedding already happened and it was EPIC.

A Healthier Lifestyle

I've been wanting to write this post for a year. Only back then, (and actually now again) other people* started posting about this same topic and I didn't want to be another one. Now I'm actually glad I waited because this post is nothing like it would have been last year. And actually, it is nothing like these other people's posts. Anyway...

Last year, just around this same time, I kept telling A how I wasn’t comfortable in my own skin. I was about to turn 30 and I wanted to feel great about it, rather than self conscious as I was feeling. This was mostly due to the fact that I had put on a lot of weight, more than I had ever before, and I wasn’t happy about it. My clothes didn’t fit anymore and I looked at myself in the mirror and didn’t recognize myself anymore.

My life is a constant struggle between my love for food and not wanting to get fat (originally in spanish)

I have struggled with weight for my whole life. It started when I was about to enter secondary school and never stopped. There have been times when I’ve been pretty content with my general appearance, although some people believed I wasn’t healthy at those times. But mostly I oscillate around what is supposed to be a healthy weight for my height and complexion.

However, since I moved to Puebla, where you basically can’t walk anywhere (unlike in Mexico City), my life has become way more sedentary with hardly any physical activity other than occasionally walking to a bus stop or going up and down the stairs. Moreover, since A and I are no longer paying two rents and traveling back and forth to see each other, we have more resources + time to spend together, so we choose to go out and eat.

Just your typical breakfast order at Le Pain Quotidien: pastries and chilaquiles

We love food and trying different places. We did that when I lived in Mexico City, but because he lived in Puebla, we could only do it maybe twice a month. But with me here, we can go out any night we want, and we did for a long time, sometimes more than twice a week. And no, we never skipped desert.

Naturally, after a few months this came to show and it came to a point where I had to do something  about it (i.e. constantly complain to A about how fat I was). And thus, being the supportive sport he is, A sought out a nutritionist for us to see. 

We have been seeing this doctor for the past year and we have yet (each) to reach our goals, but we are taking it easy. Being on a diet is hard. It requires a lot of self control and will, which are things we sometimes lack. It becomes specially harder when there’s a special occasion (think weddings, birthdays, christmas…) or we travel (whether is home to Veracruz or Mexico City for a weekend), because it messes up our whole routine.

That said, our diet is not really hard at all. Because we are trying to lose fat, we aren’t allowed certain foods which would be obvious, but other than that, I think the hardest part is actually eating so much at all times. Prepping 5 different meals a day is also kind of a drag and definitely time consuming, but one good thing about it all is that we are spending more time together (in the kitchen) and we are learning new recipes/trying new things which we will keep eating long after we reach our goals.

May 2015, when we had just started seeing the nutritionist / September 2015, 4 months and many kilos later

Eating healthier has brought a lot of good things for us. Not only the fact that we have lost weight and actually feel lighter, but also in terms of the functions of our bodies. Like after not eating certain things for a while and then eating them again, realizing they made my stomach upset or caused certain reactions. I would not have noticed these things otherwise, and now I know which things I should avoid.

Breakfast for dinner at IHOP = bad choice but oh so good!

Going through this experience has taught me a lot about food, but also about me and my (bad) eating habits. It seems like I’ve been eating wrong my entire life. Not only in terms of choices (two sunny side up eggs, sausage, bacon, hash brown and a side of chocolate chip pancakes + chocolate milkshake for dinner, thank you) but also in terms of quantities (I should eat 1 hot dog/quesadilla + a bowl of fruit as opposed to 2 of the same). It has also become obvious that I use food as a reward for achieving something but also as a consolation prize when otherwise, which is totally wrong (#sorrynotsorry) but seriously though, the biggest lesson has been how it is all about balance.

I still might need a guide after I’m done with the regime, but I’ve learned that our bodies need all types of food groups to function properly (even fats and carbs) and it’s really all about how you chose to combine these in order to have a balanced diet.

This pretty much describes it!

Although It seems like we’ve been on a diet forever, we haven’t really been on a diet the whole time. We are pretty flexible with it. Like if we are home for the weekend, I’m not skipping the mandatory breakfast at La Parroquia with my dad or if we go to Mexico City, there’s no way in hell I’m having a fruit smoothie over pizza at Cancino. Which is basically why we haven’t reached our goals. I don’t want to feel guilty for eating something I’m craving, I’ve done that before and it’s not good and gets you nowhere. I like to think that we are not really ‘on a diet’, but just trying a healthier lifestyle, with occasional slips ;)

G.

*You can read those other posts I was talking about here, here, here and here.

Closing Time

A and I have known each other for almost 8 years, dated for almost 6 and lived together for over a year. Now, since exactly about one month, we have also been business partners.

After what seemed like forever, I worked at an office building architectural models, and although I loved it to death, it wasn't loving me back as much. I've said this already, the hours were (extremely) long and the pay wasn't worth all the 'complications', like getting into constant fights with A over not being home at decent hours, having my mom worried all the time that I was leaving the office at 3 in the morning on a regular basis, and many, many more.

So... I quit. 

It wasn't as deliberate as that. I had thought about it for a long time, but because I wasn't certain of my financial situation, I had been postponing it. Just when it seemed like it was all going to work out for the best, I got bad news, and so I postponed it again. And then the greatest thing happened.

A asked me to officially join him in business!!!

I've also mentioned before that A has been working on independent projects for a long time now, alternating his personal work with his other work. And fortunately, it has got to a point where projects are so big (and so many) that he can't continue to do it alone. So here I come.

For the last month, I've been working from home, alternating between my classes at uni and our work. We don't see the point in renting out office space since we have a spare bedroom, and so we have make it comfortable enough so that we both can work there when necessary, or in my case, all the time. It's not much so far, but it is what we need and we are really happy about how it is turning out.

I look forward to transform this space into the studio of my dreams (sorry, our dreams) and to share this process as we go here on the blog.

Quitting my job was the best decision I've made in the longest time. Nothing beats being the owner of my time, creating my schedule and working with my best friend in something we are both passionate about and most importantly is ours and is getting us towards where we want to go. Getting to go out to dinner or coffee dates mid week, doesn't suck either :)

So there it is. I can officially check that goal off my list.

G.

* Image via here.

Guilty Pleasures: Music Edition

Since I work in a very noisy environment to say the least, it is often that I find myself wearing earphones. I always find it hard to decide what to listen though, in order not to get it burnt out. I've been one to listen to the same artist/album/song so much I end up hating it, so I try and diversify the music I listen to from time to time.

Long nights at work require certain concentration which can be hard to attain after 15 hours in the office, and so, occassionally I'll need to listen to music that will help keep me awake, which means no Coldplay or the Roswell Soundtrack.

Just the other night I had this song by The Ataris stuck in my head, which gave me the idea to crank up all the songs I once praised, songs not a lot of people know (at least not the people I know), songs I love. The genre? Punk Rock.

I might not strike you as the type of person (if there is even a type) which would listen to this type of music. Whenever people ask me what kind of music I like, I don't exactly stand proudly acknowledging this. Partly, because it's not something I listen to anymore, and partly because I think it's a little awkward.

However, I spent that Saturday night mouthing the words to 'Responsibility' and 'My friends over you' and even though I was extremely tired and frustrated after not getting my pieces right, I felt happy. Music kinda does that, doesn't it? I mean, it can change a mood, it can bring back memories, and for a while there, I was back in high school, dressing up (or attempting to) like Avril Lavigne and going to see my friends' bands play at clubs.

Although I guess there's no wrong age for listening to a certain type of music, it is a fact that as everything else in life, we change and our tastes evolve as we grow up. And although these days it is more likely that you will find me listening to Jason Mraz or Gavin Degraw, still this doesn't mean I don't enjoy singing out loud to 'Pretty Fly' or 'I'm just a kid', no matter how old I get. 

Well I guess this is growing up*
What's your musical guilty pleasure?

g.

*These are lyrics to a Blink 182 song (my favorite band growing up).
*PS. Here´s a playlist where you can listen to my musical guilty pleasures (Punk-Rock edition).
*Image via here.

2016 Goals

I don't know what it is, but every time I'm about to leave for a holiday at my hometown, I think I'm gonna get so much work done, as in, writing for the blog, of course. However, from the time I step in my childhood home, I become useless. Every. Single. Time.

One of the things I wanted to write about was a recap of the past year. But since that didn't happen and it's now 2016, I figured it was more appropriate to focus on the present/future. So here it is, my list of goals for the new year.

Call more / Text less.

I remember the days when I'd talk on the phone for hours. But those were also the days before internet, young adult relationships and full time jobs. Now I'm lucky if I get to actually talk to my friends on the phone twice a year (on birthdays). Since we all have smart phones these days, being apart is made easier by apps like whatsapp, software like Skype or even social networks like Facebook or Instagram, which all allow us to be in constant communication with loved ones. Although nothing compares to actually seeing each other and spending quality time together (like we did on the holidays), talking on the phone allows for a closer kind of interaction, which is why this year I've decided I'm going to try really hard to call my friends and family more, rather than text them.

Go on more adventures.

A and I live in a state which is very popular for being the one Mexican state with the most 'Pueblos Mágicos' (Magic Villages), none of which we have ever visited. This year I hope that, by achieving a couple more goals on this list, we will be able to explore a little more of what this place has to offer.

Travel. Travel. Travel.

Not only do we both live away from our families and friends, but we also have friends and family who live elsewhere. My best friend got married in India and moved to London. My brother lives in Playa del Carmen. And last year two of my best friends moved away to other states as well. This year we plan on going abroad for a very special friend's wedding, but other than that, I'd love it if we could take a few weekends to go visit loved ones.

Take more photos (and actually print them).

Before last year ended, I took to myself to empty the memory card of my DSLR camera. On my computer, I usually save photos by month and then by event. As it turns out, there were months with no photos and moreover, around 20 photos (if not less) of A and me. How did that happen? I have a pretty good idea, which is why this year I'm making it a point to not let that happen again.

Stay healthy.

Since the middle of last year, A and I have been living a healthier lifestyle (a full story I plan to tell at some point), with the exception of the occasional weekend cheat meal as registered in my Instagram accounts. Eating well isn't really that hard and if you take care of yourself during the week, there's no reason why you can't treat yourself once in a while. We took a little break from these habits during the holidays (obvs) but we are now back on track and highly motivated to achieve our goals. 

Update/Decorate our house.

We have lived in this house for almost a year now and it still isn't nowhere near coming to feel like it is completely ours. Sure, walls have been painted and things have been placed where I want them, but still there are many things I want to do around here. Hang art and photos, add plants (maybe even hang them too), add storage, paint some pieces here and there. I hope to complete some of these things at some point this year.

Buy a car.
When I was living in Mexico City I never thought about buying a car. It just wasn't necessary. I lived pretty much walkind distance from everywhere I needed to go, and if I didn't, I could just take the metro or metrobús. But here in Puebla is a different story. Although I've already manage to find all the routes for the places I usually need to go, the truth is public transportation here is not reliable and as A and I enter a new face in our professional lives, it has become more of a necessity than a luxury.

Go on more dates with A.

Before I got my current job, back when I was only teaching twice a week, A and I used to go out at least once a week to either get coffee or dinner. But because I usually  work late, we don't get to do that anymore. Which is why another one of my goals is...

Quit my job.

Don't get me wrong. I absolutely love my job. I love the people I work with, I think we have a great team and the things we do are awesome. But it is a very ungrateful job. The hours are very long and the payment, well, isn't. It sucks that I've never been able to find a job which I love, the pay is good and the people are nice. But I once said I'd rather had a job that made me happy than one to pay the rent, and although this job does make me happy and does help pay the rent, it's messing with the really important things in my life, like my relationship.

I know what you're thinking. How am I suppose to travel, buy a car and go on dates if I quit my job? Well, that's why my last and possibly most important goal of this year is to...

Start our own company.
A and I are both architects. He has been working on projects for a while now and it is just a matter of time before I join him full time. It has been a dream for a long time and it feels like the timing is just right. 

Bonus goal!
Write more.
Also, doing some of the above will allow me to continue to write more regularly, or at least, here's hoping!

Well, there it is. I'll let you all know how things go, but in the mean time, what are your 2016 goals?

G.

Disappearing Act

Back in June I started working at an office that is full time dedicated to build architecture scale models (dream come true), but ever since then, work has completely taken over my life. At first it was great having purpose, as with my previous work situation I had pretty much free time all the time, so coming to an office gave me an excuse to get up early in the morning and well, get out of the house.

But it seems as though as all I do is work ALL THE TIME. It is kind of my fault of course, since I agreed to also teach, not one, but two (which eventually became three) classes this semester, which leaves basically no free time for anything at all. Seriously, a week has gone by without me seeing A except when one of us is half asleep. 

See, the worst part is I actually love my jobs. I love making models and furthermore, I'm learning so much. Last semester I was teaching a class about model making, but after working here I've come to realize I knew nothing. But I'm getting there. I also love teaching. I love it when I'm explaining something and my students nod their heads as it hits them... which may not be reflected on their evaluations, but anyway...

So, yes, I'm tired ALL THE TIME, I get pretty much little to no sleep most nights (even weekends) and truth be told, it's come to a point where I'm so tired I have no sense of ... well, anything. Funny story, I mixed the dates of an event A and I were to go in Mexico City and we ended up traveling a month in advance and finding out nothing was going on... at least not that month. So, there's that. And there's also the fact that I get to see nothing of someone I live with, and it's been hard, of course.

Which brings me to this very post. I've been a-wall from the blogsphere in the past months. It felt ok at first as I wasn't very inspired for a while there, but lately I've been feeling frustrated as I've thought of  many things to write about that I have no time for. I guess there's always next summer, fall, winter, etcetera.

Luckily, the semester is about to end (only three more weeks!) and that will at least give me a few extra hours to procrastinate online, that is if some of our clients don't decide they need three identical models for New Years Eve, which I'm hoping to spend in Playa del Carmen with my family.

Life is what happens while I'm sanding MDF pieces.

Happy Fall!

g.

My May

I've been a little off the grid the past month. Truth be told I've felt a little uninspired. Also, I had finals and had to go to the uni a lot: for grading, for reviews and other academic commitments. I've been going to Veracruz and Mexico City. My cousin gave a me a 'key' to American Netflix, so... there's that (Thanks JR!).

So I've made a roundup of May events to show you what I've been up to. Here we go.

My BFF Wedding

One of my oldest friends got married at the begining of May, so naturally, A and I had went on the road to be there for her and Ale (her husband). The ceremony was lovely with them both coming up with their own vows (which isn't traditional at all in Mexico) and the whole place was decorated in a vintage style, which I loved. It was also a great time for us to catch up with my other bff who was moving to India a few days later to reunite with her future husband. Love was all around.

My birthday

This year I turned 30 (!!!) and got the royal treatment by A. Because we live far from our loved ones, he made sure my day was all sorts of special. He surprised me the night before with a gift certificate for a Spa Session at La Purificadora. He delivered flowers when I was away so that I'd be surprised by the time I got home. He bought me a beautiful present and took me to dinner somewhere we had been wanting to go in the longest time. He sure knows the way to my heart. I also celebrated with my friends on Saturday night with dinner at a new Chinese spot in Veracruz.

Mother's Day

For mother's day weekend (right after my birthday) we went home to be with our moms. My family celebrated with a small gathering at my aunt's house where some of the family was reunited for all sorts of take out and deserts.

Final Review

The semester ended and I had my students making maquettes of houses (their own design). Some were really good, while others didn't live up to my standards, but lucky for them, no one failed.

Anniversary Weekend in Mexico City

For our 5 year aniversary, A and I went to Mexico City. It was very short notice, so we couldn't get a room in our usual spot, but went with Gabs' recomendation for the second time. We treated A's brother to dinner on Saturday night to celebrate he's going to Chile for the Copa América (soccer) for work, and our aniversary at a spot we had been before in La Roma (I was bummed because they changed the menu and were no longer serving what I was hoping to eat). My bro in law got us a pair of Adidas Superstars and got me a pair of Adidas Ultra Boost for the gym, as a birthday present. On Sunday we walked to the Alameda to have breakfast at Hotel de Cortés, then to the Franz Mayer Museum and finally to Bellas Artes for a couple of expos we wanted to check out. Afterwards, we headed to Polanquito to La Lonja (which was kind of a disapointment as it was too small), got a cupcake at the new Magnolia Bakery and had lunch at Bello Puerto. It was a short but sweet trip.

Now that the semester is finally over, I'll have some more free time to craft around and hopefully write more. I'm looking forward to going home next weekend to surprise my parents and celebrate my brother's birthday and maybe even stay there for a week or so to catch up with friends and soak in my entire family before we are split again when Gaby goes to Orlando in July and Jorge returns to Playa del Carmen at the end of the week.

Hope your month was equally nice, and bring it on June!

G.