For the Love of Coffee!

Just wanted to share my favourite "The Way I See It"...

"Failure's hard, but success is far more dangerous. If you're successful at the wrong thing, the mix of praise and money and opportunity can lock you in forever."

...said on the back of a grande americano with soy at the bar (my personal 7:30 AM drink if anyone wanted to know!)

x's & o's,

Leslie

Currently Listening: It's an all John Legend kind of day! ;)

Stolen Words

...by request, we are in need of inspiration.

But, while I have thought about it all week - can't find any (original material that is!).

So, in the meantime, here are some words that once inspired me - pay them forward...

More later, I promise. Until then, take care of each other. Maybe make someone laugh. It could make today the best day of your life, and theirs. You never know. That's the beauty of life. We're standing on top of a train with blinders on. You change what you've passed. You can't look around. You can't pause. Sometimes it makes your eyes water. Sometimes you get way too excited. Sometimes people join you for the ride. That's what it's all about. Take care of those people.

x's & o's,

Leslie

Currently Listening:

Breathe in for luck, breathe in so deep, this air is blessed, you share with me. This night is wild, so calm and dull, these hearts they race, from self control. Your legs are smooth, as they graze mine, we're doing fine, we're doing nothing at all."

Hands Down - Dashboard Confessional

For the love of coffee!! (Part II)

Dear Coffee,

Some point between last night and this morning, I crossed the line between really liking you, (I think it may have even been love) to being absolutely addicted. You are no longer a choice. You are a need.

That first sip every morning... Actually, rewind. That first smell in the morning is like heaven in a cup. Ah. That first sip, is like some delicious secret that I want to share with the whole world. But at the same time I want to keep it all for myself!

Oh coffee. Some mornings it is scary how much I need you. Sometimes, I can't even crack my sleep deprived eyes open, without propping them up with an eyelash curler ,before that first sweet, sweet sip. And that, my love, is when I realize I have a problem.

So it's off to detox for me. I am staying far far away until I can learn to use you responsibly.

But, instead of some huge, messy, let's-not-speak-for-months-on-end break up, let's take this slowly.

Step 1. One more week of coffee for me (because it's be seriously, I'm off to Vancouver - how could I give coffee up right when I'm headed for the good stuff).

Step 2. Maybe a couple weeks of good old "coffee substitute" (Jumpy Monkey - David's Tea... Tea made out of coffee! Genius! No matter what you co-workers say, I think this is a GOOD step!)

... and finally,

Step 3. Approximately a month from now, I promise to be coffee-free.

For at least a week or two.

x's & o's,

Leslie

...and in the post-script:

"Jumpy Monkey?" you say?

Protect the rainforest. This brew uses ingredients from the Rain Forrest Alliance to give you a tasty boost. It combines freshly roasted peaberry coffee beans with Argentine maté, and laces them with almonds, white chocolate and other roasted barks and roots. The result is deliciously satisfying. And by buying this rainforest product, you'll be fighting global warming and helping the monkeys. No wonder they say maté makes you efficient?

Good karma and a good morning jump start? Yes please!

Yet Another Lazy Sunday...

While I have always been more of a George Clooney than a Brad Pitt fan... (perhaps just because I am 100% team Jen)...

"You are not your job, you're not how much money you have in the bank, you're not the car you drive, you're not the contents of your wallet, you're not your fucking khakis. You are the all singing, all dancing, crap of the world."

Just cause.

Off to make my list of October resolutions - time is flying much too quickly!

x's & o's,

Leslie

P.s. Less lazy blogging starting in T minus 1 day! =)

Re-charge, Renew, Rejuvenate...

(If I make it...)

This weekend I want to...

1. Get my hands dirty with a little fall cleaning. Including, changing to fall sheets (jersey with leaves! so cozy!), sorting to fall clothes + a whole lot of dusting/vacuuming!
2. Lose myself in the October Issue of Vogue with absolutely no interruptions from cover to cover!
3. Have a good cry. Not for any particular reason other than sometimes it just feels right to let a wave of emotion take over you. Even if it is facilitated through a chick flick. The Notebook, anyone?
4. Hit Power Yoga for Week Two (Even though it kinda kicked my ass in Round One).
5. Get a head-start on my 2009 Thanksgiving list of things I am truly grateful for. Just cause.

x's & o's,

Leslie

Girlfriends: Bonus Entry!

Wanted: One Best Friend Forever and a Day.

A Best Friend Forever and a Day who has disappeared.

But a BFF who understands the working life, has become a partner in crime in the work life (along with the best pack pick up worker ever... I mean what other PPU worker can say they travelled across the country just to hangout 24/7 in a Nike store), and may on occasion cause my life trouble with a touch of s to the noring.

A BFF who shares my love for shoes, purses, photos and Josh Duhamel.

A BFF who will take a trip through the drive through McD's at 2:30 AM followed by the designated parking lot, you know, just cause.

"Tell me if he's cute...I'm drunk!" "um...no!"

"I found a cute boy with an accent and he's leaving tomorrow...JACKPOT!!!"

If you find her... tell her I miss her!

When you find her, tell her I'll meet her on center court. With hand me down flowers.

x's & o's,

Leslie

Girlfriends...

In the past month or so, I have had the great pleasure of hanging out with the girlfriends... of my girlfriends!

And I've gotta say...I love it.

You constantly hear about how girls are catty, or clique-y or just plain mean girls.

But, I have to say, maybe it was just these girls, but they were so inviting, so warm, so funny. So perfect.

It's beautiful. The dynamics of girlfriends. The bond of sisterhood (sorry! a little sappy!).

It is crazy how in every group you've got a little bit of everything. It's why shows like Sex & the City work. Because there's always the Carrie, and there's always the Charlotte, the Miranda and the Samantha. Each member of the group brings a little bit of je ne sais quoi to the group and the chemistry makes magic.

I feel blessed to have been able to share in girls night, and girls weekend, and look forward to many many more! With my girlfriends, and their girlfriends, and on and on and on.

So to all the girlfriends out there... I think this is what it's all about. Thanks for sharing!

x's & o's,

Leslie

Currently listening:

If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends. Make it last forever friendship never ends. If you wanna be my lover, you have got to give. Taking is too easy, but that's the way it is. So here's a story from A to Z, you wanna get with me you gotta listen carefully. We got Em in the place who likes it in your face. We got G like MC who likes it on an easy. V doesn't come for free, she's a real lady. And as for me... Ah you'll see.

Wannabe - Spice Girls

And in the post-script: A little Cheers to girlfriends!

A Tribute...

Betcha Didn't Know

...I like to eat my fruit cut into bite sized pieces. With a fork.

...I cry watching sports. All sports. Football. Hockey. Figure skating. Cheerleading. Tennis. And more. Maybe I'm inspired. Maybe I'm moved. Maybe I'm just jealous of the things I can't do anymore (though come to think of it, I never could play football)!

...I love the colour that my lower stomach turns with a tan.

...I am scared of snakes, clowns (see photo), seagulls, missing good times, the dark and toilets flushing. Yup, I think that about covers it.

...I have a highly addictive personality. Relationships, frendships, the gym, work, coffee, sleep, life. It's not my fault. It's the way I was born. It's in my genes. I love it.

...Sometimes I get my heart mixed up with my self esteem. Sometimes I get it mixed up by my impatience. And sometimes, it just gets mixed up all on it's own.

...Sometimes I wonder if I actually love the things I am doing, or I just really like them because I am somewhat good at them.

...I am a water snob (evian) and a gym snob (delisle), but (I think) still an all around nice person.

...While I excelled at music, as my grandfather once said...I am "musically inclined" (piano and flute, yes, betcha didn't know that I went to flute camp. This one time at band camp...) I am definitely tone deaf. My dancing skills could go either way. Kareoke will never be "my thing."

...I have a hard time keeping secrets. No. Scratch that. I have a hard time keeping my own secrets.

...I used to say I didn't like cuddling. I think I lied.

...I have never been more happy than I am right now.

x's & o's,

Leslie

Currently Listening:

I've been roaming around, I was looking down at all I see. Painted faces fill the places I can't reach. You know that I could use somebody. Someone like you and all you know and how you speak. Countless lovers under cover of the street. You know that I could use somebody. Someone like you.
Use Somebody - Kings of Leon

Stolen Words + Stolen Photos...

Just cause...

"Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So love the people who treat you right, forget about the ones who don't. Believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, then let it. Nobody said it would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it."

Photo credit: Jo Howell. Love them all (but esp. the selects of 'She's Hot' '04!)

The leaves are a-changing...

While the first day of Fall is still a couple of weeks away, I have occasionally been one to jump the gun, so here is what I love about the Fall!

I heart...

...sweater dresses, slouchy boots, killer heels, tights and cardigans. All day, every day.

...pumpkin spice lattes at sbux. Because really, when the drinks change at sbux, that's when my true season changes!

...a little bit of 'nip' in the air that makes cuddling in bed for 'just 5 more minutes' that much cozier!

...the feeling of rejuvenation that only comes with a new season. Changes are in the air, my friends.

Short + sweet and that's how I like it!

Hope you are loving as much as I am!

A little bit of x and a little bit of o,

Leslie

Currently listening (+ loving!):

Birds flying high. You know how I feel. Sun in the sky. You know how I feel. Breeze driftin' on by. You know how I feel. It's a new dawn. It's a new day. It's a new life. For me. And I'm feeling good.

Feeling Good - Michael Bublé