Flight attendants doing the safety miming

I love when you're on an airplane and the flight attendants show you all the safety guidelines in a sort of rehearsed dance number (okay, its not a dance). Especially the fake seatbelt and oxygen masks.

:)

Falling leaves

SO PWETTY!
I was walking home today and it's mid-July and the leaves are falling and they're crunchy and it's awesome!
*crunchcrunch*


:)

Friendsfriendsfriends

Wow. I just had the BEST day at the beach EVER!

We went to Kits as kind of an Emily-is-going-away/ let's-hangout dealio and so many of my friends showed up! I was kind of surprised actually. I thought that only about 15 people would be there, but by my estimates/lists around 36 showed up for me :) and about 10 friends of friends were with us as well.
It was definitely more than I ever thought was possible. (Especially given my low effort in organizing...)

Anyways. vball, frisbee sillyness and bbt.

Big thanks to everyone for coming out to enjoy the sunshine, especially those that brought things or came before/after work.

I was a little bit anxious about people not caring that I left and now I feel a LOT better. (Wow that sounds conceited/ a bit stupid. :P)

I guess it's always glad to know you have friends that are there for you and will put in the effort.

:)

#YOLO

:) Well, I haven't posted on here in quite a while, but it's not because I HAVEN'T been smiling, but because I've been TOO BUSY smiling. Sorry blogsite!

The last week has been amazing - just seeing all the people that make my world a happier place. Tim hortons, running across Burrard, hanging out and watching TV, Ukelele playing, Viet Big 2, Pool, Singstar, birthdays and random little moments stolen between work.

#YOLO. My first instinct is to roll my eyes. BUT when you actually get down to the core of it, it's true - you only DO live once and it really IS up to you to live it to the fullest, whatever that may be for you. For some it might be skydiving, or seeing every corner of the world, but for me it's surrounding myself with people that make me smile - whether they're here with me or across the globe.

Cute little girl!

So a couple days ago, I was at a pageant that my mom was organizing and BORED out of my mind... Anyways, one of my mom's friend's daughters (she's about 5 years old) had some fuzzy peaches. She squeezed her way down the aisle and gave each person a fuzzy peach! So adorable :) Then, about 3 minutes later, she went and did her "3-bite" checks like in restaurants asking: How does it taste? AHH cuteness overload. It even made me brother comment: it's times like these that make me want to have kids. Wowzers.

:)

Laundry

No, not DOING laundry, but the smell of fresh laundry + rolling around in it when it's still warm! :D

:)

Things falling into place

-Whistler / cultural ambassador-ing in general
-Randstad might end up paying me an honorarium!
-Letting Randstad know exactly when I'm leaving
-Rearranging Randstad schedule so it's more convenient for both me and them
-FINALLY getting my NUS acceptance
-starting my bucket list
-getting courses/ last 2 years of my degree planned out
-muchmuch more! :)

Sharing your Knowledge

Okay, I understand that sounds a TEENSY BIT obnoxious, but let's just put it in context.
I am a "Cultural Ambassador" for Sauder for the visiting students from SMU. I serve as their liaison for all things Vancouver and all things Canadian. I LOVEEED Monday - when we spent the grand portion of the day just talking about cultural differences and similarities! It was super interesting and I'm very stoked to do it again on Saturday! :D

:)Smiles

Backyard Hockey

:)

Lazy beach days

Sunshine, ice cream and just lying in the sun. Absorbing that vitamin D and turning it into HAPPINESS! :D

Can't wait for many more lazy days like these! EXCLAMATION MARK!

:)

Summer Playlists

Steal My Sunshine - Len
8 Tracks - Sweet Sunshine Playlist

It's amazing what an effect music can have on your mood. I think Island in the Sun - Weezer can make ANY day sunny!

:)

Silly Writing

So I was just reading this entry in Flowers for Algernon and it made me laugh out loud, giggle, re-read the section and laugh once more. I think it kind of speaks about conformity and doing what we're "supposed to" do in society- doing what we're told is right or proper. 
To hell with being PROPER for the sake of being PROPER. Cheers to writing that makes you think. (Or being weird enough to extrapolate all of that from some silly writing.)

:)

Cute food

Rawrs! Had a really great day wandering around Eastern Downtown today. One of the highlights was frolicking through T&T Asian Supermarket. YESH. I swear Asians have a natural propensity to cuteness. CHECK out these panda cakes. Omnomnoms. I don't even think I would have the heart to eat these little beauties! There are also Piggie buns? and other food with cute animals on them.. but these are by FAR the best. Also, I bought a lot of books as gifts today!

:)

Insight

So I was just reading through some stuff and reflecting and came upon this little blurb.

"Sometimes I doubt my own intentions. Sometimes I doubt why I am where I am. Where am I? Where am I headed? Do I want to be there? Go back to the things that make you happiest and stick to them. Don't let go and don't regret enjoyment. Try new things."

I feel like this can be extended/elaborated on.

"Try new things." Don't be afraid to see if they make you happy. If they don't make you happy and don't add value, then it's essentially a wasted investment and you could be getting better returns elsewhere. (Yes, I just business schooled that sentence UP!) However, if they do ADD VALUE to your life then make them happen. Over and over again. Keep creating your own happiness and don't let anything stand in the way of that. YOU are in control.

:)

Dogs chasing dogs!

Sooo today I was studying for ma Marketing final at my neighbourhood park when this supercute dog runs up to me and drops his rubber orange ball at my feet. His owner is apologizing for the distraction, but it's all good! I throw the ball back in the owner's direction (kinda weakly.. :P) and get back to my marketing pricing strategies.

Anywayssss. Backstory aside, about 5 minutes later, I look up to see that same doggy chasing another smaller, fluffier dog around! It's nipping at the fluffy dog's tail, playfighting etc. Best of all, the dog that was being chased kept playing dead perhaps in an attempt to fend off further tail nipping? :) Regardless, it was superduper cutee! And I was definitely very distracted and unproductive.
There goes my studying! At least I got some adorableness-appreciation out of it....

:)

Crunchy apples

Omnomnomlicious. So satisfying creating crunching noises!

Also, check out that teensy bit of alliteration right thurr. ^

:)

The click of heels on the floor

Click Clack, Click Clack
I HEAR SOMEONE COMING! Someone with heels on... Are they pretty pumps, saucy stilettos (yes I just said saucy...),  beautiful boots or even... MEN'S SHOES?! (wait WHAT)
It doesn't matter.
A clicky heel is a clicky heel is a clicky heel.

:)

Playlists that read your mind

I swear, it is alien-strange how these playlists are READING MY MIND :O
Also, sing-a-longs and stats are surprisingly fun :) @Angus

:)

Great Quotes II

Loving someone has great benefits. There is admiration, learning, attraction and something which, for the want of a better word, we call happiness. In loving someone, we become inspired to better ourselves in every way. We learn the truth worthlessness of material things. We celebrate being human. Loving is good for the soul.

Loving someone is therefore very important, and it is also important to choose the right person. Despite popular culture, love doesn’t happen by chance, at first sight, across a crowded dance floor. It grows slowly, sinking roots first before branching and blossoming. It is not a silly weed, but a mighty tree that weathers every storm.
You will find, that when you have someone to love, that the face is less important than the brain, and the body is less important than the heart.

You will also find that it is no great tragedy if your love is not reciprocated. You are not doing it to be loved back. Its value is to inspire you.

-Adrian Tan

http://halfhalf.posterous.com/dont-work-be-hated-love-someone

:)

Flashbacks / acting like a kid again

Today, I attempted to study on the kitchen table, since with STATS (GRRRR) I have an absolute shitstorm of notes that I need to sort through AKA need MOAR SPACE.
In my super tired/hadnt even really started studying/agony I decided to lie down across 2 chairs.
This was my typical lazy/mischievous Emily technique when I was little. I would be at the kitchen table refusing to eat my vegetables or w.e. and just lie across more chairs and stare at the bottom of our kitchen table.
It's actually very interesting. It has different areas where it has been painted/finished and various parts that are kind of "lazy" looking (as in they didnt bother to polish it up). There's also something scrawled across the length of it, but the legs are in the way, so I cant really read it. :(
I guess what struck me the most, was that familiar (awkward?) position. It made me feel like I was 7 again- running my hands along the bottom of the table and feeling the different textures and edges. I wish I could have stayed under there forever. Hide from it all.
Side note: It made me smile while I was under there, but I guess this is kind of a bummer-post with a weird downer tone to it.

KEEP ON TREKKING!
:)

Rainbows in bubbles!

The beauty in the tiniest things! Rainbow colours in bubbles.
Enough said! (Tired from studying.)

:)

The "summering" of meals

At Easter dinner on Saturday everything was a lot lighter and "fresher" than a typical winter meal. The shrimp were flavoured with lemon zest and cilantro, the appetizers were fluffy, light spinach bites, and dessert was a light lemon meringue ice square. It was a nice reminder that SPRING IS HERE and it's starting to show through our meal choices.

And today for dinner, I had a delicious summery meal of rotisserie chicken and potato salad (with fresh apple and cheddar squares). The perfect easy, last minute picnic meal!

Also, found strawberries in the fridge. SCORE!

:)

AND THIS

bahahaha! giggling*

I guess "THIS" "AND THIS" are actually both referring to FUNNY GIFS.

:)

Do you think you can smell the freshness of the air?

THIS

I know. I don't know why, but this made me laugh SO HARD.

:)

PS: It's sunny today. Even if you can't be outside, open a window and breathe in the fresh air!

Strawberry bus stop!

So i am on granville street and i see a huge strawberry!
Turns out it's an ad for McD's smoothies since the weather's warming up. Looks delish!

:)

Forgetting you have to be somewhere/ do something and accidentally doing it anyways

So yesterday, I had just got home from school at about 10:45-10:50ish and turned on my laptop when I remembered I was supposed to Skype my marketing group at 11pm! Perfect timing for me to grab some food and munch while talking to them.

:)

Perfect scrambled eggs

Nomnomnoms! I think i'm having late night food cravings... the last post was also about food!
Delicious, fluffy, seasoned, eggs that go great with sausages and bread and such ARE AMAZING. Sometimes I accidentally-on-purpose spill some of my ketchup or other condiments on them just to try out new flavours ;)  Shhh... it's a secret! (Most recently it was sesame oil.)

:)

Ooey Gooey Cheese!

Y'know when you grab a slice of pizza and that lovely, delicious cheese stretches out like an elastic band annnnd you just keep pulling until it finally releases? Yea, that stuff. Even more delish just because it has entertained you first

:)

Hipsters

I know, I know, how can a whole demographic and culture of people make me smile... BUT if you really break it down, it is their core hipster-ness that makes me smile. For example, as I was riding the bus downtown today, the hipster guy sitting beside me, pulled out a pair of glasses and perched them on his nose. I say perched because there were no "side parts" (the part that touches the temples). It was only the lenses and the front part of the frame! I think he was trying to one-up the hipster-ness of the guy sitting across from us... Regardless, it was super entertaining -most of all because the glasses managed to stay on his face for quite a while!

:)

Grooving in the car!

So today was crossing the street at Granville and Broadway to transfer onto a bus that would take me downtown when I passed by a car with four teenage girls in it. They had the music up LOUD and were singing and dancing along with it! It was hilarious and amazing and I could NOT help staring and grinning at them. (Yes, I'm a little bit creepy...) Just reminded me of all the times I've blasted the music and done some random finger dancing at the stop light on late night drives home.  Good times.

:)

Holding Hands

Especially with little kids or seniors! :D teehees

:)

Being goofy

Just acting a quarter of your age for once (instead of 1.5 times your age). Being able to laugh at yourself and see the joy in the moment. Overall silliness!

:)

The texture of roses

Got "regifted" ;) 3 roses from Awards Night today. Doesn't matter because they were great regardless! I wouldn't say I like roses particularly for their smell or their looks, but rather their feeling and the emotions they represent. But really- they are SHO SHOFT! (translation: so soft... so very soft). The 3 roses are now sitting on my kitchen table in a large vase. I sure hope they last a long time!

:)

Certificates!

SO tonight, I just got home from the delightful, heart-warming and entertaining CUS Awards Night! It was great to see all the super-involved students and staff in an environment that involves more than just a passing "Hello, how's it going?" It's great that some of the most giving and generous people received the recognition and congratulations that they deserved. And of course, there was great food and lovely entertainment! I think my personal favourite was the rendition of "Fly me to the moon" by Johannes and Andrea. Fun choreography too!

I guess in the end, it was great to walk across that stage and stand with people that I know have done amazing things! I guess I never really thought of what I did as anything special or out of the ordinary, but now that I look at who I stood beside up on the stage, I realize I must have been pretty cool to be next to them! :)
This post isn't really about certificates or trophies or awards, but more the recognition of your efforts. I think that is the part that truly matters.
I'm super happy and glad that I got involved this year. It allowed me to meet some PRETTY amazing people ;) My CUS family included (RIKI AND JULIE<3). I am going to miss it SO MUCH next year, but as they say: All good things must come to an end. (At least until I get back!)

I have another post to ADD (since tonight was so fab.)

:)

Moms

So this morning when I woke up, I Whatsapp'd my "Set" 4 emoticons of various animals followed by a " :)".
After a bit of debate about cuteness and weather, the topic turned to moms. Weirdly, each of my friends expressed how much they missed a different friends' moms. Quotes include: "your mom is nice!", "your moms pretty cool :)" and "Shes coooooo". All in all, this appreciation for moms is just so heartwarming and appropriate as we lead up to MOTHERS DAY! (May... but STILL.)

ANDANDAND

My mom picked me up from Commercial Station and drove me to a friend's house to briefly pick something up before driving us home... at almost midnight!

ah-mah-zhing.

:)

Obeying Sticky Notes

So I was just journaling and feeling a little bit melancholy for a couple reasons... And then I turn my head to my dresser, which is covered with various sticky notes with inspirational whatnots. The one that caught my eye was: Laugh! It was simple and emphasized with 2 purposeful underlines. I laughed out loud. Then I laughed some more at myself for laughing in the first place. To be obeying the orders of a STICKY NOTE? How absurd. But at the same time it was wonderful and enlightening and relieving. The moment I start to take myself too seriously or get caught up with all the not-so-fab thoughts in my head, I  need to remember to just turn my head slightly to the left and just take a peek at these little notes of sunshine I have plastered all over my dresser! They never fail to make me smile.

:)

Childhood Television Theme Songs

Sooo today while texting, Sailor Moon came up (as it always does). And then, of course, the Sailor Moon THEME SONG got stuck in my head... and it's been 2 hours. It also doesn't help that i'm listening to it over and over again on Youtube. Here, have a listen!
Regardless, I have definitely been smiling like an idiot for the last 2 hours. AND searching up other childhood television theme songs! Like this one.

Well, that's all for now.

Keep on smiling!

:)

Super polite bus drivers

Im currently riding the B-Line and the bus driver is super duper courteous and polite! He presents each stop in this manner:
Broadway and Macdonald, ladies and gentlemen. Be careful, watch your step, and have a good night.

Soooo nice! :) teehees.

:)

Skyping in a Closet

Teehees. First off, Skyping in general is just awesome. Technology nowadays is amazing! I can Skype my family in China, cousins in the States, my friends that are studying away from home and of course, people that you see often in Vancouver too! It can sometimes be even better, just because it's so silly!

More on that silliness...
Skyping from a closet. Not the first time for me. The first time, I was packing and Skyping Britt from the closet in Phoenix-showing her all my new purchases and everything like that! But this time, I was on the receiving end of a Closet Skype (yes, it's a thing now). Even better because there were THREE lovely people all warm and cozy in their closet Skyping me! I felt so special. :) All smiles on this end.

Skype=awesome. Closets=awesome. Skyping in a Closet = superduper awesometastic! whatwhat!
(I think i'm kind of tired... because I get weirder when i'm tired.)

:)

Sleeping In

Before I go to bed, I use my Daily Mood Calendar (teehees, thank you Tahia!) to block the brightness of my alarm clock. I'm kind of weird in that I have HUGE issues sleeping, especially with light glaring from the alarm clock. Or perhaps it's just the frustration of seeing it get later and later in the night that keeps me awake even LATER. Regardless, I almost never sleep completely through the night.
So, due to me hiding my alarm clock, I usually put my iPod touch on the bedside table so I can check the time when I wake up. Because when the alarm goes off, I usually lie in bed for a while and it's nice to be able to check the time without getting up.

SO with that superlong and almost unrelated prelude:
Today I woke up, reached beside me for my iPod to find that it wasn't there. :( BUTBUTBUT this is because I have absolutely nothing scheduled today. It was completely up to my own discretion as to when to get up! And usually I feel guilty if it's after a certain hour and I'm still in bed. But without my iPod there to tell me the time, I felt completely at ease just conking out again!

When I finally decided that i'd been a lifeless lump for long enough, it was past 11 in the morning.

Sleeping in is a lot better without worries or guilt.

:)

People that look like other ppl (characters, classmates etc.)

Soo today while on the bus to school a girl got on the bus that was the same height and build as well as the same facial features of Bernadette from the Big Bang Theory. The only difference was she had mid-length brown hair instead. And perhaps it's just me being delirious from lack of sleep, BUT I definitely started smilng like an idiot. Which is kind of creepy given that I'm just staring at her, typing this and smiling. Also the fact that she just fell asleep makes this extra strange...
Also this is an immediate blog. So i feel like ppl are reading over my shoulder. On that note! I will try to remember to add a picture later!
:)

Drizzle

Y'know those days when you don't have an umbrella and it's POURING rain and you're walking from one interview to another... Your hair gets all wet and drippy and you seek solace in Tim Horton's and then your hair is all dry and such, but it looks ICKY now. :( and thankfully it isn't raining when you trek across the street into the business building. WHEW. This is not about those days...

This is about the days when you are taking a nice stroll through downtown taking in the sights and sounds and even the smells. And it's just drizzling. Just enough for people to pull out their umbrellas, but not enough for you. No, you like the rain, the way it kind of dances on the sidewalks and streets, tap dancing it's own beat. It makes your hair wet and droopy, but that's okay. Your bangs are kind of askew and it's washing off the smell of the restaurant you just left. It's kind of amazing and peaceful and calming. Then you realize that because you've walked for a while now, your hair is pretty wet, and it starts to rain a little bit harder. But by now, it seems kind of stupid to take out your umbrella so you just embrace it. Let it rain!

:)

Family Time

In the last 4? years or so, ever since my brother went off to university and I started to get more involved with school and everyone has work and differing (CONFLICTING) schedules etc. good, quality FAMILYTIME has been super difficult to come by. (Think parents work in the day and have meetings at night, kids work weekends, school weekdays and work weeknights/ hangout with friends whenever.) Priorities have been called into question and sometimes it's just SO frustrating because they are your family, and yet you never see them (I live at home too!) and when you do, it's not really "hanging out" per say, but like LECTURING and NAGGING and TASKS and CHORES and everything else that you REALLY didn't have the TIME nor PATIENCE for.

So at the end of a trying day, when your family is able to just sit, relax, and CHILL, be it watching Kung Fu Panda episodes or Andy Stanley or Linsanity (yes my mom is a screaming, adoring fan) and just "hang out", it's amazing. And as much as I hate to admit it, sometimes family time can be super awesome and comforting and I appreciate it.

:)

EVERYTHING BAGEL!

Today I was downtown and had about an hour to kill between interviews. *crossing my fingers* I also forgot my umbrella and was wearing heels... aka it was POURING OUT and I needed somewhere dry and I suck at wearing heels. So of course... TIM HORTONS SAVES THE DAY! Not to mention I had yet to participate in the RUTR contest. Went into Timmy's (yes we're on a nickname basis now) just to get some tea/ RUTR!!!!!!~! and saw the everything bagel. :) :) :) I think those 3 smiles suffice. Maybe if there was an emoticon for drooling that would've been a bit more effective =d" Maybe?

Anyways, to cut a long story short, I LOVE EVERYTHING BAGELS. Perhaps not even for the taste, but for all the great experiences that they have been present for. Late night heart-to-hearts at Timmy's, excursions into North Van for the elusive Pinkberry (also omnomnom-worthy). And of course just your everyday hanging out with friends! Being dramatic, I would say that the Everything Bagel can represent comfort and stability, especially in times of emotional volatility. Awesome.

:)

Hearing that song on the radio

You know when there's been a song stuck in your head for the longest time, the best way to get it out is to listen to it over and over and over again.. Haha at least that's what I think! Last night when we were driving home, Adele's Set Fire to the Rain came on the radio. Of course, we belted it out and then... it ended. :( I was kind of disappointed because I was JUST GETTING INTO IT when the commercials came on.. So we switched to another radio station... AND SET FIRE TO THE RAIN was playing again. Muahahaha! Goodtimes/ Best coincidences.  :D

Miss Kelsey Ingham :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

I have compiled a weird bunch of things to entertain you on this special day.


First off, a random assortment of music blogs.

• For chill times and some dance tunes mixed it: http://e-t-c.tumblr.com/
• Hipster tunes.. apparently: http://www.gorillavsbear.net/
• Artists of the week: http://dv.vapormusic.com/news/
• These artists are also supposed to be pretty cool: Foster the People. Grizzly Bear. Mother Mother. Band of Skulls. Bon Iver. The Hoosiers. Ooo, Ash Koley, Austra, The Paper Route. Beirut, Eisley, Ra Ra Riot, Fleet Foxes, The Dirty Projectors, Iron and Wine, The Tallest Man on Earth, The Weepies. ( I tried to search up bands that people who like Mother Mother and Bon Iver like...)
• A Youtube channel that you may find interesting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccYWsEvkBoA&list=UUd8rh0IriBHSvuHQwDWeJOg&feature=plcp

Second, inspirational thingamabobs:

• The Happiness Project:  http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/
• News that Inspires: http://www.dailygood.org
• Simple Truths:  http://www.marcandangel.com/2011/01/10/10-simple-truths-smart-people-forget/

Third, slam poetry (which you have probably already seen before):

•  :)  http://fuckyeahslampoems.tumblr.com/
• Youtube: http://www.onlineuniversities.com/blog/2010/07/10-most-amazing-slam-poets-on-youtube/

RAWRS: KELSEY IS LOVE! <3 

Good Karma

Yesterday I was working a really slow evening at White Spot when I had a family come in. They were friendly and extremely polite, especially the 2 little girls. They did seem a little bit somber or perhaps just plain exhausted though.
Halfway through their meal, the girls had some leftover food, so I asked if I could pack it up for them to take home. Their mother's response was, "Well, we don't really have a home right now. We just went through a tragedy of sorts." I was really concerned, and the she explained that their house had just burnt down.

I had actually heard about this not too long ago since they lived very close to my own house. You can read the article here. As I was packing up their food, my manager, Tony was doing some work nearby. I mentioned to him their story and he immediately said that he would take care of their bill. He went over to talk to the family and offer his condolences and support.
It is these instances that remind me to appreciate everything that is given to us in life and to keep in mind that despite our own trials, we can always find a way to give back with kindness.