6 Simple Rituals To Reach Your Potential Everyday by Amber Rae

1. Drink a glass of water when you wake up. Your body loses water while you sleep, so you’re naturally dehydrated in the morning. A glass of water when you wake helps start your day fresh. When do you drink your first glass of water each day?

2. Define your top 3. Every morning Mike asks himself, “What are the top three most important tasks that I will complete today?” He prioritizes his day accordingly and doesn’t sleep until the Top 3 are complete. What’s your "Top 3" today?

3. The 50/10 Rule. Solo-task and do more faster by working in 50/10 increments. Use a timer to work for 50 minutes on only one important task with 10 minute breaks in between. Mike spends his 10 minutes getting away from his desk, going outside, calling friends, meditating, or grabbing a glass of water. What’s your most important task for the next 50 minutes?

4. Move and sweat daily. Regular movement keeps us healthy and alert. It boosts energy and mood, and relieves stress. Most mornings you’ll find Mike in a CrossFit or a yoga class. How will you sweat today?

5. Express gratitude. Gratitude fosters happiness, which is why Mike keeps a gratitude journal. Every morning, he writes out at least five things he’s thankful for. In times of stress, he’ll pause and reflect on 10 things he’s grateful for. What are you grateful for today?

6. Reflect daily. Bring closure to your day through 10 minutes of reflection. Mike asks himself, “What went well?” and “What needs improvement?” So... what went well today? How can you do more of it?

via 

La la links!

Brown Butter Strawberry Cake photo via 

Books on my reading list: 

• Cold New World
• The Peep Diaries: How We're Learning to Love Watching Ourselves and Our Neighbors
• Tess of the D'Urbervilles. I also want to watch BBC adaptation of the book.
• The Twelve Tribes of Hattie
• The Ages of Miracles 

Retro-inspired wedding invitations

I love stripes!

Free People and Daisy Lowe

Kate Middleton inspired make-up tutorial 

Love the sound of the rain. Try Rainy Mood! 

Tree Bones Resort at Big Sur

Cool blogs I recently found: 

• Summer Wind
• Treasures and Travels
• Peanut Butter Fingers
• Love Eat Food

Articles to read for recent college graduates: 

• New Grads: 10 Goals for Your First 5,000 Hours on the Job
• Colleges Lose Pricing Power
• 6 Steps To Find A Job For Soon-To-Be College Grads
• 10 Need-To-Know Tips For Getting Your Fashion Dream Job

Valuable Lesson

According to herself, my grandma used to be thin and happy. I never believed her as she was always fat, bitter and made everyone around her miserable. I never saw her eat, so she must have been fat because of all the hatred and guilt she kept inside. She used to secretly feed my grandfather valium with his breakfast in order to “keep him quiet.” We were forced to spend holidays with her but hated every minute, her voice and look heinous enough to spoil every chance of happiness — the best china and best behaviour never good enough to generate a smile. Occasionally, between the waves of fear and resentment, I would feel so sorry for her, tried to understand her and make her happy. But to no avail. She was a valuable lesson in how not to be. RIP.

by Christopher Sharpe for Romka Magazine

Monica Gellar's Leftover Thanksgiving Sandwich

I love watching the Friends especially the Thanksgiving episodes. Anyways, remember that episode when Ross has a meltdown when a colleague ate his sandwich. I found the recipe online! Enjoy! 

Thanksgiving Turkey Sandwich….with a MOIST MAKER
Makes 1

Ingredients:
3 slices bread
light mayonnaise (optional)
roasted turkey breast, sliced
stuffing
cranberry sauce
green leaf lettuce (optional)
tomato slices (optional)
gravy

Directions:
1. Spread a small amount of mayonnaise onto two slices of bread, if using.
2. Dip the remaining slice of bread in gravy and set aside.
3. Build the sandwich however you like, placing the gravy soaked bread in the center.
4. Push together and enjoy!
**We know that sandwiches can be a very personal thing, so we thought we’d leave the
amounts up to you to customize it to your exact liking!

Humans of New York - inspiring

"Gac Filipaj is a refugee from the former Yugoslavia. For the past twelve years, he has worked as a janitor for Columbia University.  His job title is “Heavy Cleaner,” which includes emptying the trash and cleaning the toilets. 

During this time, he worked until 11pm every night during the week.  After his shift concluded, he would start studying.  This weekend, after twelve years of study, Gac graduated from Columbia University with a Classics degree.  Rarely have so many qualities I admire been wrapped up in a single person." 

(via Humans of New York)

Better Not Bitter

Phylicia Rashad's letter to her 21-year-old self

Dear Phylicia,

Romantic involvement distracts you and can blind you to what’s really in front of you. And what’s really in front of you? You are. You don’t even know yourself yet. You think you know and you want to assert that you do, now that you’re a certain age, but you don’t. What’s in front of you is a world of experiences beyond your imagination. Put yourself first and your growth and development, first.

There are long-term repercussions to what you are doing now. Everything you do, every thought you have, every word you say creates a memory that will hold you in your body. It’s imprinted on you and affects you in subtle ways - ways you are not always aware of.

With that in mind, be very conscious and selective.

With high hopes for you,
Phylicia