VernetteOutLoud

7 for SEVEN

September has always been a roller coaster for me. I always see it as the hump before the slide to the end of the year. It usually marks the beginning of a new school year and the sucky part is all these years later, that still has some importance for me….because mature student!

To say I am in a funk is putting it mildly. This roller coaster September has been mostly down and twisty and I keep thinking I need to get off this ride, I need to get off this ride! But then I also think that it has to end soon anyway, so I might as well just suck it up.

And this my dear reader is the reason for 7 for Seven. It is the reminder, that even in the crappiest of months, you can always find seven things to be grateful for.

…every Monday, we post seven positives from the previous seven days of the week as a reminder of what we have so that the week starts out on an upswing. There is much truth in the belief that happy people attract good things, so it is important to start the week out right. Sometimes it’s the more grand, but other times, it’s the simple things.~Key + Arrow

7 for Seven originated at Key + Arrow and now let’s get into my 7 for this week:

Saying ‘YES’ to the Universe. Mercury in retrograde? Messed up communication? Shit hitting the fan? Yes. Yes. Yes. Bring it Universe. I take the good with the bad and say Yes! This is my life. I can work with it, I can work through it.

Catching up on The Walking Dead. You guys, sometimes your potential is to binge watch three whole seasons of one your favourite show in one sitting. I kid you not. It was an epic couple days of zombies, blood, gore and crazy one-liners thanks to my new favorite character Abraham. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while you’d know that I love everything zombie. And I have been planning my zombie apocalypse survival strategy for a long time just in case… anyways I’m caught up and ready for season 7.

Surviving another week. Remember when I shared about how things just kept going downhill but the week ended and things started to settle down? Yea…no that didn’t happen. So here I am being grateful for surviving another week and trying not to jinx it.

My cohort of Awesome. A dear friend messaged me asking how I was and what’s happening with the blog. She said she missed reading my posts. I said I was just super busy and just couldn’t find the time. We caught a bit with each other and that was that. But the conversation stuck with me and she is the reason that this post was written and published today. Thank you, Carolyn.

Discovering a coffee roaster near me. On Saturday I got lost trying to find the pop-up coffee sampler at a coffee shop in a magical land far far away called Charlieville – okay that’s not true, the directions they put on Facebook was incorrect and I wasn’t the only person who got lost trying to find the coffee shop and Charlieville isn’t that far – 25 minutes driving without traffic. But I got lost in an unfamiliar place so I gave up trying to find the coffee shop…obviously. I eventually got on to the roaster who was doing the samples of his coffee. It turns out, he lives and roasts in my neighbourhood. Score for me! So *fingers crossed* next week’s 7 will be all about the delicious Ethiopian blend that I had the privilege to brew.

Getting better at my latte art. I’m still practicing and I’m happy to report that I am getting better. You can follow my progress on Instagram. This is the reason I’ve been running low on coffee beans and this is why the discovery of a coffee roaster near me was so fortuitous.

And finally, I am grateful to my newest earworm  James Bay – Let it go. I love the music…I love the words. I especially love the opening bars…gets me every time.  What are you listening to? Let me know in the comments below. I love discovering new music.  

I hope that by continuing to pay attention to the little things, the mundane details that make up all the blessings in my life and by sowing the seeds of faith and gratitude, I can truly carry with me and reap the rewards of “positivity + balance + bliss” throughout the days ahead.

Thank you for reading, I appreciate you! This is me blowing some glitter and confetti on you because you’re super blessed to have received the gift of another 86,400 seconds today, to spend any way you desire. Make those seconds count!

I love hearing from you…what are you grateful today? Feel free to share below!

7 for SEVEN

It’s the last Monday in August 2016. Ya’ll know once we get to September…that’s pretty much it for 2016. I mean people are already counting down the number of Sundays to Christmas – there are 16 more Sundays in case you were wondering. Start making dem lists and checking ’em twice!

…every Monday, we post seven positives from the previous seven days of the week as a reminder of what we have so that the week starts out on an upswing. There is much truth in the belief that happy people attract good things, so it is important to start the week out right. Sometimes it’s the more grand, but other times, it’s the simple things.~Key + Arrow

7 for Seven originated at Key + Arrow and now let’s get into my 7 for this week:

Mid-week Holiday. You guys I need a break, a vacation, a time out of time. We have holiday on Wednesday – our Independence Day – and I am looking forward to sleeping in. I am grateful in advance for the total vege-fest Wednesday is going to be.

Two Fridays in one week. Today I was totally psyching myself out by thinking that we are going to have two Mondays this week. This is what happens when you have a mid-week holiday. But I caught myself and decided to celebrate the little things and the fact that while this week might have two Mondays, we also get two Fridays and you gotta love that. So yay for mid-week holidays.

Surviving last week. I shared a bit about my week on Saturday over coffee. It was one of those where it seemed like things just kept going downhill with no end in sight. But the week did end and things are settling down now.

The entire Me before You soundtrack. I read the book and then I watched the movie. Now ya’ll I love the Khaleesi (Emilia Clarke) in GOT but she really brought Lou to life. You can listen to the soundtrack that is my new favourite earworm here.

My 7 for Seven this time last year. A reminder that time moves on and if we don’t stop to appreciate the little things that make up this life, we lose sight of what really matters. Love and Family.

Getting better at my latte art. I’ve been working on getting my ‘heart’ right and I’m getting there. It actually looks like a heart now and not a butt anymore. The goal is to do a swan. We’ll see.

And finally, I am grateful to Teyana Taylor. Her post-baby body and that VMAs performance launched a thousand diets and gym membership renewals today. I know she certainly had me reconsidering my food choices all day.  

I hope that by continuing to pay attention to the little things, the mundane details that make up all the blessings in my life and by sowing the seeds of faith and gratitude, I can truly carry with me and reap the rewards of “positivity + balance + bliss” throughout the days ahead.

Thank you for reading, I appreciate you! This is me blowing some glitter and confetti on you because you’re super blessed to have received the gift of another 86,400 seconds today, to spend any way you desire.

Make those seconds count!

I love hearing from you…what are you grateful today? How is 2016 shaping up for you? Feel free to share below!

7 for SEVEN

August is winding down and the FOCUS this month has on starting and moving forward…and not worrying about the destination. It has been about “taking the next little step” rather than where those steps are leading me. And I am proud to say that progress – though small – has been made in the directions of my dreams.

…every Monday, we post seven positives from the previous seven days of the week as a reminder of what we have so that the week starts out on an upswing. There is much truth in the belief that happy people attract good things, so it is important to start the week out right. Sometimes it’s the more grand, but other times, it’s the simple things.~Key + Arrow

7 for Seven originated at Key + Arrow and now let’s get into my 7 for this week:

I am thankful for life. I got into a bouncident over the weekend. I have had a stress headache since. The best advice I got was that we take a risk every time we get on the road. Things happen and you thank God that it wasn’t worse and you move on. So now I have a bill I totally did not expect but I am grateful that it wasn’t any worse.

Baby S continues to be the joy of my life. So he has learned to roll over. He hasn’t quite learned the logistics of it as yet, his trailing arm gets stuck under his little body and then his face gets all red concentrating on getting it out. When he discovers what his knees are for…there will be no stopping him. I cannot wait for his shenanigans.

I am grateful for finding this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” A poignant reminder to be thankful for the little things that make up this life, because in the end, that’s all that matters.

My family. My uncle celebrated his 75th birthday yesterday to much dancing and happiness. He is the most lighthearted person I know and I suspect that has something to do with his longevity in relative good health. He continues to inspire all of us, to be better and do better.

The book I’m reading – The Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes. This book had me nodding and reflecting on my own life. I totally recommend it.

Sticking with my fitness plan. June 2016 I was at my heaviest weight ever. I am happy to report that I got my shit together and I am down 12lbs and counting. There is no easy solution, it is all about your lifestyle – diet and exercise. And I’m not going to lie, I fell off the wagon and rolled down the hill, hence the weight gain but I’m back in the gym and planning my meals. Some days it is a bitch to work all day and then go work out but I’m sticking with it. I feel better when I do.

Coffee with friends. I consider a well-made cup of coffee a treat. It’s an extra special treat when shared with good friends. This week I was blessed to have a nice cuppa and catch-up. These are the moments that make for a good life and I am grateful that I am able to recognize them and appreciate them.

And finally, I am grateful to be living in the age of the G.O.A.T. Caribbean pride abounds for the achievement of Usain Bolt.  

I hope that by continuing to pay attention to the little things, the mundane details that make up all the blessings in my life and by sowing the seeds of faith and gratitude, I can truly carry with me and reap the rewards of “positivity + balance + bliss” throughout the days ahead.

Thank you for reading, I appreciate you! This is me blowing some glitter and confetti on you because you’re super blessed to have received the gift of another 86,400 seconds today, to spend any way you desire.

Make those seconds count!

I love hearing from you…what are you grateful today? How is 2016 shaping up for you? Feel free to share below!

Rabbit, Rabbit – 7 for SEVEN

7-for-1Aaaaannnd…we’re back!

I’ve been up to a lot in my time away from this space and I’m just so happy to have proven the little imp on my shoulder wrong and hit publish on this post.

Things have been silent here for two reasons: work – I have been on a new desk since May and it has been draining me, and I have been seriously questioning the value I am adding with this blog.

Those things coupled with a healthy dose of laziness resulted in many unpublished posts. But here we are in August! Freaking August ya’ll…the year is practically over! Here we are in August and the urge to blog finally overcame the fears that I have been letting consume me.

I don’t know about you, but nothing like a new month, new week, in my case new year (my birthday was last Saturday) to inspire a blog post. So I am going to harness the energy of new beginnings – first day of the work week, first day of a new month to share my first 7 for Seven in months – to get going once again and FOCUS.

…every Monday, we post seven positives from the previous seven days of the week as a reminder of what we have so that the week starts out on an upswing. There is much truth in the belief that happy people attract good things, so it is important to start the week out right. Sometimes it’s the more grand, but other times, it’s the simple things.~Key + Arrow

7 for Seven originated at Key + Arrow and now let’s get into my first 7 for August 2016:

Starting. It’s been a struggle to get going. 2016 started with so much promise and but a lot remained the same – sameshit stress, different day – so I spent the better part of the last couple months justifying to myself why it easier not to blog than to hit publish and worry about the value I was adding. But as I stated earlier it’s time to get back to the business of blogging and just start already. So here’s to starting small with joyful hope for great things ahead.

My nephew. Baby S is now five months old and every time I see him, he reminds me that love truly is awesome. Watching him learn and grow and discover the world around him has been an amazing experience thus far. I am awed and grateful.

Adulting. The struggle is real! I wish I could find a way to crawl back into my mother’s uterus and stay there. When you’re a child…nobody tells you how hard adulthood can be sometimes. There are no guide books on how to manoeuver this phase in life. You’re pretty much making it up as you go…mostly by making mistakes and learning from them. When you don’t learn the lesson…that shit comes back to bite you on the ass until you do. Here’s to learning my lessons well.

Which brings me to learning that Not Everything Is About Me. Everybody is fighting their own battle, their own demons. And most times, they are caught up in their own drama. While it might be tough at times, I’m learning not to take things personally.I’m learning this the hard way…but I am learning.

My Cohort of Awesome. The older I get, the more grateful I am for the people I chose to walk this journey with. I would not who I am or where I am without the love and support around me.

Learning to Let Go. Boy has 2016 been about me learning to let go and truly letting God. I had plans for my birthday that totally got turned upside down in the space of a few hours and I had to make a decision that not only cost me money but also a couple friendships as well. However, once the decision was made, I was okay. I was at peace and that was priceless. Then a series of events unfolded that underlined exactly why I need to trust my process and my progress and it reminded me that I am always exactly where I need to be.

And finally, I am grateful for another year of life. I am so full of gratitude for the blessing of another year of life. I have said too many goodbyes this year already not to be grateful when I wake up in the land of the living each day. I spent my entire birthday with family and it was a poignant reminder of who and what is important. I am excited for this new year of life. My intention for this new year of life is to be: Bolder. Braver. Better.

And I am living in joyful hope for another year filled with:
Gratitude.
Really good coffee.
Drinks with my sister.
Tiramisu with friends.
Sun on my skin.
Trust.
Slow mornings.
Rainy Sundays.
Avocado toast.
Red eye sunrises.
Writing my own permission slip.
Sauna on “me-days”.
Family dinners.
Belly-laughs.
Loving with my whole heart.

…and most of all
Abundance.
Adventure.
And Infinite Possibilities!

I’m ready. Let’s do this!

I hope that by paying attention to the little things, the mundane details that make up all the blessings in my life and by sowing the seeds of faith and gratitude, I can truly carry with me and reap the rewards of “positivity + balance + bliss” throughout the days ahead.

Thank you for reading, I appreciate you! This is me blowing some glitter and confetti on you because you’re super blessed to have received the gift of another 86,400 seconds today, to spend any way you desire.

Make those seconds count!

I love hearing from you…what are you grateful today? Feel free to share below!

 

7 for SEVEN

Hellooo from Portland! What an incredible journey March has been thus far. From seeing my nephew to taking a leap of faith, I have been growing and loving and moving forward.

…every Monday, we post seven positives from the previous seven days of the week as a reminder of what we have so that the week starts out on an upswing. There is much truth in the belief that happy people attract good things, so it is important to start the week out right. Sometimes it’s the more grand, but other times, it’s the simple things.~Key + Arrow

7 for Seven originated at Key + Arrow and now let’s get into my 7 for this week:

Selfie Saturday. I have been prioritizing self care and while I try to do something positive for myself every day of the week…my weekends are for doing something extra. I’m grateful that I am learning to put on my oxygen mask first.  And there is nothing selfish about that.

Baby S is getting stronger every day. I cannot wait to hold him. So thankful that I can say those words…because this journey has not been easy.

Investing In Myself. I have taken a leap of faith. Made a decision to lose sight of the shore and row my boat in the direction that has been drawing me for some time now. I kid you not…I am scared shitless. But I am doing it anyway…big girl Jedi panties and all.

Whipped cream on top. Because life is short. Sometimes you just gotta go ahead and put that whipped cream on top. It makes everything a just little bit sweeter.

My fitbit. Thanks for keeping me on my toes…literally for months now. And because, I need to walk off all those “whipped cream on top” moments.

Quotes that make me laugh out loud.   “Life is too short for bad coffee, cheap wine and flat beer.” Get the good coffee.

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Dirty Charlie made with love from Cup & Bar, Portland

And finally, I am grateful for signs from the universe. 

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I hope that by continuing to pay attention to the little things, the mundane details that make up all the blessings in my life and by sowing the seeds of faith and gratitude, I can truly carry with me and reap the rewards of “positivity + balance + bliss” throughout the days ahead.

Thank you for reading, I appreciate you! This is me blowing some glitter and confetti on you because you’re super blessed to have received the gift of another 86,400 seconds today, to spend any way you desire.

Make those seconds count!

I love hearing from you…what are you grateful today? Feel free to share below!