Lessons in Happiness

I've been reading and thinking a lot about happiness lately. (I know, how incredibly hippie of me.)

I'll be honest; I have had some very dark days in the past few years. Days where getting out of bed seemed like more work than it was worth. Days where my body would physically ache from the effort of going to work. Days where eating an apple for dinner was hard work. Days where I smiled so hard just so people would assume I was normal and not ask me any questions.

Luckily, I have (mostly) gotten out of that. I am a happier person today than I was 2 years ago and consequentially, also a little bit more philosophical. Age has something do with it as well I suppose.

I have learnt:

·         Happiness is not a destination. I am not going to be happy after I have done this or achieved that. Happiness is every day, and it comes from living my life the way I want to.

·         So, to live the life I want I also need to follow my heart. Life gets in the way (a lot) but it is my life so amidst all the craziness and the inanity of the every day, I need to make my happiness a priority. Following my heart is not as difficult as it sounds.

·         Happiness is personal.  There is no point in going after what I think I'm supposed to do or want because everyone else does. I define my own happiness.

·         Inner peace isn't just a hippie notion. When you're happy, you're at peace. Finding that contentment has to come from within.

·         Change is intimidating but it's also invigorating. I have never regretted trying something new (even if it was a bad experience) so clearly I enjoy risks. I need to challenge myself more.

·         Keep learning. Yes, shiny, pretty, new things make me happy but learning something new, career challenges, inspiring words and intelligent conversations are the ultimate fuel for my soul.

·         Don't be so afraid of sharing, of opening up. I've found letting people in sometimes makes me realise I'm a much luckier, happier person than I know (This is something I am still struggling with but trying hard to get over)

My happiness is mine and I have to remember that.  

Olives can walk!

So last night, there was something on the floor and I thought it was an olive. (We had a Greek salad for dinner and sometimes my food leaves the plate and ends up on the carpet instead of in my mouth).

So, very confidently I grabbed a tissue and went to pick it up. As soon as I touched it, I shrieked. The olive was alive, had legs, was moving and wasn't very olive-y at all!

Meanwhile J is in hysterics because he knew it was a beetle or bug or some sort of horrible insect but enjoyed seeing me so convinced that it was an olive that had traveled from the kitchen, gone around a corner and ended up just outside the bedroom. (What? Olives roll around, they can travel long distances if they're fit and willing.)

I don't think I will be eating olives for a while.

Boys are mean.

Mornings + Cold

So this winter has been ridiculously cold. Ok so may be in Finland it gets to minus 30 and *that's* cold but whatevs. 15 degrees is cold. For Queensland, and for me.

Anyhoo, so in the mornings I stay in the shower until I am dragged out because it's the only happy place in the world. Because there is nothing worse than coming out of the shower into a cold, dreary place known as the Rest Of The Bathroom. But apparently 45 minute showers in the morning make us late for work (Tell me again how adult life is supposed to be fun). So J came up with the idea of dragging the heater into the bathroom before going into the shower. Genius.

This morning, I pressed all its little buttons but the damn heater would not come on. Only obvious explanation for this? J had somehow broken the heater while I was asleep. "What did you do to heater? It's not working...how did you break it"

"I didn't break it. I've been in bed, like you" "No, I'm sure you broke it. You know its cold and I can't have a shower without it. WHY IS IT SOOOOO COLD?" "Are you sure you switched it on?" "Of course, I pressed all the buttons"

"No..I mean at the wall. Did you plug it in?"

"Oh..."

Remember how I said mornings aren't my thing?

Mornings.

I don't deal with them well. I wake up early for work but that's because I have to go be an adult and shiz but left to me I'd rather hibernate till it's spring.

Unfortunately for me, J is quite the morning person. Unfortunately for him, he has to endure these scenes (with variations) almost every morning:

Scene: In bed *alarm goes off*

Me: WHY IS IT RINGING ALREADY? It's dark outside. Did you set it right???
J: Yes. Same alarm, everyday. Same argument, everyday. Wake up.
Me: No. It's not morning yet.
J: Fine. Do you want eggs?
(The man knows me too well, bribing me with food and that)

End scene.

Scene: Getting ready for work

J: *touching my cheek trying to be all affectionate-like*

Me: AAAaaaahhhh WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? IT'S COLD!!!! Don't touch me!

End scene.

Scene: Driving to work

J: *attempting to have a conversation with me and getting responses in grunts and yawns.*

J: You are sooo grumpy in the morning.

R: It's cold and I haven't had my coffee yet, I'm conserving my energy by not talking. Just drive. 

No conversation for the rest of the journey.

End scene.

Honestly, I don't know why the man puts up with me.

When I grow up

I had always imagined when I grew up, I'd turn out to be a polished, well spoken, classy lady who has her shit together at all times. I went to an Irish Catholic all girls' school for Chrissake! When the nuns weren't talking about Jesus, all they taught us was how to be a lady.

Instead I turned out to be me.

• Someone who can't eat a cupcake without getting the frosting all over her face.
• Someone who puts her top on inside out and doesn't notice till someone points it out.
• Someone who tries to get up from her chair whilst still having her headphones (which are plugged into her computer) around her neck. Almost every day.
• Someone who forgets at least one thing on the shopping list (isn't that the point of having a list?)
• Someone who stubs her toe on the bed at least once a week.
• Someone who sometimes tries to answer the phone when the alarm goes off in the morning.
• Someone, who has conversations like this:

J: Do you think Macs will ever take over PCs?
Me: Who's PC? 
J: Umm... Macs? and PCs?
Me: What are you talking about? What's Mac? Mac, as in short machiato, like a coffee?
J: Oookaaay. Are you even thinking?
Me: What? Why? WHO IS PC?
J: I'm just going to wait till it comes to you.
*finally, my brain kicks into gear. Cue, giggle fit*
Me: oooooohhhhhh hahaha.
J: *shakes head*

May be, someday I will grow up and become a lady who thinks before she speaks?

#PhotoADayJune - Days 6, 7, 8 and 9

Been a bit slack putting up the Photo a Day June challenge pictures up on the blog. I'll blame it on being tired and the inability to share straight to my blog via Instagram. Anyway, here's a quick catch up.

Day 6 - Hat

I'm not really much of a hat-wearer. However I am a hoodie-wearer and a hoodie can qualify as a hat right?

This picture is of me in my favourite hoodie. It has been unnaturally cold for the Gold Coast so obviously this hoodie has been getting quite a run lately. I am known to wear this at work even in summer (hood up) as I am always freezing in the office and need to protect myself from the cold aircon. Some of my colleagues even call me Kenny (from South Park). ;-)

Day 7 - Drink

The cold I spoke of continued and after dinner on Thursday, I needed something to warm me up so I convinced J to buy me a cup of hot chocolate from Max Brenner. I don't go to Max Brenner much but when I do, I always get the same thing - the dark hot chocolate with waffle balls. If you haven't had it, you are missing out. It is heaven in a cup.

Day 8 - Six o'clock

Today I almost forgot to put up a picture so I had to recycle one that I've taken before. My alarm goes off at 6 am every work day and when I wake up, the first thing I see is the shelf next to my bed. This is a picture of the shelf which is stacked with my ever multiplying and much prized jewellery collection.

And no, I definitely don't have enough!

Day 9 - Your View Today

I have spent most of my day being a bum on the couch so my view has involved:

1. AFL players and wondering why they must fumble with the ball so. Stupid game. (sorry Victoria)
2. Don (sexist but sexy) Draper
3. Food
4. Did I mention, food?
5. J (when I could take my eyes of aforementioned Don Draper)
6. A painting of tango dancers that J bought in Argentina.

No. 6 seemed to be the obvious choice for the photo since J declined being a model and I was too hungry to take photos of my food earlier today.

Obviously my photography skills do no justice to this painting but it is absolutely beautiful and I do spend a lot of time looking at it, dreaming about winning the lottery and running away to a land far, far away. But until that happens, this painting will have to suffice.

This post is part of the #PhotoADayJune Challenge.

#PhotoADayJune - Sign

This is a sign in the office kitchen (above the toaster, obvs).

About 10 am every morning, is burnt toast time. A lot of people eat their morning tea around this time and the entire office smells like toast.

But apparently burnt toast is srs bsns.

The text on the bottom explains in detail how there have been complaints and also includes a statutory warning about burnt toast being injurious to our health. Especially the people smelling the burnt toast.



 I thought this sign was funny because I can't believe it's actually up there. I mean ok, you may not like the smell of toast but is it really that bad that you would complain about it? There are worse smells. But I suppose it bothers some people.

This post is part of the #PhotoADayJune Challenge.

#PhotoADayJune - Close Up

This is a close up picture of a couple of my favourite silver bangles.

Anyone who knows me, knows how much I LOVE jewellery.

I really miss jewellery shopping in India. It's cheap and its oh-so-pretty! I bought these bangles when I was in India in 2011, from a little store I have been going to since I was about 13 or 14 years old. I hadn't been there since 2007, yet the guy at the shop immediately recognised me (I did after all spend a LOT of money there).

I ended up spending a LOT of money. Again. (surprise surprise) but I cam back with some amazing silver jewellery that I always get compliments for.

This post is part of the #PhotoADayJune Challenge.
 

What's that song again?

You know what's awesome? Technology.

So we're in the car, listening to Triple J.

Me: What's this song again? I really like it.
J: I don't know B..
Me: Oh but I have to know.....

*lightbulb moment*

Out comes smartphone and tap tap tap, SHAZAM (literally), the song is:



Wait. It doesn't end there. Then, le smart phone is even more awesomesauce. It tells me I can listen to the song on Spotify! MIND = BLOWN!

So of course, all weekend I Spotify the shiz out of this song. Never mind that YouTube was just as accessible, I had to Spotify because I could!

Picture this scenario 5 years ago and you'd be hanging for the song to end and keeping your fingers crossed that the radio presenter tells you the name of the song. Or it would slowly eat away your insides until the next time you heard it and may be, just may be,  you would ask and someone would know the name of the song. Pain. Ful.

How awesome is technology?

#PhotoADayJune - On My Plate

This is our dinner tonight - Garlic and thyme roast beef with a side of roast vegetables and gravy.

And because you're asking, it was delish!

This post is part of the #PhotoADayJune Challenge.

Dhoom Machale!

Last night SBS had a new reality show on - Bollywood Star. It's a competition to find a Bollywood star in Australia for one of India's leading movie producers/ directors. Last night was the audition process and it was pretty funny. I am keen to watch more.

After the show, SBS had a Bollywood movie on. Now I'm not usually a Bollywood kinda gal but all the singing and dancing on Bollywood Star got me a bit enthusiastic so I spent my Saturday night watching Dhoom 2. What was funnier though is poor J got stuck watching it with me. I think he enjoyed it and was pretty amused with exactly how far Bollywood stretches the concept of "willing suspension of disbelief."

I was talking to my mum while we were watching the movie and told her J was watching it with me.

Mum: You're making him watch a Bollywood movie? He will get a weird idea about India.
Me: He knows me, he already thinks Indians are weird.
Mum: That's true. 

And now, J has been singing "Dhoom Machale" since last night.

#PhotoADayJune - Empty

It's a cold, rainy miserable Saturday on the Gold Coast and not too many people out and about.

This picture is taken just outside J's house, normally a pretty busy street on a Saturday with heaps of people walking their dogs. Today the dogs have decided to stay home however.

I love this street. Normally I'll leave the door open and I can look out onto the street and just people watch. Dogs and little children. Skateboards and short shorts. Crackheads and fast cars.

It's cold today, the door is shut and it's an empty street. Empty.

This post is part of the #PhotoADayJune Challenge.

#PhotoADayJune - Mornings

Day 1 of the challenge and I didn't have to think twice about what my picture should be today.


I am not a morning person. So much so that J insists on cooking breakfast every morning because when I do it, it takes twice as long. Definitely not complaining about that one!

My body has (very reluctantly) gotten used to waking up very early these days. It’s an occupational hazard for the luxury of being an adult. Doesn’t mean I like it and definitely doesn’t make it any easier getting out of bed. So every morning, I tell myself “there’s coffee at the other end of this” and that helps.

So here’s to morning haters and divine cuppas.

This post is part of the #PhotoADayJune Challenge.

#PhotoADayJune Challenge

I'm doing the #PhotoADayJune challenge.

I have never done one of these challenges before and am quite excited about it.

I will be sharing via this blog or you can also catch me on Twitter (@missRBit) or on Instagram (MissRBit).

This is what June is going to be all about:

If you want more info, FatMumSlim has a detailed explanation on her blog.

I will post my photo for today in a bit.

Mondayitis evermore

Happy Monday! Haha jokes – Monday ain’t never gonna be happy unless it’s a holiday!

Image courtesy: hunchypiper.com

Getting a bit used to these short weeks ever so often…another one coming up next Monday for Labor Day here in Queensland. How good would life be with just a four day week? I would happily work 4x10 hour days if I could have 3 days off. I work almost 9 hours a day now anyway, so whats another hour? In an ideal world....

This weekend was pretty unproductive and I think I procrastinated most of it away. Of course, being unproductive didn't get in the way of enjoying some amazing food. I always joke to J about how much our lives revolve around food but it's true. We make such an effort to eat well and well, nothing makes me happier than a happy tummy.

Here are some of my Instagram (Follow me: missrbit) pictures of some of the good food I enjoyed over the weekend...

Saturday night - Chicken parmigiana at Nobby's Beach Surf Club. It was massive and dripping with gooey cheese, just as a chicken parmy should be.

.

Coffee. The addiction has only intensified over the last couple of years, so much so I have converted J (who previously didn't drink much coffee) to a pretty regular coffee drinker. The Burleigh area on the Gold Coast has heaps of good cafes doing excellent coffee, so every weekend I have plenty to choose from. On Sunday morning, we went to Canteen Coffee, hidden away in a little alleyway off James Street. If you like your coffee strong and your decor retro-hipster-chic, you will love Canteen.

The almond biscotti was good too though it wasn't as biscotti-like as I expected. I'm used to biscotti being hard, softening when you dip into coffee or tea.

Finally, J and I headed to Slurping Panda for Sunday night dinner. Slupring Panda is at Burleigh Heads too, tucked away in the Old Burleigh Theatre Arcade. We had a menu dropped into the mailbox and it looked very interesting so we had to try it out. The menu is a mix of different Asian cuisines, from Thai to Korean, from Japanese to Malaysian and so much more - I really struggled to pick just one dish to order.

We shared the Panko duck and pumpkin rice balls with plum dipping sauce and it was nothing like what I expected. In a good way! The batter in which the balls were fried was unbelievable, crispy and loads of taste!

For mains, we ended up ordering the Beef Pho (Thinly sliced eye fillet and wombok in ginger broth with mung bean noodles) and the Pork Japchae (pork belly, eggplant, basil, chilli, heirloom tomato and gai lan in oyster sauce with sweet potato noodles). Both dishes were incredible. They were full of fresh vegetables which J and I both love and most importantly, they tasted so food. The Pho tasted very typically Vietnamese with its mix of ginger and lime and the mung bean noodles blew me away with their taste! The pork belly is always a crowd favourite and it didn't fail to disappoint. It was sort of like a spicy Thai stir fry but with a twist. I was glad the sweet potato noodles didn't have a sweet potato taste to it (I hate sweet potato with a passion). I loved their slippery, glassy texture however and it mixed in so well with the rest of the fresh vegetables.

I think we're going back for more next weekend.