Daily Life - Blog Posts

Was in the middle of stripping my bed when someone decided to lay directly on top of the blanket I was in the middle of folding...

Then decided he liked to window better because of the sun...

Siblings

Me to my brother: *waving a straw. Wingardium leviosa!

My brother: what do you expect me to do?

Me: fly bitch fly.

Cats vs my mum

Cat: claws at the carpet.

My mum: no! You ratbag!

Cat: glares and pointedly continues.

My mum: You’re never gonna make friends because you’re an arse.

Me: ouch harsh*.

yo quiero hablar español contigo mi amiga ❣️

Win win for both

Outfit inspiration 4 interview with modelling agency

Good morning, blog. Got an interview with an agency at 2 pm and i'm literally extremely nervous even though i've done plenty of castings & modelling work in the past but it's better to be prepared. I'm thinking I should put the ankle boots & skinny jeans combo to use with this. Currently BLASTING music in an attempt to get my mood up.

Does anyone believe in this superstition- each smile brings tears! Like that make life too scary.

You think at some point you'll figure life out. But it's doesn't happen. I've been waiting, patiently, hopefully. But it's the same as before. I have my life in my hands, but I can't seem to place the pieces together. There are no patterns or silhouettes in there. No path, nor a destination. Like a silent river that flows till it meets the sea....my life is flowing till it meets the sky.

I've given up on trying to figure it out. I shall wait under the shade of the afternoon slumber, rest and wakeup while the world goes on. Let it unfold on its own. And I'll gladly welcome it home.

With a tired sigh, you tell me that life has become pointless now and that you've forgotten how it felt to be alive. You tell me you don't know where to find the next chapter of this monotonous life of yours.

I hope you find it in between your favourite book, with pages folded that remind you of how beautiful life sometimes can be.

I hope you find it the way the flowers in your homemade pots bloom late in the afternoon, spreading a faint fragrance that people will soon come to associate you with.

I hope you find it in the sweetness of the tea that you have in the mornings, just before you walk out to meet your best friend.

I hope you find it in the warmth of your blankets at night, when the moon filters in through the open window and falls on the suncatcher beside your table.

I hope you find it in the familiar tunes of your childhood songs that always adds a little bit of yellow to your eyes.

I hope you find it in the swift winds of the early winter mornings, where the steam from your cup fogs up your glasess as you sit across and smile at the little boy who claims he is Peter Pan.

I hope you find your next chapter in all the tiny nooks and corners of the world that hides the most beautiful moments that this life can come up with.

You know where to look. But you've been looking with your heart closed.

Embrace the Adventure: The Audacity of Living and Working

Life is an exhilarating journey filled with countless opportunities and challenges. In the realm of work, we often find ourselves navigating through uncharted territories and pushing the boundaries of our comfort zones. It takes audacity to embrace the adventure that living and working bring. In this blog, we will explore the audacious spirit required to embark on this incredible journey, and how it can transform our lives and careers.

Embracing Uncertainty:

Life and work are inherently uncertain, and it is precisely this uncertainty that makes them so thrilling. Embracing the adventure means stepping out of our comfort zones and embracing the unknown. It's about recognizing that growth and fulfillment lie just beyond the horizon of familiarity. By cultivating a mindset of curiosity and adaptability, we can navigate the unpredictable waters of life and work with confidence.

Taking Calculated Risks:

Living and working audaciously involves taking calculated risks. It's about daring to dream big, setting ambitious goals, and pursuing them with determination. Sometimes, it means leaving behind the safety of what we know to pursue new opportunities. While risks can be intimidating, they often lead to the most rewarding experiences and personal growth. By embracing calculated risks, we open ourselves up to a world of possibilities that can transform our lives.

Embracing Failure as a Stepping Stone:

Failure is an inevitable part of any audacious adventure. Rather than seeing failure as a setback, we can choose to view it as a stepping stone towards success. Embracing failure means learning from our mistakes, adapting our strategies, and persevering in the face of adversity. By reframing failure as an opportunity for growth, we can build resilience and turn setbacks into stepping stones towards future triumphs.

Cultivating a Growth Mindset:

An audacious approach to living and working requires us to cultivate a growth mindset. It's about believing in our ability to learn, adapt, and develop new skills. By embracing challenges, seeking feedback, and continuously expanding our knowledge, we can unlock our full potential and seize opportunities that come our way. A growth mindset empowers us to overcome obstacles and embrace the adventure of personal and professional development.

Finding Balance and Well-being:

While audacity is essential in our pursuit of a fulfilling life and career, it's equally important to find balance and prioritize our well-being. Embracing the adventure doesn't mean sacrificing our mental and physical health. It means recognizing the importance of self-care, setting boundaries, and nurturing our relationships. By finding harmony between our personal and professional lives, we can sustain our audacity and continue to thrive.

In the end...

Living and working audaciously is an ongoing journey that requires courage, resilience, and a sense of adventure. By embracing uncertainty, taking calculated risks, learning from failure, cultivating a growth mindset, and prioritizing well-being, we can fully embrace the audacity of living and working. So, let's embark on this exhilarating adventure, step into the unknown, and unlock the incredible potential that lies within us. Embrace the audacity, and let your life and work become a testament to the power of embracing the adventure!

Mel xoxo

Você aceita pequenas coisas porque acredita que é isso que merece. Você merece tanto, acredite em você.

Pensando em como é difícil não nos cobrarmos tanto. É até engraçado pensar que sabemos que essa é a nossa única vida e mesmo assim, a desperdiçamos sempre. Eu sinto a minha vida passar a cada momento e eu a perder pouco a pouco. Me perdendo de mim, do que eu sonhei, deixando de viver por medo. A cada dia que passa eu continuo só tendo o hoje e mesmo assim eu ainda o desperdiço. A verdade é que eu queria tanto, mas o que eu faço pra ter? Quero me sentir viva.

Time is hard for dreamers.

let it be.

How to Grow Up

A guide on how to grow up. It was originally posted by @/friendliness but half the links were broken. So I took what links weren't broken and added other links and more things to know.

This is USA based resources

Personal

Reasons to Stay Alive – A Tumblr post of 116 reasons to stay alive by @/friendliness.

How to Get Better At Asking for Help – Website is Harvard Business Review. The article is “5 Ways to Get Better At Asking for Help” by Wayne Baker.

What to do if you Can’t Afford Therapy – Website is Psych Central and the article is by Steven Rowe.

How to Quit Smoking – “The 22 Best Ways to Quit Smoking” by Debra L. Gordon and David L. Katz M.D. from the Healthy Digest.

How to Legally Change your Name – Website is Forbes.

Wanna Learn Something New? – A Tumblr post made by @/hamletthedane with various new things to try from language learning to ballet.

Free Harvard Courses – Harvard University’s free online courses.

Getting a New Computer? – A quick and dirty comprehensive guide by WIRED on what to look for.

How to Sew – Website is Autodesk Indestructibles. The article is “How to Sew” by Jessyratfink. Having a small sewing kit (that you can pick up from nearly any craft store) is super handy and has saved my life and clothes.

What to Look For in Clothes – A YouTube video by Alyssa Beltempo titled “How to Identify High Quality vs. Poor Quality Clothing | Slow Fashion”. Here’s a WikiHow [x] if a YouTube video isn’t your style.

Home

What’s a mortgage? – Website is realtor.com and the page is called “What is a Mortgage? Home Loan Basics Explained” by Cathie Ericson.

First Apartment Checklist – A checklist PDF. Here’s another link to a Tumblr checklist [x] 

What to Ask Landlords Before Renting? – “25 Questions To Ask a Landlord When Renting a Home” by Morgen Henderson.

What’s Renter’s Insurance? – Website is Forbes Advisor. The article is by Jason Metz and titled “How to Get Renters Insurance”.

Plant Care – A master list of how to care for plants made by @/difficults

Job

Time Management – Website is Entrepenuer and has 10 time management tips. One I personally recommend is keeping a physical calendar book on hand. I keep mine in my bag with a designated pen.

Finding the right job – Website is The Muse and it has 13 free career assessment tests.

Make a resume – Website is Resume Now. Many hirers look at your name, the middle of the page (where your experience list is) and skim the rest.

Job Interview Tips – Website is Linkedin. The article is titled “10 Job Interview Tips to Land The Career of Your Dreams” by Caren Merrick.

How to Write a Cover Letter – Website is The Writing Center. University of Winsconsin, Madison. It’s titled “Writing Cover Letters” and I can’t find the author.

Money

Couponing! – Website is Coupon Database :: Southern Savers. It has a list of mobile apps for coupons to places.

Call 211 for Help – the website leads to 211.org. It's anonymous and can help you get connected to food programs, paying bills and things like doctor appointments. Here’s a Tumblr post about it [x] by @/poessionisamyth

Groceries! – This is a Tumblr meme post, but scrolling through tags/reblogs/replies and there’s plenty of good tips. The post is by @/charlotten

What To Do if You Can’t Pay Your Bills – Website is Nolo. The article is “When You Can’t Pay Your Bills: Thiings To Know” that was updated by Amy Loftsgordon. 

Are You Paying Too Much for Your Phone Bill? – An article by Beht Beverman titled “How Much is Too Much to Pay for a Cell Phone Bill?”.

54 Ways to Save Money – Website is America Saves.

How to Do Taxes – Website is Wiki-How.

The 70/20/10 Method – Website is Business Insider. The Article is “A Beginners Guide to the 70-20–10 Budgeting Method” by Paul Kim.

Side Hustle Ideas – Website is Forbes. “30 Side Hustle Ideas To Make Extra Money In 2024” by Krista Fabregas.

Emergency

Your Rights When a Cop Pulls you Over – Website is Business Insider. Cops are allowed to lie to you, and they will, so be careful.

Hotline List – The website is DoSomething.org. Depression/Suicide, domestic abuse, child abuse and runaway/homeless/and at-risk youth hotlines.

What to Keep in Your Car – Website is MentalFloss. I live in a snowy area that gets blizzards and bad ice. I keep blankets, water and other aids in my car as well as a knife and road flare. I also own a self jumping car battery and it has saved my ass more than once. Heimlich Maneuver – A one minute video by the Mayo Clinic.

The Heimlich Maneuver on Yourself – A one minute video by The List Show TV.

What to Keep in Your Wallet – Website is PureWow. The article is by Rachel Bowie. Keep your drivers license, medical insurance card, and an emergency contact in your card. If you have a pet home alone make sure that you have a card detailing this. Free printable one here [x]

Traveling

Packing List – Website is Smarter Travel.

Traveling with Little to No Money – Website is Nomadic Matt.

How to Pack a Suitcase – Website is Real Simple. The article is by Thersa O’Rourke.

How to Apply for a Passport – Website is WikkiHow.

Making a Travel Budget – Website is Travel Made Simple. “How to Make a Travel Budget” by Ali Garland

one of the oldest human needs is having someone to wonder where you are when you don't come home at night - margaret mead

the sweet scent of cigarettes and semen on your lips

250217/26

30-39/100 days of productivity

song of the week: b2b-charli xcx

it's been over a week since i last posted. i have been so stressed for my calculus midterm. i did over 250 integrals in five days, staying up until 4 am every day or not sleeping at all. my physics midterm got pushed to after the break so now i have three midterms back to back.

just had my calculus midterm last night and it honestly did not go well. this past week leading up to and after my exam definitely took a toll on me mentally, physically, and emotionally which undoubtedly affected my exam. but i'm going to try and stay motivated for my other classes and get a better mark on the calculus final.

i have so many lab reports and proposals to write now but at least reading week is next week and i'll be going home to see the sun.

pictures:

walking home after my midterm

6 am after studying all night

integrals on the classroom blackboard at 3 am (the janitor forgot to lock the door)

practice questions an hour before my midterm with friends

250213/16

26-29/100 days of productivity

song of the day: hypnotized- minh

i might be cheating by summarizing multiple days but i really don't have the motivation to post every day.

spent the weekend studying for my physics midterm. went to the bar and a concert over the weekend which i enjoyed immensely. also viewed an apartment which i might sign soon: i really liked it (huge modern open kitchen, washing and drying machine, quiet... what more can one ask for).

my school has called a snow day for tomorrow so now my both physics midterm and chemistry lab have been pushed to next week... same week as my calculus midterm. just amazing. and just after my biology lab last week got pushed as well.

i am currently feeling very unmotivated, evident by how i have not been posting. but i know that i have to study or my calculus mark will be worse than last semester's so tomorrow i will force myself to walk through the blizzard to study at a cafe. i am feeling quite confident about physics however i still have not fully formatted my crib sheet. so i will do that during my study breaks tomorrow.

slight vent: a lot of my classes have been getting cancelled recently and it's really frustrating because i studied for these midterms (i was even doing physics at the bars) and now my entire study plan has been thrown out the window. also online classes and meetings are just so draining. it's really miserable to be constantly freezing then trek through a meter of snow in the rare cases when i get out of the house. i can't wait for summer. my mood is only boosted by the big glass of red wine i had last night and the prospect of hot matcha tomorrow.

images: very out of tune piano in the physics building, however still beautiful. a bagel cafe study session with a friend (im going there again tomorrow). roses i bought myself on valentines. unfortunate car.

250212

25/100 days of productivity

slow day today. finished my biology assignment and started working on a piece for an art competition. did a chemistry quiz and went to see an apartment. did some calculus.

250210

24/100 days of productivity

song of the day: good kid- kendrick lamar

had a very stressful lab today and got less work done then i would've liked.

academic: worked on my biology assignment and did some calculus review. worked on my lab report.

tomorrow: chemistry quiz, finish biology assignment, chemistry notes.

250208/9

22-23/100 days of productivity

song of the day: open hearts- the weeknd

completed a 17 hour 2 day first aid course this weekend. got my certification for working as a first aid responder in my school's first aid club next semester. caught up on my calculus and did notes. finished 75% of my calculus problem sets. finished my chemistry pre lab. finished two physics assignments. am now two weeks behind in chemistry but my next midterm is after my reading week so i think i'll focus on my calculus midterm since i still haven't done any practice problems. overall i had fun this weekend, my course was genuinely really fun and i made a lot of new friends.

250206

21/100 days of productivity

song of the day: big sleep- the weeknd

pretty tiring day today. my ceiling light is still out (it has been a week).

academic: completed two pre labs and a lab and a lab report. finished my biology essay assignment that's due tomorrow (i've been putting it off since i've had midterms). caught up on calculus since i've had to skip this week for midterms. got two math problem sets assigned at once and due at the same time which is just plain ridiculous.

research: our wet lab data is finally starting to look okay. our adhesive still isn't strong enough but at least the graph looks like a graph. i'm still editing my article which is due in a week.

self care: cleaned my room and finally got rid of the salt snow dirt stains on my floor.

tomorrow: have a physics lab. i need to catch up on chemistry and biology. also have a first aid course this weekend so i should review for that. also going out to celebrate my birthday with some hotpot!

250205

20/100 days of productivity

song of the day: ashes and blood-arcane

had my chemistry midterm today. i woke up 15 minutes before the exam and sprinted across campus in 3 minutes. i was running on pure adrenaline all evening and had an epiphany during the exam that made me feel like walter white. catching up on all my assignments and pre labs right now. stuff to do: biology pre lab, physics pre lab, biology essay, chemistry pre lab, watch three biology lectures (i skipped class), catch up on a week of chemistry.

tomorrow: biology lab, finish physics pre lab.

250204

19/100 days of productivity

song of the day: cry for me- the weeknd

studied until 3 am for chemistry. did some practice midterms and rewatched all my lectures.

250203

18/100 days of productivity

song of the day: cry for me- the weeknd

spent 11 hours studying for chemistry today. finished all of my practice problems. going to office hours tomorrow and doing the practice midterms and I should be all set. also did two sets of calculus notes and some calculus problems. went to an amazing conference on sustainability and the keynote speech was very inspiring. I wish that I had more chances to interact with things like this as a stem major. ft. my campus squirrels

250202

17/100 days of productivity

song of the day: two- bbno$

over 8 hours of studying for chemistry today! i did so many practice problems my brain is barely working now. just finishing up a physics discussion assignment because i completely forgot about it... oops. made a little list of concepts to review tomorrow.

my ceiling light has been out for the past 3 days and my room is literally freezing... good thing i went apartment hunting for an hour instead of studying today.

tomorrow: going to an 11 hour conference but i think i'll leave early to study for my midterm.

240201

16/100 days of productivity

song of the day: abyss- the weeknd

feeling better today so went to my lab workshop. actually threw away the flow through while doing pcr so that was really fun. luckily I have enough so I don’t need to restart. I want to get lots of sleep before my midterms so I’ll leave my chemistry review to tomorrow.

240131

15/100 days of productivity

wasn’t feeling very well today after running errands and having labs all day. still went to my evening tutorial but sleeping early tonight.

250130

14/100 days of productivity

finished lab report, started my chemistry midterm review

250129

13/100 days of productivity

song of the day: spartacus: ballet suite no. 2:1. adagio of spartacus and phrygia- aram khachaturian

woke up late and had to skip my biology lecture. went to my next lecture and headed to the library to do work. wifi went out campus wide when i was submitting my research application so i was struggling to connect to my data for two hours.

academic: finished my biology pre lab. attended a networking event with some professors and had a fun time with my chemistry professors.

tomorrow: biology post lab, physics problem set, physics pre lab, review for chemistry midterm.