Life | 26 and moving forward

I am now 26, which feels no different than 25, and no different than 24 felt at the time. 

Life is always a journey, one that has ups and downs, good and bad parts, fears and insecurities, but it's a hell of a ride. 

Life | Being Hungry

I know what you think, but it is not THAT kind of HUNGRY. It is the kind of hungry that makes you act and do more things because you are so ready to start a new chapter and have new challenges.

Doing honor to the great mind behind the quote:

Life | 25 years

July 10, 2016

I turned 25.

25 years of happy moments, some sad but in the most part of it, an amazing time to learn and grow.

Birthdays | Mom

On Monday March the 21st, my mom had her birthday and we celebrated in family, having a little dinner and eating a dessert I put together on her request.

Special Occasions

This month is one full of love and family events.

For me, the most important ones are my parents birthdays which are exactly 11 days apart (my dad's on the 10th and my mom's on the 21st) and also my grandparents wedding anniversary (on the 19th).

Another special occasion has been the wedding of one of my University friends, which I met 5 years ago, in a class and noticed her well put personality. She just speaks her mind if something or someone is just talking nonsenses and she, is THE BOSS. She is a very special person so she deserves all the happiness in the world by the side of her now-husband and their little princesses.

Mandalas

Remember that time I wrote about how am I a kid at Heart? Well, this is one of those times again, but now, with a different turning point. I like coloring and painting and expressing myself with art in any way or form. 

Photo credits: Dion Dior Art & Illustration

Yay for a New Year!

2016 will be an awesome year.

I have come up with several new ideas for this brand new year, which I am pretty excited about and can't wait to start planing and working to achieve my goals. 

2015 Reflections

It was a great year. 

A lot of important events happened. 

I will not write a lengthy post about it all. I just wanted to highlight how grateful I am for everything that has happened. 

New people came into my life, left a mark and then just left leaving a mark in my soul, teaching me to be always true to who I am, not to live up to some crazy expectations. I grew up. 

Christmas Party

On Friday, we had the annual End of Year Party of the Organization I work for and this year, we celebrated not only the end of the year, but also how we broke a Guinness World record. It was not an amazing one but we can certainly say we did it in style. We gained the recognition for "The Largest bowl of Quinoa" in the world, and it was something to talk about.

On the other hand, we had the opportunity to all be gathered together and have a good time with good food, good friends and amazing music.

I had a total pampering day before the party, which was an amazing way to start the night.

Secret Santa at work

Let the Christmas celebrations begin! 

On Thursday we had a little gathering at the office to make our secret santa gift exchange and it was an amazing time. 

Transitions.. Final destination!

So a couple weeks ago I announced the transition from blogger to wordpress into a .com webhosting and the help of my beloved team from FlexDev. 

Finally, the transition has been completed! www.stephaniearabella.com is finally up and running! So head over there  and check it out! 

There you will be able to find your favourite posts from all times since we've been together.

It has been a great journey and every change that is going on right now is all thanks to you guys and thank you for the support all these years! You have seen this blog transition and change and reinvent many times! And the end result is finally the one i have always seeked. 

It is a monday to remember, it will pass on to the history of events that have been a very big part of my life. 

Woth nothing else to add, i will leave you the link for the blog: 

www.stephaniearabella.com 

Have a great day! 

xo, 

S.A

Today's rambles

It's been a couple of complicated days but amazing ones. I can't complain. Things have been running their course and time has been flying by really fast! 

Summer is amazing, the beach is another universe, where you can relax and let go of everything you have been going through in the week at work, with personal life, with friends, with lovers, with random people, with brothers, sisters, etc. 

My weekend went well filled with friends. I have been sleeping nearly 5 hours each night (or less which is ugh but somewhat fun) which is making me a little more sleepy than normal, but I am not complaining. 

This past days, I have been having a bit of a temper, my natural annoying self is coming through and sometimes it surprisses me in ways I have never imagined. Also, sorry for rambling and going from subject to subject, I have been hooked with "How I met your mother" and almost finishing the series. I don't know what took me so long to finally sit and watch it. I don't regret any of the sleepless nights and good laughs I've had lately. 

In another note, I have to say that having to be organized is driving me crazy and making my head hurt, I have no time to keep everything clean or in order, and my desk at home is just so messy it drives me nuts. I can't believe that I am saying this on the internet, but YES. I am guilty of being messy. But I am sure I can't be the only one, right?

Well i think there are some more things that i want to say but, this is too random right now. I will leave the rest for another post.

Have a great day! it is the middle of the week already. how fast does the days are going by?

Change in life.

The more things I try to get done, the more things I start imagining and the more things I want to do. 

There is no exact balance to what I do. I go out, I work, I am trying to manage in a better way this blog and also trying to get some other projects done therefore I am battling with the fact that I like sleeping a lot and the fact of having way more things to do than usual. 

Transitions and changes are tough, but if you have a support system right by your side (your loved ones, either family, friends and a love interest) which is strong and are there for you no matter what, it will be much easier. 

Picture from here

So today, I want to tell you all that changes are good. Don't be affraid of them. Take the chances that you are presented with and never look back. Everything is going to go great as long as you work hard. But I have to let you know that failure is a possibility, not because you didn't try hard enough, or work hard enough or have the passion enough. It is there, always present, but use it to learn from it and get the strength to pick yourself back up and keep going. 

Here is where I get to motivate me, and do some changes. The blog will be changing. It will be transitioning into something else, without loosing its main goal. Starting with the name, which is going to be a little different than it has been now. This change might be visible in the next few days and will go more accordingly to who I am, and my signature in the internet world. 

To begin with just telling you this about the name, is amazing. There are far more things that are coming, but fear not, I will be spilling the beans little by little. 

I hope you all have a great weekend. Valentine's day is tomorrow, big plans ahead. and have a great time with the ones you love the most! 

Journal

Writing is a way to escape from a part of my life and a way to relax after several events going on with it. Sometimes we write a journal, a diary, moods, on paper, on a sticky-note, in our phones, in a tablet, on a word document, in twitter, in facebook and all the social media which involves the art of drawing thoughts with the written word. 

For me, writing in a more public way in the internet is a risk, of people I know reading everything that goes through my mind and even sometimes people who I have no idea on who they are read all of it and I am not sure why they keep reading. 

After some time being mute in the blog, my feeling was "man I miss this". This is my journal, my everyday escape from a part of reality which I don't hate, but neither loath to death. Writing is a passion. I have several projects which involve the written word in several aspects, where I can pour my imagination and my experience with the one love I have. 

Here a fragment of one of my most secret projects yet, which I won't reveal just yet, but wanted to have it on record here. 

"What is a dream after all? A dream is what your heart desires and your brain makes an image of it and flashes it while sleeping, or even while being awake, like an endless movie that just needs to continue." 

The writing might be sloppy, but it is still a working project which needs to be taken care of in order for it to grow. 

I feel somewhat attached to the story line which I have been creating for a while for dreams we dream and lives impossible to avoid. 

I hope you liked a little of it. 

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own, the extract is part of a project I'm working on at the moment. It is all my creative work. 

Almost over and a Thank You

I know it has been way too long since my last post, but I have a pretty exciting announcement! I am officially done with my university life work, the last things that are coming up in line next are FINAL exams, which I am not that worried about but I can easily study and just focus on them. 

This past weeks have been an emotional roller coaster but in a good way, both for my career life and my personal life in which the things and the people surrounding me have helped me to find myself in the way and maybe not letting some bad things get to me. 

Today I can say that being a senior at University has been a lot of fun and challenging, even more challenging than at the beginning of the path to obtain a degree, but it is all worth the struggle and the sweat and the tears (specially the last bit of all). You have no idea how many times the thought of quitting has gone through my mind, but there always was something insignificant but great that would lift me up like a little ray of sunlight coming through my window in the darkest of days and a simple smile from the ones who love me and whom I love back. 

Having supporting friends and family has always made my day a little easier whenever I felt like not wanting to do anything else but crawl back into my bed and never leave it again. I am so thankful for each and everyone who has crossed my path, even if it was just for a couple seconds at the street, or for the last 22-almost-23-years of my life. So thank you if you are just here for a flash and thank you for making a difference in my day to day. 

To recap a little of my past weeks, lets just say that it has been amazing. New people, new projects, new aspirations and a whole lot more to life than just living it. 

It may seem that this post has become a little cheese ball of feelings, but I hope you are still sticking around reading it. If so, thank you again ! (have you noticed I am a little grateful for everything?). 

Lessons have been learned in just a short period of time. Friends have become closer to a point where family is their next status. Teachers becoming mentors. Relationships have come and gone but always will remain as a part of my story (way too much drama back then). Family. Bosses that are more like friends. Co-workers who understand you and teach you on the way being friends and family at the same time. Opportunities. Feeling loved and respected and feeling that you have left a mark on somebody's heart.

And to all the people portrayed and who made it into this cheese ball of cheesiness of pictures. Sorry I'm not sorry for putting you out there in the internet for you are the most important thing that has happened to me. These are just some of the pictures of the journey, and if you don't find yourself here, it's not because I don't love you (cause I do and more than you can imagine) but because there are waaaay to many cute pictures and my blog may crash from the cuteness. 

January Diary 2014

After being lost for about a month, things have been pretty great.

I have had awesome experiences both in my personal life and in my work life. People has come and gone, leaving great opportunities for me to learn and grow and apply the knowledge for better. 

Somethings I've learned from them: 

1) Sometimes words don't have an actual meaning. Cause they don't and that is how it is. 

2) If you want something, don't wait for it to fall from the sky, an action is better than just sitting around waiting, it will lead you to the result you actually want. 

3) Things happen for a reason, it could be for better or worse, but it in the end, everything falls into place. 

4) Family is the most important thing in life. They are your support system at all time 24/7 all 360 days of the year with no holidays in between. 

5) Some friends become family. See point 4)

6) Actions say more than words do. 

7) You have to be yourself. At every moment, every time, no matter who you meet. They either love you or hate you, keep the ones who do love you. 

I'd make a 10 thing list, but for the moment, 3 are missing, which will need a review before posting! sometimes putting yourself out there is no better, but it may help. (I'll make an update later) 

January was a great month, a great learning experience and a great time. I hope the rest of the year is as good and as fruitful. 

here a few of my favorite things. 

 

Have a nice Sunday everyone!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2013

It is that time of year again and I wanted to say happy thanks giving day, the day to be thankful for everything that you have specially the people you surround yourself with let it be friends, family and more!

I am thankful for each one of you who are reading this blog at the moment, and of those not reading it too, and for every little chance that life has given me to be there for the ones I love and to be almost finishing up my career which is going to be the next big milestone in my life at the time. I am also thankful because everyday I get to see amazing things happen and of the great things that are to come. 

Keep that in mind. 

now a funny thing I found! ENJOY 

I hope you have an awesome time :) 

How to deal with...

I should warn you..This was written a couple days ago when my stress level was on it's peek. I was hesitant to post it, but I will anyways cause they were my most genuine feelings at that moment. Right Now I am feeling good and loving some me time. 

Friends drama is one thing and Family drama is another whole different thing. There are good days, bad days and the days in between. I am on a stress note here, since Monday I have been having anxiety and a reoccurring small headache. Plus work, plus university PLUS a household that seems to be falling apart because we can't deal enough with the things we have to do, is just not doing it for me, I can't concentrate, I can't sleep much and that is something I cannot cope with. I can barely do a thing on here but the people who are supposed to make the decisions are just not making them. I sometime wished that I could just go to sleep and make it all go away, the problems, the anxiety, the stress. 

Don't get me wrong, I am trying to hold it together, but today I just can't, I can't do it any more.  And here is my small rant about my life at the moment. 

I have been a good daughter (at least I try my best), a good student (which my grades can speak for themselves) and a good friends (to those who really matter to me, at least I am trying hard not to neglect them). All this is just starting to seem to me that I can't cope with some of the real stress-factors going on right now. I just want to give up and catch a plane to an almost deserted Island with a good book, some music and tons of sunscreen and do NOTHING. NOTHING at all. I need my peace of mind right now, which seems to be just slipping through my fingers every second that goes by.

That was the end, at least of my rant about how awful my life felt at that time, I didn't even finished writing this because I was so angry and broken. But it felt good to release all that negativity that was floating around my head. 

I hope you had a great Monday and keep up positive energy coming your way.


picture from here.

Balance it out

I should be writing a lengthy paper right now. But I am not inspired. Period. I had a difference of opinion early in the day and it really made me think.



We are sometimes so involved in everything we do, call it work, classes, being in love, or whatever, that sometimes we just need to breath for a bit, and relax, even if it means 5 minutes to just have a blank mind and do nothing and just stare at the ceiling like it is the most amazing thing you've ever seen. Well, I am taking a break for about 10 minutes which is the amount of time I normally take to write a pretty random blog post like this, this one came out of the blue and I said, "Screw the paper! I will just write this and take a deep breath!" Since I have been neglecting you guys a little (read: more than usual) I wanted to communicate and free myself a bit.

Back to the point, finding balance is like a never ending decision making. Either you have one thing or another, let me illustrate you:

Either you sleep when you have the time, or you don't sleep and go hang out with people, if you hangout, then you don't sleep. Not a good combination for those who study, work and want to have a social active life. Then sleep is definitely compromised.

But sometimes no sleep is not good for your sanity, you'll end up treating everyone badly, and perform poorly in everything you do.

I have a post in mind to follow this one and it involves a very brilliant 31 year old entrepreneur, and you'll see what I am trying to say.

For now, I am wrapping up this ramble and let you be done with the torture of reading it hahah!

Have a great day

Week in review (March 11-17 2013)

I had a great weeks you guys!

I met with a lot of awesome people, help my bestie score dates with the guy she likes, had a BBQ with some of my friends from school, ate macaroons, had lunch and started classes at Uni. 

Green tea Macaroon <3

It is all a big circle, you meet and greet and wait and meet again and I am loving that there is still great people in my life to share it with. 

On Monday and Tuesday the routine was on going to work and then home. On Wednesday the journey began going to work, meeting with the bestie for lunch and help her decide her outfit for her date later that night and then home to change and go to class. I am seriously trying to figure out what is going to look like when my school work and actual work get to the crazy point. If you know what I mean. 

The week went by smoothly. On Friday I had the evening free and that is when some friends and I met up to prepare a good old BBQ to get reunited and have a little fun catching up and  eating. It all gets better with some food in the way (and alcohol too). 

 

loving our faces! 

Catching up with the friends is always a good way to relax. The next day I had a a nice evening with the family for my uncle's birthday. 

hii! there's me on the left! 

And today I had to go vote, wait in line for 40 minutes and then mark the sheet in 30 seconds. The longest wait ever. 

But all in all, it was a great week. I have had a really good time.