Would a Time Machine Really Be That Helpful?

I've recently experienced the "run into the ex-boyfriend" encounter; it was at a bar in my neighborhood. Those situations are pretty few and far between in my life, but this guy was one of the good ones. For the longest time, I carried the "What if" feeling about him: what if things had been different? What if I'd fought a little bit harder? What if things had worked out the way we'd initially planned?

As soon as I caught myself opening up that can of worms, I immediately shut it down. You see, we tend to fantasize about situations we didn't get to experience (or at least about the ones that didn't go the way we wanted them to) as if there were something we could have done to change their outcome, how our lives would automatically have turned out so much better. We end up forgetting the reasons why things didn't work out in the first place, literally choose to focus only on the good parts, and a lot of times even embellish them, turning what really happened into some fairy tale style occasion. 

Don't get me wrong, there's absolutely no shame in a little day dreaming or trips down memory lane, especially if those memories really were good ones. But that has to stop the moment we start to question the paths we took and the results of the decisions we made. Truth is we all make our decisions based on what we know at the time, and how we feel. Therefore, there's no point in dwelling in the "had I knowns" or in the "what ifs", simply because we can't change the past. And even if it were possible to go back in time, that would only take us back to what we know and felt when we made those decisions, so pretty much all of our choices would be the exact same. Interesting, don't you all think?

So, if a time machine won't help, then perhaps we should all start looking more within when we're faced with decisions. How we felt about things in the past is no indicator of how we'll feel in the future, and trying to predict how things will turn out is an even greater setup for disappointment. Just think of how many times you didn't wear something you really wanted to because you were afraid of what others would think, and ended up frustrated with the outfit you ended up picking instead. It's happened to me, and I've learned that how I feel is the most important thing to consider when making my decisions. 


Let's all vow to look within ourselves the next time we are faced with a tough (or any) decision. There's no better source of knowledge or courage, and it's also the best guarantee we won't have any regrets. And that goes for everything: from "should I move across the country?" to "do I look good in this swimsuit?" Haha, yes! I had to throw that in there! You all know what I'm about!

I know you all will rise to the occasion the next time you need to make a decision. And it will feel great!! 

Happy Halloween to you all!! Remember to wear whatever costume you feel like, and have all the fun there is to be had. See you all next week!!

The Buddy System

Hi you all,

If you’re Canadian, or have been following the Prime Minister elections, you know that a lot of change is on its way. For the first time in a long time, the Liberal Party been elected with a majority government! Pretty impressive stuff, considering how close the projections were. Hope all you Canadians went out and voted; as the great Mahatma Gandhi said, we must “be the change we want to see in the world”. And whether you voted Liberal or not, the important thing is you got a chance to state your opinion. Stop and think for a second how fortunate we all are just for having the right to do that.

But now that the election is over, does this mean our work is done? Absolutely not! Quite the contrary, actually. It’s one thing to ask for change, but another to actually get up and be a part of it. OK, I get it, we can’t all be politicians; to be honest most of us wouldn’t touch those jobs with a 10 foot pole. But we’re still responsible for monitoring our leaders closely, and keeping them in check. We’re their “accountability buddies”, and because we want to make sure they succeed, we have to make sure we follow up with them, correct?

All this politics stuff got me thinking about accountability partners. Truth is, and studies have showed, that we’re way more likely to succeed in situations where we have not only the support of others, but when we can experience challenges together. The bond created during challenge is so strong, most of us would be very disappointed in letting our accountability buddies down. So basically, we’re setting ourselves up for a way better chance at success if we have someone to either support us through the journey, or run the journey with us. So here’s my question for you all: are you really ready to be the change you’d like to see in your life? If the answer is yes, then either you’ve already chosen an accountability buddy, or you’re going over your list of friends and deciding who it is you’d like to pick. Don’t worry if the answer is no; just knowing that there are changes that you’d like to make is a good start. 

Now, here’s a fun experiment for you: next time you go swimsuit shopping, make a decision that you’ll have a good experience, and take an accountability buddy with you. That way if you stumble upon a bikini that doesn’t look so great, you’ll have someone there to say “on to the next one”, or “maybe we should try another color”, or anything else. The important thing is that we’re keeping a positive mind, which will make finding a swimsuit that you like a much easier and enjoyable task. And let’s face it: wouldn’t it be nice, for a change, to put your swimsuit on, look into a mirror, and the first thing we hear to be a compliment, or some encouragement? If your inner voice still needs some training (and don’t let it get the better of you, btw!!), then let your accountability partner do the work. Trust me, it is WAY more fun, and more likely that you’ll achieve your goal.

Happy Swimsuit Hunting!! And let me know how the experiment works for you all!

From Inner Critic To Inner Cheerleader

Happy, Happy Thursday!!

Not sure if any of you all have seen this Special K commercial, but if you haven't, please do so before you keep on reading.

OK, is it just me or is the "I hate my body moment" coming around way too often? Please tell me this number made you think! I guess what's also scary is that we probably saw that and thought "yeah! That sounds about right!"

Don't feel bad if you did, that is what we call a habit. We eat, sleep and breathe this behavior: to look at ourselves in the mirror, overlook all the positives, and focus strictly on the negatives. Negatives that, most of the times, are way more obvious to us than they are to everyone else. And, negatives according to us; because to some people (and by that I mean a lot of people) the things we like least about ourselves are exactly what they think  makes us beautiful. 

But let's forget about what people think about us for a minute, and focus on something different. If hating our bodies is a habit we've developed, then learning to love our bodies is also possible, correct? What if we took that negative thought we have every single day and changed it to something positive? How big of an impact would that be?

Honestly, huge! Feeling good about yourself unleashes all sorts of positive consequences. It's a ripple effect; one which depends completely on us! Now, if changing a negative thought into a positive one can have such a big change in ourselves, imagine the size of the change if each and every one of us did that exact same thing! 

Even more than owning it all, I'd like for you all to make a moment to think of the amount of change we could generate if we, once a day, thought smiling more, or learning something new, or anything that is considered encouraging. We could dream big and think daily about how to cure cancer, end world hunger, conquer world peace... Wouldn't that be a much better use of our time, and our thoughts?

Yes, I completely agree that we should "tell that inner voice to shut up and proudly own it all", that's what you all have been hearing me say since I started this journey. But I know that we could go beyond that. So I'm counting on you all to dream big, and listen to your inner voice; because it'll be saying: You're awesome! Keep going because you're doing great! 

So here's your homework for the week: let's change the term inner critic (inner voice, little voice inside, etc.) into inner cheerleader, inner support, inner friend, and see what happens. 

See you all soon!! 

Go Out And Seek Inspiration

Hi you all,

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve seen that this week we’ve been looking at some fall colored swimsuits. And although I’ve been inspired by colors that reflected the weather here in Vancouver, I think I need to follow my own advice and let all colors of fall inspire me, not just the ones that reflect the current color of the sky. So there I was, walking my talk and seeking inspiration not just in what I could see, but also in what I’d like to see  and feel. 

There are some that say we attract the things we want in life. I can say that I agree with that, to a certain extent. Of course I feel that we should cultivate positive thoughts and goals, and have them in our minds at all times. But, answer me this: is just thinking about something enough to make it happen? Personally, I don’t think so. And there’s no right or wrong, I think we all feel differently about what is known as the Law of Attraction, but in my case, I decided to go out and look for the inspiration I was seeking, instead of hoping that at some point it would come to me. 

The interesting thing about that process is that, although you have a picture in mind, you really have no idea what to expect. To some that may be a bit outside their comfort zone, but think about it: how often is it that things happen EXACTLY as we expect them to? Not very often, correct? Truth is uncertainty is around us all the time, so we could either embrace it, fear it, or kid ourselves thinking we’re in control of it all. Again, to each their own, but I decided to go with the flow and see where my search for inspiration would take me.

Funny enough, it didn’t take me very far. I’m sure you all remember the blog post about Lace Embrace Atelier, and also the one about Scout Boutique here in Vancouver. So, a couple of days ago, on my way to a bookstore, I past by Scout Boutique’s window and found the inspiration I was looking for. This gorgeous one piece suit that I could just see so many of you in, accessorized perfectly! And, check out the color! Is this fall inspiration or what?

Remember you all: don't wait for inspiration to come your way, go out and look for it! Who knows where you'll end up and what you'll see, but I guarantee you all will enjoy not just the outcome, but the process as well.

To my Canadian readers, Happy Thanksgiving! See you all next week!

To Norway, With Love

Today’s post is based on a true and very recent life experience. 

Although I spend a lot of my downtime with swimsuit related activities, this year I have developed a very guilty pleasure: Netflix! I just love the idea of no commercials, and watching a series from start to finish. Since I don’t spend a lot of time watching TV, when I do I like to get as much good stuff as I can in there, so no commercials allowed. It was during one of my Netflix binges that I got hooked on a show called Lilyhammer, a show starred by no other than Steven Van Zandt, member of Bruce Springsteen’s band. To be honest I’m not really sure why I chose it, but I am really glad I did. The show has the beautiful sceneries, very sharp writing, and super talented actors switching between Norwegian and English. It is a gooder, you all should definitely check it out. Just FYI I just started season 3, so please no spoilers!

So, a few days ago I got received an email from a family member, stating that some of her relatives were in Vancouver, and if I could perhaps show them around. As you may have noticed, I love to show off this gorgeous city, so I of course said yes, and on Sunday went to meet the new members of my extended family. So we meet, head to Seasons in the Park for brunch, and as we’re chatting and sipping mimosas, I learn that live in no other than… NORWAY!! How cool is life when it throws these fun little coincidences at you? And you may be wondering why that didn’t occur to me in the first place, so let me explain. The family member who originally contacted me is from New Zealand, so I didn’t think twice about where these two lovely ladies were from, just assumed they were Kiwis as well. I wasn’t completely wrong; one is a kiwi but has lived in Norway for a long time, but the other is a true Norwegian. Anyway, I know it may not sound as exciting to some of you, but I was pretty pleased that it just so happened that when I got  hooked on a show from Norway, I also met some extended Norwegian family members. Definitely made me smile!

So, in honor of Norway, my new extended family members, and the pleasant surprises in life, I would like to introduce you all to Monica Hansen. Monica is a famous Norwegian model and miss Norway 1997, and is now designing her own line of swimwear. Aiming at the fashionable and trendy 20’s and 30’s crowd, Monica has truly been walking her talk by posing in swimsuits she’s created, and is scheduled to have her website fully running by October of this year. Which means that from now until the end of the month, we could visit her site and check out her designs. For now, check out her slideshare, tumblr and blog for more info.

Norge er et vakkert land!!