What’s more important in life?

I saw this photo on a blog that I love  and it honestly didn’t take me long to put these in order.

My imediate response was the following:

1. Health

2. Happiness

3. Love

4. Money

5. Fame

For me, there’s no way to be happy with anything in life if you’re not healthy. This is both mental and physical. Sickness is no joke, neither is not having health insurance to even be treated for it.  Sooooo….trying to maintain a healthy life should be given. If you’re healthy, you’re happy

Love, well it’s one of those things that should come before money because what’s monetary wealth without something deeper? I know it’d be great to have BOTH, but it doesn’t always work that way. And well, that’s fine with me! I’d rather not have the superficial value of money, without someone to love–and that includes the love of family and friends, not just a significant other. Money without love doesn’t equal happiness to me which is the MOST important.

And for real, who would list fame as the most important?? I don’t even want to know….

xo,

CAM

*image credit: http://www.marcandangel.com/2012/02/23/40-photo-illustrated-questions/

Listen to this: Emeli Sandé

Ok, so first of all–her live voice is amaaaazing! Secondly, I don’t care how many times I have to say it, but…I just LOVE this woman!!! She recently won the Critics Choice award at The Brits, and you know…that’s kind of a big deal. Past winners were Florence + The Machine, Ellie Goulding, Jessie J and this lady by the name of Adele! So yeah…it’s BIG.

Some people were just BORN to sing, and she’s one of them. And the best thing about Emeli, aside from her hair and style, is that her songs       tells stories of something other than the typical stuff you hear on radio now. No, she’s not all about sad love songs a la Adele (whom I’m also obsessed with.) No, it’s not about sex and rude boys (no offense to my girl Rih Rih.) I know it can’t only be me who feels that she’s alluding to God in her brilliant song “Next to Me”. Seriously, Emeli is such a breath of fresh air! England gets her first, but when she makes it to the U.S. I just know she’s going to be BIG! I want her to get all the success she deserves.

I am anxiously awaiting for the U.S. release of her album in June!

*by the way, this video posted  is a Coldplay cover*

xo,

CAM

Dreaming of London

This time last year I was studying for my postgrad degree at a university in Southwest London. It was such an amazing experience that I at first took for granted. One thing I regret about my time in London is not taking enough pictures. However, I was a little too busy living in the moment, and not taking pictures to save it… {yeah, i just quoted Drizzy} ha!

But oh how I miss London-town. I miss all the walking I used to do, I miss taking the tube and the train, I miss the having the perfect cup of English tea, and going grocery shopping at Waitrose & Sainsbury’s.  I miss eating the spicy tuna sandwich I used to order like 3 times a week from my favorite cafe near campus, I miss the shopping…boy do I MISS THE SHOPPING! And frankly, I just miss the CITY! I just miss it all.

I’m really looking forward to going back one day, hopefully soon, and it’ll feel just like home.

Until then, I’ll enjoy what pics I did take.

xo,

CAM

The Dominion Theatre

Southbank

London Eye -Royal Wedding decor!

On the train :)

A view of the House of Parliament

Camden town!

Indian food…the best!

West End & Carnaby

Buckingham Palace

London Bridge

Shakespeare Globe

View from my window, with a yummy cuppa :)

Interesting police car, no?

Lessons of Songs: Shake it Out

You know how when you hear a particular song you really feel as if the song was written just.for.you? Yeah?

Ok, so that’s how I felt when I first heard Florence and the Machine’s Shake it Out .  I think that anyone is able to interpret a song and have it relevant to them, and this song right here is about my life, really! For the past 2 months I’ve been obsessed with “Shake it Out” for so many reasons. When the first words to a song is “Regrets collect like old friends, and you’re “amening” it….then you might have problems.

Or not.

No, I haven’t collected a pile of old friends, but regrets? Of course! Who hasn’t?  Life  is full of regrets and, for me, it’s a part of growing up. You live and you learn- it’s been said waaaaaay too many times before, but it’s SO TRUE!

I like to keep my issues drawn—truth!

Hate to say this, but I am one passive aggressive chick. I’m the worst at letting people know how I really feel. Whatever problem I have, whether with myself or someone else, I don’t discuss it. I just can’t. And NO, that is not healthy. I’m working on that, I swear. Overtime I start to regret not saying anything when I should have. And I would think by now I’ve had learned my lesson to just say what I need to say, but something always holds me back. Shaking it out could definitely help with that, no?

I can never leave the past behind —omg, Florence, me either!

It’s kind of hard to move on from a mistake when you keep dwelling on it, and that’s often what I have trouble with.  I know, I can’ t control what’s been done in the past, so why is it so hard to leave it there? It’s hard for me to sometimes just let things go.  And you know what really sucks? Is when you’re upset about something, but you’re not assertive enough to discuss it, so you hold onto it. Time passes, and you’re somehow still bothered by it. Maybe, just maybe, that’s why I can’t leave the past behind, because I haven’t dealt with it…you know, since I like to keep my issues drawn and stuff. Ok, that’s not maybe…that’s definitely it. :/

It’s always darkest before the dawn-–She’s on to something…

I know life isn’t meant to be an everlasting struggle. Everyone has to go through troubles to experience and sort of progress. The darkness in life is only temporary. For me, I see it as a time of having pure faith, gaining strength, and knowing that there’s something brighter for me in my future. No diggity, no doubt!

Overall, this song reminds me of past decisions and how it can be a burden to hold on to it. No need in dragging that horse around. Instead, I have to choose to realize that there’s more freedom in letting the past go. Leaving the past behind is a sure way to get started on experiencing more happiness. I gotta’ shake off the regrets and look forward to new beginnings!

Seriously, everyone should “what the hell” their problems with a huge smile on their faces, and let that huge weight go. Be free of it!

Am I alone in being obsessed with this song? Can’t be!

xo,

CAM

Quitting.

I hated my new job.

A job I got the day before Christmas Eve in which I described as the best Christmas present ever! A job in the industry of which I got a BA degree. A job that I actually thought I would enjoy, I actually despised it.

And it’s wasn’t the actual work per se because technically, I was doing very little work. Verrrrry little. When you’re required to spend 8+ hours in an office, sitting at a desk, you would expect to have work to do! I actually expected to have work to do being that I was hired on the spot when I interviewed for the the job. That should of a been a sign itself.

 Seriously….

I was so desperate to be employed and get my career started that I took what was handed to me, without asking many questions. The interview actually lacked questions. He asked about my degrees, gave me a verbal copy editing test O_o…because I asked, “Am I going to take a test?” Sorry, I thought that was STANDARD FOR A COPY EDITING JOB. —-oh my! Excuse my anger—

Did it bothered me that I interviewed for a copy editing job but never did ANY copy editing? Of course it did. Did it bother me that my coworkers didn’t know a new person was coming in to work until the day I showed up? Yes. Did it make me VERY uncomfortable to know that I was hired to replace someone and no one knew (not even the guy who was fired) until I showed up? Ummm…YEAH. Can we say….AWKWARD??!!!

There was so much wrong with that job.

How normal is it to not look forward to the next day? That’s how I felt when I knew I had to go to work. Going to work there (6 days a week, mind you) was making me miserable. Having to stay there most times past midnight. Ugh! (NOT what I signed up for, either).  It felt like borderline depression. Even worse, my family could tell I wasn’t happy, mainly due to the way I was acting.

To end this rant, I didn’t like the company, and I never got a good vibe from the people I worked with. A huge part of being happy at your job is not only what you’re getting paid to do, but also who you’ll be working with. You’re spending 40+hrs a week with people, you need to have some type of connection.

So I quit. It took me a total of 2 weeks to see that I most definitely wasn’t having it and that I needed to move on. And yes, I’m unemployed now, but I don’t fret it. I’m not depressed like I was when I was unemployed before. I’m just looking forward to moving and starting over. Such is the journey through this thing called life!

Lesson learned from this experience was to pay more attention when being interviewed and NEVER accept a job when it’s offered on the spot. Always take time to consider, because people be trippin.

xo, CAM

New York, New York.

Ah yes…I’m obsessed.

Ever since knowing I wanted to be a writer “when I grow up,”as I would say, I’ve always wanted New York City to be my home.  Sure, like most kids who are born and raised in a small quaint town, big city dreams are inevitable. But for me, it has always been NYC. Why, you ask? I mean, I have so many reasons!. But what most appeals to me about NYC is that it’s the exact opposite of how I grew up. What I know is small-town, insufficient opportunities, and not much diversity. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate and respect the place where I was born and raised. It is indeed a lovely place-at least the parts where I’ve lived- but it’s not the only place where I want to call my home.

NYC has immense energy, diversity, and art! You don’t need a car! Seriously, that matters to me. There’s always something to do, and most impressible, it’s full of people with drive and ambition pursing endless opportunities!! I really do see it as a Concrete jungle where dreams are made of. (Thanks Alicia!)

 I want to be a part of it…

Obviously, anyone who wants to be a true magazine editor, or just in general want a career in the publishing industry, will have their sights set on being in New York City. It’s the media capital of the States! I feel like if I were there now I would be somebody’s assistant, checking their e-mails, getting their coffee, and running crazy errands (and getting lost along the way, lol!) … I wouldn’t mind it one bit! It’s part of working your way up the editorial train, and I’m beyond ready to hop on it.

Call me crazy, call me naive, I don’t care…but I honestly feel like the moment I set foot in NYC, I’ll cry. For real. And I’m not even that emotional (umm..at least not in public). But I really feel like when I get there I’ll be so happy with myself that the only way to show my excitement would be with true booo-hooo tears, and a smile

YES, it’s indeed possible to love something you actually never experienced.

That dream of living in the city that never sleeps is still here, and I don’t think it’ll ever leave until I’m a resident of that city. No doubt. Until then, I’ll keep writing. I’ll keep online stalking potential neighborhoods I’ll reside in, preferably in a lovely brownstone such as this….

 ok…maybe I’m reaching.

I’ll keep researching places to shop, where to eat, go out, and meet interesting people, and, most importantly, where I’ll continue my career. I have a plan and I WILL get there. And trust me, when I make it…you’ll hear about it

xo, CAM