I always struggle to find jeans that fit just right. This has been an issue for a while now, which is why I've only been wearing 2 pairs of "baggy" jeans I own, and I am not happy with the way they look and feel on me. However, I settled for these until I could find the perfect pair. I made the mistake of settling for an expensive pair not too long ago because they fit just right (or so I forced myself to think at the time) but nowhere near perfect. Yes, I wanted a perfect fit. I had given up. I stopped searching.

(Note: This isn't just about jeans...continue reading, if you wish.)

Today, I found the perfect pair, or at least close to perfect. "If only I had considered looking in this store before," I thought. Why didn't I look for jeans in this local, very much affordable fashion store? Because in my mind I thought I could never find a nice pair that fits for $15. I had previously made a decision before I stepped foot in the store. I judged. I knew I could never find a decent pair of jeans in this store. I didn't even consider it. Impossible.

Boy was I wrong.

On my way home, I thought about this and I realized this applies to a lot of things in my life. I make decisions before I give something a chance. We are all guilty of this. We all have judged a book by its cover. I realized I need to have more of an open mind to things I would never consider. Because the solution, or that something we're looking for could be right under our noses and we don't even know it. Don't make a decision based on the unknown. Consider the impossible.

Today, my search for the perfect pair of jeans was a success because I took a chance on the store that "would never have the perfect pair. "

Labels: life, searching, unknown

I always set goals at the beginning of the year. My list for 2010 is quite lengthy and I continue to add to it. Two things I just recently added to the list: Budget and blog.

I just joined mint.com, a website aimed to help manage your expenses based on your current balance on a bank account. I currently use an excel document to manage my money and savings but this website allows me to track how I spend each dollar on a particular category, how much I go over and how much I have leftover to spend for myself (it's categorized under "Everything else."

It's amazing that going over by a few cents adds up in a single month. Mint.com narrows down everything to a particular category like gas, clothing, cell phone bill, restaurants, movies and more. You can add your own budgets and rename a category based on expenses. I really like this because I can set a budget of $40 for the month on clothing expense and mint.com's system will tell me how much I've gone over and/or how much extra cash I have left over to spend on myself, otherwise known as "Everything else." It's a simple system and if you decide to change your Entertainment budget from $40 to $50 a month, all you have to do is click "edit." The website is very safe and secure (Verisign, McAfee, TRUSTe) for those that aren't sure about entering bank accounts into a website.

I also decided I need to write and update this blog more often for myself. I see this as a way of exercising and practicing my writing, leading me to find a focus for this blog. I think I'm getting close to the answer.

Labels: blog, budget, mint.com, money management

...are always right under my nose. It's unfortunate that many people, including myself, tend to focus on what we don't want rather than what we do want. This boggles me. Why is it that we do this to ourselves? It's as if we're beating ourselves up over things we clearly attracted into our lives. We're doing this to ourselves. We're asking for things we don't want by focusing too much on what we don't want.

Time to start to change the way I think about things.

I'm all about positive change. Changing the way we think is hard. I'm a good example of that. It takes time. I had my negative thoughts and sometimes my positive thoughts, but negative always seems to dominate of course. I hate doing that to myself. So, imagine negative thoughts taking over my brain while I'm hating allowing myself to think that. It's a combination and it's an awful feeling times two.

I just truly believe this world can't change for the better if the people in it don't change the way they think first. It's all about the way we control our thoughts.

Today, I had good thoughts taking over my mind, focusing on things I want, things I want to accomplish and what makes me feel good. It really made a big difference in my day. I felt as if I was passing on good energy and made friends and family feel good today with that energy.

Positive thinking gives me the energy no drink in the world could ever give me and I absolutely love it. I need to allow myself to think positive more often, I think I at least deserve that.

Good vibrations.

Labels: good thoughts

No one really ever understood why I was a a huge fan of Michael Jackson. The love I shared with many fans around the world went far beyond his music. He had a heart of gold. He was so much larger than life. He had a place in our hearts that no one else could fill and he inspired me in more ways than one. His 1992 album "Dangerous" was given to me when I was 7 year old which I played to the point where some songs stopped working. I was so proud of saying "Michael Jackson is my hero." I was always a shy person and when I felt down, I felt like I could escape reality through his music. He taught me things I could never learn in school. He taught me about believing in yourself, helping others, keeping the faith and smiling regardless of life's obstacles.

Unlike many other celebrities, he was the most down to earth person I had ever met in my life. He would take the time to stop for a picture, an autograph, a chat, a tight hug and an "I love you." He always made sure to let his fans -- who he would refer to as friends -- know how much they meant to him.

Unfortunately, he had surrounded himself with enablers and money-hungry people who took full advantage of him throughout his life. However, he had many close friends who loved him dearly, including his many loyal fans. He was like family to us. We grew up with him.

When my childhood dream finally came true, it had to be the best day of my life. He was in his slippers, it was 2 a.m and we were at his Neverland ranch at a party honoring Brazilian artist Romero Britto hosted by KIIS FM. My friends and I were finally ending our amazing night at Neverland by making our way out slowly, step by step trying to take it all in. We were chatting about how awesome it was that we were actually inside Michael's home. When we saw him at his doorstep on our way out, we waved at him and said our many thank you's from a distance. I couldn't find the words to say because of the disbelief. I had a flashback of all the times I had seen him on television. He waved at us and gestured for us to go over to him. I received the biggest, longest most loving hug from this man. He told me "Thank you for coming. I love you." It was September 13, 2003, a day that will live in my memory forever.

Forward to 2005. The Trial. I was there, I was supportive. I didn't believe any of those crazy accusations he was being accused of and not because of bias. I did not witness one ounce of guilt in this man. But, I'm glad he went through it because it made him even stronger, and though many people couldn't see how much stronger he got after all the crap he had to endure, I could. I drew a lot of strength from what I witnessed. One of the many reasons I had an interest in Journalism is because I saw how un-professional these so-called reporters at the trial were. They only reported on negative facts, lies, and anything that people wanted to hear to give them reason to hate the man even more, when there was so many facts and truth behind the whole situation. This damaged him. I'm not surprised he hated the media. I wanted to ultimately changed that one day and show that there are some decent journalists out there.

I am heartbroken. Why are the same people who bashed him praising him all of sudden? I don't understand and that's what hurts the most. Why not show the appreciation while one is alive? He was hurting and everyone knew it.Yet, they continued to burn him alive while he accomplished so much more than any of us ever could.

I just hope this makes you think about the good someone is doing before you tear them apart. Acknowledge the good in people and shut up. I also truly hope people continue to follow his message in making this world a better place to live in. That's what he was all about.

With that said, rest in peace Michael. I love you and will miss you dearly. I know you're probably singing and dancing with the angels while you watch over your loved ones.

Labels: michael jackson, peace

Travel entry on my trip to Avalon, Catalina Island coming soon.

In the mean time, check this out: Renovated Nicaragua.com travel website