Office Job - The Necessities!

Office life. 9-5. Working the grind. I'm always looking for ways to make my work space a little happier. My desk is sort of comical. It's colorful and full of oddities. I have an empty glass coke bottle, tiny dog figurines, a wooden bobble aardvark (I think?), and a ton of photos, cards, and children's drawings. Other than all of those gems... These are my favorite things right now!

1. Pretty, bright flowers. The ones Christopher brought me for Valentines day are still going strong. Fun fact, I work in the same office as my mom and he brings her some every year too. Too cute! (Image Source)

2.) I like to have a few inspirational quotes around. They calm me. My favorite right now says "Note to self: RELAX. You are enough. You have enough. You do enough." I say this in my head like a mantra when I'm reaching my limit. (Image Source)

3.) Pink scissors. If you need to have them, they might as well be pretty. (Available here)

4.) Lunch container. I've been bringing lunch to work every day for over a month now to save money. I love being able to snack on healthy stuff throughout the day so I'm not famished when I get out. This one is awesome! I'm obsessed with it.

5.) Stress oil. I've been using this for the past few weeks and love it. After my hair stylist/cousin noticed that my hair was suddenly falling out from the stress of things going on at home, she ordered me Past Tense tension roll on oil. The smell alone works, but it also releases tightness in my shoulders and neck. I use it most at work, but also keep it in my purse.

6.) A candle that smells like nature. I have the Yankee Candle Beanswax one in Field of Dreams on my desk. Unfortunately, the wax is so low it no longer burns...this is my favorite scent ever and it is now discontinued. The dry wax still smells nice and I get a good whiff of it now and then. (I do have one jar packed away for when we buy a house - SO TEMPTING!)

7.) Skull Candy ear buds. Our office is small and usually filled with volunteers, interns, and loud employees so these are a must. Sometimes, I even just put them in my ears without plugging them into anything since they are great for noise cancelling.

8.) Lotion. I'm really bad at remembering to moisturize at home. When I'm sitting at my desk and need a break, that's usually the first thing I reach for. I have travel sizes of Bath and Body Works and Victoria's Secret lotions stashed.

 

9.) Travel tumbler with straw. My office recently got a water cooler and it was a big deal. I pack my cup full of ice in the morning and fill up when I get to work. My cup actually has babushkas all over it, but I wouldn't turn down the Kitty either.  

10.) Volkswagen Bug USB drive. Or as I like to call them, computer sticky thingies. This one's headlights flash when it's plugged in. Enough said. 

11.) Leopard file folders. These are probably my favorite thing at my desk. I have a super obsession with anything leopard and they make me happy every time I file anything. Money well spent.

12.) Insulated lunch bag. To go with my nifty lunch container. Insulated, so I don't have to worry about it fitting into the tiny office refrigerators. And, it's cute. When I leave work it just looks like a little handbag.

Do you work in an office? What are some of the things that keep you smiling while you're putting in your hours?

Bienvenue à Montreal!

This city is beautiful. I've had a fascination with it since I was a little girl. Probably because it's as European as a city as I've ever been. Last weekends trip was a short getaway. My mom, a friend, and myself spent two nights (one full day, two half days) in the city and shopped, ate, did a bit of the touristy things, and searched every shop for the British candy we can never find in the states. But mostly, we just walked. A lot.

We went to Montreal's China Town and it was my first time there. LOVE! It was great. We found amazing Asian bakeries, gawked at the Hello Kitty things in the shop windows, bought dragon's beard candy from a cart on the street, and I tried my first real bubble tea.

 Dragon's beard candy. Almost like a peanut toffee rolled in this spun dough.

This store of junk and oddities completely stole my heart.

I was so inspired by the artwork. Both in the gallery windows, and on the street. I took quite a few photos to use as inspiration for when I got home.

The food. Oh, the food. We had amazing cheese platters, hot chocolate, crepes, poutine, pasta, croissants, cupcakes, and macaroons. It was magical.

 My very first macaroons!

 

 I bought cupcakes at two places. The third place that I wanted to try ended up being closed for Canadian Thanksgiving. We missed that holiday memo...whoops. It was called Cocoa Locale and is a one woman bakery that is supposedly fantastic. Next time.

Poutine! I searched high and low for poutine with vegetarian gravy and each place I got a lead on ended up either being incredibly difficult to find, or not actually having the vegetarian option they said they did. So, for the first time in years, I ate chicken gravy. Blech...it makes me ill to think about but it was delicious. I probably ate about a third of this before my brain got the best of me.

It sounds odd, but being in Montreal just made me want to go to Paris. I don't know what it is lately, but I feel like I just need to be there!

Non - Tourist Fall Outfit

Non - Tourist Fall Outfit by bitty603 featuring elastic waist pants

I do everything in my power to not look like an "ugly american" when I travel, even if I'm staying within the United States. I've been brainstorming the essentials for a full day of shopping, eating, and sightseeing for my trip to Montreal this weekend and I think I have my travel uniform picked out.

Travel Must-Haves -

• Comfortable shoes. I'm thinking a good pair of Dr. Scholls inserts in my boots will do the trick. Also, a pair of sturdy ballet flats.
• Bags. A little cross-body. Good for ID, cash, and phone. I love these because they're light, hands free, and I can keep them in front of me at all times. Also, my camera bag so I can carry my DSLR. Lucky for me, I got this pretty one for my birthday and love it. 
• Leggings. I'll be wearing these every day. Under long tops, dresses, and skirts. I'm a total leggings girl. 
• cute hats/headbands. I'm assuming my hair is not going to looking stellar blowing in the wind all day.
• Red lipstick and stripes. Because, you know what? Even though I don't want to look like a tourist, this is the closest to "Europe" I've ever been so I might as well go as cliche French girl as I can.

What do you pack when you travel to a new city? I know I'm forgetting something!