diptyque

My boss, Wak, and I have been obsessing a lot about French culture lately. It started when she lent me this book called Bonjour, Happiness! and we found out we both had a similar fascination with the French. Two weeks ago, during our morning catch up, she couldn't contain her excitement about a new French find - diptyque scented candles. I was a bit skeptical and told her that there was no way I would pay that much for a small block of wax. She was insisting that it was well worth it since the scent wasn't anything ordinary and it lingered for days in her unit.

When I got to work this morning, I found a small big Rustan's bag on my desk with a note "Pouvoir chaque lumiere amene vous aime, la paix et succes. Joyeux anniversaire" (told you we were obsessed) i opened it and there it was, my very own diptyque candle in baies (berries) which is a perfect combination of roses and blackcurrent leaves. I feel so French now, and so does my apartment!

Merci beaucoup mademoiselle l'entraineur!

==

"A scent can trigger spiritual, emotional, or physical peace and stimulate healing and wellness."

- Donna Karan

step back/forward

It's such a privilege to have your birthday fall on a Saturday. You have one full day for anything and everything, and another day after to recover.

I had a pre-birthday dinner with my amazing friends and we waited till 12, had brunch with my siblings, squeezed in a short afternoon nap, gorged on unlimited cake and coffee matched with unlimited laughter, watched the sunset from an observatory and set off a sky lantern with a big wish, thanked God for the wonderful year that was at my neighborhood chapel, then capped the day with some comfort food dinner with K.

I wonder what 26 has in store for me. 25 started with change and ended with challenge. 25 taught me how to make better judgment calls. 25 constantly reminded me that I needed to speak up. 25 saw me grow significantly more than the past 2 years combined. 25 was an abundance of blessings. 25 is indeed one for the books.

Moving on to 26. More books to read, more stories to write, more things to explore, more lessons to learn. Time starts now.

==

"Do not want to see the road ahead. Go just one step at a time."

-God Calling

joie de vivre

Back on track. On a high, thank You. Joie de vivre.

==

"Drive slow, till we run out of road."

-Fearless, Taylor Swift