Where do I want to be in 5 years?

 {We Heart It}

 

I have had a zillion interviews lately (ok maybe i'm exaggerating maybe more like 25 but it FEELS like a zillion). After interning for about six months following graduation, I am now on the hunt for a permanent position. I'm not gonna lie, the eagerness and hopefulness I had early on are wearing thin and I'm feeling the pressure more and more every day that goes by and I still don't have a job.

On so many of these interviews they have asked me, "What do I want to be in 5 years?". At the interviews I obviously say something ambitious and career orientated. But if I had to answer that question honestly, no strings attached, the picture says it - I want to be happy in five years. Whilst I'm ambitious about my career, it isn't and I don't want it ever to be what defines me as a person. When I fantasize about what life might be like for me in five years, I dream of being surrounded by a loving healthy family and wonderful friends, having lots of new adventures, and at the same time appreciating the simple things in life, being passionate about whatever I'm doing, feeling inspired and constantly learning and growing. Hopefully, feeling a lot wiser and looking back at me now with a smile. I want to be defined my kind acts, being a good person and a person filled with love (both giving and having it). I will be the first to admit I'm idealistic and a romantic, yep I am, but hey whats the harm in some idealism in this crazy world we live in.

So I may be stressed out of my mind, but today I reminded myself how blessed I am with so many things in my life that give me so much joy and make me extremely fortunate. The job will fall into place sooner or later - I should be grateful that I am one happy girl - and I hope I still will be in 5 years, whatever I'm doing.

Japan

What has happened and is happening in Japan right now is almost too tragic to comprehend. On Friday I watched the events unfold with horror, but at the same time I was unable to tear my eyes away from this powerful act of nature. It made me consider how powerless we humans actually are. In the blink of an eye everything can be swept away and destroyed by something beyond the power of man.

In the worst of times I am always in awe of how people come together to help by any means possible. Whilst most of us cannot physically do anything to help rebuild the parts of Japan that have been devastated, or the lives that have been shattered, there is always a way to contribute something. Give a donation to one of the many websites that are taking them, there is a listing of these websites here. I am a firm believer that every little bit counts, no matter how small or how big. My heart goes out to all those who are suffering in Japan and I pray that they will have the strength to see this catastrophe through and rebuild what they have lost.

One of my favorite Jewish quotes is, "he who saves one life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world". The quote emphasizes the value of each individual human life, by donating to Japan who knows what or how many lives you'll be helping to save.

La Bella Italia

I have an obsession with all things Italian. The beauty in this country is indescribable, from the landscapes to the architecture, the food to the fashion. I have family there and have been fortunate enough to visit many times to many different places. Here are some of my favorite Italian things:

1. Fashion

This was taken in  Milan. Italians have a thing with bright trousers and they pull it off! Their fashion ranges from stuff like this to classic simplicity, no matter what they are wearing it's effortless.

2. Coffee

Their coffees are creamy cups of perfection. They serve them at the perfect temperature, in perfectly cute little coffee bars, and are just, well, perfect.


3. Baristas

I love this Baristas uniform and how chic their coffee bars are.

4. Architecture

 Milan, Duomo

 Rome, Piazza di Spagna

5. The South

Capri

The Southern coast of Italy is hands down one of my favorite place on earth. Picturesque towns built into the mountains overlooking the sparkling water, bright flowers everywhere, cobbled streets, fresh food in quaint little restaurants - its heaven. The picture is of Capri, a stunning island off the coast of Naples.

6. The food

 Alice is Bacon

Mamma mia the food! Food in Italy is unparalleled and only people who have never been dispute this. The pasta, the pizza, the salads, they melt in the mouth, literally. Outside of Italy, I have never found Italian food that compares. 


Italy is just wonderful in every sense! Have you ever been there?

Somerset House

My university was next to the beautiful Somerset House, an arts and cultural centre in London, and I've always had a soft spot for it. They have a terrace overlooking the River Thames and when the sun is out, it is just perfection sitting out there. Today I had an interview there and spent a few happy hours sitting on the terrace in the glorious (and rare) London sunshine and I wanted to share my photos with you. Its amazing what a few hours of sunshine can do for the soul!

 XO

Photos Copyrighted 2011

Technology Overdrive

On Thursday I was on my laptop and managed to catch a virus. My computer literally started imploding and as you can imagine it was pretty distressing. Thankfully, the computer guy managed to remove it and nothing on my computer was damaged.

It got me thinking how reliant I, (and probably most people) have become on technology. The first thing I do when I wake up is check my phone, which includes checking my e-mails, facebook, twitter etc. Once I switch on my laptop my blog and Flickr are added to that list too. If I ever leave my phone at home by mistake I feel completely disconnected from everything. Sometimes the thought of how many different means of communication there are now is overwhelming (and yes, I appreciate the irony - I am using my online blog to write about this). When I was a child I used to write letters, yes LETTERS to my cousins abroad and I still have them all in my memory box. Now, I don't remember the last time I wrote a letter to someone! E-mails and Facebook messages seem so impersonal and fleeting in comparison.

  Teenage Wonderland

I will always remember this quote by Drew Barrymore in the movie 'He's Just Not That Into You'. She is waiting for a guy she likes to get in touch with her...

"  I had this guy leave me a voicemail at work, so I called him at home, and then he emailed me to my BlackBerry, and so I texted to his cell, and now you just have to go around checking all these different portals just to get rejected by seven different technologies. It's exhausting".

 What she says is so true! Whilst I could never live without my technology anymore, I can't help wondering what it was like when people didn't freak out because a virus is destroying their laptop because laptops simply didn't exist?

A Sweet Little Love Story

I read this the other day on a wonderful blog called Fashion Capuccino - you should all check it out! I love this story so much I felt I had to repost it on my blog! Enjoy!

To read the rest of their story click here.