On the path

January 27, 2013April 10, 2017 ~ Lydia ~ Leave a comment

My roommate and I, over homemade cappuccinos and freshly baked muffins on Saturday morning, had a brief discussion on our conflicted feelings about our career paths. Depending on our mood, time of the month and amount of caffeine we’ve had, our perspective about our place on our career path changes. There are two basic attitudes we have. The first is the good days. When we are like, I love being young! Being in your early 20’s is aw-some because we can really direct our career path wherever we choose and finding this path is exhilarating and exactly what we daydreamed about in our boring university courses. We are putting one foot in front of another, excited to see where we land.

The other is when we aren’t eating desserts to shed some pounds, had an exhausting day and the dog is acting up. It’s when we feel so stressed and tired just thinking about the next years in our career. We have a desire to move around and work hard, yet we are still working to prove to everyone that we are capable. We get frustrated and ask, “Why am I not there yet?” Keep in mind we are both 23, a fresh 2 years out of college and both realized our career passions later in our college life. Our mentors, parents and bosses all say that we will have an enticing path ahead of us, but on these particular days we don’t buy it. We get frustrated not knowing exactly what it is we want to do. We’ve narrowed it down to an industry, shouldn’t that be enough? What if we take a wrong job, in the wrong city for the wrong company and completely ruin our chance to be something great and realize our full potential. What if…we fail.

On this particular, caffeinated morning at Ascension Coffee I am feeling the first. Despite my dog being mauled by a pit bull on an early run, the depressing look at my bank account after purchasing my ticket to Europe (can I even really complain about that?) and the grotesque burn on my chin from my curling iron, I am feeling optimistic. Tomorrow might be another story (it will be a Monday after all), so I thought I should take note of this optimism and positive energy so that maybe when I’m feeling a little down I can look back. And hopefully think to myself, “I was so right yesterday.” I can choose to revel in the uncertainty of my future, take a nice long sip of my coffee and continue to daydream, work hard and set goals.

First and second image both found on Pinterest.

Just Dance

January 26, 2013April 10, 2017 ~ Sarah ~ 1 Comment

Is this video not the best thing you’ve seen all day and possibly ever? Maybe you’re needing a little encouragement today (like me). Maybe you’re needing a little life-spiration to make something of your lazy Saturday…or get through your busy weekend. Maybe you just like to smile, laugh and/or dance (in which case you should probably watch some more Kid President videos).

In the words of Kid President (and Kevin Bacon/Kenny Wormald), this is our time! What do you want to do with it?

For me this question has a somewhat illusive, always evolving answer. The consistencies in that answer include spending quality time with people and learning. Learning about life, health, being a better person, other cultures, audio/visual skills. I’ve always been more of a planner and dreamer though, so I am constantly appreciative for friendly reminders about the action part of things. Writing this blog, this video and friends like co-Tiffany’s blogger Lydia (whose enviable talent is making things happen) all help hold me accountable.

All of Kid President’s videos are really great about bringing their big ideas down to an actionable level. His platform is all about dancing – both literally and figuratively. Helping people, helping yourself and making the world a better place are all ways to “dance”.

So. How are you going to dance this weekend? I’m getting organized financially and work-wise with a budget and long overdue inbox cleaning. I also have plans to brunch with a friend and help another strategize for her business.

I’ll leave you with what is clearly the most important question from this whole deal: “What would have happened if Michael Jordan had quit?” He wouldn’t have made Space Jam. And then where would we be?

Inspiration: Role Models + Caffeine

January 25, 2013April 10, 2017 ~ Lydia ~ Leave a comment

This week at Gaia Flow Yoga (you should know upfront, I drank the punch and am addicted to everything about this place), our yogi practice was focused on tapas; fiery discipline. So far this has been my favorite niyama we’ve had and I worked to apply it to my week. When I made my inspiration list this week, I realized that tapas played a big role in the three people I listed as inspiring me this week. My role models tend to be creative people with the initiative and drive to make their vision happen. And to follow in their footsteps, I think practicing fiery discipline every week is the first step.

John Fullbright.

I saw him in concert almost by accident last weekend and am fully obsessed. Into Americana? You’ll be into him. He’s also pretty funny and a fellow Okla-homie. So now when he becomes huge, you can be like “Oh I knew him way back when.”

Saul Leiter.

He’s going to be featured in a documentary called In No Great Hurry at the Thin Line Film Fest in Denton. Watch the trailer, I don’t have much to add. He just seems amazing.

Bob Dylan.

Cappaccinos.

537040_137246549768105_230758115_n — I worked for Starbucks for about 10 months. Since then, I’ve discovered what a cappaccino actually is and I’m a tad obsessed. I love the little tea cups they come in, and my caffeine high afterwards. So far, the best is Ascension Coffee in the Design District but I want to try every cappaccino in Dallas. You wish I was kidding. To fuel my addiction, my roommate recently purchased an espresso maker and a milk-frother – but an old fashion version that feels more like cooking. It is delicious AND I can have a free cappaccino whenever my caffeine addicted heart desires. Since I have been practicing my fiery discipline and actually waking up when I want to, I’ve enjoyed quite a few cappuccinos this week.

Inspiration: All The Little Things

January 25, 2013April 10, 2017 ~ Sarah ~ Leave a comment

On Finding Tiffany’s, we talk a lot about realizing goals and exploring life, but we’re only telling half the story if we don’t spend some time talking about all the things that help us get there. Inspiration is contagious and can come from anywhere. Starting this week we’ll be bringing you more about all the things that inspire us…pictures, quotes, links, random details from daily life.

This week has just been one of those weeks where inspiration has been a little harder to appreciate and hold on to…between not enough sleep and some pesky health issues, the below have been even more valuable for my sanity!

Italian kitchen art from Etsy that will be hanging in my kitchen: “If you want to live long, you have to eat, drink and sleep” and an Italian idiom that essentially means “At the table with friends and family, one does not grow old.”

The weather this week has been California-worthy. Driving with the windows down in the 65 degree weather instantly brightens my mood.

Truth. If you've ever been sick (and it seems like everyone is these days) you know it, too. I've been inspired to take charge this week: revamping my diet (no sugar, lots of green tea, vegetables and protein) and finally meeting with some doctors. — Truth. If you’ve ever been sick (and it seems like everyone is these days) you know it, too. I’ve been inspired to take charge this week: revamping my diet (no sugar, lots of green tea, vegetables and protein) and finally meeting with some doctors.

Appointments, Dylan, Knots and Cooking.

January 21, 2013April 10, 2017 ~ Lydia ~ Leave a comment

This is a week of appointments. Well, of two. Westley and I both have check ups with the vet/doctor.. Finally. They are both long over due but are such a pain to schedule. Why are these offices even open during the day? A vet and doctors office open from 4-10 PM would suit me just fine.

I started reading Bob Dylan by Bob Dylan about a century and a half ago. I think it’s actually been about two months, but the holidays and work put me to sleep before my head even hit the pillow to start reading. Consequently, I’m only about a fourth of the way through. I never understand what it is I do after yoga or running during the week. Where do those 5 hours go before bed? Well, this week they are going to you, Bob.

Master the top knot bun. That’s right. That is on my goal list this week. I’m not even embarrassed by how shallow that might be because I want to figure out how to do one that bad. It just looks so simple.. and yet so complicated. Wish me luck.

I happen to hate cooking. I also happen to be making a larger effort to eat better, as seen in my New Years Resolution. I am quickly learning that these two sentiments don’t go hand in hand. To eat well, you need to actually cook something. For dinner, I will often just have a bowl of cereal if I do a late yoga class or a bowl of pasta after I run. Nothing that takes over 10 minutes. For this week I have spinach and grilled chicken coming my way. I am allowing myself to have pasta with the chicken, but am generally trying to cut down this week. Baby steps, babes, baby steps.

Sundays are for Lovers (or cleaning, nails, and tea)

January 20, 2013April 10, 2017 ~ Lydia ~ Leave a comment

Well, I had one of those terrible moments where your brunch plans get cancelled that morning. I was slightly disappointed, but then decided to be glad to be saving the money that I already spent on my new backpack from Urban Outfitters for my pending Europe Trip. Then, in true Finding Tiffanys fashion, I took advantage of the free time! I came home from playing at the dog park with Westley, whipped up some eggs, toast and a homemade cappuccino. I painted my nails, caught up on Bloomberg Businessweek, shampooed the kitchen chairs and now I am enjoying a homemade Vanilla Roiboos Tea latte and, of course, messy hair. Throw in some Sex and The City Season 6, Frank Sinatra on vinyl, an absolutely beautiful Dallas day, a cleaner closet, and you have the most perfect Sunday morning. There is no other point to this post other than the picture above is the background on my second computer screen (from BeFrassy.net, I’m incredibly jealous of her life) and is exactly what I’m doing today. I feel like I should probably make some sort of social plans later, but I am loving the quiet.

Images (Frassy)

Adventures in Photography

January 20, 2013April 10, 2017 ~ Sarah ~ Leave a comment

It might be mid-January and 65 degrees in Dallas, but it’s never too late for a little holiday reminiscing, right? After announcing in November I was in the market for a DSLR and doing some extensive research (read: asking any random person I could catch in the act of taking a picture what camera they had) I finally settled on a Canon Rebel T3i. My dream camera came just in time to capture the loft’s holiday touches and what is hopefully the first of many evenings hosting friends.

So far my tricks mostly just include playing with the aperture/depth of field – the fancy way of saying changing the focus from foreground to background (yes, I did just have to google it to be sure). I’m also going through a serious black and white picture phase. Even with my standard lenses and complete lack of knowledge, the image quality has so much more depth and detail than any camera I’ve used before.

I’m really excited about the prospect of picking up a new skill to learn all about. I’ve always been drawn to photography as an art form and envied people who could create and capture such beautiful details and moments. Photography to me is about exercising thoughtfulness and taking time to appreciate the deceivingly ordinary.

Hopefully that can one day be me! In the meantime, thank you in advance for bearing with me…

Gaia Flow Yoga

January 12, 2013April 10, 2017 ~ Lydia ~ Leave a comment

About two months ago I started yoga at Gaia Flow Yoga, a hot yoga studio in Addison. It’s been quite the amazing journey thus far. At Gaia, they practice with love. This means that we occasionally turn to our neighbors and say “I love you”..which really can feel a little ridiculous at times. But yoga is all about letting go, and letting go of feeling silly is certainly one of them. We are also taught to act with love and kindness, and to love ourselves. Love where you are today in your practice and love where it will take you tomorrow. When you walk into the room, you let everything go. To be distracted by work, friends or anything else is taking away from your practice. Each class is a gift you are giving yourself, and you should enjoy that gift. And it’s so unbelievably true. When I leave any of the five classes, I feel fantastic.

The overall point of practicing love is that the things you practice on your mat are to transcend into your day to day life. Every week there is something new for you to focus on during your practice and during your week, called Sadhanas (yamas or niyamas). For instance, one week was to not be greedy, called Aparigraha. Each class I went to that week, the different instructor had a different interpretation as to how to practice it that week. It went beyond the typical money greed, and into bigger things. Perhaps to you it meant greedy with your time when you should be spending time cultivating your friendships and family relationships. Speaking of the instructors, they are all amazing and lovely people to be around. Really, everyone who attends the classes are in general, happy and nice people. But I mean, I guess we are all yogis, so how unhappy could we possibly be?

We are also a sweaty bunch. And I mean sweat – y. Oh my lanta. You leave completely drenched and your body begging for a nap. As I begin dipping my toe into more difficult classes, I am learning how weak I actually am. I’ve always had what I oh so affectionally refer to as “man arms” but despite the proud biceps and triceps definition I have gained from doing weights all year, those suckers aren’t getting me into a handstand. It’s all new muscles being worked, toned and pushed to their sweaty physical limit.

Practicing yoga has also had other affects on me outside the Gaia Flow room. I am even more interested than before in learning about other religions. Often when the yoga instructors mention a God they say “your god or my god.” I find this fascinating as it pulls religion into your practice without constricting your beliefs. I also find myself taking deep breathes when I get stressed, overwhelmed or upset. Taking a few breathes, remembering my practice, have taken helped ease stress in my day-to-day life. Another take away from Gaia Flow is they always say when we start warming up to notice the slight pains, any tightness or anything else out of the ordinary. Notice it and accept it. And then breathe into it. To not get frustrated with things you cannot change is huge for me. To not get frustrated but continue striving for more. I have also improved my diet since kicking up my yoga practice. You develop a natural desire to treat your body better (and being around super yogis twisting in all directions is definitely encouragement).

I suppose yoga isn’t for everyone, but I bet you’d be an easy convert. An activity that is physically challenging, emotionally enlightening and full of awesome people? No elliptical can quite give you that satisfaction in your workout and in your life. Well, now I must be off to my weekend warrior class to be impressed by those pretzels around me and to hopefully finally get into a headstand!

The divine light in me sees the divine light in you. All my love, namaste.

(see? I’m practically a natural.. okay so maybe I’m still mastering that downward facing dog..but no matter)

Images (1, 2, 3)

Looking Ahead

January 3, 2013April 10, 2017 ~ Sarah ~ 2 Comments

I’ve never been one for New Year’s resolutions, but clearly we’re goal driven people around Finding Tiffany’s. I do believe in striving to my best self every day, and I’m excited to continue learning and growing in the year ahead. The new year holds exciting opportunities at work, plenty of occasions in the works to play hostess for people I care about and travel sights set on D.C. and Chicago.

2012 was the year of…

Career. I launched my first blog and received two job offers to start my first “real” job.

Travel. New York City, Austin (twice), Atlanta, Fayetteville, Boston, Norman (three times) and New Mexico.

Community. A best friend moved back, I met two roommates, bonded with coworkers, joined a bible study with 20 amazing women and reconnected with some old friends in the area.

Independence. My own apartment, a new car and bills…all paid by yours truly.

2013 will focus on…

Health. Commit to yoga, run, eat (way) less sugar and finally follow through on some long-postponed healthcare appointments.

Relationships. Practice intentionality by actually responding to Facebook messages and in a timely manner, remembering birthdays and embracing snail mail for cards and notes.

Creativity. Learn photography with my new DSLR, dedicate more time to watching documentaries and independent film again and continue writing and blogging.

What do you think about resolutions? Have you set any goals or themes for the new year?

3, 2, 1….

January 1, 2013April 10, 2017 ~ Lydia ~ 2 Comments

2012 was an amazing year. I re-started my career from scratch, spent time in NYC, landed a great job in advertising, and now live in my own (and my roommate’s) apartment, with my own dog, and my own car. As a result of all this happiness, I have an irrational fear I will ruin it with a terrible new years.

I find New Years to be incredibly stressful. There is so much pressure to have a fabulous time with fabulous people wearing a fabulous dress. And although I do hope to one day be wearing a shimmering dress, with a pair of Christian Louboutins gracing my feet with their presence, while my beau simultaneously pours champagne into my crystal flute and ever so classily kisses me while confetti pours down when the ball reaches the bottom, but that just won’t be happening this year.

The last two New Years have been victims of too much hype. The first of the two, I was oblivious to the countdown happening because our party bus was running behind and we stopped at a random too-chill-for-new-years pub. I, unaware of the time, was was walking out of the restroom after some primping and rang in the New Year alone in a hallway before meeting up with all of my friends. Last year, I was all set with my tutu and glitter for Lights All Night in Dallas (a three night dance festival affair featuring the best of dubstep). On the day of I fell ill with a 102 fever but still went to the concert. Once you make a tutu, there’s really no going back. Needless to say I was essentially miserably smiling through a painful fog the whole night and left soon after the countdown.

So this year I am not risking anything. I will not risk blowing $100 on a ticket to a New Years “Party Bash” and end up hating the crowd or the location. Nor will there be that feeling of being in a large room of people as we all shout “3, 2, 1..” to watch the adorable and blisfully happy couples kiss into the new year (fellow single ladies, preach it, am I right?) All that to say, I loved my New Years. Prosecco, s’mores, the first fire in our fireplace, good movies, fashion magazines and fun friends all came together for a perfect night. The only splurge I ~~had to make~~ made were the orange and white roses I bought myself at Trader Joe’s. But I mean..they were on sale. Really I saved money.

You can’t talk New Years without talking resolutions. Resolutions are a habit of mine. I enjoy making them often and breaking them even more. But not this year. I have made my resolution so vague that it simply cannot be broken. In 2013, I have vowed to be healthier in both mind and body. What does this mean you ask? Well I am not quite sure. So far, this has meant commiting a significant hunk of change to yoga each month and being more conscious of what I am putting in my body. If I don’t understand the ingredients, should I really be eating it? (This might mean I have to cook more, warn your local fire department) And do I really need that chocolate chip cookie when I already know what it tastes like? It has also meant being cleaner. This might sound like a weird one. But for example, getting rid of those old bras and replacing them with gorgeous lacy ones. Thoroughly cleaning my car and keeping it clean. Not leaving the house with my hair all amuck, etc etc.

Did you make any New Years resolutions or have any fun New Year plans?

Photo credit (1, 2, 3)