Fortunate Fridays {If you believe in something, never give up- Edition}

Hello Loves!

Can you believe is Friday again?! Not only that but April is half way through. Ugh! lets not even think about that.

This week was busy. Super busy. So busy I wasn't even able to post my MWM (Mid Week Motivation) post this past Wednesday so please accept my apologies for that. I will do my best so that it doesn't happen again, at least for next week.

Regardless of how busy we may get, there is always time to express gratitude. So, without further ado, I leave you with some of the many things I felt fortunate for this week:

1. Having access to a Library card and being able to read pretty much any book I can think of, for free. Below are a couple of books i've been meaning to read for quite some time and I finally got a hold of them! 

2. Family time with the kiddos at Chucky Cheese! I may or may not have been hanging out at my local CC's with family this past Friday. I also may or may not have eaten a piece of the chocolate cake that was served which was pretty delicious.

3. Hanging out with the two kids that bring the most joy to my heart

4. Quality time with one of my favorite cousins from the Dominican Republic. I grew up with him and although we haven't lived in the same country for years, our strong bond remains.

5. The feeling, internal confirmation, and manifestation of my dreams being possible. I'll talk more about this in the future. Just know one thing: never, ever, ever give up on your dreams. Ever. 

6. Bonus: The inspiration, energy, and motivation to make myself some pretty delicious dinners a few times this week. Sometimes I impress myself.

Oh! and by the way-- I had the privilege of going to the NYC International auto show this past Saturday. Fun times. Fancy cars. And everything in between. I even randomly signed myself up for a Mercedes Benz test drive. A girl can dream ;)

And that's all folks. Wishing you a phenomenal weekend!

Its supposed to be nice and sunny here in NYC on Saturday. Looking forward to that.

Tell me, have you ever attended the NYC auto show? are cars your thing? 

Love,
Mabelle

Welcome April! (and march goals review)

Hey Loves!

I know today is the second day of April and maybe this post should have gone up yesterday but today is the day. Just wanted to give a quick recap of how March went for me in terms of the goals I had previously set in this post: March Goals. Also, share what I plan to do for the month of April (spoiler alert: some of the march objectives will be transferred over to this month). So here is the recap--

1. Continue working out consistently and making a conscious effort to nourish my body with foods that are going to make me feel and be fabulous inside and out. Is totally okay to splurge from time to time but overall, I want to continue making good choices. 

Did a great job with this one. Although there were some splurges here and there (specially during my friend's wedding last week) I did pretty good overall. I am looking forward to switching up my workout routine a bit and maybe start running outside once again (if the weather finally cooperates). Signing up for some races would be awesome.

2. Make a dentist appointment! and actually go in for a consultation. This is so long overdue I cant even begin to tell you.

Nope. Still have not seen a dentist (yikes!!) I'd also like to schedule a physical and just a comprehensive medical exam. Health is wealth.

3. Continue feeding my mind and "eyes" with inspirational podcast and TV/Online shows. I already have my 'set' shows but if you have any recommendations, please share.

I'll mark this one as accomplished. I was also able to find a couple of new podcasts that feed my passion and I am learning so much. Thank god for all the free resources we have access to!

4. Start de-cluttering my apartment one step at the time. Clean at least one of my closets and/or "messy drawers".

I was able to de-clutter a couple of plastic bins that I have in my room. I did this by necessity when I was packing for my trip and needed to find some items. However, must confess, my drawers and closets remain less organized that I'd like. Lets roll that one over to April.

5. Continue my work in running and growing a profitable business, continue making time to do the things I love. Taking it one step at the time, one project at the time. 

This continues to be a work in progress and I am excited about the progress and will continue to work hard towards my objectives.

For the month of April I've decided to simply target those goals I didn't accomplish in March and continue working and making headway on the objectives that are "ongoing". Lets Do This!

Tell me, any specific goals for this particular month? Are you as excited as I am for a "real spring"? :) Let me know!

Love,
Mabel

Monday Morning chat + Goals for the week

Hello everyone!

Breakfast this morning: Whole Wheat 'french bread', scrambled eggs with peppers & onions, cafe w/ soy milk.

[please pardon the dirty-looking coffee maker, I promise it'll get cleaned up today]

Woke up bright and early this morning and have been working non-stop. Decided to take a short break to say hello and apologize for not being able to post the "What I know for Sure Sunday" post yesterday. Ive been thinking of alternating the series to every other Sunday but still debating on that. What do your guys think? I already have an outline for this coming Sunday's post. So, stay tuned for that.

Anyways, how was your weekend? I have to say I had a very nice and productive weekend. On Saturday I went to the gym early in the morning and then hung out with Felix the rest of the day. We had dinner at a Japanese restaurant and indulged in yet another Kevin Hart movie, Get Hard. I cant ever tell you how many of his movies we have seen together. Dinner was delicious. I had sushi (again)- shrimp tempura and dragol roll.  Refrained from taking a picture due to the awkward looks I get from him when I do... :) #dontjudgeme

On Sunday I went to the gym with my bestie Christina, hit up Target for some things I needed and then hung out with my parents house for a bit.

In other news, I cannot believe that March ends tomorrow. I hate to think about how quick these months are going by. Besides work projects, I have some "fun" things I'd like to accomplish this week so I figure i'd share with you guys:

1. Complete 3 days of Jillian Michael 30 day shred work out

2. Share a recap of my March goals and whether or not I was able to tackle all of them (or most)

3. Find my nearest CVS or Target photo center and get all my Dominican Republic pictures in a CD or online so I can share with you guys ASAP (still trying to find the cable for my digital camera)

4. Complete 2-3 days of cardio (complement my strength training routines)

5. Hit up Trader Joes, if possible (finally get my hands on some quality crunchy almond butter)

I will leave it at that for now. Besides these goals I want to continue making a conscious effort to eat healthy, wholesome foods, continue working hard and succeeding with my work, have fun and spend time with loves ones.

How is your Monday going? any set plans or goals for this week?

Thanks for reading.

Love,

Mabelle

What I know for Sure Sundays III: Commitment & Consistency

Hello everyone!

Can you believe March is here? I realized it this morning when I took a quick glance at my Ipad and the date on the screen indicated the # "1"--  took me half a second to realize "its march 1st". This means spring is almost here. One of the things I am looking forward to is nicer weather so I can start running outside again, something I haven't done in quite some time. Mother nature has been a little tough on NYC this winter.

But anyways, here we are again with another edition of "What I Know For Sure Sundays". If you missed the other two posts, check them out here, #1 and here, #2.

Today I want to talk about the power of commitment and consistency. In all my life accomplishments there's always been a common theme. And this is what I know for sure:

"I've realized that when things get challenging as we work towards our goals; keeping a mentality of commitment & consistency is what allows us to keep going and push through".

We all face challenges in our lives when we are on our way to accomplishing our goals. Things may start out okay and easy to handle but many times they may start getting difficult and complicated. There will always be opportunities for us to get discouraged and take our eyes off the prize. However, if you make a deal with yourself from the very beginning to stay committed and consistent, you will get through the difficult times a lot easier than if you give yourself a chance to give up at the first sign of trouble.

From reaching my fitness goals, to passing super difficult classes in college and grad school, to accomplishing other life goals-  I've had many opportunities to throw in the towel either because I wouldn't see the results I wanted soon enough, or because I felt that despite my efforts I wasn't getting anywhere. In the times where I kept pushing through and remained committed and consistent despite my doubts, I eventually saw the light at the end of the tunnel and everything eventually fell in to place.

The mind is a powerful thing--- it can drag you to desperation and anxiety or it can motivate you to push through and thrive. So, during difficult times, I'd choose the latter and kept my eyes on the prize NO MATTER WHAT. Eventually, I'd see my way through.

Hence-- word to the wise: don't give yourself the opportunity to give up when things get difficult. Remember commitment and consistency are the key ingredients to get to where you want to go. It's worked for incredibly successful people in this world, its worked for me, and I'm sure it works for all human kind.

Tell me, do you have an example of a time in your life when it would have been easier to give up and you didn't? What did you learn from that experience?

Mid-Week Motivation 2: The power of writing things down!

Hi Lovelies,

Welcome to post #2 of my "mid week motivation" series. If you missed post #1 check it out here. I am working structuring my blog in a way that when you visit me, you find tons of motivation and inspiration to lead a better life. As a self-proclaimed 'health and fitness lifestyle blogger' I do enjoy sharing tips and idea on healthy living including yummy meals and workout ideas. However, I also want to take it a step further and share life advise. I am constantly learning and exploring (its an ongoing process!). What better way to make sure I am absorbing and applying what I learn than to share with others. We can all get better together.

So here we go...

Ever since I can remember I've always been a goal-oriented person. One of the things that keeps me the most motivated and excited about life and progression is to set goals for myself as well as set a plan to accomplish said goals. I used to be very 'general' with my goals but with time I have 'perfected my craft' by being more specific in regards to the things I want and how I will get there. One thing that I have noticed has worked tremendously for me is writing down the things I want out of life. And I dont mean typing things down on your computer screen. I mean the old school way of grabbing a pen and a journal.

I truly believe there is something 'magical' about putting pen to paper and letting the 'universe' know about your goals and dreams. I was going through a journal I had back in 2008 and was reading a list of goals I had written down in that journal. From getting my own apartment to finishing my MBA by the age of 30 and several things in between. Guess what-- about 99% of the goals I wrote down came to reality. I almost cried when I saw that. Then, I remembered that pretty much every single thing I have outlined in my life and have put pen to paper to has come true and continues to come true which is quite the magical and eye-opening realization. Is a habit I will continue to implement in my life for as long as I am in this wonderful earth.

Today i encourage you to take 10-15 minutes of your time, put pen to paper and map out your dreams. It doesn't matter how 'crazy' they may seem or how 'ridiculous' they may sound to you. As the sayings go: "Is not your job to figure out HOW things will happen. Your job is to know what you want and that it WILL happen".

Believe in that higher power, the universe, anything. Just Believe.

Thank you for reading.

Tell me, what is your 'goal-achieving' tool? Are you a fan of writing things down?

Love,
Mabelle

Another Goal crossed off the list: MBA Completed!!!

Hey Everyone,

I can finally say that I am finally living the "calm before the storm". I started an MBA degree part time back in the spring of 2010. Although I often felt like I would never finish, I have to be honest in that I took it slow and steady. I never took more than 2 classes per semester and didn't always take summer classes. However, when I realized during the fall of 2013 that I could actually finish my degree if I took up four classes the following semester I decided to suck it up and do it. And so I did. As one of those sayings go "don't delay happiness".

If you are a close family member or friend you can be a testament to how difficult getting his degree has been for me and how many sacrifices I had to endure in order to get through semesters. From missing celebratory events of loved ones to having my laptop and books with me during vacations or mothers day/fathers day celebrations, to crying by myself at night feeling alone and wondering whether so much sacrifice would be worth it. But one thing is for sure. The support from my parents, my sister and friends was always incredible. And that means the world.

Despite my love and passion for finance I have to be honest in that my most difficult and challenging classes where all finance related (note: finance was my concentration!). There were times where I either wanted to quit because of how difficult things would get and I have to admit there were a couple of times where I would fear I would fail a class (I have never failed a class in my entire life *knock on wood*). However, thanks to a whole lot of focus, determination, and most importantly-- prayers; I managed to pass each and every single one of my finance courses as well as all other courses I took on. I maintained a GPA over 3.0+ during my entire MBA career which was no easy task working full time and going to school at night.

Today I can finally add the "MBA" designation next to my name and I am also incredibly excited for what's to come in my life. I am so incredibly lucky to be starting an internship with one of my favorite companies this summer (will share more about that soon) doing what I LOVE. And after that, the sky is the limit. I am not sure what exactly is going to happen in my life going forward but all I know is that I have goals, plans, and an incredibly good feeling for what's to come. Instincts never lie!

Something I am very proud of is that I was able to finish this degree with very minimal debt. I was lucky enough that when I started this degree I worked for an employer that was paying for my courses. When I changed employers, although they didn't pay for the courses, I was almost done with the MBA and I managed to work out my finances in a way where I was able to  keep loans at a minimum. I plan to start paying back ASAP and have a clean slate once again. I also welcome donations if any one out there wants to be a generous soul :)

Now that school is behind me I will have more time to blog and do the things I enjoy. I have so much catching up to do and looking forward to it. Thank you for reading and cheers to new beginnings!

I forgot to mention this but my MBA is in Finance and Entrepreneurship.

Additional Photos:

The Ceremony:

 

Dad and I:

Grandma and I:

 

Couple of classmates I found (we were all scattered!):

 

 

 

Mom and I:

 

"Mystery" ensemble under the gown (dress from express):

 

...And in honor of my favorite author whom passed away this week, may God rest her soul. I leave you with a very relevant quote:

Like her, I don't want to just live. I want to THRIVE and leave this world with a legacy that can continue on for generations. Thank you Maya for the gifts you gave to this world!... Lets get this show on the road.

Tell me: What is your favorite Maya Angelou quote?

Love,

Mabel A. Nunez, MBA

:)

Fortunate Fridays {Feeling Good Edition}

Hello all!!!

A new Friday is upon us and I have a lot of things to feel fortunate for this week. At first I had to take a moment and think about it but I've found that when we focus our minds on gratitude the amount of things to be thankful/grateful/fortunate for is overflowing!!! Are you currently breathing and alive? That's kind of a big deal!!

Without further 'ado this is my fortunate for list of the week:

1. Today is my last day of work in a career that I did not enjoy. I cant even begin to express how amazing this feels.
2. The amazing opportunities and possibilities ahead
3. Casual talks that turn in to "omg if I hadn't found this out I would be screwed" type of conversations
4. Making it through this week :)

5. My dad whom drove me to queens over the weekend to complete a task for my consulting project (love this man!)

6. The fact that all I'll have to worry about in the upcoming weeks is Myself and school!!! <--- God is good!!!

Any plans for the weekend? For me it feels like most of my final projects are due next week so I'll be spending a lot of time on school work and likely at one of my favorite places. I also want to clean my entire apartment (like, inside out serious cleaning) and my mom offered to help so I'm happy about that :)

Tell me, what was the best thing that happened to you this week?

My absolute favorite quote this week:

Love,

Mabelle

Do Your Part!

Sometimes we ask for things to happen in our lives. We pray, we hope, we day dream, we make plans, we even write out steps and then we wait.

 

Then, all of a sudden, God, the universe, a higher power (whatever you prefer to call it) presents us with an opportunity sometimes "in disguise". We may not realize it at the time and we may brush it off as it not being exactly what we were looking for. Meanwhile, if we make a decision to "dig deeper" we may find that a prayer, hope and/or dream has in fact been answered.

I am guilty of brushing off possible leads and opportunities while I wait for what I like to call "obvious answers". For example, if I am searching for a particular career I may be looking for the "obvious answer" which means meeting someone randomly who will offer me a full time position after a random 10 minute conversation. I am sure this is possible; however, what are the odds?

Meanwhile, I have been presented with opportunities (more than once) of people that work in a field I am interested in. I have met these people anywhere from formal events to volunteering outings to random parties. I have conversations with these people, I listen closely at what they do and I also share information about myself. At the end of the conversation the person is willing to exchange numbers and keep in touch. I am usually very excited but then… I do nothing.

 

And this doesn’t only happen with career-related scenarios. This can happen with pretty much any imaginable scenario from finding a mate to finding a place to live. Are you “digging” deep enough? Are you doing YOUR part?

I learned a long time ago that we do have to read between the lines and is probably a good idea to keep our eyes open for those kind of opportunities which, in all honesty, are likely the answers we've been looking for. Remember that taking action is what really makes the difference in our lives.

I vow to incorporate "action” in to my life more often in order to get to the next level of my goals and objectives and I encourage you to do the same!

This is my vow to God/world/the universe that I will DO MY PART and take advantage of the opportunities that are presented to me. Care to join me?!

Before I go, I want to share a story with you (which you have probably read before as it is very well known) but I believe is worth reading again and again until we understand its true meaning and begin to apply it in our lives:

 

***

While out to sea, a large boat became shipwrecked and there was only a single survivor. This man prayed and asked God to save his life. Soon thereafter, another boat came by and offered the man some help.

"No thanks," he said. "I'm waiting for God to save me."

 

The men on the boat shrugged their shoulders and continued. As the man became more deeply concerned, another boat came by. Again, the people aboard offered this man some help, and again he politely decline. "I'm waiting for God to save me," he said again. After some time, the man began to lose his faith, and soon after that he died. Upon reaching Heaven, he had a chance to speak with God briefly.

"Why did you let me die? Why didn't you answer my prayers?"

"Dummy, I sent you two boats!"

 

***

And, don’t take this literally but u get the point:

 

Dont miss your next chance @ something great! Take chances, do your part.

Tell me, can you identify circumstances where you can do YOUR part to make your dreams come true?

 

Post # 301: Fortunate Fridays, March Objectives and Overnight Oats

This is my post #301 :)...I should really pay closer attention to my Blog's milestones..

Hey everyone!

 

First of all, there is some crazy and random snow storm going on in NYC (yes the Friday before we spring forward our clocks) and my morning was quite insane!

My bus never showed up so after around 45 minutes of waiting around I had to take a $8 cab to the train. Needless to say I made it to work super late. Thankfully my boss was understanding but what a disaster of a morning I had!

 I know it could have been worse. So, I am over it! Thankfully I had prepped breakfast the night before and once I finally made it to work I was able to enjoy my overnight oats (in an near-empty almond butter jar):

[In the mix: Chobani 0% Greek yogurt mixed in with a little bit of stevia for flavor, cinnamon, 1/3 cup of granola and raisins] Had it with some coffee on the side. So good! It had been a while since I had it.

And here is the Fortunate Friday Rundown of the week. This week I feel fortunate for...

1. Coming home to a clean apartment-- my mom was off from work one day this week. Since she's the type of person that constantly has to be "in motion" she called and asked whether I'd like her to swing by my place and clean up a bit. How could I be against that?!

Well, I came home to the smell of clean and fresh. Thanks mom!

2. Living during a time where absolutely everything is available on the internet-- I know this is so "normal" to us now but I am an 80s baby and I do remember a time where the internet was not in existence (encyclopedia Britannica anyone?!). Well, I've been doing research on different topics this past week (from personal to school related) and the fact that everything is so easily and readily available is definitely something to feel fortunate for... and not to be taken for granted!

3. Health-- I always feel fortunate for this but figured I throw in a friendly reminder. If you have health you have everything.

4. The free gym at my school-- or maybe I should say "free" because my tuition covers part of it (whether I like it or not). But anyway, Ive been trying to fit in some runs during my busy week and figured since I am already on campus nearly every single day I could make good use of my time and hit the gym before my class. This week has been a success with that! I'll elaborate more on my next post.

5. Scholarships for MBA students. Since my company doesn't pay for school I've had to get "creative" on searching for resources and found some scholarships online which i will be applying for. Please pray for me and wish me luck!!

I know I am 8 days late but here are my top 5 Objectives for the month of March:
1. Friendships: Meet up with at least one friend I haven't seen in a while (roll over from February)
2. Fitness: Run 2-3 times a week, Finish Jillian rippedin30 week 3
3. Personal: Tackle things head on before they ever have a chance to stress me out.
4. School: Stay on top of school stuff
5. Finish requirements for at least one scholarship

Any plans for March? How was your friday morning?