The Road Ahead

There is a tide in the affairs of my life, ladies and gentlemen! And I'm taking it at the flood in hopes for good fortune. In short, this girl was offered a position with a PR agency in Orlando and I'm on the move.

In the next few weeks, I have a good bit of traveling, packing and moving to get done. To start things off, I have to fly to New Jersey to collect my clothes. (Quick back story on that one. When I flew home from NJ, I didn't check any bags and limited myself to a carry on. I left all of my winter clothes, jeans, a few blouses, shoes, etc.)

After a trip to New Jersey, I'll drive up to Orlando to apartment hunt. I have a few friends in Orlando that have been kind enough to let me bother them with a million and one questions. And can I just say, why is finding an apartment so difficult?! While I lived in an apartment in college, I didn't do much apartment hunting. My friends/roommates, Kallie & Carling hunted and landed our apartment while Colleen and I were in London. (Thank God for those two!) But now that I'm doing this on my own...it's not only not as much fun, it's a bit stressful. Finding, visiting and setting the budget is also overwhelming for this girl who is awful with numbers. (During a few occasions, I have been known to cry while trying to figure out my math homework.)

I'll take all of the nerves though. I mean, this is what I wanted, right? This is the Kefi Spirit I've been channeling since we rang in the new year. This is change and this is good. Scary, but good. But knowing me, I'll be scared (or maybe I should say nervous...yes, I'll be more nervous) about all of it until just before it happens. Then, for ten seconds that come out of no where, I'll be courageous. I'll think I'm bigger than I am and BAM! It'll all be second nature.

Sincerely,

Cybill

Push Back & Make Room

"I want to get more comfortable being uncomfortbale. I want to get more confident being uncertain. I don't want to shrink back just because something isn't easy. I want to push back and make more room in the area between I can't and I can."

— Kristen Armstrong

{Picture Credit}

My Man Crush Monday

Because today is Monday and we could all use the eye candy and pick me up, I thought I'd share a few of gentlemen who always make my "Man Crush Monday" list (although I've never posted a #MCM photo on my Instagram, Twitter or Facebook — seriously, go check).

In no particular order (okay, maybe the first five are my absolute favorites), I present handsome men of the world. 

1. Sir Henry Cavill. So, he really isn't a "Sir," since he wasn't knighted by the Queen, but he's knighted in my book. Also, I fell for him the moment his face (and his butt) graced my television while I watched The Tudors (I think his character, Charles Brandon, was a knight). This was pre Man of Steel, so everyone can just back off. Fun fact: I wrote a paper about Charles Brandon (the real Charles Brandon), for my history class freshmen year of college. I'm being totally serious. 

2. Mark Wahlberg. Although Marky Mark had a childhood that would otherwise knock anyone else down on my list, for him, I'll make an exception. Besides, his childhood appeals to every woman's desire (though some women refuse to admit they have it) to be the girl that makes the bad boys good.

3. Taylor Kitsch. Perhaps I still miss Friday Night Lights (they had a premature end and I will fight anyone who tells me otherwise) or I'm avoiding the fact that I want to see Lone Survivor, but I don't want to see him die, but my oh my, Taylor Kitsch. He looks every bit the bad boy this girl would like to rebel with.

4. Kyle Chandler. Keeping in line with my love for Friday Night Lights, who didn't love Coach Taylor? His tough love attitude and the way his hair was always disheveled when it took of his baseball hat, sign me up for some Texas football! Connie Britton (and his real wife) are some very lucky ladies. 

5. Gregory Peck. Besides the fact that Mr. Peck is on the older side (and he has passed away, rest in peace), he's so handsome. Old Hollywood had it good when Mr. Peck was around and did you see him as Atticus Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird?!

I hope you enjoy the eye candy!

Sincerely,

Cybill

{Photo Credits: Cavill//Wahlberg//Kitsch//Chandler//Peck}

Random Oddities

1. With northern America dealing with the Polar Vortex Mega Winterpocalypse Snowmageddon KillStorm 2014, endless amount of snow and numbing cold I'm so happy I call Florida home. The summers may be brutal and the heat may get monotonous, but there's something indescribably soothing about the sun warming your shoulders.

2. I miss the days of free yoga classes at the FSU's gym. Yoga in my living room just doesn't feel the same.

3. Some days you're the windshield, some days your the bug...and some days, you're just a small gust of wind away from breaking down. During those days, a nap is non-negotiable.

4. The statement "I like to keep my options open" relates to me on so many levels. Classic characteristic of an ENFP. (I suggest taking a Myers Briggs personality test. It'll provide some understanding to why you do the things you do.)

5. I've fallen in love with James Vincent McMorrow's "We Don't Eat" all over again. I consider it a good, "Relax, and let your worries flow downstream" kind of songs.

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend! 

Sincerely,

Cybill

{Photo Credit}

Dick Wolf is a Boss

For all of you who know addictive television, I'm sure you've found yourself parked on your couch, watching episode after episode of Law & Order, or my personal preference, Law & Order: SVU. The mastermind behind those addictive television shows is a gentleman by the name of Dick Wolf and he has done it once again with Chicago PD!

NBC premiered their new show, (my must-watch, can't-miss) Chicago PD in January. Since its pilot episode (which caused me to slap my hand over my mouth as I gasped and almost caused me to spill my tea) it hasn't lifted its foot off the gas...not even a little bit. 

For those of you who haven't watched it, I'll stir clear of any spoilers, but tell you now, even if I slipped, you probably won't see it coming. Right off the bat, the audience is lifted by their heels and shaken upside, leaving you hanging for the perfectly timed commercial breaks. Luckily, you can probably watch the first five episodes on demand and skip all the commercials. (I suggest keeping one or two of them in there, as you might need a breather.) Regardless, there is no shortage of action, suspense, gun fire and the nitty-gritty story lines that keep you wanting more.

The story lines of each character provide a depth that intrigues you on its own. It not only sets a concrete foundation for the show — making you feel as if you've stepped into a well established series — but it ignites the ever quiet and ever present human aspect, there is always more than one side to every story.

The depth of the character break downs probably comes as no surprise to those who have watched another of Wolf's work, Chicago Fire. Leading man, Sergeant Hank Voight, played by Jason Beghe, appeared in a couple of episodes of Chicago Fire, allowing for optimum crossovers between the shows. 

Personally, one of my favorite aspects is knowing the wait for another awesome episode produced by Wolf is just 24 hours, compared to a week (or 23 hours if you want to throw Law & Order: SVU into the mix). However, it'll be a little different this go around. With the 2014 Winter Olympics, Chicago Fire and Chicago PD have paused, but on the bright side...it just means you have three weeks to catch up. And besides, people always say it's not good to watch that much television.

I hope you enjoy it! Let me know what you think!

Sincerely, 

Cybill

{Photo Credit}

In A Past Life

Do you believe in past lives and reincarnation? When I first learned about reincarnation in school, it fascinated me. It's like a second chance, but on a bigger scale. A reset button on life. You've reset and erased. You're back at the starting gate, but you don't know the course of the track. You go on anyways.

Growing up Catholic, I was taught that reincarnation isn't real. It isn't a thing. It's an idea, but it's not ours. However, as the years have come and gone, I can't help but wonder if it's true, even the smallest bit. Perhaps it's not page-by-page from Buddhist teaching, but piece-by-piece.

In the Zac Brown Band's song "Colder Weather," he sings, "you got a gypsy soul to blame and you were born for leaving." It's always been one of my favorite lines and I had jotted it down on a post-it note while working in NYC. (That post-it note hung on the wall next to pictures I ripped out of an STA Travel catalog.) The lines' deep resonation has me thinking I must have been a gypsy in a former life. I must have been a vagabond. I must have always had this need to explore and wander. Whether or not it's true, I won't know until after I die, but until then, I'll go on anyways.

Sincerely, 

Cybill

{Photo Credit}

Que Sera Sera

There is something to be said about going away and coming back home. It's probably why millions of people do it every day and the novelty will never wear off. There's the renewed appreciation for the familiar. They way your bed fits, just right. The fine balance of your pillows, not too soft, not to sturdy. The comforting smell, that not matter how old you are or where life takes you, the smallest hint of it and you know, home. 

There's also the small and unexplainable way your spirit just comes back rejuvenated. Indescribable, but undeniable. A part of you longs for the foreign adventure, but it's hard to fulling ignore the ease of breathing at home. The way the familiar surroundings break down the stiffness built in your spine. The knowing, where things are and where they belong, including yourself.

In the realm of careers, I'm still trying to find where I belong. Today, I welcomed the week with another Skype interview. It was the same company I spoke with a few weeks ago, but this time around, I didn't wear pajama pants, I wore gym shorts. Am I confident about it? Yes...and no. I'm confident in my answers and in myself, but I'm not confident in their feelings about me. Does that make sense? Ultimately, they weren't easy to read, but hakuna matata, right? I made it to another round. If this were American Idol, I'd have better chances at some air time. Oh well, I'll hope for the best and in regard to the rest, que sera sera, whatever will be, will be... (You have to love that rejuvenated kefi spirit!)


Sincerely,

Cybill