next step

June 10, 2016 hdoan3

Woah.. so this is a major transition phase. I’m currently at home resetting before my next move, and I am all over the place! It’s crazy to think that my entire life has been shaped by the “next step”: you go to school and work towards the next grade, apply to high school, apply to college, and now what? Sure, I could just keep moving into an entry level job and climb the corporate ladder, but I don’t see any happiness and fulfillment there. So instead, I’m choosing to spend this time discovering more about myself and what kind of impact I want to have on the world.

(To those of you who went straight to work, I’m not totally hating on you.. some of you already knew what you wanted and I respect you for your drive!)

Anyways, this time is not easy. I know it’s not supposed to be. I have so many things I want to do, so many places I want to see, and for some reason feel like there’s not enough time. I can already tell that in the future I will look back and think I was crazy to think I had so little time to see the world. But at the same time, I don’t want to sit back and let time fly.

So for now, I am trying to seek comfort in the chaos. I hope to learn and grow in the next year through new experiences. I want to take on different jobs and discover what drives me the most. My dream would be to be able to travel for my career…how cool would it be to travel with the World Surf League? I am passionate about the action sport industry, so I plan to spend this time finding what works best for me.

But at the same time, I am not locking myself into any commitments yet, as tempting as it is to be comfortable. I long to be in my home base, but have the rest of my life to do that. I want to make sure I experience as much as I can, and believe that these lessons will land me in the right place at the right time. It won’t be easy, but I know it’s right for me!

[ be sure to follow my Instagram for updates! ]

[ You can also see what inspires me on Pinterest! ]

natural healers

January 5, 2016 hdoan3

[aaaand that’s not me]

It’s that time of year where gym memberships increase, the yoga studio is extra packed, and you’ll most likely spot someone downing a cold pressed green juice (probably the only thing they’re drinking for a few days…yuck!)

Let me say, that I’ve tried the juice cleanses, the two week detoxes and even tried to cut dairy and gluten. All attempts were a total bust…for me at least. I just sat there craving everything I couldn’t have, and then would end up binge eating a jar of peanut butter. Instead, I’ve found it helpful to add natural healing ingredients to my daily routine, making me feel more refreshed and energized.

Below is a list of my top 5 favorite detox ingredients. I find these helpful in addition to a healthy diet, and less guilt with those meals I like to indulge in once in a while!

turmeric
- Turmeric is known as a natural anti-inflammatory. It can be used for all sorts of things, from cooking to beauty products. I like to use fresh turmeric juice and mix it with lemon water. This drink helps with digestion and eases inflammation as well.
- There are also turmeric supplements, for those of you who don’t have turmeric shots at your local juice bar.
- Learn more about the variety of health benefits of turmeric here.
charcoal
- I’ve blogged about the healing power of charcoal here, and still stand by it. There are charcoal supplements to take, but I recommend Dirty Lemon Detox for a short term cleanse to reset after holiday eating and drinking. Charcoal is known to strip toxins from the inside, helping cleanse your body and leave you feeling refreshed.

Screen Shot 2016-01-05 at 10.55.27 AM.png

[image from dirtylemon.com]

lemons
- Lemons are also a great addition to your morning routine. I like to have a tall glass of water with fresh squeezed lemon in the morning, helping get my system started for the day.

ginger
- Ginger is another powerful root that I like to incorporate, especially if I’m feeling a cold coming on. I like to get a shot of fresh ginger with a little cayenne pepper. If I already have a cold, this fiery shot helps relieve sinus pressure instantly!
water!
- Need I say more? Water is the most important cleanser for the body. Make sure to drink the appropriate amount of water in accordance with your body weight! Water keeps your digestive system moving, your skin from drying, and also suppresses hunger.

*you can also follow my clean living board on Pinterest for other tips that I’ve found!

cheers!

January 1, 2016 hdoan3

Happy New Year!

2015 has been an incredible year. It’s been full of fun and many lessons. I am confident that 2016 will be even better, I can’t wait!

I’ve totally been slacking on my blog, I apologize! One of my new years resolutions is to share more on my site, so expect more to come this year!

I hope you all had a wonderful new years, here’s to another amazing year!

if i had 24 hours in sydney…

November 3, 2015 hdoan3

It’s been a year since I’ve been in Sydney and (go figure) I miss it so much! I can’t wait to visit again soon, but when I daydream all I think about are the top things I would do if I had one day to spend in Australia again….
First, I would go for my morning swim in Coogee. I lived right across the street from the beach and couldn’t go about my day without a fresh dip in the cool water.One day, a girl who worked at Love Juice in Coogee Pavillion told me she was very jealous of my morning routine, seeing as I would show up wrapped in a towel, with wet salty hair and sandy feet. I’ll never forget when she told me “you never regret a swim”…which takes me back to a time that I told myself that as I jumped into the rough, sea-weedy water on a stormy day… might have regretted that one.

Wrapped in my towel and barefoot, I’d make my way over to Coogee Pavillion. I’d get an almond flat white and chat with my favorite people working there. Coogee Pavillion was one of my favorite Marivale restaurants–I’d do anything to go back for some pizza there too! I found myself sitting at he high tops for hours on end working on school work and my blog. It was peaceful to watch all of the people coming and going, and seeing people walk along the beach sidewalk.

I wouldn’t think twice about doing the coast walk! I love going on walks with friends or sometimes alone to clear my head. Each bay throughout the hike was so special and beautiful. The picture above is Gordon’s Bay, just at the beginning of my coast walk….

…and at the end are the Bondi Icebergs! I never went for a swim in any of the ocean pools, but I was so fascinated by them! The water from the ocean would flow right into the pools.

And then there was brekky at Porch and Parlour at the very end of the walk! I could eat there for breakfast, lunch and dinner if I had my way!
At some point in the day, I’d be sure to pay a visit to my Aussie family! Michelle is like my second mom (I love you too, mom!!) And her kids are like my younger sisters and brother. This was when we went to Opera Bar to see the sunset before seeing a show at the Opera House. It was such a beautiful night!And OF COURSE, I would go to Messina for the best ice cream in the entire world. I’m pretty sure Messina was the leading cause of my weight gain in Sydney, but it was so worth it! They have a list of specials every week, and the line is always down the block!

Dinner would 100% be at Three Blue Ducks. I love sitting up at the bar and having hand made cocktails with kangaroo tartare and their pork belly! Yeah, you probably just read that and thought those both sounded equally disgusting, but don’t knock it till you try it! They also just opened The Farm at Byron Bay, which I will definitely be visiting next time I am there!

So there you go…I’ve hopefully sold you on Sydney, and successfully made myself want to cry after making this post. It is such an incredible place, I can’t wait to go back and explore more!

so much to learn, so much time

August 5, 2015 hdoan3

Looking back on the first half of 2015, I realize that I have learned so much about myself, others, and life in general. I have been enjoying Dallas, really living in the moment and have grown so grateful for the amazing friends I have there. I have spent quality time at home, as well as ventured out to California, New York, Nashville, and a couple trips to the Bahamas!

I feel so lucky to have the opportunities to get out of my comfort zone and see more of the world. After Australia, I have been plotting my escape out of the states to get back to that amazing place. However, I am learning so much through living in the moment.

Here are some quotes that really stood out to me–they embody the things I have discovered throughout the past seven months. I have experienced good and bad, and through it all I fully believe that everything is part of the experience. Every thing I face makes me stronger and more confident. It’s all a learning lesson-there’s no end result to be happy. It’s all about rolling with the roller coaster, and taking every experience for what it is.

There’s so much to learn, and I will continue to learn throughout my life. Things change, people change, and it’s all about being confident in yourself that life is working out the way it should be.

working on your soul

1 Comment May 4, 2015 hdoan3

I recently watched Cassey Ho’s video on The “Perfect” Body and it was very moving. We are constantly look at ourselves and wish we had at least five different things about our body. We workout excessively, diet, try insane cleanses (that I personally last half a day through) all for what? Because, if I did end up achieving my “dream body”, would I feel that different? Or would I start picking out other imperfections? It’s all just a vicious cycle that we all play into.

I started wondering why we are so focused on our appearance, when it all comes down to who you are on the inside. This may seem obvious, or cliche (I am a fan of the cliches) but seriously! One day I am going to die, and whoever reflects on my life is surely not going to say “she had big arms” or “she had a good tan” (thanks for that one Brynne). I would hope that someone would talk about the person I was any impact I may have had on them.

Why are we obsessing over our bodies and overall appearance when that’s not what’s important in the end? Is that what really defines you? I’m not saying I’m perfectly secure with my image now that I’m posting this, but it is definitely something I am more aware of. I think we should all accept our bodies for what they are, how they were created, and how they will remain without trying to manipulate our diets and exercise. I’m all about a healthy lifestyle, but to restrict myself from good food or a day of vegging out on the couch is a waste of energy.

Embrace yourselves! We have so much more to share with the world, and good energy and a happy soul makes you look a lot better!

-xo-

dreamer

April 30, 2015 hdoan3

beach nap

The fact that I miss Australia is an understatement. I can’t tell you how many times I open Instagram in the morning, where my feed is flooded with Australian bloggers, restaurants, and other people who are in the middle of enjoying a beautiful day in paradise. My heart hurts a little, then I get up and go about my day.

I know, how dramatic! I had my experience, and I am so thankful for that. I plan to go back again soon, maybe after graduating to either travel or explore…so it was not goodbye forever!

One thing I really miss, and I knew I would miss, is the walk to and from yoga. It took about 15 minutes to walk uphill from Coogee to Clovelly, where I would walk into the intimate space of This is Yoga. Melanie and Michael are amazing teachers, with vibrant and positive personalities which makes the classes even better. After a good one hour sweat, I would make my way back downhill to Coogee. I loved walking at night, looking up at the stars in a complete daze. I would make my way to the end of Beach Road, seeing all of the people eating and drinking at Coogee Pavillion, kids running around playing, and seeing the waves crash on the beautiful shore. The moon would either be lit up over the ocean, or just a crescent in the sky, but it was beautiful either way. The sound of the ocean still resonates in my head, the feeling of the salty breeze, and the overall sense of being grounded.

Sydney truly is a special place. I don’t know anyone who comes back with a single bad thing to say about it. I hope I can go back again soon…but until then I’ll try to keep myself from checking Instagram first thing in the morning!

must be on vacation

April 14, 2015 hdoan3

…clearly! I haven’t posted anything in the longest time! This semester has been hectic, not to mention it’s flown by! It’s crazy to think I was in Australia a few months ago, and that I had all these goals and plans in mind. So much has changed, but I am committed to going back to Australia very soon!

I’m going to NYC this weekend! I’ve only been twice when I was younger, so I’m excited to go on my own and visit friends.

Dallas has been amazing–believe it or not, I’m going to stay in June for classes. Hopefully I can squeeze in a Bahamas trip in May, I’m dying to get to the beach for some summer sun! I’m also excited to say that I signed up to complete my yoga teacher training with Baron Baptiste this summer. I’ll be going to New York for a week-long intensive teacher training. I can’t wait to see some old faces from level one, as well as meet some new people!

I’ll be sure to keep this more up to date, with a NYC post to follow!

thinking out loud

November 5, 2014 hdoan3

If you told me a year ago where I would be now and what I would experience, I wouldn’t believe a single bit. My adventures abroad have opened new doors, giving me the opportunity to learn and grow as I go along. Now I know your eyes have already glazed over because, who doesn’t say that studying abroad or traveling to another country is life changing? I know I’m not different, however, everyone’s experience is special to him/her in some sort of way. That’s why, I hope that by sharing my adventures with you, you will be inspired to challenge yourself and dig deep to the root of who you really are.

I’ve gained a lot of clarity on this trip. Made new friends, strengthened old relationships, and learned to let go of what doesn’t serve me. It’s been a challenge (and believe me, those who I have complained to are fully aware), but despite my somewhat failed efforts to let everything go, I can say that I am learning to see the silver lining in most situations. If I were to take anything away from this experience, it would be that I have the most incredible support system and I am even more grateful than I was before to have such amazing people to be there for me.

My experience has served me in the best way possible. I am ultimately happy with the person I have become, and look forward to the future that I can make for myself. I can’t wait to keep traveling, learning, and growing to the point where my passion becomes my career. The American mentality is a tough pill to swallow–graduate, get a job, and that’s it for the rest of your youth. How will you know what you really want, when all you’ve been doing is following a path that most people take? If you have the opportunity, even if it’s for a month, travel! There’s so much to learn about yourself and others when you take yourself out of your comfort zone, and if anything it will give you the confidence to go in the direction of your dreams.

a drop in the ocean

August 23, 2014 hdoan3

{photo by: Chris Slawson}

During my time home this summer, I got to watch my dog save baby sea turtles that were stuck in their nests. He would bring them to me gently, and watch as they slowly made their way out into the ocean. It’s such a beautiful sight to see–having this tiny, new-born creature instinctively make its way out into the ocean alone. Could you imagine, being tossed through waves into a massive, unchartered territory–but at the same time, instinctively knowing to do so?

It’s so easy to get caught up in a fast-paced lifestyle. I’ve always been the type of person to have a long list of things to do, going through every day with some sort of agenda. Ever since I went home this summer, I really started slow down and take the time to observe the little things that happen around me. I have taken that understanding with me to Australia, immersing myself in this new place while letting things come naturally. It’s been an amazing experience so far, and a lot of my appreciation and happy memories have come from the moments when I slowed down and really took in the moment.

There’s such a deep message that I’ve picked up on from watching the turtles this summer. It inspires me to open my eyes and immerse myself in the unknown, and to always know that home is there. I was blessed with support and guidance growing up, and I have so much appreciation for the foundation I’ve been given. Now, this is the time to go out and learn more about myself from being in new places, figuring out which direction to head as I go along. It is such an exciting point in my life, and I am so thankful to have this understanding with me as I continue my journey. I instinctively know that I am doing what’s best for me, and can’t wait to see what the future holds.