2018 February

I’m the queen of going out for coffee.

If you’re trying to get a hold of me, chances are I’m either at work or at my local coffee shop. I love it! I love the atmosphere, the hot drinks, and the aesthetic. I love meeting up with friends over a hot drink… I love setting up my laptop with a delicious London Fog and getting work done… I love sitting down with one of my girls I mentor and chat about life. It’s one of my favourite things!

But here’s the deal.

Not everybody has the opportunity nor do they have the luxury to go out for coffee.

I grew up in East Vancouver. With that being said, I’m no stranger to the Downtown Eastside. Growing up, I had my fair share of going downtown with either a high school group or my church youth group to hand out coffee, a sandwich, or a pair of socks. These outings sparked conversations with the people that lived in my neighbourhood whose lives didn’t quite look like mine. I was also taught to always show kindness to the homeless community because even though their lives looked different than my own, we all searched for the same thing – someone to show us love and kindness.

When UGM approached me and asked if I wanted to be part of their campaign Coffee + Conversation it was a no-brainer. At UGM, each cup of coffee is an opportunity to create life-changing connections with guests staying in their Emergency Shelter.

So… How can you do your part? You can help support me by making a donation to my fundraising campaign A Cup Of Joy. I chose joy because everyone deserves happiness… to be shown kindness… and to see joy in the midst of hardship and sorrow.

The process is fast, easy, and secure… and you can be sure that your donation will make a difference in the lives of our struggling neighbours.

By clicking here you can provide the $3.50 it costs to provide a warm meal and a hot cup of coffee to someone who needs it. The amount you choose to give is totally up to you! My goal is to raise $500 over the next few weeks (Campaign ends March 10th), providing at least 100 opportunities for life changing connections. ALSO!! With every donation made, may it be big or small, you will be entered to win a really cool giveaway (free coffee anyone??).

Will you join me in bringing a cup of joy?

Holy crap it’s 2018!

It’s a month into the new year and I’m still processing that it’s no longer 2017.. and as cliche as it sounds, where the heck has the time gone? It’s crazy to think that it’s a brand new year. A fresh start as some would say.

And now that the holidays are over (and so is January), the party hats have been taken off and the 2018 balloons have deflated, it’s time to write out the obligatory new year, new me blog post. You know what I’m talking about. It’s the same one that everyone writes at the start of every new year, hashing out all their big “resolutions” that they want to concur. They talk about all the good and bad that has happened over the last year, and what changes they need to make in the new.

Now, I’m no stranger to the old saying “New Year, New Me”. I’m the queen of saying it (usually hinted with some sarcasm and a cheeky smirk). But as I thought about it, I’m not suddenly this brand new person. Sure it’s a new year, but it’s still the same old Jenn, only with a couple new goals. A new outlook, if you will.

Just because it’s a new year that doesn’t mean that you have to change the old you. Instead, focus on little changes that can only better yourself. Things that will only help you grow and enhance your life. Be a little healthier… set a couple goals… go to bed early… do whatever it takes that will make you feel happier.

And that’s what I’m planning on doing. I’m planning on doing things that make me happy. I’m choosing to be happy this year. I started off January with a bang and used The Happiness Planner. The planner is organized into a monthly overview, daily challenges and goals, as well as monthly challenges. It also begins with an overall assessment and happiness tools that challenge you to look at yourself (and life), pin point your own weaknesses and strengths, as well as setting goals that you want to achieve in the next year, five years and ten. It also gives pages for personal reflections as well as an exercise to help define what happiness is to you.

Even though February is already here, I’m still working my way through the personal exercises and reflections. It isn’t something that you can go through quickly. It’s something to take your time with – to really reflect and set intentions. That can be a post in of itself if you’d like me to talk about (let me know!) PLUS – the planner is GOALS and gorgeous and it fulfills all my stationary dreams. Definitely pick one up! Click here to check their website (note: this is not sponsored).

Switching back to my goals, my 2018 ones are pretty simple…

choose happy
stick to a routine (nightly – read my Bible, pray)
make healthier choices
get my license (I’m 26 and I don’t drive. It’s probably time. I’ve also been saying this for the last 5 years)
adventure more
put more focus on my blog
get my own place

What about you? What are your 2018 goals?

J. xx

Archives for February 2018

A Cup Of Joy | #UGMxCoffee

New Year, Same Jenn