Cest la Vie

SF Ballet

2012-02-22T19:13:00.005-08:00

Over the weekend I went to the SF Ballet. My brother got season tickets and we were able to sit in the third row! Unfortuantly the seats are all the way to the left so a few times we were not able to see the dancers, but, being that close was incredible! We could see the dancers facial expressions, their muscles moving, and the costume details. Normally I'm a few stories up and I'm only able to see their little bodies moving around. In a ways those seats are also amazing because you see the bigger picture. You get to see what the choreographer had created in terms of where everyone is on the stage and their formations. Either way it's really incredible seeing people in their element, doing what they do best. It inspires me to move my body to music and to also find a passion and work hard perfecting my work.

Quote

2012-02-20T09:41:00.000-08:00

Source

Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist innature,

nor do the children of men as a whole experience it.

Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outrightexposure.

Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.

To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits

in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.

- Helen Keller

Productivity

2012-02-15T11:40:00.000-08:00

Source

Things I do that get in my way of work:

Twitter, Facebook, reading blogs, writing blogs, exercising, words with friends, istagram, random games on iphone, tv shows, talking to friends on gchat, cooking, exercising, browsing the internet, "window shopping" online, napping, etc.

See my problem? I am easily distracted, I work from home, and rarely have any deadlines.

Enter the solution. I've been trying for a while now to come up with ways to actually get myself to work, be productive and motivated to get things done: professionally and personally. A few nights ago I had this idea that I should write a to-do list, which is something I do many times, but here is the catch, I will get a reward everyday if I do EVERYTHING on the list! The another important thing to note is my to-do list can't be little things, it has to have many items that are important and take up most of the day.

My reward for day one? $15 dollars worth of spending money. I will explain. Now that the wedding is over, our traveling has slowed down, and we are thinking to move, we are on a budget. For us that means I cannot spend money whenever I please. Instead, I have to stop buying clothes, makeup, and whatever else I manage to buy. We can't eat out as much, and when we do we could try to split an entree. Spending money is one of my favorite things to do but seeing my credit card bill is not. Therefore these little amounts of reward money (or other things) will add up eventually and then I can really feel like I earned the spending money!

p.s. I'm pretty sure this desk was made for me! I love Paris and my name starts with an A. ;)

Wandering

2012-02-13T18:26:00.000-08:00

Can we just ignore my hand placement and pretend I'm walking/dancing in this field of flowers and trees? Not trying to pose like a model and failing? Okay thanks! Moving on. :)

Yesterday my husband and I looked for new apartments in the South Bay (we currently live in the East Bay). I'm getting really frustrated by the prices in CA. Honestly, most of the places are super, duper expensive and not nice at all! That is the most frustrating part. I wouldn't mind paying a ton if I was getting a washer/dryer, gas stove and a yard, and since the price of rent around here is higher than most states, why not add in a pool and a personal masseuse? Okay, my rant is over, but maybe we should just move to Kauai where at least we are paying for a beautiful island with a swimmable ocean?

On another note, related to the quote above: somehow I haven't figured this whole life thing out. I don't know where I want to live, exactly what I want to do, and who I want to be/how to become that person. Writing that out I can tell I'm in a confused, introspective state. Time to find the light and get out of this cave, it's driving me crazy! But, maybe on the way out I'll find some jewels that I can carry with me on this life. I'm all about growth and bettering myself, but I also am about being happy in the moment and living the life I want and not analyzing everything! Being confused is not a fun way to live.

First up, I'm writing a pro and con list of all the places/careers/habits I want to live/have. Ready, set, go!

Be Mine

2012-02-09T14:30:00.000-08:00

I had a lot of fun making these a few nights ago. I had the night alone for the first time in probably a month, so I made popcorn, did my nails, watched tv shows and made these valentines. I used heart stamps from Paper Source that I had originally bought for our wedding but never used. Now I need to figure out who to send these to and get them out the door before it's too late!

Tuesday: Gratitude

2012-02-07T19:21:00.000-08:00

"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has." Epictetus

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures."

Thornton Wilder

Today I'm grateful for LOVE and the ocean that produces such beautiful things.

Sweet friends who made my wedding amazing.

My sweet, handsome husband for being the love of my life.

Kauai

2012-02-06T00:01:00.000-08:00

We were in Kauai for 17 days and it was really hard to leave! Life there is so simple, relaxing and everywhere you look you see the ocean. To top it off many of our friends and family came to join us for our wedding and it was an absolute BLAST hanging out with everyone in paradise. This needs to happen more.

Here are some photos from our trip.

The week started out with hiking, relaxing on the beach and eating as many exotic fruits as possible.

Queen's Bath (photo taken by my friend Christine)

Next up our wedding! Posing for the photographer with my gorgeous bridesmaids.

And handsome groomsmen and groom.

Pretending to be models.

The reception had amazing food and a passion fruit cake.

The next day we celebrated again at my parents rental house with brunch and swimming in the ocean. Here I am hanging out with my new friend Roxy. She is a local hawaiian dog, she loves coconut and is a pro swimmer, I wanted to bring her home with me.

This was a perfect way to start 2012. :)

Wedding Planning

2012-01-13T15:49:00.000-08:00

It's been very interesting planning a wedding. I've never planned a big party before and it's quite overwhelming, especially after looking at all the wedding blogs and seeing what people create! I'm trying not to get too scared and just have fun with it. I have to remember the most important part is being around people we love and having fun!! I feel so blessed that 35 people are flying all the way to Kauai to be with us on our special day. My "theme" is "down to earth, beachy, and DIY". I went to Paper Source today (can I please just live there?) and picked up some supplies for place cards. I bought pretty stamps, paper and pens. I will have a post showing what we make. There will be flowers, candles, origami cranes and favors on the tables. If we can find Izze's I want a soda "bar" with striped straws. Our cake is going to be out of this world (it won't look like the one I posted, but I thought it was beautiful!). And there will be many beach photos which I will share!

Jetting Away (Again)

2012-01-12T16:18:00.000-08:00

2011 was a year of travel. I started the year off in Costa Rica doing yoga, went to three weddings (two in Southern CA and one in Ohio), took a few trips back home (Iowa), Kauai for our own wedding research, a road trip from Iowa to CA going through AZ, NM, NV and a few other states, and little day trips around Northern CA. Now we are headed out to Kauai for our wedding (Jan 28th) and I cannot wait! We are going to be there for about three weeks, getting everything finalized and also enjoying the tropical life. As much as I love traveling I want 2012 to be more about setting down some roots, establishing a routine and finding a job/career I like. It's hard to do all of that when traveling so much!

Things I want to while in Kauai:

Actually learn how to surf! Am I the only one who wants to be a Roxy girl? :P
Read books (instead of blogs, twitter, etc)
Hike and walk on the beach everyday
Explore the island
Do yoga
and plan what I want from this year and what steps I need to take to accomplish my goals.

2012

2011-12-28T15:36:00.001-08:00

Source

What do you wish for this year?

I wish for lot's of love, happiness, fresh air, dinner parties with friends, long hikes in the wilderness, adventures, fresh food, a new apartment, a new business and a new outlook on life!

Gosh, that is a lot of pressure on 2012 isn't it? ;)

Wednesday- Decorate

2011-12-27T16:38:00.000-08:00

I dream of living in a home where I can have a room just for my office. Though I currently do have a desk I find myself sitting on the couch to work, which is comfortable, but probably not the best for my back or productivity. I work from home as a grant writer/researcher (don't ask me how I got into this field) and because I get to set my own hours I find that I am not as productive as I would like. Maybe if I had my own office space with no distractions and a comfortable chair then I could get more work done. Or maybe I should go to a coffee shop for a certain amount of hours each day. Another idea, get another job (this job is part time). I miss human interaction and dressing up, or at least getting out of my pj's or sweats.

All images can be found on my Pinterest.

Tuesday- Explore

2011-12-27T10:11:00.000-08:00

I've been living in Oakland for almost two years now and it's still exciting to explore the bay area. San Francisco has always been one of my favorite cities so it was fun to walk around yesterday with my brother and then go see the SF Ballet's Nutcracker. My favorite part is when it's snowing and the dancers are twirling around on the stage, it's so magical! It almost makes me miss snow. ;)

San Francisco was bustling, we couldn't believe how many people were out shopping! I guess they were out for the sales and returning gifts? If I hadn't been with my brother I would of wanted to shop as well. :P

Here are some pictures from our day exploring:

Chinatown

The view heading up to Coit tower. I love all the hills!

Monday- Create

2011-12-23T15:25:00.000-08:00

While Christmas is already over I'd like to share with you some ornaments that my friend and I made for my tree. I think making ornaments each year is a sweet tradition, and it's been really fun to make creative things with my crafty friend.

I made these santas after seeing them on Martha Stewart's website. Next up, Mrs. Santa. :P

Another Martha find are these chile peppers. Easy to make and super cute. I'm curious how these chile peppers are going to last once they dry up.

This is Mr. Snowman. I made him last year with my mother. He is made of felt, cotton balls, thread, beads and lots of love.

This is our angel for the top of the tree. I didn't have a pattern just made her from a wooden clothespin, paper, glitter, ribbon and a pipe cleaner. I will give her some hair and a face.

Candy canes made from pipe cleaner, bells and ribbon. As easy as it gets. Thank you Martha.

Friday- Nourishment

2011-12-23T15:05:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas Eve menu:

Salad with lettuce, avocado, cucumber.

Spanakopita

Plus some more goodies that are TBD

Avocado key lime pie with a date and macadamia crust.

Add:

A red tablecloth, candles, some flowers and friends.

If only our table would like the picture above.

Image from Carter & Cook via ITCWC

Thursday- Wishlist

2011-12-22T13:42:00.000-08:00

With Christmas just around the corner (wait, how did that happen?) I have come up with some items for my wish list. All of these are things that I have been wanting/needing for a while now. I am pretty happy about the gifts I bought for my man, here's hoping he likes them as well!

Slippers, Oil, Bottles, Case

Happiness- Wednesday

2011-12-21T16:08:00.000-08:00

Source (via Pinterest)

Holiday happy list

Our cute, little tree with one ornament that I made last year. It's waiting for some new friends.
The small pile of gifts under that tree that is slowly growing.
Baking sugar cookies and decorating them with friends. Here's a tip if you want to learn from our mistake, don't double the batch and then have piles and piles of cookies to decorate and no where for them to go.
Christmas music playing on Pandora.
Coming up with our Christmas menu. First on the list: spanakopita.

Stay warm! xoxo

Wednesday- Nourishment

2011-11-30T10:00:00.000-08:00

Today I'm enjoying kale chips for my afternoon snack. It's perfect for when you have a fridge full of kale and you realize that:

a. You went overboard at the farmer's market and won't finish it all before it goes bad

b. You are going on vacation

c. All of the above

How to make it:

I used two varieties of kale: dino and curly kale.
Pull the stems off the kale, wash, dry and tear it into smaller pieces.
Put on a baking sheet
Drizzle olive oil generously and then using your hands massage the oil into the kale.
Sprinkle with salt and nutritional yeast
Put in a 200 degree oven for about 1 hour
Stir it a few times while it cooks.

Tuesday- Happiness

2011-11-29T10:20:00.001-08:00

Source

Here are some little things I'm enjoying:

Impromptu cafe dates with friends

Finding decorations for my wedding reception

Barber in French found in a cute cupcake shop

Fresh, organic food at Cafe Gratitude in Berkeley.

Admiring the soft light near my apartment

Saturday- Happiness

2011-11-26T18:09:00.001-08:00

Happiness is walking around a park on a windy day watching people fly kites. We spent part of the afternoon at a park in Berkeley people watching and enjoying the view of the San Francisco skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge. The park with filled with dogs, children, kites, and families all enjoying the outdoors.

It was a perfect afternoon and I feel so blessed that I live in such a beautiful place.

Tuesday- Nourishment

2011-11-22T12:59:00.001-08:00

One of my favorite things to do is stay in on a cold, rainy night (it doesn't snow here) and cook a fresh, nourishing meal. I listen to pandora and cook in slippers and the most comfortable clothes I can find. For me that means sweatpants from the men's section in H&M and a sweatshirt. I love eating out of a big bowl and tasting the different flavors, spices and textures. The meal below is a rice noodle vegetable tofu stir-fry. I added garlic, red onions and then peanut sauce at the end.

Add your favorite tv show, a blanket, (optional- someone to cuddle with) and your night is complete.

Monday- Gratitude

2011-11-21T15:19:00.001-08:00

Sunset in Iowa last summer

Today I'm loving:

Trader Joe's Chair Rooibos tea- full of cinnamon, cardamon, ginger and red tea. yummmmm
Laundry all clean and folded. I am still dreaming of the day I have a washer and dryer in my house!
The sun shining outside
Shopping for Thanksgiving this morning and not having to deal with the lines.
Coming up with recipes with my friend for a fabulous (and guaranteed too much food) feast.
The new bowls I picked up at Anthropologie. Sadly they were not on sale...I rarely have good luck with sales, it seems I always like the full priced items more. Anyone else have that problem?

Sunday- Goals

2011-11-20T21:46:00.001-08:00

Goal number two. I would like to learn how to knit or crochet so I can make winter goodies such as crowls, scarves, mittens, socks and sweaters.

I've thought about this before, even attempted a scarf here and there, but have never completed a project or learned different techniques. I was realizing today, as I was watching a hip hop performance, that I'm always in awe of what other people are doing whether they are dancing, knitting or making interesting dishes. I am impressed and want to do what they are doing, but then I don' get around to it. So I'm going to sign up for some knitting and dance classes and go from there. I have to remember that I won't be an expert (or even close) overnight, but it's the process that counts, remember?

Sources:
#1 Slouchy hat (via pinterest)
#2 Crowl (via pinterest)
#3 Leg Warmers on Pinterest (cannot find the link again!)

Saturday- Inspiration

2011-11-19T12:09:00.001-08:00

What inspires you? I've been thinking about this recently. I want to be surrounded by people, places and things that inspire me. For me though, sometimes it's hard for me to draw the line between being inspired and being envious. When I see other people following their dreams a part of me gets inspired but a darker side of me gets envious. I want to learn how to let go of the envy, or at least use it in a productive way that will motivate me to take action as well.

Beautiful things inspire me, like the church in my neighborhood above, the flowers I see everywhere I walk and beautiful clothes. I get inspired when I see people creating art, jewelry, music anything that involves creativity or using the hands.

Tuesday- Gratitude

2011-11-15T17:01:00.001-08:00

Today I'm grateful for:

My two legs that walk me anywhere I want to go
Love and support from my family
My finance who I'm going to marry very soon
Hot lentil soup filled with green beans, yams, carrots, kale, ginger, garlic, curry powder and onions
All the opportunities I have to travel
Our new queen bed that is so wonderful to crawl into at night
And this dance studio where I can shake my booty and not feel stupid.

Monday- Beauty

2011-11-14T22:09:00.001-08:00

I just got back from a whirlwind trip to San Diego to attend my friend's wedding. She is Indian and had a traditional Indian wedding. The first event started on Wednesday and went until Sunday (crazy right?!). The week was filled with spicy food, Indian sweets, dancing, henna, late nights, ceremonies, and meeting many new people. The thing that really struck me this weekend was the outfits the Indian women wore to the events. I attempted to dress up with some saris I had but they blew me out of the water. They wore saris full of sparkles, jewels and bright colors. Each sari and choli (the top under the sari) had unique and stunning details. These women really know how to dress up and enjoy wearing beautiful outfits.

Seeing all these stunning outfits reminded how fun it is to dress up, how much I love colors, unique details and feeling like a lady. :)

Colorful sari's

Different choli's

Henna and bangles- most women have around 40 bangles per arm!

Thursday- Goal

2011-11-10T12:00:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking about this for awhile now and it's just something I haven't acted on. I would really like to do some volunteer work and help people who are less fortunate than I am. Before this month is over I'd like to find a place to volunteer for 5 hours a week or so. I'm hoping to find something that relates to food, art, women's shelters or youth, but I'm open to anything. I just want to help out somewhere where I feel safe, I feel I'm making a difference and I can connect to others.

Do any of you volunteer? If so, what do you do?

Wednesday - Happiness

2011-11-09T17:00:00.000-08:00

Happiness is going out for dinner and a movie with my fiance. I drank lychee iced tea, wore heels and red lipstick and got out of my apartment. Working from home can be hard sometimes because it's easy to stay inside all day in sweat pants, especially now that the weather is getting cold.

Getting out and doing something different was refreshing. We saw 50/50 which also warmed my heart and put my life in perspective.

2011

2011-11-08T14:40:00.000-08:00

2011 has not been my favorite year, in fact it's been pretty miserable. But here is the catch, I honestly should have nothing to complain about. I am blessed in so many ways and the funny thing about it is I'm aware of everything I should be grateful for. And yet, I cannot seem to brush off this feeling of unrest and dissatisfaction. I'm also finding it hard to motivate myself. I have things I want to do and then I just sit on the couch and watch tv.

But here is the deal, it could be easy for me to just say, well the year is almost over I'll just suffer to the end, and then 2012 will (magically) be great. Instead, I'm not going to do that, I'm going to pull myself up, hold my head high and turn this year around and then be ready to start 2012 on a fresh note.

One thing I've wanted to do for awhile now is blog more and not care who was reading my blog (or even if anyone is reading my blog). I need to blog for myself.

So from now on I'm going to blog at least 5 days a week and post things I'm grateful for, goals and inspiration.

Ready, set, go!

One Reason Why I Want a Pet

2011-11-04T15:05:00.000-07:00

Having a warm and snuggly animal on my lap for the upcoming winter days sounds heavenly. Add some hot tea, cozy socks, a good movie and I'm a happy camper!

Moving Time

2011-10-12T17:39:00.000-07:00

The boyfriend/fiance and I have out grown our tiny apartment and are starting to look for new places. We are currently both working from home and yet we barely even have a living room! We need to get a 2/3 bedroom place where we can have our own work spaces and not see each 24/7. As much as I love him I can't see him all the time, separation really does make the heart grow fonder. :P

Of course looking for a new home makes me excited about re-decorating. I'm ready to have a new look. If I was going to stay in our current place I would change things up, but since we plan to move asap I will instead look for inspiration until we move. I would love to get a place with color on the walls, the problem is last time I painted my entire apartment it was a major hassle to paint it back to white when I left. This time I plan to paint a few rooms and leave a few blank.

If you haven't seen Emily's house check it out here! I would live here in a heartbeat. Can I please have her office?

Simple flower vases found here. Feather mobile found here. Cabinets found on Martha Stewart.

Wise Words

2011-10-09T10:32:00.000-07:00

"If we think of defeat, that's what we'll get. If we are undecided then nothing will happen for us. We must just pick something GREAT to do, and then DO it. Never think of failure at all, for as we think now, that's what we'll get."

"We have an infinite number of reasons to be happy, and a serious responsibility not be serious."

"Know what you want, decide when you want it, figure your plan of action, follow through on it, and never doubt."

-Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Hello Fall

2011-10-02T18:26:00.000-07:00

Fall matches my schools. It doesn't feel like fall in the bay area, but seeing the leaves turn colors reminds me that it is actually October and winter is around the corner. Where did this year go?

I know everyone is excited about fall, but my favorite season is spring. I love when all the leaves start growing and blossoms erupt all over the place. I love the spring produce at the farmer's market (strawberries!). Spring always feels like a new beginning, while fall feels like the end of something. But, I will try to embrace fall and drink lots of tea and snuggle under blankets watching the new tv shows that are out. I'm loving Up All Night, New Girl and a few others!

Kauai

2011-09-25T10:53:00.000-07:00

In the past few days I have:

Eaten exotic fruit. 5 points if you can name this!

Purchased some local art

Driven and walked all over the island.

Watched the sunset

And of course gone swimming!

Happiness

2011-09-21T22:07:00.000-07:00

"Happiness radiates like the fragrance from a flower, and draws all good things toward you. Allow your love to nourish yourself as well as others. Do not strain after the needs of life. It is sufficient to be quietly alert and aware of them. In this way life proceeds more naturally and effortlessly. Life is here to Enjoy."

-Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Procrastination

2011-09-10T12:12:00.000-07:00

Costa Rica

"The work you do while you procrastinate is probably the work you should be doing for the rest of your life." -Jessica Hische

Who would of thought that procrastination is actually a good thing? :P

What are the things you do when you are procrastinating?

I like to: read other blogs, shop, cook, dance, read, take photographs, chat with friends on gchat and watch tv shoes....I wish I could find a job where I could get paid doing these things!

LA for the weekend

2011-09-06T22:52:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned we went on a whirlwind trip to LA in back. We left San Francisco last Friday and got back home Sunday evening. I wish the 5 down to LA was beautiful, but instead it's flatter than Iowa (yes, Iowa isn't actually that flat) and full of cows, corn, fruit trees and too many cars.

Once in LA we went to our high school friend's beautiful wedding.

Went to the Chinese Theatre and saw the handprints of the stars.

Ate a lot of food. Danced a lot. Ate more food. Saw the ocean for 10 minutes and then drove back home.

Oh, and how LA, there was a pool at our hotel and yet we forgot our bathing suits! That is what happens when you live in the bay area and forget it's summer everywhere else. :P

On the road.

2011-08-29T20:27:00.000-07:00

Leaving the bay area and heading to LA

I have been on the road a lot this summer. First a road trip from Iowa to CA via Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada. Then last weekend we drove down from San Francisco to LA and back for the the weekend. Plus weekend trips around the bay. I am not a big fan of driving long hours, but I do find that there are some essentials that make the trip better. Here is what I need in my car.

1. Podcasts, books on tape and pandora. I love This American Life, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me and The Moth. On our long trip we listened to the last Harry Potter book which was a great way to pass the time. Pandora stations I love are Florence + The Machine, Lady Gaga and Phoenix.

3. A mix of healthy and "non-healthy" foods. Let's be honest, if you only have carrot sticks and coconut water when you get to the gas station you will end up grabbing some chips or candy bars. I like to stock up on the healthy foods such as nuts, fruit, coconut water, carrots sticks, rice cakes and almond butter. I then like to get some other stuff like kettle corn (from TJ's), gummy bears and some other treats. I pick things that are organic but also fun. I'm still working on not snacking the entire time....

4. Comfy clothes. Yoga pants with a tank, or a loose dress. Also layers! Sometimes the sun can be hot, or the AC can get too cold.

5. An iPhone so you can listen to Pandora, read twitter, use instagram, play games, check email and look up random facts about places you are driving through or to use google to win a debate.

Happy trails!

Iowa in the summer

Pukka

2011-08-27T05:08:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: Yes, yes, I took these photos on the floor! I cannot figure out a place in my house that has good light and takes good pictures. Actually, it might just be my camera. Wedding present anyone? ;) Speaking of weddings, I haven't written about wedding planning on this blog, maybe sometime soon. Hint, the wedding well be in Kauai on the beach. No, I have never been there. Yes, this is making it hard to plan. AND yes! We are going to go out there in a month or so to figure it all out. But I digress. Back to tea. Pukka tea! It's a tea from England that is hard to come by here in the US, but so worth it! I love their blends, their tea names and their packaging. I find all of that very important. It's also all organic and tastes heavenly.

I just got their Revitalize (cinnamon, cardamon and ginger), Love (chamomile, lavender and rose) and Cleanse (nettle, fennel and peppermint). You can find them all here.

Bridal shower in the woods

2011-08-25T16:50:00.000-07:00

I helped host a bridal shower a month ago for my friend here in Berkeley. We had originally wanted to rent a limo and head up to wine country, Napa or Sonoma, and go wine tasting, but we decided to make it more wallet friendly! Instead we hosted a wine tasting picnic in Tilden park. I forgot that summer in Berkeley can be cold and was surprised when I started seeing the fog rolling in! But, it was gorgeous. Towards the end we were literally sitting in a cloud, in the woods with bunnies hopping by. :P We had an amazing spread and all the guests (not all of them are pictured) brought a bottle or two of wine from the countries our bride and groom are going to for their honeymoon- France, Italy and Greece.

Carmel

2011-08-23T11:01:00.000-07:00

We went on another weekend getaway to Carmel. This time to stay at my Aunt's house. Carmel has a charm that many people are attracted to but honestly, it's too overcast and grey for me. When I got there I felt like the fog got into my brain. I was so tired! Carmel has it's charms though. It's full of beautiful houses, beautiful cars and the ocean. Oh, and lot's of older wealthy people. There was a big car show going on and people from all the world were coming to participate and view modern and old cars. I have never seen so many Lamborghini's, Jaguars and Ferraris on the road. We visited Mission Ranch (photo of house below) which is a series of beautiful houses and cabins for rent, a restaurant and a dance hall all overlooking a field full of sheep, cliffs and the ocean. Very pictureque.

The rest of the weekend I read and finished the second book in the Hunger Games. Serious cliff hanger. I need to find book three! We also went to the farmer's market and spent a serious amount on fresh produce!

Obsessed

2011-08-17T18:52:00.000-07:00

I cannot stop buying shoes....In the few weeks I have purchased six pairs. I am going to return two of the pairs, but I need to stop! But, first I must buy a pair of nude heels...:P Then I think I have a solid collection of shoes. Honestly though, before this I never really was a shoe person. I always wore flats and flip-flops, but all of a sudden I have caught the shoe bug. Now I need to learn how to walk in heels...

I bought the brown loafers from Urban Outfitters. On the right I'm wearing Michael Kors shoes from Nordstorms. I obviously need to find a better location to take photos because you can't really see the shoes...you can see them better here.

On a side note: there are so many fashion blog on the internet so I'm actually quite intimidated. I don't have the body that most of the girls have and I don't have the crazy style, but I do enjoy fashion. So I'm going to work on not being afraid and also finding better places to take photos. :P

Summer

2011-08-16T10:47:00.000-07:00

This weekend actually felt like summer in the bay area! On Saturday we went to the park, ate melon and read books. We also went to a roller derby match, ever been? It's kind of like the movie Whip It. The girls are pretty tough and also impressive. I would love to try it but I know I would fall flat on my face! On Saturday I went hiking, had brunch and played games. Wonderful summer weekend!

A few things I learned this weekend:

Patience is essential. Something I need more of. My fiance can't walk on his foot because he broke it a few months ago. He's on crutches and this Thursday he goes to the Doctor. Hopefully he can start walk again! I.cannot.wait.
A clean house = happiness. A new bed = heaven. And hiking is something I want to do more of!

Dance Fever

2011-08-10T10:14:00.000-07:00

I am fascinated by dancers. Whenever I watch them I have this longing to go on the stage and join them. I want my body to flow and twirl around like they do and to just let go. I've been watching So You Think You Can Dance and not only are these dancers amazing, but they can do every style of dance! Put a modern dancer or ballerina in a hip hop routine and you wouldn't believe that they didn't train in that field. Honestly, I don't understand how they do it, and not only that but I believe that they only have a few days to learn a routine.

This season I really like Melanie Moore. She is strong, sexy and extremly talented. I want to dance like her and never stop! There is a dance studio near my house which I have been going to a few times a month. I think it's time I start going 2-3 times a week. Yup, dance fever!

Good luck Melanie! Who do you want to win?

All photos are from Fox.com

Saturday

2011-08-07T15:53:00.000-07:00

Saturday consisted of:

Yummy food

Good company

Bridal show = lots of brides and free dessert

Bad traffic

House cleaning

and early to bed with this book and tea.

Stern Grove

2011-08-03T11:21:00.000-07:00

If you happen to be in San Francisco on a Sunday during the summer I recommend going to Stern Grove Festival. Sure, it's a trek from downtown SF but it's worth it. Every Sunday Stern Grove has free concerts and performances in their park. I went with some friends last Sunday and we had a picnic and watched the SF Ballet. First of all, how do they move that way? And secondly, I love picnics in the park. We had olive bread, cheese, tomatoes, avocado, chips, salad, gummy bears, fruit and cookies. What more could you want? Pictures were not allowed, so I didn't get to take any (shhhhh okay, I will be honest, many) but I did capture a picture of the beautiful tomatoes we consumed and some of the ballerinas performing. Stunning.

If you do go, get their early so you can get good seats. Otherwise, be prepared to sit far away.

Lunch

2011-07-27T15:58:00.001-07:00

Wild rice blend

Carrots, peas and beets +butter

Purple cabbage salad with walnuts and olive oil/vinegar

Weekend

2011-07-25T17:57:00.000-07:00

I spent most the weekend reading the Hunger Games. Have any of you read that? It is so crazy and so good all in one book. If you haven't read it I warn you, you will be staying up late to read it, but it's a short book so you will be done soon. There are two other books in the series which I'm dying to read.

One of the games we played- Carcassonne

Besides reading this weekend I:
Went to a bbq and meet new people (always fun)
Had brunch both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday we went out but Sunday we cooked with friends and made an amazing feast. Wish I had pictures.
Played games with friends
Went to a double feature (first time doing this) and saw Bad Teacher (found it horrible) and Friends with Benefits (Enjoyed it)

And now it's Monday. Time for another week of productivity (my goal) and early bedtimes. :P

Weekend+ Macaroons

2011-07-21T16:25:00.000-07:00

My friend conveniently lives down the street from one of my favorite macaroon shops. It makes me giddy getting a box of 12 macaroons and sampling each flavor (don't worry I do share with my fiance), biting into the soft cookie and letting my taste buds explode! Haha, can you tell I'm addicted?? Then I discovered this website and remembered why I wanted to live in Paris after all. I am starting to look at apartments in a 1 mile radius of this shop. Just joking. If I lived that close someone would have deliver them to me because I wouldn't be able to walk...

Lunch

2011-07-18T14:09:00.000-07:00

Brown rice with olive oil

Brown lentils

Peas, carrots, summer squash and onions.

I love simple meals that I can throw together while I'm doing three other things. While cooking I have been listening to the Coffee Break French podcast. I recommend it. I was also trying to answer emails and do some work. Last night I put the brown lentils in water to soak overnight. This makes them cook faster as well as gets ride of the phytates and enzyme inhibitors (things you don't want). Then while doing my work I put the brown lentils and brown rice on the stove. They both take about 40 minutes to cook (put the lentils on first they might take a little longer). Lastly I chopped up some vegetables and cooked them with grape seed oil and curry powder.

While this might not seem like a summer meal you have to understand I'm living in the bay area where the average high has been 60 degrees! So, I'm wearing sweatpants and forgetting it's summer...

What are you afraid of?

2011-07-15T13:43:00.000-07:00

What is the point of fear?

I see it's purpose when it comes to people who don't have a lot of common sense. Fear might stop them from climbing the dangerous cliff or driving too quickly on an icy road. But what about the rest of us? Does fear really have a purpose? By fearing something does it make it better? Less scary? Not for me. I'm realizing that fear doesn't have a purpose in my life. I'm not an overly afraid person, I'm actually pretty adventurous, but I do find fear sneaking up on me more and more. For example I don't bake as much as I want to, and I especially don't experiment with baking, because I'm afraid that I will mess up the entire batch. I am comfortable with cooking, but baking is whole another story. There is something about the oven, the ingredients and all the things that could go wrong that intimidate me. In this situation why do I feel like I have to be perfect? Even the most successful and renowned baker messes up and has to throw out an entire cake. Is that a big deal? Not at all.

I'm also afraid of the bigger things like failing at a business venture and losing all my money and pride. But, if I look at successful people I realize that most of them have failed a few times. The main thing is they know how to get back up and try something new.

I fear earthquakes, going to parties where I don't know people, and not being liked by someone new I meet. This week I'm going to focus on my fear. Every time I feel it creeping up I'm going to stop and say: I can and I will. And that is that. :)

1,2,3

Will You?

2011-07-14T14:56:00.000-07:00

This saying applies to a lot of things in my life right now. I found it on pinterest and enjoyed it's simplicity. I put a picture of me hiking because sometimes before I head out on a hike I get nervous and think I that won't be able to make it to the top, but I can and I will! See, it applies to many things. Or the fact that I'm thinking of starting my business. Wow, that really scares me and I'll admit I haven't done enough to start it going but, you know what? I can and I will. I think the I will is important for me because it's easy to be like, yeah I can do that! But...will you? Will you actually take the necessary steps, even if they are hard and scary, to do it? Will you follow through and actually go for it?

So there you go. If you hear someone shouting this from the rooftops it might just be me. I CAN AND I WILL!!!!

Two is better than one.

2011-07-13T07:46:00.000-07:00

1/2

I had to combine these photos because I think they look beautiful together. If had this bedroom I would put some purple flowers like the ones above to add a pop of color.

Speaking of bedrooms, I would really like one. At the moment my fiance and I are living in a small apartment which happens to have the bedroom in between the living room and kitchen. Yes, I know, very odd. Our apartment has so many wonderful things about it such as the hardwood floors, french doors, the amazing location and a parking spot, but things like a private bedroom and a washer/dryer are missed dearly. So here is to figuring out where I want to live and then finding a two bedroom apartment with a backyard. In the meantime I am going to go out and buy purple flowers and maybe even some curtains.

Honeymoon dreaming

2011-07-12T10:37:00.000-07:00

From

I haven't actually planned my wedding yet, though we do have the date and location (Kauai!). Of course this doesn't stop me from thinking about our honeymoon! I think our honeymoon will be a year later or so since our wedding will already be like a honeymoon. One place I'm dreaming of is the Maldives. I'm always transfixed by the images that I see of the Maldives. I mean look at the crystal clear turquoise water, puffy clouds and the amazing huts on the water. Imagine waking up and jumping off your deck into this water! Sounds heavenly. Too bad the Maldives are in the middle of nowhere...flights from San Francisco are $1600. A person. No biggie...

Biking the Bridge

2011-07-09T10:42:00.000-07:00

If you are ever in San Francisco go and rent a bike and ride across the Golden Gate bridge! You will be joining all the tourists and hard core bikers (not a good combo) but it's fun! A few weekends ago my friends and I went across the bridge and down to Sausalito. We had a picnic on the water and then took the ferry back to SF. A perfectly active day.

Yes I know I look dorky. But safety first! :P

Clear(ish) day!

Sunshine Burgers

2011-07-08T17:48:00.000-07:00

Source

I'm always on the lookout for a good veggie burger. I love to make my own, but let's be honest, somedays when you are craving a burger there just isn't enough time or I don't have the ingredients. I first read about them on Lauren's blog, finally bought them and now I cannot stop thinking of them! The ingredients are ridiculously simple, just brown rice, sunflowers, carrots and some herbs. They are so easy that I am going to try and whip up a batch of my own and put them in the freezer.

Last night for the boyfriends last meal (okay, not last but he couldn't eat until the afternoon today) I made Sunshine burgers and served them with corn on the cob and a fresh salad on the side. YUM. YUM and MORE YUM.

Inflammation

2011-07-07T15:08:00.000-07:00

Source

I've turned into a nurse as of late. My boyfriend (still don't like saying the word fiance) managed to fracture his tibula and tear ligaments in his ankle. On Friday he is getting surgery. When we went to the doctor he told us we had the get the swelling (inflammation) down before they can operate. My boyfriend has to put his foot up higher than his heart for the next few days. I also figured I should put my holistic nutrition training to use so I have been feeding him anti-inflammatory herbs and foods.

This list includes: Ginger, garlic, turmeric, aloe vera, and licorice and lots of fresh vegetables.

The past few days I've made gingered carrots, lots of leafy greens with garlic, aloe vera in our freshly squeezed juice (that had ginger, apple, orange and carrot). I also gave him tea that has licorice and put curry in the vegetables (turmeric).

I've been having him avoid dairy, processed foods, trans fat and other foods that cause inflammation.

Side note: even if you don't have an injury it's good to be aware of foods that cause inflammation. Inflammation has been known to cause a long list of illnesses because your body starts working overtime to get rid of it. You can read more here.

By the time he has surgery (tomorrow morning) his foot should be good to go!

Road Tripping

2011-06-22T12:32:00.000-07:00

Here are a few highlights from our road trip from Iowa to CA. We went to Kansas (not worth talking about), Santa Fe, Sedona, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and Yosemite. I'll tell you about it as soon as I get settled in back home, but for now enjoy the pictures!

Chilies are everywhere in Santa Fe. They are hung on doorsteps to show that you are welcome.

We made it to the top! Sedona, AZ

Beautiful falls in Yosemite Park, CA

I fell in love with Sedona, AZ

Grand Canyon at sunset (5am)

Fresh Strawberries

2011-06-07T08:44:00.000-07:00

My parents have more strawberries than they know what to do with! Last year they made amazing strawberry jam, so if we don't eat them all I'm guessing they will do that again.

This morning after my workout I enjoyed this smoothie made of strawberries, almond butter, ground up flax seeds and almond milk.

Vacation

2011-06-06T14:22:00.000-07:00

Daisy, my paren't new calf!

I'm in Iowa enjoying:
The HOT days and nights.
Driving my new car around (we leave for a road trip back to CA on Saturday)
The fireflies at night.
Bbq's and catching up with old friends.
Wearing summer dresses everyday and not having to wear sweaters at night!
The little calf that was born on my parent's land. :)
All of the fresh produce from my parent's garden.
Planning our wedding (okay, I'll admit it's mostly stressful, but I think we are going to come up with something fun and true to ourselves).

One of my parents massive organic gardens.

Five

2011-05-26T11:19:00.000-07:00

Dolores Street in SF

It's easy to get caught up in the stresses of life and forget all the wonderful things in your life.

Today I'm grateful for:

1. The palm trees and crazy hills in San Francisco.

2. All the fresh produce at the farmer's markets. Strawberries are everywhere!

3. The opportunity to follow my dreams, even if I don't quite know what they are yet.

4. The plane which will bring me back home to family and friends this Sunday

5. The sun streaming in my windows.

Have a great day!

This Weekend

2011-05-15T11:38:00.000-07:00

I had a fun mini trip with my fiance (haha put finance first which is fitting as well since he loves talking about money and stocks) to celebrate our anniversary. We went to Monterey, Carmel and Pacific Grove (in CA). These three cities, as you can see on the map, are are all right next to each other. Monterey is known aquarium which we spent the morning at. We then had yummy mexican food in Pacific Grove. The food seemed really fresh which I love. After driving along the coast and watching surfers BRRRRR! and looking at all the beautiful houses we went on the 17 mile drive in Pebble Beach. This place is famous for the golf course which as hosted the US Open championships many times. Pebble beach is also known for all the mansions that are on the coast.

Most pictures are from the Aquarium.

Feeding the fish

Gorgeous coral reef. I want to go snorkeling again.

Modeling

Jellies!

Pile of tostadas, rice and beans. My mouth is watering.

These purple flowers were blooming everywhere!

Happiness Project

2011-05-12T09:39:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading the Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin and definitely recommend it. It's an easy read, entertaining and also thought provoking. Each month Gretchen focuses on some area of her life that she would like to improve such as relationships, energy levels, family or passion. The book is very personal to her experience but can easily be adjusted to relate to to your own personal life. Her different areas of focus made me reflect on my life and how I could improve different aspects of my life. I love when books do this: entertain while also enhance your life. In her relationship chapter it reminded me that some of my habits weren't conducive to a healthy relationship, such as nagging my boyfriend. Though let's be honest, I'm not a super hero so the nagging hasn't completely stopped, but just being aware of the problem helps me cut back.

Another aspect of her book I loved was her Twelve Personal Commandments:

Be Gretchen
Let it go
Act the way I want to feel
Do it now
Be polite and be fair
Enjoy the process
Spend out
Identify the problem
Lighten up
Do what ought to be done
No calculation
There is only love

In the next few days I hope to come up with my own set of commandments. When I do I will post them here.

Addicted

2011-05-08T21:51:00.000-07:00

I cannot stop making this dish. Click on the link and make the "mac n cheese" yourself to see what I'm talking about. I know it sounds strange since it's vegan and made of cashews, but there is something really satisfying about the creaminess of this dish! I don't bake it, just make the mixture and stir the pasta in. With a side salad and some greens this meal is amazing.

Also, I cannot stop listening to Florence + The Machine.

Oh, and we have really been enjoying our Juicer AND now we have a vitamix! I will share some recipes soon.

Don't Forget

2011-04-27T21:48:00.000-07:00

You were born with wings. Why prefer to crawl through life?

Rumi

This Month

2011-04-26T12:52:00.000-07:00

Jasmine in bloom

Three things I want to do soon:

1. Flying Trapeze
I tried it when I was 8 or 9 and I didn't have the strength to pull my legs up to the bar (see website for an example). I'm older and stronger so I know I can do it!

2. Hot Yoga
Thanks to Camila's suggestion on her blog I am going to try out this yoga studio. I like how the hot class is only 90 degrees in the room not 105 like Bikram. In fact my friend and I are going today!

3. Buy a new camera. Cooking is one of my passions and I would love to share recipes, but because I don't have a camera that takes enticing food photos I don't have many food posts. Dreaming of: this or this.

4. Get some jasmine perfume or essential oil. Jasmine is in bloom right now and everywhere I go I catch of whiff of it's amazing scent.

Ready, Set, Go

2011-04-22T10:55:00.000-07:00

weheartit.com

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go.

Dr. Seuss

Mr. Elephant

2011-04-21T12:26:00.000-07:00

Hello. Can you be mine? My birthday is coming up. Though, I can't promise I will keep a plant alive. I seem to have problems with that. But since you seem to do a good job holding a plant I will try to keep my end on the bargin and take good care of the plant.

Thank you.

From

Spring is Here

2011-04-19T09:19:00.000-07:00

This my friends is one of the many reasons why I love spring.

I put goat cheese on top and enjoyed it with quinoa and a salad.

Perfect dinner.

Plus macaroons for dessert = amazing.

One Reason I want to Live in France

2011-04-18T15:31:00.000-07:00

Macaroons! There are two places in the city (SF) that I frequent as much as I can. Paulette in Hayes Valley and Miette in the Ferry Building. Both sell amazing macaroons. I personally like Miette better because the salespeople are a lot friendlier, but Paulette has many different flavors and they come in really nice packaging. I always loved coconut macaroons, but I've been hooked on "Parisian" macaroons ever since I tried them. I love how soft they are with a center filled with yummy goodness. My goal is to learn how to make them.

By the way, I learned why macaroons can be coconut macaroons or "parisan" macaroons. It's because macaroon basically means "without flour". The French version is made with ground up almond flour, American's use coconut and many other cultures have their own version. In spain they have a macaroon version which has hazelnuts and honey. Thanks wikipedia. :)

Now

2011-04-12T10:20:00.000-07:00

Wow. Can you imagine living here? Found.

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."

-ralph waldo emerson.

This Weekend

2011-04-11T13:31:00.000-07:00

I didn't take any pictures except the one below but I had a fun active weekend. I really took advantage of my surroundings and the weather! Here's are some things I did.:

I still am in awe of this bridge!

1. Went on a beautiful hike on Saturday with a friend. The hills here are as green as they ever will be and the flowers are starting to bloom!

2. Went to this beach and built sand castles and lay on the sand. I guess I should mention I was wearing shoes, jeans and a jacket. It was chilly! But if you lie down on the sand the sun was rather warm.

3. Watched this movie. I thought it was entertaining at best. Not a movie I would rave about but it was a fun Friday night date activity and I did have a few laughs.

Today my to do list includes:

Finishing Taxessssss

Baking banana bread

Making some business phone calls

Working

Possibly going to Target and Michaels (the craft store)

Showering ;-)

Enjoy your Monday. :)

DYI Projects

2011-03-31T21:32:00.000-07:00

I grew up creating art. We just to make crafts for different holidays and just for fun. Now that I'm older, I seem to have forgotten my joy of creating things. I'm creating a list of dyi projects and here are some projects I would like to tackle that involve feathers.

Feather earrings. You can see how to make them here.

Here.

Mobile made of feathers. I love the painted wood.

Monday Cravings

2011-03-28T09:33:00.000-07:00

Clockwise from top: 1,2,3,4

Sick Days part 2

2011-03-27T10:53:00.000-07:00

Seem I get sick a lot these days. Right now I'm recovering from the flu, though thankfully I've been able to fight it off quickly!

Today I plan to:

Go to the new Target near my house!
Read, read and read. I'm banning the TV since yesterday I watched 5 episodes of Top Chef reruns and many other tv shows. I didn't leave the couch all day.
Eat something other than soup. All I've eaten in the past 3 days in soup, soup and more soup. Blah.
Go to farmer's market. I am stir crazy!

Stars

2011-03-24T21:44:00.000-07:00

From wehearit.com

I miss stars in the sky. I miss looking up and seeing millions of little dots showing me just how big the universe really is. Living in a city you cannot see the stars. Granted, there are other really gorgeous things to see, such as the hills around my house, the bay, the pacific ocean, and I can't forget about the golden gate bridge and the San Francisco hills (and this is just a few things). Yet, there is something about stars especially in the summer. I love lying in the grass and just staring at the endless sky and looking for shooting stars.

When we were in Costa Rica the first night we got there we wanted to explore. Little did we realize that it got dark early so by the time we got to the ocean it was pitch black. It was actually rather scary because the moon was new, so all we could see was an suggestion of the ocean. We could hear the waves roaring and feel the sand under our feet, but everything else was a mystery. You can probably guess what happened next. I looked up, and the entire sky was filled to the brim with stars. It took my breath away. I will always remember that night.

Happy Spring!

2011-03-23T19:32:00.000-07:00

While spring in the bay area is looking a lot like this:

I'm looking forward to the arrival of this:

It's amazing how green everything is here! The arrival of spring is always exciting. Unlike fall which is the start of hibernation and slowing down, spring feels like a new beginning: a fresh start.

In honor of the fresh start, and because I have been inspired by other blogs, here is my spring to do list:

1. Go to a farmer's market weekly. Extra bonus bi-weekly!

2. Keep house squeaky clean, and in the next few weeks do a deep clean.

3. Work on business plan and get things rolling.

4. When the weather gets warmer walk or run for 30 mins daily.

5. Take more photographs of area before I move.

6. Find new recipes and share them on the blog!

That's all for now.

xoxo

In the Next Three Years

2011-03-22T17:35:00.000-07:00

I've been lucky in that I have been able to travel to many places, but since the world is big there are always more places I would love to go and explore. Here are the top three (new) places I want to go in the next three years.

1. Thailand.
Need I say more than thai food, gorgeous beaches and cheap cost of living? In fact I'm thinking I should go there for a few months. I want to stay in a hut or villa on the beach with a view that looks something like this:

Picture found here.

Actually, I would prefer more comfortable looking chairs...
It would be a perfect place to write a book. I would also like to take Thai cooking classes and possibly learn Thai massage.

2. Scotland

Found here

I can't have a list of places I want to travel without including Europe. Europe has a soft spot in my heart and I always want to visit it. I feel like I'm in a fairy tale when I'm wandering around Europe. Every village and city has so much character and history. One place I haven't explored is Scotland and from everything I hear about this country it's a place to go. I would love to take a picnic to the castle in the picture above and pretend like I'm royalty for a day.

And who knew their cows were so incredible? The Scottish highland cows are amazing, I would definitely seek them out while I was there.

Amazing photo found here.

3. Peru

This picture of Machu Picchu should explain the reason for my desire to visit Peru. I would love to learn more about the Inca's and their "lost city of the Inca's". While I don't love going to super touristy places, I guess I should just deal with the fact that I am a tourist everywhere I go and this will be no exception.

Found

Go Within

2011-03-19T18:15:00.000-07:00

“There is a force within which gives you life – seek that. In your body lies a priceless gem – seek that. O wandering soul, if you want to find the greatest treasure don’t look outside, look inside, and seek that. “

–Rumi

Remember, the entrance door to the sanctuary is inside you.
Rumi

Can you tell I love Rumi?

I've been reading the Power of Now and it's reminding me of the importance of non judgement, surrender and being a witness to your own Self. What Tolle talks about is witnessing yourself when you have a negative emotion, such as self doubt or sadness or when something/some event triggers an emotional or physical reaction. He says not to be hard on yourself and try to change it, but to witness it with non-judgement and just observe how these emotions make you feel. This witnessing helps eliminate the pain, instead of fighting it or being hard on yourself which just adds to the pain.

Once you are able to witness this pain, emotion, whatever it is, you then are able to see that it is not a part of you, it is not you, it does not define YOU.

A lot of things in his book are resonating with me. It's funny how sometimes a book means nothing. A few years ago I tried to read the Power of Now and stopped after a few pages. Now I'm almost done with the book and have really enjoyed it!

Lost- Another Poem

2011-03-16T08:58:00.000-07:00

Can you tell I'm looking for inspiration everywhere I turn? I'm enjoying collecting different poems and excerpts. I'm also on a reading kick. Currently on my nightstand: "Tender at the Bone" by Ruth Reichl, A Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela, and The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. I'll write some reviews when I finish them.

Redwoods in Muir Woods, CA

Lost

Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you

Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here,

And you must treat it as a powerful stranger,

Must ask permission to know it and be known.

The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,

I have made this place around you,

If you leave it you may come back again, saying Here.

No two trees are the same to Raven.

No two branches are the same to Wren.

If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,

You are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows

Where you are. You must let it find you.

~ David Wagoner ~

Found

2011-03-15T11:16:00.000-07:00

Remember when we didn't have digital photos? We actually had to develop our film and then scan them into the computer if we wanted a digital copy. Crazy. Awhile ago I had scanned some of my photos onto my computer and just recently I came across them. I like the vintagey feeling that is created from the dust that had collected on the negatives. It also was fun to go down memory lane. I hope I can find more pictures from these trips!

Honestly I can't remember where this was, probably France. Summer 2004

This was in a graveyard on the coast of Italy. Summer 2004

Our first trip to Paris. See the sparkling Eiffel Tower in the background? Summer 2004

Greece 2003

India 2003

The Invitation

2011-03-10T08:59:00.000-08:00

I'm on a poem kick and someone I admire told me about this poem. I wanted to share it
with you all.

The Invitation
Oriah Mountain Dreamer

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living
I want to know what you ache for
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love
for your dreams
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon...
I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow
if you have been opened by life's betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your
fingers and toes
without cautioning us to
be careful
be realistic
to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.

If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand on the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
"Yes."

It doesn't interest me
to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after a night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the center of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments.

Dr. Seuss Hotel- Costa Rica

2011-03-09T20:58:00.000-08:00

On one of my days off in Costa Rica we went exploring and ended up at this abandoned hotel that we had seen in the distance. Doesn't it look like Dr. Seuss created it? It actually had squatters living in it so we didn't want to explore too much, but I couldn't get over it how strange/cool it was.

View of ocean. Photo possibly taken by Anna

I think it would be really fun to buy the property and make it into a livable hotel again. It had an empty pool and a gorgeous view of the ocean so I think it would be a popular destination and how fun would it be to stay at a place like this? I can imagine dinner parties on the lawn with tea lamps and paper lanterns and the sound of the ocean in the background. I would open up a restaurant overlooking the ocean and a yoga studio close to the beach.

It's fun to dream.

Inspiration

2011-03-09T09:01:00.000-08:00

Image from weheartit.com

Just when the caterpillar thought that the world was over, it became a butterfly

Maira Kelman

2011-03-08T18:17:00.000-08:00

Many months ago I went around San Francisco with my brother to different museums. Most of the paintings and art pieces I saw that day are a distant memory, but I can't stop thinking about one show we saw in particular. At the Jewish Museum we saw a collection of Maira Kelman's work and I was blown away. I had never heard of her but her work has been featured on the cover of the New Yorker, she has children's books and much more. Her style is so relatable and fun. I spent a long time going from painting to painting which is something I rarely do in a museum. If you have a chance to go to her show I recommend it. Or look at her children's books, they are amazing!

Something for your Monday

2011-03-07T14:49:00.000-08:00

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us.

We ask ourselves
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small
Does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine,
As children do.
We were born to make manifest
The glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us;
It's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Excerpt from A Return To Love by Marianne Williamson (which I have no read but plan to).

Favorite Things

2011-03-01T20:17:00.000-08:00

Riding a horse for the FIRST time in Costa Rica

1. Dancing in the kitchen while cooking food. I highly recommend getting a portable speaker in your kitchen. I just plug in my iPhone and listen to pandora.

2. Homemade granola, almond milk, blueberries and bananas. Might just be heaven in a nutshell.

3.Trying something new. Anything. It could be trying a new recipe or jumping out of a plane. Both of those things spice things up and add some change to a normal routine.

p.s. The horse's name was pequeno which means small in spanish. Horses are very intelligent creatures and they can sense what is going on. When I first got on pequeno I was definitely nervous and let's just say he could tell! He stopped at the bushes to eat and basically took advantage of the situation. I didn't realize what was going on until the instructor told me take control and not let him stop every 10 seconds. Once I gained some confidence I (mostly) had control of him and enjoyed myself! Oh, and I
could barely sit down after the few hours of riding. I was so sore!

p.p.s Did I mention that we rode the horses on the beach at sunset? Yes. It was glorious.

On a Mission

2011-02-24T12:00:00.000-08:00

I'm on a mission to find exercise that I like. Activities that I actually look forward to! I spent most high school and college at a gym pushing myself on the treadmill or the elliptical and lifting weights. Eventually I burned out. I was sick of the repetitive movements and staring at the calories I had burned and miles I had run. I basically quit the gym a few years ago and have been trying out different options for movement that I actually enjoy.

A few movements (I avoid the word exercise, that makes it sound like a chore) options I have found so far:

Found at weheartit.com

Dancing! Either in my house with the music blaring or at a dance class. I've been going to Hipline here in the bay area and I really enjoy it! They blast the music, it's a room full of women shaking their booties and I really sweat! Hipline also offers a belly dancing class and workshop which I'm going to try asap.

Another sunset photo from Costa Rica

Yoga. I used to have a love/hate relationship with yoga. I found it too hard and sometimes boring. After going to the yoga teacher training last month I realized that yoga doesn't mean you have to have perfect form or look a certain way. It's all about the inner experience, listening to your body and being in the present. Now that I'm thinking of yoga as a time to get to know my Self better I am more relaxed about the whole process.

Coming up next: snowboarding, walking and anything else I discover!

Pura Vida- Homemade Food Edition

2011-02-22T11:25:00.000-08:00

I'm still recovering from my month long trip. I think the main problem is adjusting to the weather. I came from 95 degrees to 50 degrees and rain. Lots of rain. And while it's wonderful being back to my normal life there are things I will miss about Costa Rica. Such as going to the beach every single day. All the fresh food, and doing the yoga teacher training.

This post is all about food because as I was going through my hundreds of photos the food photos kept on grabbing my attention.

First off the fruit. This drink was made by blending fresh papaya with water in the blender. It was refreshing and papaya has many digestive enzymes so your stomach will love it!

Typical breakfast. Fresh fruit, yogurt and granola.

Usually I add banana, pineapple, and mango.

Here is a light lunch we made.

Homemade (not by us) corn tortillas, guacamole, and fresh goat cheese.

Another lunch we enjoyed was beans (this time they were from a can I hate to admit)

coconut rice, fried plantains (my friend is a pro), tomato and onion sauce, and a fresh salad. HEAVEN.

And let's not forget desert. Most days we would venture into town, a 10 minute walk, to get ice cream from Robin's. She is from the US, lived in France for 20 years and now lives in Costa Rica. Rough life, huh? Her ice cream and sorbet is to die for. Add a brownie and you have a sugar coma waiting to happen. I recommend sharing this with someone....

Love Day

2011-02-14T17:11:00.000-08:00

Photo from our time in Playa Guiones, Costa Rica

I'm back! I spent an amaaaaazing month in Costa Rica. It was filled with: yoga, beaches, fresh food, early bedtimes, rising with the sun, and lots of laughter. AND I came back with a fiancee(!). He proposed on the beach the last day, on his knee, with a ring he had purchased on Etsy! I didn't even know he paid attention to me when I talked about Etsy. :P

Happy Valentines Day, or as I like to call it Love Day. Hug someone you love.

xoxox

Sick Days

2011-01-03T09:03:00.000-08:00

weheartit.com

Well, I seemed to have started the new year with a awful cold. The upside to this is knowing that at least 2011 can only get better!

I have many dreams for this year, so as I have been lying around the house for the past two days watching way too much tv and feeling sorry for myself, I have had the chance to dream. Dream of all the things that I want to do this year, and all the actions I must take. I guess this year has just started out with some quiet reflection and that is never a bad thing!

1-1-11

2011-01-01T15:22:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!

I am heading to Costa Rica for a month in a few days. I think it's going to be amazing way to start to year. I'm going to be doing yoga and going to the beach everyday. It will be a great way to reflect on the past year and what I want to do this year. When I get back from Costa Rica I will need to find a job or something to do, so this month long break will be a great time to figure out what I want. I figure if I can figure out what I really want to do this year I can focus all my energy figuring out a way to make it happen.

I have had an amazing year. 2010 was full of adventure and discovering more about myself. I quit my graduate school program, recently quit a job, explored CA, met new friends and ate amazing food. Of course there that bad parts, but those are now in the past! Time to look forward.

A few highlights:

Started 2010 in beautiful San Diego with friends.

Admired all the gorgeous flowers in CA, all year long!

Napa trips with friends

Weekly trips to San Francisco, just across the bay.

Jumped, danced, laughed and played with friends.

Moved into our new apartment and made it my own.

Adventures all around CA with my love.

Gorgeous sunsets back home in Iowa.

Many trips to Tahoe for snowboarding.

Why I'm Here.

2010-11-10T23:25:00.000-08:00

Train in Napa, CA

I've been thinking recently why I blog, and I don't have an answer. At first of course I wanted to have a lot of readers and make money off my blog. I could picture myself sitting on the beach in Thailand, feet in the sand, blogging everyday and living off my sponsors. That dream lasted for two days until I realized how many blogs there were in the blog world, and how little I had to say. I know the key to a successful blog is having something interesting to blog about more than once a week. That is my problem. I don't know what to blog about. Nothing surprising here: it's kind of a reflection on my life at the moment. I don't know what I want to do with my life. There seem to be too many choices and yet not many options at all. I know big things don't happens without hard work, but I don't know what to work hard on...

I love many things in this world: photography, art, books, cooking, moving my body, learning about health, and fashion, but so far none of these seem to fit into my blog. I also want to be orignal, which is even harder considering 1,000's of girls blog everyday about things they cook, meals they eat, clothes they wear and places they have been.

I have decided I don't my blog to be a public journal documenting all the things I eat and do each day. That is not for me. I also don't want to have a blog full of many words (such as right now). I prefer a simple, yet sweet blog entry that has some photos and some words.

I want to find inspiration and spread creativity. I would also like to be a part of the blog world. At the moment, I feel very much on the outside looking in.

And so here I go, time to blog for myself and find something that resonates with me.

I Did It.

2010-11-03T17:59:00.000-07:00

***

And it was magical. The 1/2 marathon that this.
It was in the Napa woods. The fog and mist surrounded the trees (similar to photo above), and for half of the run I was alone. Being alone was exactly what I needed. The first half I was with my friend and we could talk the entire time, but the second half I was able to really connect with nature and to myself. It was hard. The race was really a hike, lots of steep uphills, some steep downhills and not a lot of flat land. But, it was exhilarating to have completed something I had been thinking about and training for four months.

Will I do another race? I'm not sure. I was thinking a 10K, but in reality, I really haven't had much fun running. During the 1/2 M I was actually just hiking most of the time because of all the extreme uphills and downhills. I think I should find something active that I actually like.

I Would Rather...

2010-10-28T23:16:00.000-07:00

....sleep in this Saturday instead of waking up at 6am and running a 1/2 marathon in the rain.

I would love to have tea with my friends

And slurp giant bowls of soup

While watching the rain drip down the windows

In reality running this race will be exactly what I need. I love shaking my routine up and trying something that scares me. It's things like this that I will remember. I won't remember sleeping in and drinking tea on a certain Saturday, but I will remember trying something that scares me and I will remember the feeling of success when I see what I am capable of.

“Too often we are scared, scared of what we might not be able to do, scared of what people might think if we tried, we let our fears stand in the way of our hopes. Why? There's really no time to be afraid. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Everything!”

Unknown

All photos from www.weheartit.com

Letting Go

2010-10-20T11:14:00.000-07:00

The photo is a little blurry but these are wise words on the wall of Cafe Gratitude in Berkeley. While I'm not totally obsessed with their food (sorry, though the key lime pie is amazing) I love their emphasis on gratitude and community.

Have you ever noticed that when you finally let go things comes your way? You might obsess about something, pray for it, dream about it, decide you would do anything for it and finally, once you decide

you can live without it, it appears?

I love when that happens.

Rainy Sunday

2010-10-19T22:00:00.000-07:00

This Sunday, in between brunch and lunch (yes, I had both)

my boyfriend and I

sat in the SF public library and read magazines.

I could of stayed in the library all day.

Well, to be honest

I would of preferred being in my pj's and

sitting in bed drinking tea

all day long.

But it was second best.

Not to mention the library is stunning!

My camera couldn't capture it's beauty.

In the Morning

2010-10-07T16:53:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the only thing that gets me out of bed in the morning is the thought of this:

I have always loved smoothies. It's like having a milkshake in the morning.

I used to be very traditional putting in some sort of liquid (almond milk usually).

Bananas

Strawberries and blueberries

Flax seed

Sometimes yogurt.

That was it. But, oh so amazing!

But, now I have advanced to the new level of smoothie making. My friend introduced me to "super foods". I had always been afraid of them. Not sure what to do with them, and also, not so into the price. But, we shopped on Amazon and got some good deals. Now, in my smoothies:

Chia Seeds

Maca Powder

Hemp seeds

Brown rice protein powder

and sometimes raw cacao nibs.

Honestly, I love them all! Tastes yummy and I feel like I'm taking care of my body.

Fashion On The Street

2010-10-06T19:09:00.000-07:00

This cat reminds me of all of these cats.

I'm loving her camel colored coat.

Very chic, and ready for fall.

I also love her cat friend in the background.

Can you find her cat friend?

2010-10-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

My summer uniform:
Pink nails
Comfy sandals
Leggings
And a summer dress

I need to come up with a fall outfit.
I plan to wear:
Scarves
Boots
Skinny jeans
and lots of mustard yellow (of course)

The Little Things

2010-10-05T15:26:00.000-07:00

Photo from weheartit.com

If someone woke me up at 5am and offered me a free trip to Mexico (or Thailand or Paris, etc) but I had to leave right then I would probably refuse just so I could get some extra sleep. Of course as soon as I would wake up again I would regret it. But, in that moment, in the early morning the warm comfy bed is all that I could imagine.

I love the freedom of cruising down the snow filled mountain on my snowboard. It is hard to find that feeling other places.

I probably eat more vegetables in one day than most Americans do in a week.

The idea of living on the seaside, in a cottage with a garden and an artists studio sounds like heaven.

I have no idea what to do with my life, but I trust that amazing things will happen.

I really want to be a good runner, but I'm not sure I have the patience and willpower to really commit to training. I also feel like it's harder for me to run than most people.

I want to become a poker star.