Beautiful Birthday

The weekend was spent celebrating. Best friends flew in, there was pizza and wine and sweet morning talks with Nat. There was laughter with Britt and Cody. There were friends gathered at my place to play. Soul sisters came over and made me feel so blessed with love. Gifts were given that mean so much to me because my friends know exactly who I am. Mimosas, brunch, and a beautiful walk by the bay with my handsome man and my very best friends. A Giants win, cheering and love filled my whole house. The next day, my family on a little island at the beach all together for more celebrations. Just when I thought my heart was completely full, my family showed me how special I am to them and we laughed until we cried playing Apples to Apples and eating delicious food. The day ended with chocolate pie, trucks with Dylan, and lots of hugs from my sister, mom, dad, and Dizz. Thank you to all my precious friends and family for a beautiful birthday weekend...

 

 

 

 

Autumn Spirit

Wanted to share some pics from our day in Julian yesterday. Had a great time spending time with D since we have been so busy the past few weeks. I love Fall so much. Between pumpkins, scary movies, and chilly days and nights is makes me so happy. I love that Dan will go along on all the little adventures I want to do for every little holiday in existence. My birthday is in less than a week and couldn't be more excited to have friends over for a bbq on our deck and enjoy quality time with all of them. Life is beautiful.

 

 

 

 

 

Follow your dreams.

"Make a radical change in your lifestyle and begin to boldly do things which you may previously never have thought of doing, or been too hesitant to attempt. So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservation, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun. If you want to get more out of life, you must lose your inclination for monotonous security and adopt a helter-skelter style of life that will at first appear to you to be crazy. But once you become accustomed to such a life you will see its full meaning and its incredible beauty.”

I found this beautiful quote that really resonated with me right now. I am in the middle of a lot of changes in terms of my career and I am excited about not knowing what life is going to bring me next. I do know it is going to be wonderful. And I do know I am following my dreams and making them happen every day that I continue to move forward. I feel busy, out of my comfort zone at times, and inspired. Live your life with passion my friends. Do what you love. Never settle for a quiet life of desperation, because you are in charge of your destiny, and that my friends, is one of the best parts about this incredible life.

Standing Still

Saturday mornings are my absolute favorite. It is quiet, serene, and I have the house to myself while D sleeps away. Funny Bunny hops around the house chewing on all the cords but is happy as can be. D thinks I desperately need to give Funny Bunny some rules but he is like me- a free spirit who doesn't believe in too many rules. I really should add Dan thinks this because it is his xbox wires and work shoes Funny Bunny chews. How lucky I am Dan loves me unconditionally.

I have had a really calm, happy week. This is the first week that I feel totally settled here. I have been doing "normal" things that I haven't really done in two years because I was back in forth between here and SF so much. I love just coming home and having my bud here with me and knowing we get to spend every weekend together. Last night we took a cooking class at Hipcooks in North Park and learned a lot. If you know me well at all, you know I can barely boil water. It was a great class where we made butternut squash risotto, goat cheese bruchetta and (my favorite) creme brulee. It was a great, interactive class and we had a lot of fun! I loved sitting down with everyone after and eating our creation. It was a perfect date night, but would also be fun with all your girlfriends too! They have a ton of different themes and cook meals around them that include all fresh ingredients and wine pairings to match.

I am meeting two friends that I haven't seen in years today for brunch. I love that about being home, life long friends that you are able to reconnect with. I am excited to laugh and chat about how far we've come in life and recount all the silly things we did in our early twenties. I am missing Sonoma something terrible, so I asked D if we could go wine tasting tomorrow in Julian. It doesn't even come close to the beautiful wineries I know and love in NorCal, but it will have to do until I can get up there in two weeks when I visit all my friends in SF!

 

I suppose I will just have to throw my bathing suit on and walk outside to the beach and enjoy this incredibly beautiful day. It's a rough life my friends. Have a happy weekend! xoxo

I want to be the one to walk in the sun...

As I find myself stirring my coffee, daydreaming of  happy thoughts I came across these beautiful images that made me smile. I realized a smile is the best thing you can wear.
I tasted my coffee and felt like adding a spoonful of such bohemian fairytale. It is definitely better than sugar.
My mind wanders to all of the happy, beautiful days I have spent with those that I love. Feeling thankful for my family and how much we love one another. What a sweet and lucky love I feel with D.
It is a reminder  that love can´t be bought and that love is the feeling that completes a free soul like my own.
 Love can be so powerful. Everything is better if you have love around you. Any kind of love nurtures the soul.
I woke up this morning feeling light and free and full of hope as I can see it glittering in the sky. I want to shine.
I feel as though I just need patience and an eternal young heart, whispering...
You are braver than you believe.
You are stronger than you seem.
You are smarter than you think.

And then I can smile and can continue to make my reality, my happily ever after.

 

Happy weekend my loves! xoxo

Summer Weather, So Happy Together...

Happy to report nothing but sunshine and smiles here! It has been a whirlwind of 3 weeks and I couldn't be happier. Moving to San Diego in the Summer was no coincidence, friends. I hadn't had a Summer in four years after living in San Francisco, so I wanted to come back and enjoy EVERY minute. And that's exactly what I have been doing! Between decorating our adorable place, to taking walks outside along the water I am feeling so light and carefree - and might I add, tan! I just love the location of our house and I truly feel like it is our own little sanctuary. Shouldn't your home feel just that way? D and I are transitioning really easily living together. We both are busy and love to be out and about together or with friends most of the time so when we are at home it is relaxing and calm. A few of my Summer highlights have included:
*hula hooping at the beach with Kandi
*bbq's on our deck that overlooks downtown,
*drinking wine with D along the water at sunset
*A ton of dinners at Gabardine- Brian Malarkey's new restaurant that is just a few blocks from us!
*catching up with old friends over dinner and laughing the whole time
*last minute dinners with my mom in Coronado (So nice being able to pop over!)
*wine nights watching the worst of reality (but really the best!) tv with Nat
*making lemonade and eating my share of watermelon in the sun
*date nights with D whether we go out or just relax at home. (Either is just fantastic given we are just happy to finally be together!)

Wanted to share some pics of the best Summer EVER! (Also included on the bottom- a few pics of our house decorated, will definitely share more when I take them with my camera and not just my iphone.) Hope everyone is enjoyoing their Summer to the fullest! I'm off to drink wine on my roof on this lovely night! xoxo

Relaxing in OB

Our roof deck

Dinners with Obie and my mom!

Friends over to our house for drinks on the deck

I have become obsessed with this sweet swing!

Love the easy going lifestyle here- a guy paddleboarding with his dog

Reunion with my old roomies in OB

A night of hula hooping and bbqing on the deck

Watching the sunset in front of our house

Dinner at Gabardine

The perfect Summer dessert

Living Room

I added a lot of San Francisco touches throughout the house