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

easyluckyfree

What a whirlwind of a week. I arrived last Friday morning to sunshine and open arms from all of those who love me! After a weekend of decorating our new house, D and I decided to take a break Sunday for lunch and celebratory mimosas in OB. We got back to work that afternoon, and only stopped for dinner reservations we had at a cute little Italian restaurant near our new place. When we arrived I saw my and Dan's whole families already seated for a surprise welcome back dinner! It was so sweet, it moved me to tears. What a special girl I am. I felt so blessed in that moment, I couldn't get enough. This month has truly reminded me how loved I am. Between a ton of time with friends in my final days in SF, to being welcomed back whole heartedly with friends and fam in San Diego, it has shown me what a beautiful little life I have, and what wonderful people I have surrounded myself with.

Surprise dinner with the fam!

A sweet reminder while roaming in OB

Summertime

My rooftop patio- perfect for bbq's and sun!





It has been a big transition that came to fruition yesterday morning when I just wasn't feeling like my happy self.Reality set in, and with a big week of changes it crept up on me. I was missing my friends in SF terribly, and shed a few tears because all I wanted was to walk down to Cody's and grab a drink. It was so easy! When you have an amazing group of friends in a place that no one has families near, these people become your family. I LOVED living 5 blocks from my best friend. I loved hopping on the bus 10 minutes to see Tracy when I wanted. I loved having all my friends over for dinner once a week. I chalked it up to actually just needing some alone time to reflect, so I spent the day gallivanting in my favorite place on the planet- OB. Oh, this sweet place can make me happy any time. My heart lives there, you know. I lived there for almost 7 years before moving to SF and I love that I know all the locals and can walk through this beach town stuck in the 60's all while feeling I have taken a step back into time. I roamed around the 2nd hand clothing stores, scored some awesome finds, had lunch by myself while reading magazines, and walked up to Santa Cruz street to relax at the beach for a few hours. It truly solidified every reason I am back. Summer in San Diego has got to be the best place in the world to be. I am home.

Santa Cruz St.-OB

When The Lights Go Down In The City...(an open letter)

Dear San Francisco,

What an incredible adventure we have been on the past three years. When I arrived in May 2009 I had my bags packed, knew very little of city life, and was yearning to get over a broken heart with a fresh start. The time had come to move on, and I couldn't think of a better place to do so. You filled my life with love and adventure.  It feels like forever, and went by so quickly at the same time.

I remember on my first day, I wandered around Polk St. not wanting to veer too far in fear that I might get lost and not find my way back. Little did I know that within a month, I would know the city like the back of my hand. I hopped on a different Muni each day, just to get a feel for all the different neighborhoods. I tried new restaurants, and made lots of new friends who wanted to see my SF Fun List and partake in all of these exciting places together. I created this beautiful life here all because I set out to do so. I wandered around in amazement for months, just so enchanted with every little thing you had to offer.

Then one day before I knew it, as I was trudging up the steep hill with groceries after a long day of work to my adorable little apartment in Nob Hill (gasping for air, because I never really did get over the crazy hills here) and I looked around and thought, "wow, this is home." I was able to fulfill all my dreams of becoming a teacher, make wonderful new friends, and become someone that I truly was proud to be all while I was here. Not only that, but travel and get to know so many places outside of the city and affirm my love for Northern California whether it be Sonoma, Big Sur or Santa Cruz.

I wondered how I would ever shop at a mall again, be forced to drive places I could just walk 20 blocks to, and worry about drinking and driving! (Because let's get real, that's a BIG one!)

But alas, after a few years of a long distance relationship and calling SFO my 2nd home, the beach and sunshine were once again calling my name, and the thought of a beautiful life with D made me more excited than anything, I knew it was that time again. I will never forget my time in San Francisco. You made me who I am. You inspired me every day. I loved you, and you loved me, along with all of the friends who became family here, and I will carry that with me forever. So when Tony Bennett sang "I left my heart in San Francisco," I now know exactly what he meant.



The end of an era. The list is completed.

 

A Weekend in Berkeley

With life getting busier by the minute the past few months, a 500 mile move coming up next week, and trying to work a ton before I leave, I had the opportunity to spend some time with my dear friend Kirby in Berkeley this weekend.  I had friends over for a final hurrah at my house Friday evening and when we woke up Saturday, the sun was shining and I was feeling like my free spirit needed to get out of the city and let the universe guide me. With no plan in mind, we headed to the baseball game to meet some family and let our sweet souls wander into Berkeley without a care in the world. Oh, how I have missed those days.

Kirby moved recently into a beautiful old Victorian house with charm and character like I've never seen. I instantly felt at home and spent time relaxing in the living room under the sun roof. We chatted with her roommate over wine and eventually left to take a walk downtown to eat a late lunch. We found the perfect little french restaurant and sat outside in the 80 degree weather, threw scarves on our heads and ate like queens. We made friends along the way, stopped to take pictures, and laughed together all while knowing in our hearts we will be apart again soon. See, Kirby is such a special friend. We used to live together in OB and reunited in SF. She is one of those friends that you're never really far from. She is always in my heart. She is still and quiet and listens all while assuring me everything will always be okay as long as I let my heart guide me. She is a wonderfully compassionate friend who opens her heart to new experiences and encourages me to do the same.

After the sunset, we danced at a tiny little bar all night to 80's music, while wearing feather earrings and our hearts on our sleeves. I woke up Sunday morning feeling as though my spontaneous adventure might have been just a dream, but reality set in and before I knew it I was walking out in the sunshine once again in this bohemian little city while grabbing coffee and laughing with Kirbs over our previous days journey.  I have been lucky enough to travel to quite a few places in my life, but I forget how fantastic it can be to venture close to home with absolutely no plan. For it's those days that make for my favorite days in the world.

Kirby's house- love it.

Sweet friend

So happy!

Full Circle

The days are winding down for me not only in this incredible city, but at work as well. I have been having so much fun with the kids the past few weeks and really enjoying the time that is left as a class. These kiddos know how to tug at your heart strings and light up life! A few weeks ago we received a Butterfly Life Cycle Kit from one of the parents, and we watched their transformation from caterpillars to butterflies. A transformation feels really significant in a lot of areas in my life right now, so taking the time to watch these beautiful creatures was pretty awesome. The kids loved watching the caterpillars eat and grow bigger everyday. One Monday we came back from the weekend and the little guys had built themselves into their chrysalis' and were couped up for a few weeks. The kids waited so patiently as we transferred the chrysalis' very carefully from a cup to a huge new home for when they hatched into butterflies! Within a week, they were here!

The kids were just fascinated with the butterflies. To be honest, I was fascinated too! These tiny little critters turn into fluttering, lovely creatures and fly away to find their way in life is just beyond me. It truly makes me believe in some sort of beautiful higher power. Here are some pics we snapped today:

Making wishes for the butterflies :)

This past week was a really hard one for me. The way I am feeling right now is like night and day from how I was feeling last Tuesday. I was able to spend some quality time with D as he was up here for a wedding down in the Central Valley. It was a gorgeous wedding to say the least and we danced and laughed with friends the whole night. The past few nights we were able to try a few new restaurants in my hood that I hadn't had the chance to try before, so it was fun to be so close to home after an amazing meal and just relax together. The house hunt is still on for us, please send us good vibes for OB.

Even though it is a little stressful trying to house and job hunt from 500 miles away, I feel as though I am stopping to smile at every little thing in the city right now. I am wanting to try new places to eat, taking walks down different streets and enjoying all the moments with my amazing friends here. I am feeling exactly the way I felt when I first moved here, entranced with all the sights and sounds. I am in love with SF again. It feels wonderful.

 Tonight, Jill, Dan's sis in law is in town and we are heading to dinner and having a little slumber party. To say I love her, is a HUGE understatement. I absolutely adore her.I have a really fun weekend planned with friends between packing my little house up and can't wait to share all the fun things I will be doing before I go! Lots of love!

Road Trip!

Sunset at the wedding

Such a perfect night!

Precious little dessert table

Out trying to spots in the city

A Weekend Away with Friends...

Of all the special things in my life, my favorites involve friends and foreign territory. It is true pleasure, multiplied. When Emily sent an email saying she wanted to get our friends together for camping in Big Sur, I jumped at the chance. I love Big Sur. It is a place that captures the true essence of natural beauty, with ambient hues at sunset, and with the water glistening along the coast. It feels like a step back in time.

I have been reading a book called "Off the Road" by Carolyn Cassady, who was married to Neal Cassady (of The Merry Pranksters fame) in the 50's and 60's and was a sometime love of Jack Kerouac. Jack Kerouac wrote a lot of "On the Road" in San Francisco, but also would go down to a tiny little cabin in Big Sur and write in complete isolation. Caroyln and Neal used to come down and visit and roam around the beach with Jack and their friends who were all writers and drink wine by the fire. Sounds like heaven to me. I was pretty excited to finish the book just as we were leaving to head down. Being able to see all the spots that they talked about in the book was very cool.

My companions were my friends, sunshine, Redwood trees, and a million squirrels.I wanted to soak in every moment, and preserve the awe and joy that you feel while driving along the coast. It is such a spiritual place and full of such beautiful energy. The whimsy envelops you and feels so peaceful. We all laughed, narrowly escaped a little trouble, and lived happily amongst ethereal nature.

This trip was so memorable because I have just 4 short weeks before my move to San Diego. A little trip out of the city with my dear friends was wonderful. We were able to escape the sounds of the city and enjoy being together in such a special place. Until next time...