18 May 2011

loechner love

It seems like a million years ago I worked there, in an environment that at the time wasn't so harsh.  We had a sweet little team going and this guy Kenneth was a darling and a wiz at almost anything.  He still is but now miles away and lifetimes have passed.  We've connected through social media and that's where I found his lovely wife.  I only wish I knew her better before they moved so far away.  She's an inspiration really.  I remember loving their bedroom when they lived here and reached out to her for some help with my office recently.  I'll have to post pictures of the redesign because it turned out fantastic!

Now Erin is an internet star and has an amazing blog called Design For Mankind (among many other things she does including an out of this world home reno).  The beautiful things, including herself, that she posts here make you wanna dance!  And now she's doing a giveaway... an iPad2!  Offered by Merida Home in conjunction with Design For Mankind, go here to enter and good luck to us all...



XOXO

15 March 2011

I AM - official trailer



I was lucky enough to be a part of creating this trailer.
Much thanks to Tom & to Dagan for opening my heart.

together we can

There's this documentary out in select theaters right now called I AM.  I have seen it 4 times and wouldn't be opposed to seeing it again.  It's made me see things in a new light, actually, let's say a different light.

We are all connected.  We, the Earth, Mother Nature, Human Beings, Plants, Animals, We.  And we are meant to work as a community but more times than not, that is forgotten.  It's in the face of tragedy that we come together and again, we are one.  As now, the world is one with Japan.

Forget the economic impact.  Forget about what's in style right now.  Forget about your problems - just for one minute... and do something to help someone else out with theirs.  The inner joy that will come is undeniable.  Follow your heart and your brain will eventually catch up.

I work hard at my job to live a comfortable life.  But I am not comfortable in life and I do not want to be defined by my job.  So I signed up to be a tutor for a non-profit organization called School On Wheels.  The fear I have in doing this is over shadowed by the need that my student has in the face of adversity.  And my inner joy grows.

This is hopefully just a first, small step towards what my life will become.  Let's start this conversation so that we can build a community, because we all belong.  We are each one part of the whole.

11 March 2011

letting some air out

You know those times when you have the best of intentions and then they kinda blow up in your face?
Yea, so that happened.

I try not to be demanding or to want for anything from others when it comes to my space.  I take what I have and try to make the best of it.  But sometimes that's hard to swallow because it's not you and you see others in spaces that are them.  So you ask but because you never usually ask you're not taken seriously or you're put on the back burner.

I'm recycling, reusing and redoing mostly on my own but now, some how it feels like I'm not - like I've become that pain in the ass I was trying to avoid being in the first place.

I don't wanna take it personally (even though I totally do).  I should have just asked straight forward for it in the first place.  Or should I have just avoided asking altogether and done it myself?  That's more my style, that's what I should have done...

01 March 2011

where i'm at, won't you join me?

I’m sorry that you’re in so much pain. I am not going to leave you. I am going to take care of myself, so you don’t need to worry that your pain might hurt me.

Courtesy of:
10 Things to Say and 10 Not to Say to Someone With Depression - depression - Health.com

14 February 2011

to you with love

My Heart and I have never been much into this day of hearts and roses.  For one, I don't like flowers really, unless they are planted and in their natural environment.  Also, I don't want to be reminded to open my heart, it should be something we think about doing every day.  I understand if it's your thing but it's just not mine.

Love, every day, that's my thing and I'm working on being more present in that.  So this story hit close to home for me because of that very thing.  But also, if you know me you will know that the following 3 statements are true:
  1. I come from a family of police officers
  2. I am an unconditional, bleeding heart, lover of all animals
  3. I am familiar with losing someone I love to cancer

We think this world is too big to change but if we start with I, then it will become WE.  More on that later...

XOXO

23 October 2010

hello I'm found again

Tonight I missed out on joining friends in celebrating a birthday.  A birthday that someone flew home as a surprise for.  Celebrating with people I love and miss.

This week I took 3 days of vacation off from work and still ended up working nearly 40 hours.  I took vacation to spend time with one of my dearest friends from WAY back who flew here to visit me.

This month I have not blogged once.  Actually, I haven't blogged in over a month.  In an industry full of creatives, blogging is where I feel my most creative.

My job is dictating my life.  I live to work, I do not work to live (or is it the other way around - I'm so upside down these days).  Actually, I live quite comfortably if you count the few hours I have spent outside of my office in the past 3 months.

I own a (not-so-small) home in LA.

I have 4 rescue animals.

I drive a Mazda 6 I bought new the year they came out.

Mostly all material things.

I travel.  A lot.  And I can't even fathom giving that up.

The pros and the cons.  Do they weigh an equal amount, sides meaning nothing?  Or are some worth more than others?

I'm lost right now.  Torn between some loves and some hates.  I don't know which direction I'm going in or which direction I want to go.

This happens.

Drastic measures?  Or simple changes?

I don't want to miss out on life.  But am I doing so by complaining about it?  Yes, I think that's the answer.  Opinions?

18 September 2010

page by page

I recently purchased a Kindle.  I had been wanting an e-reader but wasn't sure which one to go with.  When Amazon announced the $139 Kindle I figured why the hell not and went for it.

It seems to be like a pretty cool little device and I just purchased my first book for it, Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.  I was inspired to read the book after I saw the trailer for the movie.



I find that when I'm on a roll I'm addicted to reading. I finished the 3 Stieg Larsson books recently and although they were challenging to get into at times, I really enjoyed them. Then over the long weekend I read Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake. I couldn't put that one down and am looking forward to reading her follow up to it, The Year Of The Flood.  Oh, I've also just started the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman (aka The Golden Compass books).  And I'm trying to finish Tell Me Where it Hurts: A Day of Humor, Healing and Hope in My Life as an Animal Surgeon by Dr. Nick Trout.   Ah, books - such an underrated form of entertainment in my opinion!

Anyone have any other suggestions of some good reading material?