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?

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.

'Never Let Me Go' Theatrical Trailer @ Yahoo! Video

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?

rick! rick! rick!

We are now officially less than a week away from the first day of Autumn, so many people's favorite season.  I too love Fall with it's crisp cool air and warm cozy colors.

This email from Net-A-Porter.com made me want to gear up for the season with comfortable neutral layers ala The New Jersey:

I'm particularly in love with this outfit and may have to search for a discount version of it:

one step at a time

Sometimes I fancy myself an idealist, thinking my small acts of kindness can change the world into a better place.  Unfortunately, this is rare and I'm often overtaken by a pain in knowing that nothing will every truly change.  It hurts me to see the destruction mankind and mother nature continually throw at one another and each other and us and you and them and... I don't know, sorry.  Not sure where I'm going with this all.  I have an inner hole that is hard to fill.  I can't remember a time not having this hole.  But there's also this light and so I try to focus on that.

When My Heart and I were down under for our 30th birthdays I ran across this beautiful greeting card in a cute little shop somewhere in Melbourne.  I snatched it up thinking it spoke to me and for me - knowing that it would go on my blog.  That was over 2 years ago but here it is...

thank you very much

Today's mantra:

please confirm receipt

this is for real

Joanna at A Cup of Jo recently posted this video on her blog and because it's stuck with me ever since I thought I should share it with you all.  I love love.

Danny & Annie from StoryCorps on Vimeo.

the update

I have updated my "blog roll" as the kids are calling it.  I recommend checking out some of my new daily reads as they are all really talented bloggers.

not my cup of cream

I didn't like the Brookfields from Bass.com either (they kinda looked like I had one giant white toenail) and I decided against ordering the other ones because of this:

Now, I love me some Project Runway and I liked Peach as a person just maybe not so much as a designer.  So when I saw that she had on what looked like the Casell, I decided then and there the shoe wasn't for me.  I was hoping for a substitute to the $300 Marc Jacob loafers but there is none.  There's something about the shape & the patent leather that are perfect, not too old lady-ish but still classic.  Sorry Peach, you're a peach and all but I don't think I'm ready to dress like you and so I'm going to go without my two-toned loafers for now.  Thanks for setting me straight though!  XOXO

where its at

I know I've been MIA lately but it's because I've been in the middle of a busy vacation sandwich.  If I had more time I would create a visual aid to help describe that but instead I will explain in words...

WORK last week (the bottom bread of BUSY)
VACATION over the long weekend (the yummy filling in my sammy including no internet or cell service for nearly 5 days!)
Work this week (the top bread of BUSY)

Hope to catch up with you all soon!
XOXO

loafing around

Ok, not gonna lie... I bought these:

I felt guilty about paying so much for a pair of shoes but I absolutely loved them. I knew however, that the fit needed to be impeccable in order for me to keep them. Unfortunately it was less than. So I returned them, relieved to get my money back but sad that I would not have gorgeous two-toned loafers for the fall.

Then the September issue of Real Simple came out and they had a page of loafers and my two-toned beauties were there, only instead of the $295 price tag it was a mere $79! The shoes in the magazine were from Bass and so I immediately went to their website and purchased these:

But if you'll look closely, the price tag is only $69 instead of the $79 I saw in the magazine. Of course, I just think I've scored an even better deal and go ahead and buy them. All week I've been counting down until Friday just to get my new shoes and write this blog post about them... And that's when I realize it was actually these I MEANT TO BUY!

UGH. Damn it! Well, the Brookfields arrive today and who knows, maybe I'll love them so much I won't care that they're not quite the right loafer. And if I don't love them I will just send them back to Bass and get the Casell instead. You know what they say, third time's a charm!

not too shabby

Oh my god you guys!  I won something!  A giveaway on one of my favorite blogs!  AAAHHHHHHH!!! I'm so super excited :-)  Happy Friday to me!  (and to all of you of course!)

Petunia Face, one of my absolute must reads had a giveaway on Monday from Shabby Apple.  Now, I enter these giveaways on a few blogs here and there but never really expect to win anything so imagine my surprise when I saw that she announced the winner today, AND IT WAS ME!

Here is the gorgeous frock I won:

 The Casablanca Dress

Gonna start hitting the gym a bit harder so that I can strike a fantastic pose I can share with you all in this beaut!  XOXO

long way round

Speaking of blogs... I was just reading A CUP OF JO (one of my favorites) and saw these super cute puzzle boards!  But that is besides the point, I was gonna leave a comment and so I started reading through the ones people had already left.  Someone kinda gave her shit for posting about these because apparently they're old news.  But that is ALSO besides the point!  Of course I clicked on that someone's blog and their post today reminded me of something I forgot to tell you about our trip to NYC...

THE DOUGHNUT PLANT

A co-worker had just visited New York right before we did and he suggested we check this place out.  Now, I 'm not one who really enjoys donuts so I wasn't that excited about it.  But My Heart could probably live off the things and it was only a couple of blocks from our hotel so we just had to check it out.  I'm lucky they don't have one here in LA because they were AMAZING.  I had a Tres Leches and a Creme Brulee donut (they're small, cut me some slack!) and I can't remember what My Heart had because I was so caught up in the deliciousness of my own tasty treats.  If you're ever in the city I highly recommend stopping by this joint for some fresh goodness.

diving beneath

It's Friday and I know that I haven't blogged much this week.  So here's a few tidbits for you readers out there...

• Work is fun when you have a purpose
• I miss pilates
• My sanity comes and goes but My Heart sticks with me through it all
• You don't need 100 friends as long as you've always got someone to turn to
• There are a lot of really great people writing blogs

As you can probably tell from a few of my most recent posts, I've been in my dark place but I think I'm coming out of it.  It helps to go to work and feel needed, to fight with your partner and still be okay with each other and to have friends that you can always turn to for an ear and a shoulder. 

Also, the creativity of others is really inspiring.  I've been reading a few new blogs lately and it really lifts me up to see what people write about, what they do.  I'll be updating my blog lists in the next week or so and I encourage you all to wander through some of these blogs and see what they're all about.

Three years later and I'm not so sure what this blog is all about.  Sometimes it makes me sad that I've been doing it this long and don't really have readers other than friends or family.  But then I remember that the purpose of most blogs is a bit selfish and so I embrace that.  This is for me.  I enjoy it.  If I didn't, I would quit.

And so I leave you with this:

Meet the Seabreacher X

marshell and allen

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON from Dean Fleischer-Camp on Vimeo.

You should really watch this.  One of my FB friends posted this today and I was hesitant to start watching it, because, you know, everyone posts videos on facebook but they're not always worth your time, this one is.  I'm in love.

UPDATE: The voice (untreated & un-enhanced) of Marcel is none other than Jenny Slate most recently of SNL fame:

Photo taken from Best New York Comedy

in dreams

Gapers Block : A/C : Chicago Arts & Culture - Lost in the Trees@Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, 8/16/10

I REALLY wish I could have been there. This is exactly what I was talking about when I blogged about these guys last week. And Millennium Park is one of my favorite places in all the world (that I've actually visited). A girl can dream...

on pain and hope

"When I say I'm fine... stay"

It's this line that caught my eye in a random sea of Facebook statuses and updates. It was posted by To Write Love on her Arms as an introduction to a new project in the works with Six Word Memiors.

Can one really sum it all up in only 6 words? I've been trying all morning to figure my 6 out. I think about when all the darkness started, where it came from and where it goes. The first time I hurt myself and the strong desire that I resist to this day. My happiness that is more true now than ever but still doesn't over shadow the sadness and anger. Who am I and who am I becoming? Where is this road going to take me? Today the answer is so grey. And so I guess those are my 6...

lost in the trees

It was kismet... a grumpy morning drive listening to a random burned copy of a random unknown band on my way to the office. The urge to find them, listen to them live, in this big city I live in where anything is possible.

As the day went on and the grumpiness settled into it's groove an opportunity arose; this same band, playing up the street after work and I was invited. $2 to see possibly some of the most talented musicians play 3 songs live. Absolutely worth it and possibly life changing.

We arrived late and so we didn't get to see the full set but what we did see was amazing. For the final song all 6 members unplugged and came out into the crowd to perform completely acoustic. It brought tears to my eyes, it was so beautiful.

I have been lost this week and I wandered long enough to find these guys:

LOST IN THE TREES

If you have never heard of them just listen to this please and tell me it's not beautiful...

hmphf

Is there something up with blogger or am I not the only one not feeling like blogging today!?

au revoir mon amour

To wrap it up, here are a few of my favorite photos (that you haven't already seen) from our January NYC trip. As our Christmas gift to one another, we spent a week walking through the chilly city enjoying it's liveliness and each other's company. A few things along the way:

• ate amazing cannoli at Ferrara
  
• watched a few gorgeous films; A Single Man being one of them
  
• had a slice or two and quite possibly the best sushi EVER
  
• learned that we do NOT like Magnolia cupcakes
• saw Next To Normal and Wicked on Broadway
• had a drink and caught up with dear old Friend D
• went to the Tim Burton exhibition at MoMA

Being a sucker for dogs, I fell in love with this guy! They were having so much fun playing together on the frozen pond that I couldn't help but snap a few shots of them.

I am absolutely in love with this city!

My Heart and I have a special thing for bears and these life sized stuffed versions in F.A.O. Schwarz Midtown were screaming to come home with us!

I immediately thought of Friends S & B when we ran into this awesome section of the toy store and snapped up some photos to share with them.

So sweet.

I love this place and I love this man and I loved our trip.

I dunno. Just like it, says NYC to me.

Thought this billboard and the buildings with the blue yet warm glow about everything seemed very retro-futuristic.

If you're interested in seeing all the photos, good, bad and ugly from our trip check out the gallery:
New York City January 2010

this tree of sap

Yesterday was My Heart's birthday. He caught up to me and jumped in with both feet :-)

We spent Sunday on the island of Catalina in the town of Avalon celebrating. There were delicious meals, zip lining, new shoes and golf carts involved. I'll post more of that fun later.

Right now I'm here to tell you that I am completely and utterly, head over heals in love with My Heart. He's amazing. I'm lucky. We're wonderful.

As I was reading through some of my daily blogs I clicked on all the links from a particular friend's follow list just to browse and my eye was caught by this one, Pictures of the Floating World. It hasn't been updated in nearly a year but the last post was poetic and spoke to where my head is today. You should read it, Be In A Love Period Right Now. And know that I have found my Art.

When My Heart was laid off in May he decided to do a 2 week long road trip, visiting a few state parks with his Dad. It was a wonderful opportunity and I completely supported it but I was lonely with his absence. So I began sending him my own handmade personal e-post cards. I've thought about sharing them on here but want to keep them intimate, just for the two of us, so I haven't.

Today My Heart shared with me a wonderful email his Dad had sent him, a birthday story of sorts. It made me cry it was so full of love. Another thing I thought about sharing here but thought better of.

So instead today I'm sharing with you this, I love My Heart and hope that you will know this love in your own way, if not today than some day.

artistic retail

I have a love/hate relationship with Apple in general but the Apple Retail Store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan is pure L O V E...

On a chilly January night this was a great place to come in out of the cold and photograph! I loved it.

Now I will probably never give into the iPad craze but I may finally hop on that iPhone train after January if Verizon does indeed start carrying them. Right now I'm just not a fan of AT&T (or the touch screen really)... Who am I kidding? I'll probably just get a new Blackberry to go along with my newly ordered Kindle :-)

what mondays bring

Oh my ladies, I can't believe this is real!

Really, really!?

pleasantly plump

It started with Dove and their Campaign for Real Beauty.

And now Girl Scouts has started a program called uniquely ME! in order to further spread this message to our youth.

Together, the Girl Scouts/Dove Self-Esteem Program is helping girls and women of all ages build self esteem. As a female who's struggled with this exact issue almost her whole life I say, Bravo!

i wanna do that

How stunning is she!? Emma Watson posted this photo of her new haircut on Facebook earlier today. I think she looks absolutely gorgeous with this new do. What do you think?

This is what she said about it on Twitter:

"Yes, I cut my hair off a few days ago! I love it- feels incredible. Hope you like it! Photo on www.facebook.com/emmawatson"

this is the good life

As promised yesterday, here's more from the High Line in NYC:

"The High Line was originally constructed in the 1930s, to lift dangerous freight trains off Manhattan's streets. Section 1 of the High Line is open as a public park, owned by the City of New York.

When all sections are complete, the High Line will be a mile-and-a-half-long elevated park, running through the West Side neighborhoods of the Meatpacking District, West Chelsea and Clinton/Hell's Kitchen. It features an integrated landscape, designed by landscape architects James Corner Field Operations, with architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro, combining meandering concrete pathways with naturalistic plantings. Fixed and movable seating, lighting, and special features are also included in the park."

I think it's a brilliant idea and it's beautifully executed. Since we were in the midst of Winter while in NYC nothing was blooming but it was still a nice stroll with great views of the city.

Where we entered - street level access every couple of blocks

I bet this is absolutely gorgeous in Spring!

The view from the top

The old tracks

An interesting little seating area over looking the street below

Loves it!

Here's where it currently ends

So if you're going to visit the Big Apple, I highly suggest checking out the High Line. Oh! and grab a bite at Cafe Gitane in the Jane Hotel before hand - it's just a 2 block walk from the Jane to the start of the park. PERFECTION! (Thanks to a recommendation from Friend AM)

put our service to the test

As I was looking through my NYC photos today this popped out at me:

This was taken from the High Line, a great idea for reusing space and creating a park in the city. We went in Winter when not much was green and it was still beautiful but more on that later.

Instead I wanted to point out to you the Diane von Furstenberg building in the Meatpacking District. It's got the brightly colored floating lips and the iconic DVF just like her website and that gorgeous triangular dome on top.

I loved so many of the views from the High Line but I am a girl at heart and my heart loves me some DVF!

If you aren't familiar with her work check out her line of wrap dresses. She has been given credit for creating this simple yet feminine design that works for almost any body type. I've also been told that she carries up to a size 14 in this very store. Gotta love a high fashion designer looking out for the ladies!

Also, Gilt is having a Diane von Furstenberg shoe sale today. If you aren't a member of this designer discount sale site then be my guest: www.gilt.com/invite/thebloggirl

XOXO

i want to go to there

Ah, August. It sneaks up on ya! I'm still reveling over some of my photos from our NYC trip in January. It was our Christmas gift to one another and it was perfect - cozy & romantic, full of excitement and adventure and COLD! I think the next couple of blog posts will be pieces of that trip. Sorry to be so behind on this sort of thing but I hope you can enjoy it anyway...

We got a great deal on our hotel at a bargain website called Jetsetter (click on the link to be invited to join). The hotel was on the Lower East Side and was quite hip (maybe too hip for us!) - Hotel on Rivington.

I loved the views though and the windows in the bathroom fogged up when you took a hot shower so it really felt like Winter! Which makes me think I wouldn't really want to shower there in the Summer since the shower is along the wall of windows in the bathroom... I'm sure people can see in no matter what they say.

(My Heart brushing his teeth before bedtime)

We were in one of their suites so we had a separate little sitting area right when you walked in... with a view of course.

But the coziest place was definitely the bedroom! The bed took up almost the entire space and was surrounded by windows. It was gorgeous.

And every night they left a different little baked good with turn down service!

(My Heart enjoying a sweet treat!)

I'm still vowing to learn the ins and outs of this camera. After looking through the photos from this New York trip I'm a little disappointed with them. I fancy myself an amateur photographer but you'd never be able to tell looking at these. Guess another trip is in order!

rays of filler

While I work on a few longer posts I wanted to share this happiness with you all today...

8 feel-good websites to brighten your day

Click on the link above to read the entire article from CNN.com but here are a couple of my favorites from the list:

I've read GivesMeHope a few times before and I often get teary eyed. And PostSecret is one of my regular favorites! But this story of Christian the Lion really got me -


I find it really hard to believe but being a cat lover makes me really want to!

Click away dear readers and enjoy the sunshine from me to you.

XOXO

vintage not old

Although life has thrown a few curve balls our way the past couple of weeks it's important not to dwell on those sorts of things for too long. I admit, I'm in a bit of a funk but you know what... even depressed, I'm happy.

It's great to be surrounded by fun and loving people. My friends and family show me almost every day how loved I am. And with that they bring a smile to my face throughout the day. Thank you guys!

So this weekend I vow to enjoy window shopping as much as actually purchasing goods I don't need, soak up the sun and bask in the warmth it brings, snuggle my puppy and not get too angry when he pees on the floor for the 749th time, imbibe on a cheap glass of wine paired nicely with a hot dog while engaging in wonderful conversation with good people and celebrate all that one more year has brought me.

A few of the fine things shared with me this week:

• Family in town for a baseball tournament, staying at our house
  
• A beautiful bouquet of brightly colored roses
• About a dozen notes of love here and there
  
• An edible arrangement so fragrant you can't help but nibble on it all day (along with your co-workers)
  
• A yummy restaurant in my neighborhood called CaCao Mexicatessen (as Friend K says, "wild boar tacos, you're going down!")
  
• A truly fine bottle of Jameson 18 Year Limited Reserve Irish Whiskey direct from Scotland (I know, I know - it's IRISH whiskey)
  
• And these gorgeous things from John Fluevog:

(I didn't get a pair but looking at them is gift enough)

my little mouse

On another note, I got an awesome comment from an anonymous poster last night on yesterday's blog post. Sometimes I hate anonymous comments but I leave that option enabled because I respect the right to privacy. Whoever you are anonymous, thank you. Your comment was beautiful and made me feel simply amazing - I cried and read it over and over. I can speculate who it might be and I love that there a few faces out there in my life (past and present) that I know are special enough to have sent me so much love.

And to Karen & Summer, thank you for also being such special people. I cherish having you both in my life.

XOXO

donde esta Santi Claus

Our unseasonably cool weather has me thinking, make that wishing, Fall is just around the corner. That time of cozy, snuggle love. Boots and rain. Scarves and pumpkin spiced lattes. I love it. And once Fall has passed, WINTER. I adore Winter in all it's glorious coldness. I love walking through the chill to get home to the warmth. Makes me feel alive. The heat of the Summer just makes me want to lie in a slumber for days on end hoping that it will just go away. I try not to waste away my Summers like that but I just don't love the dog days of heat like I do a good blizzard. Call me crazy!

So when I was going through some photos for post inspiration I was drawn by a few random shots of our Christmas tree from last year. My Heart and I spent the holidays snuggled together in our new home. Thanksgiving was spent with a wonderful house full of family. But Christmas was just the two of us (and the furry kids of course!). It was quiet and sweet and perfect. As was our tree... just a small artificial one with a random assortment of collected ornaments.

Our little tree with lights reflected in the sliding glass doors.

Everyone got an ornament to represent them and by everyone I mean Matt, me, Mustard, Krunchy and Little Bear! Can you guess which ones are Matt and me???

To me, such a sight of beauty. I insisted that it stay up through most of January!

I particularly love this ornament. It says, "First Christmas In Our New Home"