Humble and Kind

I'm not a huge fan of country music I have to admit. However, I listen to it because well, it's easy to listen to and as boring as it can be there are a few pretty darn good melodies and lyrics. B likes it a lot. It calms him down while driving. I have to admit it's better than faced paced anything nowadays that doesn't make any sense or has no lyrics or meaning whatsoever. Anyways, so on my quest to happiness, to a happier me and a happier life and all I was told to sing along to songs and/or dance. Well, in a car it's a bit difficult to dance but I move along {when on the passenger seat of course}. Yet, to sing along...now, that I can do. It took me a while to get back to my normal self, to my funky singing along self. I caught myself a few times singing along and then had to smile. 

A while back I heard Tim McGraw's song Humble and Kind...and man, that song speaks truth on so many levels it's amazing. It's one of those songs I love because of its message, and yes it's mellow melody that is quite catchy. Its message though...that I love. And guess what? I always turn up the volume and I always sing along when this song comes up.

Hold the door, say please, say thank you

Don't steal, don't cheat, and don't lie

I know you got mountains to climb but

Always stay humble and kind

When the dreams you're dreamin' come to you

When the work you put in is realized

Let yourself feel the pride but

Always stay humble and kind

That's just one part of the song but this alone sends the perfect message. There's hardly people today, my age, who say thank you or please let alone both. It's so sad. I want my children to grow up knowing what manners are, and how to be polite in this world today. You can teach a child to say all this but it takes more than just that. Your teenager, your adult child needs to remember what was taught back in the day and implement this on a daily basis. I even hold doors for others because, well, that is what I want others to do, too. I set an example. It's baby steps but in the end those steps may finally be seen and felt and hopefully repeated by others. 

With all that in mind...hope you're day today is going well. I'm off making this very hot day a happy one. I will be holding doors and saying thank you's and what not. I will set an example today!

xox

Find Happiness, Stay Positive - 20 Ideas

Happiness is so crucial in life. I believe in finding happiness wherever I go or whatever I do. My word this year is happiness so I strive really hard to find that piece of mind, that moment that makes me smile and feel content, well, happy.

Here's 20 ideas on how to find that happiness and stay positive; even in the darkest moments:

1. Hold the door open for someone.

2. Wear something new or something you haven't worn in a while and love.

3. Listen to your favorite song {old or new, happy or sad doesn't matter}.

4. Eat your favorite food.

5. Buy that bag you always wanted.

6. Take a you-day. You deserve it.

7. Slow down and let a few cars in.

8. Wear that perfume or cologne {even when you stay home}.

9. Tell someone you are happy they are in your life.

10. Try something new {new coffee order, new recipe, new nail color, new hobby, etc}.

11. Smile.

12. Bake something.

13. Explore a new part of your town.

14. Dance in the rain.

15. Help someone.

16. Stay off social media for one full day {yes!!}.

17. Cuddle with your pet, your stuffed animal, your children, and your partner.

18. Work out.

19. Go to a park and take a walk, look at flowers and trees.

20. Be kind.

It is easy to find happiness. It is the little things that should enhance everyone's life. Every week I try to smile at one person in particular. He doesn't know me. I know he always looks sad, mad, or what not. My job is to make him once smile back. I haven't been successful yet. He's a professor and looks incredibly grumpy. Actually he looks grumpier when I smile at him. I hope one day he finds the strength to find happiness and returns the smile. I also hold the door open when there is a person behind or in front of about to go through the same door. Some thank me, others do not. Kindness leads to happiness. The more we share that kindness, the more we spread it and happiness blossoms. At least this is how I look at it. If we aren't kind, if we don't take the plunge and work on that one good deed per day we will never be fully satisfied with the day, life, and everything else. Find that happiness, work on it, and stay positive. It only takes one good action. 

What have you done today that made you happy?

xox

How to add Happiness to your Life

Life is tough. Don't roll your eyes. Yes, it is. We don't always acknowledge the fact that we do so much during one whole day, one full week, heck one long month. We have to pay bills, buy groceries, clean, organize, schedule appointments, get things fixed, work, work out, talk, meet up, share, and spend time with family and friends. The list is endless. Plus this list does not include emergency situations; you know those you will never be fully prepared for. Life is tough.
At the same time it is also beautiful. To make it more beautiful, to make it happy even during the darkest times it is time to remind ourselves that even though life is tough and sad and busy there is always something to brighten our day. We need to add daily happiness to our lives! 

My five favorite things to flavor up my daily life, my crazy little world {see what I did, just now?}, will not be your things to add happiness to your life, yet, they will give you ideas what could bring happiness to your busy, tough or even sad life. Don't get me wrong, I don't fully think your life is lame and if it did, then MY life is just as lame. We all need that extra thing/item/moment/color adding a happy moment to our {dull} life. ;) 

My kitties. Yes, I admit it. I love my fur babies. They give me so much joy it is unfathomable. Whenever I feel down {and this happens very often} all I have to do is look at, snuggle and play with them. They know no fear, are curious, love to cuddle and crack me up when they make their hungry noises. Plus, this pictured little nugget chirps. She does this when she's happy, when she plays, and when she's looking for either me or her sister. Loving it. So much cuteness and so much happiness added to my life.

Sunsets. It's harder to catch them where I'm living at now so I miss them a lot. Yet, when I do catch them I grab my phone and take as many photos as possible. The photos never show the sunset's pure beauty but they come somewhat close. Plus, hello, am I the only one loving palm trees? It's a double happiness factor...palm tress and sunsets!

Coffee. Do I say more? Probably. I know some people don't like coffee and I am perfectly okay with that. My best friend doesn't drink coffee, she drinks tea instead. I don't like coffee for its caffeine though. I drink it because its warm, flavorful scent makes me feel secured. No matter what mood I am in a simple sip of a milk coffee {or a latte as many call it} adds pure happiness to my day; any day. During cold winter times it is even more important for me to get my cup; either with a flavor or without. If I don't get my coffee I can be pleased with a cup of peppermint tea, or a chai latte. Yet, really, nothing comes as close as a hazelnut or vanilla flavored black coffee. Yum.

Anything home related. Crate and Barrel? Yes please. West Elm? Yes. Pottery Barn? Yes yes! IKEA? Sure. Target? Of course. Z Gallery? Absolutely. Not saying I have all the money for it. I probably won't even purchase an item but browsing through these stores brings joy to me. I get inspired by pastel colored anything, by cute decor, mirrors, and glasses. Want to make me smile, bring me to one of these stores and it'll work like magic.

Pinterest & Instagram. Quotes, photos, recipes, decor ideas, and inspirations. I get it all from these two sites. I am also slightly OCD and want to put everything in a folder. Pinterest helps me do that. Instagram makes me simply happy. Their filters are awesome but I usually prefer to add no filter at all. After all it's called Instagram; a combination of instant and I would guess telegram {you know, where mankind used to send info/updates/letters}. You update your friends, family and strangers with a photo. No matter what mood I am in, these two sites and apps add happiness to my life.

I know my five things to add happiness to my life are lame but hey, it's a start. I don't get to see sunsets often, but when I do I am a happy girl. My kitties drive me nuts at times but they still make me laugh out loud when they play with one another or fail to jump right. Also, I am a homebody. I want my home to reflect my feelings, my life, my style so anything related to home shopping makes me incredibly happy.

What are a few things that make your life happy?
What kind of happiness do you add to you life?
Do we have anything in common?

xox

last two images via 4 | 5 

Promise Yourself

Promise yourself...

To be so strong that nothing

can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity

to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel

that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything

and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, to work only for the best,

and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others

as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past

and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times

and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself

that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,

and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world,

not in loud words but great deeds.

To live in faith that the whole world is on your side

so long as you are true to the best that is in you.” 

― Christian D. Larson, Your Forces and How to Use Them

Sometimes we need inspiration; to move on, to conquer a fear, to take the next step, or to even quit a habit. Books are inspirational. When you find a passage in a book that speaks to you and your current life it feels like a door full of opportunities opens itself up to you. This is what made me get up this week, and look at the positive side in life, cherish everything and not dwell in the past. This is what made me laugh. This made me nod, and look outside the box I am still trapped in. I love it. It fits and it certainly fits a Thursday morning! 

Am I the only one finding passages or just a sentence or two in books inspirational?!
I love books, their stories and motivational lines. Cannot wait to start my next book.

xoxo

My A to Z Travel

I believe it is time to stop my blog hiatus and return to normalcy. After all, I have always claimed that writing is a tool that heals, comforts, and lets us escape from whatever is happening in our lives. I took this hiatus to spend time with myself, away from pressure, from reading, from anything that would force me to sit in front of a computer...I slept a lot, I rested even more {and no that is not the same as sleeping}, and it occurred to me that doing this is part of my healing process but it's not enough. Plus, I need to get back into life, into shape, into my daily inspirations to look forward to doing something or living beautifully. So here I am. I saw this post the other day and thought that this was the perfect way for me to start getting happier, and write more uplifting posts. July has been an awesome month and I am improving daily; baby steps but I can feel it.

So, here we go!

A) Age you went on your first international trip:

I was barely two and we went to Trinidad and Tobago. We stayed for a few months. All I have left of this time are photos and the memory of dreams I had when I was around four. Crazy.

B) Best foreign beer you’ve had and where:

Define foreign? I grew up in Switzerland so anything outside that is foreign...then in the US, anything outside that is foreign to me as well. To be honest, I like beer but can live without. Also, due to my gluten allergy I am now drinking Sorghum Beer which is pretty okay and it's made in Colorado. Not at all foreign.

C) Cuisine (favorite): 

Turkish, Spanish, Italian, Mexican, and Japanese. Well, just food that makes me happy. As long as it's delicious and makes me stuffed I'm a very happy girl.

D) Destinations–favorite, least favorite, and why?:

Favorite: Istanbul, Berlin, and San Francisco {home, history, home and memories...and SF reminds me of Europe} - I am sure there are more favorite places but these came up first.

Least favorite: as much as I like Greece, I did not enjoy my trip there. It's very similar to Turkey so I had no issues, the views were awesome...the people were unfriendly though and it felt like they just wanted to throw stuff at us and not even "handle" us "tourists". Sad sad.

E) Event you’ve experienced abroad that made you say “wow”:

Waking up in Yosemite at 5.30 in the morning...that clear blue sky and crisp fresh air? Pure perfection on an upcoming hot summer's day {and yes, Yosemite is not technically abroad for most of you}, and just waking up and knowing that you'll experience something eventful that day...that is a wow moment all to itself.

F) Favorite mode of transportation:

Public transportation...mainly in Europe. I also enjoy the buses/Muni in San Francisco. Other than that I love being the passenger in a car gazing outside the window and taking it all in...lets me escape for a few minutes. Also, I like to look into cars and find the most obscure things people do in cars. 

G) Greatest feeling while traveling:

When I travel I love to see how other people live. I see the regular "boring" sights everyone wants or should see when traveling...but then I'd like to escape outside that bubble and get a feel of what life really is like in those countries or even cities. It makes me appreciate the things I have. We take way too much for granted and believe life is like that everywhere, but this is not true. So traveling and getting to know a place from another perspective...that's what is fascinating. That is what makes traveling perfect. Plus, getting off the plane...that's another great feeling I get when traveling. I made it!

H) Hottest place you’ve ever traveled to:

Spain and Portugal...the heat was unbearable. Turkey was hot too but holy cow, Portugal almost killed us.

I) Incredible service you’ve experienced and where?:

I have not yet fully experience incredible service...I have experienced great service but nothing outstanding that deserves mentioning.

J) Journey that took the longest:

Going back to and coming back from Europe always takes the longest. Non-stop flights are awesome, just those 12+ hours suck big time. Yet, in the end it's worth it.

K) Keepsake from your travels:

Magnets, handmade jewelry, scarves, and just one piece of clothing. Always!!!

L) Let-down sight, where and why?:

Hmmmm...nothing really yet. I always try to enjoy everything while at a place...no matter how long I stay. If I missed seeing something it saddens me for a little while but it's okay...the memories I have made are enough.

M) Moment where you fell in love with traveling:

I traveled a lot when I was a child and a teenager, thanks to having family all over the world, so I guess I was born into this. I had no choice but to fall in love with traveling. 

N) Nicest hotel you’ve stayed in:

The one in Bodrum, Turkey and one in Berlin. I consider nice as just simple, no problems occurred, and the staff was friendly enough to make me feel at home away from home.

O) Obsession–what are you obsessed with taking pictures of while traveling?:

The ocean or the sea, animals, landscape, countryside, food, sunsets, and old buildings.

P) Passport stamps-how many and from where?:

My passport has been renewed so many times, so my stamps are rare these days as they don't stamp it all the time. :(  Latest and most stamps are from Turkey and the US. Any other ones in my older ones were from England, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, The Netherlands, Greece, and some other places I can't recall. Switzerland doesn't stamp my Swiss passport...haha. I wish. I often travel with my ID in Europe so no stamps, and in the US...I don't need a passport. :(

Q) Quirkiest attraction you’ve visited and where?:

Nothing really...

R) Really Frightening: where’s one place you’ve visited where you felt unsafe or uneasy?

Paris, after they had to close down a street and a whole area for security reason. They found suspicious boxes or so and had to get the bomb squat come out. It was close to where we lived. Not the most fun thing to experience.

S) Splurge-something you have no problem spending money on while traveling:

Food, and a souvenir clothing item. :D

T) Touristy thing you’ve done:

I always do all kinds of touristy things...but the best and most fun touristy thing is to play tourist in your own city. Love pretending to be a tourist in a place I can walk around blind-folded.

U) Unforgettable travel memory:

NYC with my mom, uncle, aunt, and cousin many many years ago. But for the last travel memory...my trip to Istanbul this month where I spent five wonderful days with family, honored mom, and tried to suck as much Istanbul in as even possible. I just love this city.

V) Visas-how many and for where?:

A student visa but that was it and has long expired. Nothing else so far.

W) Wine–best glass while traveling:

Portugal!! It worked perfectly with our food. YUM.

X) eXcellent view and from where?

Love to hike up a hill in Laguna Beach and just overlook the city and Pacific Ocean. It calms and refreshes me. The sunset in Istanbul, overlooking the European side, is one spectacular view too, and most tourists fail to see this because they never cross over to explore the Asian side of this gigantic city.

Y) Years spent traveling:

Since I was a young child.

Z) Zealous sports fans and where?:

Not really a sports fan...if I had to choose, maybe Monaco when the Grand Prix motor race takes place.

Have an amazing Monday, and an amazing week. I am packing up my last belongings and getting ready to reunite with my favorite person. We have been apart for way too long and we have lots to catch up on. I also know he will help me heal and find my way again. This is not what one has in mind during their first year of marriage but life is full of surprises and our first year has definitley hit some rough moments but we are strong and we can do this. I am so counting down the days. So ready to be back home again. So so ready!!!

Which are your A to Z of traveling? Would love to know!

Three Things to Make A Person {Me} Happy

So much has happened last week I had no time to update, blog, read, or even just check in. Life can take fast turns. Sometimes it is for the better and sometimes it is not. 

Remember my happy post a little over a week ago, and I was happy I finally heard from my mom. Well, she is still in the hospital and probably won't be released until Easter Sunday. How insane is this?! I finally got to talk to her and see how she is doing. It's one thing to know your parent is in the hospital and is under good care {she's doing fine but had some issues so they kept her longer than anticipated}, it is a whole different thing to be so far away. She's in Europe for crying out loud. I am not.

Trying not to make myself feel more miserable I found three things that can easily make a person or in this case, me, happy. I am definitely doing better and feeling more at ease. 

1 - Spend time with something or someone that can in fact cheer you up

In my case, it was the cute little puppy pictured above. She's close to four months old and as cute as a button. She's so full of energy, so eager to play and explore every single thing she comes across; she's the kind of thing I needed to be around. Chasing after her and making sure she was not trying to eat tiny stones or pee in the wrong area really distracted me. Also, her eagerness to pick up a huge ball almost bigger than herself was hilarious. Her determination astounded me. Needless to say, this cute little thing made me forget and made me happy. I need a puppy in my life.

2 - Have friends and/or family help you out

One of my oldest friends in my hometown organized flowers to be delivered to my mom's room. I couldn't have done this so easily from here, so I appreciate the love and support from her. Also, my for lovely friend back in SoCal helped me with the international call I had to make. Without the help of these two I would have been lost. Also, fun texts and snaps always helped. I spent a couple of days in Nevada with family so that was a distraction as well. Anything helps.

3 - Don't forget about yourself, and treat yourself right

It's easy to neglect yourself. When you feel down, lost someone, and are alone it is easy to just let go and not care. I have been there, done that. I had to remind myself that life isn't over, and I should find my happy. So, I got my hair done, spoiled myself with a frappuccino from Starbucks, and decided to say yes to an invitation to a movie {we saw Kingsmen}. Oh, and I painted my nails pink and went out for a walk to enjoy what spring has to offer.

You may wonder where my favorite person was in all of this. He was around. He's been transitioning into a new job so that takes a lot of his energy and patience as well. We shared the frappuccino, so he was around. Poor guy had to work, hardly got time off for spring break but at least could spend some time with the puppy as well. Yes, we are having puppy fever now. Ha!

Last week was crazy; looking forward to a better and more fun week.

Happy Monday!!!

xoxo

Be Kind To One Another

I'm in awe what this community did for one man. This may be an add by Samsung but its meaning is fabulous. Plus, I loved the fact that it was shot in Istanbul {my second hometown, where my mom grew up} and I can hear bits and pieces of Turkish. Fun.

If you don't know the story...well, a few people learned sign language to be able to communicate with one specific guy. As this guy walks around town with his sister he comes across people who out of nowhere "talk" to him; as if it is the most normal thing ever. He is part of that community, that town, so since he can't hear and therefore communicate with anyone {unlike us} he was positively shocked and felt blessed to see that there are people out there that want to be part of his {quiet} life.

Just watch it yourself...I just loved the idea.

As Ellen always says... be kind to one another! ;)

Mid-Week Thoughts

Mid-week always makes me ponder. I have long given up the "what if's" in my life. Wondering what might have happened "if we would have or could have..." will not change the present. We have to live in the NOW and not in the past or the possible future. My life has taken a totally different route than I intended it to go. I had plans to return home and start a life back home. Spending time with my dear friends {and their families} as well as with my family was the plan. Yet, life happened and I let it work on me. Life really happens. All the time. 

Should I have turned down opportunities in my life just to follow the plan I initially had?! 

Would I be happily living the plan I had in mind? 

I don't know. I didn't turn down opportunities and I followed the path I thought was right for me in that moment. I decided to meet people, go out, live the moment, fall in love, find my path and follow that way. Life happened for me. I did not share my happiness with everyone right away because last time I committed to let everyone in, disappointment rolled in and ruined it all. My family ruined it for me. As much as they love me and believe they know what is best for me {and I don't blame them}, their thoughts and beliefs are not working for me. I am not my mother, nor am I my aunts or cousins. As much as I would love to please everyone and make them proud of me I am sure I disappointed most of them by being me. 

Yet, that is exactly it. I am who I am. I have grown to be the person I want to be. I have my own style, my own ideas, make my choices, and cook the things I want to cook. I study what I think is right for me, and I read and exercise life the way I believe is right for me. I am me. Take me or leave me. Accept me or don't but don't shove it in my face. Be happy that I found my way. Be happy that I am happy. Don't remind me of the "if's or what's" in life. It won't change a thing. You just make me miserable. You make me second guess my decisions. By second guessing I get sad, cranky and even ridiculously annoying. That is not me. No one wants to be that way. So just let me be me. That is all I am asking for. Let me be the person I grew up to be, and love me the way I am. 

It took me thirty years to accept all this. It took me a while to learn to live my own life and not the one my mom wanted me to live. After all I am not my mom. I'm just half of her. It took me this long to ignore e-mails from people who just put me and my actions down. I refuse to answer calls from my godmother because she just makes me incredibly insecure and sad by her harsh words. I know she means well and I know she wants the best for me. Yet, I am not her. I am me. I am okay not having as much as she is having. It's my life. It's my choice and it's my happiness. 

Mid-week really makes me think. It is a good thing though. It definitely is. I love the friends who have been around and cannot wait to see me again. One of my besties is expecting her second child this summer and I am beyond excited for her and her young family. I have missed seeing her little one grow up and walk but she sends me regular videos and photos of her girl and it is just like me living back home and living the life I once had in mind. Life happened for my friend, and it is happening for me. I just let it be and take us where it takes us. So far, I love where it's been pushing us towards and I cannot be happier. 

If you were wondering why I am writing this post today...well, it is Ash Wednesday and back home I would be recuperating from a heavy week of Carnival Celebrations. It started last week on Thursday at 5am and ended last night {or super late this morning}. I watched most of it online through a web cam, cried a little, laughed and sang a lot, and lived vicariously through my friends posting photos and updating me on things. I shared a bit years ago on the blog about the fifth season in my hometown, I certainly missed it this year again. 

My life is great, and I love every single bit of it - the good, the bad, the sad, and the crazy! ;)

xoxo

image via here

Love is in the Air

Good morning.
Saturday is Valentine's Day. Even though we don't celebrate this day it is still a time I love to get creative or at least dream of being creative. It is one of those days that makes me happy. Everything looks and feels girlie. The Confetti Sticks above are just the cutest and will go with any party {even a future NYE party} and just add the perfect touch to Valentine's Day. Here is a step by step explaining on how to make these pretty sticks. If you are in need of more confetti inspirations then The Confetti Bar is the place to be. I love confetti, and even when the floor looks like a colorful palette of all kinds of colors and shapes it's a great way to make anyone smile {especially on a bad day}. 

If you are like me not getting enough of confetti or glitter {or both} I found the cute idea shown above. These DIY glitter vases are so pretty and would perfectly add some sparkle on Valentine's Day and can eve go with an Easter or a baby shower or any spring party. Plus, they are so easy to make. Love is definitely in the air. Adding a few cute festive touches here and there has become easy and affordable. A nice self-made touch to any place makes a home so much warmer.

Are you going out and about for Valentine's Day decorations?!

I personally will not but will work on these vases for Easter. We need some cuteness in our little nest. 

xoxo

Finding Happiness in the Darkest Times

Happy Monday my lovelies.

Hope your weekend was perfect, filled with laughter, people to talk to, spontaneous dates or trips, or just a great book that invited you into a new unknown world. My weekend was anything but good. Yet, I don't want to vent. I have vented too much over the past three days and I am exhausted. Instead, I want to look forward to the next three days that will hopefully be merry and bright...even yes, with Thanksgiving around the corner.

I am trying really hard to find happiness these days. Thanksgiving will NOT happen this year. We had plans to go see family and they got shattered into million little pieces due to my favorite person being called into work every single day this week. Even on Thanksgiving, and yes even over the weekend {again}. I cannot, and will not, extend my gratitude to those greedy business people wanting to make a killer profit on an American holiday, cherished for many many decades celebrating life, nature, food, and the gift of family. Thanksgiving is the time to be thankful for technically one thing {yet, we no longer live in the 1700s} so we have become grateful for many things. This year, tons of people are thankful for early shopping hours. Thank you for being thankful {insert major sarcasm here}. Anyhow, so, while this holiday isn't happening this year I am trying to find happiness elsewhere.

1) Monday being a nice day {at least it doesn't rain today, hopefully}

2) Tuesday will be movie day...so going to see Mockingjay, Part 1

3) Wednesday we are going to watch a Christmas Tree Lighting - the first thing we do in this town

 {it better not let us down}

Also, I am planning a trip back to Southern California. It'll be just for a few days but it  will be enough to recharge. My soul and mind need replenishing. I need friends in my life. I need the possibility of calling my girls for brunch, or a quick drink or just coffee. I don't have that here. At all. I feel I fail at making friends or just meeting people, let alone in a new environment. So knowing I get to see two of my besties and hopefully a third one while I am going to SoCal makes my heart jump a little. 

See? I am focusing on the happy parts...

...Monday here I come!

xoxo

image via here and here

Welcome, September

Good morning.
Can you believe that yet another month has ended and started already? We are in month number nine, and I cannot believe how fast time has been flying. It is officially fall!!! Yes. To me at least. You may want to wait three more weeks, but to me, September 1st marks the first day of fall season. These next three months will be fantastic. I can decorate the apartment with warm colors, pumpkins, candles, and what not. Halloween will be scary funny, and then I can pack it all away and put up Christmas stuff. In no time we will celebrate a new year again. Insane!!

Yet, let's start with this month. I will not work on a fall list but tell you a few things I am looking forward to. Whether or not I will fully enjoy these items/moments/places is then totally up to me. Hopefully I can accomplish more during fall than summer because frankly I failed my summer list.

Things I look forward to:

- pumpkin spice lattes {the best thing during fall if they are not from Starbucks!)
- pumpkins in all sizes
- pumpkin patches {so want to go to one again, and pick a few cuties out}
- spiced hot apple ciders {oh yes}
- Halloween decorations 
- no more flip flops/sandals but actual closed shoes {fingers crossed this happens here in Sac}
- wearing my scarves
- cooler temperatures
- Christmas time approaching faster

I'm not particularly looking forward to potential rainstorms but if they happen I will just enjoy them. Note to myself: by a new umbrella. 

But right now, I am enjoying a Mrs! Wow!

Happy September!!

image via here

Surprise!

Today I married my best friend.
We are extremely blessed to have found each other, and excited to spend the rest of our lives together.

Oh my gosh, I cannot believe we said our I Do's in such a short time. I never thought I would be a bride in 2014 but here I am - a wife. My favorite person {B} is no longer my fiance. He is my husband. I am so thrilled to be his wife, and to have him and his family in my life. It is so crazy writing this, and yet it is not crazy at all. 

We are happy, we are in love, and we are so glad we did this!

xoxo

image via wed with style

Reality is Better - QOTD #17

 {via}

“You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.”
― Dr. Seuss

****

 This is true.

However, I can happily fall asleep. 

I don't dream but I think that's okay.
At least I hope it is okay.

My weekend has already started.
I am studying math, and reading some books on human behavior.

Also, a date is in near sight...let's say tomorrow.
I'm excited. 

Really, there's nothing more fun than spending an evening watching a movie with my favorite person.

And maybe holding a glass of wine...just saying.

Any fun plans coming up in your life?

xoxo

Spring....

...break!

It will be relatively quiet this week on the blog. Hope you are okay with that.

My break started beautifully. Let's hope it stays this way.

Updates as usual on Instagram and Twitter. :)

xoxo

P.s. And yes, I'm on bloglovin' - just because google reader is about to leave us all. Thought I'd throw this out there somehow as well.

Bye February

Two months of 2013 are now officially over.

I cannot believe it!! 

These past two months for me were challenging, not at all fun, and just blah. 

However, I enjoyed a few things like seeing friends again, going to Huntington Beach for some pre-marathon fun, buying a necklace I just LOVE and winning giveaways. 

The latter really made me smile and my heart jump for joy.

Thank you Meghan and Leeann!

And that's my new favorite necklace ever...can you tell I love California?!
I ordered it here.

So hopefully March will be more fun...and more productive.

 Things will turn around. :)

They just have to.

So, February, you were an okay month.
You were emotional, draining, and just not pleasant.
You showed me sides of people I never thought I'd see and it made me sad.
You showed me that good things can happen too but only in a slight possible way.

So, here's to a fun new month full of promises and hopes.

Here's to March!!!

Bring it on!

xoxo

Bye 2012

You have been good to me. You could have been better but you showed me that life is worth living, worth experiencing new, bad as well as sad things, and that is it worth exploring, meeting new people, smiling, laughing, dancing, and most of all spending time with friends and family.

I am looking forward to exploring and discovering more, to meeting new people, new opportunities, and finding my own path in life that allows me to stay true to myself. I am looking forward to shaping and engaging myself more and not to making myself change for others.

2013 I know you are going to be fabulous, enriching our lives every single second, filling us with wonders, and disappointments but also with hope. You are going to rock our world, our hearts and our souls.

Here's to you 2013...may you be a worthy follower of 2012.
I know you are!

Have a fabulous last day of this year!!

xoxo

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday everyone.
The past week has been a bit of a chaotic one...emotionally, physically, and mentally.

Today I decided I'd be doing something like Krysten does every Friday: creating my own Happy Friday list!

It won't be something I'd be doing on a weekly basis.
It'll be more something I'd work on when I have to remind myself to be and stay happy.

1. One Tree Hill and its finale (happy and sad at the same time)

2. Vanilla Soy Lattes

3. Temperatures in the mid 70's

4. BBQ's

5. Birds chirping

6. Bath and Body Works

7. Easter decoration

8. The blogger/twitter community

9. Zumba

10. 6 more weeks of school

Hope you're having a fabulous Easter weekend!

Any fun plans?!
I hope so!

xoxo

 

My Perfume

I'm ready for spring, and ready for summer!

Best and favorite part of mine right now are perfumes...those that lift you up and make you smile the second you put them on, and make you smell fantastic!! I've been obsessed with the following for let's say a year, but I failed to buy it...because I moved away, and I didn't want to buy it and leave it behind or take it with me and it would break and all...but guess what? The first thing I am going to do when I get home (besides eating, drinking and greeting people and breathing in some Swiss air!) is buying that perfume! I'm in love. It makes me feel happy, it makes me feel feminine, and just so very lovely! 

Enough said.

via

Let's just face it.
I feel pure with this one!

What's your favorite this spring season?!

Two Things

There are a few things I'm really looking forward to.

But for right now and the next three or so weeks...it's two things:

I read the book and LOVED it.

I chose to read the book a few years back because I needed something new to read.

I walked into the bookstore, and I pretty much grabbed the first book that sounded interesting and different than what I had read before...and...I started reading it and was intrigued, amazed, sad, happy, curious, and touched!

Cannot wait to see the movie.

Or the following one, obviously!

So excited!!!

Sightseeing #1

Funny, when you live in a city or even a region you hardly know that place. Tourists, the so-called non-locals, know your place sometimes better than you do. So, when my friend A. visited me for a whole week over New Year's I knew we'd be going places and exploring areas I normally wouldn't visit, or have visited in the past and that's it.

We went all over. Pretty much crossed out all on her to-see list and had a blast!
However, there are still a few things we didn't get to see or do or enjoy (obviously, in L.A. that's very probable)...so I started a "next time" list for her when she returns. We even made southern California look so darn good for her that she started looking into apartments and moving cross country. I certainly wouldn't mind. I know why I moved!!! :) 

Some art had to be put into her sightseeing schedule too.

You may have recognized the lady on the right...it's Sierra!
We drove down Mulholland Drive, and loved it!

The following picture is the only one I got...and I learned my lesson...never give it to someone that doesn't know how to handle your camera...or a camera. We look tiny on that railroad.

And at some point, we decided to drive up to Alta Laguna Park (aka Top of the World Park) and sit down and enjoy one of the most marvelous views ever! I especially love the foggy pink sky in this one!

One of my friend's happens to be a ghost...hmmmm, should I be scared?!

More pictures to come...I'm still sorting out some!

We took a ton.

Obviously I don't want to bore you with so much beauty...haha!

Hope your day is marvelous!