good people find eachother.

i have some rather exciting news to report, my dears. my bestest is engaged! like for reals! this is like a sister getting married!

i am over the moon excited and happy and emotional and nostalgic. {it's funny how an engagement can make you stop for a moment and really reflect. i love that.} weren't we just seventeen and i met you for the first time in the downstairs of our freshman year dorms to later find out that we were living across the hall from each other? i swear that was just yesterday. it was only the beginning of a lifetime of memories we were about to create.

almost eleven years of friendship. it's moments like this when you think, my oh my, time is precious. and, i'm just so grateful for life and for the amazing relationships we cultivate in it.

that's part of why we're here, yes?  for the relationships. i think that's why i look up to love so much. falling in love. being in love. finding the one to love. because it's such a huge part of our happiness while we're here on earth.

well, i couldn't be happier that you found your one. truly, madly, deeply... i want those i love, to find the one they love. someone who is worthy, who loves them back unconditionally.

enter brian.

when i first met him, he knew i was important. and i don't mean that in a self-promoting kind of way. i mean it genuinely, just as i knew he was equally as important.

in my life, there are a handful of relationships i admire. i think to myself, i want something like that. i chalk it up to healthy envy and optimism and an inner knowing that the best is yet to come. thank you for being role models. it's so comforting to know that you've found each other. 

i read something the other day that i can't stop thinking about. when you're good at your core - really, truly, honestly good - love comes easy.

i believe that to be the truth for you two. 

you know what else they say, good people find each other. i am so thankful for the good people in my life. selfishly, i can't wait to help you plan your special day. and to have you both as best friends forever and ever. i daydream about future days when our three becomes a four.

big hugs from sf to sd.

the view.

reading a good book is a gift, don't you think? i must admit, i have trouble fitting it in. between hectic work days, being active, writing, socializing, and getting enough sleep, i find myself only able to squeeze in a quick twenty minutes while in transit. which doesn't pan out so well seeing as though it turns out that being prone to car-sickness translates to bus-sickness, too. who would have thought?

anyhow, there's no real point to this post except to say that i'd like to take advantage of my reading nook more. see, i have this little day sofa that folds nicely down on both sides. it so perfectly fits at the base of my two large windows that overlook none other than the bay herself. and that bridge. and alcatraz. and even the top of the palace pokes her head through.

  
how did i end up here? i think to myself.

it's important to stop and take in the view, yes? i frequently recall the ending of one of my favorite books by anna quindlen, a short guide to a happy life. 

i found one of my best teachers on the boardwalk of coney island many years ago. it was december, and i was doing a story about how the homeless suffer in the winter months. he and i sat on the edge of the wooden supports, dangling our feet over the side, and he told me about his schedule, panhandling the boulevard when the summer crowds were gone, sleeping in a church when the temperature went below freezing, hiding from the police amid the tilt-a-whirl and the cyclone and some of the other seasonal rides.

but he told me that most of the time he stayed on the boardwalk, facing the water, just the way we were sitting now, even when it got cold and he had to wear his newspapers after he read them. and i asked him why. why didn't he go to one of the shelters? why didn't he check himself into the hospital for detox?

and he stared out at the ocean and said, 

"look at the view, young lady. look at the view."

 and every day, in some little way, i try to do what he said. i try to look at the view. that's all. words of wisdom from a man with not a dime in his pocket, no place to go, nowhere to be. look at the view. when i do what he said, i am never disappointed.

may you find the time to indulge in a good book and no matter where you are, take in the view. hugs! 

*reading found here.

glue.

do you have a friend that is the glue that holds the group together? well, i do. you might know the kind... the bringer-together-er... the come on guys let's go to brunch motivator... the orchestrator of many-a-plan. 

see, my very special, exceptionally strong glue moved away and, oh how i miss him so.

he graced sf with his presence this past weekend and it was - snap! - back to old times. easy peezy. i don't know how he does it, but he truly has the gift of connection. it must be his passion for quality time with those he loves. and that, my friends, is one of the best traits to embody in all the world.

come back soon, please. i miss you already. so grateful for our little group whom, we decided on saturday, almost perfectly resembles the friends crew. we each bring to the table our unique personalities that ordinarily may clash, but instead harmonize oh-so-wonderfully. 

so much love.

it's only love that gets you through.

i'm on a music kick. can you tell?

maybe if you saw my new favorite ipad app, you already know this. yes, that's vevo. endless music videos which equals hours upon hours of new discoveries in one sitting.

so, my latest obsession...

i don't know why i don't listen to more sade. her voice is lightness. heaven. air. tenderness. delicacy. peace. all wrapped in a pretty bow.



when this song plays it's as if everything is right in the world. it's been on repeat the entire evening, but of course was first heard in shavasana. we're on play number twenty, at least.

it's about a girl who wasn't afraid to love and unfortunately got her heart broken. but, she didn't let it ruin her. she knows that love conquers all. because...

it's only love, it's only love
that gets you through

imagination.

alright, dolls. i'm going to be a complete blog thief. i stole this post from my good pal, pom pom {oh, i've mentioned her a time or two}. don't mind if i do. 

anyhow, i watched this video friday afternoon and proceeded to bawl my eyes out for a good twenty minutes. it's not only inspiring and heartwarming, but it will remind you that a child's imagination is one of life's greatest gifts.

caine is nine years old and has crafted an entire arcade out of cardboard boxes. but it's not just any arcade, it's a magical place with details so amazing you won't believe your eyes.


Caine's Arcade from Nirvan Mullick on Vimeo.

his innocence is infectious. may caine's story remind you to never be afraid to think outside the box. to believe in yourself. to be proud. and that human beings have the capacity to engage in random acts of kindness to bring joy to those who deserve it.

enjoy!

*to read more about caine check out here and here. and, $164k has been raised to send him to college. proof of the power of social media, and again, the goodness of others.

let it pour.

oh dear. where do i begin?

i've worked twenty two of the past forty eight hours. and even when i'm not working, i'm thinking about it. dreaming about it, actually. is this normal? who knows. but it sure is interesting, and throwing me for quite the loop.

amidst it all i'm having fun. i'm challenged. i'm scared sh*tless. i'm okay. i'm great. i can do this. all the thoughts that pass through my consciousness in what seems like a split second.

just grateful for it all, though. to be slowly succeeding and learning from my failures. grateful for it all.

you want to know something else that makes me happy? during a lightening and thunder storm, when some of your best friends text you from barely a mile away. omg, did you hear that thuuuuunder? are you okay? yes. and i'm better now knowing that you're sitting at home feeling the exact same way i am. timidly brave. and in awe.

i'm obsessing over this song by fink called sort of revolution. discovered during yoga where i repeated two lines from the chorus over and over in my head along with a mental picture so i could remember. i'm a visual person, really. i do much better when i have an image to speak to.

come so far
let me know when we get there if we get there

what would you envision to memorize that simple phrase?



this song, on repeat, makes me grateful for red wine on a stormy night. when it quiets down a little bit out there, i turn on my rain storm sounds app. because sometimes, life's calmer with raindrops. it's the little pleasures, right?

goodnight. love you.

*embracing the rain found here.

wondrous.

the monday night laughter escalated into tuesday afternoon giggles.

after begging this dollface to get on instant messenger so we could chat like old times, i received a surprise IM from her this afternoon.

...and then a surprise email so i could get a visual of the buddy list.

we are promptly placed at the bottom because she doesn't know how to move us. but this way, i can find you both so easily! she says. works for me.

the puddin', well, that's an inside joke. i'm so glad the apostrophe is there. heaven forbid, we've been through that mishap before.

this funny moment today made me grateful for the phenomenon that knowing one person can allow you to know another amazing person and another and so on and so forth. do you have wondrous, pure connections like this in your life that sometimes catch you by surprise? i sure hope so.

kisses!

the bright side.

so i haven't been feeling like myself lately. my normal, grateful self. but, i'm sure you already knew that. lack of posts is usually a telltale sign.

so what do we do in our moments of weakness and self-doubt? because if i've learned anything, it's that we all have them.  confusion mixed with a little bit of angst shaken with a frown and stirred with a why haven't i looked on the bright side lately?

i'm sure we're all familiar with this age-old adage. but see, i don't enjoy feeling this way. feeling withdrawn and self-conscious isn't my forté, loves. not one little bit. i'd much rather be open and accepting and full of light. try that on for size. it fits.

anyhow, i know in times like this, it's most important to reflect on all that is good. so, here goes nothin' as i climb up the ladder from my dark place.

ipads. yup, my new one made the list. i'm late in the tablet game, but this little gadget has turned into a new favorite toy and brought me so much efficiency joy. does that make sense? it does to me.

new favorite yoga classes. just an hour of power and you're on your merry way.

delarosa. with good company. it never fails. yum.

the rare, yet sacred, once-in-a-blue-moon feeling after leaving work that says, i'm good at this.

weekends in san diego. i always leave thinking... what if...what if i moved here...

call me maybe, yes please. dance parties are a must.

saturdays in the park with a close pal or two. vino and brown paper bags. that's all we need.

four girlfriends laughing over a monday night dinner. there's nothing like it.

precious. a word i wish to never take for granted. 

*inspiration found here and here.

on blogging.

one of my favorite lines ever is... gina, i miss your posts. i think it's time you blogged. and while i feel like this blog is such a selfish outlet of mine, i honor those comments more than anything because they keep me going. they encourage me to express my voice, and that is one of the greatest gifts anyone could possibly give.

i saw this quote late last week on a cup a jo and absolutely loved the truth in it.

 "there’s something sacred about reading a blog post on someone else’s site. it’s like visiting a friend’s house for a quick meal 'round the breakfast table. it’s personal - you’re in their space, and the environment is uniquely suited for idea exchange and uninterrupted conversation. in many ways, we should be treating our blogs like our breakfast tables. be welcoming and gracious when you host, and kind and respectful when visiting." ~trent walton

 

and, while i'm on the topic, have i ever gushed over my blogger crush on mackin' ink? i mean... this woman has it all. i beyond adore her. i once sent her some fan {e}mail and she responded! to me! like personally! {i swear, if i ever made it in this blogging world, and got an ounce of fan mail i'd write you back in a heartbeat. i promise promise. because sometimes there's no better feeling than when someone is your biggest fan}.

anyhow, she said something so candidly truthful that i think of quite often.

"blogging's so funny, isn't it? better than any cocktail party for meeting like-minded friends. pretty amazing."

now i say cheers to that!

*breakfast and cocktailing found here and here.