My sweet Aunt Paule offered Brian and I her beach cottage in Santa Barbara this weekend while she and her partner David are on a retreat. Considering we aren’t ones to shy away from mini vacay’s (especially when they are free) we are off to Santa Barbara for a few days!
I happen to love their little cottage by the sea. It’s the perfect place to cozy up, write (I really need to rethink my book proposal), read (my new book “Wild” for inspiration), sleep (I’m a fan of sleeping sans alarm clock), watch movies (or maybe continue watching episodes of Breaking Bad) and cuddle (I’m a fan of cuddling too). I also want to take long walks on the beach and drinking margarita’s at the local Mexican joint.
On another note- I made some progress with my goals this week!
I made a list of a few new “artist dates” to take myself on…i’m scheduling these once a week.
– rent 5 Best Picture films that I have never seen and spend the day watching them
– create a new vision board (these visions of mine need a new board!)
– Downtown LA museum day
– head to the library to check out books on a subject I know very little about
– take myself on a picnic
Second I played a truly fun game of phone tag with a woman named Noelle at the Big Brother Big Sister organization about volunteering as a Big Sister. We still have not actually spoken but I have high hopes we will next week. High hopes.
I “thought” about what changes I want to make to my book proposal. That counts for something, right?
I chased down a man and his adorable French Bulldog on the street to ask which breeder he went to.
I spent hours looking at beautiful photos of ballerina’s for inspiration for my upcoming “back to the barre” series ( I plan on posting them tomorrow)
OH AND I BOOKED A TRIP TO NEPAL! That still happens to be the most exciting update of the week.
What happened with you guys this week? Any fun things to share????
365til30.com 
All the best with your trip!
I love beach walks and margaritas!!! And someone just told me today that I absolutely MUST watch Breaking Bad.
Your week sounds very productive!
My week was fairly quiet, although I’ve been having some lovely chats with the Universe lately and I feel like I’ve really been heard, so that’s always exciting.
I’m only two episodes in on breaking bad but it’s definitely interesting! Hope you have a great weekend:)
You are such an inspiration! I actually started my cookbook! I am planning on selling it so it is a lot I work but my goal is to finish by Sept 1st. Thanks for the push 🙂
You started your cookbook! That’s fabulous! Looking forward to seeing the finished product. 🙂
Yes I did :). I’m very excited about it! I’ll post it when it’s done 😉
Made a plan to go to the local gym to work out since I have been down with this knee / surgery since February. That is a good plan.
A plan to go to the local gym is a very good plan indeed. So happy your knee is finally feeling better. 🙂
A mini beach vacay! How incredible. Enjoy yourselves.
And I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your artist date ideas. I take one night a week where Trev stays home with Iris and I get out on my own. Normally I go write, but I should broaden my horizons a bit and use some of your ideas! 🙂
Right? Fun to take yourself out on dates. 🙂
Ahh, a weekend on the beach in Santa Barbara lucky you. I enjoyed your peek in to the books on your nightstand. I have that Tony Robbins book though I haven’t read the whole thing. That quote you used from his book challenged me. I couldn’t find my Alchemist book though which makes me sad because I have been meaning to reread it. It was given to me by a french person I met 11 yrs ago who highly recommended it. She went to find an English version and gifted it to me. I will have to check out your other books, a couple of them intrigued me.
I love that you watch Breaking Bad. The last 2 episodes were pretty intense. I am having a little trouble with the Big Sister thing too. I assume they must have a lot of people trying to volunteer. All I’ve been able to come across in NC is an email contact that does not contact me back, sigh.
I also have a library date that I have been trying to go on. I thought I would try to learn about one new thing per month but go to the library to research so I, A. Don’t spend money on a book I will not want forever and B. not get distracted with the world wide web and its deceptive wealth of information that inevitably leads me back to Pinterest or blogs that stray from my goal (this does not include your blog ;)) . This weekend I will be at the library. I think I plan to learn about Africa. Random I know but I have a slight obsession with African elephants and really would love to go visit or even better volunteer with something elephant related. I know my father’s grandfather served in the military there and my father was a farmer there which give me more reasons for my interest. For beautiful photos of the wildlife there I highly recommend visiting this site: http://www.nickbrandt.com. Most talented little British man I’ve ever met. Have a super great weekend
Sophia, I LOVE LOVE LOVE reading your comments. They are always filled with fabulous insights and tips. Thanks for that. Loved checking out the wildlife photos as well. So beautiful. Thanks for sharing. Hope you are having a beautiful weekend. xo
Ahh thanks for saying that! Right after I posted it I thought to myself that I may be over-sharing (for the zillionth time-but I love learning new things from others so I try to “give” back)(“Maybe I should not drink a glass of wine while “sharing” on blogs”, she thought while taking a sip….of wine!! :)). So I went to the library and not one of your book recs were available so I requested one and I am now waiting for the email telling me to pick it up. Hope you had a great beach weekend.
Hahahaha! I’ve often thought to myself…maybe I shouldn’t write blog posts while drinking wine! Ha. Which book did you order???!
The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire. I liked the quote you had from that book as well. And though upon more research it seemed like it could be a bit of a Yogi book (I am not one currently). I believe I may have the qualities of one (internally) just don’t end up with the body pains the next day for now;). The Gift is an Oprah reco so I won’t get my hands on that too soon. I tried to find my Alchemist copy and failed this weekend. This makes me sad. Will have to look in one more place but if I have no luck I will have to get that one again. Maybe “wine” posts make us less guarded and allow us to share the real us more….;/? Maybe there should be a wine glass rating between 1-5. Anything discussed with more than (or near) 5 glasses should be taken lightly;).
Can’t wait to hear what you think about it. It’s definitely one of my favorite books.
I love how we are now referring to them as “wine posts”- hysterical. A glass rating! hahahah
oooh I forgot to share regarding picnics(in case you don’t know about these), I keep on of these suckers in my car at all times: http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=17974297. Because you never know when you might have an impromptu picnic. The best part it folds up and zips closed and has a strap!
wow you sound like you are going to be very busy! And I envy the fact you live in CA–nice weather most of the time! That is certainly not the case where I’ve been most of this week (Normandy/Brittany in Western France)
So yeah what I’ve been up to this week–traveling around Brittany/Normandy with my father and my grandparents. We luckily had nice weather up til yesterday and I think I’ve seen more of Normandy on this trip than I ever have on any of my other trips to visit my French family. I even got to see my beloved Mont Saint Michel from afar (didn’t go though, it is inundated with tourists in the summer but that’s ok I’ve been there twice already!).
I just love Santa Barbara! That sounds so romantic.
I just purchased a couple of books, and WILD was one of them. Cozy fall reading to come!
My week involves wedding details, time in my kitchen, enjoying being home for awhile. I’d like to figure out where my next “ME in PC” installment will be, and want to get out into the fall colors in by backyard on some hikes.
Love your movie day idea. There are SO MANY films I want to see!
I am so looking forward to cozy fall reading as well. It’s one of my favorite things.
Wedding details! When is the big day?!?!?
xo
Eeeee! October 27. Do the math- it’s CLOSE! Fun!!
Soooooooo close!!! Exciting!!!!
(1) Still want to get to Santa Barbara (have a fun weekend!) and (2) NEPAL!! Freaking awesome! Would love to do a “what I’m reading” book swap / post exchange if you’re game! xx!
Love that idea!! Let’s talk next week! xx!
Lucky you- any time in Santa Barbara is time well-spent. I won’t get there again until January, but no matter. This week, I grilled brats at an American legion picnic, joined my Enlightenment group in Phoenix last night, to watch and discuss a documentary on Fresh vs, Processed Food, taught for two days and completed weeding my front yard. Two weeks remain until my journey north, to Reno, the Bay Area and the Northwest.
Looking forward to hearing all about your upcoming trip! Safe travels!