meeting with our photographer at our wedding venue. I love his energy and his photos melt me
the hint of fall weather in the air. hello scarves, boots, cozy nights in and pumpkin latte’s
receiving the most thoughtful and beautiful wedding gift from one of my favorite bloggers. We’ve never even met in person but I swear I feel like I know her and I most definitely call her a friend. Is this not the cutest ring holder ever?
solo lunch dates
my little family of three
all my favorite tv shows are coming back this week
reminding myself that it’s ok to want to slow down a bit the next six months and simply enjoy the small things- taking care of myself is important.
an incredibly sweaty but AH-MAZING yoga class with Tamal and some of my favorite girlfriends Rachel, Katie & Sophie. Tuesday nights are fast becoming my favorite night of the week
“don’t give your mind so much power. most of its inner dialogue isn’t even rooted in reality. it plays upon your fears, insecurities and the more attention you feed it, the bigger the anxieties become. manage your mind, change your life.”
– Grace Yoga
I had a really lovely afternoon visiting with my aunt Michelle and my mom-mom (grandmother) this week. One of the many joys of freelancing is that sometimes you have a Wednesday afternoon available to sit around with two of your favorite women and eat cheese and crackers and sip white wine. My mom-mom hasn’t been in the best health recently and it’s been really hard for me to accept, so moments like these are cherished.
what surprised me this week?
how many damn things one needs to purchase when getting a new puppy
Hello Friday!! So happy you’re here! Other than shooting engagement pictures on Saturday with Rachel, Brian and I have no plans. YAY! I honestly can’t tell you how excited this makes me. I’m going to sleep in, write, read, cook and watch movies. I may even stay in my pajamas all day on Sunday. Just because I can. Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!
what inspired me this week?
I’ve started reading “Gone Girl” and I’m loving it. The writing is so good.
My friend Katie who’s traveling through Vietnam all by herself! I just love that. I’ve never traveled to a foreign land by myself but she’s inspiring me to start thinking about it!
Looking through all my road trip pictures from driving across the usa last year. Sometimes I forget how lucky I am to have had such great experiences. Expect a post about it next week!
what am I grateful for this week?
Rachel…we had a beautiful afternoon talking about life and drinking wine- on a wednesday! So naughty of us. So grateful for her friendship, love and support.
Taline for being such a good maid on honor. She has so many great ideas!
This weekend is packed but it should be a fun one! Tonight my girlfriend, Taline is coming over for a night of food, wine, wedding talk (she’s also my maid of honor), tv and hanging. We are both in need of some quality time together. Tomorrow I finally start ballet classes. I’m reaaaaaally excited and slightly nervous I’ll make a fool of myself. It’s been twelve years since I’ve danced. Like riding a bike, right? That reminds me I have to buy ballet shoes this afternoon! After class I’m stopping over at my gorgeous cousins house for an afternoon glass of wine to celebrate her birthday. Then Brian and I are meeting our dinner club crew, Rachel & PJ and Loni & Mike for a night out on the town. For those of you who don’t know, once a month we pick a new restaurant to all go to. This month we picked Mercado, a mexican style restaurant in Santa Monica. Having dinner with this crew is something I look forward to every month! Then Sunday we are off to an easter brunch with Brian’s family and in the evening we are hosting a birthday party for my step-father, Irv.
How many people continue to respond to my piece about anxiety. It’s incredible how many people suffer with it on different levels.
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“I do believe in an everyday sort of magic- the inexplicable connectedness we sometimes experience with places, people, works of art and the like; the eerie appropriateness of moments of synchronicity; the whispered voice, the hidden presence, when we think we’re alone.” – Charles De Lint
I met the lovely Katie of Confessions Of An Imperfect Life at Jen Pastiloff’s yoga retreat in October. I immediately liked her and knew I wanted to be friends with her. Does that sound creepy?! Probably. She’s just a really cool chick, who happens to be a brilliant writer and person. She’s a thoughtful and supportive friend, who inspires me everyday with her raw, intelligent and honest writing. Enjoy her answers…
Katie, 35
What would your 30 something self tell your 20 something self if you could?
Don’t work so hard. Don’t worry so much. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Things will all work out the way they are supposed to.
What do you wish you took more seriously in your 20’s?
Everything that was available to me living in NYC. I didn’t take full advantage of the cultural mecca that New York is, mostly because I worked so much.
What do you wish you took less seriously in your 20’s?
Work! Live to work was the mindset then; I wish I had known that work to live was a more healthy option for me.
Favorite memory from your 20’s?
Seemingly endless nights in NYC, where anything was possible on any given night. And making friends who would be in my life forever.
In your early 20’s where did you think you would be (work, live etc) by 30?
Working for an amazing magazine I loved. Living in the West Village. Financially independent. Surrounded by friends. In love. Happy.
And where were you by 30? What did your life look like?
Working for an amazing magazine I loved. Living in the West Village. Financially independent. Surrounded by friends. Not in love. Happy, but restless, ready for change.
Where you ever worried that it wouldn’t all fall into place?
Everyday. I still worry most days that things won’t fall into place. They may not. The worry drives me to work hard, to fight for the things that I want. And in my 30’s I have learned that sometimes it’s the things that don’t fall into place that are the biggest gifts.
What is the greatest gift about being a woman in your 30’s?
Learning to be more authentic. Caring a little less what other people think. Being able to do most of what I want to do. Appreciating EVERYTHING more.
When you look out onto the horizon. What do you hope your life looks like at 40?
Writing more. Inspiring people through writing. Working for an amazing magazine. Living at the beach. In love. A mother. Happy.
What’s a quote/ saying you try to live your life by?
“What will you do with your one precious, wild life?”
― Mary Oliver
Hello weekend! This should be a busy but fun one! This afternoon I am taking myself on an “artist date” to a chinese medicine healer. Does that constitute as an artist date? Maybe not, but I find it all terribly interesting so I feel like it might be, right? I was walking in our new neighborhood the other day and came across the Yo San University and thought…what the heck is that? So I called and learned it is a school that teaches traditional chinese medicine and that they offer a two-hour intake appointment with their interns for a ridiculously low price. So I thought, why not! I mean, I don’t sleep great most nights, I suffer from anxiety and I always feel like my body temperature is off. Too much information? Sorry. I have tried the western route recently for these things and don’t necessarily feel better. I also find natural remedies ( I truly believe what you eat is what you are) and chinese medicine (I’ve done acupuncture before and loved it) very interesting, so I booked an appointment. Expect a post about is soon.
Saturday I am back at it on this whole wedding dress mission. Who knew it would be so damn hard to find a white gown to get married in? Luckily my mama, step-mama, Taline and Rachel will be on hand to give opinions. Then I am going to head to a heart-opening workshop with the lovely Mary Beth LaRue at Studio Surya. Then I am taking Brian out to dinner for his birthday!! My favorite human is turning 31!! Brian, get ready for a fun night out on the town:)
Sunday I am going to Taline’s house for a visit, then I’m heading home to make Brian and my brother, Nik, dinner. I’ve decided to start a new series on the blog called “Sunday night dinners at 425”. My hope is to tackle a new recipe every Sunday as well as have different friends/family over each week. I’m pretty excited about it! Look out for the first post on Monday! Oh and of course we will be watching the Oscars after dinner. I’m a sucker for the Oscars!
Oh, and lastly an update on one of my goals for the year- I signed up for a six-week course in ballet! Can’t wait to get back to the barre.
Have a fabulous weekend!
What inspired me this week?
Brian’s project, Willowbrook MLK Wellness Community was nominated for a big award! Please vote for it!! That boy put so much hard work into it. He inspires me everyday with his vision.
I picked up “May Cause Miracles” by Gabrielle Bernstein this week and I looove it.
I may not be a mama yet but honest writing always inspires me – This post by Reverie
Yoga class last night with my sweet friend Rachel. I really needed it
“A moment of self-compassion can change your entire day. A string of such moments can change the course of your life” – Christopher Germer. I’ve been really hard on myself recently for a bunch of little and big things so this quote really resonated with me.
“The journey is all there is, really. The future never comes, because it’s always the present moment.”– Pema Chodron
What am I grateful the week?
My life- that’s a big one, huh? But, I have heard so much sad news this week about illness and death that it has left me really grateful to be alive
That Brian was born 31 years ago and chose me to be his partner in life.
The fact I got one FULL day to write at home this week. So needed
The talented, inspiring, gorgeous and smart ladies in my life
What surprised me this week?
My love affair with thin mints has been reawakened and it has led me to a very dark place
How much my attitude towards life can change from one day to the next. It always reminds me to ride the wave
We’ve been in our new house for exactly seven days and I have spent most of them either in shock that this is my new home (I mean it’s reaaaallllly pretty), depressed about the change (I don’t do change well- I miss our little rundown bungalow by the beach that I used to complain about) or feeling like I’m living in a dream world (this is my life?!?!?!). I feel like I am squatting at a real adults super nice house and I’m going to get kicked out soon. I also feel completely overwhelmed by the reality of it. A mortgage?! These last few months have been amazing, everything I could have ever wanted, but, the last few months have also been filled with a lot of adult activities – you know getting engaged, planning a wedding and buying a place and all of a sudden it hit me like a freight train when we moved in- I’m an adult. I’ve arrived!!! SHIT. Now what?
Gone are the days of staying out till 3 am on a weeknight with friends just because I felt like it. Gone are the days of spending my paycheck on shoes instead of saving it. Gone are the days of wondering what I will be like when I grow up (It’s kinda a fun game to play, huh? SOOO many possibilities).
Because I am a grown up. AND it’s scary. AND lovely. AND exciting. AND overwhelming. AND I’m happy. AND I mourn the other stage a bit. AND I’m in wonder. AND I feel blessed. AND I feel like an imposter most days.
I’m not going to lie…it’s been a bit of a hard week. I feel stupid even admitting that considering everything I have to be thankful for. But, it’s the truth. One of the many complicated things about being a human being.
What inspired me this week?
This incredibly honest and heartfelt post by Erin of Well In LA
This post by Katie Devine of Confessions Of An Imperfect Life
This sweet post about motherhood by Naomi of Love Taza
The view I get of the sunset each night from our new living room. EPIC
Being honest about my feelings
What am I grateful for this week?
When I told my momma that I was feeling low she immediately came over to hang- just dropped everything and came right over. We sat around scouring the internet for a dining table. Have I ever told you she’s a brilliant interior designer?? Shameless plug, huh?
I have a washing machine, a dishwasher and a two person tub now! The two person tub has already been put to use!
I have THE BEST fiancée in the ENTIRE WORLD. It’s a fact.
What surprised me this week?
How hard I took all the change this week.
Waking up every morning with one swollen eye. WHY? Maybe I’m allergic to the detergent I used to clean the sheets? Lame
Moving boxes seem to populate during a move. It feels like they are endless and taking over our home!
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“The trick is growing up without growing old.”
Casey Stengel
This weekend is shaping up to be rather quiet. We still have SOOO much packing to do for next weekends move. So we plan on staying in for most of the weekend and doing just that! I’m trying to purge us of stuff we don’t need anymore and either sell it, donate it or trash it. Cleaning house over here! Other than that I plan on getting to some yoga classes.
What do you guys have planned for the weekend?
What inspired me this week?
– pinning home decor images on pinterest in preparation for decorating our new space!
– working at my favorite little coffee shop on Ocean Park- it’s such a creative space
I feel so damn happy and full of life. I’m so aware of how lucky I am to have so much love in my life. How lucky I am not to worry about money at the moment (I have in the past and it’s exhausting). How lucky I am to have a partner in life who really takes being my partner seriously. How lucky I am for my health. I recently learned a family member was diagnosed with brain cancer at 58, and the news has left me speechless. The other night in yoga I found myself so overcome with gratitude that my heart felt like it was going to burst .
I’m not saying everything is perfect. I still I find myself sitting in my car or in the shower and thinking…what the fuck?…why isn’t such and such going my way? But recently rather than get bogged down by those thoughts, and take it as a sign that the universe is against me, I have found myself trustful that universe’s delay’s aren’t a bad thing. I truly believe from the bottom of my heart that everything is unfolding exactly as it should.
This weekend should be a fun one. Tonight I have a date with two lovely ladies, Katie and Melissa, whom I met on Jennifer Pastiloff’s Manifestation Retreat earlier this year. Saturday Brian and I plan to pack all day- so fun, huh? Although we will be taking a small break to skype with a possible wedding photographer. Fun! Sunday I have another girls date- a morning yoga with Rachel and Sophie. Then Brian and I are going to head over to the new house to do some measuring. We move in exactly two weeks!!
Lastly, I’ve decided to bring back “Inspiration, Gratitude & Surprise” posts every Friday. They are a really great way for me to reflect on the week.
What inspired me this week?
This post by Katie of Confessions From An Imperfect Life – Her raw honesty opens up my heart every time I read her words.
This post by Jen of Manifestation Yoga– seriously it’s a must read. It really made me think about where fear was rearing its ugly head in my life.
Work is really busy and I am always grateful when that happens
Taline- for giving us boxes from her move for our move!
What surprised me this week?
I’ve made it ten days with no sugar, gluten, dairy or alcohol and I haven’t gone mad. Clearly, I deserve an award or something. Now for the real test- I start a three-day Pressed Juicery cleanse tomorrow.
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“I have learned that faith means trusting in advance what will only make sense in reverse”
I am a writer, blogger and host living in Los Angeles, CA with my husband Brian and French Bulldog Frank.
I started this blog in 2011 on the eve of my 29th birthday because I was feeling frustrated with the state of my life. In an inspired moment I compiled a list of 10 goals to accomplish in the 365 days leading up to my 30th birthday. Goals that I thought would bring me closer to the life I wanted-- and with that, 365 til 30 was born. That year was an incredible journey and truly changed my life. Since then, the blog has grown to include everything that happens after turning 30.
365til30.com 