Holiday Trifecta

Wishing you all a weekend full of chocolate eggs wrapped in pastel foil.

If Mother Nature cooperates,

I'm spending this trifecta holiday weekend

(Easter, Passover, Earth Day)

kayaking in the bay and hiking the hills.

Sounds like a pretty perfect way to celebrate spring,

and all the new beginnings these holidays bring.

You may remember, last Easter, I was trying to get all my peeps in a row.

This year, things are far more mellow.

And for that, I am most grateful.

Now, go hug a tree and blow a kiss to towards the ocean.

Happy Earthsterover.

xo

Beastie Boys: 2.0

I cannot even stand the epicness of this.

Ask anyone from my earlier years and they'll tell you,

the middle school version of me had a straight up license to ill.

And anyone that only knows me in later years, probably thinks that statement is real weird.

While some girls were shrieking over Hanson,

or whatever music was featured on Jock Jams Volume II,

I was getting my sabotage on.

And now, ladies and gents: they're back.

Have you seen Fight For Your Right: Revisited yet?

It's pretty much the awesomest thing to come around in a while.

Hot Sauce Committee Part Two is out May 3rd.

Side note, I can guarantee my parents are not going to understand a word of this post,

but they may remember my crumpled up Beastie Boys CD covers that

I'd painstakingly scotch tape, remove and re-apply with new scotch tape

to every binder I used between the 6th and 8th grade.

You'd think I was an aspiring brain surgeon or something.

Nope. 

That did not happen.

An Early Earth Day Thought

I just learned  that there is a wait list for animals to get on the endangered species list.

What the heck!

Naive, nature-loving me kind of just assumed any ol' bird could get on there and be saved. 

The Fish & Wildlife Service is overwhelmed.

But, the Endangered Species Act should probably prevail in this case.

image via NYT

Now I'm feeling even luckier that I caught a glimpse of that wolverine in Montana a couple of years ago.

Poor guys are waiting in line to get on the list to be saved,

among many other species; I could cry.

 I'd feel a little silly, starting a Save the Wolverine Fund,

with so many other calamities in the world.

But, someone's gotta have their spiky little backs! It's settled.

I'll make Save the Wolverines t-shirts tomorrow.

xo

Party in the City Where the Heat Is on...

...all night on the beach till the break of dawn...

Consider this post a sign on my door that says: 'Gone Tanning.'

That's right. I'm in Miami Trick. 

Heading eastbound and down for my best friend's bachelorette party.

image

This city doesn't know what's about to hit it.

I'm expecting glitter and sequins and high heels paired with bikinis.

And oh yeah, I made customized koozies for our beach boozies. 

Boom.



Confidently, Yes.

Whew.

The past 36 hours stirred up a lot of memories

and caused a whole jumble of emotions to bubble up, settle and then bubble up again.

 It doesn’t matter how much time has gone by,

or how much has been accomplished,

or how content and gratified you feel;

sometimes you just need to let your heart doing some serious feeling.

I’ve gone from a reflective state of nostalgia,

to fighting the urge to fling any and all objects

within reach across the room.

Now I’m kind of just chilling again in thoughtful exhaustion.

image

Isn’t it strangely comical, the stages we go through to try and make sense of love?

It’s the simplest, purest feeling- but it comes with a whole lot of complexities.

When reflecting on a failed relationship, it’s instinctual to chalk it up to, ‘pssh- he/she is incapable of loving.’ That’s an easy diagnosis.

It’s harder to process the idea that maybe,

the two of you just didn’t love each other

as fully as you had hoped, or wanted.

That’s a trickier nut to crack.

But… there is one query I can answer without waver or waffle.

If the question is: Are you happy, and do you have complete peace in your heart?

The answer, my sweet friends, is: Yes.

Confidently, yes.

Clear Eyes...One Week!

As a family, we're on the edge of our seats counting down

until the season five premiere of Friday Night Lights.

Simultaneously though, we're all feeling

a little heavy hearted that it's the last and final season.

This is kind of a strange sentiment, but 

this tv show has been very special to my family,

and not just because we were fans before it became trendy

 to be the 'little engine that could' fanbase.

Did you know my imaginary pet dog's middle name is Riggins?

And, I'm preeetty sure my dad cried when Lyla and Tim broke up the first time too.

And oh yeah, he's got the authentic NBC store Panther's t-shirts.

'Clear eyes, Full Heart, Can't Lose' has become a regular email sign-off

for all of us. Sigh.

Season Finale kicks off  Friday, April 15th.

Happy viewing, friends.

xo



Self Hug

The past two days haven't been great.

 All I really wanted was for someone to give me a hug.

Which believe me, feels as sad as it looks when I type it.

But I guess it's true about the human touch. 

In fact, the middle of this week was so darn gloomy that

I didn't so much care to right the wrongs,

as I was just craving a hug.

I wanted someone to embrace me so that I could feel a little nurtured.

A little comforted.

image

The one thing that reinvigorated me as I trudged out of work today,

 was one of my workout classes.

I didn't want to go, but after gentle coaxing from a friend back east,

I reserved my spot and went.

It was hard, but it felt really good to sweat out all the bad feelings from the past couple days.

And as I pulled my knees to my chest for a final stretch at the completion of class, 

 I realized, I was being nurtured.

In the most literal sense, I ended up hugging myself.

xo

Books into Movies

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.

I can't even attempt to articulate how much I love this book.

Jonathan Safran Foer:

You could make dove's cry.

I had a lonely feeling of withdrawal when I finished this book, years ago.

It is a treasure. Clutch to your chest and read and re-read and underline

favorite passages, type of treasure.

And now it's being made into a movie, starring Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock.

My little sister sent me a picture of a promotional poster.

And then I sleuthed around online and confirmed it.

I haven't quite decided how I feel about this,

but we'll just have to wait and see.

If you haven't read it.

Please do.

xo

Champagne & Nibbles!

I am so excited I could squeal!

The ladies over at Ruby Press have extended an invitation

to me to join them tonight at a La Boutique event in Jackson Square.

I'm truly tickled to have been asked to join them

for a little champagne sipping, treat nibbling, and fashion scouting.

image via my talented sister

What a fun way to spend a Wednesday evening- and all before the sun goes down!

I gain daily inspiration from the sweet and unique treasures

the Ruby Press gals discover and share on their blog.

I admit, I think I might feel a little 'blogger star-struck' tonight.  

I'll be sure to share stories from the evening later this week!

xo

Bossypants

I read that one of the review blurbs on the back cover

of Tina Fey's new book reads:

"Totally worth it."- Trees

image from LA Times Blog

I'm still giggling.

That woman kills me.

Do you plan on reading Bossypants?

On shelves tomorrow!

Chicken Soup, Boots

This past Thursday evening, my mom went to hear

Maira Kalman speak at the Westport Library. 

I know.

I'll pause for a collective sigh of envy on three.

I adore Maira Kalman,

 and I've been a fan long before

her collaborations with well known designers,

 and her on-going blog for the New York Times.

My sweet mom brought along my absolute favorite book 

penned by Ms. Kalman: Chicken Soup, Boots,

and had her sign it for me.

Above is the photo my mom snapped for me!  

 I'm just pleased as punch to have

her signature in my treasured children's book.

xo

A Trip Down the California Coast

 Somehow, when it comes to travelling with my parents

and comparing trips they take with my sisters,

I seem to get the more 'rugged'of accommodations and itineraries.

This past weekend's trip down the California coast lived up to tradition.

Friday was bliss.

The rain held out and I proudly showed my city off to my parents.

A drive through Pacific Heights, a stop at Bi-Rite Creamery,

a walk through the Marin Headlands.

It was an unrushed and relaxed day of strolling about,

breathing in the fresh, pepperminty air of the west.

Later that day, we took our weekend to the road.

The truth is, we didn't have Mother Nature on our side for much of it.

There was a bitter wind that slapped rain across our faces for most of Saturday.

And the road to Big Sur has alas, sunken into the ocean.

That wasn't favorable.

We made the most of the day by exploring Monterey and Carmel by the Sea.

And by Sunday, the clouds parted ways and the sun came out in all it's glory.

We did 17 mile drive through Pebble Beach,

spending the entire day beach combing and treasure hunting.

We spotted the happiest of seals, the smallest of seaglass,

and the brightest full arch rainbow.

My dad treated us to a most special of meals,

right on the golf course overlooking the Pacific.

I wouldn't have traded any part of the weekend. 

I know I am a really lucky daughter.

I have these incredibly special memories with my parents,

and a relationship with them that few people have.

An old friend from high school said it best:

"Isn't living in California a joy and an adventure everyday?"

The answer is yes.

xo