I'm Not a Foodie, But ...

I never considered myself to be a "foodie." I would love to live without food. It can be a tricky decision and it can be costly (especially if you're picky, like me). But of course there are endless benefits to eating (nutrition, bringing people together, etc.). I for one love it when people get creative with preparing food. In this very visual world, a great picture is not only worth a thousand words, it can make us want to consume a thousand calories as well. As a dessert addict and lover of beverages I have snapped some appetizing photos lately at various events and wanted to share them here.

The chocolate bar was at my church for Mother's Day.

Veggie spread & spinach tart are from a nail event I attended at Perch Los Angeles.

Latte art is from my new favorite coffee place in Fullerton called Coffee Code.

Macaron, cookie and cold brew coffee are found at a new local cafe that I adore called Nana Fi's.

Donut shot is from the new Dunkin' Donuts that opened by my house.

Other images are from various family gatherings.

Enjoy the long weekend by eating and drinking something picture-worthy!

The Things We Want

Things I wanted recently that I bought: Champagne sweatshirt from Blonde Design, Vera Wang White booties (purchased from a wedding site, even though I'm not a bride), and a Stace Face mug from Starbucks (the mug is an ode to Stacey Bendet, one of my favorite designers).  

When it comes to shoes and things I have a tendency to get what I want, and it's not always because I work hard for them. Sometimes I get gifts (or gift cards, thanks to Christmas), or sometimes I just wait it out for the ideal sale. Sometimes I even (gulp) charge these items to my credit card. There's nothing quite so motivating as getting what you want, especially when you don't have to wait to get it. I found all of these items via Instagram, and purchased them almost as soon as I was done hitting the "like" button.

It wasn't until today, when people at my work were asked to give feedback on the type of work environment that we want that I got to thinking about wants and needs on a deeper level. Sure, I have a long wishlist of components that would make up the perfect place to work, but I know now that there is no "perfect" place to work. Every job has its perks and occasional drawbacks. I read my email  back to myself and began making corrections; there wasn't a point in presenting upper management with a shopping list peppered with my point of view. Instead, I started off by thanking them for being interested in my feedback to begin with. After all, they didn't have to ask. I then acknowledged their goals so they knew I had heard them out and didn't just read the part that said "Please send your feedback." I offered up my concessions, then offered a few small details about what works for me. The result wasn't a ransom letter (these people after all supply me with the funds to buy my shoes) but a professionally articulated statement of what I thought I would need to be that much more successful at my job.

This exercise reminded me that some things are worth the wait, or worth working for. Take this blog for instance. I almost didn't type this post, because I wanted to go to sleep and call it a night. But it hit me that I wanted to write. Sometimes getting what you want requires pain and perseverance, and knowing this, I have been trying to avoid the uncomfortableness of it all. I had forgotten how good it feels to publish a post; to talk freely with my boss; to save up for something I really wanted. 

If you focus on delaying gratification just a bit, you might actually end up with the thing you never even knew you wanted. Case in point, this cool blue Nubar nail polish, gifted to me by a sweet friend at the company. I have wanted so badly to find my footing in the nail industry over the last two years. I have worked tirelessly because I wanted to learn; to prove that I belonged. At a certain point I forgot about wanting that so badly and just started being myself and doing my best. The result is a pretty great work relationship and cool moments like seeing my name on a polish bottle, something I never would have dreamed of wanting previously. 

I caught myself thinking I would have to go out and buy some new clothes for a tradeshow this weekend, but I stopped and realized how ridiculous that is. The fact of the matter is, I don't need anything new. I have plenty. It's time to stop wanting and start appreciating. I'm so glad I stayed up to write this post. 

Love Letter to Arizona

I skipped tonight's run because I needed to write. I feel recharged after a too-quick vacation to Arizona last weekend. Confession: Arizona has never been at the top of my list of places to go. I had done the Grand Canyon thing years ago and every year my dad goes to watch baseball spring training there while I politely refuse. All I think of are red rocks and the sun beating down on your brow.

But I am so glad I made this trip after all. Sometimes the places we remember from our childhood changes so drastically when we visit them again as adults. It's like reading a favorite book over again in that you find things that you missed the first time around.

I am not one for scenery usually (I'm more for malls and wineries), but the Grand Canyon and Sedona were breathtaking. I actually climbed out onto a ledge with my friends -- something I never would have done before. But I braved it because they were all out there to meet me and all of them held their hands out, making me feel safe. It was nice to literally sit on top of what I felt like could be the world, with no fear of falling or failing. When you look out at the vastness of the crags and the sky it is a freeing feeling.

Since coming home I haven't really felt the same. I'm a bit lovesick actually. The sun doesn't set on majestic rises of earth here. There are no cabins in the woods to retreat to. My friends have all since gone their separate ways until we meet again sometime in the near future (probably at the usual food/drink place). I wonder if I return to Arizona again if it will take on a whole other meaning and if my memories will layer over each other like rocks, and I would have to dig deep to unearth those genuine feelings of seeing something for the first time -- and falling in love.

When packing to leave I always bring a lot of baggage, and it's funny because going home I try to bring the least amount possible. I feel like I left a lot in Arizona, and yet I feel like I am carrying a boulder on my shoulders still. I used to dream of traveling to other countries constantly. And here I am barely with the money to afford a trip to the state next door; my passport is about to expire, and I feel more and more like my time is running up.

On the long drive home we all talked about our next trip. And suddenly the road ahead didn't look so straight and narrow, ending somewhere far off. I realize now that the actual journey is far from over. The rocks, sunsets, and eateries will all still exist in other far off places, waiting for me to discover them one day. I just hope it's with the people I love.

We saw the World's End our first night in Arizona. The film reminds me now of how I can get nostalgic about places and friendships. I like to think we conquered the world a bit last weekend. When you hold out your hand for another person and are willing to let go of the things weighing you down, you realize the end isn't near, and you may in fact be standing at the beginning of something. I'm so glad I got another chance to experience this place, and I vow to never cross anything off my list prematurely again. You never know what you might find in the place you never thought to look.

I hope everyone had a wonderful summer!

Cheers to 2013!

I'm a week late, but nonetheless, welcome to 2013!

It's so weird to me that 13 is an unlucky number, because I think this is actually going to be a very good year. I ended 2012 feeling really grateful and refreshed. I want to keep that momentum going.

My New Year's Eve traditions never really contain much. The only constants are champagne and the Twilight Zone marathon. That's right, I love the Zone. It reminds me of what great writing should be like. I love the twists and turns in the plots, the lessons and the very traditional opening, middle and conclusion of each story. Best of all, these morsels are delivered in 30 minutes. I have always been jealous of anyone who can write a great short story. And that's what good writing is: tight, to the point, and ever so moving. 

Compared to 30 minutes, a year is a lot of time. It provides us with countless minutes, hours, and 365 days to get our story in. While I warned in advance that I am not sure how much blogging I will be able to do here with my new job, it is important to me (call it a resolution if you will) to try and post more this year. My resolution last year was to write more, and I would say it was successful. While not everything was posted on this blog, I was able to be published on the Huffington Post, and was so thankful to continue my writing with Romantic Homes magazine and Made Woman. Let's hope this year is another one for great writing.

Wishing you a blessed and joyful year!

A Promise is a Promise

In pursuing a new job I wondered if some of the friends I had made at my previous one would still want to be connected. But then last week Tracy Schultz called me and made plans to hang out right away. And she didn't break them. In fact, she had Cynthia Shaffer join in. I'm not saying I expected her to break our plans, but rather, I so appreciate it when people keep their word. Cynthia and Tracy have always done this, which is why I have loved working with them. My personal mission statement in all the work I do (and will do) is to keep my word; to do what I say. This has proved to be the cardinal rule of good business, in my experience. And when it comes to friends, the same rules can apply: don't make promises unless you plan on keeping them.

When I was a teenager, I so desperately wanted a promise ring from my high school boyfriend. I wanted something that looked like a diamond that proved we would get married one day. My boyfriend ended up giving me such a ring. But over the years we both found that that promise was hard to keep. I remember my ring falling off my hand one day at the beach. It was swallowed up by the Pacific Ocean and I didn't even shed one single tear over it.

When Kathy  gave me her version of a French promise ring, I loved the jumble of baubles. There is so much going on in that ring that it just goes together. I was happy to wear this ring to lunch in Orange yesterday to meet with people who share the same values I do. Looking at the ring also reminded me of the promise I made myself recently. I promised that if I took some time off prior to my new job that I would spend it writing. So here I am, blogging, writing, proving that I am bent on keeping my word. Because sometimes the promises that are hardest to keep are the ones we make to ourselves.

Thank you Kathy, Tracy and Cynthia for reminding me of the sweet rewards that come when you do what you say.

When the Lights Go Out in the City

Vacation is something you plan (maybe for months or maybe just a few days in advance). Vacation is an escape.

My best friend and I had planned our Vegas trip to celebrate his mom's 50th birthday for months. We counted down the days, saved money and time off, and were beyond ready to cash it all in come Thursday. We spent a great night at Ri Ra, the Burger Bar, the Pub and walking down the Strip before staying in our wonderful hotel, The Golden Nugget.

But in this life it is a common lesson learned that things never quite go as planned. While poolside on our first full day of vacation, my friend got one of those calls that you hope to never get, no matter where you are. We hurriedly ran back to our room, threw everything in our suitcases and promptly left Vegas as quickly as we had left to get there just hours before. And it hit me on the drive home: there are just some things you can't escape.Sure, by a pool many problems seem to fade; of course, a frozen treat or cocktail can sweeten a day; distance between you and the things that stress you out can be oh so healthy; but certain things will not just call us back to reality, they will throw us back into its arms with an intense gravitational pull. And no one wants the fun to stop. No one wants to go right back to face the things they face every day and were trying to take a break from. But sometimes life requires that you do that. All the important Vegas decisions about where to go for lunch, what to do next, which drink to try, all faded away as the lights from the shows and casinos disappeared behind us.

My friendships are important to me. In this current social/political climate I feel like there is a lot of talk and debate over what defines a family. Yes, there is blood. Your blood relatives will always be family. But I also know from many an experience that family can be defined as something stronger than a blood relation. There are those people who you choose to escape with and choose to escape from. Those people you are happy to see on vacation and in real life, who you hope to never be far from -- I would argue those people are family too. Sure, I could sit and mourn vacation time lost. But in all reality, I was ever so glad I was the one chosen to be by my friend's side when he needed me most.

And really, this post about Vegas wouldn't have been any different from the others prior, had things gone as planned. I would mention the pool, the Sugar Factory etc. etc. So maybe I am actually the one who needs a break from Vegas. I got to thinking, maybe this trip was about something so much deeper than the shopping and the bonding. It's time to be real. Life is short. It's time to live (and not just live it up). It's time to live with what we have, the decisions we have made, and live it with those people who matter the most. Everything else will naturally fade away, like the lights from the Strip fading in the distance.

My friend's grandfather died Saturday morning. We had made it home in time to be with his family. To be there for the end. My grandfather used to live in Las Vegas. He told me that he only saw the lights in downtown go out once: when President Kennedy died. That sight had been so hard for me to imagine ... up until now.