Mitty-ing Around

My 2014 resolution to think less, do more, is off to a good start. It feels wonderful to reconnect with my blog friends. Blogging is so much more intimate than catching up via FB or Instagram, though I enjoy both. 

With all the talk of Oscar buzz right now, I have been going to see more movies. And although I try to stay away from the mainstream movie theaters (I think it's better to read the book, and almost every movie was first a book; AND they are expensive!) I had to see the Secret Life of Walter Mitty. I had been intrigued with Mr. Mitty since I saw the trailer. After seeing the original film on TMC and learning this installment would be very different, I got more excited. 

The film didn't disappoint. In fact, it is one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. It's a movie that is actually moving. It stirred something inside of me that I had let lay dormant for a long time. The truth is, I can relate to Walter Mitty. I have always been a dreamer; I have always had a vivid imagination. But I identified so much more with the version Ben Stiller portrays. His Mitty suffers from wanderlust, the pressures of family, the perils of romance, all while dedicating himself to a magazine that is sadly going out of print. Mitty has given so much of his life to working on Life Magazine that he realizes he hasn't lived his own. The mission statement of the magazine haunts moviegoers and Mitty throughout the film:

"To see life; to see the world; to eyewitness great events ... to see and be amazed; to see and be instructed."

While I feel like I have packed a lot in this life for the past 29 years, this movie helped me to see that there is more to life than work; there is even more to life than what you can imagine. It opened my eyes to the fact that sometimes taking a chance makes for the best story. The magazine cover at the end of the film says everything. For people like myself who have the privilege of working in publishing, we are able to reach the masses every month (or week, or day) and sometimes we can feel like we know more, or dare I say it, are superior, because we get to research, edit, and churn out content from a computer in a cozy office in a nice building somewhere. But what do we really know? We are not the ones living daily in the trenches of life; in fact, we are oftentimes shielded from it by our cubicle walls. 

I struggled to think of what sort of photos I would share with this blog post. I haven't been to Iceland or Greenland or Afghanistan (like Mitty). I haven't really traveled in some time. But as I looked at my phone I came across some pictures I meant to post on last summer, and didn't. What got in the way the past six months? I have no idea. But these images were saved on my phone for a reason. I have obviously been clinging to the memories, the ideas behind these images. The 1920's poster represents my favorite decade, a place I wish I could travel back to; the British Pub reminds me of being back in England (my favorite place I have visited), and the band at the Chandelier Bar reminds me of a scene in the film where Mitty is motivated to jump onto a helicopter because he imagines his love interest serenading him with a guitar. I loved that moment in the film. It's all about finding out what will push you to take a leap of faith. 

I'm sad to say the film didn't get any award nominations (I obviously think it was robbed). So I thought it only fitting to finally commit these images to this post; to make the things I have been imagining more tangible, more real, more possible. It's interesting to note that "Walter Mitty" and "Mitty-esque" are in the dictionary. They describe this type of person who is given to adventurous dreams. I wanted to make my own play on the term, to describe what I have been doing, and perhaps a bit of what I have not been doing. I have been trying to live, but I feel like I have been living to work instead. I'm so glad for this film, that both amazed and instructed me, that pushed me to finally publish this post. Pushing yourself to see the amazing, and to take a leap of faith are what life is all about. For a while I haven't been blogging because I didn't know if I wanted to share anymore. I didn't have faith that there was anything worth sharing, or that people would even want to see the world as I see it. But thanks in part to Mr. Mitty, I'm willing to take that chance. 

2013: A Year in Shoes

Sometimes when I feel defeated, I look for new shoes to put on my feet so that I can stand tall. I thought I hadn't purchased too many shoes this year, but I guess I was wrong. Disclaimer: I didn't buy all of these and they are not all wearable, obviously. 

Shoes can be a lot like the ebb and flow of life; they have their highs and they have their lows. I recently acquired my highest heels to date (8.5 inches by my fave shoe designer Charlotte Olympia). Those wedges were definitely a high-point of 2013. The year ended on a high note (see previous post) but I am all for more highs of the  non-shoe variety in 2014. You should set your sights on high heels, but set your goals even higher. 

Pop, Fizz, Clink

It seems like only yesterday I started this blog. I was going through all my posts recently to find one from 2010 that someone had asked me about and I guess  never really took stock of all the writing I had done here. I used to be so much better at this ( writing stuff down and reading the works of others). It makes me feel a little sad inside.

It's like 2014 just popped into existence; out of nowhere, without years of preparation. I'll be 30 this year. And while 2013 seemed to fizzle fast, I was happy to welcome this new year. The truth is, I have been preparing for January 1 for a while now. I have set up some very firm goals for eating healthy, exercising, work, budgeting my money, and scheduling my time. 

This is due in large part to the fact that my sister will be married in just four months. And since her wedding is sure to be a major milestone of the year, (I am so happy for her!) planning is in full swing. And that's the thing about weddings, they force you to plan your heart out. So you see, I have been thinking about 2014 very thoroughly since October, coordinating schedules, writing notes, setting reminders, planning for time off, and setting aside time to be with my sister and my family. My friend Tracy once told me weddings were a good idea because there is something magical about seeing everyone you love together in one room. And that is a thought definitely worth clinking my glass to. 

So while I celebrated New Year's Eve without my family, I was definitely cheers-ing to them in my heart. 

Cheers to 2014!

*I did celebrate NYE with this champagne clutch from Kate Spade, champagne lip gloss from Juicy Couture, a bottle of Moet, new shoes from Charlotte Olympia (only $200 at Neiman Marcus Last Call!), and sequin nails by Ciate.  

Birthday Eve

Sometimes I wish I didn't like my birthday so much. It seems selfish and maybe even immature to wait all year for a day (just one) that is truly all about you. While some people as they get older like to forget about their special day, I really do count down the days until mine. It's a day where I don't worry, don't think about the things that are stressing me out, forget about the future, the past, and actually live in the moment. I love hearing from all of my family and friends too; it's a day full of love.

Sometimes I also wish that my birthday were in a different part of the year. Being born in December is tough because all the focus is on Christmas and money and time are tight. But as I reflected today, I find myself pretty content with the timing of my arrival; it really is the happiest time of year for me. I get to share my birthday month with many others in my family and my closest friends. 

In 29 years of living I have learned that while shoes are nice and cupcakes make a good dinner (sometimes), the sparkle in life comes from those closest to you. For my birthday I was happy to spend time with my family (who got me an Audrey book, a handmade necklace, and delicious cake among other things), my boyfriend (who got me a new iPhone) ... and to blog. I actually really wanted to do some writing just for me, in this space that I don't get to go to so often anymore, to reflect and create. My career has revolved so much around art and expression and 364 days of the year I can get pretty jealous of people who get to make their own art full-time. But I had an epiphany recently: I have been creating my art. I have this blog that I have been writing on for almost five years now, amazing and creative freelance opportunities, and jobs where I have learned so much. When a family member asked me at Thanksgiving what I like to do when not working, I almost didn't know what to say. That's because my current job doesn't really feel like work a lot. I get to blog every day and help nail artists tell their stories. I contribute to an industry that infuses beauty. I am so thankful to my family, friends, and coworkers who celebrate my passion for writing and publishing. Every time I publish a new piece I feel like it's my birthday all over again, and then it's right back to working on the next thing, and so the countdown begins again. Minutes, days, and years fly by in this line of work, because we are living so far ahead in the future when it comes to print magazines. So even though it is March in my head, it is definitely December when I look around outside. And for one day, just 24 hours, it is December 4th. 

When I was younger I wanted the 24 hours in this particular day to last forever. Even now, I try to stretch it sometimes by staying up until midnight and staying out late. It's taken 29 years, but I know now that this day is just as long as all the rest, and that's really not very long at all. Nothing lasts forever; time never flows the way you wish it. But there are some moments, some days, some years that you can hold onto extra tightly, that you can truly savor so that they tide you over. But then again, life is what happens while you're waiting for your next birthday. I don't remember all of the past December fourths, but I am determined to savor this year (the last of my 20s), and this night, and what it means to hopefully put another year of blessings and wisdom under my belt. This blog has helped me celebrate so many milestones, but I'm excited to use it as I initially intended: to celebrate good writing, and to grow with each post I create. 

Thank you to anyone who reads this, your eyes on my writing is the best gift of all. 

On Parade

Last weekend my friend and I went to the Elephant Parade in Dana Point. All along the twists and turns of the coast, we would sometimes catch a glimpse of an elephant. These painted works of art pay homage to Mosha, an elephant who stepped on a land mine in Thailand and lost her leg. Luckily the elephant hospital  was able to help her with a prosthetic. All of the elephant statues therefore have hearts around one leg.

It had been a while since I had done an art walk and the sight of all these beautiful creations by different artists re-inspired me to do some writing, and to look at the world differently. Since you sort of have to seek out the elephants I was reminded to pay attention to my surroundings; to seek out the good, the positive in every situation. On this gorgeous November day I was reminded of why I love where I live. It's a place where the unexpected happens and where you can find natural beauty alongside man-made artistry, all along a walk on the beach. Since lately I have been so bent on work, nail art, the impending holiday rush, Instagram, etc., it was eye-opening to take a day off and just enjoy being outdoors; to take in other people's work. I like being surrounded by art that tells a story and wakes me up.

Since some of the elephants were at the Ritz Carlton, Alexis and I stopped in to check out the legendary hotel. It is gorgeous inside! They even have some smaller elephant artworks. And while I might never be able to afford a stay at the Ritz, I did buy a glass of champagne to enjoy the moment. It was the elephant exhibit's first trip to America and my first trip to the nearby Ritz, and that was something worth celebrating. I like doing a lot things around Laguna such as taking in the sights on my own, but on this occasion I was so overwhelmed with happiness to share the experience with such a good friend. I think sometimes I can be quick to assume that no one would like the things I like or do the things I do. But ever since moving to this area I have made nothing but likeminded friends. I just need to see them a bit more often. So I toast to creating art, and to raising awareness, and to the wonder that surrounds us, even on the simplest of walks. Sometimes it's OK to wear your heart on your sleeve and put your friendships on parade, you never know where the path might lead.