hey there monday.

After an amazing holiday weekend, I know I should feel refreshed and ready to start the week, but truth be told I'm not quite ready yet.  Ha, give me a few more hours pretty please.  We had a wonderful 4th, spent at a poolside party with friends then back to the city (and to a temperature I could actually breathe in) for the fireworks.  We also spent time taking my dad to one of our favorite coffee shops and wandering around some of the city's amazing neighborhoods.  Then we spent yesterday at the Alameda flea market with G's family.  Not a bad way to spend 4 days.  

{all these chairs needed was a little love}, {amazing coffee}

the 4th.

happy happy happy 4th of July weekend.  Any fun plans?  We will be staying local which I am super excited about (but not gonna lie, I will miss celebrating at Lake Tahoe this year).  It will be nice to avoid the crazy traffic and have some time to just lounge poolside with friends and my dad who will be in town.  I hope you all have a wonderful holiday.

{sparkler}

happy weekend.

YAY, it's the weekend and a long one at that.  Hope you are all spending time with those you love.  And hopefully wherever that might be, involves a little drink by the pool. xoxo!

{pool}

snail mail.

Valentine's Day is right around the corner.  To be completely honest, G and I don't usually celebrate this holiday, but this year I'm sending out a few valentines to our family members and I think it's a tradition that I would like to continue.  It's definitely a great excuse to send the special people in your life a little card to let them know you are thinking of them.  I just love love love getting cards in the mail and am making a huge effort to try and send them out.  When life tends to be all about the digital message (ie. instagram, twitter, facebook, and the abundance of emails) sometimes receiving a little something via snail mail brings so much old school joy.  

{rifle paper co}

a new year.

Happy 2013!  Well it was nice to take a little break and soak in some family time during the holidays, but I am definitely ready to get back into the swing of things.  Reflecting back on this year there have been a lot of pretty amazing moments and there have been some very sad moments too.  I have to say that throughout all of it the one thing I keep thinking is I am so very thankful.  Thankful for G, my family, my friendships, even for strangers that have somehow helped in this year of much transition.  And as we begin this new year I decided to make a few resolutions.  I'm not usually one for resolutions, but I think this year there are some important ones to recognize.

1. Be more present.  This one is very difficult for me.  I'm a planner at heart, always looking towards the future and goals which I want to accomplish.  I of course don't need to abandon this way of thought, but I also feel like it's really important for me to focus on the here and now.

2.  Be spontaneous.  This goes back to number 1.  Since I like to plan out pretty much every second of every day, doing something spur of the moment is a super big indulgence for me.  So this year, I want to do just that...let go of the constant planning (I will still be making plans, but just not so many), and allow myself to be more open about doing things at the last minute.  I want G and I to take more spur of the moment trips, to go on more adventures, to just let go and be more free.

3.  Be sensitive to others.  Ok, so this one is a little hard to put into words.  I have always thought of myself as a sensitive person.  A friend who can listen, who can drop everything at a moment's notice to be there for someone in need.  But I think I can be even better at this.  There have been a few very difficult moments that I have gone through this past year, and the fact that others have been so sensitive and caring towards me has been overwhelmingly amazing.  And I want to be that way for other people.  

Here's to a wonderful new year!