Laughter

Life's best medicine

(via cup of joe & the new yorker)

Laughter yoga by Indian physician Madan Lal Kataria. Not only did this video make me laugh and smile, but I also have  a craving for some tikka masala. 

Love List

A few things that are making me smile this week! Happy Thursday!

{photo credit}

I'm truly loving Gemma Correll and her artwork- it's fun, funny and always brings a smile to my face. 

{photo credit}

Baking! I haven't had an oven in two years, and getting the cooking bug back, I love baking blueberry muffins! Plus they make the house smell absolutely delish. The simple little things that I missed while living in Italy. 

{photo credit}

Sewing! The one perk about going through everything in storage is finding my mom's old sewing machine, and getting inspired to make my own clothes...over ambitious, ok maybe but a girl can dream.

{photo credit}

Laguna Beach!  Spending a beautiful warm day in this little quaint town not only brought Arrested Development oneliners to mind, but it just reminded me that I truly do live in paradise and there is always something to discover be it five thousand miles away or simply five.  

Pesto Pizza

I've been on a hiatus since I moved back on all things Italian, mostly food, but now I'm getting the cooking bug back and this weekend we decided to make some Pesto Pizza. I have to admit, I never once saw this type of Pizza in Italy, but Napoli's got nothing on this goodness. 

What it takes- just one trip to Trader Joe's

*homemade or TJ's wheat dough

*layered Pesto

*honey goat cheese

*sliced tomatoes

Nicole and I have already started thinking of variations, more cooking- Italian and others- to come!

Whats your favorite type of pizza?

weekend

This weekend, thanks to my amazing sister, we spent Sunday in the Luxury Suite at the Angels game. I'm so proud of her, and now I've been officially spoiled in watching baseball games. Unfortunately the Angels lost, but it was the good company of family, new and old friends that made the afternoon truly enjoyable.

Holy Heat Wave

{photo credit}

When your patio thermometer says 120 degrees, and you don't have air conditioning because well, you live in next to the beach in Southern California and not in Manhattan, you learn quickly to appreciate life's little treasures... like slurpees! 

And who doesn't have a smile on their face when they have a slurpee...heat wave or not!

 {photo credit}

"Nothing beats the morning air and the view of the sunrise after a very long solitary night."--unknown

Today I'm trading in sunsets for sunrises. 

Waiting for Superman

For all the teachers out there, and all the men and women that think American is still "number 1!" needs to see this movie. I for one, can't wait!

October Reading

I {heart}the library. 

In an effort to save money, I made my first (of many) trips to the local library to pick up a few good reads. Lately, I've been devouring books, so here's what I've got on my list for this month:

Follow Your Heart by Susan Tamaro
A bittersweet, heartwarming novel spanning generations and teaching the universal truths about life, love, and what lies within each of us. Originally published in Italy, Follow Your Heart won the coveted Premio Donna Citta di Roma and sold over 800,000 copies in that country alone before hitting bestseller lists throughout the rest of Europe. Now North American readers can enjoy the novel that has won over the world.

It begins in late autumn 1992 as an elderly Italian woman, prompted by the knowledge of her encroaching death, sits down to write a letter to her granddaughter now grown and living in far-off America. Through these moving reflections, we see one life laid bare--joys, sorrows, regrets, and all. And through the eyes of a woman nearing the end of her days, we come to understand what life experience has taught her: that no matter what the stakes, we must look within ourselves and gather the courage to follow our hearts. (From Amazon.com)

The People's Act Of Love by James Meek
Set during the waning days of the Russian revolution, Meek's utterly absorbing novel (after The Museum of Doubt) captivates with its depiction of human nature in all its wartime extremes. In 1919, the remote Siberian town of Yazyk contains a strange brew of humanity: the docile members of a mystical Christian sect, whose longing for purity drives them to self-mutilation; a small outfit of Czech troops, marooned by the civil war and led by the mad cocaine-snorting Captain Matula; and "the widow" Anna Petrovna, whose passion for worldly things (e.g., photography and men) isolates her from the devout townspeople.

When the charismatic revolutionary, Samarin, trudges into town with a harrowing tale of escape from a distant labor camp and a dangerous philosophy, Yazyk becomes a theater of bloodshed and betrayal as well as heroism and compassion. Using the town as a microcosm of the larger war, Meek illuminates both perverted ideology and irrepressible humanity. With confident prose, layered storytelling and prodigious imagination, he combines scenes of heart-pounding action and jaw-dropping revelations with moments of quiet tension and sly humor. This original, literary page-turner succeeds both with its credible psychological detail and in its grandeur and sweep.(From Amazon.com)

Empress Orchid by Anchee Min
From a master of the historical novel, Empress Orchid sweeps readers into the heart of the Forbidden City to tell the fascinating story of a young concubine who becomes China’s last empress. Min introduces the beautiful Tzu Hsi, known as Orchid, and weaves an epic of a country girl who seized power through seduction, murder, and endless intrigue. When China is threatened by enemies, she alone seems capable of holding the country together.(Amazon.com)

And of course to keep up with my Italian, Colloquial Italian!

What are you reading this month!?

I Turn My Camera On

Appropriate, no?

I can finally fill up my camera again! You can check out all the photos here!

{photo credit}

 

In between running around for job interviews, networking events, story deadlines {and spending time with family and friends}, I've realized that my most coveted "me" spot is a little spot on the pacific. A special place just for me (so I like to think) that I'm so grateful for.

I can sit, read, write and appreciate all the beautiful things around me be it big or small, where time seems to stand still long enough for me to rediscover myself outside of the craziness of life. A place filled with peace and quiet, where the only person that matters is me. Having that moment...no matter how long or short, to reflect and get centered. A place where my problems don't exist, but yet all the answers are there waiting for me.

I don't know where life will lead me or what tomorrow will bring, but isn't that the beauty of it all?

{photo credit}

I have no excuses, no running up and down subway platforms, no European cobblestone streets to worry about.

Today I not only embrace fall (but in an ironic twist) I embrace wearing heels again. 

Falling in love with fall

{photo credit}

Today marks the first day of fall, and in California it's always been hard to tell when the seasons are changing. This year is the first California fall I've had in six years. It's hard to believe how fast time has flown, but as I see the leaves on the trees here changing colors (a first to be sure) it reminds me of the falls spent back in NYC and the autumn sagre season in Bologna with the crisp cool breezes, the smell of the chestnuts {or marone in Bolognese dialect!}and tasting all the new wines and celebrating the season.

Escaping the chilly weather into the warm cafe` for a cappuccino has been replaced with a quick drive for a pumpkin spice latte, and the last of "summers" beach-side bonfires. But as I reflect on the past, I look forward to the change of the season, to leave summer of 2010 behind and begin a new season, a new chapter and a new appreciation for everything loved, lost and learned.

Life or Art?

Both!

Being back in California, it's not as easy as it once was to visit the Guggenheim, but they've partnered up with You Tube and on Oct. 21st will be presenting top 20 videos from students, filmmakers, composers, you name it. A little trip to the museum, even if you're three thousand miles away.

My vote is for Keith Loutit and "Bathtube IV" (f.y.i- the people are real!)

It reminds me of one of my favorite urban street artists from London, Slinkachu who photographs mini scenes with toys in the city (and was recently in Italy!) See his blog here!

Both take this big world and make it a little bit smaller (literally) and a lot more fun!

Check Keith's video below!

Amore

{photo credit- me!}

I'm finally (able) and getting around to go through my last round of photos from Italy. They've been patiently sitting in my camera until now due to a crashed computer. This is one of my favorites! 

More to come!

Everything I Need To Know....

I learned in kindergarten.

I love this poem from Robert Fulghum, and sometimes we just need to be reminded of the simple lessons in life.

{photo credit}

Most of what I really need to know about how to live and what to do, and how to be, I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sandbox at nursery school.

These are the things I learned:

Share everything.

Play fair.

Don't hit people.

Put things back where you found them.

Clean up your own mess.

Don't take things that aren't yours.

Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.

Wash your hands before you eat.

Flush.

Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.

Live a balanced life.

Learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.

Take a nap every afternoon.

When you go out into the world, watch for traffic, hold hands and stick together.

Be aware of wonder.

Remember the little seed in the plastic cup? The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that. Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the plastic cup -- they all die. So do we.

And then remember the book about Dick and Jane and the first word you learned, the biggest word of all: look.

Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and sane living.

Think what a better world it would be if we all -- the whole world -- had cookies and milk about 3 o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankets for a nap. Or if we had a basic policy in our nation and other nations to always put things back where we found them and cleaned up our own messes. And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.

Music {morning} Monday!

To get the week started off right...

The weekend flew by with new friends, 80's parties, baseball, and a little work for the very busy week ahead and I was lucky enough to have these guys to keep me company, check out their new album Expo 86.

Enjoy!

{photo credit}

Did you know that today was National Day of Encouragement? It's O.K., neither did I. I mean do we really need a "National Day" to encourage and be encouraged by one another? Apparently (and unfortunately) so.  

I'm so grateful for the wonderful ladies (and father!) that have been placed in my life, who have been there to encourage me.  I can only hope and pray that I've been just as much as an encouragement and pillar of strength to them as they have been to me.


If you're in need of a little inspiration and encouragement, check out the ladies at (in)courage!

I {heart} Fellini Friday!

Before I moved back from Bologna, the Museum of Modern Art in the city had a wonder exhibit on the master of Italian films, Federico Fellini. Seeing the man behind the masterpieces was a perfect way to end my experience in Italy.  

I also figured in order to not lose all the Italian I learned over the last two years, I'd get my Italian film collection going and I'm kicking it off with the maestro himself, Fellini and La Dolce Vita. Next three up on the list; Luci del varieta, Lo sceicco bianco and I vitelloni... I can't wait!

*smile*

Who says work can't be fun?!

It's even better when there is a vintage photo booth involved!

happy lists {part one}

{photo credit}

I love, love, love the happy lists and began to think about all the different things that make me happy!

Of course this list can and will go on forever, but this week this is what I'm happy about!

1. skype dates with girlfriends

2. vinyl records

3. foreign films

4. sand between my toes

5. farmers markets

6. sunsets

7. antique stores

8. my sister

9. vintage photos
10. laughing out loud

Inspiration

{photo credit}

Sometimes spending an afternoon staring at the clouds is all you need to gain a little perspective in life, and  realize how small you really are.

A little rock

... and roll for the afternoon. I can't get enough of the new Black Keys, and this video tugs a little on the heart for NYC but seriously how adorable is this kid?!

Summer lovin'

{ photo credit }

Was it just me or did summer completely fly by this year?


With that my summer reading list went as equally fast, but one of the most amazing books that I read was Leslie Parrot's recent book, You Matter More Than You Think {What a Woman Needs To Know About The Difference She Makes}.  No, this is no self help book but rather the story of how you can make a difference around you and learning to be grateful and content for everything big or small. It got me thinking a lot this summer as life continues to throws you curve balls, how to find the things, big and small that I was grateful for. Everyday it changes, and everyday it continues to grow.


Today, I'm grateful first and foremost for my family, friends and God, a bottle of wine and a pacific coast sunset.


What are you grateful for today?

About Me

{photo credit}


Life has taken me all over the world (here and here) but the biggest challenge will be returning home to Southern California. This is my story of rediscovering myself, my faith, the joys of life, the people who make me happy, and remembering some of the most amazing experiences I've had.