I {heart}

The duel of two of my favorite cities. 


I {heart} the poster series by French graphic designer Vahram Muratyan Paris vs. New York a tale of two cities

Some of my favorites:

le réalisateur

la créature

le pain

le métro

le café

vous aimez!?

I have a new favorite spot.

It's close to work, and the sunsets are perfectly timed with my commute home. It's my little spot where I've been stopping  to think and reflect on and appreciate everything that I'm grateful for. The little things that sometimes slip through the cracks of hectic life.

This week, I have so much to be thankful for, but here are few things:

*First and foremost, my sister (more later)

*My virtues and values. I've realized that no matter what or who life brings me, or what challenges I've faced and will have to face, I have a set of virtues and values that will always be a solid part of my foundation and always abiding by them is what makes a good and honest person. Why is it so easy to forget "to treat others the way you want to be treated?"

*Santa Ana's- enjoying the warm weather hitting my face in the middle of October...pure joy.

*My job. First, that I'm fortunate to have one, but that I truly love it. There is no doubt in my mind that it's a blessing from God, and for that I'm utterly thankful.

Happy Halloween!

Have a fun and safe Halloween!

I'll be taking it easy this year enjoying passing out candy to all the neighborhood trick or treaters!

Brazilian Girls - Good Time

Enjoy!

Pumpkins!

I truly couldn't tell you the last time that I went to a pumpkin patch. It's definitely a fun little treat that you miss living aboard for a few years, but seeing all the children running around with giant smiles on their faces in anticipation of finding the biggest pumpkin to carve, and possibly due to a candy corn sugar high, filled me with the same joy and excitement for Halloween and slight craving for candy corn.

To see more photos, head over to Nicole's blog here 

Evening out

Part two of my weekend with the Angels took me to the Boys and Girls Club Gala celebrating the Anaheim Angeles. Being able to participate in helping the children of Orange County was a warming experience, and I hope in the future to be able to do more... if only for the little Boys and Girls Club rockstar of the night, Gubino!

Can you guess...

what I did this weekend?

warm

warmer....

Hot!

A BIG thanks to my amazing sister for letting me and my camera wander around the stadium, and even venture into the clubhouse locker room. I'm counting down to the next trip! 

New Chapter

{post run fun}

Saturday I ran my first 5k! I may not have gone at lightening speed, and my running buddy might have ran the slowest 5k of her life, but we finished and we finished together.  I loved running the race, and it was even more special to do it with my sister. She's been there for me in every possible way, always cheering me on and never letting me fall, and I love her dearly.

I can't wait for my next race!

Women in Rock

My night in photos!

I took my two hot dates with me to the GQ- Ray Ban party at the beautiful Andaz Hotel in West Hollywood to celebrate Women in Rock. A rocking night of music, friends & family, photo booths and of a trip to the Fat Burger food truck. 

Ah L.A.till we meet again....

Rekindle

This is my story, this is my song....

{photo credit}

I have a new love in my life, actually he's not new...he's been around for quite sometime. I put him aside, put him on the back burner thinking that life without him in it was somehow better, somehow less complicated. 

Fortunately for me, he loves me enough to take me back, to forgive me, to bless me, to protect me. He loves me for my greatest strengths and biggest weaknesses. He loves me enough to keep me accountable for my actions, my mistakes, my faults and allows me the chance to learn from them, to make me stronger.  He's made me a new person, transformed me, and lives in my heart. He's put trials in my life, only to support me, wipe away my tears and open my eyes. Through it he encourages me, he makes me a better person from it in the end. He humbles me, fulfills me, keeps his promises to me. He takes away my anxieties, my confusion, wants me to have the most abundant and joyful life.  He knows all my needs and meets them. He's spontaneous, he's generous, he's honest. He's always been faithful to me, even when I haven't been faithful to him. He keeps me away from temptation, from lust and protects my heart. He knows everything about me, and promises to love me forever.

Why would anyone give him up?

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Philippians 4:13

Monday Morning Music

I got a chance to preview the debut album from Mt. Desolation this past week for review, and loved them! 

Another favorite- check out Bitter Pill here!

Enjoy!

Brunette-dom

as promised....

a little taste to satisfy curiosity..more to come! 

{photo credit}

I haven't forgotten about my little 'ol blog, I promise....life lately has been in overdrive and as much as I pray for more hours in the day, God seems to laugh at my request and rightfully so.

This week, I made a few big life choices, and I'm thankful for the new chapter that I'm about to embark on. First, I decided to throw a curve ball back at life and yes, I went brunette...very, very brunette. (Yes, Jenn- I did it!) I have to say that I absolutely love it! I might have the heart and soul of a blonde, but sassing it up as a brunette is extremely fun and very much needed.

I also accepted a new job.  I'm nervous and excited but I know that this is a gift from God. I felt like Goldie Locks this summer, trying to find the right fit. I believe I've found it and I'm so extremely thankful.  Reminding myself that it's not the job that makes the person, but the person that makes the job.  I never thought life would take me to this place, but as I take every day as it comes, I've learned that you truly never know what tomorrow will bring you so stop and enjoy whats going on in this moment.  So, I am!

I'll be back up and running again soon with photos and more updates! 

Here we go!

It's no secret, I've always had a love/hate (leaning more on the side of hate) relationship with running, I'll admit it. When I lived in Italy I thought of every excuse in the book not to run, and I let my insecurities get the best of me. Since I've been home I decided to turn it into a source of strength for me, a way to release negative energy and get healthy. And while I'm not going to be running a marathon anytime soon (key word- soon), I have officially signed up for my first 5k in over 10 years (eek!) in a few weeks! I'm so excited and so nervous, but I'm doing it with this beautiful woman so I know I'm in good hands.

This is my challenge, my personal goal and I'm sharing my training for the next few weeks before the race, mainly to keep myself accountable so don't expect any cute pictures, but I hope this can be a source of encouragement and even something as simple as running, can remind you of life's greatest lessons.

what running has taught me (so far...)

*I can do anything I set my mind too, I can never forget that or lose sight of that again.

*Sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do, but we know in the end it's going to be good for us so why not put on a smile and go for it. The hardest part is always getting started.

*Only you can choose to give up and not finish the race, but I choose to finish...even if I have to walk to the finish line.

*You're going to run into obstacles, thankfully thats what running buddies are for.

*Keep your head up. You never know where you're going or what you're going to run into if you don't keep your head up, even if it's only to the end of the block.

*Running makes me feel confident and sexy. Another plus, when you can fit back into those super skinny jeans...you know, the ones you've held onto thinking one day you'll fit into them, and the new found confidence you get once you do.

*God and music fill my soul.

My workout schedule:

Starting the week off with a 2 mile run, 2 mile walk for the next five days.

My workout mix this week:

LCD Soundsystem

Wolf Parade- What did my lover say

Black Keys- Tighten Up & Howlin' For You

Sleigh Bells

Miike Snow- Cult Logic

The Knife- Heartbeats

The Rapture- Whoo! Alright

Monday Morning Music

It's raining here today, and it's taken every conceivable amount of energy to get out of bed when snuggling under covers watching the rain fall seems more appropriate, but what I want to do and what I have to do are two drastically different things.


Thankfully this week is the start of Austin City Limits, and while I wish I could be there,  I'll be daydreaming of outdoor rock shows, Stubb's and everything Texas.  I'll let these guys get my week started off right:

Eddie Vedder with Kings of Leon, ACL 2009

Happy Weekend!

{photo credit}

And Happy October! 

I'm so excited that it's October! It's finally starting to feel like fall here, and I dream of pumpkin patches, the leaves changing colors, and crisp fall breezes.

And was it just me or did this week fly by? This weekend I'm off busy working, writing and hopefully squeezing in some photo time, but I wanted to take a moment to think about all the wonderful things that happened this week and share what I'm grateful for in life's little moments and treasures.

*I'm happy the weather's changing. The humidity with the rain reminded me of summer's in N.Y.C. and the wonderful memories I had during those summers.

*Spending an afternoon with the family. It's always a treasure and the highlight of my week.

*Driving up and down P.C.H. Taking in God's beauty with the windows rolled down and some of my favorite music brings such a joy to my heart. 

*Quiet "me" moments. Those moments where it's just you and your thoughts. So rare, but so important to nurture yourself, your heart and your mind.

*The Friday morning ladies. I'm grateful to know women who are inspirational and an encouragement. 

What are you thankful for this week?

Post game view from last night.  I {heart} the Padres, even if they do break my heart.