{photo credit}

I'm back! {sorta!}  The weather is absolutely beautiful, I don't ever remember California being this beautiful. I spent the weekend relaxing with friends and family feeling truly grateful for every moment, every holiday that we get to spend together. How far we've all come together, how far I've come.

I was recently asked to share my story again, and of course it got me thinking a lot about the past year, all the changes that have gone on and the different places that life brings us. I was once told that people couldn't change- it was impossible. It's something that, this last week especially, has been weighing heavily on my heart because as I look over the past year, all I see is change. Great change, in every direction. It's unfortunate that this person will never see or be a part of all the positive changes that have gone on in my life, or be given the proof that in fact people can change. They will always have and believe that mythical view of life. Change is a part of life, it's one of the best and most beautiful parts of life. Sure it's hard, of course it's difficult, it takes work- but don't the best things in life take work? I think so. And aren't they worth the reward? Definitely.

My belief is that sometimes God allows bad things to happen to us in order to make us stronger, to grow us and mold us into the people he wants us to become. I say this because without a doubt it's what he's done with me. And without a doubt the other party involved is the one who lost, not me {and someone else gets to reap the rewards}. What happened will never define who I am, but it will forever be a part of who I am. And I love who I've become. 

Early Monday morning music- Low vs. Diamond  live at The Troubadour

seriously, how cute are these guys (especially the lead singer)!

                                                     {photo credit}

I'm so excited, tonight I'm meeting up with an old friend from College to go see the Angels game! Added bonus, this little lady just happens to be working the game. I'm looking forward to a night with more old friends, beer, baseball and of course, an excuse to look cute and show off my new do {I'm rockin' some serious Spiteri curls!}  

Monday Music

Appropriately enough this song was playing on my way home from the previous post. Driving down pacific coast highway, sun roof wide open and windows rolled down, wind breezing in while catching a glimpse of the surfers head out for some late afternoon waves, makes it impossible not to feel joy in heart and have a smile {and sun} on your face. 

All regrets
Let go, forget
There's something that
Mends all of it

Such a thing to give away

home.

Today I had one of those moments where I'm reminded that I'm back home in California.

I've been home for months, but it was today where a simple trip to Bonzai waiting and viewing the constant surf movies playing with the warm January breeze hitting my back. Where health-conscious beach-goers and overly laid-back surfers were also waiting for lunch on this extremely warm Southern California January afternoon, provoking every stereotype I secretly love about being from here when it hit me.

 Like a ton of bricks, it hit me.
I'm home.

And I couldn't be happier in this moment.

{this video is appropriate on so many levels...}

Weekend

In true never-make-plans for life moments, my trip to Canada got postponed due to an unnatural force of nature, but luckily I'll should be heading back with warmer weather in May... the silver lining...everything's already set up for round two.

So I decided to spend the weekend in Orange County with this beauty and begin to challenge myself more physically which included a 4 mile hike through Peter Canyon {yes Tiara, first hike down...500 more to go} and then off-set it with homemade fondue, macaroons from Layer Cake Bakery, and some real Vietnamese Pho at Pho Bac {where your first sign that its going to be good- a menu in Vietnamese and pictures for all us English speaking folk}. All the while, soaking up that amazingly warm California sunshine.

The most perfect unplanned random weekend with the people I love most.

This is life's simplest pleasures at it finest

{photos by me and señor jefe} 

Weekend

 

I'm not one for new years resolutions, in fact to be honest- I hate them, but this year I'm getting back into the groove of things. I may not be able to travel the way that I used to, but there are so many wonderful things right here, so this weekend I decided to not forget pick up my camera and wander around my own backyard.

1. Pannikin Coffee & Tea, Encinitas. I think I go there more now than I ever did in High School but it's a little bit of Brooklyn mixed in with some So Cal sun. 2. Moonlight Beach for a little stroll 3. Meeting up with papa p for a lunch date at Cessy's for some real mexican food 4. Carintas taco! 5. Walk around the farmers market in Carlsbad 6&7 Afternoon stop at the Mission San Luis Rey {can you believe I live right next to it!} I haven't been there since our mandatory fourth grade field trip to the California Missions, but I also appreciate better now than when I was 9.

Re-exploring my own backyard is, for me, taking time to enjoy what I have here, in this moment {and being better about blogging about it!}

The other weekend I learned how to play poker...

I learned about beginners luck

and how to bet big

I learned that it's better not to know how to play

and about finding my poker face

I learned that even my newbie buddy next to me learned the very same lessons

she won...big

I learned how to lose gracefully, and that I'm ready for more

Holiday parties are great...and they're even better when you remember to take photos of everything you cooked. Needless to say, everyone left drunk on sauce, spritz's and affogato's and my counter part and I are already mapping out our next great dinner party, this time hiring a photographer instead of relying on each other for photos.  

For a complete run down, click over here! 

the chefs

ringraziamento

I have so much to be thankful for this year, and while I'm not celebrating like last years thanksgiving, I have one better- getting to be with my family this year. 

{photo credit}

As someone once wrote:

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who won't survive the week. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 20 million people around the world. If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than almost three billion people in the world. If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75 percent of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8 percent of the world's wealthy.

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
— Psalm 107:1

** and if you happen to be traveling to Bologna this Thanksgiving, you can stop by ristorante Farina- my Bolognese insiders have informed me that they're making our Thanksgiving dinner celebration their new yearly tradition for local Bolognese. I guess I did leave my mark in Bologna after all. **

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.