I'll take any excuse to spend some quality time with papa p, and going to the Poinsettia bowl down at Qualcomm in San Diego was quite the highlight for me.

Dads are great for advice, a shoulder to cry on, big hugs, football & baseball games and if you know Jerry {papa p}, he's also good for crazy hats, singing holiday toys and being quite possibly the best father ever. 

It's these moments that are the textures that will be the fabric of my life. And having the Aztecs win.

Hope you had a wonderful holiday with lots of food, wine, love and celebration!

My life in cookie dough 

(credit-Christoph Niemann& New York Times blog)

What time is it?

It's cocktail hour! 

Ok I love that scene from Sex In The City and if you don't know, I'm sorry because even as I write this, I'm fighting the urge to snap my fingers.


This afternoon, I'm inspired for a little cocktail bar magic. I'm secretly tucking away ideas for different rooms in my one-day-I'll-afford-a-house file. And while a cocktail room might be overdoing it (just a tad), I do love vintage cocktail bars. For all those tom collin's and dirty martini's I'll be making while escaping poolside. For a  little vintage chic and a whole lot of fun, I bring you Ms. Boardman's bar photographed by Clairborne Swanson Frank for Vogue. 

C'est la vie indeed. 

Love is...

{photo credit}

This week I'm reflecting on the second part of the "love" reflection assignment that love does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.


I try not to get too personal here, but I've been fortunate enough to find an amazing family of friends here at home. Through them and my own family, I've seen some amazing marriages. Actions speak louder than words ever could. Marriage isn't perfect, it isn't meant to be and it isn't meant to be because we're human. But I've seen these couples go through some of life's hardest struggles, and in the end having each others backs. That the definition of commitment doesn't change with each challenging and blessed circumstance of life. Never leaving or forsaking each other but putting the other persons needs first. I see through them have a  love that does not envy, that does not boast and is not proud. A love that's complimentary. I see a sacrificial love for one another, a true commitment that they will be there for one another throughout anything and everything that God has in store for them. The husbands have shown me what and how a husband is to be called to love his wife and her gracious love in return.  


Through that, I've also seen how gracious God's love to them individually and as a couple. They've shown me already my reflection for next week's "love" assignment.  They don't dishonor each other, they're not self-seeking, not easily angered (ok, so we might all struggle with that one) and that they keep no record of wrongs. Forgiveness and grace are beautiful things that are more easy to obtain than most people think, and when we take "ouselves" out of the marriage is when we find the true blessing of it's intention. 

Thank you friends (you know who you are!), for being true examples of what marriage should be.  

Monday music!

Welcome back to another week!

I have to admit, I had one of those weekends that just makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside finally getting a chance to catch up with old friends, enjoying the warm weather (yay sunroof!) spending a night singing christmas carols under the stars and drink apple cider and bundled up like a good non-Italian that I am, with my scarf as to not catch colpa d'aria on my neck, even if there was a heat wave going on.

 An early Christmas gift, Asha Ali direct from Sweden to you.

Enjoy! 

 

Savoring life's simple pleasures

Problem solved...

I saw this in a restaurnat recently and loooved it all wooden- framed up in the kitchen. {god bless google}

{photo credit}

The mystery of life's happiness...solved.

now go have a great weekend!!!