I Believe...

Crazy, busy, changing times these past few months that I haven't quite been able to bring myself to write about (because that would make them even more real), but I love this quote (thanks Sara!):

"I believe that suffering is part of the narrative, and that nothing really good gets built when everything’s easy. I believe that loss and emptiness and confusion often give way to new fullness and wisdom."

- Shauna Niequist, Bittersweet

A few thoughts and updates

1/15/2012:

I started this post on 11/18/2011. That's how busy / lazy / consumed I have been. So before I ring in the New Year with a new(er) post, I feel it only fitting to at least finish what I started in the "old" year....

11/18/2011:
I haven't blogged in oh so long. I just don't feel like it. I'm so busy that when I do have a moment, I want to:
A) Veg out in front of the TV
B) Sleep all day in my welcoming and cozy bed
OR
C) Clean and catch up on all the things I purposefully ignore and put off when doing A and B!

Updates should include...

Tom and I celebrated 2yrs of dating on November 13th! Tom made an amazing Korean dinner for us that I really enjoyed. One of the things Tom would love to change my mind about is my less than enthusiastic approach to Korean food. It's special to him, since he spent two years living in Korea, and he wishes he could share more of the culinary delights with me. I may not be a huge fan in general, but the dish he made was YUM! 

Then we dropped by Serendipity for dessert to rekindle memories of our super awesome (and unintentionally romantic) first date. Sitting there with 2yrs of history (and growing) felt really special. 

This year had a few more challenges than last year, so it felt really good to celebrate another 365 days together. I'm proud of us! We had some harder parts compared to our first year of non-stop adventures and fun, and we definitely went through that "getting to know you under all that fabulous-ness" on both our parts. Sometimes it ain't pretty! I'm thankful to have such a committed partner to sit next during the ups and downs and twists and turns of the relationship ride.

I hope the ride continues so that maybe we'll end up needing these:

Hello awesome!

For Halloween we channeled our potential Mr and Mrs with costumes I have always wanted to be!

 That's right. We rocked our stylish inner-potato heads in an outer way. So. Much. FUN! 

Last but not least... Work has been all-consuming and I have sort of begun to lose sight of myself and my passion for what I do. Plus there's school (except I do continue to enjoy that quite a bit and have been enthralled in my course this semester and SO THANKFUL I'm only taking one and it's one that I can really enjoy and want to be at after a long day of work). Things have just been rough lately and I'm not really sure what to do about it... But I wanted to shed a little light on why I haven't been blogging (or reading blogs), socializing, or being much of myself lately. Changes must be made, I know. Until then, thanks for hanging around while I figure it out and sending messages, texts, notes, etc. to make sure I don't slack off completely at keeping in touch! Be back to myself soon I hope! XOXO

I'm hardly into sports BUT...

This weekend Tom and a couple friends and I went to see Moneyball and it totally lived up to the hype for us. I don't know much about baseball except that I love sitting in the bleachers eating junk food, singing along to the megatron, and yelling random things about getting on bases, hitting home runs, foul balls, or strikes.

Being from Northern California I was proud to already be familiar with the Oakland A's team at least, even though the San Francisco Giants are where my loyalties, when I have them, lie (aside from the Yankees, of course). I was sucked right in to the under dog story and fascinated about how much I didn't know about the "behind the scenes" part of baseball. Turns out the A's played a defining role in changing the game. It made me laugh and sympathize and see that there's politics and monetary influence in everything, even games.


It probably also helped that I'm reading this fascinating biography. Focused around another sport of which I know nothing about, but have thoroughly enjoyed reading up on as well as learning about Agassi's life and perspective. It's fascinating!

If you haven't seen Moneyball, I highly recommend it for a date night or family night out (with older kids).



P.S. Did you hear that Paranormal 3 is coming??!! I can't wait. The first two were great, the second one was actually better I thought. I watched the new trailer in broad daylight on my laptop and still had to cover my eyes. Eek!

A borrowed piece of solace

My adorable and sweet friend Rachel recently posted this photo during one of her routine walks through Central Park. It was taken from her iPhone without any filters or adjustments. 

Just a straight shot of beauty.

I was immediately smitten. 

So much so that I made it my phone's screen saver.

I've been having a bit of a hard time lately and my emotional cup is filled to the brim with thoughts and feelings and worries and wonders.

Yet every time I turn my phone on I immediately feel a soothing sense of calm come over me, just for a split second, as I gaze at this sunrise over the City that holds my heart. Even if it's an uneasy heart, I can always count on New York for a good-ol-fashioned "chin up kid, you got me!"

Then I unlock my phone and get back to my busy business, but I love having this little slice of serenity to enjoy. 

Thanks Rachel, for snapping this shot and giving me many subliminal breaks from my troubles and cares throughout the day. 

Turning 27: Sparkles and Masks Included

A couple Wednesdays ago I turned twenty seven. Eeps! According to this I am now in my late twenties, but here it says your mid-twenties lasts much longer. So I guess depending on the day and how aged I feel I get to choose. 

I received so many happy wishes, cards, notes, and calls. It was really nice--thank you! 

I celebrated a day early at work, and my boss gave me the most glittery shoes you've ever seen (Gizelle Glitter Platforms) in addition to a beautiful fall sequin cardigan that I've been wearing almost daily. My little weekday munchkin sang a beautifuly toddler voiced Happy Birthday and we shared some delicious purple cake. In addition to being real fun and snazzy, the shoes are actually quite comfy, though I have yet to figure out when / where / with what to wear them... They remind of what Dorothy would've worn had she landed on top of a witch in NYC instead of in Munchkinland. There's no place like New York! 

The day of my birthday was calm and quiet. I didn't have to work so I was able to sleep in, make lunch plans with a long time high school friend in town from Montreal, and then (highlight of my day!!) go see "my boys" Jasper and Hayden after their first day back to school. I hadn't seen them in about a month and a half and I was missing them TERRIBLY, so my gift to myself was a two hour visit and wrestle sesh. I loved every moment. I swear they grow even faster when I'm not around every day. Jasper is now 7 1/2 and in 2nd grade and Hayden just started pre-K (he's 4 1/2). At their school they don't have grades, so technically they're in the VIIs and IVs groups and both of them go from 9am-3pm (hence my departure--school stole my job!). 

I scored some awesome first-day-of-school drawings from Jasper (remember when the hardest thing you did on the first day of school was draw? Ah, the good ol days) and almost beat Hayden in a Pokemon fight, except my guy's arm fell off and I got destroyed. Hate it when that happens!

After my drop-in play date I met up with Tom and he took me to a unique and audience-interactive show called "Sleep No More" at the McKittrick Hotel. I had been wanting to go for a long time and was so eager to see for myself what all the hype and intrigue was about. It was definitely unlike anything I've ever seen or experienced show wise. It was fascinating, exhausting, confusing, entertaining, remarkable, and powerful. The set was breathtaking. Six floors of rooms upon rooms of detailed design and awesomeness. I can't even describe it. The entire audience wears masks, and there is no talking allowed. Comfy shoes are a must too as there are lots of stairs and you're on your feet the whole time (but you can leave or go sit at the bar on the 2nd floor anytime you want). The actors interact with each other, and sometimes audience members (they even take select ones into hidden places and rooms!), but you only see what's going on if you can catch them / follow them as they rush up and down and in and out of the numerous rooms and floors of the hotel. It's kind of like a Haunted House for adults. You're fairly confused and freaked out but you can't pull yourself away because you have to know what's going on! 

For the first hour and half or so I was just smitten by exploring every room, which is also interactive and allows you to open things, read things, knock on things, and discover the world that has been created for the audience. Then Tom and I decided to follow (meaning run and chase) the actors and try to figure out what the show and storyline was. Following them lead to some pretty crazy scenes, and also even further confusion, though still really cool. We still have no clue what was going on, though we do know it was in some way connected to Macbeth.... we were able to piece some things together and we still thought it was AMAZING both to experience as a show and to see from an artistic perspective. It was like a gallery and a show in one. I know I'm not doing a very good job of explaining, but it's not something you can explains, you just have to go! It's running through the end of September I think, so if you're in NY try to find a show that's not sold out, and GO!

After that we ate at a yummy nearby restaurant called The Red Cat, which I would also highly recommend. The tempura green beans especially! 

It was a good birthday and I hope the next year follows suit!