it's fall somewhere...

[image via]

I woke up this morning to the chilly, fall, Washington air. (It was such a welcome change to the crazy weather patterns that we've been having in LA. It seems that LA is just starting to realize that it is actually fall.) I am in Seattle for the first part of the week, sipping some of the best coffee, kicking up the fall leaves, and soaking in every minute with my best friend and her new baby girl. 

I am beyond blessed to have friends like this is my life. Friends that take the extra time, and make the extra investment to celebrate lives BIG moments together. Friends like this are not to be taken for granted. If you have one, call her up, make some plans, give her a huge hug and kiss on the cheek and tell her that you love her. If you don't, don't throw yourself at the girls who are in your life and want desperately for them to be there for you, you'll know when you've got one of the good ones...there will be no doubt. When she comes around, hold onto her tightly, for she is one of the best gifts you can have. 

[my last trip to Seattle]

random stream of thought...

[this is how I feel...head in a tail spin]
[photo via]

1] I really wishing that I was back on vacation with time to simply chill. But I am also glad to be home.

2] Putting Christmas decorations up is way more fun than taking them down. However, today I took the storage boxes out to the garage so I'm finally done.

3] I am so disenchanted by the way that people are able to treat each other. It's disheartening some times to know that people can treat others any way other than the way they would choose to be treated themselves. It has seems unavoidable the past week or so and makes me  want to crawl into a cave and not come out for a while.

4] On the flip side, I am so blessed to have the people in my life that I have chosen to keep close and have given me unconditional support and encouragement. My parents and my sister have been so amazing and we've learned so much. My husband; I can't say enough about him so I'll leave it at this...I'm one lucky girl. My close girlfriends have been there just how they need to be just when I need them and haven't put any pressure on me to give more than I can these days. (Surprisingly, some of my best support has come from you; new blog friends!) When you go through hard things it's not always easier to keep your head up and go about your normal relationships. Relationships take a lot of work and a lot of time and effort. I've learned that there are times when it's not easy to just pick up the phone and chat away. My best friends have given me the time and the freedom to grieve how I need to and are there every step of the way. I am forever grateful for them. (YOU know who you are!)

5] How do I end up in front of the tv watching the Bachelor every season? Every. single. season. I say to myself that I'm not watching it anymore. Yet again, it pops up on the DVR and I'm at it again! Man.

6] I really need to get a hair cut and have been saying that for too long now. Like seriously, it's time. I don't think your hair should ever reach your butt and mine is too close.

7] I told my husband, I really need a few more of me. One to sit and grieve, be sad when I need, be mad when I need. One to go about life enjoying every bit and piece that I can. One to get my house back in order, recovered from being out of town, and from the holidays. One to go to work and one to complete my Pilates hours. (I have back-to-back weekend lectures this weekend and next and so much work to follow...phew.) Another to be able to reconnect with all my friends that I have had to sit wondering, "What is going on with her?" (LOTS is the answer by the way.)

Ok, enough of that! I'm resolved to take better care of myself and my relationships. I am resolved to get up and go when I need to and to set up the right time to get the things done that I must. I am resolved to take the time to sit down, shut off, rest, rejuvenate, rejoice in the life I've been given. I am resolved to not be so hard on myself.

sick grey days...

This is what happens when you're home sick for two days straight: lots of time on the computer, heaps of tissue, reading a book full of wisdom, lots of tea (with tags of genius insight), finding the little things (yellow mums in this case) that makes you happy around the house, eating lots of soup that the husband brings home for you, watching movies on Netflix Live like [pelada], a documentary about pick up soccer games in 25 countries around the world, and lots of work updating real life work things on the computer that I never have time to get around to.