christmas week

We had such a fun time in New York and Virginia over Christmas… it really felt more like a month than 9 days. In NY we had no agenda other than eating, walking around, sleeping in, and shopping. I believe we met every one of those goals! Our time in VA was all about family and I was lucky enough to get to hang with not only my parents and siblings, but Grandparents, aunts & uncles as well! We cut down a (somewhat puny) Christmas tree, held baby bunnies, played a ton of games, cooked breakfast and dinner together, met up with friends, witnessed my best friend’s 11 month old baby girl walk for the first time (!!!), but mostly just loafed around with the people I love most in this world. It was wonderful.

happy birthday, ana

Just have to stop in to give a super happy birthday shout-out to my beautiful sister Ana, who turns 24 today. Ana, I know you’re reading this, and I want you to know how much I love you, cherish you, and wish I could be there to celebrate with you!!! You are the best sister a girl could ever ask for & I am grateful everyday to have you in my life!

BTW, your gift will be late.

Ana and I this time last year

By the way – I’m alone again! Julian has once again been shipped off – to NYC this time to film his best friend Marc as he wraps up his new record in the studio over the next few days. I’m sad he’s gone so unexpectedly, but I think it’s a gift in a way because I really need to play catch up on a lot of school work and it’s hard to make myself focus when I have such a dashing, entertaining man hanging around the house all day.

See what I mean about the dashing part:

At least I have three furry kids to keep me company around here til he returns. Things are going well in my world – just had a lovely visit with Julian’s parents, started my 10k training program (so far so good, but it’s early – I’m enjoying the strength training & looking forward to getting some cycling in), been getting good grades at school & learning so much, and the weather is finally starting to feel more Fall-like regularly. I can’t believe it’ll be Halloween in 20 days! We don’t have costumes yet, so I guess I should get on that soon.

Hope you’re all having a beautiful October… xo

Photo: first by Julian / second by Julian’s Mom, Laura 

biiiiiig exhale

Well, I survived. But just barely. The two week double-header known as packing-moving-unpacking-get a new dog-week-turned-drive to AZ-turn around, drive back to LA-host little siblings-go to Disneyland, Warner Bros, etc-week has officially come to an end…. BREATHE.

The week with my little brother & sister was beyond amazing, but I can’t ever remember being this tired or out of sorts! Remind me to never schedule this many things in one short timeframe ever again. On the plus side, the new house is kind of starting to feel like home, I’m tanner than usual thanks to having a pool in the backyard, and the new puppy sleeps a lot, which is way better than barking/peeing on the floor a lot. As a matter of fact, he’s sprawled out in his bed with all four legs in the air as I type this. And the house is silent… which it hasn’t been since we moved in. I can’t stop taking deep breaths, because I kind of feel like I haven’t breathed since we began this process!

This ought to explain the lack of posting here. I’m sure I’ll be back to normal soon, though I plan on doing an awful lot of this for the rest of the weekend:

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Photo: found via Pinterest, unknown source, TinEye came up with zip.

my noah

He was a Christmas present, so I decided he needed a Biblical name. I suggested Noah, and everyone agreed. Little did we know this would make saying “No!” confusing for him. He was our best friend for 13 long, wonderful years. He was a pain in the neck at times (like when he ate an entire box of candy bars, or an entire package of chicken breast, or an entire tray of muffins, or an entire lasagna, or nearly an entire pineapple upside down cake), but most of the time, he was just a fiercely loyal, sweet cuddle monster – both to his family and to his kitties. We’re fortunate to have been his family and to have so many amazing memories to look back on. Rest in peace, Noah. I miss you already big boy. Coming home isn’t going to be the same without being greeted by your shedding hair and wagging tail.

here i am!

I’m in one of those unavoidable phases where you want to update, but don’t, because you feel like you have too much to update about, and procrastinating seems like the easier option. That, and I’ve been busy since we got back from Hawaii! Two of my brothers came into town that weekend, one of whom is staying with us for over a week. It’s so rare that I get to spend this much time with my family, that I tend to block everything else out and just focus on that. I’m sure you’d do the same!

But:

- Hawaii was, beautiful. Relaxing. Very rainy. But all in all, amazing! Especially because Julian managed to lose his wedding ring in the ocean. Miraculously, a snorkeler found it. Can you believe it??

- There is nothing cuter than grateful, over-cuddly, purry cats after you come home from a trip.

- Julian’s birthday is coming up very soon (tomorrow) and I’m so excited to be able to celebrate with him! Last year we were in Berlin for his work, and the year before that he was in Nashville without me. Any fans of him that are reading this – be sure to wish him a Happy Birthday tomorrow!

- You have to read Unbroken, the memoir/biography about Louis Zamperini. I read it on vacation, and it’s earned a spot in my top 5 fave books of all-time. Even Julian, who does not read, is reading it and loving it!

- I’m in the process of ‘cleaning out’ certain areas my life to make room for a new venture. More to come about that…

- And randomly, have any of you ever had orange plums? We just got a big bunch of them from a local farm and they are absolutely delicious. They taste just like purple plums, but they have this gorgeous citrus color, just like the inside of a plum!

quick, go win some soap

Guess what? My talented soapmaker Mom is doing a giveaway on DC wedding blog Capital Romance today – $50 worth of her handmade (and cruelty-free) soap, lip balms, scrubs, etc from her Etsy shop. All you have to do is leave a comment to win the gift certificate, and as I type this, there are only 8 comments, so your chances of winning are pretty high.

I’ve told you all before how huge a fan both myself and Julian are of her soap… it’s all we use! Now’s your chance to get some fo’ free. And how awesome would it be if someone who read her daughters blog was the winner? I’d be so proud. So go, enter to win! And when you do win, be sure to order her Bliss, Tranquil, Sunny, and Blueberry soaps. They are all favorites in our house.

Have I mentioned lately how great it is to have a Mom that makes soap? Last time I was home, I requested some lilac soap, and just like that she whipped some right up, even though it’s not in her usual lineup. It smells soooo amazing… just like Spring.

siblings

Just a quick note to say that very, very few things in the world are as ridiculously wonderful as having brothers and sisters to laugh, cry, fight, and grow up with. And that I am beyond blessed to have 5 (technically, 10 including Julian’s siblings!) smart, beautiful/handsome, courageous, hilarious, talented, and loving siblings. /gush

Photo: Found via Rubik’s Cube Minds – not original source

“did you lose a cat?”

I don’t know where this picture came from, but it’s making my day. My Grandpa down in Dallas, who is the Chief Email Forwarder in our family, sent it my way. And now I’m sharing it with you. I mean, how can you not share something like this? Even if it is 100%, without a doubt, Photoshopped.

Oh how I wish it were real.

three word phrases to help your relationship

Today I’m cheating. And by that I mean I’m reposting something written by someone else, because quite honestly, she (Deena Munsamy) says it better than I ever could and you really don’t need me chiming in with more input.

Three-Word Phrases, can be tools to help develop every relationship.

There are many things that you can do to strengthen your relationships. Often the most effective thing you can do involves saying just three words. When spoken sincerely, these statements often have the power to develop new friendships, deepen old ones and even bring healing to relationships that have soured.

The following three-word phrases can be tools to help develop every relationship.

~ Let me help:
Good friends see a need and then try to fill it. When they see a hurt they do what they can to heal it. Without being asked, they jump in and help out.

~ I understand you:
People become closer and enjoy each other more when the other person accepts and understands them. Letting your spouse know – in so many little ways – that you understand them, is one of the most powerful tools for healing your relationship. And this can apply to any relationship.

~ I respect you:
Respect is another way of showing love. Respect demonstrates that another person is a true equal. If you talk to your children as if they were adults you will strengthen the bonds and become closer friends. This applies to all interpersonal relationships.

~ I miss you:
Perhaps more marriages could be saved and strengthened if couples simply and sincerely said to each other “I miss you.” This powerful affirmation tells partners they are wanted, needed, desired and loved. Consider how important you would feel, if you received an unexpected phone call from your spouse in the middle of your workday, just to say “I miss you.”

~ Maybe you’re right:
This phrase is very effective in diffusing an argument. The implication when you say “maybe you’re right” is the humility of admitting, “maybe I’m wrong”. Let’s face it. When you have an argument with someone, all you normally do is solidify the other person’s point of view. They, or you, will not likely change their position and you run the risk of seriously damaging the relationship between you. Saying “maybe you’re right” can open the door to explore the subject more. You may then have the opportunity to express your view in a way that is understandable to the other person.

~ Please forgive me:
Many broken relationships could be restored and healed if people would admit their mistakes and ask for forgiveness. All of us are vulnerable to faults, foibles and failures. A man should never be ashamed to own up that he has been in the wrong, which is saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday.

~ I thank you:
Gratitude is an exquisite form of courtesy. People who enjoy the companionship of good, close friends are those who don’t take daily courtesies for granted. They are quick to thank their friends for their many expressions of kindness. On the other hand, people whose circle of friends is severely constricted often do not have the attitude of gratitude.

~ Count on me:
A friend is one who walks in when others walk out. Loyalty is an essential ingredient for true friendship. It is the emotional glue that bonds people. Those that are rich in their relationships tend to be steady and true friends. When troubles come, a good friend is there indicating “you can count on me.”

~ I’ll be there:
If you have ever had to call a friend in the middle of the night, to take a sick child to hospital, or when your car has broken down some miles from home, you will know how good it feels to hear the phrase “I’ll be there.” Being there for another person is the greatest gift we can give. When we are truly present for other people, important things happen to them and us.

We are renewed in love and friendship. We are restored emotionally and spiritually. Being there is at the very core of civility.

~ Go for it:
We are all unique individuals. Don’t try to get your friends to conform to your ideals. Support them in pursuing their interests, no matter how far out they seem to you. God has given everyone dreams, dreams that are unique to that person only.

Support and encourage your friends to follow their dreams. Tell them to “go for it.”

~ I love you:
Perhaps the most important three words that you can say. Telling someone that you truly love them satisfies a person’s deepest emotional needs. The need to belong, to feel appreciated and to be wanted. Your spouse, your children, your friends and you, all need to hear those three little words: “I love you.” Love is a choice. You can love even when the feeling is gone.

By Deena Munsamy
Macronamystic Coach
“I Choose Today to give Myself the Best Life Ever”
®Aneed4life ©
Coaching
Life -Sports – Business – Family
Personal & Corporate Programs

Happy Birthday to my brother, Ben!

Ben, I doubt you are reading this. You’re probably somewhere in Tucson drinking scotch with your fiance, lighting something on fire, being awesome and talking about the latest manly, death-defying stunt you pulled. But in the off-chance that you are reading this, I want to publicly wish you a Happy 25th Birthday. I’m so glad the days of us spending years apart are behind us – with you in Arizona and me in LA, it’ll be more like when we were kids and less like when you were living in Korea or Germany. I’m so proud of all you have become and can’t wait to see where life takes us both. You are truly one in a million. I love you forever, brother bear.