I'm Back! AND Happy New Year!

Now that finals and Holiday Madness are over, I am back!  I ended up not doing a whole lot for the Thrift store blog, mainly because I am not there enough to write about the great things that are going on, but I was able to find some writers to cover some things that they are a part of.  I will still be involved, but it won't take up as much time as I previously thought!

Now, on to the fun stuff

I have never made a New Years Resolution, but I'm thinking this is my year.  And how ambitious am I with 3!

#1 - Live Positively...What I mean by this is eliminating negative comments, Realizing I don't have to react to unwanted situations, but respond to them, and respond in a positive way...

#2 - Live in Love....Every interaction I should have with anyone should be one of compassion and respect...I vow to use "Please" and "Thank you"often

#3 - Say Yes....I tend to stick to what's familiar and in this next year, I want to expand my comfort zone.

By Francesca Ramos.  For your own print to hang on the wall go here

Kaleidoscope

I will not be posting on this blog as consistently as I was before (...I have slowly been posting less and less as it is!)  I am now working with my church's outreach blog.  

My church has something really awesome going on right now.  We have a thrift shop that helps fund our outreach ministries.  What I love about it is that the money is going right back into the people who shop there.  And, it's becoming this awesome community center.  Homeless people show up and in exchange for work, Burt (the guy in charge) will give them food, clothing/furniture, and even put them up for a night depending on their need and how much time they have put in.  Trust me, it's way cool.

Anyway, I was hearing about some of these awesome stories through Burt's mother-in-law and I asked her how others find out about what's going on & how they can get involved, but she didn't have an answer for me.  So I went to talk to Burt, and long story short - we both believe a blog is the best platform for sharing this info and trying to plug others in.  

So...I am now helping Burt out with Re:Live Thrift's blog...I won't be writing every post, but I will be trying to organize consistent posting, researching other outreach opportunities in the area, and coming up with some "just fun" posts like crazy things you can find in the shop, or best outfit contests...Maybe even some giveaways too, because that seems to be the thing to do on blogs...

If you want to follow us - relivethrift.wordpress.com

Thanks!

Also...a bit ironic that my "Good Bye" post is also my "100th" post!

Peace.

This weekend has been a roller coaster to say the least...

Downs
-NO parents showing up to parent openhouse Friday night...
-Mothers who were downright nasty in their complaints when they had actually come to help
-Ended up not being able to "zoo" on Saturday


Ups
-I had 6 kiddos and 1 dad show up to work at our church's thrift shop & the kids LOVED it!
-One incredible mother is going to bring an entire crew to next week's First Serve event!
-an early Thanksgiving dinner and catching up over pumpkin trifle
-My mom & boss backing me up with those mean mothers
-2 community kids who were "first timers" to church having a blast and leaving with a smile on their face
-Pumpkin pancakes for dinner Saturday night
-an evening of painting
-Coffee & "Church" with Samuel & Stephanie this morning in LA!
-A new-to-me FREE surfboard in my garage
-a BEAUTIFUL, clear, warm day

Ok..clearly this weekend was incredible...what was I thinking, trying to complain??

Living.

Health

by Rafael Campo 

While jogging on the treadmill at the gym,

that exercise in getting nowhere fast,

I realized we need a health pandemic.

Obesity writ large no more, Alzheimer's

forgotten, we could live carefree again.

We'd chant the painted shaman's sweaty oaths,

We'd kiss the awful relics of the saints,

we'd sip the bitter tea from twisted roots,

we'd listen to our grandmothers' advice.

We'd understand the moonlight's whispering.

We'd exercise by making love outside, 

and afterwards, while thinking only of

how much we'd lived in just one moment's time,

forgive ourselves for wanting something more:

to praise the memory of long-lost need,

or not to live forever in a world 

made painless by our incurable joy.

Here's to savoring Life!

Seemed appropro for today

Enough by Jeffrey Harrison  It's a gift, this cloudless November morning warm enough for you to walk without a jacket along your favorite path. The rhythmic shushing of your feet through fallen leaves should be  enough to quiet the mind, so it surprises you  when you catch yourself telling off your boss for a decade of accumulated injustices, all the things you've never said circling inside you. It's the rising wind that pulls you out of it, and you look up to see a cloud of leaves swirling in sunlight, flickering against the blue and rising above the treetops, as if the whole day were sighing, Let it go, let it go, for this moment at least, let it all go.

If you aren't a fan now...

I especially love the part about passing it down from fathers to daughters...gets me every time!

Sorry about the quality, it's cleanest I've been able to find so far!

Ray Lamontagne

The man is a genius.  His music speaks to my soul in ways that few musicians have.  What I find so incredible about him, is he didn't initially set out to be a musician.  While working in a factory, he heard Stephen Stills', "Treetop Fliers", and thought, "I could do that too," and yes, yes he can.

In a small way, Ray Lamontagne has made my life a little richer.  His music feels like a warm, cozy blanket on a drizzly, foggy morning.

While listening to him this morning, I was wondering what the world would be like if we followed our hearts.  What would happen if we did those things that made us happy, regardless of the risk involved?

Here's to the heart-followers....we definitely need more of them!

God works in INCREDIBLE ways!

Ok - this is bound to be a long post, but here it goes!

I previously mentioned that I met up with my YWAM friends at the youth ministries convention in San Diego a few weeks ago...what I didn't mention is that they invited me to go on an incredible mission trip to Mumbai, India!

YWAM (Youth With A Mission) is a world-wide organization that serves the community in which each base is located as well as teaching people through their discipleship training schools (5 month long courses/outreach opportunities) and mission adventures (1 week long programs of learning evangelism/witnessing & outreach opportunities).  The Las Vegas base is starting a new discipleship training school focused on human trafficking.  At the end of it, they are taking 2 outreach trips to Thailand and to India.  They have invited me to come along to the one in Mumbai!  We are going to be working with victims of human trafficking, running a "vacation bible school" program, and teaching in schools & churches...It's going to be nothing short of life-changing.

Saturday afternoon during the youth convention, they invited me to come, but it's May 20-June 4.  The 2 weeks prior to Finals.  Normally, my practical self would have said, "Thanks, but no thanks." But not this time.  The idea was still toying in the back of my head.  I was trying to answer the question - why are we in each other's lives? Why have they made such an impact in mine when I've barely spent any time with them?  Saturday night I prayed about it, Sunday morning I prayed about it.  And when we went out for dessert, I told them I was going.  (Bold!)

I came home and emailed my advisor & head of the graduate program at my university asking for a meeting to talk to her about how feasible the trip would be.  We met a few days later and she didn't say no! She was going to present my case to the rest of the faculty at fac. meeting next week and they would either sanction the trip or not.

This past week I've wavered between being scared out of my mind to leaping out of my skin with excitement.  I've prayed that God would either open doors or close doors and that He would put me where He wants me.  I specifically asked God to let this faculty meeting be my "fleece" - If they said "yes" - green light, "no" meant it wasn't meant to be.

AND

I got an email this morning telling me they have approved my trip!! They are going to let me go!!

So now, comes the true leap of faith.

As posted earlier, nothing has changed in my financial status.  But I truly feel that God is telling me to walk by faith, that He is going to take care of this for me, that I need not worry.

Just because I'm not worrying doesn't mean money is going to suddenly grow on trees, but I'm currently trying to come up with ways of fundraising.

So far - I've got a garage sale, odd jobs, and recycling.  I might make greeting cards & thank you cards too.  I'll make a few this weekend & post them next week.  I could also make my tea pots (super cheap & quick to make!)

Anyways - I'm bursting at the seems with excitement and had to share!  Have a fun weekend & GO GIANTS!! (National League Championship Series starts tomorrow afternoon!)

Hope to meet little ones like her!

Fantastic Day

It's incredible how sleeping in an extra hour (even if I'm still waking up at 6:30) can feel SOOO good.  I think it just started my day off right.  

Clinic went fantastically! I presented my oh-so-labored-over plans and my clinical instructor said that everything looked good and she presented some other materials that she was going to use and that I could conduct the therapy sessions, and she would jump in if it seemed like I needed help! Yay!!  I had a BLAST.  The patients were tough, but really intriguing.  Speech Pathology in the rehab setting is SOO much more stimulating than in the school setting.  The kids are great and I LOVE them, but the brain is beginning to really intrigue me.  I would love to do my externship in an acute setting...we shall see.

I had to run over to Redlands for an errand, and since I had some time & my giftcards, I stopped at Barnes & Noble.  I NEVER have time and totally enjoyed perusing the books.  I picked up a book my aunt recommended to me months ago, West of Jesus.  It's about a man's spiritual journey through surfing...awesome.  And Len Sweet's new book, Nudge.  I also bought Ray Lamontagne's newest album...currently listening to it now.

I really needed today.  The past 2 weeks, I've been questioning why I'm in the Master's Program and if I'm really cut out for it. I definitely underestimated how much work it was going to be.  It's not necessarily hard, it just requires a lot more critical thinking. The first clinic day was completely overwhelming.  The past few weeks, I've felt like I've been barely hanging on between balancing school and work.  I feel like I've been "half-assing" both because I haven't figured out how to do both well simultaneously...But tonight, I have realized that I do belong in grad school and everything will slowly figure it's self out.  I just gotta keep putting one foot in front of the other & do it well. 

Sarah Von's Karma Cards

I couldn't resist...

Just a little diddy to start your day.

Black & Orange Till I Die!

5 Years Time

This song just makes me happy.

Break Time's Up!

I just came across this time-lapse video of San Francisco that I just had to share...2 of my favorite loves in 1! (Time-lapse photography & San Francisco)

Slinkachu, a London-based photographer, created this for his Small People Project. He uses a tilt-shift effect which makes San Francisco & San Franciscans look miniature...Enjoy!

San Francisco: The Miniature City from MINIMUS on Vimeo.

Quick Hello!

Because I was gone this weekend - Friday until Monday morning (12:30am), I have been playing a lot of catch up in school as well as trying to articulate my goals for my ministry at work and figuring out how to make this goals happen, I have neglected my blog.  So this week, I am taking a break from blogging and will be posting more regularly next week! (I've got lots to say!)

But in the meantime, here are a few quick thoughts:

1) Youth Specialties was incredible! I was re-charged in my personal spiritual life and gained some great ideas for my ministry.  I also got to meet up with my YWAM LV friends...blogged about here.  We fed our faces at Extraordinaire Desserts and enjoyed each others' company.  It's so crazy to think they are still in my life.

2) If you are a praying person, please pray for me.  Please pray that God guides my ministry and that it's effective.  I am stoked on working with youth & kiddos.  However, I'm not quite sure how or where the rubber is going to meet the road.  I am in the process of re-vamping my program and I am really hoping that somehow I find the time & energy....

Weekend!

I've got a busy weekend coming up, but it should be a great one!  Today, I need to work on some school projects, study, and maybe look over some material/take a practice test for the CBEST.

Saturday, I'm taking the CBEST, then I'm off to San Diego for Youth Specialties, a huge youth ministries convention.  I found out last weekend that I'm going.  At first, I was kind of upset about having to go. (I have to really protect my time off, or I will get NONE) But then, I found out my friends from YWAM Las Vegas are going to be there!  I started looking into the program more and realized it's going to be a really good experience for me at the perfect time. (I'm nearing burn-out)  I will be there until late Sunday night...possibly Monday morning.  I also heard that there are a ton of freebies...even better!


It's the last weekend of regular season baseball.  So, I thought I'd leave you with a picture of my favorite!

#28 Buster Posey
sfgiants.com

p.s. Buster, I'm still waiting for your phone call ;)

Sometimes...

.....We just need more of these in our day.

weheartit.com

Support System.

I got to school a bit early, and a group of my classmates were hanging out waiting for class to start.  We shared a few laughs and then headed into the classroom.  As we received our syllabi and read through the course requirements, I couldn't help but be a bit daunted by what I read.  But as we left the class together, again, laughing, I realized what an incredible class I am a part of.  With just a few days in, it feels like we are already a pretty tight group.  As the year gets tougher, I already know we've got each others' backs.  It's a heartening feeling.

As support/friend groups go, it seems there are some key players:

-The Butt-Kicker:  This person tells it to ya straight, no matter how much it's gonna hurt.  They bring you back to reality.

-The Cheerleader:  pretty straight forward...This person always has an encouraging word or two

-The Human Google.com:  This is your go-to person for any knowledge/information/advice

-The Spontaneous Fun-Maker:  This person is up for ANYTHING and does EVERYTHING, a little bit crazy, but always a good time!

-The Comic:  I do not know anyone who doesn't like laughing.  Comic=indispensable 

-The Guilty Pleasure Sharer:  How much fun would watching reality shows & eating peanut butter covered oreos be without this person in your life?

I'm sure as you are reading this, you've already pegged some in your support system. Am I missing any other key players?

One of my favorite pictures of a pretty rad support group,
not current classmates, but these girls know a thing or two about rockin the support system!

Reflection

As a student, it's so easy to get caught up in assignments and deadlines.  This summer, Dr. Wil urged me to take some time in reflection of how my courses and clinics are affecting in me, and what changes are happening in my way of thinking.  

Today, I was reminded of that when a professor asked us to write down what the greatest thing we learned today was or what is still unclear for us.  She said a lot of the same things Dr. Wil said this summer, "We learn information and we study information, but rarely do we think deeply about information."

As I'm reflecting even more, I realize how easy it is even in regular life to miss out on reflection.  I just finished a book yesterday and have already moved on to another.  I know I enjoyed the book while it lasted, but I didn't really stop to think about what I really liked about the book, what I didn't like about the book, if the book has changed any ways of my thinking, etc...And that's just one example!

Dr. Wil is the wisest person I know and I think this is because he spends time reflecting.  Wisdom comes from experience, but if one doesn't think about his experiences, how will he grow?

love the balloon reflection!
wehearit.com

Great First Day of Grad School!

Ok, maybe it wasn't a true first day, but still... I think this year is going to be a blast!

Our first class was canceled because of the school-wide "Welcome Back Bash"/Orientation Day...I was not complaining!

After the "Bash", a couple of my classmates & I headed over to a local coffee shop with free Swing dancing on Monday nights.  I had never been before and had a blast!  We decided after class on Mondays, we are going to come.

I'm a bit nervous, I've got orientation for clinic at a rehab hospital tomorrow.  I've never worked with adults before.  To be honest, the whole setting is completely intimidating to me.  This clinic is the one I'm the least confident/don't feel prepared for, but I'm glad I've got it first quarter - I'm going to jump right in without checking the water!  I'm also kind of excited because it is something completely new for me ~ who knows ~ I could love it!

Just what I needed.

Yesterday, I did get to go to the ocean! I had such a great day.  The weather was beautiful and the water was so warm!  For me, it was one of the most relaxing days I've had at the beach all summer.  We weren't in a rush to get out there and once we were, there was no agenda or any time constraints.  We didn't roast marshmallows, but we stayed until the sun set. We got back relatively early which meant an early bedtime for me!  I got up this morning and went to yoga and had a great workout.

Kait, Jenn, & I

The beach was such a great way to end the week & yoga was such a great way to begin this coming week!  I am feeling pumped & ready to start grad. school classes!

Weekend.

wehearit.com

I am hoping to get back down to the ocean tomorrow afternoon.  We had such a great time last weekend and the day was absolutely beautiful.  As I was packing up to head to the concert, I almost wished we could have stayed at the beach a little longer.  The concert was great.  Donavon is so laid back and he drew a really chill crowd, a lot of hippies and scruffy surfers.  I've gone to reggae/surf culture-type concerts before and have always been surprised at the hipsters that were there, but not with Donavon's crowd...everyone was fantastic.  (Not that hipsters are bad people, just a bit intimidating to me) 


Anyways, I'm hoping to spend the afternoon & evening down there, maybe with a fire & some marshmallows...we shall see!

Donavon Wanna-be's!

Today...

...I cut a rug!

 I was feelin it all day and had a blast!  I rocked out in my car, danced in the office, and grooved at home.  What a fun day!

Do you ever have days like these?

A question...

...to ask yourself:  Why is today going to be an amazing day?

weheartit.com

A little thought for your new week.

"Look, I really don't want to wax 
philosophic, but I will say that if you're 

alive, you got to flap your arms and legs, you got to jump around a lot, you got to make a lot of noise, because life is the very opposite of death.  And therefore, as I see it, if you're quiet, you're not living.  You've got to be noisy, or at least your thoughts should be noisy and colorful and lively."                - Mel Brooks

Weekend.

Tomorrow I'm heading to the beach with friends for some surf.  In the evening, we will be catching Donavon Frankenreiter, one of my faves, for a free concert at the Orange Co. Great Park.  I'm looking forward to sand between my toes, paddlin' out, and a picnic & great tunes on the runway!

The San Francisco Giants.

I am not entirely sure how to put into words what baseball is to me.  I love to play it, I love to watch it, I love to read about it, and I love to study it.  When times are good, my heart soars.  When times are bad, don't even mention it.  I feel the exhilaration of a much-needed win and the depression of an untimely loss.  

Right now - I am more than excited about the sport, and especially my favorite team, the San Francisco Giants.  As the season is winding down, they are neck & neck with the Padres for first place, as well as the Braves for the Wild Card.  The Giants are on fire and I can only hope that they make it to the first round of play-offs.

my fellow lover of all things giants

P.S. Buster, if you are reading this and wondering, the answer is Yes, Yes I would love to go out with you!

Parenthood.

Last night was the season premiere of Parenthood.  I started watching it this summer. My mom had a few recorded, and when there was nothing else going on, I watched them.  I quickly became a fan for 3 reasons:

1) Max, a 10 year old, has aspberger's.  He does an excellent job of portraying autism.  I love how realistic it is from the actual goals & interactions between him & his ABA therapist, to how the rest of the family is coping.

2) The houses in this show are fantastic.  I love how each one is decorated differently.  My favorites are Craig T. Nelson's house and Dax's houseboat.  Nelson's house has a fantastic garden and I just love the kitchen.  I've always wanted to live on a boat, and if I could, I would pick Dax's -  lots of bright colors.

3) The show is set in the Bay Area. Enough said.

Sadly, I could not find any pictures

Something New

Tonight, my cousin took me for Pakistani food.  

I was stoked!  I was planning on trying out a kickboxing class at my gym for my "something new", but messed up on the class time, so I missed it.  

This afternoon I racked my brain for a new experience.  The best I could come up with was to try out a new coffee shop...but in all honesty, that's not really a "new" experience.  

When my cousin suggested we meet up for Pakistani grub, it solved my conundrum!  I quickly learned Pakistani cuisine is pretty much the same as Indian cuisine, so it may not have been entirely new - but I went to a new restaurant and learned something new! 

The food was really tasty and I'm excited about my leftovers for lunch tomorrow!

Adventure

I am seriously craving some right now... So, tomorrow, I'm going to do something completely new...

In the meantime, how neat would this be...talk about adventure.



Advertisement from Levi

A bit of a rant and maybe some rambling...

I called Wil yesterday to find out when we could meet again.  During the quick conversation, he told me he had a funeral to attend on Sunday.  It wasn't his words or his language, but the pathos in his voice that alerted me to it being a sad one.  His voice was solemn and matter of fact, yet filled with love.

After the phone call, I pondered how our culture is an "extreme" culture...That sandwich was the best, most delicious sandwich I've ever had in my life; That was the worst experience of my life;  It was the prettiest, most luxurious rug ever, this cup of coffee is amazing (it seems everyone says amazing for EVERYTHING, it's a pet peeve of mine).

Those simple sentences are filled with so much drama!  It seems we are always at competition with one another for having the best or worst - everything is described in extremes.  I'm guilty of it too.

Maybe the key is love.  Maybe if my interactions with others came from a place of love, I wouldn't feel the need to compete.  Others would understand from the love and genuineness in my voice.

from weheartit.com

Weekend.

A few years ago, I remember planning my weekends on Monday.  I made sure I had plans for at LEAST Saturday night, if not both Friday & Saturday evenings.  I remember feeling pressure to plan SOMETHING, ANYTHING...It was like social like suicide or something to be home during the weekend.  

As I sit here relishing in not having any set plans this weekend, I feel completely content.  Aside from work tomorrow, I have the whole weekend to spend as I choose.  I like to think this shift in perspective is due to sophistication ;)

Wishes of Weekend Contentment to you!

A fantastic, younger picture of my favorite sophisticated lady, Diane Keaton
image via clydeandbonnie.com

Fall is here, Summer is officially over.

This past week I have been mourning the end of summer.  Four things this week have alerted me to the fact that indeed, fall is here.

1) At our work meeting, we have officially begun planning programming based on the school calendar.

2) The weather has cooled down immensely.  Sun dresses have been quickly traded for sweaters and leggings.  Yesterday, it drizzled all morning.

3) My brother left for college.

4) I had clinic orientation on Tuesday, and began screening clinic today. 

So long summer, thanks for all the fun!

San Onofre, Camp Peddleton July '10

Because I'm broke as a joke...

I have been brainstorming things I can do for cheap fun for the next few months and here are 15 very cheap ideas:

- Game nights
- Sunday morning pancakes
- Play in a park (when it finally cools below 100+ degrees!)
-Swim
-Volunteer
-Garden
-Movie nights  (Netflix is rather inexpensive)
-Farmer's Market/Street Fair perusing
-New classes at the gym
-Hike
-Peruse Barnes & Noble
-Potluck meals with friends
-Beach  (if only it wasn't so far away...)
-Take pictures
-Call a friend

photo from weheartit.com

What do you do for cheap fun?

Muscles!

Today I helped a friend move into her first apartment by herself.  After lugging box after box in 108 degrees, she can now start unpacking & decorating.  I am so excited for her to take this big step and going out on her own!

Thursday night is Yoga night and I had a BLAST! I LOVE power yoga...it's a vinyasa yoga with weights and it's done to super up-beat music.  I try to go every Thursday night, and for the past month or so, it's been ok, but not as invigorating as it used to be for me.  But tonight, the instructor pushed us hard & she had an incredible mix with new songs, and I fell in love all over again.

Maybe 1 day I will be able to do this
Photo from contestqueen.com

Happiness

 A fresh TED talk proposed that these are the 5 keys to living a fulfilled life.


1) Connect with others


2) Be Active


3) Take Notice


4) Keep Learning


5) Give




Check this talk out, it's not really about happiness at all, but sustainability of our planet.

from englishbaby.com

The good news is...

...boring days come, and then they go.  It was just kind of an "eh" day.

But I discovered a new-to-me song today, which is simply beautiful and now I kinda want to fall in love.  Can you believe this is Pink!??

TV & Cobbler

My "I'm glad I lived today" moment is happening now.  My family and I are sitting around the tv (all on our computers of course) watching "America's Got Talent" and we are cracking jokes, making snide comments, singing, dancing.

I also was stoked that the peaches I bought last week are beyond ripe, which means only 1 thing ~ Peach Cobbler!

sick.

Yesterday I woke up with a scratchy throat and downed some emergen-C and airborne right away.  I drank as much water as I could possibly stomach...but one is supposed to do that anyways in 110+ weather, so I don't think it did much to flush the sick out.  I called it an early night, but was awoken by a runny nose many times through the night.  This morning I woke up feeling worse, but am so glad that I have absolutely nothing to do and can hopefully sleep this little bother off.

Needless to say, (but I'm saying it anyways) I'm trading in "Beach Fridays" for a day in my bed.  If only I could have this cradle to laze in!

image from Busyboo.com

Have a lovely weekend!

It happens to the best of us...

I've been a wee bit discouraged about my body lately.  I always put on a few extra pounds (which are noticeable on my petite frame) during the carefree summer months, and usually towards the middle of every August I buckle down and exercise more regularly and eat way healthier.

Tonight, while walking Shaka, I realized how lame it is that I am agonizing over a few pounds and started thinking about how awesome my body truly is.  For starters, my body totally swept, vacuumed, and mopped the entire downstairs.  It also did 45 minutes on the elliptical & the hamstring weight machine for 15 minutes.  It came up with some awesome ideas for my lesson plan this week, It took in a beautiful sunset, and tasted a juicy chunk of watermelon.  Did I mention that it also enjoyed a quick dip in the pool? My body's pretty rad, I don't think I'll be so hard on it.

She wasn't!

This picture is oh, so cool for so very many reasons.

Ode to the Siesta

Today was hot, 111 degrees to be exact.  After a busy morning & early afternoon, I gave in.  I took a nap.  It was too hot to do anything else productive, so I caught up on my z's.  And how completely refreshing it was!  Why don't we partake in regular siestas here in the states?  It makes perfect sense during the summer when it is just too hot to do anything else!

I just saw this before posting and absolutely died...it is more than adorable, I had to share it!...Billy Collin's Litany A three year old reciting beautiful poetry, posted by the lovely Joanna Goddard from Cup of Joe.

Sugar Daddy

Every August, our family goes to Campland by the Bay, an RV resort in San Diego.  The resort has scheduled daily activities and evening entertainment.  One night, Manny (my 9 year old cousin) rode his bike up to me and asked if I was going to the DJ dance party.  I then jokingly asked if he was going to take me.  He said he was and that it was a date.  About an hour before the dance, he came up, showered, wearing new clothes, cologne, and a necklace...all ready to go!

When the time came, we walked over to the cafe, where he bought me ice cream (his dad gave him money).  We ate our ice cream outside of the dance and watched for a bit.  He showed me a few of his moves, then we walked back. There is always something that marks that particular year that the rest of our family uses to recall that year...This past year was, "Remember the year Manny took Caiti on a date?"

Tonight, we went over to Manny's birthday party at the local pizza place/arcade.  Halfway through dinner he came over to the table and presented me with a ring he won from the prize machine...This kid is one smooth little guy!  Watch out ladies!

Beach Fridays.

Today was another excellent day.  Late this afternoon, some friends and I decided to head down to the beach for a bit to just smell the ocean air, feel the salt breeze, and warm sand. I was able to get in a long walk on the shore which is exactly what I needed today.  I really wanted some time to think and ponder over the conversation Wil and I had yesterday as well as think about the film I watched last night.  By the time I got back, they were ready for dinner, so we headed into town for pizza and then drove home.  I decided I'm going to try and do this as many Fridays as possible.

Also, I joined another online community this morning which I am pretty excited about.  Yesterday, Chelsea  from Love, Chelsea Lauren posted on her blog a neat little opportunity to love on someone who is going through some tough stuff, just by leaving her a "love bomb" via blog comment.   So, of course, I went ahead and dropped a love bomb, and looked a little further into it. Drop A Love Bomb is part of a greater community called ItStartsWith.Us which sends out "15 minute missions" to its community members to just love on others - Talk about a powerful social network!!  Missions are anywhere from writing to children in the hospital to Love bombs...

This couldn't have come at a perfect time.  During our conversation, Wil asked how I felt about the future, and I answered that I had trepidations, but he thinks that our generation has much hope because we are thinking independently, we are listening to each other, as well as talking to one another, and that we believe we can truly change the world, and he thinks we can too...and this is where it starts...with us.

Eat, Pray, Love.

I did all three of those things today...


Yet another great day.  I guess it's easy to be thankful for my life when I'm finally getting some sort of summer break!


I started my project with Wil today.  We only met for about 45 minutes, but conversation was rich.  I haven't uploaded onto my computer yet, or listened to it, but all throughout the day I have been pondering what we talked about.  As the project progresses, I am eager to share what I'm learning.  If you could ask a "Tuesdays with Morrie" kind of guy (He's 89!) any question, what would it be?


I also spent a few hours at the office and met with my boss.  Things could be looking quite different for me in the next month...I'm curious to see what's in store for me.


My mom and I met my aunt & cousin for dinner and a movie.  We had a delicious dinner, followed by a delicious movie - Eat, Pray, Love.  Two summers ago on our Mediterranean cruise, we all read the book and ate at the famed, Pizzeria de Michele....Tonight was a fun night.  


Wow...I'm really glad I lived today.

and then it hit me.

Tonight I was re-capping the day, trying to figure out what my, "Man, I'm really glad I lived today" moment was, when I realized I've had a day I've always dreamed about...Today, was a - "I can't believe this is my life" day.  Please, let me share ;)

This morning I slept in until about 8:30, then I went to the gym.  Came home, ate breakfast, had a cup of coffee, worked on things at home, then met a friend for lunch at my favorite local spot, and ran errands, went to work for a bit, came home, watched the ball game with brother (sadly, Giants lost), ate a fabulous dinner (Tilapia with mango-pineapple salsa), watched a netflix movie with mom, and took Shaka for her nightly walk...

It included a little bit of everything - QT with family, friend, work, productivity, and exercise...not to mention GREAT food....What a lucky girl am I.

Pesto

Tonight I made dinner...nothing special, just my pesto with penne, chicken, & sun dried tomatoes, and a salad.  But I set the table.  I couldn't remember the last time the three of us sat around the table and shared a meal at home.  Another night of love and laughter shared.

I'm really glad I lived today.

Almost two weeks ago I had a great conversation with a fantastic friend.  As we were talking, we realized we didn't want to settle for ordinary lives and that we wanted to live the most out of each day...or at the very least, appreciate each day.  During the course of the conversation, I said, "How great would it be if at the end of every day, I said, 'Man, I'm really glad I lived today."  And so now, in an effort to keep myself accountable, I'm going to chronicle the moments of each day that make me stop and say, "I'm really glad I lived today."


This evening we went over to our dear friends, the Johnsons, for Darla's birthday.  Whenever we get together with them, we laugh and laugh until our bellies ache and tears are streaming down our faces.  I'm really glad I lived today to spend last evening with them!


(Sorry...internet is not letting me upload photos...maybe tomorrow night!)