Boardwalk To Eden

Juice Me:

2012-02-10T14:50:00.000-08:00

I am probably the biggest documentary fanatic out there, especially when it comes to blogging about them. Trust me, I have other hobbies! I walk my pup, Turbo daily, I read for over an hour every night & I also like to partake in the elliptical at lunch. These are just every day hobbies, not mentioning the camping, diving, hiking, climbing, swimming, jumping, skipping & singing I love to do on weekends. But, with that said, there is a new documentary in my heart. Continuing with my love of this earth, my body & what is real, here's a documentary about feeding your body real food. It's called Fat Sick and Nearly Dead & it's mainly about juicing!

Now, with the universe & it's crazy cool way of working, I have a bit more news & linkage for you. This morning as I was browsing my Pinterest homepage for inspiration, recipes & such, I came across a delightful link to the most beautiful Strawberry Mint Spritzer. It wasn't just the recipe that intrigued me though, it was the blog itself. The language used & the links I saw. So, I began clicking away. & just what did I find? Well, I saw a post titled, Health Benefits of Juice Feasting. You heard right, feasting, not fasting. A key word which makes everything so clear & yummy sounding. While juicing, you are getting the same amount of calories you normally would, but on top of that, you're getting a feast-full of nutrients directly to your blood stream with no fiber to process. You are filling your body with more good than you could ever imagine & it will thank you for that. & that's just what Linda's site is. It's a blog filled with recipes to fuel your body, each being a feast of nutrient rich, delicious food!

I'm sold. I've been sold on this idea for quite some time, but this was the straw that broke my back. On top of this documentary, I've found this amazing blog & that's really all I needed to try this. Before moving to Seattle in June I plan on doing a 10 day juice cleanse. Once we move, I'd like to try an extended juice cleanse to reset my system & prepare it for a life without a fridge filled with condiments. {more on that later} Until then I'll be trying some of her other recipes out, such as Cauliflower Pizza Crust & Baked Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs. Don't those look amazing? I love me some spaghetti squash! & this is the perfect answer to my pizza dilemma! I can't wait to try them both out.

Time-Out:

2012-02-02T11:25:00.000-08:00

Why, hello there empty computer screen which I am to type on as if speaking to an audience. How has your week been? Oh, blank you say? Sorry about that, I'll try to pay more attention to you, it's just that life get's in the way. & here is a bit of that for you.

Turbo, the first child of myself & Mike, is now four months old. With that came his rabies shot, access to dog parks & time for training! Lucky him. Last night while out getting his food, as he searched for long lost goodies under the racks in the stores I found myself a little piece of doggy training. A manual, if you will, on how to Train Your Dog Like a Pro. Instead of stories & technicalities, this book is at it's best a step by step guide on the technique used to train your pup. I cannot wait to work on this with Turbo! It has a DVD with step by step visuals on what you are going to be working on which I'll watch tonight & hopefully after his walk I can even get a training session in!

Since Turbo already has "sit" pretty much down, I'm going to continue working with that & begin incorporating the other first level commands. Sounds so official!

Oh well, that's what's been happening here. Fun times in the land of puppy-hood!

Kinda Wordless:

2012-02-01T13:19:00.000-08:00

INGREDIENTS:

2012-01-27T10:19:00.000-08:00

Every so often I like to browse the documentaries section on Netflix Instant Watch. As I was doing so earlier this week I stumbled upon a film called "INGREDIENTS." Along with it's bold type & great description, this film was my weakness. I know that I'm passionate about something when as I'm watching or reading I feel a welling sensation & a weight on my chest. I don't necessarily tear up, but it's close. & when it comes to this, to local food, to the environment, I'm a sucker.

"American food is in a state of crisis, but a movement to put good food back on the table is emerging. What began 30 years ago with chefs demanding better flavor, has inspired consumers to seek relationships with nearby farmers. This is local food."

Like Alice Waters, a chef & the founder of the Chez Panisse Foundation & the Edible Schoolyard program, I too went on a journey to France at the age of 19 with art school. We had many "free days" in Paris where we could roam around & explore the city. While there, I discovered the joy that I get from local food. Standing in line at the bakery for a fresh baguette, smelling all the fresh fruits & vegetables at the market, talking with the farmers & people who ran the shops & markets. We even had the chance to explore the vineyards of some of South France's most tasty wines. & from then on, I was smitten.

When I got home I discovered our own cities farmers market. I became more & more aware of the idea of fresh local food as compared to the grocery store & it's produce which usually has labels like "Argentina" or "Columbia," & processed foods.

As I took some time off of school to figure out just what it is that I'm supposed to be doing with myself, I began to write. Most of the characters in my stories had a close relationship to their home town, their land, their earth & community. With our move to Seattle approaching I began pushing more & more on what it is that I'm going to major in. After so many months of thinking & arguing with myself, I settled on a plan more fitting than anything I could have dreamed of. Environmental Studies was my answer. & while it sounds like such a broad degree there are schools & cities such as Santa Cruz who specialize in Environmental Agriculture. This is my dream. & while it seems so far away for me, I have a goal finally & that's all I really need.

I dream of working for a non profit organization, growing my own garden, having bees & chickens. I dream of lovely meals every night from local food, where I can sit around with my family & know that they're eating quality ingredients. Know that I'm not only feeding them & their spirits but also this earth. By supporting the local growth movement & it's respect for the natural process. I dream of change & change will not happen unless you're willing to do something different. This is me doing something different. This is me, feeding my spirit, my passions, my earth, our earth. & even if it sounds ridiculously corny to you, I completely feel that this is important. & why wouldn't it be. Why wouldn't it matter what we put into our bodies? What we're essentially made of & what that's made of? I think it matters a great deal. & that is why I am completely passionate about this.

Time-Out:

2012-01-19T09:37:00.000-08:00

Here are some things that are truly inspiring me in 2012:

1. Pinterest, especially the food & health pins. They're really making me think more about how I feel about food more & more ... if that makes any sense.

2. Adventures with Mike & Turbo. Camping at the beach, hikes up Mt. Rubidoux.

3. Having Vivs help me name my bike. She really deserves love & I think if she has a name, I might be more apt to show her the love she deserves. So far we have "Bonnie" as a front-runner. Stay tuned for more bike love at the end of this post.

4. The holidays hurt me in a bad way but I've finally gotten over my sugar cravings. It's weird because I never have had a true sweet-tooth but the holidays tried to give me one. I'm also starting to lessen my portions. I only had one bar from my Nature Valley granola bar this morning, instead of both.

5. Fixing up my sit-up bench with Mike. I absolutely L-O-V-E that sit up bench. It's at a decline, so your head is lower than your knees. It's relatively small, so it can be stored in a closet or something like that & it really gives you the best ab work-out.

6. I've been kinda sorta doing my makeup a bit more than usual. & not like, over-doing it, more like, taking care of my face. I'm not a big foundation girl but today I used my tinted moisturizer, Benefit's You Rebel Light, & remembered why I love it so much! I don't feel like my skin is going to get hurt by the sun when I wear this stuff & it really does even out my skin tone.

7. This might sound kinda silly but I started doing my squats again. Every time I use the restroom while I'm at work, before I come out I do 10 squats. It's something my coworkers friend told her to do & she passed it on to me.

Whelp, that's all for today. 2012 looks like it's going to be a fantastic year! I've already done so much & feel like a lot more is going to get done. I've been in the Spring cleaning mood, so I may do that soon. I've also started reading the Hunger Games & cant put it down! But before I go, I have to leave you with a lovely little story of a bike & a girl. Vivs had this on her blog & I had to re-share it. Kisses!

Fantastic:

2012-01-13T16:19:00.000-08:00

This weekend will be fantabulously fantastic. Yup, that's a word! Anywho, tomorrow night me, Mike & our pup, Turbo will be camping on the beach at my favorite spot! It's not technically on the beach, but on the cliffs. There's also a shake shack across the street where we'll be having a fast food sunset dinner. So, expect photos, a lot of 'em! & I'll see you all back on Monday!

Time-Out:

2012-01-12T16:32:00.000-08:00

Boy, do I need a time out. Attention beagle lovers, high energy dogs are just that, high energy. While Turbo does live up to his name, he is one of the smartest dogs I've seen. His ability to learn is just amazing. His willingness, not as much. It's like, when I catch him off guard & teach him something, he gets it. But if he's focused on something like coming inside or eating, there is no way anything gets through to him. But that's okay because eventually we'll get "sit" down while he's walking & doing his thing & once it's in his brain he'll be able to "sit" before eating or before being let in the house {as opposed to jumping up & scratching my moms french doors}. So there, that's what I've been up to lately. Other than that, Mike is coming down to town again tonight. I hope he gets here early enough for me to take him out to a fabulous steak dinner because the guy sure does deserve one. He's really great. But yes, plenty adventure planned for the next week while he's down. Camping, dinner dates, possibly a couple trips to the Salty Pig or Hangar 24 for some brews, we'll see. All I know is that when he's around, I laugh. With Mike, I'm able to be my dorky self, smile non-stop, giggle-snort my heart out & he loves me more for it. But enough of that lovey-dovey mushy stuff. IT's about time for me to go home & face the Turbo. Goodnight folks!

Wardrobe:

2012-01-11T15:28:00.000-08:00

Hey there! Yep, that's me over there sportin' my brand new, fany-schmancy Kermit watch. & what's that covering the extent of my body? Oh, well that's just my $5 dress!

You see, post Christmas madness me & the mister decided to do a bit of shopping. He was in need of a good vest {which we'll get to later} & I was in need of a special little dress {black optional}. All of a sudden, I walk past a rack of clothing & behold this beauty. A strapless dress in a black floral print marked down 75% off it's original price. Oh & on that rack was a sign stating 50% off. Well, this also happened to be the only dress of it's kind on the rack & this clever little thing was in my size. So I nabbed it, tried it on, spun around in front of Mike & headed to the register to check out. This is where it get's good. You see, 75% off, plus 50% off brought me to a total of under $5. Add some tax onto that baby & we have here a $5 dress. I do give myself mad props for my shopping skills although later that night we ended up coming home with Turbo, who was nowhere near $5.

Happy shopping folks!

Tunes:

2012-01-10T15:59:00.000-08:00

This song wakes me up in the morning. Enjoy!

Musings:

2012-01-09T15:59:00.000-08:00

Dear Kermit,

Since 1985 you have gained a most loyal fan. You have enchanted, inspired & enlightened a spark inside of me that kept me dreaming throughout the years. Your movies kept me interested & amused as a child, your cartoon show, Muppet Babies, kept my interest as I got older. When I got to highschool & almost forgot you, you teamed up with the band Weezer for an album to remind me what I was missing. That magical spark that is The Muppets. You have never left my heart. When your tour of Muppet Studios opened at Disney's California Adventures I was swept into a land of full-on Muppet love! I then bought the second replication of you I would own to this day. When I was younger I had a Kermit puppet that you could stick your hand into and make talk. This new one was no 80's classic, but all the same, it reminded me of you & your amazing friends. When talk of my nephews first visit to Disneyland approached, a spark inside of me reignited. I rummaged through boxes, found that old doll & passed it on to Ryan. Before he was even able to see a tour of your studios though, The Muppets came out. A new movie for 2011 to remind the world of your brilliance. When we went to see this movie we brought our Kermit doll with us & it was just like you were there watching the movie with us! I laughed harder than I had in the longest time, cried tears of a forgotten childhood & saw the amazement on my nephews face as he witnessed his very first Muppet experience. On December 24th 2011, I was given the best gift any grownup Muppet lover could get, a watch with your face on it. My new Kermit watch took the place of that doll I passed down. It reminds me every day of the Rainbow Connection & more than anything, it reminds me of you Kermit. You banjo playing frog you. You with the voice of your creator, the man I share a birthday with. Your constant love, willingness to bring happiness to this world via song, dance, comedy & straight-up amusement. To this day, & for the rest of my life, you will have the most committed of any Muppet fan. But I am glad that you remain constant in this world, to inspire more, the lovers, the dreamers & me.

Yours Truly,
Cassandra A. Loynd, proud owner of 1 Kermit watch, 2 Muppet Show albums on vinyl & all of the Muppet movies. {except Muppets From Space & Muppet Treasure Island}

Fantastic:

2012-01-06T12:28:00.000-08:00

Happy Fantastic Friday everyone!

This Friday, I'm especially thankful for the amazing mister-man in my life, Mike. He's been such an inspiration, a muse & a crazy fun adventure buddy. Life with him has been a non-stop joy ride since we've met. Adopting Turbo together was like the icing on the cake for our first five months together & a great way for us to conclude the year of 2011. Sometimes I can be bratty, grumpy & flat out tired & unattached but I hope that he knows that I appreciate every day with him, even when he's not around.

Right now, while I'm sitting here eating my lunch at work, he's at the hardware store getting supplies to puppy proof my backyard. & tomorrow we get to have our very first official adventure with Turbo! I can't wait to see what kind of trouble we get ourselves into! TGIF!

Time-Out:

2012-01-05T11:10:00.000-08:00

What do you do to make a difference? How would you like to leave your mark on this world? Would you rather leave some obstructive material work that may fade in time, or would you rather make a change for the better? To leave this earth a little bit less affected by our cumbersome human lives?

As Gandhi once said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

"180° South: Conquerors of the Useless follows Jeff Johnson as he retraces the epic 1968 journey of his heroes Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins to Patagonia. Along the way he gets shipwrecked off Easter Island, surfs the longest wave of his life — and prepares himself for a rare ascent of Cerro Corcovado. Jeff's life turns when he meets up in a rainy hut with Chouinard and Tompkins who, once driven purely by a love of climbing and surfing, now value above all the experience of raw nature — and have come to Patagonia to spend their fortunes to protect it."

I stumble upon videos like this quite often. I'm not sure it's a coincidence because of how frequently this happens.

With the move to Washington approaching in June, I've been looking at options for my life up there. Careers at companies such as Evo, continuing my education & majoring in Environmental Studies, writing short stories, camping, skiing, hiking. I just really hope to make a name for myself up there. A life of my own. A journey. & with this life, this journey, I hope to be able to make a difference some day.

What are your passions in life? How would you like to make a difference?

Blog Schedule 2012:

2012-01-04T10:30:00.000-08:00

Monday Musings: I'd like to spend my Mondays on musings. Meaning, writing; whether it's poetry of some sort, a short story, a letter, a journal entry. I'd like to take the time to write & actually share what I write with you all.

Tuesday Tunes: On Tuesdays, I'd like to share with you some of my favorite music, an adventure to the record store, a new find, or simply a video I fancy.

Wardrobe Wednesday: Since I don't really do "What I Wore" posts, I'd like to share with you all an outfit a week from one of my many adventures. Since I do like to take photos & sometimes I end up in them, I'll use my adventure photos to showcase a bit of my wardrobe.

Time-Out Thurdays: I'd like to use Thursdays to take a time out & maybe do a random post in the middle-end of the week. Thursdays will be used for random ramblings, interviews, product showcases, features & anything else I'd like to blab, I mean blog about.

Fantastic Fridays: Aren't Friday's fantastic? Every Friday I'd like to do a little update post on what I'm thankful for in life & what's around the corner for the weekend. Hopefully I'll document these happenings so that I can share them with you the next week on Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays, depending on what I did that weekend.

In 2012, I pledge to be a better blogger. Not just for bloggings sake but in order to keep up with life. To document this year & future years, share stories, photos & thoughts with myself & this wonderful online community.

Full Force:

2012-01-03T10:59:00.000-08:00

Where o' where have I been?

Well, hello there everyone! Happy new year! We made it to 2012 & man o' man, did 2011 fly by! I had a busy year filled with travel, adventures, love & friendship but the busiest part of that year was spent the last two nights. Let me explain.

On Friday, December 30th, 2011 Mike & I adopted a three month old baby puppy. A beagle by the name of Turbo. He is what they call a chocolate beagle because he is brown tri-color. He has green eyes, a tiny little howl of a bark that he only uses when he wants to play & he loves to cuddle more than anything in this world.

Turbo likes long walks on the beach, or in the neighborhood, or anywhere. He likes 6ft lengths of thick ship rope. He loves my pillow, my lap, my hair, Mikes neck & feet.

Stay tuned for The Many Adventures of Turbo, coming 2012!

I really hope to get back into this blog with full force, hence the title. I feel like a lack of energy, lack of motivation, lack of inspiration & cause have kept me away from this little home of mine on the internet. With plenty of adventures planned for this next year I really hope to keep this thing updated & keep regular posts a'comin.

If you read this, thank you so much for being a true friend! I really appreciate the friends I've made online with this blog & I hope to keep them & make more. You guys & galls are just great!

Here's to 2012!

Tipping Barrles:

2011-12-14T11:11:00.000-08:00

"Tipping Barrels is a unique combination of surfing and environmental journalism that follows surfers Arran and Reid Jackson on a trip into the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest, where they learn more about the region and the issues confronting it." Check out pacificwild.org for more info! ♥

The Big City:

2011-12-01T15:36:00.001-08:00

Lately I've been ridiculously inspired by the big city. Growing up in the suburbs of Southern California, I never had a city to call my own. While Los Angeles is the "big city" of SoCal, it isn't really a true big city. The transit isn't in tip top shape, the culture isn't that strong & while it does have the tallest building west of the Mississippi, that doesn't make it feel like a big city. This being said, LA is growing into it's own skin.

At the age of 12 I had my first big city experience. Going to Chicago & getting to wander around downtown, taking cabs everywhere & exploring the buildings & restaurants with my family, I was able to first see that I had never truly known what it is to be in a big city. The culture had me. After that I was able to see the streets of San Francisco & eventually London, Edinburgh, Paris, Barcelona, Vancouver & finally, Seattle. All of these are amazing big cities & I was in love.

Spending two weeks in Paris was probably the best experience I've ever had. It was magic. Riding the metro every day, walking everywhere & anywhere. Living off the croissant & coffee we got for breakfast & a baguette & bag of oranges for dinner. Seeing the Louvre, the catacombs, the Eiffel Tower, Mont Martre. I was soaking it all in & right then, I found my passion. I knew that one day I'd live close to a big city. I'd write & explore. I'd probably work a shit job while I followed my passion. & I'd be perfectly happy doing so.

After starting this blog I met a few amazing friends, one being my lovely, dearest BBF {best blog friend} Vivs. She just so happens to live in San Francisco & after visiting her a few times I was enamored. In love with this idea all over again. You see, I had gone to Paris when I was just 19 & since then I have done a lot of living & possibly forgot my dream. But the spark was rekindled & for some reason I had it in me that Seattle would one day be the city I called my own. That was 2 years ago.

{photo via Tumblr}

While I had these dreams & aspirations, Vivs was plotting her own move. Straight east to New York City!

{photo via Tumblr}

With these dreams came speed bumps, as I like to call them. & while speed bumps, side tracked reroutes & life changes can seem to get in the way of these dreams, they really only make the keeping of goals that much stronger. If you can make it through a year & have so many things change in that year but still be set on that same path, you are going in the right direction. & that is that!

So, things have changed, life was weird for a while, but now I'm back on track & on my way to Seattle with my love, Mike. & Vivs has a whole new plan & strategy for New York! Go over & show her some love & encouragement. Also, if you want to read some amazingly inspiring words on big city life, check this out! & one more thing... No matter what your goals in life, your dreams, your aspirations, just remember that this is the life you're living & that you must take hold of it before it slips away! Keep in control of your own destiny & your own life, be brave & never, ever give up!

Living & Eating:

2011-11-30T10:35:00.001-08:00

"You live like this, sheltered, in a delicate world, and you believe you are living." Anaïs Nin

{photo found on Tumblr}

A craving set in this morning for a lumberjack breakfast. You know the kind; eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, endless coffee, toast of choice or full sized flapjacks. Set in a backwoods diner that serves the hungriest of men on a cold morning. Coffee to warm them up & start the day; strong, dark coffee.

While traveling the Alaskan Highway from Anchorage through Canada, my cousin & I stopped at many different backwoods diners that had some of the best breakfasts we could find. We'd start our day with good protein, carbs & plenty of caffeine to fuel the day-long drives from one small town to another. We rarely ate more than that on this trip & always met the most colorful characters at these stops. More than the food even, I think I crave this atmosphere. I crave the scent of the forest, the sound of constant running water. The wind in my hair from the rolled down windows on this amazing golden coast road trip.

Adventure is calling me, friends, & if you know me, you know that I can't stifle that craving for very long. I do have plenty adventure planned though. A weekend at the lighthouse in January with Mike, Yosemite in February with him again & a nice long southern states road trip before we move to Washington. I cannot wait for all this adventure. It's crying my name. The road is waiting & I will be there soon.

"If one advances confidently in the direction of their dreams, and endeavors to lead a life which they have imagined, they will meet a success unexpected in common hours." Henry David Thoreau

Mahna Mahna:

2011-11-28T13:29:00.001-08:00

I tend to ramble to the beat of my own drum. Although at times it sounds like some beat played by the muppet, Animal. You know the one, crazy hair, broken chains around his arms, the one Jack Black sponsored to get "clean" or, off drums. Yeah, that's my kind of beat. The funky rhythm of nothingness. The natural ebb & flow of flailing arms, asking for freedom from these chains that bind us. Just like these said chains, a 9-5 job keeps us restrained from pure joy, freedom & ultimate happiness. The pure bliss of making your own way, of building your own dream, of creating a life that you want to live rather than a life you are told to live. Surprisingly enough, Jim Henson himself was a big influence on me in this department. Blessing our television sets with The Muppet Show, The Muppet Movie, The Muppets Take Manhattan, Muppet Babies, not to mention Labyrinth & all the other movies & shows this creative genius bestowed upon our childhood. I grew up on this stuff & it inspired me & from that time forth, I knew I was meant to create. Although this blog is pretty quiet, I know that some of you are still listening & following along. I thank you for that. & rest assured this has not all been in vain. This is a year of transition for me, as a fortune cookie once told me & so it has been. I've grown stronger emotionally, physically, spiritually {or whatever you want to call it} & as a person. I have discovered myself & what I'm meant to do. Now is the time to embrace it.

Later this week I will show you all a bit of sneak peeks of what I've been creating with pencil & paper. I have been writing a lot too, so maybe I might show for the first time on this blog a snippet of my writing...scary!

Now, in the meantime I suggest you get yourselves over to This is Made by Hand & become inspired by all of these amazing craftsmen & women & their compelling stories! I'm looking forward to No. 3, The Beekeeper. I would love to have my very own mini farm/garden one day with bees, chickens, a veggie/herb garden & enough roots to keep my aching belly satisfied.

Oh & get your patooties to the theater as soon as you can & see The Muppets! Me & Kermit saw it with my mom, my brother, his wife & my nephew Ryan. {I had the honor of passing on my Kermit to my nephew!}

To Get & Give:

2011-11-23T11:45:00.001-08:00

Hello there blog world! {waving frantically} I have a bit of ramblings for you today & a pretty rad bit of guest blogging! The lovely Francesca from Ms. Vagabond's Thingomabobs is doing a super cool blog special for the holidays, Christmas Gift Ideas Under $50 & I was so kindly asked to participate! Her first set of ideas featured some awesome mustachio cookie cutters, a 3am notebook for those nights when you wake up randomly with a spectacular idea & some of the cutest decorative tape! I took the challenge & found some really neat stuff for under $50, so go check it out & leave her some blog love! She likes cider, macaroons, fashion, adventures, blogging & she's really just the cutest thing!

On to ramblings. With a strong focus on writing recently I've also been drawn to draw more. If any of you are new readers that's something you might not know about me. I used to have an Etsy shop but since my styles change so frequently I didn't keep it up. {I know, bad CaL} Inspired by youth, photography, hipster styles & a Coachella vibe {music fest, not the valley...although it's the same area} I've been doing a lot more realistic-ish people portraits. With hints of color added by watercolors as an after thought I'm really enjoying this. I tend to like drawing & being artistic when it's not asked of me. Which is why I think having a shop isn't my thing. Unless of course I end up creating a bunch of art people like for myself...then maybe I'd consider it. But I digress... My hands have been busy lately. Musings written onto paper, images of childhood teen dreams, wandering hearts & rambling souls have been occupying my time.

I also got my new Warby Parker glasses today! They're a bit crooked, but nothing that isn't the norm for glasses. All I have to do is take them to a shop & have them tweaked a bit to fit my face. Which I really shouldn't procrastinate on...but who am I kidding. Oh, hi!

Moving on... I'm dreaming of Seattle, the day Mike gets home, the holiday season & a future road trip. {near future} I'm also hoping for some new image capturing equipment & film so are to play with what I have. But that won't happen for a while. I'm currently saving for the big move next summer & don't want to blow big bucks where they aren't needed. I mean, when I say saving, I mean that my family's Christmas gifts this year will be pies in jars. Yup, I'm a cheapy!

Oh, & I cannot {for the life of me} get this song out of my head. "Requiem On Water" by Imperial Mammoth, thanks Breaking Dawn.

Droplets:

2011-11-21T15:08:00.001-08:00

Droplets of water rain down on my head.
As I walk through the woods.
Chips on the floor.
Pine in the air.
Rain on my shoulders.
Droplets of dew fall down on my neck.
Fall colored leaves.
Red ferns & more.
A wet shirt takes hold.
This ominous cold.
That makes way for the sights of the land.

I spent some time this weekend at the lighthouse with my mom. We took food to cook, wine to drink {which we never got to}, boots to hike in, pillows to sleep on & {for myself} a book to write in.

A relaxing weekend was necessary before this week of Thanksgiving. I have been thankful for many things & one of them is downtime. Time to contemplate, plan, negotiate {with myself}, ponder & pine for things to come. This week marks the beginning of my first holiday season with Mike. He will still be underway during Thanksgiving but come Christmas till New Years, I will get to spend some quality time with my fella. Between planning holidays with my mom & planning a move with Mike, I've had some downtime to plan a life for myself. Weighing the options of creativity versus education. While this has been a discussion of mine on here for some time, I have come to the realization that I have had a passion since I was a toddler & that this passion should be realized. Moving towards Seattle next summer will help me realize this passion of mine. Since part time work will be necessary, I hope to be able to gain some stories out of it. Travel & see the world & write all of your stories. But I digress. That photo {above} was my view during most of the drive home yesterday from the lighthouse. The rain sheltered me & comforted me & showed me that every droplet tells a story & that I am here to capture the untold stories of so many teeny tiny drops of water. My hopes are that big things are coming. I know that in a year I will have plenty of rain to inspire me but before then I hope to venture this chunk of land & see about getting some stories told.

For now, have a wonderful Monday evening. Burn some wood in the fireplace, simmer some cider on the stove, pluck the strings of a fine tuned instrument & doodle on your favorite paper with your favorite pen.

Thankful for 30: Day 10

2011-11-10T10:14:00.001-08:00

Today I am thankful for the written word. Books, magazines, blogs, literary journals, newspapers, diaries, even tweets. I get an overwhelming sense of joy when I walk into a library, a book store, when I see a stack of newspapers at Starbucks, waiting to be read. When I see magazines that publish short stories by unknown authors or read magazine articles written by a contributing author. When my friend Arthur tells me of his days, usually spent at a coffee shop, on his computer, writing away. There is just something so nostalgic about writing to me. I've always dreamt of one day being a writer in a big city. I'd take great pleasure in riding my bike to a different coffee shop every day, maybe a park for a change of pace. Lap top, pen & paper at the ready, I would begin to document what I see, how it makes me feel; the sights, the sounds, the smells of people, places & things. I would fall in love every day with strangers passing by, dogs on leashes, children in strollers. Maybe I would take my camera to snap a special shot of something magical & use that as inspiration. As a photo diary to accompany my written words. I would sip my espresso, my latte, my tea. I would maybe put on my headphones to hear a good tune. More than anything I would keep the inspiration alive. Traveling, exploring, taking adventures into unknown places, driving to nowhere & ending up somewhere magical. & then I would write some more. I could very well do this. I don't know why I haven't already. Maybe this is a sign that I should. The fact that I am thankful for it means that I should take full advantage of it. I am enamored, in love with this idea - so why not peruse it wholly, now. Maybe I will.

Thankful for 30: Days 4-9

2011-11-09T11:03:00.000-08:00

Since I have quite a bit of catching up to do, I thought I'd dedicate this post to my friends. You see, sometimes in life, things can get a little crazy. But, as the Beatles say "I get by with a little help from my friends." Seriously, all of these ladies & this awesome fella have been so good to me. Some I wish to know more & spend more time with. Three of these people I have met through blogging! One is blood. One I ave known since she was 3 & I was 6. One I have known since middle school & am lucky to continue to know her now & hope to remain friends with her for some time to come. What all of these people have in common, is a good heart, a good head on their shoulders & a strong compassion for life & pretty darn high standards & morals. With these people, I feel like I can say anything, share anything with them & always be comfortable with them. I hope to meet more of my favorite blog friends in real life because honestly I know some pretty amazing people & I can't imagine not ever meeting them. Anywho, I am thankful for these friends & excited to make more!

P.S. One of these amazing friends of mine is having a rad giveaway to celebrate her shop opening! Check it out & show my gall some love.

Thankful for 30: Day 3

2011-11-03T15:06:00.000-07:00

Today I am thankful for my brother, Mahlon. Not only for him, but the ability to work with him all these years so that we can do things like wood burn at lunch or random wood or welding projects he helps me with. I am thankful for him because he has made me as picky as any girl can be in her taste in men. He is the most kind, chivalrous, artistic, ourdoorsy, funny, cool, all around great guy you will ever meet. Being 5 years older than me, he also helped raise me & for that, I am very thankful. He has always been my best friend & whether or not we're having a small argument or not, he'd always run down a mountain to try & catch me. {which he has done...my fault for falling.} He keeps me on my toes, showing me the newest articles in National Geographic, wanting to climb all the local mountains before I move & basically having the same taste in everything as I do. Basically, he's rad & I wouldn't trade him for anything. Best big brother in the world award right here.

Thankful for 30: Day 2

2011-11-02T14:03:00.000-07:00

Today I am thankful for having been made & raised in California. I know this might seem contradictory to my desire to move to the Pacific Northwest but I know that deep down I will miss the taco stands, the beach, the summer heat, the bonfires at sunset, Santa Monica pier, Venice, the desert, Joshua Tree, Coachella, Anza Borrego, the tamale lady, the corn guy, the warmth of the sun, the palm trees, the California poppies, tumbleweeds, the wild west ghost towns, the high desert, the sand dunes, the caverns, Ruby's on the pier, Los Angeles, museums, Griffith Observatory, Disneyland, drive in movies, shorts, flip flops, tank tops, Hadley's, mini road trips with the windows down, knowing all the best camping sites, places to eat, things to do & people wherever I go. I am like a living breathing Southern California Thomas Guide, I can navigate the roads & get us anywhere I'd like to be. I am like a native tour guide who can show you all the hot spots & if any plans change, I can find us something to do. I know the lingo, I speak the language, I live & breathe California. & I am thankful to have grown up here & experienced this culture to it's fullest. It's time for a new adventure.

Thankful for 30: Day 1

2011-11-01T14:44:00.000-07:00

Today, the first day of my "Thankful for 30" series, I want to honor my cousin, my sister, my best friend, Amanda Jane. She is my inspiration, my motivation. She makes me want to be a better me, both physically & mentally. She is a dreamer, a lover & a great friend as well as an amazing person. I have so very thankful & honored to have Amanda as both my cousin & best friend!

Romantic Love:

2011-10-27T14:48:00.000-07:00

"Honey, everything is chemical. Everything is physical, and if you want, everything is spiritual. My answer is this: You can know every single ingredient in a piece of chocolate cake and still sit down and eat it and feel the joy. You can know every note in Beethoven’s Ninth and listen to it and reel with the pleasure. To me, understanding the system expands my wonder. In the wild, all animals are attracted to some other animals and really uninterested in or repelled by others — too old, too young, too scruffy. With the evolution of humanity, it became more refined and more profound and led to a phenomenon we call romantic love." Helen Fisher

I met Mike at the end of July. It must have been a summer destined for love because a week later he asked me out & the rest is history. Next May we will start an adventure together, moving out to live under the same roof. & that is less than a year from the time we met. I have dated before but this, this is romantic love.

Ripped in 30:

2011-10-25T14:07:00.000-07:00

Hello there!

I know it's been a while since I've did an actual post with real words & sentences...so here it goes. You read right, the title of this post is, in fact, Ripped in 30. & yes, that does indeed make me the insane one. Not to worry though! I've never been one for fad dieting or workouts...bleh, who wants that?! I'm all about eating clean, real food. No matter what you're eating, make sure it's real! & if you must have some processed goodies, make sure they're under five ingredients. Some of my favorites are Triscuits, Cheerios, Grape Nuts & Brown Rice Cakes. Anywho, since I'm not big on fad workouts or diets I am always timid when approaching something like Ripped in 30. After reading up on this on Jillian Michaels' own site, on Working Out & Eating In & by watching The Biggest Loser, I've decided to give this a try.

Yesterday was my first day & it was pretty dang intense. Not so much that I'd give up...I'm not one for giving up but going at Jillians pace was a little tough. I worked my way through it, sweating like I haven't sweat in years! Even though it's technically Fall, it was still above 80 degrees yesterday & that isn't the same as working out in a 72 or 68 degree gym. I've done hotter though, trust me. {cough*band camp*cough}

I'm excited for today's work out! I know it'll be just like yesterdays until I'm done with week one but her workouts are varied enough to keep you on your toes {literally}, & to not make the workouts only focus on certain areas of the body. When I woke up this morning I was sore, but it wasn't a pointed pain, it was more on an overall ache. Of course, I could feel certain things more when I move certain body parts, but that just motivates me even more knowing that this really works my body! So, week one ahoy! I'll get back to you on week two & three & then to tell the tail of my full four weeks of this program!

One thing I've noticed is that even though I am a pretty good eater {I don't eat too much junk}, I still have to make more choices that I wouldn't have done if I wasn't following her rules. I don't let any cheating fly right now, not during the first four weeks anyway. These are my training weeks but they're also going to be the time where I change my eating habits into what I'd love to do every day. I have to be a super food snob right now & once these four weeks are up I can let up a little while also not gaining back any bad habits I may have. I want to maintain this way of life, for life. For adventures! So that when Mike Luker gets home we can run & jump, swim & dive, bike & climb. We can conquer the tallest mountains & deepest seas! I am planning on having an amazing life, so why not start now? With that said, I hope everyone has an amazing day cause it's never too soon to start living!

Weekend in Instagram:

2011-10-25T08:45:00.000-07:00

{windmill stained glass by my mom in my grammy's house}

{favorite thrifted shirt of the season}

{scored globe from family moving}

{San Andreas fault on the way up the Cajon Pass}

Weekend in Instagram:

2011-10-17T10:56:00.000-07:00

{dressing like a sailor}

{a view of Vista, ironic}

{my baby}

Salute The Sun:

2011-10-14T15:03:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been getting back into the swing of things, blogging, eating better {sans Halloween candy} & getting my butt moving.

I wanted to share with you all these videos by Roxy Athletix. The one I featured is the Sun Salutation. I featured this because it is the easiest of the videos & a great way to start your morning if you only have time for a quick stretch.

Each video is between 2-5 minutes & there are 6 episodes on the podcast for about a 20 minute workout. I downloaded the podcast so that I could watch these from my iPhone or computer. They are the same videos as the ones on Youtube, so if you'd like to try them out you can use either source. In one of the videos it talks about running, which I also like to do. I plan on creating a schedule where on the day's I don't do these videos, I go running for at least 20 minutes. I've been doing them every other day like they recommend which doesn't seem too strenuous to me, but I think it might help me maintain this schedule in the long term.
All you need for these videos is yourself & a yoga mat to prevent slipping. They have some tricep dips as well but you can do those off of any surface of the correct height.
My favorite part of these videos is the incorporation of yoga & stretching. It's so important to stretch while strength training & these moves are really great for relaxing while stretching. I'm at the point where on the days I do these videos I wake up excited to get home & work out. The fact that they're quick & well targeted makes them the only videos I've ever tried & liked.

Farewell, Coffee:

2011-10-12T16:32:00.000-07:00

Recently, after reading a blog by Vanny about health & lemon water, I have been occasionally taking a lemon to work with me to squeeze into a cup of hot water before I drink anything else. Usually a couple hours later I follow this up with a cup of tea; Earl Grey or Constant Comment are my favorite bagged teas.

The problem with this is, after a tea & lemon water day I usually go back to coffee. Since doing this a few days in a row I've noticed some drastic differences between how I feel on these different days.

Coffee Day:
- not to be gross, but coffee is a laxative & I really *can* tell the difference in how my stomach feels.
- I'm noticing that I get headaches on coffee days. I used to think those were because I needed caffeine but now I've noticed that I don't get them on tea days.
- I always feel like one cup of coffee doesn't do it for caffeine. I never feel awake enough.
- I'm starting to not even enjoy the taste of a plain cup of joe.

Tea Day:
- because there are so many different flavors of tea I can change it up depending on my mood.
- tea's aromatic flavor seems so much more tasty & delightful on my taste buds than coffee.
- I don't get headaches on tea days.
- I don't have stomach problems on tea days.
- I am not getting as much caffeine when I drink tea so if I want another cup later I'll have two or three even!
- the ritual of steeping tea is so fun & reminds me of going out to tea with my mom & cousin.
- I never feel like I can have too much tea. Maybe it's just me, but it just doesn't seem possible.
- tea tastes better with food. I love that you can pair the flavors up like you would with a good wine or beer.

Based on these facts, my conclusion to this little issue I've been dealing with is that me & coffee are taking a break. I'm not sure when we'll meet again but I am excited to start playing with all of the loose leaf tea I have waiting for me at home. Oh & if any of you enjoy tea as much as I do, please try Constant Comment. It's by Bigelow & it's a bagged grocery store tea in a red box but it's the most flavorful store brand tea that I've ever had! Tata & happy sipping!

{photos via weheartit}

Oh & if you want to read the entire story of how I met mister Mike Luker, you can find it here at the little blog I share with my cousin Amanda.

That Green Flash:

2011-10-07T10:59:00.000-07:00

If any of you have even seen Pirates of the Caribbean, you probably remember the green flash. It's a magical moment during sunset on the sea when the sun goes from the golden sky to the deep blue water. That quick second before the ocean swallows the sun emits a flash of green light & then the sun has set.

Last weekend was my last weekend with Mike Luker before he went underway. He'll be gone for a couple of months so we decided to take a mini trip during this last weekend. As both of us are under the sea's deep spell we decided to drive down to Monterey & visit the aquarium. I was more than excited because they currently have their sixth great white shark on display in the open water exhibit. I'll admit, I was a bit hysterical due to the excitement even though the great white himself was smaller than a lot of the mahi mahi & all of the hammerheads. That & emotions ran high since that was the last time I'd be seeing Mike before he went underway. We even had a ~~heated~~ intellectual debate about bonita, which are small tuna found in Mexico. If my dad hadn't at the time been on a fishing trip in Mexico I would have simply called him to resolve the matter; instead we spent a good half hour in the open water exhibit with our eyes glued to our phones looking up a fish. It's sort of entertaining to me how dorky we are with this sort of marine stuff. After a couple of long looks at the open water tank & a few walk through's of the aquarium we were on our way back up to his place in Alameda.

Instead of taking the 101 back up we detoured up Highway 1, aka Pacific Coast Highway. Along the way we would inevitably pass up one of my favorite places in the world, a lighthouse turned hostel which I'll be visiting later this season & next winter as well. Of course, I had to stop by, catch some photos, a spectacular view of the sunset & say hi to the seals who like to hang out on the rocks below. It was pure magic being able to visit this amazing place with the man I love. Knowing that he'll be able to witness these kind of sunsets for the next couple months makes him being out to see a bit heartwarming. The things he'll be able to see & experience while he's away are something I can only dream of. He will be taking photos to show me but I can't wait to hear the stories, even if they are told in code. More than anything though, I hope he get's to see this perfect flash of green at least once during his voyages.

Artist Spotlight: Amy Ruppel

2011-09-28T09:10:00.000-07:00

As you may or may not know, my birthday was last Saturday. One of my gifts {thanks mom} was a new lap top. A simple, elegant, 14" HP with an Intel processor, of course. Well, upon starting the computer I feasted my eyes upon the most unique collection of desktop wallpapers you will ever find pre-loaded on a computer.

Whales & bears, water & trees oh my! I was delighted to have such a fun desktop wallpaper & decided to immediately change my iGoogle home page to match it & proceeded to search for Amy Ruppel on Google. Thank goodness her signature is clearly written alongside this fantastic digital illustration.

Turns out, her artistry has been seen all over the place without a big name to go with it. I mean, she even snuck her illustrations onto HP's wallpaper library. She's been seen working with Target, Burton snowboards, Converse & she's even designed a few Dunny's!

I personally love her state bird, state animal & state insect series but prints are hard to come by. She does, however, have an Etsy shop where you can find some of her digital illustrations in print form as well as her acrylic paintings. So, I implore you, go take a look at all of her fantastic work & I welcome you to be amazed!

{here's a little interview with Amy Ruppel & HP Communities}

As for the computer... Well, I got Chrome loaded before I did anything else. Once Chrome was up I installed Office, Skype & Photoshop. Tonight I'll be transferring all of my photos & music over, downloading iTunes & syncing the iPhone. I may also get a bit of design work in for my lovely friend who would love a bit of sleeking up on her own blog. In other words, I am so happy that I have my own computer to work from now! It's a delight to not have someone else messing with your machine or loading unnecessary programs.

With this being said, I hope that having my personal computer allows me to get back into blogging a bit more. My lovely new mister will be gone on his ship from October till December {he'll miss my favorite season} so I'd love to keep blogging for his sake too. I just love that my blog is accessible through his network. Anywho... Till next time folks!

The A-Z of CaL:

2011-09-19T10:56:00.000-07:00

This meme has been making it's way to all of my favorite blogs. I thought I'd give it a go since I've been a bad blogger who has recently reunited with her blog. Enjoy!

A. Age: 25
B. Bed size: Full/Queen.
C. Chore that you hate: Vacuuming, good thing Lokes owns a roomba.
D. Dogs: Dreaming of a Border Terrier named Cherry.
E. Essential start to your day: Ice water followed by emails & coffee.
F. Favorite color: Teal.
G. Gold or Silver: I love them both equally.
H. Height: 5’8" or so.
I. Instruments you play: Piano, alto sax, oboe, some guitar & I dabble at most others.
J. Job title: Designer/Drafter.
K. Kids: My amazing nephew, Ryan inspires me.
L. Live: Riverside, California. Moving somewhere magical in May to live an adventure with Mike Luker {Lokes}.
M. Mother’s name: Ramona.
N. Nicknames: CaL.
O. Overnight hospital stays: None that I know of.
P. Pet peeves: Hovering.
Q. Quote from a movie: “This is an adventure.” Steve Zissou, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.
R. Right or left handed: Right handed.
S. Siblings: Big brother, Mahlon.
U. Underwear: Under where?
V. Vegetable you hate: Hate is a strong word & I love my veggies.
W. What makes you run late: Nothing but poor planning. I cannot stand to run late.
X. X-Rays you’ve had: Dental & my left arm.
Y. Yummy food that you make: I've discovered my favorite loaf, Ingrid Muffins, thanks to my dear friend Bradee.
Z. Zoo animal: I hope to see a peacock at a zoo since Lokes has informed me that they wander the grounds of most zoos.

Birthday:

2011-09-14T09:46:00.000-07:00

Hello loves!

All I've ever wanted for my birthday is a combination of elements. We're talking all five of them people. Earth {aka sand}, air, fire, water & you! My heart, my soul, my spirit, my friends!

I'd love it if you all could join me on as special a day as any. Given any chance to celebrate life, I will take that opportunity & involve as many of you as possible! I can't wait to see your bright, happy, shiny faces!

Bon Voyage!

2011-09-09T10:55:00.000-07:00

In a few minutes I will be out the door & on my way to drive the six hours it takes to get from here to the bay area to see my love. Because he lives far, our visits are few & far between, yet the distance keeps the spark alive & I think I much prefer starting a relationship far away & growing close rather than starting close & moving apart. With this, I know that our love will only grow more from here & that soon I will be able to spend every day with this amazing human being. So, with that said, I bid you adieu for this weekend. I have my camera packed & he has fun things planned, so be prepared for a post next week that's a bit more than filler! Farewell!

Friendship:

2011-09-08T12:41:00.000-07:00

Where do we draw the line between friendship & acquaintance?

How far would you go while talking to a friend before realizing that you're offending an acquaintance? That you don't know this person as much as you think you do & that people are all sensitive individuals with their own stories that make them the amazing characters they are today. Where does sensitivity begin?

I have few people in my life who I can have emotional, intelligent & plain old fun conversations with. These few don't really know one another & they all live in different areas. I've met them all in completely different circumstances but for some reason, these few individuals have become close friends, ones that I can chit chat with any old time. I may offend them at some point, but usually these people are the kind that I have no reason to offend because my respect level for them is so high that I don't need to tiptoe around them. I can be myself & know that through discussion, things will be worked out. Conversations flow with these friends of mine. They have rhythm & style. Usually both parties grow or evolve their thought process during the conversation & most likely an agreement will be met. At the very least, a good, solid, harmonious end.

Now, this may seem like an unimportant post, with no rhyme or reason but there is a case & a point. Case: earlier this morning my lovely friend Chelsea & I took part in a discussion on being PC. While jokes are all in good fun, we both agreed that while everyone tries to be PC, sometimes it's a good idea to just play nice. Point: a third party disagreed & although was thought of as a friend, began poking fun at the discussion in whole. My thoughts are, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. Agreed? This was not the case this morning. Things were said that had no backing & words that could possibly hurt people were used to individuals this person didn't even know. An innocent discussion turned sour & friends were looked upon as acquaintances. My point in whole is, what happened to niceties? What happened to mutual respect in friendships? & why do people think that the internet & this computer screen can shield them & give them the ability to be a bigger person than they are. Not bigger in the respectful way, bigger in the defensive way. Just because you are not face to face with someone does not mean that they don't have feelings & that their feelings cannot be hurt. Play nice people.

A Bit Of:

2011-09-07T15:16:00.000-07:00

Twinkling Lights:

2011-09-02T11:16:00.000-07:00

Twinkling lights adorn the beams of a loft bed in the little space I call home. These lights aid in relaxation & sight. Visibility while these lights are on is enough to crochet, read or draw, yet soft enough to keep the soul at ease & the mind in a calm, contemplative state. Which is where I'd like it to be while creating. Lights like these are almost a necessity for serenity & harmony. They comfort me & honestly, they make it feel like home.

While out & about in the great outdoors I have similar twinkling lights to keep me company & guide me in the night. These stars of our great night sky have become a passion. I am becoming friends with these familiar shapes & faces. I am also reassured by them. I know that, while I look at the moon tonight, lit by that great sun of ours, my cousin in Virginia sees this same light, as does my love out at sea & each & every one of my friends in this great world. It is the same moon, the same sun & we share the same ground. This night sky has become a passion.

When thinking of what I'd like to be "when I grow up" I have many options. But I'd like to continue exploring my passions. I have big plans for the near future. & even bigger plans for life. Career wise, I have so many options that a plan has not yet been made except to keep searching, learning & being passionate. Eventually, I hope to settle. I think I have an idea but I believe that all good things come with time. Time is on our side. Time keeps on ticking...but I digress.

Point being, "To live would be an awfully big adventure." J.M. Barrie. & that's what I plan on doing.

Bliss:

2011-08-16T14:36:00.000-07:00

Bliss - /blis/

Noun: Perfect happiness; great joy.

I have found my bliss.

It is perfectly located in between my hand & his while they are clasped together, fingers intertwined. Love pulsating between the two objects that feel out life as we know it. That is where my home is. Those two cheesy grins up there belong to two very happy people who have found their bliss. The odds were beaten & somehow, we met.

Life has been moving extremely fast since I've met Lokes. We haven't even been dating a month & yet it feels as if years of knowledge & love have passed between the two of us.

Last weekend he came down for his birthday & spent Friday - Monday with me. Friday night we went out to dinner with my family, up Mt. Rubidoux for sunset & city lights & ended the night watching the stars from my spa. Saturday we ventured downtown so I could show him my little city. We saw the Mission Inn, the farmers market, a few shops & ate at Simple Simon's. After a drive west we stopped at one of my favorite markets, packed a picnic & continued on to the beach. Saturday's full moon meant crazy swells & a fast approaching high tide. We left as the sun was setting but an overcast ocean meant that the sunset was a bit less intense. I got to end that wonderful day in his arms watching Amelie, dreaming of traveling the world. Sunday was his birthday. After some coffee & a bagel we headed to Los Angeles. A late start meant a drive through Hollywood Blvd instead of stopping & sight seeing. After the La Brea Tar Pits & the LACMA we found our way to the Griffith Observatory where we spent the remainder of the day studying stars & planets. We saw the Viking Planetarium show & the Tesla Coils in action! While leaving we were even able to see the International Space Station floating above us! The night was perfect & ended with a living room picnic & cuddling while watching his favorite show on Netflix. Monday morning we said goodbye as I left for work & him for home. He sang "You Are My Sunshine" to me & I may ~~or may not~~ have let a tear slip.

This was only the second full weekend I got to spend with him & yet it seems as though each time we get together I fall more & more in love, head over heals. It's perfect, complete bliss!

Appreciation of Intelligence:

2011-07-27T10:55:00.000-07:00

There is something off putting {not to sound snotty}about hanging out with people who are of lower intelligence than you or simply do not appreciate a woman with brains. What I mean is, in the past I've dated some pretty daft individuals. This is by no means a place for me to bash ex's, but I will say that dating people who can't even appreciate you for your smarts is hard. It's a sad, hurtful road filled with low blows & jealousy. I've had it happen, long term, twice. They don't like that I go to college, or that I make more money than them. They don't like that I drive a car or have a nice family. Well you know what, I make my life & so can you.

Anywho, recently I came across this amazing prose by Charles Warnke on the blog The Wild and Wily Ways of a Brunette Bombshell. Read it. It's amazingly written & perfectly worded. Upon reading it you will discover that a girl who reads is usually a romantic. They want a story for themselves. They want a happy ending & a passionate love.

{yes, that's my writing, in my moleskine}

Recently I've had the opportunity to make a new story in my life. Maybe it's just another chapter, maybe it's the conclusion, who knows. All I know is that each new story is an adventure. It's fun, exciting & makes me so happy to be able to be a part of someone else's story as well. I'm sure I'll write more elaborately on this in the near future. For now though, I'll keep it at "Once upon a time..."

Long, Lost, Desi:

2011-07-21T08:56:00.000-07:00

Life has been busy with my cousin Amanda in town. Plans are last minute but I want to be available to spend every last moment with her before she leaves to Virginia. Yesterday she took a break from the Inland Empire & drove down to see her grandma in San Clemente.

While on Twitter earlier in the day, I saw a post from my dear, long, lost friend, Desi. It said that she'd love to go up Mt. Rubidoux, but not by herself. So, with my cousin out of town for the night I called up Desi & told her to meet me at the mountain! The thing is, Desi is my ex's friends sister. So, they are friends. Another thing is, my ex doesn't really hang with them too much, so I don't feel too weird seeing Desi, whom I became very close with during my last relationship. She was one of my best friends for so long & it was a brilliant breath of fresh air getting to hang out with her!

After our four miles on the mountain we decided to have a hearty dinner of frozen yogurt where we got to do a lot more talking than our winded words we spoke going up the mountain. It was so great getting to catch up with her & seeing things go back to usual in an instant. I can't wait to see more of my dear friend Desi!

Modern Dwellers Chocolate Lounge:

2011-07-12T11:19:00.000-07:00

Ringing in July with style, I was able to go on a Pacific Coast road trip with my lovely cousin Amanda & our aunt Dina. Amanda is in the Coast Guard & has a new post in Virginia which enabled her to take us on this trip & spend the entire month of July at home in California.

The first day of the trip was spent flying to Anchorage, Alaska where we spent the night & waited for Amanda to get in town from Kodiak, which she did at 5:30a.m. After a couple hours of sleep we wandered down to G Street in Anchorage to the Modern Dwellers Chocolate Lounge for some spicy mochas & a box of tasty treats.

The seating at Modern Dwellers is very entertaining. They have everything from a raised platform of sofas Starbucks style, playground toys & an industrial looking bar.

Clockwise from top left; stout, raspberry, chai & mint chocolates.

The silky & spicy chocolate they use in their mochas.

The night before we hit a local bar called Darwin's Theory which you can see across the street in this photo {yellow}.

Amanda's dog Cabella came along on the trip with us. She was my back seat buddy.

That was one of the best mochas I've ever had. I'm not too big on chocolate but the spiciness makes it just perfect. The atmosphere of this place was amazing & the ladies working there were so sweet. It was the cutest little gem in the heart of Anchorage. Check them out at moderndwellers.com

July Goals:

2011-07-08T10:57:00.000-07:00

July is going to be a pretty easy month for me here in SoCal. It started with a road trip from Alaska to California where we celebrated Canada Day in Vancouver & didn't get the chance to celebrate the 4th because we were speeding through the length of California in one shot. The next two weeks I'll have my cousin in town before she leaves home again to be stationed in Virginia. Having her home means weekend beach trips, a date to see the final Harry Potter, plenty of photo taking & whatever else we get the chance to do while she's home! I'd like to drive up to San Francisco to visit Vivs one week in July also but the rest is pretty free & open for fun! Take a look at my May & June goals too!

- detail the Fit.
- buy spring suit.
- go to yoga every Monday evening.
- Summer nights bike rides with Chelsea girl.
- resistance swimming every day.
- Harry Potter watching.
- finish closet detoxing.
- hike every Saturday.
- build bracelet inventory.
- begin wood art.
- weekly beach bonfires.

After a long trip through Alaska & Canada I was so happy to be back in this dry Southern California heat. It simply screams home to me. & although I'd rather be a bit southwest of where I am now, I can live at working towards this goal. The beach is & will always be my home. Having the nickname Seaweed Head from my uncle simply proves this point. & while I'd love to have a second home in Seattle, I think grounding in SoCal is a good idea for me. Plus, once I have my little beach shack up & ready for visitors y'all can come on over any ol' time you'd like!

Side Tracked:

2011-07-07T09:57:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, I owe this blog a shit ton of posts from my various travels but because of lack of time on the home computer I decided to take a brief moment to tell you all that yes, I'm still here & that if you share my love of dry humor you must watch this show. Wilfred is a dog but to Elijah Wood he's a man in a dog suit. He's also a stoner & a mischievous perv. I mean, think of all the times you let dogs sniff you in places, lick your face or simply lay on you. Now imagine if that was a dude in a dog suit. Yup, warped. It's a particularly rare individual who will find this amusing but like I said, if you're like me, you'll enjoy this. I'm assuming most of you enjoy a good dry comedy & that is why you're here in the first place. So, until I get my travel photos in order, please take a moment to catch up on Wilfred. Episode three airs tonight! You know I'll be watching it! {I mean, I'll be busy uploading photos...yeah, that.}

Wanderlust:

2011-06-23T10:39:00.000-07:00

wan·der·lust - /ˈwändərˌləst/
Noun: A strong desire to travel.

I have the biggest case of wanderlust. It is in my blood. Dating back to the mid 1800s my dad's family were part of the handcart Mormons who crossed the Oregon Trail & Donner Pass. The Loynd family was the only family to reach California without any deaths. In the early 1900s my dad's grandmother Viola grew up on a three masted schooner, the Nakomis, a Hall Brothers lumber ship which voyaged as far north as Russia once. My grandma Phyllis joined the Army post WWII. While in service she was stationed in Japan where she met my grandpa & they both were stationed in Germany where my mom was born. At the ripe age of 11 I took my first road trip across the country with my mom & grandma. Since then I have had the biggest case of wanderlust.

It's my calling, my freedom. To travel this great world & create art & musings to fill the need for an outlet. A great peace of mind would be had if I could do this. If I could travel & create & live off of this land. Just to live. My livelihood depends on it. My nature desires it to the core.

This trip I'm taking tomorrow to Alaska & along the Pacific Coast was unplanned. One night my cousin Amanda called me to tell me she was breaking it off from her boyfriend & getting stationed in Virginia but needed a road trip buddy. Someone to travel home with her. Of course I would accept. Daunted by the idea of having to miss work, not because I'd miss it but because we are taught that we are supposed to go to work every day from 9-5 & only take one week of vacation a year. What a load of crap. Tangent. Daunted by the idea of having to miss work I was timid in accepting & afraid to tell my dad & even more frightened to tell my boss. With all that in the past now I can release that held breath & I can taste the freedom. Tomorrow morning I will be boarding my plane that will take me to my cousin, my love. I am looking forward to many road trips to follow & I know that only good & love can come from this union of my family & the road. Like I said, it's in our blood.

Three Part Prophesies:

2011-06-21T12:15:00.000-07:00

It's an hour till lunch & I'm wondering why we think about food so much. I'm starting to realize that the reason people can never lose weight while "dieting" is because their focus in on the food itself. Why not focus on taking a walk in this amazing Summer Solstice weather we have? Why not switch our focus to something productive, something aimed at creation of goodness & beauty rather than food. What does food give us? Life, yes. Satisfaction, at first, yes. Don't get me wrong, I love me some food. But that's the point really. Instead of pondering over what we'll eat next, why not ponder over where we'll go after work, or what we'll do this weekend & let food come as a side note. Take this post for example, why am I even talking about this? Well, because I'm hungry for one. Because it's one hour till lunch for another. Because my cousin Amanda asked me to bring hot baked cheetos with me to Alaska because their junk food is insufficient. Mostly because certain people in my life think about food more than anything else & it baffles me. No wonder you can't lose weight when all you're thinking about is the food itself.

What a tangent that was. Anyway, this is about freedom. This is about losing yourself. This is about letting go of what people expect of you & embracing the you that only you know exists. Realize your potential, does that sound familiar? I think we all need to step back & step up. We need to embrace ourselves in order to be fully loved, to let in love we must first give love. Love leads to happiness. Happiness leads to good. Good leads to peace. This is the the dharma of being a Jedi. Not realistically, but it's sort of the opposite of the dark side. To see the light, to move forward in it. To let it encompass us in our every day. What a warm happy feeling that would be, aye? The warmth of the force.

In three days I'm leaving for Alaska. I'll be joining my cousin Amanda on her road trip home. She is being relocated to Virginia but will be spending the entire month of July at home here in Southern California. Therefore, we will be starting our journey on the road in Alaska, going all the way down the Pacific Coast till we reach home. Up until last month I had never been further north than San Francisco on this coast. Last month I got to see the great city of Seattle & a wee bit of the Puget Sound. This trip, I will be going as far north as I can dream to go for now. I may start branching out into other directions soon. East, maybe? Till then, I bid you a fond adieu, a delightful Summer Solstice & a happy Tuesday. As you can tell, this post made no sense whatsoever. It was merely a jumbled attempt to show you all what happens in my head & in my everyday life. Wow, I wonder if I succeeded or failed.

Woodpecker:

2011-06-20T11:07:00.000-07:00

During last week's camping trip my dad brought his new spotting scope to see what we could see. We focused on birds in trees, mountaintop trees & the moon. While looking through the scope I had this weird yet brilliant idea. What if I put the lens of my Canon G11 point & shoot up to the eye piece of the scope? Would the camera be able to focus through the lens & see what we can see, or would it focus on the lens itself & snap a photo of a dusty piece of glass? It couldn't hurt to try, so try I did. & look what brilliance came out of this weird idea of mine! Not only is it a cool, crisp photo of a friendly woodpecker but the orientation of the photo itself {circle within a rectangle} just gets me. I can't wait to try this again on something else, maybe the birds in my moms garden, who knows. What do you think of it?

Mister No Name:

2011-06-17T10:10:00.000-07:00

I had no title for this post, therefore it has been dubbed "Mister No Name." It should be honored to have such a cool title. Anywho, I kinda really like filling things like these out because I love reading other people's answers. A dear blog friend of mine, Amy, filled this out on her blog today & I thought I'd grab it & pass it along. Link me back in the comments if you do this too, I'd love to see your answers!

name: Cassandra, but you can call me CaL.

birthday: September 24th, one day after the Autumnal Equinox.

sign: Libra.

favorite food: Mexican, Thai & beach food {fish & chips, fish tacos, garlic potatoes}.

favorite drink: Water, coffee or tea.

favorite color: Teal & coral.

favorite song this week: {shit I have the hiccough's} Jolie Holland, Darlin' Ukulele.

favorite outfit: Honestly, when I'm not having to cover up, I roam around in shorts & a sports bra, so comfy!

hobbies: Hiking, illustrating, making bracelets, yoga, writing & camping.

guilty pleasures: Baked Cheetos.

last dream you remember: Well, last night my first baby, my kitty Bear, came home...in my dream {makes it feel like he never left}.

what comes to mind when i say cabbage: "Oh well, nothing goes better with cabbage than cabbage." Helena Bonham Carter in Charlie & the Chocolate Factory.

have you ever met a celebrity: Heck yes I have...the one & only Zach from Saved by the Bell, aka Mark Paul Gosselaar. This was back stage during the parade for ABC before the opening of California Adventures & he had his NYPD Blue, black hair & man is he tall! He talked to us band geeks for a good 10 minutes before the parade started, pretty rad.

favorite (new) blog: I'm not a huge follower of all the new & coolest blogs, guess I'm not a good networker, but I love my friend Ruthy's blog & I can really see it going uphill from here! Reading her posts & seeing her blog voice develop is really cool! Also, I just like to snoop because we've been friends since forever.

secret celebrity crush: um, yeah, I have to say publicly that I love me some Robert Pattinson, he's a Brit who loves America {road trips, music, open country, nature, culture, Jack Kerouac} & his character in Remember Me was to die for...what a sad movie.

favorite gadget: iPhone, hands down, in your face! I also dig my little G11, it does so much for such a nice little camera!

three things you can't live without: to live, i need water, food & shelter...to be comfortable I need my iPhone, contacts/glasses & shoes.

favorite harry potter character: This is where I admit that I love me some Hermione Granger. She honestly reminds me of myself in school, except for the over achieving thing.

play any instruments: I dabble... I've played the piano since I was 7, alto saxophone since I was 9, I've messed with the guitar & mandolin & can play a butt load of other instruments that have piano or saxophone key orientations. I've also picked up brass a bit... being in band & drum line offers you so many instruments to mess around with!

best book you've ever read: Can I break this up into a tie? The Alchemist changed me, it's just amazing but The Hobbit is probably one of the best books I've ever read. I really can't chose a favorite when it comes to literature. Right now I'm reading Jack Kerouac's On The Road in prep for the movie & I love his style & voice. I can't chose.

favorite quotation: "Rather than love, than money, than faith, than fame, than fairness - give me truth." Henry David Thoreau.

favorite rainy day activity: Running outside & yelling "it's raining!!!" because it never does in SoCal.

what do you do when you're stressed: I read, or watch documentaries, or try to busy myself. I think now that I'm dabbling in yoga I'll try to stretch out & relax if I get stressed, but honestly, I don't get stressed very often because I like to analyze situations & learn from them.

favorite time of the year: Fall, I'm an Autumn baby & I love everything that has to do with this season.

tattoos: I have a working think tank on my inner left arm in the voice of "create" & plan on getting a matching on one my right arm in the voice of "explore" ...think Jules Verne.

favorite animal: Do I honestly have to choose? I love pets, cats, dogs, iguanas, tortoises, bunnies...but I also love sea creatures, dolphins, orcas, otters, jellyfish, manta rays, sharks & I also love woodland creatures, wolfs, bears, deer, bison, foxes & finally my aerial friends, ravens, parrots, pelicans, hawks... Yeah, I like all animals.

crunchy or smooth peanut butter: I always prefer crunch.

foreign countries you've visited: In order, England, Scotland, France & Spain. Very soon I can add Canada to this list.

favorite candy: I really love black licorice, don't ask me why. I also love Boston Baked Beans & Jordan Almonds.

cake or pie: Pie, unless it's plain cheese cake.

favorite holiday: Halloween, hands down.

favorite flower: I love coral roses but I think all flowers are magical. I prefer them left on a plant that's overtaking a garden.

Your turn. ♥

Summer 2011:

2011-06-15T12:52:00.000-07:00

Today is June 15th, which means it's less than one week from the Summer Solstice, which falls on June 21st this year. Despite the fact that it's not officially summer yet, it sure feels like it. Here in California we had a short June gloom period followed by an official week of 80 degree temperatures which means the days will only get hotter from here on. Although where I live in Southern California can get well into the 100's, we don't have the humidity that some places have, so I'm perfectly okay with laying out like a lizard & soaking up my vitamin D as long as I have the proper wearables.

one. I recently purchased a vintage leather fanny pack from Etsy & I couldn't have made a better choice! The size is perfect, holding my phone, keys, wallet & G11 camera & not only that, but it's completely hands-free, so you don't have to worry at all about a sweaty armpit bag & it makes riding your bike or board around town a lot easier.

two. Wayfarers simply look good on everyone, end of story. Whether or not you go name brand, this style is great. & if you're at all like me & have light eyes & a bright, cloud-free sky, you'll need some shades.

three. I was a Girl Scout. There, I said it. During my time with them we learned {thanks to my mom} how to tie dye. & while some methods come out cheesy & over done, I think a one color dye on a nice flowy top is always appropriate, especially in the summertime.

four. Cutting up old jeans is just the best way to get this look. While you can buy shorts like these from just about anywhere right now, if you want the perfect length & fit, take a pair of old jeans & cut away.

five. I am a collector of friendship bracelets. I make them, buy them & each one on my wrist has a special meaning. Also, they give me that summer feel no matter where I am.

six. Birkenstocks. Yup, I'm going there. For as long as I can remember these have been my mom's go-to shoes. & while they have some trendy new styles like the Gizeh, I prefer the classic antiqued Arizona. Hopefully this weekend I can buy my very first pair to break in this summer.

Growing up with a complete hippie of a mom, I've been able to grow & change into my own version of my hippie self. & although dreams of living in places other than my own home are very tantalizing, I am a true SoCal girl at heart. I do believe that our summers here are the best of anywhere & I also have to admit that this heat is sort of growing on me.

No matter where you are, I hope you all have amazing summers! What are some of your go-to hot weather items?

Barton Flats:

2011-06-09T12:03:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again folks, mountain camping is a go! This photo is from two years ago when I was camping with my parents at Barton Flats campground on the back side of Big Bear. This is the same camp ground we'll be going to this weekend for my nephew's first camping trip ever! He's two years old & still in diapers, but man does he look like a little man who's ready for a camping trip! I can't wait to go. Bonfires, clear skies, cool mountain air, natural pine scented air freshener, buffalo burgers, chili, roasted marshmallows, day hikes on the local trails, fishing at Jenks Lake! I hope my dad catches some trout for us to grill up, even if it is just an appetizer. As you can tell, I'm sort of really excited!

Now on to the hiking part. Two of my favorite outdoor activities include hiking & surfing/body boarding/playing in the waves. Going on my runs during the week & eating right on a regular basis are tools for me to be in shape for these high altitude hikes & battles with our Southern California waves. If you've been following along on my blog you'll know that my dear friend Vivs challenged me last Wednesday to run 2 miles by this Wednesday. & guess what, I did! Well, I did it on Tuesday since I was at the gym & Wednesday I did a shorter run in my neighborhood with my running partner, Kiba (my dog). I am so glad I've been doing this during the week days so that this weekend my hike will be a lot easier & future hikes & beach trips will be that much more fun because I'm staying in shape. Oh, & here's my running/hiking buddy.

The Time I Fell:

2011-06-07T14:30:00.000-07:00

In 2003, when I was a senior in highschool, I fell.

It's a funny story, really. I was just telling a friend & decided I'd share it with you all. A few friends of mine had gone with me, my mom & my brother to Forest Falls in the San Bernardino National Forest. It's a fairly short hike & the result is a waterfall for cooling off, plenty of sitting space to eat a lunch before heading back down & a great day of hiking.

Of course, being at a waterfall means the surrounding rocks have algae or at least water to make them slippery. I should know this since I'm a regular beach goer, but nevertheless, I went into that waterfall full force & ended up falling twice before the "big fall." Once was from stepping on a sharp rock & cutting the bottom of my foot, the other was from stepping on a slippery rock & falling on my ass, which ended up scraped since I was wearing not but a swim suit.

After falling a few times, eating our lunches & taking it easy we decided it was time to head back. Like always, I had to be in front & as usual, I took the wrong way. Something happened this time that doesn't usually happen though, I was followed. My friends boyfriend had followed me down the wrong way off the trail. I was scooting down this rock when I was told to turn around & when I went to do so, I saw that he was there. What happened next was, well, I fell. He slipped & slid down the rock towards me & hit me which at the same time stopped him from falling & propelled me off the rock in a sitting position into the infinite abyss. Or rather, about 15 feet down. But not before hitting another boulder which turned me from my sitting position to a face first deal, which wasn't too promising.

When I finally hit the bottom (not that it was a long fall or anything) I landed on my shins & forearms. My ribs got scraped, my forearms got scraped, my chin got scraped. My palms were scraped & had plant matter all over them & luckily my HAT had plant matter all over it too. Seriously people, that brimmed hat kept me from busting my head open. As for my legs, my shins were scrapped & pretty much okay except for this small gash on my left shin & a bruise the size of a tennis ball. The gash was about one or two inches long & nasty looking, so I just didn't look. The bruise, after healing, left me with a loss of muscle growth in that area of my leg for a year or few. After I knew I was okay & got my wind back, I got up & laughed. Seeing my brother RUSH down the correct trail to where I was (what was he trying to do, catch me?) I had to make light of the situation. So, we continued the short hike back to the car. I was of course in front again with this new found adrenaline. I also refused to NOT stop at A&W on our way home for my root beer float. So, bloodied up sock & all, I walked in & got myself my favorite post-hike treat & we continued on home.

Once home we had to do something about that gash, so with my best friends mom's recommendation, we super glued it shut. Of course we had to clean it first which didn't feel great but nothing was worse than my brother HOLDING my leg meat together while my mom super glued it & then waited for it to dry. It was just weird. After a while I gave up & told him to let go & the result is a tear drop shaped scar from part of it being glued right & the other part opening up again after he let go. Graphic enough for yah?

What is your worst injury? Is there a good story to go along with it? Am I the only grown adult to fall on a yearly basis & have no problem with it?

Rio Breaks:

2011-06-07T09:19:00.000-07:00

Cooler Magazine just posted this video in a new series they're doing called Video of the Week. This preview is the first of it's kind I've seen, mixing slum with progression in Rio. The following is a snippet from Cooler:

Films set in favelas rarely shift their gaze beyond the drug lords and surf films seldom tell a meaningful story about their stars. But the excellent Rio Breaks manages to do both. Following the lives of two surfer kids, 12-year old Naama and 13-year old Fabio, who live in a favela on a shabby cliff with stunning views of Arpoador beach, it offers a warm portrait of youth, friendship, the temptations of the dark side and of course surfing. And if you didn’t want to go to Rio before seeing this beautifully shot wonder, you most certainly will after.

I can't wait for this video to be out, not only for myself & my friends enjoyment but my mom & her students. Living in an urban slum in Southern California, her students will be able to identify with these kids. The age group is right, since she's now teaching 6th grade. It would be awesome for her students to be inspired by this film, for it to give them hope. They don't have to settle, they don't have to be trapped in the ghetto all their lives. They can progress, they can do whatever they want to in life! I can't wait till next school year to see how they react.

Challenge:

2011-06-01T14:07:00.000-07:00

image via weheartit

I've just been challenged by Vivs to run 2 miles by next Wednesday. I wanted to blog this because for about a year now, me & Vivs have encouraged each other in our fitness endeavors & by next year I'd really like to participate in a half marathon with her. By blogging this I am letting you all hold me accountable for those 2 miles. I'll be checking in a week from now to let you know how I did! I'm going to try to do it under 30 minutes, which should be easy peasy since before my vacation I was running 5 minute increments. So, you heard it here, 2 miles by next Wednesday. Hold me to it! Tonight is day one, I can't wait!

June Goals:

2011-06-01T10:14:00.000-07:00

The month of June means SoCal summer time! This year is just flying by way too fast & I'm busy doing so much fun stuff that I'm really okay with it. Last month I accomplished so many of my goals that I'm excited to see how well I do this month. Take a look at my May Goals so you can follow along with my new goals for June.

- start growing wheat grass to make green smoothies.
- ~~see Rachel before she leaves to Peru.~~
- go to the drive in movies to have a picnic with family.
- ~~run Mondays - Thursdays.~~
- hike on Saturdays.
- ~~fly to Alaska & road trip home to Cali with Amanda.~~
- see Vivs in SF during road trip.
- ~~service the Fit.~~
- ~~continue clean eating.~~
- ~~start yoga in prep for yoga classes in July.~~
- order Warby Parker eyeglasses.
- ~~camp at least one weekend.~~
- ~~clean out my closet.~~
- go to the beach as much as possible.

I used to not like summers very much. It get's so hot here that I would hide inside, away from the heat instead of facing the heat head on & taking advantage of the sun I'm given. I'm hoping for a magical summer filled with beach trips, long board riding, camping, hiking, bbq'ing, road tripping & sleeping under the stars. There will be lots of fresh fruit, good books, long playlists, running, jumping, playing, giggling & loving!

What are you looking forward to this summer?

Leaving On A Jet Plane:

2011-05-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

Taking a page from my well traveled friend, Vivs, I'm writing this post pre-flight day. I'll be jumping on my plane today, headed to Spokane, WA with a stop in Vegas to pick up some passengers, including my long time friend, Ruthy! I haven't seen her since 2007 & I've known her since 1998, so this should be fun!

Leaving: work at lunch to go to the airport.

Wearing: jeans, white v-neck, hoodie, plaid hobbit shoes, wayfarers & my backpack as a carry on.

Reading: On The Road, by Jack Kerouac.

Capturing: the trip with my Canon G11.

Listening: to my iPhone's iPod on shuffle.

Texting: Ruthy, to see how she's coming along on getting to the airport.

Remembering: the last time I saw Ruthy & how much I absolutely love traveling!

Taking: a dress, skinny jeans, a few shirts, pea coat, tights & 3 pairs of shoes.

Drinking: water & coffee.

Besides getting to see Ruthy & her daughter Sara, we'll also be seeing her sister Lea who lives in Spokane with her husband Matt, who has been our friend since middle school & their son Levi. On Friday we'll be headed to Seattle where I'll get to see my family friend Karen, my buddy Ben & an old friend from art school, Wade. Hopefully I'll get to squeeze in a coffee date with Molly from Vivi Dot as well! I hope to eat lots of good food there, smell lots of amazing coastal city smells & see some amazing things! I'll be back on board next Friday, so until then, peace & love my friends!

Wooded Infatuation:

2011-05-17T12:24:00.000-07:00

...

I have an infatuation with the woods. I'm not sure if it stems from camping, hiking & backpacking as a child, or spending winters in my great aunt's cabin in Big Bear. Whatever it is though, I've always been drawn to the colors, the textures, the smells, the animals, the sounds, the heartbeat & rhythmic breath of the woods.

As you probably know, I enjoy camping quite often. & although you can camp anywhere in Southern California including the desert & the beach, I still prefer the mountains filled with it's wildlife, glorious views & trees. Endless hills & valleys filled with trees. One of my favorite things to do is something I learned from my dad during our many hiking adventures. Any log we came to he'd have to flip over to look for bugs, lizards & such. It's sad when you think of the life he's disturbing but it's just so fun to do!

Tomorrow I'll be on my way to Washington & once I'm in Seattle, my friend Ben promised to take me to the Olympic National Park. I am overly excited to see the woods up there. The closest thing I can imagine them to is Big Basin Redwoods but I doubt that even comes close. I can't wait to go up there & breathe in the air of the Pacific Northwest woods! Expect loads of photos!

Let Love Live:

2011-05-10T13:43:00.000-07:00

I have.

Nothing to say.

Absolutely nothing at all. I have no inspiration at the moment. No muse. I'm getting ready to go on my Washington trip & I've been unable to sleep at night wondering what's going to happen when I'm up there. What will I do, who will I see?

I'm having the urge to clean out my entire life in preparation for my cousins visit in July but more so for my inevitable move north. I want to clean my life out, get rid of useless possessions, material objects & things. Junk, really. I need to get rid of the clutter, the junk, the stuff, the noise. I need to simplify & create space for inspiration, for creativity, for love.

There's this void in my life. It's waiting for love. Not love in the sense of a relationship or anything like that. Love, as in, a complete life. One that I'm happy with, where I love what I'm doing with myself. I can feel this space opening up as I make more solid decisions. Like when I decided to move north within two years, something moved inside me. Some magnetic pull that has always been there made room for growth & expansion & it's like these feelings I was bottling up were able to be released & created space to let love live.

When I made the decision to write. To become the writer I've always wanted to be. Something opened up & released it's grip on me & more room was made. I'm making space for love, for life & for living this life to it's full & complete potential. This is my journey. It's my boardwalk. I will find my eden. I will live that life. & it will be a blessed life, filled with love & peace & honesty.

Crystal Cove:

2011-05-03T13:00:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday I went with my mom to Crystal Cove State Park. It's a 3 mile stretch of beach just south of Newport. I've blogged about this before because it's one of my favorite places in Southern California, but here's a few photos from last Sunday.

We've been getting some crazy Santa Ana winds by my house since I live a mile from the river & this strong onshore breeze made for a very calm offshore breeze. This made the water particularly calm, clear & just gorgeous. The visibility that day was also amazing, you could see the cliffs on Catalina with ease. There was a pod of dolphins out past the breakers playing in the swell & a few pelicans playing in the waves looking for some fishy food.

& yes, I rocked a fanny pack. That was the best six dollars I've ever spent on Etsy. It holds my wallet, camera, iphone, sunblock, chapstick, keys & a few aspirin with ease. I am a true water baby & I really don't think I'd ever be able to live away from the Pacific Coast.

Side note: I got a message from one of my friends in Washington with plans to hike in the Olympic National Park. Every bit of information getting closer & closer to this trip has me more & more excited.

May Goals:

2011-05-02T13:39:00.000-07:00

I've always imagined myself living a big life. Nothing ordinary, plenty of adventure & always making my own way. One of my life long heroes had been my dad's cousin Dina, for this very reason. As the youngest of three girls, she came from a home that could have held her back. Instead, she took to the open road & traveled the world living in such places as Colorado, Hawaii, Washington, Costa Rica, Florida & California. Never stopping, never settling, Dina has made her own way & lived her own life. I admire her for this & take what I can from her experience without trying to emulate her. You see, nobody's life is more perfect for you than your own. So, this is what I plan to do. Live my own life.

May is going to be a month of travel, of friendship, of experience, of adventure. In two weeks I get to venture to the great Pacific Northwest to a place I've always thought to be my dream location. I get to experience this in a raw, unplanned way. Today I began making plans with Vivs to visit the Pac Northwest again this year. To be able to live the dream is none other than a dream come true. & this month, May, is the beginning of this dream life. So, here are my goals for this month of May:

- ~~start paying off a big chunk of my student loan this year.~~
- ~~start clean eating.~~
- ~~run every Monday - Thursday.~~
- force a coffee date on Rachel.
- have a 1oz shot of wheat grass every day.
- go to the drive in movies.
- start saving for a future relocation.
- ~~visit Washington state with Ruthy.~~
- get Fit serviced.
- clean out my closet.
- ~~ride my longboard more.~~
- ~~start saving & planning for next PNW trip.~~
- order my Warby Parkers. {my left contact ripped & set buying of new glasses back a few weeks}

Happy day & happy May! It's the beginning of the rest of our lives. ♥

Tumble:

2011-04-28T15:52:00.000-07:00

Tum·ble /ˈtəmbəl/
Noun: A sudden or headlong fall: "I took a tumble".
Verb: (typically of a person) Fall suddenly, clumsily, or headlong.

Can you tell I have a wee bit of a thing for words? Well, this word is particularly close to me in definition. You see, not only do I physically tumble quite often but I also have great emotional tumbles. I like to collect these emotional tumbles in words or maybe inspirational photos; I have an enormous amount of favorites on my Flickr profile. I take these visual or written tumbles & archive them into this nifty social networking site called, well, none other than Tumblr. I tumble at Boardwalk To Eden, because why would I call it anything else? Like this blog here of mine, filled with musings, rambles & photographic journals of my "boardwalk to eden" my Tumblr is more of an inspirational "boardwalk" where I hide my more sensitive wordage. If you care to take a looksy, go right ahead. & please folks, don't be afraid to take a tumble every so often. It reminds us of how human we are, in a very raw & honest way.

Eden:

2011-04-27T13:44:00.000-07:00

E·den /ˈēdn/
Noun: A place or state of great happiness; an unspoiled paradise.

As I write this post I am {as usual} sitting at my desk in the reception area of my office, glancing between the computer screen, my iPhone & the front door, which is made out of glass. It faces north, but you can't really tell. All I see is my car, a few other company cars, some rolled steel, plate metal & my bosses boat that he has parked here. If I look a ways to the east I can see Rancho Cucamonga Mountain, but not from where I'm sitting. Where I sit on a daily basis, here at work, is stifling. Office buildings are lit with fluorescent lighting & have windows that don't open. The only way I can get a breeze in here is to prop the glass door open. This also allows me to hear the semi's roaring down Arrow highway, the train a block over, the honking & screeching of cars on the side streets, blasting their deep thumping music. This, is definitely not my ideal setting. & although I can delight in how real it is here, it's still not where I want to be. I should maybe call this a transition location? A place to come & make money to get me to where I want to be. But till then, till I find {& make} my personal eden I will continue to make these little trips to places that bring me joy whenever it is humanly possible. Any chance I can get to escape these cement walls in this cement world & venture out to nature or to a place I've never been, I'm taking it. Taking these chances. Braving the unknown, the world. Finding my eden.

Last weekend I was able to get away & take a mini trip into the wild. I went with my friend Chelsea & our friend Brian to Joshua Tree to camp out under the stars. The second day we were met with Kam & her boyfriend who were staying at the site next to us. We went on a quick hike which included some boulder scrambling & to the most spectacular view of the Southern Californian desert I've ever seen. There was a lot of jammin' out on the guitars & harmonicas, poetry reading & writing, marshmallow roasting & taco eating.

"Holy the groaning saxophone! Holy the bop apocalypse! Holy the jazzbands marijuana hipsters peace & junk & drums!" Allen Ginsberg, HOWL

I had more fun last weekend than I have had in a long long time. It was magic. In exactly three weeks I'll be leaving on a plane bound for Washington. More than anything I want to see if that great state can possibly be a future home for me & my eden. Till then, many mini adventures to come. No hesitation.

Brave:

2011-04-22T10:12:00.000-07:00

Brave /brāv/
Adjective: Ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage.
Noun: People who are ready to face and endure danger or pain.

What word but "brave" better describes perfect vulnerability? An adventure into the unknown, life itself is unknown & that makes it one big adventure. This adventure can be either hidden from or taken advantage of. Why on earth would someone hide from this adventure of life. Living itself describes its act. Yes, you can be "living" & not be doing a damn thing. But why not live. Live adventurously, live freely, live the life that is given to you. Take this body with all it's parts & make use of it. Run & jump & laugh & scream. Why on earth do people care how many miles are on their cars? Because we're supposed to? No, a car is meant to drive. Take that car & just go. Explore & live & be adventurous. Take these eyes you have been given & read. Learn & grown & love & feel some kind of emotion. Use that emotion as fuel. Use that fuel to drive you into this unknown that we call life. Live it up.

If you have never heard of the blog Delightfully Tacky, I suggest you venture over there now & read up on her Brave adventure. There are very few blogs that I admire as much as hers. She has a perfect combination of feminine fashion posts & outdoor woodland posts & she shows vulnerability in all of them.

This day marks the twenty sixth day till I board my flight to the great Pacific Northwest. The reason that this is so amazing to me is because for years & years, I'm not sure how many, but for years I have dreamt of living in the Pacific Northwest. Imagining a space with wood paneled walls, plaid sheets, books from floor to ceiling, lace curtains, a typewriter facing a window that looks outside into the wet woods, soft light entering a room with the sound of vinyl spinning on a record player. Taking a train to Seattle to get the best coffee on this land & wandering the city snapping photos of strangers in moments of joy. Now, I know that this dream is not being realized as of yet. But getting to visit this magical place is a start. You see, I have never once in my life been to the Pacific Northwest. & although I have friends who live there, it has always seemed like a dreamland to me. My mom tells me stories of when she lived there as a kid & it just adds to my need to go there. So, in twenty six days from today, Earth Day, I will be on my way to the great state of Washington with one of my best friends & favorite people, Ruthy.

Tonight after work I leave for a camping trip to Joshua Tree with my friend Chelsea. Today is not only Earth Day but it's also National Parks Week, which means free entry into the park & this weekend there is a meteor shower which I hope to have good visibility of while out in the middle of nowhere.

For years I felt stuck. But I was brave & I did what needed to be done to make further adventure possible. Freedom & independence make for a very brave journey in this life. So, with excess baggage removed & a fresh start it's time to be brave. It's time to live.

Camping Checklist:

2011-04-20T20:30:00.000-07:00

I am so stoked about camping this weekend. Not only will I be going with one of my favorite people, my girl Chelsea, but we'll also be joined on the second night by camping neighbors Kam & Justine!

Let's go through this checklist, shall we?

- tent {I have a 3 person Coleman tent that I linked here for general use & an old backpacking tent I inherited}
- sleeping bag {my sleeping bag is similar to this mummy style Marmot bag. I'm just not sure the exact bag I have. I know it's a Marmot & between +15 & +30 degrees}
- matches {yah know, for lighting bonfires & stove tops}
- cooler & food {while camping, food is always a good idea. I always bring water but most campsites have clean enough water to drink. I'll fill up my bottles when I get low}
- first aid kit & sunblock {because I'm pale & Joshua Tree is the desert. A first aid kit always comes in handy for random fixes & fidgets}
- pocket knife {heck, I need a pocket knife every day. Let alone while camping}
- Dr. Bronner's soap {because you don't want to stink or harm the environment. I use this stuff daily actually. Tea tree oil is my favorite}
- guitar {for campfire entertainment}
- chairs & blankets {if you have a campfire going, you'll want to sit around it & a sandy bottom is never fun}
- cameras {nature is a magical thing. Camping is fun & freeing & I always get the best photos while camping. I'll be taking my Canon G11, my Pentax K1000 & my Polaroid Express}
- flashlight {when you gotta go in the middle of the night, a flashlight is necessary. You don't want to fall on your face trying to find a bathroom}
- friends {given? Or should I say, good friends? Camping is all about having fun & enjoying yourself. Being bored or annoyed would not make for a fun camping trip}

The photo I used for my checklist was taken at Joshua Tree four years ago but I haven't been camping there since I was really young. When I was little & we used to camp there as a family the boys & my dad would all try to scare me & tell me that the red lights on the top of hills were gargoyle eyes! They were the indicator lights for airplanes to know where hills were but it worked every time. To this day I can't live it down & have to mention gargoyles every time I go to Joshua Tree.

Do you have any camping stories or essential camping items?

Wordless Wednesday: Vol. 33

2011-04-20T11:14:00.000-07:00

...

Throwback: Vol. 1

2011-04-15T20:24:00.000-07:00

After looking at how many family photos I am in possession of, I decided to make the posting of them on here, along with stories into a series. I wanted to begin with my mom because not only is it the most relevant to me in who I am highly influenced by in fashion, thoughts & looks, but also because the fashion & ideals from her young adult years are very current & influential to us now. So, I'd like to introduce everyone to my mom, Ramona.

Whenever I look at these photos with her she tells me all sorts of stories, but nothing speaks volumes like the photos themselves. Although, I do have to say I think my grandpa looked so rad in this last photo & he probably thought so too. I absolutely love looking at family photos, or any photos from the past, really. Seeing my mom though, how she was when she was young. Knowing her as she is now. Putting the two together & hoping with all of my heart that I can hold on to my youth. As an artist, a creator, I don't ever want to feel disconnected from the innocence & freedom of being young & fresh. It's a sad thing to see that disappear from people but also such a delight when you see it emerge. When someone who has grown up & put up that shell, lets it break down a bit & lets that child-like innocence shine through. That is when you really know them. It gives me hope. Seeing a glimmer of that here & there makes me feel like if I can connect with it, maybe I won't bottle it up. Maybe I won't allow my shell to grow too thick. It's quite possible for me to hold on to that magic.

Griffith Observatory:

2011-04-13T19:11:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday I had the pleasure of going to the Griffith Observatory with Cesar from The Dead Format. The weather was perfect, the skies were blue & the company was great.

It's a wee bit intimidating taking photos on your little Canon point & shoot {even if it is a G11} when you're with someone rocking an amazing camera, an awesome lens & some great photography skills. So, here are my shots. You can find his photos from Sunday over at his blog.

We were lucky enough to be right on time for their last showing at the planetarium. It was a lot different than the one I saw last time I was there & the lady narrating it did an amazing job! The show itself was just magical! If you're ever in LA & need something free to do you should definitely visit the observatory. You wont find a better view of the city.

Wordless Wednesday: Vol. 32

2011-04-13T12:19:00.000-07:00

...

Defying Definitions:

2011-04-11T19:28:00.000-07:00

I always thought that thinking too much would be the death of me. Instead it's turning out to be my life force, my art & my outlet. I think too much & write it all down. I turn these things into stories & most everyone I see, I'd like to turn into a character for a fictional situation that they seem to fit in. To describe their character, the scene & the plot. I delight in people's flaws & fall in love with their quirks. I write. But this does not define me.

I read every night before I go to sleep. I watch episode after episode of X Files & have an affinity towards movies like The Predator, Jurassic Park, Terminator 2, Alien Resurrection, Tombstone & delight in movies by Akira Kurosawa, Jean-Luc Godard, Wes Anderson, Darren Aronofsky, Jean-Pierre Jeunet & Orson Welles. I love scouring a record store for something special & squeal with joy when someone tells me about a new band. I swoon over book stores & love classic dystopian literature. My favorite video games are Bioshock, Fall Out, Borderlands, Red Dead Redemption, Little Big Planet & Oddworld Abe's Exoddus. I am a media nerd. But this does not define me.

I am passive. I am indecisive. I enjoy going with the flow & adore spontaneity. On the other hand, I enjoy clean design & organization. I love making plans & dreaming big. I set myself up for possibilities too grand for what could actually happen & I disappoint myself frequently. Living up to your own high expectations is difficult & not easily obtainable. I am sensitive & it shows. I don't like mean people, I get nervous & anxious around difficult situations & I love niceties. On the other hand, if there is a problem I am the first one to solve it, if you need a shoulder I am here, if someone is hurt or scared or in need of help I stay calm & look for a solution. I am emotional & caring & a huge empath. But this does not define me.

I have the biggest case of wanderlust. I love picking up for a weekend & just driving to who knows where. I visit friends who live far because I enjoy seeing new places, meeting new people & doing new things. I have been to four countries outside of the states & plan to go back to all four of them as well as visit every other possible country I can. I'd rather spend money on a trip to Paris or Rome than on a grandiose wedding. I'd rather have a small home in California & be able to travel the world than be grounded immobile by a huge house & other material things. I want to sleep in the Ice Hotel in Sweden, I want to kiss the Blarney Stone, I want to explore the Catacombs of Italy, & see the opera in Berlin. While dressing up & playing with beauty supplies is fun I find greater pleasure from a hike in the mountains, a walk through a museum, a run in my neighborhood. I find that saving my money & improving my morale via physical stimuli gives me more confidence than spending my money on new clothes, even though I want to. No matter how great a new dress makes me feel, having completed a week of running feels that much better. I do not want to be confined or defined by what I own. But this does not define me.

Everything you have read. Every word, sentence, phrase, thought - does not define me. Let's blur the lines. Defy definition & live outside of our own boxes. Although we know & see all these things about ourselves, let go further. Let's live in the moment & take life as it comes. Nice to meet you, I am an undefined person who's thoughts & feelings live in my heart & radiate from my body. I am imperfect & that humanity, the frail truth, makes me & you & everyone & anyone, so perfect. So human. So unique. So important. You, reading this, are important & I love you.

Five Senses Friday: Vol. 1

2011-04-08T10:18:00.000-07:00

Seeing:

A blue & white California sky from my office door.

Hearing:

Angus & Julia Stone - Santa Monica Dream on Soundtracking.

Tasting:

Grande Pike with sugar. I ♥ Starbucks.

Feeling:

Overjoyed for Friday & the upcoming weekend where I get to see my good friend Marissa tonight over coffee & shopping, a bike ride & movie night with Chelsea tomorrow & a photo adventure on Sunday.

Smelling:

My coffee mixed with my air freshener for the office. I get compliments on it all the time. "I love an office that doesn't smell weird." Ha!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

The series "Five Senses Friday" was found over at Abby Try Again. I take great pleasure in describing things, setting a scene, making a reader feel like they're in the room with whatever it is they're reading, so I hope you enjoyed this. I can't wait to see what next Friday brings!

TOMS One Day Without Shoes:

2011-04-07T11:21:00.000-07:00

On an uneventful Tuesday, just like any other work day, TOMS shoes hosted it's annual Day Without Shoes. This day is meant to provide awareness & promote the support of the One for One movement. Throughout the day I got many different reactions. My boss called me a "hillbilly" while others simply asked what was up with the "no shoes thing" & after explaining to them what TOMS does for people who don't have the ability to buy themselves a pair of shoes, most people asked where to get the shoes.

The biggest challenge of the day {besides clocking in & out of work in a metal machine shop} was completing my run. I thought that I would have a much harder time than I did. Afraid of heel pain & foot cramps I was hesitant, but determined to not skip a day of running, I went for it. Turns out it's much easier to run barefoot than I thought. Something I didn't remember from my childhood, that was thrown in my face as I ran shoe-less through the neighborhood of years past. It was freeing. My feet felt light & it was probably the easiest run I've done in a long time. This run is the same one I've been doing for weeks. It's the same run I did yesterday with shoes & the run seemed harder than when I completed it without shoes. For myself, I think that's the biggest lesson I learned from that day. I know that it probably goes against the point of the movement & all that. But hey, at least I got a shoe-less run out of it & a night soaking in the spa.

& that, folks, is the most feet pictures I've ever taken. Which made me feel weirder than not wearing shoes in the first place.

Did anyone else participate in the day without shoes?

Wordless Wednesday: Vol. 31

2011-04-05T10:16:00.000-07:00

...

Dilly:

2011-04-04T17:02:00.000-07:00

While stopped at a red light on my way home from work I felt something fall onto my leg. I look down & there was a little shiny golden-brown beetle sitting there, twitching & looking like it would simply fly away & go on with it's business like it was any other landing for the short lived life of this little beetle. But I was so wrong. I look up to check the light, still red. To check the song. Dilly was playing, by Band of Horses. It's from a soundtrack from a friend & that song marked this moment. When I looked down I saw this little beetle, no longer moving. I thought, hey maybe he's resting. So I nudge him a little & nothing. The little beetle was no longer moving. He couldn't spread his wings, or fly away. All this little beetle could do was fall off my leg in a motionless plummet to his demise. At that moment, while sitting at a red light with my windows wide open, listening to Dilly, soaking in the sun & enjoying the fact that I was on my way home for the night - I witnessed the end of a life. This poor little beetle flew into my window & landed on my lap to be with me for his final moments. There he laid, his last little beetle breathes, heart beats, thoughts. I wonder how this came about. I wonder if he was happy. All I can be sure of, is that this beetle did not die alone. Little beetle, you were loved.

Musings:

2011-04-04T09:18:00.000-07:00

This is my friend Chelsea. Just for a moment, pretend she isn't wearing ear muffs & that we're not looking at some random point in the distance. This was taken about a month ago at a music festival at our local college campus, UCR, called HEAT. There were a few good things to see & hear but what was better than the music even, was the experience. Being at a college music fest where, while walking through crowds, you're humped & groped. While standing back to watch you see some pretty lit people being thoroughly entertained by glow sticks. & for some reason, every time I'm out with Chelsea we get way too much attention. Like, this could be good attention but it's not desired at this moment, or by you, specifically. It's the kind where, while standing in the crowd to watch Against Me! perform their last set you see two guys move in between the two of you & motion to each other like, "you, go get her." Wow.

Despite all this attention we always get, the silly girl is still self conscious. As am I. But here I am, dissecting the reasoning behind why we are self conscious, even when we get this unwanted, "good" attention. You see, to us, me & Chelsea, we don't determine the quality of a person based on looks or how "cool" they are. We are looking for what you might call "kindreds." Which we see in each other, in a way. She is not only artistic, into all kinds of music, film, books & the like - but she is also an intellectual. It's the way she thinks & sees. I really believe that I look for this in any friend of mine now & I can say with confidence that I don't do this on purpose. It's just a way for me to look for love, I suppose. Because, what do we really desire more in life than to be loved? Fame? Integrity? Even these are based upon love of sorts. Love for yourself or love & acceptance by others. Humanity at it's core is so fragile. I see it in myself, I see it in Chelsea, I see it in pretty much every person I come into contact with. Their outer shell is easily cracked to reveal a soft, emotional interior. I like to try very hard to reveal this inner self to people. I have the tendency to be very awkward & stumble over my words when I do. But this is just a sign that I want to let you in. I know that keeping my outer shell hardened can be a good thing. Protecting myself from being hurt or embarrassed. Sometimes, though, I just feel the need to stop hiding & to let people in.

I like to say "let love live." Love like you've never loved before. Tell someone that you love them. Whether it be yourself, or whoever. Scream it out to the world. As loud as you've ever screamed anything before. & then cry. Cry your eyes out. & breathe. Overwhelming emotions are the foundations of life. Without passion, what would we have? A world of indifference & hardened outer shells? & would this be better? I believe, that love always finds a way. & it lives.

As focus shifts, you will see more evidence of my writing on here. I'll try to keep it easy & mix it up with photos & art as well. But more than anything, I write. I'm hoping to focus this passion & see what it becomes. Until then, you'll find snippets here & there of my musings.

Running:

2011-04-02T08:32:00.000-07:00

In that photo above, I'm wearing a hoodie - right after running. Now? Well, right after running I'm probably taking a cold shower, drinking ice water or dying. One of those three. It's been about 90 degrees out all week & I have been running for the past 3 or 4 weeks as soon as I get home from work on Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays. This week has been hot. The good thing about this crazy 90 degree Spring weather is that it is a little glimpse of what this Summer will be like & if I can do it now, I sure as heck can do it then. Which is a perfect excuse for me not to give up. Not to complain about the weather & swim laps instead. Swimming is good exercise, but it's just not the same. I'm a fishy in the water & swimming is all too easy for me. I just need to take my friend Ruthy's example & not give up!

Perks:

- running makes me feel great. Energized & light.
- it keeps me motivated to continue my other work out routines.
- when I run regularly I have less laziness regrets. Seriously, working an office job makes me feel so lazy!
- I don't like wearing pants {don't laugh} & come Summer time I need to be able to wear shorts & I wouldn't do it if I didn't approve of my legs.
- the long term affects of running & staying active are enough to keep me doing this even if I had no other reason.

Goals:

- I'd like to be able to run without stopping for a longer amount of time.
- to maintain a constant pace.
- to be able to run faster for longer.
- use running during the week as training for other active things I'd like to do.
- most importantly, I want to improve my cardio & maintain it for life. No taking after my dad's family for me, thanks.

If those aren't reasons enough for me to keep running, I don't know what are. I have tried the walk/run workout & while that is a very good plan my lazy brain likes to focus on my breathing & music or anything else besides how *long* I have been running. That's the last thing I'd want to think of while running. So instead of doing intervals I have been increasing my cardio by running non-stop for shorter amounts of time, lengthening them when I get comfortable at a certain distance. Doing what my body feels is right has always been the best way to go about things for me. So I'm sticking to this. It feels good, I'm having fun with it & so far, I haven't quit. Let's just hope it stays that way.

Regional Dialect Meme:

2011-04-01T13:00:00.000-07:00

Southern California style with me, Kam from Campfire Chic & Justine from A New Beginning.

Please disregard my constant fidgeting & giggling like a school girl. & just so you know, we know {think} we say everything right here. Or, at least Kam does.

Regional Dialect Meme:

Say These Words: Aunt, Route, Wash, Oil, Theater, Iron, Salmon, Caramel, Fire, Water, Sure, Data, Ruin, Crayon, Toilet, New Orleans, Pecan, Both, Again, Probably, Spitting Image, Alabama, Lawyer, Coupon, Mayonnaise, Syrup, Pajamas, Caught

Now answer these questions:

What is it called when you throw toilet paper on a house?
What is the bug that when you touch it, curls into a ball?
What is the bubbly carbonated drink called?
What do you call gym shoes?
What do you say to address a group of people?
What do you call the kind of spider that has an oval-shaped body and extremely long legs?
What do you call your grandparents?
What do you call the wheeled contraption in which you carry groceries at the supermarket?
What do you call it when rain falls while the sun is shining?
What is the thing you change the TV channel with?

You can read more about this over at Kam's blog. & please tell me how crazy you think we are. How do you say things where you're from?

Wordless Wednesday: Vol. 30

2011-03-30T09:09:00.000-07:00

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On Pizza:

2011-03-29T10:19:00.000-07:00

I have a love-hate relationship with pizza. As promised to Kam last night, I am going to speak on this relationship & why despite the blissful sensation my taste buds get while indulging in this dish, I rarely satisfy my pizza craving.

The reason is pretty simple, actually. Because although I love, no, lust over a good slice of pizza quite often, the after effect makes me hesitant & is my usual reason for denying myself of such a simple pleasure. What reason could possibly hinder my choice in such a superb indulgence, you might ask? Well, it's the simple, uncomfortable, painful, embarrassing after effect of the delicious pizza grease - gas. "What about a bean-o?" one might ask. Well, in my purse, at all times, I carry with me a bottle of natural digestive enzymes. But, for some reason they'll work on dairy, meat, sauces & the like, but that pizza grease just won't be stopped. It will be the death of me. Or, at least my supreme embarrassment. So folks. What should I do. Unbutton that top one after a good 2 or 3 slices? Or stick to a salad & bread sticks? What would you do?

Mahlon:

2011-03-26T10:10:00.000-07:00

Mahlon is my brother. My only sibling. He is five years older than me & like a sort of second father in the way he cares for me & has our whole lives. He is one of the only people I'll ever trust & even then he doesn't know the real me. I'm so introverted with my true self it's nuts. Get prepared for crazy intense sibling love right here.

A little show of how he was when I was a baby. Such a good big brother.

Gosh, I think I liked him.

One of our many Halloween shots. The kids actually thought he got beat up...my mom's good!

Band nerds. & my old piano...sigh.

More band nerd action. Me in middle school, him in high school.

And again. My sophomore year in high school our band went on a trip to England and Scotland. My family came along.

At my grandpa's memorial in Joshua Tree.

At Mahlon's wedding.

At the hospital after his son Ryan was born.

Being a good auntie, reading to Ryan.

At Ryan's first birthday party.

At my aunt Diane's memorial at the ranch, showing Ryan the horsies.

Last Halloween.

Hiking at Santa Rosa Plateau.

Last Christmas. See, I told you...crazy intense sibling love. Ha!

I wouldn't trade him for a thing. He's the only person I know who can always make me laugh no matter what & I can never be sad around him. Even if I am sad I'll hide it from him to protect him from my pain. Silly, I know. But I wouldn't ever want to see him hurt so I can imagine that feeling for him would be stronger to see me hurt. I could never do that to him. But yes. This is my brother Mahlon. Yes, we are full siblings & have the same parents. He just stole all the dominant genes & left me with the blonde hair, blue eyes & pasty skin. Thanks bro!

Nighttiming:

2011-03-25T08:07:00.000-07:00

So, as you read this imagine Nighttiming by Coconut Records playing in the background...just do it.

The funniest part about this post is that my night life is sort of non-existent at the moment. But when I do get out I like to stay in my comfort zone of jeans & a huge shirt. The heels are new, I did own heels before {just never wore them}, but these ones are so comfy & something I could actually wear around & not fall in. The glasses have been ordered & I cannot wait to get them! & those paintings in the back are by my grandma Phyllis. I plan on stalking her soon so she can teach me how to use water colors. Now, on to the photos.

This is the only one you can see my shoes in really. I did not plan these out well. Basically, they're cute, black, peep toe boot-style pumps.

Showing off my Dinosaur Toes Orb. Toes is really one of my most favorite people & I LOVE wearing her jewelry!

Draco had to get in on the photo action. He's such a cutie, the little black bearded monster!

& of course my Kiba love had to get in on the action as well. She's the sweetest thing! You should see the compliments she gets when I take her out. "She's SO fluffy!" "Beautiful doggy" "What is she?" ...yup, she's a babe!

& hopefully while you're out "nighttiming" you'll be fortunate enough to score one of these as a night time accessory. Ha! Don't drink & drive kids.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Polaroid:

2011-03-24T12:56:00.000-07:00

Although I am not what you would call a "Polaroid photographer" or anything close to that even, I do have my fair share of Polaroids that I have collected throughout the years. I am also in the possession of a fresh pack of real Polaroid film & have a half used pack in my camera. Be jealous, I don't blame you. {If you ask nice I'll let you use a couple.}

I'm pretty sure this first one is from Halloween 1997...? Something like that. I was a hippie, duh. & Mahlon, well...I think he was Italian or something. He has on a fake nose, a wig & chest hair. Ha!

When I bought my Fit in 2009 the dealer was taking two Polaroids of everyone who bought one. One for their wall of {hipster} fame & the other to give to the {hipsters} owners.

I have this old wooden filing cabinet in my room that was my great grandpas. On top of it I have my growing collection of Foam Magazines, my record player, my sunglasses & a fedora with an owl feather we found in our back yard.

One of my favorite photo books, The California Surf Project. Click the link to check out the images.

Just me.

My baby Cordoba, just, hangin' around. It's nylon stringed & has the best sound.

I had to get this shot of Cesar's bus.

& that there folks is the last Polaroid I've taken. I have 15 shots left. 5 from my current pack & 10 from a fresh pack of real, brand name film. I can't wait to get the film developed of the photos I've been taking with my mom's old Pentax K1000. It was the first camera I learned to use & although the light meter doesn't work I think it'll still take some amazing shots. {Hopefully my lack of skills don't mess that up.}

Wordless Wednesday: Vol. 29

2011-03-23T13:50:00.000-07:00

...

Handwriting & Such:

2011-03-21T11:34:00.000-07:00

Since you have already heard my voice {see post below}, I figure this is the perfect next step in getting to know one another through blogging. I found The Handwriting Game over at Lady Croissant's blog.

The rules:

you must write out your answers so your readers can see your actual handwriting.

The questions:
1. What's your name and blogger name?
2. What's your blog's URL?
3. Write: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog."
4. Favorite quote?
5. Favorite song?
6. Favorite band/singers?
7. Anything else you want to say?
8. Tag bloggers to participate.

{Sorry I have such tiny writing, if you'd like to see it larger just click on the photo.}

Also, here's a quick photo from the amazing weekend I just had.

Liz, Shawni & Vivs are the best! ♥

& one more quick thank you to Cesar for introducing me to an amazing movie. {How I did not know about this is beyond me.}

Pumpkin Seeds:

2011-03-17T13:28:00.000-07:00

Because I'm blogging today for two posts tomorrow on 30 Day's of Lists & Little Tree Vintage, I though I'd throw this up here to waste some blog space & your time. Enjoy my randomness, especially you, Toes & Mars. ♥

{By the way, Miss Mars & Toes & I exchange videos like this almost daily, so I had to share my awkwardness with the rest of you.}

Poppies:

2011-03-15T10:36:00.000-07:00

Photographing some of our matilija poppies before they get ripped out. This dry climate enables them to spread like bamboo & they are {beautifully} taking over our garden. The roots are deep & the plant grows like a bush. Unlike the spring bloom & winter disappearance of the California poppy, the matilija will take up room with it's bush year round. They look like paper eggs & I will miss having them in our garden. I did, however, suggest that they be transplanted around the edge of our pool since that is a hot spot where nothing will grow. It seems like perfect breeding ground for these beauties.

Floral photography reminds me of the photos my mom used to take of us when we were kids. Using her Pentax K1000 she would take us to the Huntington Library & make us sniff flowers for photos. After reading a few posts on film by Danielle aka Toes & Abby Powel {a new favorite photographer of mine thanks to Toes} I have decided to give the Pentax new life & let it strut it's stuff. Hopefully I can let it shine & my lack of skills don't disable it's potential.

& just for fun, go to Cesar's blog to see a fun photo project I got to witness this weekend.

WIPit: Vol. 5

2011-03-14T14:38:00.000-07:00

Weekend In Photos, Instagram style.

I got to spend most of my weekend in Long Beach with Bradee for her birthday, it was amazingly fun & filled with silly photos. Enjoy!

Drive out to the LBC.

Pizza & champagne dinner.

Polaroid 300 as Fuji Instax mini replacement.

Brunch with free mimosas for the birthday girl. Mine were a buck each.

Never a complete meal without avocado, bacon & potatoes.

Shiny, freshly buffed nails.

2nd street cupcake shop.

A boutique called Eden. The ceilings reminded me of Caesar's Palace.

My flip flops.

Saturday night dress up.

A birthday toast for Bradee.

Dinner at McKenna's.

The end!

Magical Friends Playlist:

2011-03-13T13:51:00.000-07:00

This is the playlist I made for the Magical Thinking Friends project. It consists of music I listened to while growing up, a lot of it I saw live because I live in SoCal & these bands made their way to the Orange Blossom Fest each year. Brass was a big thing & ska was a local fav. Enjoy!

Roxy:

2011-03-12T09:46:00.000-08:00

A quick intro for a million photos. This is my best friend turned family, Roxy. I have known her since I was 7 & she was 4. She lived across the street from me for most of our childhood, up until she went to high school. No matter what, Roxy & I love each other. We have never really had many "bad" times besides being young & stupid. Arguing & immediately hugging because we saw each other every single day & didn't like holding grudges. She is sensitive, caring, compassionate, giving, loving, honest & the best girl you'll ever meet. She just doesn't know it. She is my hero in so many ways & I will take a bullet for her. This is my Roxy.

This first one was while I was still in highs school.

The other little girl sitting there is Amanda, my second cousin, my love.

These were at my brothers wedding. We are the three girls of the family.

I love the way she always has to touch you. No matter what, she is in contact with your skin somehow. Her sensuality reaches deep in her bones & it's not a sexual thing, it a pure emotional, caring gesture.

That last one is the most recent. She moved away for a couple of years when her husband was stationed in Missouri. I missed her to death & even though it's so sad that he is deployed right now I am just happy to spend time with my dearest friend.

Character Flaws:

2011-03-11T09:42:00.000-08:00

Last night while I was working on photoshop, sleep deprived, mixing up dates & being generally discombobulated, I was also listening to Regina Spektor's album - Far. When the song "Laughing With" came on, I broke down. I'm not sure what triggered it. A song like this would usually not have this kind of affect on me, but it did & I cried. Maybe it's because of the lack of human contact lately. I could say that, but I got to speak to my two best friends on the phone last night, Roxy & Chelsea. A flood of emotions is always unexpected but along with the good comes the bad. I am flawed. In so many ways I am not like I appear on this blog. Yet, this blog is still me. It is all me, my heart & soul gets poured into it sometimes & I wonder if hitting "publish" is often a good idea. But this is me at my best. Which I usually am not. These are my biggest flaws.

- I am vulgar, I speak my mind & I may offend you. I never mean to offend anyone, ever. Even if I don't particularly like you I will never want to hurt, offend, betray, or let you down in any way. If I have, I am sorry. I always am. Speaking my mind gets me into so much trouble & it usually happens when I am not paying attention. I sometimes need to remember to slow down, take a breath & then say what comes naturally instead of the first smart ass remark that comes out of my mouth. I am so grateful to have smart ass friends who I can talk to any time & they'll always be as vulgar & hilarious as I could only hope to be. I heart you Bradee, Mars & Toes.

- I have my head in the clouds. While this sounds all fluffy & pretty, let me tell you, it's not. It adds to the whole "speaking without thinking" thing. It makes me a bad listener & it is why I don't edit my thoughts before they escape my mouth. When I took my Myers - Briggs personality test I came up as INFJ. Which is "The Confidant". Someone who you can confide in. This result is only 1% of the population & includes the fictional character Amelie Poulain. This surprised me more than anything because of how much I adore Amelie. I thought there would be no way I could be anything like her but while reading more & understanding myself more & even how my own brother sees me I know that you will not know the real me until I completely let you in. I will escape or cover up my true feelings with words or things. A trip here, an outing there, blabber. You will never really know what I am honestly thinking about a situation unless you ask. I like more people than I let on because I think character flaws are fascinating & beautiful. I delight in simple pleasures that most people don't. A pickle at the fair. My best friends moms cooking. The salt on my face at the beach that makes my hair look ridiculous.

- I go off on tangents & I say "no" a lot while having a conversation which makes people think I am arguing. But I whole heartedly dislike arguing. Almost as much as I dislike the word "hate." You will never hear me use that word unless it's about something petty. I honestly do not hate anything. My tangents may or may not be a subconscious way for me to avoid answering a question.

- I try to be the "cool girl" - the one who is okay with everything. This has gotten me hurt in relationships because I let people do things to me that I would never let a friend do. I get walked all over & made to feel like the scum of the earth only to return adoration & the knowledge that they are how they are because they are even more insecure than I am & I delight in their flaws - until I don't. With guy friends I am always the jokester, the kidder, the smart ass, "one of the guys." But underneath it all I am honest, caring, sincere. If we become good enough friends I would take a bullet for you. I would tell you when a girl is treating you like shit & take you to the bar for a few rounds. I am a guys girl & a girls girl. The only reason I have very few girl friends is because I honestly have very few friends in general. But kindreds I do have & recently discovered more. These are people I can be my smart ass, vulgar self with but also have deep spiritual conversations, I love you Mars, Toes, Carla, Gale, Bradee, Chelsea & above all else, Roxy. Roxy is my best friend. You will learn more about her tomorrow, but if I ever had anything close to a sister, it's her. Te quiero mucho baby.

As lengthy as this is, it is barely scratching the surface & I could go on. But for the sake of your eyes & brain, I will stop here. All I can finish this with is that I love. More than anything I believe in love & the power it has over people. It is what drives me. If I didn't love to hear peoples voices, my nephew laugh or say "bubbles", if I didn't love this world, the blue skies, the green (or golden) grass, the dirt between my toes the wind in my face, what would there be? Driving through a city at night. Hearing a siren or gun shots outside while you're settling in. Running on the asphalt, scraping your knee, picking yourself up & trying over. Falling from great heights. Laughing because you have no idea what to say. Laugh with me people. & more than anything, love.

Date A Girl Who Reads:

2011-03-10T09:06:00.000-08:00

source

"Date a girl who reads. Date a girl who spends her money on books instead of clothes. She has problems with closet space because she has too many books. Date a girl who has a list of books she wants to read, who has had a library card since she was twelve.

Find a girl who reads. You’ll know that she does because she will always have an unread book in her bag.She’s the one lovingly looking over the shelves in the bookstore, the one who quietly cries out when she finds the book she wants. You see the weird chick sniffing the pages of an old book in a second hand book shop? That’s the reader. They can never resist smelling the pages, especially when they are yellow.

She’s the girl reading while waiting in that coffee shop down the street. If you take a peek at her mug, the non-dairy creamer is floating on top because she’s kind of engrossed already. Lost in a world of the author’s making. Sit down. She might give you a glare, as most girls who read do not like to be interrupted. Ask her if she likes the book.

Buy her another cup of coffee.

Let her know what you really think of Murakami. See if she got through the first chapter of Fellowship. Understand that if she says she understood James Joyce’s Ulysses she’s just saying that to sound intelligent. Ask her if she loves Alice or she would like to be Alice.

It’s easy to date a girl who reads. Give her books for her birthday, for Christmas and for anniversaries. Give her the gift of words, in poetry, in song. Give her Neruda, Pound, Sexton, Cummings. Let her know that you understand that words are love. Understand that she knows the difference between books and reality but by god, she’s going to try to make her life a little like her favorite book. It will never be your fault if she does.

She has to give it a shot somehow.

Lie to her. If she understands syntax, she will understand your need to lie. Behind words are other things: motivation, value, nuance, dialogue. It will not be the end of the world.

Fail her. Because a girl who reads knows that failure always leads up to the climax. Because girls who understand that all things will come to end. That you can always write a sequel. That you can begin again and again and still be the hero. That life is meant to have a villain or two.

Why be frightened of everything that you are not? Girls who read understand that people, like characters, develop. Except in the Twilight series.

If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She’ll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are.

You will propose on a hot air balloon. Or during a rock concert. Or very casually next time she’s sick. Over Skype.

You will smile so hard you will wonder why your heart hasn’t burst and bled out all over your chest yet. You will write the story of your lives, have kids with strange names and even stranger tastes. She will introduce your children to the Cat in the Hat and Aslan, maybe in the same day. You will walk the winters of your old age together and she will recite Keats under her breath while you shake the snow off your boots.

Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you’re better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads.

Or better yet, date a girl who writes." -Rosemary Urquico

(quote found through Justine & sited here)

This quote has my heart & sounds like it's written about me at times. Time for a soy latte & some Walden.

There Is Music In My Heart:

2011-03-09T12:13:00.000-08:00

My soul, my blood. I am made up of vibrating atoms - what do they sound like? I honestly do wonder this sometimes. Take a pitch pipe to my heart & what would you hear? A hopping rag time tune? Melancholy? Sprite? A whisper? A giggle? Or awkward silence?

From as far back as I can remember, all of my memories are connected with music or a song of sorts. Lyrics or a tune. My grandma Phyllis used to sing "You Are My Sunshine" to me, she still would if I asked her to. My grandpa Henry used to whistle like it was nobodies business & had the most charming voice. It was lyrical, soft, caring & my best memory of him by far. My cousin Michael used to play the base line to "Heart and Soul" while I played to top part. You may remember this duet from the movie "Big" with Tom Hanks. Living in a small cozy 25' home while my dad went to school at SDSU my mom used to sing "Happy Trails" to me so that I could fall asleep. My brother began learning guitar from my dad at a very young age & I can just remember them playing "Blackbird" on acoustic without the lyrics. It's my favorite tune to this day. One day while waiting outside a class at my college campus, a guy who had just came out of a guitar class sat beside me & began playing "Blackbird" & I just about married him. "Marry me" - (said like Maeby from Arrested Development). I told him what tune it was & he asked how I knew the acoustic version & I told him the story. When I think about my elementary school in Rubidoux I remember learning the song "Feliz Navidad" which is a spanish Christmas song. Thinking about going to school in Rancho Cucamonga I remember the "Reading Rainbow" theme song.

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I can go on, but this will get more lengthy than it already is & I wouldn't put you all through that. Music can not only set a tone but it can inspire emotions. It can trigger a memory, a feeling, a time that was different, a world that isn't. I cannot tell you what I would be like if I didn't have music. Would I have these memories which are so much stronger & way more powerful than any visual memory? Is this because I was going through the world blind till I was 9 years old? Needing glasses & being thought of as dramatic because I couldn't see the birds in the sky? Whatever it is, I know that I would be a completely different person without music. I began playing the piano at 7 years old (leaning in as close as possible to see the sheet music), began playing the alto sax at 10 which took me through middle school & high school into band & on to drum line where I got to put my piano skills to work & learn some percussion theory. I've dabbled in brass since my brother is a trombone player & have recently begun the guitar. It's probably no surprise that now I am a huge record collector & love scoring old vinyl from family & new vinyl by all of the amazing new artists. Music is my heart & soul, it is my life blood, my being. I am made up of vibrating atoms & it sounds like magic.