the act of seeking out

 all images taken this weekend at Golden Gardens and Kayak Point

Sometimes I feel like I lead a double life.

The virtual one and the real one. The virtual life looks a bit different than the real one, yet it is all the same. It really comes down to what I share...isn't that the same for all of us really?

If using the Internet as ones sole point of reference...one could say I go a lot of places, complete a lot of projects, cook all the time, have a garden filled with beautiful flowers and enough downtime to photograph it all. Wow! What a life...could I be that girl? When I look at my own blog and my own Instagram feed I am often struck by how pretty, fun and full it all looks. It gets me thinking about perspective and how what you choose to share becomes the narrative.

So hows about a bit of truth with your morning cup of tea.

I am a homebody and not particularly social. I have a very small group of friends and most of them live in other places. I spend long stretches of the day not speaking to another human being. I work from home so my interactions are few. This lifestyle is mostly delightful to me as I have never been an extrovert. This does not mean that I am antisocial. Actually quite the contrary. I enjoy other people. I enjoy people watching. I enjoy engaging in animated conversations. I just don't seek it out.

I decided to make some changes in 2014. While I didn't feel the need to become a social butterfly. I did and do want to get out more. I want my everyday life to be more like the life I see in my own pictures. I want the fullness to be the rule rather than the exception. I treasure my quiet simple life...I truly do...but there's so much good stuff that comes with getting out and I can't expect all that good stuff to come to me. So far I have exceeded my own expectations. Both with Keith and without him, I have explored this great city...I have embarked on a road trip, I have visited new places and dined with new people. I have cooked different kinds of food and listened to different kinds of music. I have watched documentaries on subjects for which I never previously cared. I have played with my dog and wept with strangers. I see Keith doing the same...stretching himself in ways that make me proud and happy.

One of my goals is to visit a whole list of parks here in the PNW. The parks here will blow your mind, they are really that beautiful. Every time I visit one I return home feeling joy. Fresh air, trees and a nice long walk will do that I guess...who knew? 

In addition to the parks here are a few other things I want to do this summer:

Take a cooking class.
Have tea with a stranger.
Go to more movies.
Have a picnic with Keith in our backyard
See Mt Rainier up close
Rent a cabin with a hot tub;)

invent a signature cocktail
do a bit of painting
wear more dresses
take a yoga class

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?”  
-Mary Oliver

Paris Review

My husband surprised me with a trip to Paris for my 40th birthday.  It was a heady experience to say the least and I had more than one moment of utter joy and thanksgiving. The fact that I was with my sweetheart made it all so much better...made it complete. I have several ideas for how I plan to document this trip...but for now, I will begin here with a few of my favorite photos:

 The Seine

 Arc de Triomphe

 The House of Givenchy

 Autumn in Paris

 Notre-Dame Cathedral

 The Louvre

 Jardins du château de Versailles

 Nutella and Banana Crêpe

The Eiffel Tower

when you find yourself in a moment of happiness...allow yourself to get swallowed up by it. do not question how long it will last or whether you deserve it, rather endeavor to deserve it and offer up a tiny prayer of thanksgiving to the generous universe.

straight outta tucson

Oro Valley to be exact. Enjoying a loud, fun, raucous, insane, delicious, hilarious holiday with my family. All of us in one big house. The good times are almost over though...we're coming back tomorrow and the home stretch begins bright and early Monday morning. Hope you're having as much fun.

back

I am finally back from my whirlwind trip to Argentina and it was fabulous. Although I am happy to be home, Buenos Aires is an amazing city. I was also surprised at how captivated the people were by our politics. The first question we were asked by a waiter in a small cafe upon finding out we were American...

"McCain or Obama?" Well, you know my answer...interestingly enough...he agreed. I could go on and on about everything I saw...but since I'm back to work...I'll just leave you with a visual sampling:


What I loved about Argentina:

The nightlife. Things are just getting started at 10:00pm.

The Architecture

The Cafes

The view from Todd's balcony.

Tango.

The Antique Fair.

Just being with my family. Thanks guys for the trip of a lifetime.

I'm here...

...and it's fabulous. It's such a cosmopolitan city and my brother lives in an area of Buenos Aires that reminds me a great deal of the West Village in NYC. It's not too far from the capital building which is an architectural beast. Although it's spring here the air is crisp so it feels just like fall. He has done so much to his home. I will definitely have to share pictures when I get back. It looks like something that could be featured in a magazine with stainless steel features and exposed brick walls. My favorite part is the rooftop balcony complete with fire pit.

Ciao for now

in less than 24 hours...

I will be on a plane bound for Argentina. I can't believe it is finally here. After almost a year of hoping, planning and waiting I will be leaving this country for the first time. I am excited, but a little bit weary of what will end up being 13 hours on a plane.

This week has been a whirlwind. I managed to get a lot accomplished but not everything. I will be returning to a very busy little studio. Luckily my brother will be holding things down in my absence.

On the crafty front...I am so bummed my Studio Calico kit hasn't arrived, not that it matters since I didn't have the time to create my travel journal. A small notebook and freezer bag will have to do. One for notes and the other to store my bits and pieces. I did buy a cute little Kolo album but will have to wait until I return to hook it up.

So farewell friends. I plan to post at least once from a completely different country.

until then...
xo

wide open spaces

Arizona is definitely the land of wide open spaces, breathtaking sunsets and my sister. I've been here for a while now and although I'm ready to go home, it has been amazing. My sis lives in the foothills of the Catalina Mountains and so far I've seen a tarantula and all manner of desert creatures. It's hot, I won't lie and there have been a few crazy thunderstorms but it sure beats hurricane weather. My plans were to spend this week in central Louisiana, but work issues required that I stay a bit closer to home. Good thing since I would have had to do some major battle with mother nature just to get a flight out. I guess everything happens for a reason. I will be back soon and so will regularly scheduled programming.

till then
xo

taking off

I have not really been in a blogging mood this week as if you haven't noticed. No color combo this week. No typography spotlight. No Good Things. This week has been one of work and tying up loose ends. I am not happy to see summer depart. Some of my favorite memories happened during summer. Neighborhood hide and seek, staying out really late, swimming in the pool until midnight, my parents taking us to the beach at dusk and playing on the swings with the ocean crashing behind us. I love LA, I love the weather. I love the ocean and the mountains and the desert all converging. This is my home. A city where everyday feels like summertime and anything can happen.

As much as I love home...I often need a new perspective and that requires getting away just long enough to appreciate all the little things that annoy me. So I am taking off in the morning. no dog, no hubby, just me and my mom. I will be heading east as the sun rises. I will be gone for about ten days but I'll be blogging from the road.

I wish you all a happy holiday.

see you on the flip side

xo
-f