june gloom

There is such a thing as June Gloom.  And then there is May Gray.  For some odd reason, June and sometimes May are cloudy in Southern California.  I often wake up to windows filled of white where you'd expect blue skies.

These days, I find myself restless, anxious, and unable to sleep. And it doesn't help the sky is gloomy. I'm shocked that in 18 days, EIGHTEEN DAYS! Chris and I will be hosting a marriage celebration for some 100+ people.  I feel incredibly unprepared for this and I think I'm most likely forgetting things, very important things, the kind of things all the wedding planners who I interviewed kept eluding to, but wouldn't dare share. ...but then on the other hand, I'm just super excited to share experiences of LA with friends and family coming from afar, and to just see everyone together in one place, meeting each other for the first time, or reconnecting after years. And then...I'm like fuck it. At least I know the food will be good, the venue is unique and very L.A., there will be alcohol, and if everything isn't perfect, or even close to perfect,---perfect meaning not fancy enough, our friends and family will forgive us.  

In the face of a million gazillion options and logistics, and desires to create the environment found on my many pins on pinterest, I find myself frozen in the fear of making the wrong decision. Which is ridiculous. But ...not surprising.  I've always done better when I had less options, but wedding planning is anything but having  limited options (at least in the U.S.). With the clock ticking---work starting to become demanding, and will be until the wedding, and decisions that absolutely NEED to be made at this point, I know Chris and I will be forced to make decisions--whether they are the right ones or wrong ones- something is going to be done. On that note, back to researching options!  

Above and Beyond Acoustic!!!!

About a year ago I was introduced to Above & Beyond by Chris. I don't know if introduced is the right word, maybe forced to listen to EDM for hours on roadtrips is more accurate--as the driver he had dibs on music choice. I used to complain that listening to techno while stuck in traffic, was like being in hell ....  In any case, I've found that when you listen to something long enough, you start to like it and associate with it.  Really it is conditioning, which can be a great thing if it is something positive, and terrifying if it is something harmful and hateful.  I've been conditioned to EDM!!  Not sure if that's positive or negative...but I have come to love Above and Beyond music and sometimes listen non-stop to their albums while driving.

They played at the Hollywood Bowl last night and it was beautiful because they rearranged all their songs into an acoustic version. Old songs rearranged brought new meaning as lyrics were emphasized and compositions made songs more dramatic.  At one point, we realized that one of the songs we listened to and I had been listening to for a year now,  was about a man's death and his last day living. I loved how everyone there sang along  with all the songs and just reveled in the music.

One of my favorite songs - Miracle. I think I like the acoustic version than the original!

At one point during the night, all of our bracelets lit up to the chorus of one of their most popular songs.

post-marriage, pre-wedding

Moving to a new city as an adult isn't so hard when you are married and have a built in friend to discover the city with.  Chris and I, however, have been extremely lucky.  Some of our closest college friends live here and some people who we knew, but have wanted to get to know better, also live here. We've also been fortunate enough to meet people who are new to LA and don't yet have their lives filled with a set group of friends. They are willing to explore and discover LA and all it has to offer together.  We are even luckier that many of these friends are experiencing similar life milestones together, like being newly wed or soon to be wed. I never thought too much about this before, since being in school somewhat ensures everyone around you experiences similar milestones together, but this is not something to be taken for granted. I am thankful everyday for this. 

My favorite girls in LA threw me a post-marriage, pre-wedding party at Malibu Wines! 

Look at that spread of food! Portos!! yum~~

It was interesting to hear perspectives from everyone about Chris or about me, or about our relationship! It was a lot of laughing, food, and enjoying the sun and music, and of course the beautiful atmosphere of lightheartedness, flowers, and California ease.  Though I have to admit, being the center of attention was far from comfortable. 

I am so blessed. If not anything, I have always been lucky with having amazing people in my life. 

hello blog (Feb 15, 2016)

My childhood friend, Christine, inspired me to keep a blog and take note of all the small things that happen in life. To treasure the little moments, the ordinary moments, that pass us by or go unnoticed as we become increasingly focused and at the same time distracted by the forces of adulthood.  As I ventured back into the blog sphere, I discovered 7 different blogs I started and then eventually lost interest in.  I'm hoping this one sticks!!  

Hi 2016. This year I want to become closer to the person I want to be or the person I imagine I am when I'm daydreaming on my way to work. That means becoming more aware of who I am, what I want, and what I need, and what I don't need to live a fulfilling life...and really what better way to explore that than through a blog and taking note of my everyday, inspirations, desires, fears, and love.  

Last year Jan 1, 2015, Chris and I moved to LA from Washington, D.C.  I lived in LA for a summer while in undergrad, and I remember thinking to myself that I would NEVER choose to live here nor would my work ever bring me to LA, and that this simply wasn't my city.  Now as a 30 year old, I feel as if I belong here.  I heard someone say  "I was born to live here" and I find myself coming back to this sentence several times a month.  Her statement resonated with me and I never felt so sure that this is where I belong.  There are too many things to say about LA and its nearby cities, towns, beaches, and mountains and I assure you that I will be revisiting my love for LA again and again.

DTLA peeping through clouds as seen from a Vday Runyon Canyon hike with friends.

Winter beach morning photo after an attempted surfing session. I love the beach- I don't care if its winter, summer, day, or night, but I especially love the beach mornings, hearing the waves crash, watching (real) surfers run down the beach determined to paddle through the waves, and the couples sipping coffee while looking out into the ocean. Even the foggy days are mystical and beautiful. It's so peaceful and quiet.  It is almost as if you belong to a secret club, only for those who really love and appreciate the ocean enough to wake up early on a weekend morning just be near.