culture, garden, coco, style

I am loving Baked Cheetos right now, pears, and my protein powder with the green powder.

Today is an amazing day...so sunny and nice. I planted my garden for the year today. I planted a couple rows of snap peas, green beans, cucumbers, lettuce, yellow squash, zucchini, beets. Along the back fence I pulled out a couple dead arborvitae and in place planted those huge sunflower plants to line the back fence by the pool.

Oh, one other thing. I started training for this home health job recently. Michelle the nurse I shadowed, took me to two houses yesterday. Both of them were ethnically diverse families. I feel like Americans put their parents in nursing homes, assisted living places whereas other cultures take care of the elderly. I was slightly disappointed by my own culture. I decided that I am going to take care of my parents, and I won't put them away as long as medically possible.

So now to Coco Chanel. I am reading a book called, 'Simple Abundance,' today the topic is based upon Chanel's quote: 'Fashion Fades. Only style remain.' Chuch or true that. I concur. Although I don't like the fact that she made 'tanning' the style or fashion of the past several decades (because it is terrible for your skin, aging and cancer), I do agree that fashion and style are two entirely different things.

Women frequently want to have a mad passionate fling with fashion, but given a choice most of us would marry style. That's because style, like a good man, doesn't let you down. When fashion seduces you, the affair usually burned itself out before the next season.
Fashion is a show-off, concerned with the cutting edge. Style has seen it all before and knows that the classic tenets of simplicity, beauty, and the elegance have staying power. Fashion is a cult; style is a philosophy.
Fashion mocks individuality; style celebrates it. Never forget that fashion, while frequently a charmer, is also a self-centered, frivolous bore. Style is high-spirited and generous, given to touting your best features for all the world to see. Fashion is a provocateur; style prefers to soothe. Fashion is self-congratulatory; style waits for the inevitable compliments. "Fashion can be bought," Edna Woolman Chase observed in 1954"Style must be possessed."
Fashion guesses, so it can only bluff. Style knows. Fashion is impatient and eventually passes away. Style is steadfast and waits for every woman's awakening, because authentic style is born of Spirit.

So all is said and done...I think I am stylish. I do my own thing, dress my own way, and don't really care whether it fits in with the fashion or not. Although I do ask for advice about matching things. :)

Heaven...

I went to see my very best friends in the whole wide world, minus a few token souls. A run down of my weekend started with bliss and ended with a full heart.
Sarah-Dawn picked me up, I ran some errands while she worked. Then we went for free to Disneyland, happened to get free parking, and immediately got fast passes from another couple who happened to have a extra two for the Tower of Terror (?). It was meant to be our day...and weekend for that matter. We watched the fireworks, didn't have to wait long in lines, we had turkey legs, cotton candy (which was really good), and churros.










The next day I tried to take care of some misc things, got manicures, ate sushi, went to Yogurtland, then we hit the beach for a speed walk, and nap. We dropped in Balboa Island for a bit, and I went to see Sherlock Holmes while SD again went to work. After that we went to a Ducks game, that is Cali hockey team. They beat the Islanders, just about 40 seconds into overtime. Pretty sweet!






Saturday was baby shower day. We went to the temple in the AM. Had lunch at the infamous Cafe Rio, recently opened in OC. It was delightful! Pork Salad. Yummy! The thought of it makes my stomach grumble.


It just so happened that the weekend I chose to go to OC was the weekend of Becs baby shower. Hopefully a little Jane. I wanted it to be a surprise but 2 minutes before I got there Pat spilled the beans accidentally. But it was a surprise nonetheless. I loved feeling the baby kick and touching her belly. I have never been around when any of my dearest friends have been pregnant. She is so cute, and it is so crazy! SD and I bought Becca wipes and white plain ol' onesies. I only say that because she got just about 40 pairs of them, but they were cute onesies variations of patterns and colors.








Pat, SD and I went back to the beach for the sunset, and then chilled at Becca's for the rest of the evening.




Sunday was church. A visit to the Rawling's in the of the most inspiring, beautiful, pisturesque places I know...AKA Palos Verdes Estates. Prior to going to their house we drove along the coastline of the Peninsula. Remi put us all to work preparing a Morrocan feast with Creme Brulee for dessert. Little did I know that I was intruding on a birthday dinner of my old housemate, Mike, who is now in med school in Wisconsin. Initially it was a bit awkward turned out to be a wonderful evening, ending with a song by Mike and his friend. I never realized how amazing his voice was.




SD and I met up with her sister the day I left for lunch at a little place called Shenandoah (maybe, I've forgotten the name) which was delicious. We had bread pudding to top. SD dropped me off at the airport afterwards. It was really sad to leave my friend who's been there for me thick and thin, and has always appease my crazy ideas for adventure when no one else has. I love you SD!

starting over

I was told that I have a great shaped head. I was having a conversation with the owner of the Esthetic Institute, she admired my ability to wear my hair fashionably and successfully with every color and style. Thank you! I have a great head! Although slightly large. :)

I like oranges sliced into my water. Makes it easier to drink the daily recommended amount.

I have nice teeth. I've been told they are very white and straight. I don't really believe so but that's just me being self critical.

I decided I will be growing another garden this year. But realistic plants: beets, tomatoes, peas, peppers, beans, and maybe some herbs. I pulled 6 bags of weeds and dead plants/leaves from the yard last week. I got a huge blister on my thumb to prove it.

I went to a PEEP party. Which entailed a competition of who could make the best scene using PEEPs. It was pretty fun met some new people, were reacquainted with old friends.

I will be starting a job tomorrow. I had applications etc today. That is as long as I get my last job to give me a decent reference.

My brother gets married next weekend. Yay for him for finding someone worth keeping around.

When I make money I'm probably going to join a cross fit gym. I've lost a significant amount of weight recently but I'd like to tone up, slim down.

I went on my first outdoor bike ride this weekend of the year. I had a lot of fun even though was slightly cold and windy.

I miss traveling. I really and a significant emphasis on the REALLY part, want to pick up and head out. If I had the money, I think I might already be gone. Although I am loving the Spring in VA and all my new friends.

Sunday school lesson was about Rachel and Isaac. The teacher, Reed, spoke about marriage, dating and why we want to get married. Then he shared an experience of a friend who dated someone for years, it didn't work out, and after time was able to move forward and was recently married. He said that sometimes dating is like Top Gun. They put you up in the air after something bad happens, you just don't want to get back out there and engage, and they say, 'engage, engage.' Maybe the way I rely the lesson isn't quite so funny but it really got the whole class laughing:)

No pictures for now.

little wonders...

I've been through some hell recently. I've made poor decisions, haven't dealt very well with them although I try. Details aren't really that important. You just can't keep kicking someone who's already down. But there are little miracles, little blessings in disguise and always lessons to learn. I keep telling myself where ever I am at, there I need to be content. You can search, travel, run but the truth is the peace comes from within. I've tried the running from reality, I've tried searching high/low and everywhere but right where it could be found. I've always been hard on myself and I realized that I need to forgive myself. I'm not perfect nor have I ever claimed to be. I am lucky, very blessed to have the friendships, relationships I have...probably one of the greatest blessings in my life. A friend told me I was a bit like a young talented athlete with little coaching. Recently I've had to fill my time to the point of overflowing so I could just be free of my thoughts so my friends party with me, buy me dinner, watch movies, listen to me cry, play, let me be my ridiculous self dancing in the car. I have also have an amazing family who loves and supports me, and they are amazing, each offering various encouragements and sometimes too much that they tell me to take what I want and throw the rest away.


A friend text me today: 'People say that time heals all wounds. I think they are wrong. A heart begins to heal when that person decides that they are going to be healed.'

Sometimes the past is something you just can’t let go of. And sometimes the past is something we’ll do anything to forget. And sometimes we learn something new about the past that changes everything we know about the present.


Are you in a relationship to benefit yourself or have you considered letting go of yourself and being there for that person's benefit? Love someone not despite their flaws but because of them, no one is perfect.

You can't control someone else's behavior, actions, or change their mind. You only have control over what you will do.

All I can do is take one step at a time...it's okay that I don't know what I'm doing next 6 months, month, week, or even tomorrow. Sometimes you just have to decide what you're gonna have for dinner and that'll be good enough.

I passed my theory esthetics exam finally. I am almost done with the advanced course. I took my nieces out for the day to the zoo. They had never ridden in the metro...it was so funny/cute to see their nervous faces as we rode the escalator underground then onto a train that traveled in the dark. Everyone thought they were the most darling little things...truth be told, they are. Then we bought pizza and ice cream.

I look forward to the next few months, visit to CA, Danny's wedding in Vegas, maybe a trip somewhere, the World Cup, Eclipse, a new job, and moving forward. Life will be grand.