Posts

Oregon and Eclipse 2017

Image
For the total solar eclipse Monday, I traveled to Portland Oregon with my boyfriend and saw some old college buddies that live in Hillsboro and stayed at their place. We woke up at 3am to get to the site viewpoint Shellburg falls (outside of it, five miles) he chose for us to go to. The drive took us 2-3hrs to other side of Oregon. I saw small quails crossing the street late in the afternoon, a sunrise, that is hardly describable here, best in person, pictures don't do justice, same with an eclipse memory that was amazing! It was well worth heavy traffic after and lack of sleep, and a long 10 mile hike in heat and blisters on ankles, and being sore the next day. Totality of 2mns and total darkness, silence all around. Animals were quiet. Some people howled at the moon and danced around. I lay on a towel with my guy between power lines and a meadow field stretching miles around. We went to Portland, which he had never been, so I showed him around, and we went to Desc...

Commit to health, commit to you!

Image
Just so you know- some things are just as important as world travel. I have been putting my own health on the back burner because I like to put others first. I know it sounds incredibly ridiculous to myself too when I think about it. However, I have. Mia, my friends, my family, my boyfriend, but not me essentially. Yes, I go to the gym and that is crucial for daily life, but there is more. I have had teeth pain for awhile and sore gums; although leaky gut and ibs have stuck with me since I was a kid, along with lactose intolerance. I did not even focus on any of it. I continued to get sick a lot and have no energy, while still trying to work out. It affected my mood and ruined I am sure, some friendships.  I am grateful for attending therapy for the last four years simply for self growth and to gain the right tools in order to work on things I wanted to work on. That was an expense. So, when the tagline things is mentioned, I would assume material things, not on concret...

Gloria and the curious case of Arthur

Gloria has lived at the Villas 11yrs. She is an older lady with two white dogs who bark and roam around the complex. She knows rhe office staff by name and the maintenance people. They answer to her whenever there is trouble a foot and whenever she catches them for small talk. She is a bit of a curmudgeon in her own right and owns it right down to her style and jewelry and her southern drawl when she complains about the apt children running lose in the area. She lets you know her presence, but takes no crap or phoniness, she will see how transparent you become. Her demeanor speaks of "back off" but surprisingly she talks to me out of anyone else in that entire villa. Maybe I am just too nice or have no one to talk to there either. I listen to her and we chat about whatever she has on her mind or she attempts to pry into my world, which I oblige sometimes if feeling need to. She has many friends that she visits frequently and takes extravagant trips and sometimes just to a s...

LDR : the long and the short of it

Image
I am not talking about Lana Del Ray people! I am referring to the trials, tribulations, triumphs, and taxing one another; yet tastefully worth it in every-way---Long-distance relationships. The kind you told your  your closest friends you swore you would never do because you thought you could never make it. The kind that can be debilitating, but altogether strengthening and rewarding for some. You made a deal with God this life was about you and your self discovery, your work, your independence, and your choices as whole, but it holds no bearing, when someone walks into your world. You can choose to ignore the frightening, yet exhilarating possibility of taking a chance, or you can surge forward into something without expectations or proposed ideals of what your life should look like. Should, could, would, how do you even know what that is, until you are in it?  LDR to me was like a swear word you couldn't say at the dinner table, you just didn't do it, and you didn't e...

THE GREAT BIG F BOMB er Meaning

Image
 This little town of Rancho Bernardo has grown on me. Somehow it reminds me of home and somehow in other ways does not. My boyfriend managed to find some adorable, lesser known places to eat, things to do, and I hide out in these places just to think. It's funny I am a fan of chain restaurants, like Einstein Brothers, Chipotle, etc, but even then, it is so nice to find a place the locals like, or one not many people go to at certain hours of the day like a yogurt shop. I was hesitant to plant myself here and I think somehow it has weaseled it's way to my inner core especially when my mind drifts to my family, I remember I have Mia with me and God to tackle what I cannot face alone. I stand around in my quiet apartment, no ac on (sure I am crazy, but it saves me money), and I think about how much things have changed for me over the years, but what has also remained the same. I keep a dream board in my room as I mentioned before, of my hopes. Last week, I was in a rut and I wan...

Save the ta tas, home again and socal life

Image
Save the ta tas, home again and socal life Recently, after returning from my Italy trip I am learning about bralettes and how much more comfortable and supportive they are. These sets areealthier for the girls! I learned about this from a traveler friend who posted aboutRecently, after returning from my Italy trip I am learning about bralettes and how much more comfortable and supportive they are. These sets are healthier for the girls! I learned about this from a traveler friend who posted about them on her facebook page and at first I thought she was totally nuts because who wants to go without a cup size orsomething that does not look cute! I have worn bras for years and the underwire cuts like crazy and they are uncomfortable as hell but in the name of fashion and sexy the word comfortable need not apply.  I had pains and I just didnt feel right coming home and my ta tas hurt; also heard it causes breast cancer and bruising, boo. I tried on of the bralettes from Target, a...

Roma and last half of trip Naples- Sorrento, Pompeii, Etna, Capri, and Catania

Image
We stopped in Orvietto, a cute small town to walk around, take pictures, ate at a small cafe. After a drive into the city we arrived in Rome. I have to say I am not all that crazy about the city life there but definitely worth visiting and loved it all. . I enjoyed the Pantheon for Apollo and Trevi fountain and the Spanish steps (scene from Roman Holiday with Audrey, yes I had to capture it). We did the pasta making class early and was authentic, difficult and fun. North Italy makes lighter olive oil and the south makes heavier and don't pick olives like the north does. Balsamic is made from wine grapes and stuff with mozzarella and deep fry them and press them. I really was excited to see the Vatican which was a moment in myself and with God amazing and tears arrived, and the Colosseum, which both were amazing where they stand. Arc DI Titus (on way up)  Queen Victoria wings of victory in back flip up from the building in the square and it was also the inspiration for ...