Summer To-Do List

Monday, June 24, 2013

Happy (belated) Summer Solstice! What did you do to celebrate? We showed our visitors a good time, checking out a wine growers' party at Dutcher Crossing, watching the sun set and the supermoon rise off Mt. Diablo, and checking out the fine arts festival in our little town.

It's actually funny calling it "summer" out here since to us it has felt like summer since ohhh about February. But now that it's official, I decided to put together a to-do list of things I'd like to get done this season.


1. Do yoga once a week
It just makes me feel so good. I know that if I can stick to this I'll have a more calm, enjoyable, centered, and flexible summer all together. No excuses.

2. Redecorate my office
Since starting my job in January, I haven't done much to make my office "mine" except add a desk. Pinterest has been inspiring me; it's time for an overhaul.

3. Go to a Giants game
Though I WILL be cheering on my dear Red Sox this season, I think it's required that I go to a Giants game while I'm out here. I just want a hot dog.

4. Camp somewhere just to camp
Jimmy and I love to travel and we love to save money. Camping kills two birds with one stone because we get somewhere new and sleep for cheap, but we realized recently that we never get enough time to just BE at the campsite, making s'mores and lounging in the hammock.

5. Make an ongoing summer playlist
I've been craving new music like woah, and I've also been hearing a lot of good stuff but then forgetting to get it all together in a playlist for future listening. I'm excited to get a good one going on my Spotify. Suggestions?

6. Ride a scooter
This one's a cheat. We just bought a scooter, and I'm so excited, and I know I'm going to be riding it all summer!! But I haven't driven it yet (safety first, I'm without a helmet), so it still makes the list. Don't you ever put something on a list just to cross it off?? Pics to come. What should we name it?

7. Golf
I can't really believe I've never tried golfing. I was a beer cart girl for a few summers back in the day, and always thought I'd love to try golfing....and I'm pretty good at mini-golf...time to give the real thing a try.

8. Complete an online course
On Coursera and/or Lynda.com, or probably both. I just signed up for a nutrition class on Coursera, and I plan to get some videography and Photoshop training on Lynda. #learning!

9. Master myself a signature cocktail
I've been craving something new, light and different for summer. I'm thinking...grapefruit....and bubbles....

10. Camp next to a lake
Specifically, I'd like to hike-in to a deserted and gorgeous lake side haven with views of a crystalline lake and purple mountains majesty. Let me know where I can find this.

Wish me luck!

Currently

Thursday, June 20, 2013


I love how Danielle does this Currently series; it's such a fun way to get/give a quick life snapshot.

I'm currently:

Reading...Dan Brown's newest book, and I. am. loving it. I thought I was over his stuff, but my dad suggested it to me knowing I'd love all of the references to Florence and Venice locations, Italian art history, and Dante's Inferno (I took a whole class on the Inferno when I was in college). It's a page turner.

Listening to... the new album What's the Skinny from Today Junior, an indie rock band out of Boston - check them out!

Inspired by...Molly's gorgeous new video. One of my big projects of this summer is going to be practicing my videography a bit!

Thinking about...potentially doing a 1/2 marathon this fall. I've never ran more than a 10k, and I don't really like running... but I would love to get back into a bit, and I'm pretty sure that I'd feel amazing after doing one! Plus Jimbo said he'd do it with me, and a lifelong dream of mine has been to have him as a workout partner! What do you guys think? Has anyone done a 1/2 marathon??

Loving...having Jimmy's mom, Patti in town!! I'm making a BBQ feast tonight and I can't wait to show off wine country to them this weekend. I'm also loving my new blog design, not gonna lie :). Thanks, Bobbi!


Have a great weekend, loves!

Links for a Monday

Monday, June 17, 2013

 Pics are from my April trip to Mendocino county with my homies. More to come soon!

Happy Monday! I hope everyone enjoyed their weekends. Wow, what a much needed couple of days catching up and relaxing. We pool lounged and had a casual din at High Tech Burrito, which I'd heard was an East Bay must-try (cheap, quick and fresh burritos? Can't go wrong.). I did a million necessary and long-postponed tasks i.e. car cleaning, summer clothes unpacking, closet organizing, guac eating, margarita drinking, etc. And yesterday, I ventured to the Mission with my sister and Jimbo to visit some friends and meet some wonderful new ones.  Oh and then we tried Tacolicious. Have I mentioned that I love Mexican?

If anyone had as much trouble working their way back into the work week as I did, then you're probably more in the mood to browse through these links than you are to do to "real work"....

Enjoy your week!

My Pops

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Happy Father's Day to my Papa, to whom I credit my positive outlook on life, my obsession with Cape Cod and family traditions, my appreciation for high quality margaritas, and my inability to live further than an hour from any ocean. Thank you for always making me feel so cherished and safe, I love you!!


Getaway Weekend :: Grass Valley

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

What a couple of weeks! Ay caramba. The last 6 weekends in a row were filled to the brim with fun travel and visitors, while the work weeks were filled with conferences and busy preparation for my first big work event. It all culminated this past Saturday with the event, which actually went very well despite the 106 degree heat! Now I am SO ready for some summer relaxation. Catching up on things. Camping. Healthy eating. Being outdoors. Work will be all about planning for next year, and weekends will be about spending time outside and exploring. Yes!

Here are some iPhone photos from our trip to Nevada City and Grass Valley, CA, a beautiful area in the western Sierra Nevada foothills. Jimmy was heading there a couple of months ago for an animal tracking certification, and I decided to hitch on for the ride. The area is well known for it's huge part in the California Gold Rush, which is an era I'm completely fascinated by. So obviously, I was pumped when we were exploring around a river one day and came across someone who was actually panning for gold. Can you believe people still do that??

We hiked along streams, listened to live music, enjoyed the local grub, and left planning to return again soon.


Ooh. Now I want a bloody mary, BAD.

So, want to hear some big news? The new blog design is coming TOMORROW. That's right, you will barely recognize me over here! Hope you like it :).