The Only Thing Constant is Change

I guess you could say that the past two months have been full of more changes than constants, so it's rather fitting that my blog has undergone a change of its own (How do you like it? Thank you, Danielle Moss!)

In the middle of August, I quit my job of nearly 7 years to relocate to San Francisco.  It was probably one of the biggest decisions I’ve ever made, because the job was more than just, well, a job.  I was doing what I loved to do under some challenging circumstances, but the point is that it was comfortable.  My parents lived 10 minutes down the road, I had friends all around, I was a newlywed, and life was good. Yes, there were moments of severe panic in the six weeks it took to finish things up at work, pack up our first home (and by home I mean two-bedroom rental) and begin the job search in a less-than-thriving economy.  Oh, there were moments. But slowly I began to realize that people - our parents, family and friends - were far more concerned about this change than we were, and all for good reason.  We were the ones making this conscious choice to leap in to the (unemployed) unknown.  We were the ones who had to make it happen for ourselves.  I was determined to turn all of that worrying energy in to positive energy. Afterall, life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

I’m writing this blog post while I sit in a bustling coffee shop on Chestnut Street.  All around me, there are business meetings taking place, freelancers doing “office” work, mommies (and some very pregnant mommies-to-be), and other people.  Ordinary people doing ordinary people things… like grabbing a mid-day cappuccino, catching up with friends and brainstorming big ideas.  The point is, I love this city life, and didn’t realize how much it makes my heart sing until I moved right on in and became one of these people.  After this, I’ll join two of my college friends for happy hour in celebration of it being Tuesday.  Because that’s what ordinary people do… they get together on a random Tuesday to celebrate life in between all the big stuff.

November is one of my favorite months of the year... so aside from my little blog, I think, pray and hope that other, bigger changes are ahead.  Changes that come in the form of employment. :)  For now, I'm enjoying this life and trying to relish in every minute of unemployed bliss.  I know that one day soon I'll regret all the fear, worry and anxiety that could so easily overcome me if I let it, so I'm doing my best to rise above it.   If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it.  Go out and get busy. -Dale Carnegie

I Just Spent 10 Minutes on www.someecards.com

Am Yisrael Chai

"Whoever destroys a soul, it is considered as if he destroyed an entire world. And whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world." -Talmud
In the wee hours of this morning, I woke up to go to the bathroom and before I snuck back in to bed, I couldn't help but open up my laptop to get an update on Gilad Shalit's homecoming.  Before we fell asleep, we were just moments away from receiving confirmation that Gilad was reunited with his family.  It was the most incredible feeling to go to bed not knowing what kind of news we would wake up to, but knowing in my heart that thousands of miles away in the Middle East, some sort of miracle was happening.
You see, I had heard and read it all.  Gilad was tortured.  Gilad was starved.  Gilad was brutally, verbally abused.  Gilad hadn't seen the sun in over five years.  Nobody knew what state he would be in physically, emotionally and mentally, when he crossed the border on to Israeli soil after so much time in captivity.  As the anticipation built after the news that he was to return home, so did the skepticism.  But he had become like a son to an entire nation who so desperately wanted to live to witness the end of his plight, and today history was made.


Welcome home, Gilad.  May you live a long, happy and healthy future...

image via www.jewishjournal.com 

Faith

san francisco, we're coming for you.

Take Me to My City By the Bay

Courage is not the absense of fear.  But rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear. -Redmoon

For the last 11 months, this poster has hung on on our living room wall. It's the first thing you see when you walk in the front door but when people asked us the significance, we really had no answer. We love San Francisco. It's the first place we went on vacation together, when we had only been dating for 2 months and Todd told me he was joining me for one night of my birthday trip up there. It was a whirlwind trip and I'll always remember it.

Fast forward a year, and we have made the decision to uproot ourselves to that big, beautiful city by the bay. We're leaving our jobs, our parents and so, so many comforts behind... but you know what? I'm excited. I am ready. I am fueled by a sense of adventure that I haven't felt in seven years since I moved to London for a short while. It feels like it's been a lifetime since I started this job over six years ago, and to say I'm ready to move on is an understatement.

In six years, I have...

-been promoted twice

-traveled to Charlotte, New York, and Washington, DC to expand our programs, meet charities around the country and take a stand on Capitol Hill

-watched staff come, and watched staff go

-met a boyfriend-turned-fiance-turned-husband

-become a wife

-watched those around me suffer incurable diseases

-had a couple of surgeries

-gossiped my fair-share

-been let down, been praised, been let down again

-watched people change, for better or worse

-worked my butt off

-cried my fair share of tears

-laughed uncontrollably

-been driven crazy by petty work drama, unfaithful coworkers and difficult personalities

-(dreamed of starting my own business because of all those things)

-traveled on private jets, attended 5-star charity galas, been treated to countless fancy meals and met some dynamic celebrities, political people and nonprofit leaders

-wished i had a magic wand to cure family and friends from life's curveballs

-experienced sheer joy, happiness, sadness, frustration, love, disappointment, confusion and contentment...

So here's to new adventures. Here's to giving up the big 2-bedroom apartment for a smaller and pricier home. To living in a city that's full of life and love and beautiful things.  To new restaurants, new bars, new streets and new faces.  To new jobs, taller buildings and bigger parks. We are so ready and so excited... the best is yet to come!

Friday Faves

Do you know what happens when the men in our lives get sucked in to watching documentaries about cleanses, products, diets and electronics that can change your life?  We usually go out a day later and buy said products, usually after pinky swearing we'd never be asked to buy another kitchen electronic from now until forever.

We started the Reboot cleanse to basically get rid of all the crap in our bodies.  And oh, it worked (see last post).  On night #1, we attempted to "juice" using our blender which ended up in a chunky, tasteless mess of kale, spinach and other leafy things.  We were basically eating the juice instead of drinking it, so I immediately got online to see about making a proper juicer purchase!  I figured we're already one foot in, and if we're going to do the cleanse... we're gonna do it right.

Which brings me to my next installment of Friday Faves...

The Breville 200XL Juicer:

I caved and bought this time sucker of an appliance after reading so many rave reviews.  At only $99, this thing has a 700 watt motor and spins the filter basket at 14,000 RPM!  Holy juice!  In less than 5 seconds, it can spit out 8 oz. of the freshest, most nutritious and best tasting juice you've ever had.  Spinach, kale, whole apples, carrots, celery, beets, bananas. The pulp that's left over is completely dry so you know you've squeezed out every last drop of juice.  We're obsessed, and if you don't watch out...we might be juicing your sushi pretty soon.

Milk + Honey

One of my favorite things to do is meet my BFFOUSBCA for coffee dates before work to catch up and chat with no distractions.  This morning was no exception! Tucked away in a little corner of The Camp in Costa Mesa is Milk + Honey, a cute little cafe that has the best of both worlds - delicious fresh food and a perfect atmosphere.  We love their open air patio filled with succulents and rustic furniture, and often sit on the comfy velvet couch with our lattes and acai bowls (SO delish) soaking up the precious early morning time before hitting the office.  If you're a newbie there, try the lavender latte - you won't be disappointed!

Friday Faves

This goofy guy:

joshua tree, november 2011


I was hit with the plague at 1:30am on Thursday morning, and puked 9 times before Todd took me to the emergency room for some serious drugs and fluids. It was an awful case of food poisoning, or at least that's all we can chalk it up to. He paid the emergency room co-pay and made me laugh, calling me an expensive date. He stood by my bedside (literally, almost on top of me) with bloodshot tired eyes and even held the bin while I tossed my cookies just one more time to show the doctors and nurses I meant business. He played hooky to stay home and sleep with me, and even kept the TV noise to a minimum :)
In sickness and in health, baby! This guy wins the Friday Faves award from now until forever...