Inspiration Strikes

I sit at my desk, blinds open behind me letting the sun cast a zebra glare on my computer monitor, but I'd rather have that than the florescents on.  It makes me feel a little more human to see the sunshine.

I'm learning about purchase orders after a slow morning spent perusing my favorite blogs, and the girl training me stops for a lengthy phone call.  I look down at my pad of paper and doodle:

I write, "finish Stratejoy post" and "charge ipod" and then...  "brainstorm"

I don't know why, it just comes out of my pen, all on its own.  And next comes:

And I look at that sentence and I have a slow trickle of an epiphany.  It isn't the lightning bolt kind, it isn't noticeable to my co-worker next to me, still on the phone.  It's like a slow leak from a balloon - no, not that, that makes the balloon smaller - it's like a tiny little waterfall that only happens after a heavy rain & that you only notice as you hike by if you're really in tune with what's around you and not preoccupied with thoughts or focused on a goal.  You only notice it if you're enjoying your hike.

The trickle of inspiration pools ink on paper and somehow forms words, words that make me smile, words that keep arranging themselves as they steadily drip-drip-drip out.  And those words form an idea, a good idea that feels possible and achievable.  Fun, even.  My co-worker hangs up the phone and training begins again; as I listen, I sit with the warming knowledge of my lovely new secret.

It may not happen as I imagine it; it may not happen at all.  I might change my mind tomorrow.  But today creative inspiration found me, and I opened up the part of my brain that is hopeful, imaginative, focused.  Today I took one step toward my big dream life.

Today I am so grateful and happy for:
~ unexpected epiphanies
~ being still & letting creativity flow
~ knowing what I need

xo!  n.

Home, Interrupted.

I need to vent a little.  (I almost just wrote "a lottle" which is probably more accurate)

I moved into this lovely old house in Eagle Rock in August and was the first of a new wave of tenants here; the last group lived here for 15 (yes, fifteen) years.  They told me that during that time, the landlord was never there, the carpet had never been replaced (or, I'm sure, cleaned - it was a bunch of boys) and she left it up to them to make household repairs.

So the new manager of the house gets tenants in, we're all aware of the state of the house (I pull up my own old nasty carpet from my room) and all is well.  UNTIL the landlord decides to stop being a slumlord and just start being an ass.

Out of nowhere, she painted the outside of the house - when I got back from my JetBlue trip, I walked into my room to find a strange man looking in on me from my 2nd floor bedroom's window, painting - and has now dug up the entire back yard.  Where we once had a lovely grassy lawn with a hammock, a lemon tree, a bushy tree with purple flowers, and beautiful overgrown blooming shrubs, there's now a pit of mud & dying grass, a heavily pruned lemon tree, no shrubs, and the gorgeous purple tree has been chopped within an inch of it's life.  It literally has one branch and looks like a limping amputee.

I know it still looks green but that's because this is Cali.  Believe me, it looks barren compared to what it was.

Every day there are strange men at my house and the landlord often walks in without notice, banging the door open and then stomping through the entire house yelling, "HELLO??"  The one time I answered - I was in the shower & she wouldn't stop yelling "HELLO?? HELLO?? HELLO??"  Can you not hear the shower running??? - I said "yes?" and she said, "Oh you're here, that's ok."  And left.  Really?  That's ok?  It's ok that I'm in the house I pay you rent to live in, at 10:30 in the morning?  What a relief.

Grrrrrr.

She still hasn't done the ONE thing that would actually make this a BETTER place to live - replace the carpets.  She's promised us wood floors, but on the condition that WE paint the entire interior of the house for her.  Bull.  Honky.  But whatever, we painted.  Then she complained she didn't like the colors we chose, even though she approved them.  I really feel like she wants us to break our lease & get out & is purposefully trying to make it uncomfortable for us to live here.

It really sucks because I like this house a lot, I get along with my roommates, and I love the area and the view.  I'm settled and comfortable and don't want to go through moving again.  But I'm keeping an eye out for a cheap studio or one-bedroom, just in case. 

Sorry to be bitching.  I sat outside to write & sit in the sunshine, but the roar of powertools and the sight of backyard destruction has made nowhere around the house a comfortable place to be.  Oh well, hopefully it will be over soon.  For now, it gives me a good reason to get out & DO something.

Today I am so happy & grateful for:
~ my hoodie
~ sleeping in
~ conversations with new friends

xo!  n.

heart a-flutter friday

Starting on Thanksgiving, my family always asks for a Christmas list & I never know what to tell them because I never really need anything.  And when I start looking for things, I often come across stuff I love but have no use for at this stage of my life, or that's way too expensive to expect anyone to get it for me.  So I'm starting a weekly post of all the lovely things that set my little heart a-flutter.

This way I get to enjoy window-shopping, start thinking about what to get my friends & family for Christmas, and have a sorta-kinda Christmas list to which I can direct my family.  And you get to drool over these lovely things too!  It's a win-win-win-win!

So here goes, the first installment of Heart a-flutter Friday!

Filigree Leaf Wrap Ring by BrillianceFound on Etsy
I really like gold lately and I love chunky rings. This one is big & fab, but flat so it won't get snagged on things like sweaters and eye sockets.

Oatmeal Cup Cozy by Natalya1905 on Etsy
Ohh, it's like my favorite old dad sweater -- for my coffee!  I just want to cuddle up with this!

This book

Because playing around on Photoshop is one of my favorite things to do.

Pretty Birdie's Wooden Double Ring by StephanieTeague on Etsy
Made from scraps of wood from old guitars!  Double-finger rings remind me of brass knuckles, so even though this one is obviously non-violent, I think it would make me feel just a skoch bad-ass.

Lovely Little Bulbs Stack Rings by Kathiroussel on Etsy
I love dainty stack rings, especially when they're uneven & organic like this.

From SucculentsGalore on Etsy

I want this garden for my own!  Oh how I adore succulents.

Modern Baby Clock Owl by Decoylab on Etsy
Cute and kitschy but simple and modern.  Perfect for any room in my imaginary future house.

Rainbow Bird Vases by CatherineReece on Etsy

I love these sweet little birdies - I could line them in a row or spread them out to bring some color and whimsy into each room.

Well that was random & fun!  Can you tell how very much I love Etsy?  :)  I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did & maybe even got an idea or two for your own Holiday shopping!  Happy weekend!

Today I am so happy & grateful for:

~ lovely things

~ finding the perfect gift for someone (which I totally did today, but shhh I can't tell you who or what!)

~ The season of Thanks and Giving

xo!  n.

Say What You Need to Say

Sometimes things build up inside you - thoughts and feelings multiply, expand until they're too big, too out of control for words or to make sense of - and then suddenly you have the chance to speak, and all those feelings rush to be expressed, getting jammed somewhere between your brain, your heart and your mouth.  And your words are jumbled, and you're too choked up to speak clearly, but somehow, you say it.

And it feels so good.

 

Today I am grateful and happy for learning how to just say it.

xo,  n.

[photo source]

Daydreams of headwear & hefeweizen

I am totally unfocused today.  At work, my brain flits and stutters like an adolescent flirting.  Checking invoices - match, match, enter information, I need a new phone, those new t-mobile ones look cool, I wonder if I could get a refurbished iphone, my ipod is awesome, what is this song, ha ha that picture last night is great, ugh I'm tired, more coffee, pretty blogs, I need to work on mine, oh I need to write a to do list, I wonder if anyone will be home tonight, I need groceries but not today, I should drink more water, can't forget to pay my credit card, droopy flowers, I love this new hat...  and on and on.  It is an impossible task to try and get things done.  Sorry, work.

Yesterday Chick and I went shopping in Pasadena, which is right next door to me now, but until I moved to Eagle Rock I hardly ever experienced the money-spending joy that is Colorado boulevard.  Lucky for my wallet, nothing fit quite right or seemed worth the price except a $5 hat that kinda makes me look like a rastafarian hipster (pictured in the pub crawl pics below) but I love it anyway.

Strangely enough, I bought the hat partially because I dreamt it the night before.  I dreamt that I went on a trip to San Francisco with a cute guy & I was wearing this hat.  I woke up thinking, man that was a good dream... and I want that hat.  So when I stumbled across it at Forever 21, I knew it was meant to be.  Now to find the cute guy...  :)

 

hmm... pretty close...  [source]

Chick bought more stuff but I just had fun window-shopping, trying things on, and sitting outside with glass of wine and my lu lu (that's what Chick & I call each other - long story).

Then, starting around 4:30pm, we joined friends for the 2nd Official Caccese Pub Crawl!  Caccese is the friend I hung out with in NYC; he's from NY, we all met when he lived in LA, and when he moved back to NY we had a goodbye pub crawl for him.  He's back visiting & we decided to make it a tradition.  Not only was it fun to see Caccese again, but it was also the first time we'd seen our friend BCK since he moved back to LA from Chicago!  Lots and lots and lots of silliness ensued.

 I crashed on the couch at Teeter & Chick's house again - I've slept there at least one night every weekend since I've been back - and thank goodness for the hat I got because right now it is hiding my dirty hair and posing as a style choice, when really it's more of a neccessity.  I've had two cups of coffee & am still sleepy, my breath tastes like onions (which makes no sense - I didn't eat any & I swear I brushed my teeth), and my face is puffy from dehydration.  Aren't I just freakin adorable!?  Ga-ross.

It is coooooold in LA tonight - perfect chili weather.  On the way home, I stopped at the grocery store for fresh ingredients and then made a big ol' pot of turkey & bean & veggie chili with some cornbread.  Mmmm...  And my roomie baked persimmon cookies so I am sitting here with a cup of green tea and a soft fresh cookie, all wrapped up cozy in a blanket.  What a lovely way to end my day.

I am so happy & grateful for:
~ winter weather!!
~ healthy delicious food
~ good times with kooky friends

xo!  n.

Bridesmaid Extravaganza Day of Fun!

Y'all might remember my friends AB and The Scot who I stayed with in Perth, Australia - well, they're getting married in May and I'm a bridesmaid!  Their Matron of Honor, H, lives right down the street from me (we all went to college together in SC) and since AB is in Australia still, her other bridesmaid is in Scotland, and she & The Scot are getting married in Wilmington NC, H & I are teaming up to plan her hen's weekend (in my hometown of Charleston!) and make sure dresses, etc are taken care of.

Today was planning day #1, and we rocked its socks off.

AB, me & H, quiiiite a few years ago

We started off with the brunch of champions: french-press coffee (btw, H alerted me to the fact that in my very neighborhood, there's a shop that sells Stumptown coffee! The best coffee I've ever had, from Portland!! So excited!), homemade waffles with butter, syrup, blueberry jam & fresh blueberries, and of course, a bridal mimosa.  Mmmm...

All that deliciousness got our little brains a-sparking with ideas & once H found the perfect teensy red notebook for our planning, we brainstormed and, if I do say so myself, came up with a SUPER fun hen's weekend.  AB, I'm not giving you any hints but just know we were giggling & gasping with excitement & brilliant ideas all afternoon.

Then it was off to the bridal shop, to which H's hubby, Dutch Giant (yes that is his official nickname ;) ) was kind enough to drive us, even in the madness that is Burbank Saturday afternoon traffic.  Despite being surrounded by white lace & tulle, that place sparked nothing bridal in me; it seemed so impersonal & florescent-lit and H and I were by far the only people in there having any fun.

We tried on our adorable bridesmaid dresses, ordered the correct sizes, and walked out with fabric swatches, which we promptly took to the store next door & found me some lovely shoes (AB doesn't want matchy-matchy footwear) and then three perfect cardigans - and all for well under $200!!

sneak peak

Neiher of us could believe how incredibly fortuitous and productive the day turned out!  AND it was fun spending time with H - we were goofy girls!  Then I got home to find a marathon of Back To The Future on TV and that just made me even happier.  What a lovely day of fun.

Today I am so happy and grateful for:
~ gettin' stuff done!
~ planning joyous occasions with and for wonderful friends
~ Marty McFly & Doc Brown's shenanigans

xo! n.

We like to party.

The last 2 weeks have been filled with all things Halloween-y, including a goulish car transmission scare and a terrifying, scream-inducing (literally) mess-up at the new job.  But don't worry, all is well.

The Sunday before Halloween, Teeter, Chick and I held our annual scary movie pumpkin carving party, which was super fun, we made super-delicious candies, and I got super smashed and stayed up til 4am then crashed on the couch.  Needless to say, the next morning at work wasn't too fun... but it also wasn't too hectic (not the screaming day, thank God) so I made it through.

Then on Halloween weekend, I went to two parties and, of course, had to have two costumes!  They were both completely last minute, but I'm pretty proud of 'em.  On Saturday night, I was your mom.

Yes.  You heard me right, your mom.  As in, "so's your mom."

Your mom doesn't like having her picture taken.  She's shy.

The party we went to was fun but made infinitely better by the discovery of Sing Star, which I'd never played (and if you haven't either, it's competitive karaeoke!  What!  I know!)  We kicked all forms of bootie, we dominated the game, winning just about every time, and well, we were kind of assholes about it, if you want to know the truth.  But dude, it was fun.

my friends - feelin' it.  And SO kicking ass.

Then on Sunday night, at the Magic Castle (where I saw the effing scariest babydolls in the universe, seriously.  Seriously.) Teeter & I were "members of a dance team who, in 1995, got killed in a bus accident on the way to a show."  

Oh yes, we undead sparkle.  Jazz hands!

Please note the creepy babies in the background - though they're much scarier in person 

(Teeter, on the right, is terrified!)

We saw some magic and drank some cocktails and danced to Monster Mash and got stuck in slutty 3am Hollywood traffic and ate Taco Bell.   Yup.   So that was my Halloween this year.  Not too shabby.

I still deny that it's November already.  What the hell.  Not only do I feel like there is NO WAY it is that late in the year, it's also 85 degrees in LA, so obviously the city agrees with me.  Boycott.

Except... I do love me some turkey and presents so... I guess we can move forward, time.  But I need sweater weather, please!  Geez louise.  I'd like to drink one of those specialty lattes everybodys all in love with and not sweat my balls off in the process.  Please and thank you.

Yesterday, I had lunch with an old friend and dinner with new friends.  How lovely is that??  In fact, the new friends found me through Stratejoy, so that makes it even lovelier.  We had homemade cherry infused whiskey (omg omg omg!!) and fish stew (sounds weird but oh so good!) and fruit salad, and talked and laughed.  I just love stuff like that.

I decided today that I'm going to write here much more often.  Like hopefully every day, or at least every other.  Some of it will probably be kind of dumb (like today's) because I won't know what to write about, but I really love the connection I have with my readers here & on Stratejoy (hopefully will have on Escape Hatcher too, when I finally get back over there), and it just feels so good to write, even when it's silly & inconsequential.  I want to write all the time.  That's my November resolution.

New Years ones never seem to work - let's make this a thing.  What's your November resolution?

Today I am so happy & grateful for:

~ not having nightmares involving dismembered babies

~ silliness

~ the wifi reaches to the couch on my back porch

~ creativity

~ friendship, in all its forms

xo!  n.