I Dream of Travel

San Francisco (photo courtesy of pixelmama - flickr.com)

I keep a "bucket list" of sorts. And one item I have on there is travel internationally (or at the very least just go out of town SOMEWHERE) once a year. The international requirement didn't come until I was assigned to go on a trip to Europe for work. And while I was busy traveling throughout the US for my job, I didn't even have a current passport at the time because I never left the country. At the time, I was a little concerned about not being at my job for a week. But, once you have enough vacation days and are finally out of town, you can get over that pretty quickly especially when you are being bussed around to various wineries, cooking classes, and museums throughout Italy. And having a daily dose of gelato can do wonders for your soul.

In the middle of this trip, I met so many Americans who were retired and not physically able to walk up the many steps it takes to get around some of the busy streets in Florence and Siena. These were hard working people who saved up, spent a lot of time on their careers, and were finally taking a break at the age of 65. It made me a little sad. And I recall one older woman warning me, "Don't wait until your old like me to go on vacations."

I got bitten by the travel bug after that. After that one work trip, the thought of leaving town brought joy to my soul. I visited a tiny beach town where my parents grew up in the Philippines, and zip-lined through a rainforest in Costa Rica. I drew sketches inside Casa Battlo in Barcelona, and I forced myself to learn Spanish on CD so I would at least know how to ask for directions. I walked along the River Thames and  spent hours at the Tate. I pretty much lost my damn mind and for the first time racked up airline miles that were not related to work travel. It was pretty amazing.

And, I think the best way to cure post-travel blues, is just to plan another trip somewhere. anywhere... I just love the thought of carrying my favorite belongings in one suitcase - my art supplies, a good book, and my iPhone. I love researching various places to visit especially anything related to cooking, drawing, and running. And solo trips are surprisingly fun too - you get to set your own itinerary, speak a foreign language without any of your friends making fun of you, and go back to the hotel and take a nap whenever you like. It can be a pretty indulgent experience. 

So if you are thinking about vacationing or it's something that you really love doing... save up your cash. Seriously examine how much money you spend on booze and food and Starbucks... It's usually where you can find enough cash towards investing on a ticket somewhere...anywhere....

Goodbye Summer and Hello Fall

Quiet times reading

Sips of sangria

Making delicious salads

Running on the trails. Going to spin class. And swimming in the pool.

Picking blueberries and enjoying many delicious smoothies.

Summer showers paired with evenings
of Netflix and take-out Chinese

Sharpening my sushi making skills.

Hot and sweaty yoga sessions

Planning with my journal

It's a bit hard for me to believe that the summer months are over! (Where the heck did all the time go?) The summer for me was filled with periods of rest and relaxation and periods of busy days plugging away at the office. One moment, I was enjoying half day Fridays, floating down a river and eating BBQ with friends. And the next moment, I was running around town diligently trying to plan a fundraising gala. It was definitely enough to make my head spin from the highs and the lows.

While the event I worked on was a success, I certainly do appreciate the time I had over the past few days to get rested, renewed and restored. Twelve hour days, working late nights, and waking up at 5am to do my workouts... I was burning a candle at both ends.

I'm thankful for the time to indulge in new fall projects.
1) Twelve weeks of French class
2) Art journal sessions
3) Two 10K races and a half marathon
4) Fall season of events at work
5) Yoga classes
6) Fall travel: Austin & San Francisco
7) More reading
8) More spirituality in my daily life: church, meditation, and prayer

What makes summer JOYful?

An afternoon reading books with the AC on full blast and a glass of sparkling water.

Meals with good friends - from venturing out for Houston Restaurant Weeks
to testing out a friend's new tomato sauce recipe.

Gearing up for back to school. Supporting and encouraging the teachers in our lives.
Helping mon petit ami get his classroom ready.

Carving out time for our creative indulgences from painting pottery with friends
to experimenting with watercolor crayons.

Diving in to work. Taking on new professional challenges.

Completing my fifth triathlon. Trying out a new weightlifting class.
Learning new dance moves at zumba.

Getting a little cray cray with the peeps.

Throwing on some wildly colorful moccasins because I can.

Gelato - especially the salted caramel flavor.

February Highlights and March Dreams

WOW... it's been a while since my last update. I've been busy slogging away in career mode, and it's time to take a breather and delight in what's been happening and what I can look forward to.
I hope that as spring (and daylight savings) comes around the corner, I hope that you are inspired by possibility, afternoons outdoors, and connecting with others.

February Highlights

Participated in the Fashion Police

Partnered with a pal as we staged a clothing intervention. Change of seasons is a great reason to declutter and update your wardrobe, closet, or desk. We celebrated afterwards by relaxing on a patio and enjoying some margaritas. (a great reward for spending hours flipping through menswear)

Got creative in kitchen again!
There's some amazing things you can do with red cabbage, leftover rotisserie chicken, onions, walnuts, and blue cheese. nom...nom...nom... Also made a vegetarian lasagna with spinach and pesto.

Playtime with Loved Ones
Sprinkled in some fun at a friend's birthday. Nothing says awesome like a fake mustache! Had a great Valentine's celebration with mon petit ami - foot reflexology, sushi, and an outing to the movies!

March Dreams

Carve in Time for Daydreaming and Cafe au Laits
Instead of being jealous of those people who hang out in coffee shops while you run around ragged trying to grab a cup to-go, carve out an hour to yourself. daydream. write. think about your next summertime vacation. and just relax. If you can't beat them, join them.

Challenge yourself.
Over the last few months, I've been constantly pushed to take a leap personally and professionally. I've been presented with new possibilities and I will continue to take the leap towards learning new things, changing old patterns, and simply allowing myself to grow.

21 Days of Yoga - on and off the mat
After a hiatus from yoga, I've been trying to sneak in doses of it back into my life. I like how yoga can challenge and stretch me and I think it will give me the strength to do the same for me outside of the studio. I'm trying my best to adhere to 21 days straight of yoga. Cheers to health, spirituality, and making my health a priority once again.

January Lovelies

Howdy, and happy new year's, ya'll! I have so much to share and update...(Patience my dears: look for entries on trip to Togo, 2011 highlights, and 2012 dreams coming up soon!)

I'd like to share a quick note on some lovely things I have been indulging in lately.

1. Pinterest: OMG! Envision idea/dream/vision boards in a digital world. It's a very creative and efficient way to organize your ideas. You can have a variety of themes. My favorites right now are: "inspired vacations" and "my sassy style." Warning: this can become quite addictive. Use in little doses like during coffee breaks.


2. Healthy Eatz: January is always that post indulgence month. So alas, we are back to eating our veggies and savoring the lean proteins. It's been fun trying to create some tasty delicious dishes that are good for you. I made two kinds of shrimp over the weekend: hoisin and honey glazed and baked breaded shrimp. No frying done here. Nope not even the potato wedges... It's funny how enduring a tough workout can diminish crazy cravings.

3. Career Exploration: Perhaps it's the new year, but this has been a huge question for me over the last couple of years. Am I where I need to be? Am I where I want to be? I have a feeling 2012 will unfold a lot of answers to these questions. Stay tuned.

4. Savoring the weather. The weather has been kinda wacky lately. But it's been nice to be able to go outside, walk, run, and enjoy the greenery. One of my favorite things to do is go for a meditative walk and take pics with the hipstamatic. Indulge in some free time and wander around a bit. It's quite lovely.



5. It's time to not only get back to healthy eating, but healthy activities. I've been going back to my mat and my practice. January is a good month to get back into it. And, slowly but surely I'm getting back into my running habit.

2012 here we go!

All Packed and Ready for an Adventure

We are patiently waiting for the airport shuttle in the DC area. We have our shots, RXs filled, and visas. Now we have a long flight over to Africa. Hopefully, we will be well rested and ready for our vacation.

Hope you enjoy the holidays. I can't wait to fill you in on our trip.

Joyeaux Noel!

Creative Reflection and Dreams

“There is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost.” — Martha Graham

As 2011 comes to an end, I thought it would be nice to reflect on my creative adventures. So what have I learned from all the drawings, collages, and doodling?

1. You never know where inspiration is going to come from. Always have an open mind. This composition came from a random photo I snapped at breakfast while on vacation. Just continue to record (with a camera, with words, or through doodles). You never know when the experience will inspire your creativity later.

2. Oftentimes, art can be found in everyday objects. It takes a commitment to being still and present to find beauty in the ordinary. I think we oftentimes try to make art bigger than it really has to be. I think art has helped me slow down and be a better observer in the things around me.

3. Trying new things can be fun. I was a little intimidated by the surrealism assignment that I was given a few months ago. But, a willingness to try and a passion for learning new things just help us grow in our creativity. Eventually, I was inspired my love for hot baths and rubber duckies and was able to make an imaginative playground in a tub!

4. Indulging in color has been a big challenge for me. It's so weird. As a newbie artist, it's hard for me to draw what I see. It's so simple. Whatever you see is whatever you should draw. I think we oftentimes think way too hard when it comes to art especially as adults. The greatest thing we can do for ourselves is the let go, be open, and just dive into it - no judgements. Just leap into creativity.

So...what's next?
Creative Dreams in 2012

1. I was very inspired by an artist's trunk show this past fall. I often think that being an artist is foolish, indulgent, or pointless. But, it was amazing to see an artist teaching women sewing skills in Africa and selling the accessories in the US. It was creative social entrepreneurship. I hope to indulge in this kind of do-gooding work in the future.

2. I also have visions of creating a space for Creative Discovery. I'd love to launch a series of art journaling classes in 2012. I've been working on a business plan and would love to share what I've learned from my own art journaling experiences. We all have the need to be creative and I'd love to share that with others.

3. More creative and crafty parties. With the help of friends, we had a couple of craft parties - just like-minded creative people getting together, talking, and working on crafts. It was beautiful and simple. I'd love to connect with more people in this way. I think the secret to a good event is being able to attract people who create beautiful things, share their thoughts authentically, and have fun.