biggest little city

 my family took a trip to visit my relatives in reno last weekend. they have quite a few cats, so there was always entertainment ;) it was a nice little getaway, but it was so hot that i almost passed out when we were outside at an animal sanctuary. i had never felt that way before. it was very strange. so, we tried to stay cool with lots of cold stuff : )

 we ate brunch at my favorite restaurant there -  the old granite street eatery. i love everything about it - the penny tile, amazing food, & awesome staff. if you are ever in the area, it's a definite must!

 my sister & me : )

have a great weekend!

i'm off for a weekend getaway with my family to the biggest little city in the world : )
i hope you have a fantastic weekend!

link love:

• i love picnics, so i'll probably be trying one or two of these projects.
• i thought these wes andersonesque ads were interesting.
• while, at this time, i cannot justify the price, i still really really want one of these!
• i'm still so sad that this happened.
• while i may or may not be participating in the capsule wardrobe challenge, these are always good questions to consider when buying clothes/accessories/shoes/handbags. 
• i really want to see this in person!

mixed emotions

photos:
1. it's been a crazy, mixed-emotion couple of weeks. the day i left thailand, my mom messaged me that my cousin had passed away. it was shocking news as he was only 36 years old. so after i went home, my sister came home a week later for the funeral. it was bittersweet since i'm glad she's back, but sad about the reason why. i'm glad she came back just in time for mother's day though - a nice mother's day gift : )
2. speaking of mother's day, miguel made this planter for his mom. i was impressed! he even presented it with flowers planted & everything. he also made my mom a planter mold for her birthday at the beginning of the month. he's so crafty! (photo credit to miguel)
3. i just drove back last night from visiting miguel since wednesday morning. it was so relaxing being with him & a much needed break after everything that has been going on. he calms me. & at the same time causes me to feel all kinds of emotion. i guess love is weird that way.

in other news, my sister & i've been waking up at 6am the past week to go lap swimming at our local pool just two blocks away. it's free between 5:30 & 7am so that's great! also, i used to be on the swim team as a freshman/sophomore in high school, so it feels good to be back in the water swimming laps. my back & arms are quite sore now though!

p.s. i was happy to discover my swim team suit still fit! haha

link love:

• miguel & i love going to ikea & dreaming. recently i bought one of these towels after i saw this post on smart kitchenware at ikea. i think it will be my new picnic towel/food blanket.
• i thought this photography set of sleeping soon-to-be-parents was sweet. 
• this no-bake pie looks so good & seems so simple & easy to make! it's on my to make list.
• i would love to own such a whimsical kite.
• this (for some) eye-opening presentation was very well done. 
• i love sending mail to others & this stationary diy tutorial was great.

ending january

 january was a pretty good month. i've been trying to enjoy the little things in life. i've been doing alright with my resolutions. could be doing better, but i'm not discouraged. i'm trying & that's what counts. i've been using the app called lift to help me stay on track by counting each day i "check in" to a specific goal like "morning walk" or "drink more water". although i've been forgetting to actually count my successes with the app, i still recommend it.

i've been cherishing the time spent with my parents as i know that once i get a job & eventually move out, i'll be seeing them less & less. sunday breakfast & exploring is always fun : )

 i spent this past week at miguel's. it wasn't planned, but it was a nice surprise. miguel just switched his major from accounting to architecture & i couldn't be more excited. while he was good at accounting, architecture was more of his passion. i think it is a good change for him & he is actually thrilled for this semester.

while miguel was in class, i spent most of my time on campus with him but in the library, watching parenthood (just got addicted to this show!), applying to jobs & reading old books i never finished & anthology issue 12 with a spread of katie's lovely home.

 when miguel wasn't in class, we were out eating bento box & bibimbap & going to architecture events like documentary film screenings & gallery openings.

when we weren't out & about, we were home having heart-to-hearts & watching the office. we are on the last season now & are trying to figure out what we will watch next. any suggestions?

this week is our two year anniversary & we have a mini trip in the works. we won't be taking our trip until march, but it's exciting to plan : )

& that is the end of january! i'll leave you with some love.

also, happy february!

link love:

• loving this californian scandinavian style house!
• air plants rock
• my favorite vegan pasta dish
• i want to stay here

oh hello there

well here i am - at the start of a brand new year. 2014. i have high hopes for this year. already it is starting off quite well. miguel & i have a few goals for ourselves this year that we are encouraging each other to keep up with. one big one for both of us is being healthy. so, i've gotten back into my morning walk routine, bought some (awesome!!) workout clothes & a yoga mat, & plan on going to a free yoga class they are offering this sunday in town. i've been trying to eat better & have been really feeling a lot better - inside & out. i'm excited for this year : )

the holidays came & went way too fast. they were very, very nice & i got to try new things that may become traditions. i went to a jane austen tea with my mom. it was oh so lovely! we even participated in some old english country dancing. i had a day of baking christmas cookies with my cousins at my aunts house. i was the official gingerbread decorator & they turned out pretty great if i do say so myself - complete with bow ties, holly, & earmuffs. i spent new year's eve with miguel for the first time. it was fun! we went to a little party with laksa & monopoly & then headed to the waterfront for fireworks & a new year's kiss.

with raquel away for christmas (i miss her!), i decided to send her a photobook via shutterfly. her cat, alice, died this november while she was away & she was heartbroken. she got alice for her 6th birthday. so when i got a free book coupon from target, i wanted to put it to good use. i'm quite please with how it turned out:

                                     Click here to view this photo book larger

i got my first mail from raquel too! she sent it for my birthday, but it was a little late getting to me. it was really cute : )

now days i just want to be content with this one - eating hobbit food & shopping at target. what more could you ask for? ;)

link love:

probably the best couple photoshoot ever. 

i fell in love with these glasses.

i found this new film while browsing trailers & wasn't sure if it was strange or incredible. i'd love to know your thoughts!

i'm so excited that downton abbey is returning this sunday!

thanksgiving

my thanksgiving was quite good. i had three thanksgiving meals total: one at home with my parents & uncle who lives with us, one at my aunt & uncles house with many of my cousins & their kids, & one with my cousin wendy's family. it was quite a busy few days!

i made my very first pumpkin pie. everyone liked it but me, haha. my uncle & aunt fixed us a fabulous feast. the turkey was huge! i was glad i was able to spend some quality time with my "nephews" : )

it was really nice to see wendy! she & her boyfriend got a cute little place & she's having fun decorating it.

i got to go to my favorite local restaurant while visiting wendy. the dishes are so delicious & go with the amazing decor. very blogger worthy, but the lighting wasn't the greatest for photos :( anyways, the tomato soup is one of the best i've had.

the next pair of photos are a little embarrassing being bathroom selfies, but i wanted to show you two things. i wore my hair in two braids one day. when i was younger, i would wear my hair in braids almost every day. also, i just bought an amazing herringbone coat from my black friday shopping, only $35.

before leaving to go home, wendy took me to her local coffee shop hangout.

i was so excited to get my first latte art! the latte was amazing. i'm definitely going back there next time i visit!

overall, i was so thankful to spend thanksgiving with basically all of my family on both sides of my family. i'm blessed to live close enough to both.

terrariums, lemon bars, & celebrating

i made another terrarium! i had a few succulents left over & my mom picked up this glass vase(?) for me when she was out thrifting, so i decided to put them all together. i really love terrariums & succulents for that matter.

last saturday, my sister raquel & i went over to my cousin brisa's cute little home (i love that her & her boyfriend joseph have moved to my city!) & made lemon bars! she has a wonderful lemon tree in her backyard, so there was an endless supply of lemons. i think i would love to have my own lemon tree when i get my own place.

 i took a trip on the train to stay with miguel for a couple of days & tried to get some reading in on my trip. i've been reading (trying) lunch in paris: a love story with recipes by elizabeth bard. it's hard for me to get into it. i think it is mostly due to the fact that the main character has been annoying me because she is quite naive & seems a little haughty. anyways, the book also includes about three recipes at the end of each chapter, which is pretty awesome. the author even had a blog with recipes inspired by the book. the book does however let me reminisce about the trip i took with nicola to paris. oh how i miss europe!

miguel knows how much i love european things & took me to a eauropean inspired deli down the street from where he works. (he works in the cutest downtown area with little shops, bookstores, & coffee shops!) he had been wanting to take me there for so long & it did not disappoint!

 i went to visit miguel to celebrate our 17 months together ;) we love a reason to celebrate & still have fun celebrating each month we are together. we decided that instead of going out for dinner & spend money, we would stay in & cook together & save some extra money for austin next week(!!!). we decided to make lasagna with cheese & veggie meat. when we started putting together the sauce (we made our own sauce from scratch), we realized that we couldn't find a large enough casserole dish for the lasagna. so, miguel went out to pick one up & came home with not only an amazing glass casserole dish with a lid, but flowers, macaroons, & eclairs! i was quite surprised & happy : )

 i took this photo on the morning i went back home. there is a train station just around the corner from where miguel works, so we try to plan efficient trips so he can pick me up & drop me off according to his work schedule. anyways, he made us smoothies that morning for breakfast & put them in the starbucks cups he saves. haha. oh miguel.

i took my flowers home on the train & i felt happy to have them in my bag.

miguel & i leave for austin on wednesday! i am so beyond excited for this trip. i'm excited to be traveling traveling with miguel & i am excited to see all of my blogger family pals & to meet the new ones! see you all soon!