these are the days...

...THESE are THE days.

thank you to the ever wonderful stephanie rudy for the lovely snaps last weekend. i love photos that remind you how lovely your life really is. (it's easy to forget huh). plus we felt famous posing for a wine promo shot (even if our faces aren't in the final cut).

www.stephanierudy.com

i have to admit, i imagined myself writing a lot more on this blog over the fall. but it's been an eventful season, and i haven't always divided up my time the best ;)

speaking of my time, things are really changing for me. since receiving my greencard, i have gotten two jobs. and after not being able to legally work since february... well to say i'm ready is an understatement. here's to hoping this new schedule change results in more blogging time!

my friend wrote a note the other day that was really inspiring, and i wanted to share a little bit of it. i have a feeling it will be just as encouraging to you as it was to me.

"What I've been thinking about lately is that some things you just straight-up won't be prepared for when you sign up. But that burning desire to give your life to something you think could turn into something great, and could mean something, is there for a reason. The desire to grow yourself and never stop growing can only be appeased with risk and perseverance and commitment.... and when you've reached a plateau, it's time to dream and risk and persevere all over again. 

Is it the scariest thing ever? Yes. That means you care. Is it even scarier to know you care? Mega yes. But God is with you."

-Sarah Hyland

liberation

sometimes the easiest way to let go

to move on 

to stop giving in

to get stronger

is to accept that you don't want to let go

you're not ready to move on

you usually give in

and you're weak.

baby love

september 19th, welcome. today it was *not* at least 30 outside, which in fahrenheit is 86. so i guess it's fall? i've stopped wearing my crocheted tops and i even got a PSL the other day... but kudos to the girls in jackets. as much as i want it to feel more like autumn, my longings can't will me to overheat myself.

not all of california is quite this behind however. last weekend we spent some wonderful time in santa cruz (and santa clara), where the sea breeze made sweaters possible. 

i'm an extrovert for the most part, and i love discovering a special connection with those i come across, which can still be rare, being a stranger more than not. 

bradley, taylor, and parker have been one of those awesome connections. we had such a great time chilling this weekend and discovering all of our goofy similarities. even better yet, we're related! well at least blaze and brad are... second cousins :) needless to say the weekend was a treat, AND as an added bonus i got to see two dear friends from highschool that got married and work for apple now. 

picture warning: parker is one of the cutest babies i have ever come across. so there's a bit of a baby overload on here... 

BUT how could anyone resist that little face??

there's more to come... ;)

taylor and brad also have the cutest beach house ever

cutest family.

prettiest mama!

we took a little drive to big basin redwoods state park the one day. the trees were so majestic. nature like this puts things in perspective.

they have the same love languages... burping and bad skating

practice ;) / hollow trees

my FAVE of parker. lookin' at mama.

it's safe to say we're close friends with parker now. look at that smile! 

and i leave you with the most epic photo of the weekend. you have to be emotionless to not die over this picture.

just looking through these pix makes me miss that breeze and those folks!

i encourage you all to go out of your way this weekend for someone you want to get to know better. life is full of friends that we may miss out on if we don't try...

-teen

food for thought

with the california drought still going strong, let's remember why we should be putting mother earth before what we believe we are entitled too. make yourself uncomfortable so that the world is not unbearable for our future.

(a lovely taste of what i got to look at everyday while in yosemite park)

we don't inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.

david brower

when all the trees have been cut down,

when all the animals have been hunted,

when all the waters are polluted,

when all the air is unsafe to breathe,

only then will you discover you cannot eat money.

^^this cree prophecy was hung in a room where i spent many summers. i'm not gonna lie, it took awhile to process, but eventually it contributed to my beliefs today.

everything's better on a boat

last weekend may have been my favourite weekend of august. family, a gorgeous boat, and a delicious dinner. need i say more? i'll let the pictures do most of the talking today. thank you laurel for hostessing a wonderful night!

this beauty was ours for the night.

being handed a glass of champagne with a smile (and the man was canadian too!). i wish my mornings started like this. take note blaze.

sometimes i fall in love with a picture of mine and i just have to recreate it different ways. i think it's obvious why i fell in love with this one. look at those two pretty faces!

twisty staircases are my favourite / the bow

ryry!

on my bucketlist for sure. on a scale of one to romance, that gets a pretty high score.

balze being suave / the dirty shirleys begin

the in-laws / ellay films, is that you??

you may not be able to tell from my pictures, but i have an attractive spouse / 

stealing a kiss

there we go :)

sunsets on the water trump all other sunsets.

eating dinner on the top floor. the view with the night sky and stars all around.... no words / 

several dirty shirleys into the night

precious cousin moments as we say our goodbyes / i was in mid-laugh as ryan fell on her butt in the background

the most sought after kisses of the night!

and now i'm missing these faces extra... happy friday friends :) enjoy the last days of august!

-teen