Stella Sundays is the ultimate alarm clock

I’m back from Hawaii, and true to form, my fluff ball won’t leave my side. Every morning, I wake up to her purring on my chest. It’s the ultimate wake up call! I love it so much, actually, that it feels lonely when I’m on vacation without her, and I get so excited to see her when I come home.

I read a quote somewhere recently that said something along the lines of, “Your heart hasn’t really loved or felt love until you’ve owned a pet,” which to some extent is true. Whether a dog, cat or something else, the unconditional love from your pet is unakin to anything else…I couldn’t imagine coming home to an empty apartment without her.

I just totes wrote the definition for Crazy Cat Lady. Look it up in the dictionary, there’s my pic!

Currently Feeling: Glad to be back home – not sure I’m ready to fly six hours and be gone for a week again so soon. :/
Currently Anticipating: Some bad food and beer at my Super Bowl viewing spot of choice with my girls.
Currently Loving: A quiet apartment to myself and a good book on a Sunday.

Aloha aloha part deux

I’m off to Maui in the morning, my blog lovelies! My mom, dad and sister are meeting me there (they’re flying from Seattle). We’ll be celebrating my 30th birthday and my dad’s 55th birthday, together as a family in the Hawaiian sun!

This trip is extra special to me because my family has never been to Hawaii, so I get to share one of my very favorite places with them. If you remember, I went to Maui for the first time last February and LOVED it. Also, this will be only our second time vacationing as a family. (We went to Mexico in 2008).

I’m most looking forward to drinking some Pineapple wine on our lanai overlooking the ocean, having some family game nights and many hot tub dips, eating spam musubi (YUM), reading on the beach, snorkeling with turtles, and hiking or other fun excursions to get my sweat on!

I’ll be back next Friday to share some pics and stories with you. Aloha! xoxo

Currently Feeling: Soaring on an impending week-long vacation high.
Currently Anticipating: Unplugging from work for a week. While I still like to stay connected to my friends online while on vacation, taking a mental break from being online for work 24-7 is much needed a couple times a year.
Currently Hoping: There’s some good “still in theaters” movies on my flight tomorrow morning!

Sneak peek

I’m getting close to finishing my Bohemian Swank Bedroom Makeover Project! This last weekend I *finally* received the wallpaper I ordered from UrbanOutfitters.com* after waiting weeks for it to arrive. I couldn’t be happier with it! I was super nervous about how the wallpaper was going to turn out because it’s “removable,” which in my mind had potential to look cheap. However, I really centered my entire vision for the room around this wallpaper and a painting I bought in Bali, so I was counting on this vibrant teal and gold accent wall being an integral part of my bedroom design.

This removable wallpaper, or renter’s wallpaper, is made by Tempaper who calls their product “self-adhesive, repositionable, temporary wallpaper.” It’s basically similar to a vinyl wall decal, if you’ve ever purchased one of those. It took me about three hours to focus on not rushing, lining up the pattern and cutting each piece correctly, and shaping it around the window and wall edges, but it turned out like a dream! Renter’s wallpaper is an easy way to add a pop of color without the mess of paint or committing to something you’re not sure is going to look okay (like a bright-colored wall). If you’re thinking of using temporary wallpaper in your home, here are a few links for you:

• Tempaper’s entire line of removable wallpaper (I’d recommend buying directly from them instead of UO). The pattern in my room is Honey Jade Marrakesh
• Sherwin Williams’ “Easy Change” wallpaper line
• Removable wall paper on Oh Happy Day (another San Francisco blog)

So that’s a sneak peek into my new Bohemian Swank bedroom. I’m still awaiting a few pieces, and need to install my chandelier, so I’ll share pics of the entire room when it’s all done!

*I had the worst experience ever ordering from UO and dealing with their customer service. While they have some of the best decorating items, I totally wouldn’t recommend them. 

Currently Feeling: Ready for all the exciting impending changes on my horizon – possibly a new job change coming my way… I’ve been frantically interviewing, (hence the silence on the blog last week) and am really excited. Hopefully I’ll have some good news to share with you soon.
Currently Anticipating: Leaving bright and early Thursday morning to meet my mom, dad and sis in Maui to celebrate my 30th and my dad’s 55th birthday!
Currently Loving: 600 thread count sheets – such a dream! I haven’t wanted to leave my bed lately.

Turns out January birthdays are better in California

My birthday *week* is officially coming to a close, and boy was it uber fabulous.

I was super worried about turning 30 away from all my (long-time) friends and family. Would I feel lonely? Would I have anyone to celebrate BIG with? It felt odd to be hitting such a milestone away from those who have spent my entire, or majority of my entire, life with me.

But my blog lovelies, I don’t know what I was so worried about. I felt the love. I felt it from afar, I felt it in San Francisco. I just simply.felt.loved. I guess that’s why birthdays have always been my favorite.

I had many, small celebrations this week with those close to me, which just felt better than the usual big hooplah I throw for myself each year, which ends up being stressful and a big blur. This year, I celebrated with one of my Seattle BFFs who flew in for a quick mid-week trip. She made reservations for us at an Indonesian restaurant I had on my SF Bucket List (smart cookie, she is) and we closed the restaurant down and drank two bottles of red wine with another friend of ours. She brought me the sweetest handmade card I’ve ever received from three of my girl friends who created a list of 30 things they loved about me. I die!

Thursday I did a small group dinner with my Seattle and San Francisco friends. We went to a cool restaurant called State Bird Provisions, which uses the dim sum concept for farm-to-table food (wish I would have thought of that). It was so fun! One of my girl friends made me a cool monogrammed etched glass from a wine bottle. It’s one of the best presents I’ve ever received! I love homemade gifts.

We ended Thursday with countdown-to-30 birthday shots at midnight (*gulp* I needed someone to hold my hand through that transition!) at Cha Cha Cha in the Mission.

By Friday, the snail mail love had rolled in. I received more presents and cards in the mail than I could have ever expected. It made me smile over and over again. (If you sent me something – thank you, deeply, from the bottom of my heart.) If you have a friend’s birthday coming up, mail them a card or small present! Snail mail gifts on your birthday are by far the best thing ever.

And finally, I topped off my birthday week with a fun, small girls night in Napa Valley with two of my San Francisco girl friends. Not only is it mid 60s in California for my January birthday, but it’s also Napa Valley Restaurant Month! So, we drove up for the night of my birthday and stayed at a cute little B&B called Lavender (with birthday balloons, a fireplace and a big jacuzzi tub in our room that we might or might not had a bathing suit, wine and bubble bath celebration in) and had dinner at an amazing restaurant called Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen. My birthday cake was a giant marshmallow concoction (natch) called a “Campfire Pie.”

THAT is the definition of an uber fabulous birthday *week*, in my opinion.

And now… I have the rest of my birthday *month* celebrations to look forward to. I am leaving this decade with a bang, I tell you! In less than two weeks, I’ll be in Maui with my mom, dad and sister (the only thing I wanted for my 30th birthday) and in two weeks after that, I’ll be celebrating our 30th year with nine of my high school girl friends on a cruise of the Caribbean.

Is it possible for one person to overdose on birthday celebrations?

I think not!

Currently Feeling: Glad to have slowed down after a crazy week and enjoying a quiet rest of the weekend to myself!
Currently Anticipating: Another hike at Fort Funston tomorrow – a new Sunday routine.
Currently Loving: My new tradition! I’ll share it with you this week.

Fabulous and Flirty and Thirty

Today is my 30th birthday!

A little weird – a lot exciting.

I’ve had some amazing 20s. They were all about being selfish, young and crazy – getting to know “single in the city” living; starting and cultivating my career; making new friends, learning what true friendship is, and losing a few friends; testing out relationships in an attempt to find what (and who) I like; discovering new hobbies; wasting money and not saving; yo-yo dieting and body image fluctuation; many insecurities coupled with insane growth in confidence; and slowly trying to change into the woman I wanted to be (and attempting to shred the traits I didn’t like about myself).

My goal for my 20s was to move away from Seattle, and while it took my nine years, I did it! (Also to stop socially smoking and stop tanning – and I did those too)! My future wrinkles will thank me later.

I squeezed a lot in from 20-29, and I will always only have the fondest memories about that decade of my life. Not everyone can say that, so I’m proud of doing the things I wanted to do to keep myself a happy, healthy and sane 20-something.

But, I’m really looking forward to what my 30s are going to bring me. While 20s were for me being selfish, young and crazy – my 30s are when I imagine I’ll grow into the “grownup” version of myself I thought about when I was little. And by that, I mean the property buying, babymaking, marrying, saving and spending responsibly type. (Yes mom, this decade will probably bring you GRANDCHILDREN). How crazy is all of that to think about! This will be the decade my career will really flourish, and I’ll become my most healthiest self. This will be the decade I will be most proud of the person I am. The decade I’ll be friends with those who make me feel best. The decade I travel more, discover more new hobbies, make even more amazing memories and possibly even more friends. I can only hope that all my loved ones (and little kitty) will still be by my side on this next 10-year ride.

My goal for my 30s is to write a memoir (here’s looking at 39 to get that done ) and to work on that whole “flirty” thing a bit more. Because, my *wish* for my 30s is to fall in love…

“I’m looking for love. Real love. Ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can’t-live-without-each-other love.” – Carrie Bradshaw

I can’t wait to see how it all turns out!

Currently Feeling: So loved after my birthday week visit from Katie, celebrations with my Seattle/San Francisco friends, and birthday surprises in the mail!
Currently Anticipating: Napa tonight for the big birthday-night celebration!
Currently Needing: To detox after this week of celebrating with too much wine and tons of good food.

The Best of SF is a view you cannot beat at Fort Funston

The cure for anything is salt water – sweat, tears, or the sea. – Isak Dinesen

You guys! Look at this view. I don’t think I need to tell you why this is one of the best places I’ve been to in San Francisco. I’m not religious, but this place is what I imagine heaven would look like.

Fort Funston is a state park located on the coast of California – the very western part of San Francisco. It’s about 20 minutes away from my house, and my new favorite place! Hiking trails twist through funky green plants overlooking the sea, San Franciscans walk their furry friends, eager for ocean air, and there are miles of beaches to stroll along.

After an hour spent hiking here, I was in the best mood all day. This place will be my “sea” saltwater cure here in San Francisco.

Currently Feeling: Anxious for my impending 30th birthday on Friday (the 13th, no less).
Currently Anticipating:  Picking up my BFF Katie from the airport tonight for some birthday week celebrations she has planned!
Currently  Loving: That I was able to find a couple bottle’s of Bachelor Ben’s wine in Sonoma to bring back for my birthday on Friday.

There is a hole in your bucket Dear Liza

Dear blog lovelies, two quick thoughts before I jump into my 2011/2012 review of my Bucket List:

1. Did you sing that song when you were little? (The one referenced in my blog post title). If you have no idea what I’m talking about, click here.
2. Have you noticed I never use punctuation in my post titles? My very favorite font doesn’t include any punctuation marks – even a period! Instead, a big weird star shows up. It drives me crazy, but I love the font too much to change it! If it were up to me, the real title of this post would be, “There’s a hole in your bucket, Dear Liza”

Anywhoozle, moving right along… the Bucket List wish list I created on NYE last year was hefty, to say the least. I ended up completing only seven out of the original 18. But I’m considering that a WIN anyway. Plus, I threw in a few more that weren’t on my list last NYE, ending the year with 13 completed (or almost finished bucket list tasks! Lucky number 13…

#4. Live in another city for at least one year
I moved to SF on 5/13/11, so my one year anniversary will
be 5/13/12, and I’ll be able to cross this off!

#10. Meditate in a Buddhist temple
I did this many times in Bali

#18. Teach myself to video edit
I’m not crossing this off yet, but technically I taught myself
with the 2011 video recap I did, I just want to get a little bit
better with editing real video – not just photos! 

#21. Make amends
There are a couple people I set up dinners or goodbyes with before I left Seattle,
in an attempt to “make amends,” and it feels so much better! 

#31. Visit Bali and wear flowers around my neck
Check and check! Best thing I’ve ever done in my life! Now that I’ve fully
processed the trip, I will be writing about it earlier this year.

#32. Squash grapes with my feet
Had so much fun doing this in November at Rosenblum Cellars! 

#38. Collect my friend’s addresses and send out holiday cards
The holiday cards I created this year and sent out were a huge hit.

#39. Take a yoga retreat
Yoga retreat in Bali! Two birds, one stone.

#79. Finish the last quarter of my Life List
Duh!

#84. Wine taste in Napa Valley
My parents and I took our first trip to Napa together
in August. Such great memories!

#90. Go to dim sum for breakfast
I attempted this in February ’11 and technically
completed this in ’12, but who’s counting?

#96 Fly somewhere every month, for a year, to get more comfortable with flying
I started this in August ’11 and will finish it this year!

#97. Make a wine cork board from bottles of wine I’ve actually drank myself
I started this two years ago (no joke) and because I want all
the bottles to be ones I’ve drank, it’s taken FOREVER. 

Stella Sundays is pretty in GREEN

New pillows on my bed, courtesy of my Bohemian Swank bedroom redecorating project, means Stella has many new pillow tops to pose on. This beauty’s new favorite color is GREEN.

Currently Feeling: Super productive and ready to start my week! It’s been a good day.
Currently Anticipating: The Bachelor tomorrow – and my box of bedroom decorating treats arrives from Urban Outfitters!
Currently Loving: The bean with bacon soup I made from scratch tonight. My fav soup as a kid!

Bohemian Swank bedroom redecorating project

I’ve decided to redecorate my bedroom – hot pink be gone. (Never thought I’d say that!) But, I want something a little more chic, swanky and adult, but still feminine. I also want to incorporate the Bohemian/Balinese culture because I love it so much, and it reminds me of the best trip I’ve ever taken (and a special time spent with my sister). I’m calling my vision, “Bohemian Swank.”

Most of the images above in my vision board of the space, I’ve actually already purchased. Minus the expensive four poster white bed frame and the wicker trunk I’m saving for.

I’m trying to mix and match jewel colors and patterns, in true Bohemian fashion. Deep purple sheets, sequined, velvet pillows, a turquoise blown-glass lamp, ombred purple curtains and the most beautiful Moroccan wallpaper in a teal and gold pattern. But, I’m keeping some details simple for balance – white bedding, a white chandelier and a brown wicker trunk at the end of my bed for storeables. I’m most excited about the chandelier! I just need to figure out how to install it…

For my walls, I’ve purchased a world map in gold that you scratch off the countries you’ve been to! I’m super excited for that to arrive. I also have a painting I bought in Bali of a woman playing an instrument in bright colors and gold paint, and I’m purchasing a wrapped canvas print of a photo of my sister and I on our trip. I also have two woven sarongs in traditional Balinese ikat design that I’ll incorporate into the room – one at the end of my bed. I think these Balinese touches will be the perfect thing to make my room a serene, lovely space that makes me smile and relax, just like how I felt when I was in Bali.

I’m really excited, and will post pictures or a video of it as soon as it’s finished!

*You can see my entire Pinterest board of my bedroom redecorating project, with links to items, here.  

Currently Feeling: Excited I finally made a small plan for my birthday – it’s Napa Valley Restaurant Month! I’ll be heading up for dinner, drinks and one night in a Napa B&B. Finally a good reason to have my birthday in January.
Currently Anticipating: A quiet weekend before a BIGGG week next week, for various reasons outside of just my birthday!
Currently Loving: A new salon I found walking distance from my house that straightens my hair for only $20!

Quick and easy sparkle nails

The Interwebs has been abuzz with nail art ideas these days … ombre nails, peacock feather nails, starry night nails, studded nails… personally I don’t have the time (or energy) to spend on creating individually painted nails when they’re chipped two days later. I’ve tried Shellac nails, which is $30 and supposed to last three weeks, but lasted barely a week.

BUT, I found something that’s within my reasonable budget and time to have nice looking nails, and I wanted to share it with you, blog lovelies. Sally Hansen’s Salon Effects are pretty much just these sticky little nail polish sheets that you lie on your nails, file off the excess and presto – fancy looking nails that don’t smudge, zero drying time, longer lasting than regular nail polish, and are only $10 (for about two applications). I did these sparkle nails for NYE, but they have some cool lace nails, leopard print, hot pink, etc.

Fancy pants!

Currently Feeling: Excited to jump into some new projects with fun wine brands in the Bay Area!
Currently Anticipating: Fancy dinner tonight at Chambers.
Currently Loving: All the plans and excitement I have going in 2012 already – trips, visitors, goals. It’s off to a good start. Woot!