Happiness In Bloom
March 24th, 2011 § 6 Comments
Day Eighty-Three
If I had one motto that I could share with all the world it would be this: always have fresh flowers.
I seemed to have forgotten just how delightful such a small addition to a home can be. Then a few days ago, I found myself wandering around the grocery store in search of almonds and bananas and suddenly I was smack in the middle of a beautiful display of blooms. Immediately I was taken back to Sunday trips to Trader Joe’s where the first task was to stop and choose which bouquet I’d be taking home to welcome me into my kitchen every morning for the next week.
Tulips are one of my favorites if for nothing else than their clean lines and slow progression to open. White tulips just scream new, clean, fresh which at this point in my life are the three words I could best use to describe my taste in decor and styling. Although they come with very long stems and leaves intact, I prefer to cut them short and put them in a square glass vase. My Mum added the rocks and I gotta admit, I really like ‘em.
As is the routine with most photography mornings, I hopped from sitting on the counter top, stretching and leaning backwards to standing on a chair and finally crouching until I got eye level with these beauties. I clicked away without even looking at the preview screen. After my initial round of snapping, I uploaded, edited and went back to take more. I just couldn’t get enough. It’s funny, that’s the appetite I have for life lately.
Maybe it’s because I realized last night just how perfect the weather is right now in Texas, maybe it’s because I finally got an issue resolved at work that’s been a thorn in my side for six months, maybe it’s because I got a phone call at 9 p.m. from a friend who was going to stop by on her way home just to say hi, maybe it’s because we stood in my driveway for over 30 minutes and laughed so hard we were wheezing through words – you know the kind where you catch your breath, sigh and say oooh my goodness and let out one more small giggle.
Maybe this is the beginning of finally feeling settled. Whatever it is, I’m giving credit to the flowers.
My studio has a Facebook page now! Head on over and give us a like for more photography goodness!
Blend Birthday
March 18th, 2011 § 3 Comments
Day Seventy-Seven
It’s hard to believe that just about a year ago I attended FitBloggin and met some amazing women – blends! – who happened to share the same interests as me. And as if it wasn’t enough that we all devoted our time to this crazy little hobby, it just so happened that we had a lot of other things in common, too. Life beyond our blogs, it seemed, was just as relatable as what we read on screen. Prior to the conference, I had never read Gracie’s blog. Fast forward to today and it’s one I read every single day.
As is often the case, Gracie and I have grown closer via email over this last year. We’ve faced a lot of similar struggles and have turned to one another for advice and support. I couldn’t help but feel a wave of pride and admiration when she made the big move a few months ago and started life on her own in the big city.
I was lucky enough to spend an evening with her while I was in New York. We reunited at a favorite spot of mine, catching up over crostini and chatting about an array of topics that email, busy schedules and life changes get in the way of. As it always goes, the time was too short but the company was just right.
I love reading Gracie’s blog because it’s unpredictable. The recipes are there, yes, but she also talks about her outlook on life, the importance of her faith and shares silly stories. I’ve learned from reading her blog – about makeup and beauty and prayer and friendship. Health is important to her, but it’s not the only thing in her life. She’s got a killer sense of fashion and many mornings, leaves me looking at life in a different light. As a consumer of many, many types of media, there’s nothing that keeps me coming back more than that.
Today Gracie celebrates her 24th birthday. I got to be one of the first to wish her an amazing year on Wednesday. I’m so blessed and thankful for our friendship and can’t wait to see what the next year has in store. Please head over to her blog and wish her a Happy Day!
Happy Birthday gorgeous Gracie! xo
Modern Day Greek Poetry
March 16th, 2011 § 10 Comments
Day Seventy-Five
Do you remember reading Homer’s The Odyssey in high school? There was one really important silent character – Helen of Troy, the face that launched a thousand ships.
This is my Helen of Troy. You may also know her as Carrie.
This is the face of someone who has held me up more times than I have fallen. The one who does my eye makeup every time we go out. The only one I trust to touch my nails. She’s taught me how to compliment a stranger, manage a team and stand up for my faith. She’s stopped the car in the middle of morning rush hour traffic to give me a hug when I was homesick. She was the last hug I gave before I left Pittsburgh. She’s my morning Skype date and my drive home from work phone call. She’s a confidante in my love for Michael Kors, Tiffany and Kate Spade. She’s my dining partner when the menu calls for cheap sushi.
She’s brought forth so many changes in me since our friendship began that I have to say I truly would not be the same without her. She’s given me confidence, love, support, a stage on which to shine and a safe haven when I needed to hide from the world.
She brought me to New York and I couldn’t be happier about it. Between bridal appointments filled with lace and styling, we tried falafel for the first time and walked arm in arm throughout the City. She pointed out some great angles when I whipped out my camera yesterday and as always, obliged when I made her my model.
We’re off to take on another day. Amidst the raindrops, on every stop we have to make to consult the map, through the subway and in boutiques we’ll go – me and the face that launched a thousand wonderful memories, characteristics and lessons in my life.
Charged
February 22nd, 2011 § 8 Comments
Day Fifty-Three
I think what can be the hardest sometimes is how far away I feel from my closest friends.
I can use that as an excuse now, but if I were to be honest with you, I still struggled and had hard times when I lived in a town filled with them. Perhaps the greatest lesson in packing up and moving half way across the country has taught me is that love grows and strengthens over time and distance – but only if you let it. Some friendships have flourished in recent months. Others have lessened. Some of the people I know I will always be able to pick up right where we left off. Others – as hard as it can be to admit – will remain but a memory on the path behind me.
It’s times like these that I find comfort in the words of others who have felt this same heartache. Those who have watched as their loved ones set out – or harder yet, been the ones to look over their shoulder and wave goodbye.
Lately, I’ve been watching several episodes of Master Class on the Oprah Winfrey Network. My favorite thus far has been Maya Angelou. When she spoke these words, I hit rewind and paused to write them down.
“Love liberates. It doesn’t bind. Love says, ‘I love you. I love you if you’re in China. I love you if you’re in Harlem. I love you. I would like to be near you; I’d like to have your arms around me; I’d like to have your voice in my ear. But that’s not possible now. So, I love you. Go.‘”
I can’t remember if Angelou was speaking of a romantic love or not. Still, it doesn’t matter. Love boils down to just that and in matters of the heart, missing someone who is a dear friend has its own unique ache. Lucky for me, I have friends who would say this to me. In fact, they did. They told me to go; go out into the world and seek what it is I am looking for – they’d love me no matter what.
I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve reached for the phone after midnight or the frantic emails I’ve sent; the hard days when all I could wish for was a hug and a quick drive down a familiar street for some consolation and a warm cup of coffee.
Being apart doesn’t make it any easier on a friendship, or any relationship for that matter. If anything, it takes more work, planning and time. From that, the joy comes in knowing your friends have laid the wiring down just right and you’re left with a whole string of lights between your heart and theirs. And because you know it will, a bulb will cease its glow at the most inopportune time – right before that big presentation, the night before your grandmother’s funeral or even after a really great date. You’ll flip the switch up and down, unplug the string to see if it’s just a glitch. You’ll brace yourself to have to deal with darkness for awhile.
Meanwhile, your friend the electrician will be there to swap it out for a new one before you know it.
And so you will do the same for them. You’ve got the tools to fix their end of the string.
Bulbs burn out. People die. Lives get picked up and moved across the country. Babies are born. Weddings and job promotions and major life changes happen every day. We all take our turns. These events are big deals. They’re important.
No matter how hectic the schedule, filled the calendar, empty the gas tank, low the bank account, happy the birthday, exciting the news – remember the wiring.
And always keep an extra light bulb handy.
Karmic Dues
February 16th, 2011 § 7 Comments
Day Forty-Seven
“Bay-bee can yew dew me a fabor?”
“Sure, what’s up?” I asked, cradling my phone as I shook the wrinkles from my uniform.
“Can yew stop ata gas station or somethin and gehme a Red Bull on yer way here? I dunno why but too-deh I am szo ty-erd.”
“Absolutely, no problem,” I responded as I mentally mapped gas stations on my route to work and glanced at the clock from the corner of my eye.
“Thank yew szo much, bay-bee, yer de best.”
As I expected, Valentine’s Day in a restaurant is completely insane. I made a quick swing through the dining room, placed the can in Sara’s hand and went on to my own duties for the night.
“How much dew I owe yew?” she asked between refilling drinks, taking orders and clearing dishes.
“Nothing,” I said. “It was like $3.”
“C’mon, how much?” she asked as she took the cash from her book and began thumbing through bills.
“Honestly, it’s nothing. Just pay it forward!” I told her, shooing her gesture away.
Later that night, she asked if I wanted to meet for lunch after I dropped Andrew off at the airport the next afternoon. We went to Juan in a Million, a popular South Austin Mexican joint worthy of Man V. Food. Ever clueless and wary of too much spice, I asked my friend to help me order. We talked life over salsa and as she watched me try to make sense of my dish she said, “Bay-bee, yew make de weirdest tacos.”
I tried migas for the first time and was pleasantly surprised I liked everything so well. My body, however, did not love Mr. Juan’s fare back. I had to stop several times to douse my burning mouth with water and soak up the spice with handfuls of chips. I questioned my decision to workout later, quietly soothing my stomach with a gentle rub.
I attempted to learn Spanish. She tried her best East Coast accent. We laughed at cultural differences.
When the check came, I picked it up, flipped it over and fished my card from my wallet. I looked over the itemized receipt and began to mentally add up my tab.
In a split second, the small white piece of paper was swiped from my hands.
“Uh uh, I got dis,” she said.
“No, no, you don’t have to do that,” I said, reaching my hand out, palm facing up, fingers flexed with urgency to take it back.
“Pay it forward, bay-bee!” she exclaimed with a smile like a kid who’d just outsmarted their teacher.
As I drove out of the city, one thought permeated my mind.
Those were the best migas I’ve ever had.
