matt travels a lot for work. sometimes when he takes off it’s like a little retreat all of my own – lots of yoga, dinner with girlfriends, vino and movies, face masks galore. it’s awesome. unfortunately this is not one of those weeks.

instead i am having one of those weeks where my health isn’t amazing (more on this later, still waiting on a diagnosis), i am feeling needy as hell and a little stressed. yep, i too have weeks like this. big time.

yesterday after teaching, i headed to a doctor’s appointment in beverly hills. i got a little lost which is not surprising or even frustrating because i’m so used to it. then couldn’t get the bathroom open without a key since the valet had it (did you know that some doors open with any key? i was baffled.) lastly, the doctor, though really charming, pretty much discounted everything that was going on in my body then pricked me with more needles (and not in that oohifeelsomuchbetter acupuncture way.) i burst into tears in the car. nothing bad had actually happened. it was just gloomy, it cost me $12 to park my damn car and matt wasn’t around.

when i finally got home, i unrolled my yoga mat in front of the fireplace and just sat down. i practiced for awhile, then laid on my yoga mat and read my book. eventually some thai food arrived and i sat there and ate on my yoga mat. then i turned on “the following” and watched that still on my yoga mat. rosy joined me.

my little life raft right there in the middle of the living room.

california.
i fall more in love with this state every passing day/month/year. pure gorgeousness. pure sunshine.

laughing.
lucky for me, i’m surrounded by people who make me laugh ridiculously hard several times a day. rosy included.

my parents’ love.
i am immensely grateful for my parents’ love for one another. it has been built very carefully brick by brick, and has been so beautiful to observe as i get older. it’s rare. whether they are picnicking in the living room watching bad reality tv and eating whole foods’ sushi, or wandering venice beach hand in hand, or even traveling the globe, my parents inspire me to keep at love when it’s hard, enjoy it when it’s great, and practice mad gratitude for even getting the chance.

primitivo.
one of matt and my absolute favorite spots in venice.  delicious tapas and lots of great wine to wash it down.

cali sunsets.
THERE’S NOTHING PRETTIER.

color.
i lead a very colorful life. i cherish the vibrant cali colors around me, and try to reflect that in what i wear too. pink or bright blue is my go-to on an overcast day.

have a beautiful thanksgiving. celebrate it all with gratitude – especially the hardest of challenges that have taught us what gratitude really is, and our ability to be utterly transformed over and over again. enjoy.

my ‘m’ necklace.
i found this necklace last year after looking for something like it for a long time. m for matt. m for mary beth. m for margaritas. m for marvelous. i love it.

alone time.
as much as i love being around people, i am surprisingly quite introverted and love nothing more than an afternoon in a cafe with a good book and a hot chocolate. in order to give, i’ve gotta fill back up and that’s something i do by spending time alone or with just a few people i love.