Lately I’ve been … Loyally scrubbing (12 years running) with this {Daily Microfoliant} Newly devoted to that {Neck Cream} Freshening up with these {Face & Hand Cleansing Wipes} Comparing those {3LAB Cleansing Foam} { Fresh Face Cleanser} Neglecting to easily line my eyes with this {Pencil} Itching to soothe with that {calming serum} All photos by bp
What sits behind me. In Hayes Valley Miette Bakery is consistently stunning with their fully stocked jars of old fashioned candy and towers of perfectly packaged baked goods. I like that it is difficult to take a bad picture in here because of their beautiful merchandising and interior details. Whether or not I eat anything in here is besides the point. It’s just a complete dream. Miette Bakery A short walk around the area brought me to Papabubble. Producing all of their tightly designed candy in house, it smelled like sweet berries and cotton candy, prompting me to sample their kiwi and watermelon flavors, though I was allowed to taste my way through the shop if I wanted to. You must come yourself to see the detail in each piece of candy. In stark contrast to Miette’s feast for the eyes, Papabubble’s minimal interior aesthetic still made a strong impact. My favorite display is their little case here. Papabubble +++ At home I was staring at this for a little longer than I would have liked. …
Lately I’ve been … Deciding which fall recipes to stew in this {Le Creuset Oval French Oven} Nesting these {matryoshka dolls} Breaking it down with him {Cool Michael} Burning that {Jonathan Adler Candle} Smiling at this {Nourishing Notes Capsule} Preventing Husband from damaging his teeth on that {Jaw Breaker} All photos taken by bp
Perfect Girl Date card that I keep in my stash. Photo c/o The Social Type While doing my Snippets I realized they are all about time with girlfriends. This is perfect since rumor has it that International Women’s Friendship Month is well under way. These are some of the new adult friends I referred to in last week’s post. In no particular order, this is how I’ve enjoyed the week with them. YESTERDAY This is my view looking up from the bench I sat at with Tête-à-Tête having the most honest three hour conversation about relationships (friendship, marriage, dating, courtship, mothers and daughters) in a long time. To say that I may have gotten a bit of whip lash from knocking my head back so much from laughing is an understatement. There was a steady rotation of familiar passers by sitting on the neighboring bench or hanging back under the tree near us. I do not think this was incidental. I do believe some of the men who returned while their families were eating, shopping, and strolling …
Having a ‘milestone’ birthday was not what had been preoccupying my mind. It was deciding how to celebrate that nagged at me. For at least one year I had been listening to people ask, What’s your celebration going to be for the big four-oh? Are you traveling? Where will you go? Are you having a party? You must have a party! Have a girls’ weekend! Plan a group trip out of town! Yes, let’s do that! It’s one thing to embrace an idea and it is another to commit to an event. There are schedules, spouses, children, preferences, group dynamics, and budgets to consider. In my mind, nobody but the celebrant is ever truly responsible for organizing her party and as enthusiastic as people were to get on board with anything I could have wanted: Camping Extravaganza, Beach Retreat, Coastal Getaway, European Sojourn, Asian Adventure, Epic Picnic, Dive Bar Disco you name it – I do not have the mental nor emotional bandwidth to execute an important plan like that the way …
Lately I’ve been … Listening and talking through these {Happy Plugs} Writing with this {Pilot pen} Running low on that {Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment} Sending out these {crafted letter pressed cards} Snacking on those {Lemongrass Toffee Almonds} {Nestle Butterfinger} Wanting to be twisted like this {hairstyle} Hairstyle photo credit: whatthechung All other photos taken by bp
There is so much I am looking forward to learning in my next forty years. So far, this is what I already know: You can confide in your mom without judgement. Now that I am an adult and my mom is in her seventies, I find that I can talk candidly with her about my life, my thoughts, and my fears and she no longer makes any judgement. She worries less about what she thinks I should do and is more concerned with what will make me happy. She now taps into what’s in my heart and holds it lovingly in her hands. You can be your sister’s hero, and like it. My sister has always been independent and self reliant. I lived through my youth with her telling me what to do. Now she calls me for entertainment and inspiration, for venting and for seeking my two-cents. I often come to her rescue as she always has to mine. I am her confidant and godmother to her children. I am proud that I …
My time as of late, has been spent getting my brain and attitude into gear. I had needed to clear out my head, entertaining one thing at a time. My blog, it seems, is back on my front burner. Friday The Makeshift Society mixer at Alternative Apparel introduced me to more members of this community that I am embarrasingly inactive in. I had a fantastic basil gimlet, the recipe for which I still am hoping to get, met a truly too-cool-to-be-my-friend-but-I-really-think-she-could-be photographer, ordered a custom piñata from a creative cutie whose resume I covet, found out about C2C Project Space, met an independent game developer who called me out on my self criticism, connected with a stationer for a studio visit, met a gal whose penchant for gift wrapping and snail mail rivals my own (at least it rivals the abilities I have in my head), was introduced to a vibrant girl whose blog I didn’t know about then (but do now) and her sweet little Noodle, and finally met Rena Tom …
I have a touch under two weeks left in my thirties. As I sit here with a decade nearly behind me and one ahead of me, I think not solely about age, but about life. I think about what my life has been like and what I have in store. I think about the kind of person I was raised to be and the kind of person I am. I am trying to focus less on ‘getting it all in’. I think about how enjoyable each day has been woven in with how mundane we all know the every day can be. I think about the advice I’ve received that is ON POINT while disagreeing with other common beliefs – at least in relation to my own life. I think about accountability. I think about fate. I think about blinders. I think about surrender. I think about acceptance. I think about inadequacy. I think about tenacity. I think about vision. I started out this post early on Sunday, and now later on Monday, with several …
Even If Nobody Reads This 