Life Happens

"Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose."         -Kevin Arnold

My best friend since the third grade had her first baby last weekend. McKinlee Renee Coffelt. She is the sweetest, prettiest looking baby girl and I cannot wait to meet her! Jillian was in labor 30 hours (yeah, more than a whole day!!!) and then opted to have a C-section last minute. She is so brave and strong!! I was able to talk to her briefly while she was still in the hospital and I am just so impressed with her calmness. Jillian is the type of person who has everything planned out to the T.  I am so proud of her for keeping her cool when things didn't go quite as planned. Her strength and peace is inspiring!

It is hard to believe that someone I knew as a wee child now has one of her own!  This photo was taken on my 21st birthday before a night out in Sacramento. Almost 9 years ago!! Insane! Speaking of being brave and strong, my mom told me that she had all of us kids without an epidural or any other medication! It is hard to imagine going through something like that without pain medication because I am the biggest wimp in the world as you all know. But, really?! Three babies, all natural?! I can't even wrap my head around that. Like I said, my mom is awesome. 

My Namesake

"He used to say that we exist as long as somebody remembers us." -Carlos Ruiz Zafon, The Shadow of the Wind

My middle name comes from my mom's mom Lois. I never met her because she died just before I was born. But, I feel lucky to be named after her because if she was anything like my mom and my Aunt Cathy, she must have been a wonderful person. My grandparents met while my grandpa was in the Coast Guard stationed in Washington. She was visiting the states from Canada and I can only imagine their meeting. Maybe during a a night out on the town. Young love. Soon after, they moved to Los Angeles together to start their new life - just a sweet canadian gal and a strong, kind-hearted military man. What a lovely couple! This photo was taken at their Cerritos home in southern California where I visited as a child years after she passed.

Just Pal'n Around

"We do not remember days, we remember moments. The richness of life lies in memories we have forgotten."     -Cesare Pavese, The Burning Brand: Diaries, 1935-1950

Lovin' the coordinating pink sneakers and Ryan's Mickey Mouse hat. My mom is awesome.

25 Ways to Wear a Scarf

Cheers!

"I looked around at the rooms that I did not see as rooms, but more as a landscape for my emotions, a biography of memory." -Anne Spollen, The Shape of Water

Our patio was the place to be in the early 2000's. My parents had backyard BBQ's, pool parties, country music blasting (my only soft spot for country!), and of course, lots of ice cold bevs! Unfortunately, I was away in San Luis Obispo for most of that time but was lucky enough to come home for some weekends during the summer and enjoy our backyard paradise! I will NEVER forget the the crab feast we had on the patio during one warm summer night. Good food, lots of laughs, even more beer, and a ton of crazy fun people. My parents definitely know how to throw a good party! But, really, any party is a good party if they are there!

And now he is 80 years old!

"The past informs the present. Memory makes the map we carry, no matter how hard we try to erase it." -Cara Black, Murder in the Bastille

This is a photo of my Grandpa Roger (Mom's dad) when he was in the Coast Guard. We are guessing he is about 18 years old here. My aunt Cathy is the real "treasure house of happy memories" with tons of old family photos!! (Which, I hope she passes along to me one day!) So, I give her all the credit for finding this gem...

...and for giving me all the details! (She is going to kill me for posting this! Love you Cath!)

A moment in time

"When we think of the past, it's the beautiful things we pick out. We want to believe it was all like that".    -Margaret Atwood - The Handmaid's Tale 

No pun intended.

Signs of Spring

Looking Forward

April - Lighten Up

• Be a treasure house of happy memories - gather pictures and mementos and put them into one organized place
• Take time for hobbies
• Listen to music in the morning
• Be patient!
• Be easily impressed, entertained, and interested
• Resist planning

I have been looking forward to this month because it is about doing things that I love. During March, I was so busy, I hardly had time to do the little things that make me happy. The things that bring me peace. The things that make me ME.

I had less time to cook healthy dinners and resorted to quick meals like quesadillas and frozen pizzas. 

I finished The Happiness Project in December, and haven't picked up a book until this morning when I started Night Road by Kristin Hannah. I spent all morning reading away and realized I forgot how great it felt getting sucked into a good book. 

I haven't used my sewing machine since January and I have a couple of pairs of pants that need hemming and this month I am going to attempt a re-usable sandwich baggie. Wish me luck!

I also find a lot of peace trying out new recipes and baking yummy treats. So, today, I finally had a few hours to spare just to putt around in the kitchen. As usual, Pinterest sparked my creativity and my taste buds and I made home-made Snickers bars! The reward was more than just a sweet dessert, but a feeling of lightness. With my favorite Pandora station blasting, I floated away into a comfortable rhythm. Measuring, pouring, heating, stirring, and making a huge mess. A mess I didn't mind. 

And I thought to myself...I am back!