a reminder for the new year.

i've been thinking about the upcoming new year. i've broken out my new planner, made a few lists, but in the end, i'm a visual person, so photos win. i made this mini-inspiration board to remind myself of the little joys that i want next year to be filled with:

home-cooked meals

champagne with appetizers & wine with dinner

book club meetings

long conversations

journaling. lots of it.

reading in bed

the peace & simplicity of being home

scented candles

beauty. beauty. beauty.

rest

intellectual challenges

hard work

photographs

husband. winston. family.

this next year, i'm choosing to be more grounded. to look around me at what i already have.  to practice contentment and simplicity. to really take the time to enjoy a meal, a conversation, a book, a project. i'm choosing to make art, to give my full attention to things that matter to me, to read more, learn more. i'm choosing to appreciate beauty in small doses: a vase of fresh flowers, a campfire-scented candle, a stack of unread books. i'm choosing to spend less: less time, less money, less energy... on things that just aren't as important. i'm giving myself permission to decide when to hibernate, work, play. i'm giving myself permission to do my own thing. i'm choosing to value my time, my money, my energy, my resources. i'm choosing to make 2012 the best year yet.

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merry christmas!

we're so happy to be celebrating our Savior's birth with family and friends. wishing you all the peace, joy and beauty that surrounds this season.

love,

david, ruth, and winston

[holiday card from minted]

the hoffmans.

we love the hoffmans. they're one of the coolest couples we know. steph & zach introduced us to bananagrams and cafe rio, and they are always game for hanging out, even when the activity is watching one of dave's notoriously and unintentionally awkward movie picks.

so when it came time to take christmas card pictures, we made a double date out of it. we took our cameras to a little place off the 133 and took turns taking pictures for each other. these are a few of my favorite snaps from the sesh.

                

this grateful heart.

In the all-day cooking fest that was Thanksgiving, I didn’t spend time reflecting on what I am thankful for. So here’s my list:
dishwashers – and pretty much any other automated cleaning device. my puppy, who takes every chance he get he  can get to jump in my lap. my full bookshelf – and for literacy and it’s importance in society. my new iPhone – because I don’t have to constantly “borrow” Dave’s camera anymore. this wave of contentment at that God has blessed me with, especially after some of my previous waves of consumerism and materialism. our tiny apartment, dirty carpet and all – so much love has happened here. family – for being in my face, challenging me constantly, and showing me just how powerful love is. for homemade cinnamon rolls – because they are life-changing, and I will never go back to those canned imitations. for girlfriends and book clubs and joint birthday parties – those make the world go ‘round. and Smartypigs – for making saving so easy. for the most patient husband there could ever be. Chinese classes – for reminding me that sometimes goals are just about working hard. for work, but also days off of work, when I can relax, study, eat breakfast, read a book, and think about so many of the things that I’m thankful for.

happy halloweeeeen!

Last night, Laur and I hosted our very first Halloween party! Hubs and I dressed up as a web and black widow, with the little guy as a cocoon.  We sipped on signature cocktails with lychees and branded cherries, and we ate swamp chili, devils on horseback (addicting!), deviled eggs, chocolate “pate,”  and so many other delicious things. The best part, though, was spending quality time with our friends. That just doesn’t happen enough.

a day in malibu.

from start…

[brunch at Taste in the Palisades followed by a tour at the Getty Villa]

 

to finish…

[a stop for seafood, of course]

These pics are from a while back, which just goes to show how bad I am at blogging, but better late than never, right? And it’s just fun to look back on how adventures are different in each season.

bon iver.

last monday, we saw bon iver live at the shrine auditorium. CRAZY GOOD. the instrumentals were so rich, and the mood was just magical. their new album is fantastic, but my favorite part of the night was the last song before the encore, for emma. they had the whole audience standing up, feeling the music, swaying and singing. such a brilliant night.

one year ago today…

we adopted this little munchkin.

and now we can’t imagine life without him.

happy autumn.

I love every season, I really do. I love the changes that mark each season and all the little things that make each season special. Longer nights mean more game nights with friends, fireside scented candles, home-cooked meals. Colder days mean printed scarfs, polka dot blouses, weathered leather bags, chunky sweaters, jeans tucked into boots, and morning lattes. I love that fall brings a fresh start, a new school year, a new syllabus of my own (coming up this week!).

This fall, I’m trying out new things. Daily 7:15 a.m. workouts, a Chinese language class with UCLA extension, regular hot yoga classes, more happy hours and restaurant favorites on the agenda [pictured: R + D kitchen, the Library Alehouse], and more nights that involve reading books in bed.

I’m hoping for slower days, more cuddle time and afternoon naps. This fall for me is going to be about making lots of personal and lifestyle changes (inspired by this month’s Whole Living mag). I want this season of my life to be more contemplative, more deliberate. Less about being busy, and more about being productive. Less multitasking, more quality time.

I’m embracing this new season.

it’s august, and we’re camping.

We bought our very first tent (yes, cute was a factor) and tagged along on a family camping trip to Malibu Creek State Park. The temperature was scorching inland at the campsite, so we headed to Zuma Beach for a glorious afternoon of sunshine and sea breezes. Hubs helped cook dinner, and my cousin made blackberry Mountain Dew cobbler in a dutch oven with coals (makes me wish I could have been a boy scout). We ended the weekend with a trip to Malibu Seafood and an evening showing of Guillermo Del Toro’s latest, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark. Even though our getaway was just a little over 24 hours, it felt like so much longer, as all getaways should.

Can’t wait to get some campsites booked up for next summer! Sleeping under the stars on summer nights is a dream.