Lifestyle | Musings on Momentum

The Liebster Award

September 2, 2015

This is certainly an awesome way to start off a new month! Rosie of the beautiful blog Crab & Rose has been kind enough to nominate me for a Liebster Award and I could not be more flattered and excited to be a part of this community of nominees! This award is such a wonderful way for readers to get to know new bloggers and for bloggers to support and connect with one another.

The Rules for the nomination process are easy:

1. Once nominated, make a post thanking and linking the lovely person who nominated you.

2. Include the Liebster Awars sticker (like the one above) in your post

3. Nominate 10 other new blogger with less than two – hundred followers who you think are worthy of this award. Let them know they have been nominated by commenting on one of their posts. You can nominate the person who nominated you.

4. Answer the ten questions asked by the person who nominated you and then make ten questions of your own for your nominees.

5. Lastly, copy these rules into your post.

Rosie’s questions for me were:

1. What fashion item is on your wish list?

Since I’m dreaming big I will say a Birkin. Birkins have such a classic structure and can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. That said, I would be terrified to carry it out of the house!

2. Who is your style icon?

As I have gotten older I have become drawn to a casual, rock and roll vibe. Kate Moss best emulates my ideal style – she looks as comfortable in an elegant gown as she does in jeans and a concert . She has a clear sense of style and is able to incorporate the latest trends without losing sight of her personal aesthetic.

3. What is the first thing you do in the morning?

The first thing I do in the morning is feed my dog, Lola. Once she is eating I can then start my day. If I don’t feed her immediately upon waking she starts to harass me.

4. What is your biggest source of inspiration?

Pinterest is without a doubt my biggest source of inspiration when it comes to anything – style, home decor, quotes, recipes, etc. I have been going back through early pins in search of inspiration for my new home and have been noting how my personality and style have evolved since my early days of pinning (4+ years ago!). I have a much more clear idea of who I am and it is fascinating to have a record of that progression on Pinterest. What a great resource!

5. What is your motto?

“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”

6. Who is your favourite blogger and why?

I really love Juley of The Upperlyne. She is such a creative, beautiful, inspirational soul. I have gone back through some of her old posts and it seems that she has done so much in terms of making her dreams come true. I would love to be friends!

7. Where in the whole world is your dream destination?

I have wanted to go to Eastern Europe for some years now. I would love to rent a car and take a month to explore several countries. I know much less of Eastern Europe than I do of Western Europe and know that it would be a fabulous crash course in history and culture.

8. Heels or flats?

I used to wear heels to work each and every day because I am on the petite side but I’ve gotten to the point where I usually stick to flats during the day and only bring out the heels at night.

9. Where do you see your self in 5 years time?

From a broad perspective I know without a doubt where I want to be – married to my husband with a child and continuing to work in a field that really satisfies me and makes me happy. When it comes down to the details I am open to whatever comes and is right for us whether it be Los Angeles, San Francisco or Timbuktu (just kidding on that one). As long as we are together, happy and healthy it doesn’t matter much to me where we are living and what we are doing.

10. What is your favourite Instagram account to follow?

Caroline Receveur Lucas is my current favorite Instagram to follow. I love the photographs she posts, she presents a truly beautiful life. And can we talk about her hair?!

My Nominations:

My Questions:

Why did you start blogging?
How did you come up with your blog’s name?
What is your favorite thing to blog about?
What is your dream job?
Who is a hero in your life?
What is your favorite quote and by whom?
If you had one day without any commitments to spend in any way you wanted, what would you do?
If you were offered a plane ticket to anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Do you have any hidden talents?
Describe yourself in three words

I apologize if any of those I nominated have previously been nominated…it just means your blog is really great! Thank you for providing such beautiful, insightful inspiration ladies. I’d love to read your answers to my questions if you have time to respond. Thank you again for the lovely nomination, Rosie!

The Transition Into Fall

August 31, 2015

For the past twenty-plus years of my life the transition from August 31 into September 1 was been a bittersweet one. It marked the end of the bright and languid days of summer and meant that the crisp, hurried days of fall had arrived. It never quite felt that fresh school supplies, the new wardrobe you were finally allowed to sport and being reunited with classmates was a fair trade off for what you were leaving behind. Once the hustle and bustle of the first week of September began to wane, so too did my spirits.

It was not that I disliked school. In fact for the most part I immensely enjoyed school. I relished in the structure of the days, I appreciated my teachers and their endless efforts and I did not even mind the immense amounts of homework my Catholic schools gave out. What I struggled with, no matter how hard I tried, regardless of what new attempt I made to reinvent myself over the summer, was fitting in with my classmates. I never quite found my “people” in school and as a result spent the majority of my childhood and adolescence feeling very isolated and becoming increasingly withdrawn. It seemed as if every time I started to make friends and finally feel like a part of things, somebody would discover that I was an impostor and out me. I realize now of course that I would have been better off just being myself in all of my awkward, somewhat nerdy glory.

Summer however was a time when I could truly shine. It was a moment in the sun when I could shake off nine months of uncomfortable moments and allow myself to be free. When I was growing up this meant running around the neighborhood barefoot all day, climbing trees, riding my mountain bike around the local parks until dusk, hiking and kayaking with my dad, reading a novel a day, and getting to be around my “people”. As I got older these pursuits led me to working at summer camps, universal haven to an amazing number of overly enthusiastic misfits just brimming with generosity and originality. It was there that I thrived, there that I found my “tribe” and there that I wished I could stay forever. But all good things must end. Without fail, August 31 would come roaring around all too quickly feeling like a slap in the face.

Things did not necessarily feel any different for me in college. I reinvented myself once again and did an alright job at playing the role I had written but always felt a bit like my apprehensive fifteen-year-old self on the first day of school. My twenties continued on in much of the same manner until I woke up one morning, decided that the life I was living was not the authentic one that I so longed for, and turned it upside down. In the process of this I fell in love with a man who is so unapologetically his brilliant, quirky self that he can’t help but inspire the same legitimacy in others. His acceptance of every aspect of me – my strange little idiosyncrasies, both the lightness and darkness bundled inside of me, my somewhat offbeat interests and goals, even of my little Lola, made me realize that I really was okay just being me. It took seeing myself through someone else’s eyes to really see and appreciate who I have been all along.

This year as August rolls into September I am finally embracing the transition into fall. I am embracing the fresh faces, new experiences and unique lessons these upcoming months will bring. I no longer fear it. In fact this year I am running towards it with open arms, excited for all the adventures and changes coming my way. I will wake up on September 1 a little more comfortable in my skin that I was the day before, knowing that I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggonit, people like me! At least the people that matter do – my partner in life, my family, my close friends, and maybe, finally, even me.

Life According to My iPhone

August 29, 2015

The neighborhood palm tree scene.

I am getting just a little bit excited to return to Paris. Okay, A LOT EXCITED!

The clouds put on quite the show.

My long sought after perfect black boots have finally been delivered to me.

So much renovation fun. We are supposed to start moving in on Thursday the 10th…the crew is now working through the weekends.

Happy National Dog Day!

August 26, 2015

It is National Dog Day here in the United States and it only felt right to dedicate a post to my Lola. It is no secret that I love, love, LOVE my little Puggle girl. She has been a great blessing in my life since day one and has been by my side through the ups and downs, breakups and makeups and nearly countless moves of my twenties. As a result of some health scares she has had I have had to contemplate life without her on several occasions and I am honestly not certain how I could go on without her spunky little personality brightening each and every day. Her sweet face has been the one constant in my life for the past six and a half years and I can resoundingly say that she is truly my furry little best friend. It has been an honor to be her mom, her snuggle buddy and her partner in crime. So in honor of the day, here is an overload of Puggle cuteness!

Happy National Dog Day friends! Regardless of where you are in the world be sure to give your four legged friend some extra love today!

A Weekend in Downtown LA

August 24, 2015

We spent the majority of our free time this past weekend (and there wasn’t much of it!) playing around in Downtown Los Angeles between errands. We started off our weekend by finally (FINALLY!!!) getting the official thumbs up on moving into our new apartment , checked a lot of wedding details off the list and got a lot of work done. Work hard, play hard.