Love. Love. Love.

In 7th Grade we had to select a single word to write a research report on, I chose love. It's no secret to those in my life that this word and all that it carries with it plays an integral part of my daily life. I learned through a tragedy very early on how exceedingly important it is to love those you hold close to your heart, to tell them so unabashedly and often and to never miss an opportunity to say, "I love you!"

To know love and to be able to give and demonstrate love to others is one of life's greatest riches. 

Yesterday was Valentine's Day and I was truly spoiled. I spent the day with friends whom I love and my girlfriend and I enjoyed a beautiful dinner at our house made by our boys. We're both incredibly lucky as the boys are exceptional in the kitchen!

 

I was so excited for our evening together! Our place settings were simple but festive, red place mats with red and white seersucker napkins...

The flowers were two of my favorites, white hydrangeas and delicate light pink roses, surrounded by candles...

It was a perfect evening!

A stunning reminder of the incredible amount of love in my life and how grateful I am for those whose friendships and presence enrich my life on a daily basis. 

With love, 

Girls Night Out!

Friday's are fast becoming one of my favorite days of the week!

I have been royally spoiled and have had the opportunity and pleasure of enjoying some much needed girl time over the past few weeks. Last night was no exception!

 

It's hard for things to go wrong when they begin like this...

A bit of closet surfing, some hair & makeup & we were on our way... 

 All smiles after one awkward Uber ride & our second bottle of champs...

Love. Love. Love. 

Two of the kindest and sweetest ladies I know! 

 I am so thankful for the friendships that I have, I find myself filled with love, surrounded by incredible people and continually amazed at the beautiful life that unfolds before my eyes. 

With gratitude & love, 

 

Give Yourself A Break!

Our lives are crazy! 

Everyone's are, but ours are well, let's just say crazy enough that a reality TV show has been put on the table. Not going to happen, btw! I enjoy my privacy far too much to pop the top on that bottle of bubbly.  And, when things are crazy sometime you need to escape even it's only for a couple of days. On Saturday night I made the decision to surprise my husband with a little break from reality in Napa. 

::  snapped while driving, no filter, just sunshine and fresh air for miles ::

So far it has been stunning and exactly what we both have needed.

 We haven't had a schedule, don't know which vineyards we were going to visit and have simply gone wherever the days have taken us. 

:: Even if we need a break from our day to day lives, one never needs a break from fashion! ::

One of our stops along the way...

:: A great reminder of how important it is to stop and just breathe ::

Today we are going to meet up with some of our closest friends and I can't wait to enjoy another incredible day. 

Never under value the power of giving yourself a break!

Cheers, 

To Love, Laughter and Friends...

Today I was surrounded by love. 

It was a quiet love, the type that is unspoken but simply present. There have been a few great men in my life and today it was an incredible gift to be surrounded by those who have always been there for me. After an early afternoon with family my GH (gay husband) and his BF joined me at our house for an evening of love, laughter and friendship. 

My GH, the third generation of some truly incredible gentlemen and gentle men...

A simple but sweet afternoon...

...

I have many loves in my life, these however are some of my greatest...

Nap time...

The greatest compliment a guest can pay me is to demonstrate that they feel at home in our home. I just love when people can relax enough to really enjoy themselves and I truly mean it when I say, "Please make yourself at home!"

I feel so privileged to have such incredible men in my life. My sweet, amazing actual husband joined our posse after work and my day became complete. I hope your day was also filled with love laughter and friends. 

xo, 

Onward & Upward!

It's been a while...a long while since I've posted anything of substance and there has been a very good reason as to why. My privacy and my family's privacy were violated. 

Obviously, I fully understand that when blogging any information one chooses to share should essentially be considered public. To this day I have no regrets about anything I've posted. 

Never in my wildest dreams did I expect or even consider that the content of my blog would be used against my family. What would have appeared, and what I am sure did appear as a typical and seemingly innocuous post was used as fodder against my family in an outrageous and totally inappropriate way. This malicious act was committed by a couple of very close family friends, and I'm truly disappointed in them.

My decision to take a brief break from blogging was an easy one, you simply do not hurt my family. The good news is that I've never lost faith in my blogging family. After giving this blog a lot of consideration over the past several months, I have made the decision to begin blogging again!

Why?

Because I have truly missed blogging and it is something important to me. 

I don't let people keep me from what I love and I am certainly not going to begin now. 

And, while I have always known that I was awful at keeping a journal I came to realize that this blog quickly became a beautiful way for me to chronicle my life, interests, travels, friends....

To my friends and family who have supported me, thank you! 

To my fellow bloggers, I am sincerely sorry if we've lost touch, I truly look forward to reconnecting! 

And so with love, gratitude and perspective, I look forward to what's next. 

Heart to Heart

:: Disclaimer | I had planned and still will post a much lighter piece in the coming days :: 

The last two weeks have been a humbling reminder of how fragile life can be. They have also been a stunning demonstration of love, friendship and family. Nearly a year ago my life began to change. In some ways things have changed for the better, in some ways things have become more challenging.  Some changes were more foreseen than others and some have been downright shocking and painful. 

:: truth ::

Last Sunday my best friend and I had a wonderful evening together. We said good night to one another and I began to get ready to crawl into bed. Then my phone rang, it was him. In an instant my heart sank and I knew he needed me and that I needed to be with him through whatever the coming hours would bring. Ultimately, a patriarch passed away; a husband, a father, a grandfather and one incredible man. It was sudden, unexpected and heartbreaking.  I was fortunate enough to have witnessed Max's incredible love, devotion, affection and kindness. His presence and energy were such that by proximity alone you could feel the warmth, love, and gentle manner of his soul. 

:: my everything ::

I returned from Sunday evening mid-day Monday. Only a few hours later my husband received a phone call from his mom. His cousin had passed away. This was also a sudden and unexpected death, he was only 42. To say that my husband and I felt overwhelmed at this moment does not even begin to touch on the emotions of disbelief, emotional exhaustion and sadness that we both experienced. 

Yesterday we gathered to celebrate the life of an amazing son, brother, uncle, friend and person. Following the funeral we returned to the family home and were surrounded by his closest friends. His brother, sisters, nieces and nephew's all jumped into the pool in his honor. There was laughter, there were tears, wonderful memories and shared stories but above all there was what matters.  

:: love. friendship. family :: 

As I write this I am sitting in the warmth of the incredible sunshine, looking at the deep blue sky and there is an overwhelming sense of peace. My peace is not the result of a perfect life but rather the acknowledgement of a life fulfilled. 

And while some people have come and gone from my life I realize that those who matter remain. And, that through it all there is love, there is friendship and we are all family. 

With incredible gratitude & love, 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In honor & in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

With respect & gratitude, 

Resolve 2013

It's been a while since I've done a link up - but as we begin the New Year I thought this was a great opportunity! 

:: linkup hosts ::

In 2013 I will...

surround myself with positive people

spend more time laughing 

be less critical of myself and others

travel to somewhere I have never been

be incredibly thankful for a backyard

take more walks with girlfriends

have faith that eventually everything work out

In 2013 I will not...

allow negative people to be a part of my life

get frustrated by the fact we are still not all the way unpacked (fingers crossed on this one!)

take for granted the blessings of life; friends, family, our home

be apart of someone else's life unless I am able to make a positive contribution 

( be it laughter, friendship, love, a smile...)

ever again take for granted the ability to simply open the back door and let the dogs out

In 2013 I hope to...

actually settle into our home

have many celebrations with friends & family

soak up the sun in our backyard and read

give myself time to "just breathe"

volunteer more

laugh often

love more

 What about you?

xo,

A Reason...A Season...A Lifetime

2012 has been a challenging year in so many ways. There have been a number of significant changes in our lives - some more positive than others; there have been friendships lost and gained, moments of beautiful joy and times of great sadness but through it all I have been grateful and so incredibly thankful for the blessings of love, family, true and genuine friends and faith.

 A dear friend shared this with me a few years ago, it's always resonated with me, however as I re-read these eloquent words this evening I found myself filled with a deep sense of peace, a quiet presence from within and I knew - I am exactly where I am meant to be - with the people I need and with whom my life is intended to be shared - I feel blessed beyond measure and I will greet 2013 with a smile on my face, peace in my heart, a clear mind and a soul nourished and filled with love. 

:: A Reason...A Season...A Lifetime ::

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season. 

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant. 

Thank you for being a part of my life,

whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime. I wish you a very Happy New Year! May 2013 be a year of love, laughter & much joy. 

xo, 

With Gratitude & Love

Today I am truly filled with gratitude & love.  

It has been a challenging year and yet through it all I have never lost site of or taken for granted the extraordinary people in my life.

For these special people, for their kindness, for their compassion, love & support I am truly grateful & blessed.

 May today be full of love, may you see the beauty in those around you, and may you have peace in your heart & lives. 

With gratitude & love, 

Friends

One of the things I cherish most in life are my friends.  I think to be a friend and to have friends is such a special relationship. I absolutely love sharing my life with my friends and being privileged enough to share in theirs. 

The past six months have been some of the hardest months of my entire life. I've been really hurt and disappointed by a couple of friends, especially because I felt like when I needed them the most in my life they just sort of disappeared. I know how busy and crazy life can be and I wasn't expecting much. But a phone call, an email, a quick text or just to have grabbed a cup of coffee would have meant so much. 

On the other hand I have some truly remarkable and amazing friends who have shown me more love, compassion and kindness than I could have ever imagined. Who check in and call or text just to say. Some days simply hearing their voices or seeing their messages made my entire day.  From boozy dinners, to great catch up sessions, crazy glitter art adventures, Skype dates from afar, and hikes in flip flops these friends have been and are incredible. It's truly hard for me to find words to properly express my gratitude, my love, my respect and the loyalty I feel for these beautiful souls who I am so lucky to call my friends. 

 Thank you for making my life better. 

Thank you for making me a better person. 

Thank you for making me laugh. Thank you for making me smile. 

Thank you for listening to me. 

Thank you for ensuring my glass is always full & for making nearly anything better with you & a bottle of wine.  

Thank you for loving me and showing me such kindness. 

I value you all, your actions and your presence in my life more than you will ever know. 

With love & gratitude,