What its all about.

Christmas is and has always been my favorite day of the entire year. In part the excitement of opening gifts, watching loved ones open theirs and then having an entire day to play, eat, laugh and laze around. My family take Christmas pretty seriously holding pretty solid to our traditions over the years. I love it, I love that we are dedicated revelers, veggers and happy dancers.  There is nothing better than getting a holiday to do nothing with the people I love most. 

Great Escape.

I would really like to be right here right now. Sliding down the dune and falling into the ocean. Not stressed about a damn thing. Just watching my daugher smile & dancing with my man. Seems simple enough, no?

reminder reminder reminder

Been a rough one, I need to keep this in mind...

1. 

Healing

My best friends baby is in the hospital right now, having a rough time with a bad virus. If you're reading this please send him some white light, say a prayer, think healing thoughts. Every little bit helps. 

Sundaze

What I wouldn't give to get to hang right here with my family for a few days...or weeks.

Personal responsibility.

I've been thinking a lot about the current state of race relations in our country lately and its pretty disheartening to say the least. The day the Ferguson verdict was announced I just cried. I cried all day. And then I thought, what do I have to be crying about? Am I ever going to worry that my child is going to be wrongly accused of a crime, shot for wearing a hoodie or profiled while driving? What do I really know and understand about what it means to be black in America? I don't. But to me the progress of our society (which feels creepily closer to 1950 America than what 2014 America should feel like) is for all of us to own our part. If white people can't at the very least accept that just by being white they have a privilege then I don't know that we can even start the conversation. I think we all need to check our own stereotypes (yes, I have them and they creep in when I least expect it) and start talking about the uncomfortable stuff and stop hiding behind the politeness of being PC and pretending that everything is ok. Because clearly it isn't. 

Note to self

Gratitude Wednesday

Feeling sluggish & tapped out today BUT I am filled with gratitude right now as the holiday is quickly approaching...

1. I'm grateful for the smell of pine! Quite possibly one of my favorite scents of all time, I love walking down the street and getting a random waft of pine from one of the many vendors on the street selling trees.

2. My assistants. They kick ass, keep me sane & make my job an absolute pleasure.

3. Yvette, our babysitter. She saves my ass almost every day, loves my daughter (the feeling is mutual) and makes me feel less guilty when I work late because I know she's in good hands.

4. Bing Crosby & Nat King Cole. Seriously nothing makes me feel like its Christmas time until I hear their voices singing the Christmas classics.

5. Homemade almond milk. I've been making my own the past few months and I'm obsessed. I cannot believe how easy it is (more on that soon) and how delicious. 

Goofing around with my team

Put some pep in your step.

It's a rainy cold nasty morning. Don't get grumpy, get some funk and turn yourself around.

Mane Moments.

Really lusting after this look. My hair cannot grow fast enough. 

Gratitude Wednsday

Today is a gray and sleepy day and all I really want to do is snuggle up with my family in bed all day. Instead I'm working all week (which I'm grateful for) but a family bed-in is still what I'm dreaming of.  I'm feeling so sluggish it's a challenge to write this...5 little things should flow out of my brain but not today. 

1. I'm grateful for good energy. Had dinner last night with one of my favorite people and it was one those nights of pure good vibes. Lovely & fascinating people all around. Good times.

2.  Walking to work. I've been shooting in studios the past few weeks that were within walking distance from my apartment and I love getting to wake up as I walk to work.

3. White floors. My boyfriend just painted our floors white and its stunning and fresh and the place feels like a little zen tree house. I love it.

4. Baby laughter. My daughter just started to laugh, real gut busting laughs and its the greatest sound in the world.

5. Friends who are family. I spent a lot of the week of Thanksgiving reconnecting with old friends. Friends who can make fun of you, get into the nitty gritty life conversations, friends who have your back forever. Friends who are family. 

Monday reminder