Just Chillin' With Han

How cool is this shot.

via ontheset

Magical

via simplystated

Attic Closet

According to the last Modern Family, an attic doesn't make a great bedroom.... But it does make an awfully cool closet.

(via Design Indulgences)

Smart Kitchen

This kitchen is just so smart. I love the horn full of roses.

(via Veranda Magazine)

2 Years

Today is Josh and I's 2 year anniversary! And like Elf, "I'm in love, I'm in love and I don't care who know's it!" my sentiments are similar. So with no shame, and lots of love here is a look at the past 2 years through 'pictures' (said with jazz hands with the enthusiasm of a 1920's film director).

PS: Josh went for his first jog today. Give him a high-five if you see him, 80's style.

Pain

Pain. No one talks about it, why? Pain is never an infrequent visitor. Yet we go on, I go on, never addressing it's presence. 


Why?


I would argue pain shapes more of who we are today than the joys we've experienced. Is that bad? I don't really think so. 


I don't even think the first step is sharing our pain but coming to terms with it ourselves. In fact, sharing one's pain does not necessarily mean that you, I, we have owned it.


I don't want to own it. I want to divorce it quietly. Because I know that in its acceptance I have to accept me. Not what I like to think of me. 


Me can be scary. But in "me's" embrace comes truth flooding in. Truth that is not altered with pain. Truth that only reaches its full beauty and completeness in the acceptance of me, in the acceptance of pain.


Pain; teach me to great you like an old friend.

Sunday In The City

Saturday was my birthday, and although it was great fun spending time with friends and birthday-partying it up, nothing beats a low-key Sunday birthday celebration with Josh. Of course, the shopping was a big sell.

The day started with socks. Not stinky ones, cute ones. Socks I received for my birthday from my lovely father and mother in law. See what I mean...

After socks, came soccer. Scratch that, turns out the North Beach cafe we went to watch Roma play was playing the Niners game instead. Ughh! When will America realize it's all about futbol not football. Fail.

Nothing a little birthday lunch couldn't fix though. Especially one that takes place at the window table overlooking Washington Square Park.

Josh was really excited about his fried chicken. Then again, he gets pretty excited about anything fried.

Eggs, leeks and cauliflower. Yum.

And no meal is complete without some fatty pork belly.

Watching the cute dogs play in the park during lunch inspired us to take a quick stroll through it.

That little limp girl is Lillie Hitchcock from this post.

Hooray for the first weekend of Fall! And for changing leaves!

Oh yeah, I got my hair cut.

After the park we drove downtown to spend some of my birthday money. I have to say though, the drive was probably my favorite part of the shopping trip. There is something about looking up and seeing nothing but tall buildings surrounding you that makes you feel like you are in some sort of nostalgic movie.

Kinda like You've Got Mail. Which we decided to watch when we got home. We always save it for the Fall. I realize it takes place during every season of the year, but for some reason the scenes that take place in the Fall are so memorable and warm.

"That caviar is a garnish!" Till next Sunday then.

NY In The Rain

 Rain in New York City, 1945 by Arthur Leipzig

Via firsttimeuser

Have a Fantastical Fall Friday

Fall has arrived today! Are you ready? Hope so, because I am about to barf fall all over you...


“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.”

- The Great Gatsby


“Autumn, the year’s last, loveliest smile.”
 - William Cullen Bryant

"Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address. On the other hand, this not knowing has its charms"

~ You've Got Mail

And the staple of Autumn baked goods Pumpkin Bread, and not only Pumpkin Bread but my favorite recipe of all time! Check it out here.

Let's end it with a soundtrack for the season....

Italian Food

Italian Food

Oh, how I love Italian food.

I eat it all the time,

Not just 'cause how good it tastes

But 'cause how good it rhymes.

Minestrone, cannelloni,

Macaroni, rigatoni,

Spaghettini, scallopini,

Escarole, braciole,

Insalata, cremolata, manicotti,

Marinara, carbonara,

Shrimp francese, Bolognese,

Ravioli, mostaccioli,

Mozzarella, tagliatelle,

Fried zucchini, rollatini,

Fettuccine, green linguine,

Tortellini, Tetrazzini,

Oops—I think I split my jeani.

-Shel Silverstein

Pretty In Pales

via london-fashionweek

Sunny Interiors

I measure how much I like a room by the amount of sunlight flooding into it.

via apartment therapy

Monday's Memorable Movie Scene

Such a memorable melody. 

-La Strada

For Freedom's Sake

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. 

- Galatians 1:5

Exercise thy right, O believer, and live up to thy privilege. Thou art free to all that is treasured up in Christ-wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.
-Charles Spurgeon

Sunday In The City

A day that starts out with soccer is a great day indeed. This morning Josh and I watched the Man U/Chelsea game over breakfast and some warm beverages. 

Unfortunately Man U won. You see I am a mild Chelsea fan for the simple fact the Fernando Torres is on the team. For those of you non-soccer fans, he is super attractive and has an elvish tattoo like me (which I am allowed to say since my husband would agree). However, the shot Torres missed on an open goal was even more unfortunate than the game's outcome. We both felt super bad for him; he has been out of form lately and is trying to find his stride again and I just felt like it was a blow to his self-confidence. Like concerned parents, Josh and I wanted him to know that we still love him, that he is still a worthwhile player and that he can go get 'em next time. If your reading this Torres, we believe in you!

After the game we decided to visit the Alemany Flea Market, and since this Sunday was the first Sunday of our church's 3rd service at 5pm, we decided why not, the morning was our oyster.

The Alemany Flea market is the best! full of lots of characters and random yet awesome crap. It is the flea market for the real flea marketer, not the antiquer. The following photos will show you what I mean...

Same gator that ate Chubbs' hand I think.

That's one proud Mallard. 

Remember these.

Apparently Josh didn't get the memo. 

Josh's favorite find of the day: old Super Nintendo games.

If only I had a 90's party to go to.

We eventually walked away with what we went for, a set of glasses. We had broken all our old ones in freak washing and dropping accidents.


We came home and cleaned house, which feels incredibly good after dog-sitting for a week, and then went to church at 5pm. It was so great, we are starting Genesis and our pastor introduced the book today. Take away: Genesis is a book about God. The teaching should be up here either today or tomorrow if you are interested in giving it a listen.


Another take away:

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

-Psalm 8:3-4

Chew on that one for a while :)

Then our friends Eva and Jordan came over for din din...

at which we served this awesomely delicious heirloom tomato app. You should try it, recipe here.

They are just great, Eva and Jordan I mean, and so was sharing a meal with them. 

All-in-all a superb Sunday.