Succulents

I've been wanting to create a succulent pot, and all of my free time in Houston has made it possible! I hope these little guys can survive the humidity.

Life Update

Ok...well...I guess now would be a good time to tell you all that I'm in Texas! My man got a temporary position at the Houston Press, and I decided to drive out and help him get settled for a few weeks. The idea of experiencing a new place also seemed pretty exciting! At this point I'm unsure as to how long I'll be in Houston, but am planning to come home towards the end of August. I will continue to look for Southern California teaching jobs...my hope is that I'll have to come home for an interview in the coming weeks! In the meantime I'll share my adventures!


The drive from Orange County to Houston took about 27 hours. There were definitely some memorable moments along the way...including the three hour rest stop nap at 2:00 am, the license plate game,  and getting stuck in the wildest thunder/lightening/hail storm in Arizona! I'd like to think that I'm a pretty experienced road tripper (my family drives to Colorado every summer), but this one was rough! Thank goodness we had some good music and comedy downloads to keep us sane (I use that term very loosely...I know I lost my sanity around mile 1,510).


Needless to say, we made it safe and sound and are now getting moved in to the new apartment. So far I'm liking Houston. The people here are really nice. It's odd to me how friendly everyone is! I guess it's that famous southern hospitality. The weather is hot and humid, but bearable. I will be interested to see how my thoughts about this city and its people develop. I'm excited to explore and eat some BBQ...but I'm REALLY excited about the prospect of taking a trip to New Orleans! It's only five hours from Houston, and we're thinking of driving out next weekend! I've never been to the south, so these next few weeks will definitely be an adventure!


For now I'm going to set off and try to find the nearest Whole Foods! Hope ya'll have a wonderful week! xo




image via mary ruffle

Rumi Inspired Monday

It may be that the satisfaction I need depends on my going away, so that when I've gone and come back, I'll find it at home. 

image via Mary Ruffle

True Blood

For any of you who have not seen an episode of the HBO drama True Blood...I'm sorry, because you're truly missing out on one amazing television show! I just finished watching this week's episode and I'm already anxious for next Sunday. If you've not experienced the wonder of Bon Temps and aren't familiar with the terms "fang banger" or "maenad," do yourself a favor and rent seasons one and two as soon as humanly possible! You might find yourself sitting in front of a television set for 24 hours straight, but I promise you you won't regret one second. 

While I wait for next week's episode, I might have to purchase these True Blood inspired pint glasses! FYI...Lou Pines is a were bar (as in werewolf), Fangtasia is a vamp bar, and Merlotte's is a local restaurant/bar owned by a secret shapeshifter. Haha!

Here's a five minute recap of the show thus far!

images via HBO

Fajitas

        

Our oven is broken, and we've been cooking almost every meal on the grill the past few days. Thank goodness it's summertime! Bell peppers+onion+cilantro+chicken breast+lime juice+tortilla = yummy (healthy) fajitas!

Summertime Mini-Adventures

I hope you've been enjoying the first few weeks of summer! Here are images from a few of my recent mini-adventures...Angels' baseball, Newport Beach, Santa Barbara farm stand, backyard fireworks on the 4th, and some pretty serious trampoline play with the little cousins (I would post the video of my backflip if the wipeout wasn't as cringe worthy)!

Happy 4th!

The Summer Day

Who made the world?

Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper? 
This grasshopper, I mean- 

the one who has flung herself out of the grass,

the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,

who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-

who is gazing around with enormous and complicated eyes.

Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.

Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.

I don't know exactly what a prayer is.

I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down

into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,

how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,

which is what I have been doing all day. 

Tell me, what else should I have done?

Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?

Tell me, what is it you plan to do

with your one wild and precious life? 

Mary Oliver

image via Chasen Marshall