Pinch Me Please

There are pivotal moments in your life when you just need to take a step back and reflect.  For me this is one of those moments.  When Marco and I moved to LA 5 years ago it was during the recession/writers strike.  To say jobs were few and far between was an understatement.  I signed up with a temp agency in Burbank and was assigned the most random jobs.  My breaking point was working at a scrap metal company answering phones.  I remember at lunch going to my car and crying to my mom.  I wanted to go home, but knew how much M and I needed the $40 I would make that afternoon for groceries.  After about 6 months of working like this I finally got a call to temp at Guess.  Of course I jumped at the chance and 4 years later I was taking another leap of faith to come to T0MS. 

This week is my one year anniversary and I am celebrating by receiving a promotion.  I am the new Executive Assistant to the President.  Pinch me please.  It doesn’t seem real, but I am so beyond grateful for the new challenge.  

Living a Happy Life

a photo from our trip to Big Sur

21 Suggestions for Success by H. Jackson Brown Jr. 

1. Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness or misery.
2. Work at something you enjoy and that's worthy of your time and talent.
3. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
4. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
5. Be forgiving of yourself and others.
6. Be generous.
7. Have a grateful heart.
8. Persistence, persistence, persistence.
9. Discipline yourself to save money on even the most modest salary.
10. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
11. Commit yourself to constant improvement.
12. Commit yourself to quality.
13. Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect.
14. Be loyal.
15. Be honest.
16. Be a self-starter.
17. Be decisive even if it means you'll sometimes be wrong.
18. Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.
19. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the ones you did.
20. Take good care of those you love.
21. Don't do anything that wouldn't make your Mom proud.

{thanks Heather from Habitually Chic for the inspiration}

Home is Where the Heart Roams

It’s no secret I am head over heels in love with my sister-in-law, Allie.  We’ve been best friends since we were 15 and love/fight like sisters.  For those of you wondering, M & I started dating before Allie and I became besties.  She is seriously the best.  

In 4 days she, her cute husband and pup Willow are moving to London.  He works for a large bank and has been transferred across the pond for the next 6 to 12 months.  While he’s at work, she is going to be exploring her favorite city and blogging about it.  You can check her blog out here and live vicariously through her. 

Cheers to 29

Two weeks ago was my 29^th birthday.  It was a weird birthday.  It was the Monday after a long holiday weekend, my sister was in town the week before, I had just gotten back from my Giving Trip the week before that and vacation two weeks before that.  I was spent.  All I wanted to was leave work a little early, grab some takeout and watch the Bachelorette.  I did just that and it was perfect. 

As I’m entering my 30’s my mom and I were reflecting on my 20’s.  My 20’s have been very, very good to me.  I married the love of my life, moved to LA and started my career here, worked my way up  the corporate ladder for a Fortune 500 company, took a chance on my dream company, have made some amazing friends and am truly happy.  My 30’s will be different, the focus will be more on M’s career, starting a family and finding balance with it all.

Cheers to 29 and what this year has in-store.  Please don’t go by too fast, as much as I'm excited for my 30’s they can take their sweet time getting here.

Facing Your Fears

Yesterday I decided it was time to sign up for a 10K.  Ever since getting back from Nicaragua in June {more on this later}, I’ve decided I need to live a more adventurous life.  The past 29 years I’ve lived in my own little bubble afraid if I went to far out of my comfort zone the bubble would pop.  It finally popped yesterday when I entered my card number and clicked submit for the Women’s Health + FEED 10K in September.  This is something that has been on my bucket list for the past 3 years.  Now is the time to start crossing things off.

If you don’t push yourself outside of your comfort zone no one else will.      

{photo credit}