London: Day 1

We're back in my favorite city to visit! Landed in London this morning to sunny skies and summer weather. True to my serial over-packing nature, me and my 50-pound suitcase made the trek from the airport to our rental unit with a lot of stubbed toes, groaning and weight lifting. Thank god, my suitcase is sturdy or else it would have been in a million plastic pieces along the concrete cobbled roads of London. The highlight of the journey was a cute British dude asking to help carry the suitcase up two flights of stairs. Class act all the way, London-town.

Places visited: Big Ben, Parliament Square, Westminster Abbey, Picadilly Circus, Chinatown

Restaurants: Waxy O'Connors in Picadilly Circus

It was really nice to walk around every where and enjoy the true summer weather. The site of Big Ben and the beautiful architecture surrounding it never gets old. We got to experience it right as the sun was setting so it made for some beautiful colors reflects off the metals. 

Life in Snapshots: August Week 4

49ers playing in their new home - Levi's Stadium

Celebrating my promotion with a few good friends! 

Best kale salad in the city

Celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi with my family

My happiest place on earth - beaches of Santa Cruz

Life in Snapshots: August Week 3

A little guidance from Oprah to start the week. It's easy to forget the big dreams in light of the little ones.

A leisurely dinner at Chez Maman with this little scruff and his delightful owner

Diets are really hard, especially when fresh fig ice-cream and chocolate sauce are involved. Dessert at Hops & Hominy - worth the calories.

Is it just a coincidence or fate that Gap opened up in London the same year I was born? I am thinking destiny for sure!

Made a few new friends on an evening hike; one of the many reasons I love California

Life in Snapshots: August Week 2

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I knew this week would be 95% work and 5% play because I had a big presentation on Friday. As expected, I worked the usual 11 - 12 hr days in preparation for it. What I didn't expect were the curveballs that would be thrown along the way. Changes are on the horizon and opportunity is knocking and it definitely looks like a lot of work, so I guess I better figure out if I am up for the challenge.

Trading in the summer sandals for fall flats

Long to-do lists call for large coffees

I dressed purely for comfort this week - soft pants and big glasses

A beautiful bridal shower for a beautiful bride at Satori Tea Company

Great new book, tea, bed; don't disturb me - I'm reading

Saturday Morning Ramblings: The World

“I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life. I’ve learned that making a “living” is not the same thing as making a “life.” I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one. I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn. I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

 -Maya Angelou

Today's ramblings are not my own but they sure do reflect how I feel, so I decided to go with the words of a woman who put it better than I ever could. 

Life in Snapshots: August Week 1

Loving BR's new look for fall. This little burgundy number will be mine!

Shaking up the weeknights by hanging with Mr. and Mrs. Carter

Jane on Larkin's cappuccino - heaven in liquid form

Some nights I have Peanut M&Ms for dinner 

Shakespeare in the Park - not the Globe Theatre, but cozy entertainment on summer nights

Saturday Morning Ramblings: Failing

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Current Tea: Twining's Early Grey; Current Music: Landslide by Fleetwood Mac

Did you ever wonder when the moment was that the adults gave up? When was the moment when the college student who studied art history became the accountant? The girl who wanted to become VP decided she was fine with being just a manager? The moment where we looked at the risk and said, it's not worth the it and settled. We all do it in various areas of our life - friends, family, love, career. We look at our dream world and the reality of our life and decide it's better to stick to reality than go after the dreams. It's what keeps us grounded. Who wants to be the fifty year old with nothing but failed dreams? So, we take what we have and try to make the best of it. We think this is just for now; this isn't my future. See, I don't think it's in a moment that we give it all up at all.  It's actually everyday. It's waking up every morning and making the choice that will make us feel safe instead of going after the one that will push us off the cliff. 

To someone as risk averse as me, I am constantly looking for parachutes before I jump off anything. The thing is, with that kind of nature, we never jump. We just spend our lives collecting the parachutes for the inevitable fall, but we forget that it's never going to come because we won't jump. It becomes an addiction actually. Instead of getting rid of the extra parachutes and just jumping, we keep collecting. It also doesn't help when our friends are doing the same. Who wants to keep dreaming of Mr. Right when your friends are getting engaged left and right? So, you go for the guy who is nice and stable and say, this will be fine. Who wants to keep working long hours and put off having a family when everyone around you is pregnant? You say, I need to focus on my personal life and put the career on the back burner for a while. Why see the world now when you can see it when you retire and can afford to do it in a way you enjoy? That's how the adults gave up. That's how the happy middle is born. Everyday, we look at where we are and try to go just an inch further so we are caught up with the Joneses. We don't jump off the cliff. We just keep collecting parachutes and comparing the number we have with those around of us all the while never grasping that none of us will ever use it.