heaven, according to me

 

it was buy two baskets, get one free. i made it more like eat two baskets, buy two baskets, get one free…
nothing like fresh summer produce on a sunny day. and free samples.

26 before 27

in 26 days, i’ll turn 27. doesn’t 27 seem like such an auspicious number? i think it will be a good year.

there are a few things, 26 in fact, that i want to do before my birthday. i hope i can check these all off!

1. finish anne of green gables
2. hike the bird island trail at point lobos
3. spend an evening at the santa cruz beach boardwalk
4. don’t have even one day off of keeping my eating and exercise goals
5. don’t miss a day of real gospel study
6. organize all the pictures on my hard drive
7. give my brother and his family a stellar san francisco tour
8. better organize my budget
9. sleep among the redwoods at gualala
10. perform three random, anonymous acts of service
11. blog about expectations and sacrifice
12. re-register my car
13. go to the temple
14. read at least half of the god who weeps
15. try at least five new recipes
16. see the walton lighthouse
17. redesign my blog
18. visit the pulgas water temple
19. write in my journal every single day
20. talk on the phone with each of my siblings
21. try a new restaurant in palo alto
22. surprise someone i love
23. put my feet in the ocean
24. make summer plans for utah
25. make summer plans for some other travel adventure
26. make goals for the year ahead

growing up is such a trip.

brunching in sausalito

i stayed over in the city on friday night, and on saturday morning kelsey and drove across the golden gate bridge to have brunch in sausalito.

sausalito’s charm pretty much knocks me out every time i’m there. it is just so so lovely, sunny and blithe. we ate at le garage overlooking the marina full of boats.

 

as i’m sure i’ve previously noted on this blog, kelsey and i were born to brunch together. we always get a sweet and a savory and share. we are both really good at enjoying food, especially brunch.

we walked along the bridgeway and then drove across the bridge all wrapped up in fog. the towers majestically appeared just as we drove under them. we looked at each other and said incredulously, this is our life! just cruising across the golden gate bridge on a sunny saturday. that drive will never get old to me – it will always tickle my heart a bit.

when we got back into the city and started driving up and down the hills of the marina and pacific heights, i decided to pop my head out the sunroof. it was a thrill ride! my spirit was smiling so wide. kels blasted the music and i waved at amused pedestrians, the top half of me sticking right out of the top of the car.

 

brunch with a dear friend and sunshine in the city by the bay – healing and enlivening and splendid, indeed.

a birthday and the bay

this weekend was steph’s birthday, so kelsey and i took her out on friday night in the city for some celebratory fun. we got pedicures downtown and then walked to pier 7 just as it started to get dark. the cityscape and the bridge lit up and glimmered as the sky transformed from pastel to slate to cerulean to indigo, and the fog hung out, seemingly watching the evolution. at the end of the pier we waved some sparklers, talked about steph’s year past and year to come, and just soaked up the city we love.

we walked to north beach, making a quick stop at the famous citylights bookstore for some delightful browsing on our way to get the city’s best pizza at tony’s. i love strolling through north beach and feeling just like i am in italy. the pizza was so, so delicious! we sat outside on the sidewalk overlooking the church in washington square.

ahhh, what a magical night in the city. i love san francisco and i love steph!
happy birthday again, pretty girl!

a mothers’ day bouquet

paying tribute to my mother seems almost futile; it’s just impossible to even approach a worthy expression of admiration, adoration and appreciation. linda jacobson eyre is the most incredible woman on earth and has given me everything in her example and her love.

one of the trillion, gazillion things i am grateful to my mother for is instilling in me a love and appreciation of beauty, in all its forms. i thought of her, so surging with goodness, as i strolled through elizabeth gamble gardens in palo alto yesterday, enraptured with the glorious flora and fauna. i felt so thankful for the way she taught me to grasp, treasure and enjoy splendor. i wished i could share the flowers with her.

and so, here is a virtual bouquet for my magnificent mother:

  

she is a marvel. she is saint. she is a goddess. and oh! i am just outrageously blessed that she is my mother.

i am also so grateful for the examples and goodness of my sisters and sister-in-laws, and of my dear friends who have recently become mothers. i am grateful for my grandmothers and my great grandmothers and all those women who came before them.

i believe so, so passionately in the power of motherhood. may we all celebrate its divinity fully today and everyday.

p.s. i want a baby