All posts by ali

catch up #1: late may

goings on, snapshots

It’s been some time since I posted because I’ve been uber-busy (hasn’t everyone?) – but during May, June and July I was traveling all the time…to Houston (2 weeks), to NY (2 weeks), to San Francisco (just 1 day), to Washington State (to celebrate!), to Costa Rica (vacation!). Today, I will play some blog and photo catch up.

First, MAY…

Mother’s Day falls in May and we went to the Renaissance Faire with my parents to celebrate, which was a fun afternoon. Only a couple of photos, sadly:

Enjoying a rootbeer float and a beer at the same time, apparently…

Renaissance Faire - May 2011

And then I got into trouble for being so naughty…

Renaissance Faire - May 2011

May also meant my birthday month! I had a lovely birthday, only part of which was photographed…

I wore my special birthday t-shirt “Little Miss Birthday” and had a cake at work…

work celebration

Mmmm, chocolate frosting on my nose!

frosting.

Don’t I have lovely office mates? That’s Chelsi, Teri, Caroline and Amy…

Later on the evening of my birthday, after I taught, Rory took me to a fabulous Italian restaurant I had never been to. It was called Osteria La Buca – wow, delicious. It is now one of favorites. The only photo I took here was of the card he gave me and my divine birthday dessert…

a card for me! birthday dessert

I heart the month of May!
(I also spent 2 weeks in Houston during the month of May, teaching every day and visiting/catching up a couple of times with my friend Rachael, but I took zero photos of that. Oops.)
*

april & may 1st-3rd.

goings on, love, snapshots

There has been so much happening…

First, R’s older brother had his 40th birthday! He and his family came for a visit from Kentucky. It was great to see them, although we really wish we had been able to spend a lot more time with them.

We do not have a shortage of cute nieces and nephews in our family…

For the full set of birthday photos, click here.

~~~

Then, we had our 2nd ever S Factor Retreat in Coronado. It was, once again, off-the-hook amazing, inspiring, beautiful and fun! I spent so much time in the sand – in my clothes, getting sandy and enjoying every minute of it.

Each morning we woke up at dawn and worked out on the beach, which was delicious (though chilly).


And on the last night, we had a campfire on the beach, with live drummers and danced and danced in the sand. I can’t really explain it, so the word I will write is: Freedom!


See all the retreat photos right here.

~~~

Finally, R and I celebrated our Year Anniversary! I arrived home from the retreat on the day of our anniversary and the next morning, R woke me up super early (4:30am) and we caught a ferry to Catalina Island for a surprise overnight anniversary trip. Catalina is wonder-full!

We rented a blue tandem bicycle (but forgot to photograph it) and rode to the Botanical Garden which is filled with all kinds of succulents and cacti. This was awesome because I happen to love succulents and cacti. It was fun to learn their names and discover some we had never seen before.

This is my favorite kind of succulent plant…

And this cactus had crazy hair…

During our bicycle ride for two we also visited the Wrigley Memorial, built for Mr. Wrigley (of Wrigley Field and Wrigley’s Spearmint Gum fame – he bought Catalina Island way back). It was a lovely memorial with delightful details and a beautiful view.


I had never been to Catalina Island before and loved, loved, loved it. And I love, love, love my husband for being the guy he his, for loving me and for being my partner in the adventure of life.

View our anniversary trip photos here.

I am so grateful. So grateful, indeed.
*

work/play!

life in LA

I had the pleasure of shooting this PopSugar video! Check it out…

I think it turned out very well, despite their spelling my name wrong.
I love my job!
*

To be, or not to be a Mother-hood Group.

internal monologue, journal

Last month I joined a women’s group designed to help women explore their relationship to Motherhood. Each of my fellow group-mates had unique intentions upon joining the group and it was so healing and freeing and eye-opening to share in this exploration of motherhood with a small group of like-minded women!

While it might not make complete sense without having been there with me, I’ve decided to share what I wrote at our final session last night because I feel that it reflects my experience exactly…

Five weeks ago the intention was to feel out whether I had the desire to be a Mom right now — to discern between desire and fear, choice and pressure.

The beautiful discovery was of my wings — the wise winged knowledge that feels so real and tangible ever since the meditation of and about the all knowing self.

As the weeks went by, the wings got stronger and stronger, opening up self-trust, joyful self time and the clarity to feel the honest desire to mother a baby.

I’ve found confidence and comfort in knowing that my exquisite wings are firmly planted and have my back…

Thank you, Cecily and the wonderful women of Monday nights!
*

catch-up from march madness

goings on, snapshots

It seems that March was busy for everyone. And it’s time I played a little catch up with some snapshots as a overview…

Late February/early March I spent in San Francisco for work. I spent two weeks leading a workshop and soaking up the beauty of the city I used to call home. I got to see a lot of my brother (but took no photos!) and Lindsey (again, no photos by me, but she caught this one on her iPhone)…

One morning I took a walk to the shore and around the beautiful Palace of Fine Arts. I took some photos with my real camera, but frankly the ones I took from my iPhone are much better…



My husband’s birthday fell on a Thursday while I was in SF, so he came to spend the weekend with me. This was awesome because we could properly celebrate together. The night he arrived I greeted him with cupcakes…


YUM!

Here he is enjoying his card and gift…

Nothing like new, lightweight running shorts for a super-duper marathon guy, right?

While we were in SF, we got to see R’s sister and our niece, who is such a rambunctious sweetie. She has such a personality – I adore her…

After I returned to LA, I got to cheer R on in the LA Marathon, his fourth. We woke up early so I could take R and Scott to Dodger stadium for the start line. Here they are, ready to go at 5:15am. I think their excitement might be a little forced??

It was pouring rain; heavy – which of course isn’t typical for LA. Not as many people were out on the streets to watch this year as in year’s past, but there was no way I was going to miss seeing my guy run by, so I took my umbrella (and my parents, who came to join me) down to Mile 12-13 and waited…

As always, when he ran by, I ran out and ran with him for a short distance, which is when I found out he was loving the rain and feeling good!

Despite the rain showers, thunder and cold conditions, R ran the race in his best time yet – 3:23:14! I love marathon day and always feel so proud…

And now here we are, already in April! I have been working so much over the past month, that this less-busy month has arrived not a moment too soon!!
*