So this happened.  I have been beyond neglectful with A+I and there is no excuse.  Except my world is consumed with blogging here most days and doing this other days and then whatever free moments I do have I feel like I'm just stuffing my face.  I am so hungry, like, all the time!  Which is better than the first trimester which was all nausea all the way.  No fun.

I'm hoping today will bring goods news.  I'm coming up on 19 weeks and have had a disaster of a time dealing with insurance companies, medical groups and doctors.  Waiting for authorization forms and not getting the information I need has caused a lot of stress that.  I'm hoping today will bring good news, so cross your fingers for us, and we'll be able to get into a doctor's office next week and find out what this little tyke is - boy or girl.  Then we can finally settle the great name debate....or not.

Fall flavors

I love fall.  If there were a magical land where it was constantly autumn I would move there in a heartbeat.  Of course, I picked the place that is constantly summer.  I love layering on clothes, especially scarves, I love cool but not too cool weather, I love horror movies and, of course, I love all the treats.  Last week I baked the yummiest pumpkin donuts and I just had to share the recipe from Blue Eyed Bakers.  They were super easy to make and super delicious.  Just FYI...let me save you five million trips trying to find a donut pan...you can get one at Sur la Table.  

AFTER-ish

A photo of the living room with the furniture and shit out of boxes.  

Since I work from my couch most days I tend to get addicted to certain shows on Netflix instant.  I just finished Dead Like Me and I'm kind of sad to say goodbye to my little TV friends.  I need a new show to distract me.  Any suggestions?

LA Lady

{photo from leftover flowers from last week's awesome, musical, bohemian, beach-y, desert wedding}

We are slowly settling into our new Los Angeles life.  I actually love it here...as long as I don't have to venture out of the apartment too often.  There are definitely some bad attitudes out on the streets....more so than I ever found in San Diego...and I find it really wearing on me.  I'm talking about you crabby lady who takes my money at the flower market.  Would it hurt to smile?  You are surrounded by flowers!  Life can't be so bad!  I had some not so admirable moments this past weekend....one of which may have involved me having it out with a flea market vendor.  But she had it coming, I swear.  I'm really going to try to be a better, kinder, calmer, more patient person.  Being in this house helps because I love it here.  It's so bright and big and open.  I love working here though I think I'm going to need to start unplugging.  Me and ol' mac-y are pretty much attached at the hip these days.  I need to listen to more music, read more, spend time with my husband more.  I've been reading Elizabeth's blog and I love her style, attitude, all around awesome mamaness.  She is the ultimate LA lady.  

What are your routines to unwind and forget the cranky cathies you might encounter?  How do you balance life, work, love and happiness? 

Our New Place Before-ish

So we're all moved in...poor moving guys were not prepared for the killer stairs and all of our crapola. I kind of have no idea what to do with the place. All of our stuff is in here but it doesn't look quite right. I'm hoping you guys can help me out. Any ideas / inspiration?*

This is the front door and the killer stairs that you HAVE to take. There is no getting around that. I don't move a whole lot so it's probably a good thing these are here.

The living room is actually bigger than it looks here. There is so much light! You have no idea how happy that makes me. We've lived in caves for so long.

I hate those flippin' cupboards but hey what can ya do.

This is the little hallway nook. Isn't it cute? And around the corner is the washer/dryer. Word.

The other set of killer stairs. This bad boy is not messing around.

And the loft. Yeah I know you're jealous of that carpet. Mhm.

There's also a bedroom and an itty bitty extra room downstairs. There are hallways and hardwood floors just like a grown-up house! We whispered and tip-toed the first few nights because we felt like we were staying at an older relatives home. Kind of wacky.

OK, now what should I do with it?

*these photos were taken PRE-move in

LA Bound

 

In less than 10 days, we'll load up everything we've accumulated in San Diego over the past 5 years and u-hauling it to Los Angeles.  This is a move that we've talked about ad nauseum since we came to California in 2005 and I can't believe we're finally making the leap. 2011 = the year of the leap.  We found an amazing loft-y apartment with dark hardwood floors and huge windows in Eagle Rock.  No more box-y apartments with no hallways, no more carpet, no more dank and dark cave dwelling.  I go to sleep at night dreaming of brand new floor plans and furniture configurations.  Money is sure going to be tight for awhile considering the increase in rent and cost of living in general.  But I still fantasize about what our new dream life is going to look like.  I hate the process of moving but I love the idea of being able to start a-fresh and create the living space and living style that you've always wanted.  Our little bohemian artist lovenest full of tapestry and texture, leather and lace.  Joining a community garden, going to art shows, feasting with neighbors.  These are things that flutter around my brain everytime I pack dusty records into crates.  Of course, I usually end up going back to my same routine of work all day, clean, TV, sleep, repeat but the vision of a new life gets me through the transition process.  Thank goodness for Pinterest* which can satisfy my need for daydreaming and categorizing pretty pictures.  I started collecting dream home photos long before we had handed over our deposit and I can't wait to start actually using some of this inspiration for real life decorating schemes. 

{via Lonny Mag}

 

{by Carlota Santamaria}

 {via bash, please}

*I have some invites left if you want to get on the pinning train express

hi.

hi.

{sheepish lopesided grin}

sooooo.  it's been awhile. it's totally my fault i know.  i'm sorry.  there's just been a lot of stuff going on in my life and you know how time has a way of getting away from you.

but i've thought about you every day.  i hope you know that.

so what's new?

oh me?

i quit my job, started my own biz and now i'm moving to LA.  yeah that dreamy place in the sky that we've always talked about moving to but never mustered up the strength to actually go?  well, we're going.  like in two weeks.  we have a house...an amazing house with hardwood floors and stairs...STAIRS!...like a real home and citrus trees and a loft.  things are going to be totally different and i think i'm gonna love it. 

it's so crazy how when you make a decision about how you want your life to be and then you just leap.  like just make the biggest change in your life ever.  how it all ends up working out so much better than you ever imagined it.  like this is what you were supposed to do the entire time and you just let your silly worries and fears hold you back.  when in fact there was this net to like save you.  and it all ends up working out somehow in the end. 

i'll be back. i promise.

xo.