blooming

Flowers, from the one you love, for absolutely no reason could brighten any day!
Just the other day I was wishing (to myself) that he was the kind of boy that gave flowers just because -- and then I realized that HE IS the kind of boy that gives flowers just because!

We are 2 weeks away from moving into our new house and I am learning new things about him everyday. What an exciting time in life <3

"Longevity" eh?

The "greenest" way to start the greenest (Earth) day?..
Green Drink.

Yesterday, I spent the most amount of time in my entire life in the produce department searching for things i have never even heard of, only to spend the most amount of money in my entire life on the produce i have never even heard of.

But I believe it was money very well spent.

The Green Drink concoction started early this morning. Me cutting and measuring things and Jon forcefully stuffing them into the blender. I was a little hesitant-- as I am with most things but the sight of Jon (literally) chugging the Green Drink made me dive right in.


And as I read in a few blogs it really did taste like "salad in a glass". Not too bad!!

The effects were instant.

I am a habitual coffee drinker. I gave up on limiting my coffee intake to only the weekdays a few months ago. And I am now a 1-3 cup of black coffee kinda girl. So as the word "habit" implies-- i arrived at work and poured my first cup, took a sip..... ..
and that is where that cup of coffee sat all day. I was so energized by what must have been the Dr. Fuhrman's Miracle Green Drink that i needed not the caffeine induced boost today!

And more importantly I felt a little smarter today. a little braver. As i told my co-worker Sarah -- " I don't know if the World could handle me on the Green Drink everyday." :D

Gettin' Grown

For the first time in my life i can actually feel my growing pains.
The pains of gettin' grown.

I am traveling the path between who i used to be and who i am becoming.
the person i used to be has been naturally easy to let go of and i am quite comfortable letting the person i am becoming move on in.

I am now officially a "morning person". not by choice. But rather because i just get tired early and then my body wakes up early.
(Oh, and all of this is aided by the fact that Jonathan is the happiest ray of sunshine the morning has ever seen). so i too, am coming around to the idea.
For the first time in my life, i actually owed money to the IRS for my income taxes. ! which i am sure is what happens when one is found somewhere between a young adult -- and dare i say -- AN ADULT.

Thoughts that have never crossed my mind have as of late:
Do i belong in the Misses or Ladies section?
Am i too old to wear pig tails?
Could i plant a garden?
Is it inappropriate to have Ugly Dolls, pez dispensers and musical monkeys in my office?

As I wrap up my first year as an internship supervisor or as my interns like to say "Boss" -- i realize that i am no longer "that kid". That hungry kid who couldn't get enough.
And lately i have felt a slip in my creativity... or at least in the way i find it. It is just different than it used to be. Just as with all things -- Gettin' Grown is not easy -- but i am embracing it.

Treasures

I spent a few hours a few Sundays ago sifting through larges piles of old, found, vintage, costume and disregarded by one yet collected by another jewelry. It was a small portion of a large collection from that of Jonathan's late "G Dad" who once mapped the ocean floor in a submarine and "found" over $10,000 in change throughout his lifetime.

I love jewelry but have never really been one to buy a lot of it. My almost-everyday earrings a bridesmaid gift from my sister's wedding, my favorite silver ring a birthday gift from my mother, my Nixon Rotolog an exchange mistake and gift from my friend Tom, and my precious gold cocktail ring a Banana Republic clearance find.

The G Dad finds are truly treasures.

Apple strikes again!

The Apple Magic Mouse is one of my favorite Apple products!
i've had mine for almost 2 months now and just realized how much I love it.

I spent the last 4 years with an ergonomic 3M mouse that worked wonders for my carpal tunnel so I was a little skeptical when making the switch.

The first few days i found the Magic Mouse to be too heavy and hard to keep under control. My carpal tunnel surfaced again for the first time in years. i considered the idea that maybe the Magic Mouse and i were simply not meant to be. but then.. with the "click of a finger" it all changed and became very natural.
i fell in love with my Magic Mouse and i am sure he fell in love with me too :)

Last week, i traded out my Magic for the 3M due to low batteries and i realized how natural the Magic and i had grown to work together. i dearly missed the one finger scrolling and zooming options and found the 3M "cord" cumbersome. So, with fresh batteries locked and loaded in my Magic Mouse i am free to mouse wirelessly, scroll right/left/up and down, shortcut right click and zoom all with the magic touch a my hand!

nixon now.. and again

Nixon -- another brand i have grown faithful to.
Last week I found this watch buried deep within the archives of bracelets, charms, necklaces and rings that i once loved, could never get rid of, but will never wear again..
i instantly remembered that i discontinued the wear of my beloved watch because of a loose clasp. well!, i took the watch to a repair shop immediately -- a new clasp, a new battery, and $27 later -- I have a new watch!

i cant recall exactly what year i got it or where i bought it from but i know i have found love again.

this watch, which apparently is not available anymore, is clearly the coolest women's watch Nixon has made to date. its more like a bracelet than a watch. lightweight and very functional.

time frames and deadlines are a part of my everyday life -- so if i wear a watch it is under constant observation. however, things are different when i wear this watch! -- checking the time is an option requiring a small flip of the face, kinetic movement, to know what time it is. brilliant!

Something really Fantastic

OH! Of course. One of my all time favorite design firms working with my all time favorite film maker. Thats all.

The Making of Fantastic Mr.Fox

"Wes Anderson was closely involved in the book design. He provided Hyland with his starting point, the book Truffaut by Truffaut, and worked in conjunction with the Pentagram team, approving overall structure, layouts and use of font."

Oh to be so lucky.

Dear Wes Anderson,
I have cleared my schedule for the rest of my life in anticipation of working with you on your next film/book design.
Love, The Office of Val Brown

Suite!

Proven. The word "Apartment" ("Apt") can be effectively replaced with "Suite" ("Ste").. and that is SWEET!

Another year... Another Moleskine

i am clearly a creature of habit.
and a loyal consumer to the products i have learned to love.. and quite possibly can not function without.

this time of year is always a challenge. switching from one calendar to another. And with the change of the year comes the awkward few weeks of accidentally writing the wrong year on everything and statements like "this is MY year".
well, if anything is apparent it is that time moves on. and 17 days into the new year i will with much reservation move on from my twenties into my thirties. ..

its hard for me to believe! thirty years into "it" and i am happy. happy to be surrounded by my loved ones. happy to know who my friends are. happy to be successful in my path. and happy to be alive and (almost) 30.

happy sprouts

Well wishes do come true!
I found this little $3 plant during a late night Walgreen's experience. He was happily living in my office making my work day delightful when the Vortex of Negative Evil that sometimes takes over my workplace killed him D:
I arrived to the office one Monday to find my guy sans leaves! ohhh no. I brought him home to my lovely little Boofie Cave (apartment) which is clearly filled with positive energy & "all things that are good", re-potted him and wished him well.

After a month and a half of no signs of life -- I was shocked the other day when i noticed -- SPROUTS! wow.

HAPPY SPROUTS that will not capitulate to the Vortex of Negative Evil... and neither will I!