Time

There comes a time when you need to step away from certain things in order to be able to get other things accomplished. While I love being able to write here for all of you as much as I can, it's kind of fallen to the wayside in light of my new job and launching our business. Don't fret, I'm not going anywhere. I guess what I'm trying to do is say, things may be a little slow around these parts for awhile.

Having never had a full-time job, and never any real commutes to worry about (30 minutes each way!)... I'm still adjusting to my new schedule and trying to prioritize my time as best I can. Don't get me wrong; I'm happier than ever. It's just, sleep has become a huge priority, and so has spending time with Peter and getting our photography stuff done. Some days, I'm up after 5 hours of sleep, at work for nine or ten hours, and when I get home, my brain is mush. All of my mental capacities then go to being with Peter, and anything left over from that is spent on our site.

I am still reading your blogs. Probably more than you think. When I have to eat lunch at my desk, you better believe I'm catching up and commenting as much as I can, because you all make my day that much better. I just can't seem to find the time to sit down and write about what is going on. I wish I could, but sometimes, it feels better to curl up on the couch and watch TV.

I absolutely love blogging. And I wish I could post as much as some of you do (whom I am sure, aren't any less busy than myself!) But I think, when it comes down to it, I have to be selfish. I have to think of my well being, and blogging at 11:30 p.m. isn't going to yield pretty results the next day. I will try to blog as much as I can. Who knows, maybe you won't even notice a difference, since my posts seem to have been so scattered lately.

To fill you in briefly: Our site is almost up. We're figuring out all of the Wordpress kinks (and trust me, there are a lot!) My job is wonderful; and I love pretty much every aspect of it. Peter and I are thinking of moving closer to where I work, if everything works out. So, that's what's new. I update Twitter quite often, so you can follow along here and here.

I promise to follow along on all of your adventures. I'm hoping I can be back to regular posting soon. Until then, feel free to email me!

Xox

Happy Friday!

Life's been pretty crazy lately! I've started my new job as an Editorial Assistant at a publishing company and it's so much fun so far. I absolutely love it. Also, our wedding photography site launches this Tuesday! Eeeek! To say I've been busy is an understatement. How is everything with you guys? Hopefully I'll be back this weekend with more details on life lately. Until then, you can check out my post here for Joelle's Happy Hour today!

Xox

2 years

Tomorrow marks two years since Peter and I started dating. Not only has it been the best two years of my life, but I am so excited to spend 20, 50, even 100 years more together if we live that long!

Today I raise my glass to my best friend. My confidant. My rock.

From the year we met <3

Have you read our story yet? If not, you can read it here.

(There are 5 parts but there are links to each of them)

My Workday Essentials

I start my new job on Monday and I've been eagerly getting everything together so that my first week isn't too hectic. Today I checked off tons of things off of a giant To Do list and I'm feeling much better. Everyone has their own list of work must haves to get through a long day. Here's mine:

1. A big tote bag to carry everything I'll need in a day. On most days, I'm probably carrying a lunch bag too, since I tend to pack lunches rather than buy lunches. If I know I'm going out that night, I'll throw in a pair of pumps and jeans. 

2. Compact powder to keep in my big tote bag. To touch up throughout the day. In the winter months, I carry a facial mist because my skin gets really dry!

3. A healthy, light lunch. I've had my share of falling asleep at work after a heavy lunch meal. Nowadays, I prefer something lighter and with a lot of nutritional value, to keep my energy up all day long. 

4. Lip balm. Or chapstick, lip gloss, whatever you prefer. I love using this Korres lip butter, because it stays on for hours, it has a very light tint, and I can use it on my cheeks too for a quick pick me up.

5. A planner. This one is a given. This Kate Spade one is adorable!

6. Snackies. I tend to eat small meals more frequently when I'm working full-time. Instead of one, giant meal at noon, I like to spread it out to make sure I don't crash from a food coma. I love lara bars and fruit for snacks.  

7. A cute coffee mug. I always find that I need a second cup of coffee around 10am. And this mug would definitely brighten up my cubicle!

8. Comfy shoes. I really want to think that I can break in some heels to wear to work, but in the past I've always reverted back into flats. I'm 5'9, so on top of feeling like a giant in heels, my feet end up killing me after a long day, no matter how comfy they feel at first. I bought these flats on sale at Banana Republic yesterday and wore them all around town without complaint. Investing in a comfy pair of flats (or heels, if you prefer) can make your day so much easier. 

9. Along with owning comfy shoes, no matter how comfy they may seem, a long day of running around to meetings is going to kill all feet. So I always line shoes with insoles, especially when I know I'm going to be walking/standing for long periods of time. You have no idea how much these little insoles saved my feet when I was a teacher. 

10. A comfy cardigan. Offices can be chilly, and I especially tend to get cold easily. So no matter how hot it is outside, you better believe they'll blast that AC and you'll be freezing indoors. 

11. Hand cream. Especially in an office setting, when you're constantly shaking hands, handling things, and touching different door handles/files/whatever, you wash your hands more (or at least I do). My hands get dry easily so I always keep some hand cream at my desk. 

What are your work essentials? Please share!

A Weighty Issue

Because I love her and I think she's absolutely perfect!

Things are getting all sorts of serious on this blog recently! That's ok with me, especially since after my last post, and after some amazing emails that I got from lovely readers, I feel a little better about sharing so much on here. I've never really held back on here before, per se, but I definitely never went out of my way to share things that are near and dear to my heart, like on my last post. Most of the time, I write about light and fluffy things, like wedding photography, food, vacation, etc. But one thing has been really bugging me since I moved to L.A. The issue of body image. 

Let me preface this by saying that I am about as close to 100% comfortable in my own body as a girl can get. Yes, I do not have a perfect body, but I do take care of it by eating right (most of the time) and (trying my hardest) to exercise. I am neither underweight nor overweight, therefore making me "normal;" but what is normal, really?

I was lucky in that my parents were wonderful at boosting my confidence growing up. I pretty much skipped the awkward, self-conscious stage of adolescence, and blossomed right into my 20's without any body issues. I had my moments, but they were fleeting. I had friends who blatantly threw up after meals, starved themselves, and took diet pills like candy. But I was lucky enough to bypass that, and to know how unhealthy it was. I was an active child, and that continued into my teenage years. I was always doing some sport or another, and most of my friends were fantastic about motivating me to keep active, in a healthy way. 

I guess my issue is with the concept of weight in Los Angeles, or just Southern California in general. Not to say that other parts of the country (and world) avoid these issues, but it seems to be much more prominent here in the land of plastic surgery and celebrities who are a size 0. I was never really conscious of the fact that I wasn't normal, in regards to the standard here. Until I moved here. 

When I lived in San Francisco, I never once thought about ordering a salad instead of the sandwich, or asking the waiter to take half of my entrée immediately and put it in a doggie bag. Like I said, I eat healthy probably about 97% of the time, and portion control tends to be easy for me. I'll reiterate that for 23 years of my life, I survived just fine eating an occasional cheeseburger or taco. 

There seems to be a very strange sub-culture here, of people who are completely obsessed with how they look. In any given restaurant on any given day in L.A., you will not see a girl eating a burger. Or if you do, it's rare. In the dressing room, I've overheard two grown women high five each other because they both (after an 8-day juice fast), fit into a 00. At Starbucks, they always ask me if I want sugar-free or nonfat. No, thank you. 

It's a sad day when a beautiful person like Marion Coutillard is airbrushed beyond recognition at the intersection of Sunset and Vine. Or when I see someone like Christina Hendricks being called fat, unhealthy, obese. It's times like these that I think... only in L.A.

I had my very first actual meltdown over how I look, here. At 24, with no previous issues, I felt like I wasn't good enough; pretty enough; skinny enough. Those thoughts never entered my mind until I moved down here. Again, the thoughts were fleeting, but it was foreign to me to feel so down on myself and my body image.

I can only imagine how other people are, who weren't as lucky as me, and the thoughts that go through their heads. It really makes me sad, because we only have one life to live, to the fullest. And worrying about how I look all of the time doesn't sound very fun. I'd much rather spend my time living, because when I'm 85, I can guarantee, I will not remember those five founds that I gained while in Europe or the fact that I didn't look like Kate Bosworth. There are more important things to worry about, and I wish more people would understand that. 

I guess I'm writing this to anyone who may feel, from watching movies and reading magazines with perfect women with perfect bodies, that no, that's not normal. And I'm not touting obesity either; either extreme is obviously unhealthy. But it really kills me when I see a 7-year-old put on a 500 calorie-a-day diet when she's not even overweight. (And yes, I actually know of a family who does this. Isn't that awful?) It's not right. And I guess I'm here to tell you that you are beautiful. And that no one looks as good as an airbrushed model. 

I'll end this post with this quote, which I think applies to everyone. 

{1, 2, 3, 4}

Secrets

Yesterday, one of my favorites, Joelle, had a post about secrets. I thought it was a good idea to get personal up on here; especially since the last 10 posts or so have been photography related. As someone who puts her whole life on display on this blog, there are a lot of things I haven't really shared with y'all. I think a lot of times, we strive to have the "perfect" lives to display on our blogs, but most of the time, real life isn't perfect. I'm certainly not perfect. No one is. So, here you go; five secrets from yours truly.

1. I'm still not sure I want to have kids. Of course I love kids. Other people's kids. And I'm actually a very maternal person naturally... I just don't really know if I want kids. There isn't a specific reason, and I feel bad for saying it, especially when so many people try so hard to have just one child, due to infertility and such. But it's such a huge responsibility. I'm still undecided. 

2. I talk up Los Angeles on my twitter, blog, and Facebook a lot but... I really miss San Francisco. Sometimes I cry about how much I miss the city. L.A. has it's good qualities, and I know we're here for a reason, but sometimes I want to pack up and move back up north. Luckily, I know we probably won't stay here forever, and one day we can move back. Until then, I just have to make the best of it!

3. I almost taught abroad in Germany, but decided to stay in the U.S. because I fell in love with Peter. Yep, I was the cliché girl who decided, at the last minute, to stay in San Francisco with Peter instead of taking a teaching job in Germany. We began dating about three months before I was supposed to leave, and I felt weak for deciding to stay, but oh my gosh I'm so glad I did. I don't regret it at all. 

4. I'm kind of a jealous girlfriend. Not the I-prohibit-you-from-seeing-her kind, but I do have my moments. Peter grew up with two sisters, and the majority of his friends are female. It's the only thing we fight about. I'm working on it! (Did you guys see Joanna's post yesterday? That's what got me thinking about this.)

5. I have to force myself to exercise. If you follow me on twitter, sometimes you'll see the, "Had a great run this morning!" tweet. No. It was not a great run. There are no great runs. At least not for me. But I don't diet, so realistically, I need to do some cardio if I'm going to stay healthy. (Trust me, I'd much rather do some yoga and meditation any day.) It's getting easier, and maybe I haven't found my niche yet.

Do you guys have secrets? (That's a stupid question; everyone has secrets; but do you guys have any secrets you want to share here? Post anonymously to your hearts content!)