Summer Checklist

With one of my favorite seasons kicking off this weekend, I thought it would be a perfect time to compile a summer to-do list. Here are some of the activities I can't wait to dive into in the coming months.

• Road trip through Big Sur with my sister
• Try out all the awesome Yoga studios in my backyard in Santa Monica (Bhakti Yoga Shala, Bryan Kest's Power Yoga, The Yoga Collective, Hot 8, and Yogis Anonymous to name a few)
• See a spooky movie at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery (Ok so I got a head start and actually accomplished this one this past weekend. It was awesome! Silence of the Lambs at a creepy cemetery with a picnic and wine?!? I'll be going back again before summers end)
• Frequent the farmers market and cook with seasonal produce
• Go beach camping (and try surfing or stand-up paddle boarding)
• Hike. A lot
• Wine tasting in Malibu
• Visit my friends in San Diego for a weekend
• Host a Sunday Brunch complete with Mimosas
• Check out the Rose Bowl Flea Market
• Go to concerts in the park at one of  these awesome venues
• Visit MOCA, the Getty, LACMA, and the Griffith Observatory
• Expand my herb garden to include some veggies and fruit

images via

Life Lately.. According to my iPhone

Life's been awesomely busy ... here are some pictures to show for it.

 "Chakra" jello shots from our yoga teacher training potluck

 Im a certified yoga instructor now!!!

 Thats me .. happy.. at Coachella

 I've been reading outside on my lunchbreaks..

and making friends with critters like this guy and a praying mantis or two

 My Easter Sunday was spent right here. It was perfect

 I've been eating pretty clean and feeling amazing as a result.

I enjoy putting energy into preparing good fuel for my body.

This was home made tuna salad in butter leaf letuce wraps

Greek yogurt, flaxseeds, granola, and a little honey.

 I'm addicted to these little treasures from Trader Joes.

 I bought a mint plant (and rosemary and thyme).

And now I have extra refreshing ice cubes for cocktails.

Mojito anyone?

Radiohead at Coachella. I love them. I love Thom Yorke. They were so good live

"Almost Stuffed" Bell Peppers  

Ground turkey, onions, garlic, peppers, tomatoes, brown rice, and a lot more Italian seasoning than the recipe calls for.  

I'll make this one again for sure



Yoga Teacher Training

Hello Blogland!! I've missed you! I've thrown myself into all things yoga the last couple months as I'm going through my teacher training program and I'm so enjoying it. I've been feeling more introspective lately as I've been experimenting with changes in my lifestyle, so my appologies for my silence. As of late I've tried a juice cleanse (I plan to share more about this), dabbled in vegetarianism, enjoyed nightly reading, occasional meditation, and of course lots of studying on my lunch breaks. It's been so fulfilling to feel really inspired and passionate about what I'm doing and I feel like I'm on the path to making yoga more of a lifestyle and potential career and not just a hobby or a way to stay fit. I've found a lot of peace in the yogi concept of non-attachment; to our expectations, material wants, habits, false identities, and essentially anything that doesn't serve us. I can't wait to share more, but for now I need to study, so I'll leave you with some images I've saved from the one and only Pinterest

New York, New York!

photo credit

Tonight I'm taking a red-eye to this magical city. Its been a little over 3 years since my last visit to NYC, and browsing pictures on pinterest just got me extra excited. I can't wait for the sights, the food, the people, the energy, and even the cold weather. Hope you all have an awesome weekend! Follow me on instagram @hi_im_jess for the weekend pictures!

Thank You 2011/Hello 2012!!

The holidays came and went in a festive blaze, as they always do, and here we are at the beginning of 2012. I like to think that I'm always working on growing and figuring out ways to be the best version of myself, but I always love the energy and momentum that presents itself on January 1st with new years resolutions. I have several intentions for the new year that I'm excited to share and hold myself accountable for, but first it seems appropriate to acknowledge what a great year 2011 was. For starters- I feel like I'm the healthiest and fittest I've been possibly ever and I owe that largely to my newly discovered regular yoga practice and (mostly) healthy eating habits. Secondly, my life is filled with people I love and adore and they reciprocate that and have supported me in many ways. Third, my job has been going really well and after over 2 years with the company I feel very content and appreciated in my position and there is talk of a promotion in the near future. Last year I was also finally able to move to an area that I love with a roommate who's been awesome! To top it all off, I was able to do so much traveling last year which is always so fulfilling and exciting for me. I've been so grateful for the wonderful gentleman in my life who appreciates me and misses me when he's away for work and always makes time for me to come and visit. So basically, I'm super excited about 2012 because I know it will be as good or better than 2011 and I can't wait to see what's in store! Here's a little 2011 recap of some of my favorite snapshots from January through December.

January: Beach hiking in San Luis

February: Random shot of my sweet kitty

March: Sipping cocktails at a friend's gorgeous wedding

April: Scenic snapshot from the drive up to Paso Robles for work

(a trip that was made many times in 2011)


May: Red Rocks in Denver, CO (bucket list check)

June: Fun with mustaches at another awesome wedding

July: A very patriotic Independence day weekend spent in Texas

August: Moving fun and apartment decorating

September: A fabulous Labor Day Weekend in South Beach

October: Some of the girls and I in Newport Beach

November: My first authentic cheesesteak in Philly

December: My Sister, Mom, and I on Christmas

Lately...

...I've been traveling a lot. Dallas, Philadelphia, and Austin. They were all awesome
...I can't get enough of Trader Joe's turkey meatballs
...Work has been going really well, and I'm thrilled to say I've been enjoying my job
...I've been trying to crack down on studying the real estate stuff (my apologies for my absence on here)
...Sausage, egg, and cheese hotpockets are my guilty pleasure
...I've been grateful for my roommate and our long chats
...The combination of yoga and kickboxing has me feeling like a million bucks
...Bon Iver and Naked and Famous are on frequent rotation on my Pandora
...I drink a lot of hot tea... green, white, rooibos, herbal... I'm an equal opportunist really
...TV doesn't appeal to me much
...My favorite alcoholic beverage is Jameson + Ginger
...Mastin's The Daily Love is always a treat that I really look forward to reading everyday
...I try not to spend too much time on facebook. It gives me anxiety
...I've been frequenting the Brentwood Farmers Market on Sundays
...My bucket list and 2012 resolutions have been under construction
...I eat spinach everyday. And I love it. And I think I have my Dad to thank for that (still addicted to this of course)
...I've missed my blog, and plan to write on here more

 What a treat it was to get a glimpse of fall on the east coast

A very relaxing sunset over Lake Austin before heading to the airport to come home

 

Training

As an LA resident, I spend a lot of time driving sitting in traffic. This past Sunday, I decided to take the train for a quick visit up to San Luis Obispo to visit my sister. My experience was quite lovely. Not only did I catch gorgeous ocean sunsets on the way there and back, but I also got to chat with friendly travelers and catch up on some blog and magazine reading. Public transit = Success.

(Elle, coconut water, and Toms.. what more do I need?)

In My Life

Have I mentioned that this is one of my favorite songs ever? Well it is. It's beautiful and it makes me cry. In a good way. And oh boy do I love me some Dave Matthews I stumbled across searched for this version because I wanted to hear it and share it with you. Enjoy.

Chelsea and Liz and Chuck, Oh My!

While packing up my life for my move (bittersweet, indeed) I’m discovering that I’m possibly most neurotic about the safety of my books in the midst of all the shuffling. Are they boxed properly as to not get creased, or bent, or ripped?? What if something spills on them and they get watermarks?? It’s pretty funny actually because they are technically replaceable, yet so special to me in sentiment that I forget that I could easily get a new copy of any lost or damaged books.

Reading for 'pleasure' is really something I've come to enjoy more the last couple of years. I found that while I was in school, I could never finish the books I picked up since I usually ended up feeling guilty because there was always something I should have been studying for my classes. Some of these gems have been gifted, some were bought, some were loaned (and never returned...woops!), but regardless they are all sort of like friends that have taught me something, or shared a story, or provided a new perspective or just a good laugh. Below are some of my favorites, in no particular order. What are yours?

Just Because

Yesterday a very special someone had beautifulllll flowers delivered to my work. Just because. The gesture made me feel like a million bucks and totally took me by surprise. The gorgeous arrangement of roses, lilys, daisys, and more instantly brightened my day (and my workspace). Feelin happy :)

Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open.

- John Barrymore