The Rain Has Come

No, I'm not being vague about a hard time or struggle in my life, rainy weather has actually made an appearance in California! You know how I feel about the rain, so I could not be more excited than I have been the last 24 hours. Steady rain fall, gusty winds, falling leaves, ahhh! The whole thing is just perfect. You know what's even better? Since I'm no longer living in a cube, I get a front row view to nature's show. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate being able to see the outside world so often in a given hour; it really has lifted my spirits.

How do you feel about the rain? Some friends posted on my Facebook page that they love to take walks in the rain or snuggle up with a blanket or a book. What is your favorite rainy day activity? I'd love to hear!

Weekend Adventures

What are you up to this weekend? Rob and I are headed north this evening to a little place called San Francisco. Every year we spend a weekend in SF with his parents, either for his dad's birthday or just for fun. On Saturday, Kim (my MIL), some family friends, and I will be seeing the Lion King Broadway show. I've never seen it, but have heard absolutely amazing things about it. Rob and Chuck (my FIL) are totally skipping and are likely to see a movie.

The weather is supposed to be cold and rainy. Usually that would excite me, but we are probably going to be spending considerably amounts of time outside... but who cares?! It'll be fun to bust out some winter wear.

Do you have anything fun planned for this weekend? 
(Photo taken in San Francisco in 2011)

Daydreaming

Our first rain (technically second) of the season has come! The cool temperatures, wet pavement, and crisp air have me daydreaming of this scene...

Wouldn't you love to explore a city all day and then cuddle up with a blanket and book while listening to a storm rage outside?

Happy Weekend Friends!

I think I'm getting sick. My brain has been in a fog and I'm waking up with a sore throat. :( It probably has something to do with the crazy weather California has been having (80+ degrees yesterday with rain forecasted next week).

Anyway, there's not much slowing down in my future! I'll be working this weekend, spending some time with family, and deep cleaning the house.

What do you have planned? 
(Photo taken in Ireland in 2011)

Looks Like Summer Decided To Hang Out For a Bit

Remember when I said that Summer was almost over? Well, that sure backfired. It has been absolutely hot as blazes here. I'm talking almost 100 degrees! In October! Yuck! I know this sounds completely hypocritical since I was so bummed about it ending just a week ago, but I have a small window of tolerance for heat. I sit comfortably between 65-77 degrees; anything above 82 and I start to wilt like a fragile flower in July. To make matters worse, my awesome car only has organic air conditioning (read: my AC doesn't work and I have to roll with the windows down!) + I live in an area with LOTS of slow moving traffic. Ugh.

Welp, enough with this pity party, I've got to go stand in front of the fridge! 

P.S. While this photo is plenty embarrassing, I feel it accurately represents my wilted flower analogy. Look at that flushed skin and drooping eyes. I melt (and not in the "that baby is so cute" or "Ryan Reynolds has his shirt off" kind of way). 
(Taken in Florence in 2012)

The End of Summer is Near...

I am usually a dedicated winter person; I absolutely LOVE when it rains, hot chocolate is a staple for me, and cozying up next to a fire with my guy sounds like a dream. That's why this September has been so weird for me. I am not ready for summer to end and I feel like I have been mourning the loss of long, sun-filled days. I've even found myself feeling sad about warm weather outfits I didn't get much use out of this year! Say what?! I know, it's odd for me to miss summer before it's gone, especially because I'm usually trying to push it out faster than it would leave on it's own.

I think my attitude started shifting when I began working in an office. Back in the day (when I did nails), I had a glimpse of the outside world multiple times an hour. These days, I can go 2-3 hours before even taking a peak outside. Plus, it's kind of a bummer to start work in the dark and leave work in the dark. I don't know how people closer to the poles do it; Finland gets 23 hours of darkness a day in the middle of winter (yikes)!

I don't think that the office is to blame in this situation, I think it's just a part of life to work regular business hours. Saying that, I can acknowledge my appreciation for extended sunlight that working in a cube has given me. Being able to eat dinner outside well after work has finished, or taking extended strolls through the neighborhood are activities I enjoy and will miss as the sun sneaks away earlier and earlier. Fortunately for me, winter storms and hot chocolate wait for me on the other side...

Are you in an office most of the day? How do you deal with restricted outdoor access?
(Photos: #1 - Lunch at Little Chef, #2 - Zoey sunbathing in the backyard, #3 - Strolling & dinner with friends!)

Moonrise Kingdom

In an effort to beat the heat, Robbie and I headed indoors this past weekend and saw the new Wes Anderson film, Moonrise Kingdom. I had no expectations going in other than watching a film in classic Wes Anderson style; I didn't know anything about the plot and I hadn't even seen any previews. I haven't always been to biggest Wes Anderson fan, but I was blown away by this film. Moonrise Kingdom is so beautifully executed, I even enjoyed watching the credits at the end. I highly recommend seeing this one, so be sure to visit the interactive website and check your local listings for movie times.

Have you seen Moonrise Kingdom? What did you think? Are you planning on catching it while its in theaters? 

p.s. I didn't include the trailer because I think it gives too much away :)

Summer is Coming

Since I'm out of school, I no longer rely on the usual time markers (i.e. mid-terms, Spring Break, finals, etc.) to remind me where I am throughout the year. One could probably argue since that I don't have an actual summer or winter break, then I don't need those time markers. Saying that, it's still fun to notice when the seasons are changing. This past weekend was that for me. The weather was beautiful, we had friends over for a BBQ, and the windows in my house were open throughout the evenings. It was a sure sign that summer is ahead!

What was the weather like where you are?
(Photo taken in Maui in 2010)

Baby, It's Cold Outside

As a teen, I was a major advocate for using the heater. My bestfriend's dad never kept their house above 65 degrees and told me to grab a blanket or sweater whenever I complained. I thought he was being completely irrational, not to mention a bit scroogey with his PG&E bill. I didn't fully understand his thought process until I moved into my own single-family home.

Apartments are great for heating because they are usually small and can warm up quickly. Heating an entire house, on the other hand, is a different beast entirely. It takes at least twice as long and costs much more than that. Even though there are times when I feel like I am freezing, I can't bring myself to turn on the heater.

My stubbornness reached a low point two years ago. It was our first winter in the house and I was worried about how high our bill would be. I convinced our roommates to "play a game" to see how long we could last without turning on the heater. We decided 55 degrees would be the breaking point. Yes, 55 degrees. I don't know what I was thinking convincing others to live like that; the air was so cold in the morning that it was actually painful to change! The final straw came when our roommate, Jenna, woke up extra early and swore she saw her breathe. She went to check the thermostat to confirm it was 55 degrees, and it read 49! Can you believe it?! 49 degrees inside our house; that is absurd.

I have since learned my lesson and we now have the heater set on a timer to come on in the morning. I continue find myself battling irrational thoughts of how "it's really not that cold" or "one more blanket won't hurt", and every time I do, I'm reminded of my bestfriend's dad. This thought makes me laugh because I have turned into him completely.

How low are you willing to keep your thermostat? 
(Photos: one and two)

It's Raining!

How is your Sunday going so far? A storm rolled in last night and has been dumping a fair amount of rain on this California girl. I have to admit that I absolutely love the rain! Maybe it's because I've grown up in a wonderfully sunny state that has amazing weather pretty much year-round, but I just love a good winter storm. It makes me want to bundle up and relax.

What do you do on rainy days? I hope you stay dry and warm!

Have a Cozy Weekend!

The temperatures have been dropping and it is raining today. This is my favorite kind of weather. I love the crisp air, the changing colors, and the raindrops on my windows. I love how clean the air is after a heavy rain; it's as though the world has a fresh start, a clean slate.

I'm looking forward to enjoying the weather this weekend. However, I am sick. It's a mixture of head congestion and sore throat, with added head throbbing. Luckily the weather could not be more perfect. I'm planning on keeping things a bit low-key this weekend so that I can will the sickness out!

Will you be doing anything fun this weekend? What will the weather be like for you?

(Photo: browndresswithwhitedors.tumblr)

Fall is Here!

Just a couple of weeks ago, I wrote about how California seemed to be missing out on some pretty great Fall weather. Well, in the high likelihood of jumping the gun... Fall is here! We received our first rain, the temperatures are predicted to be below 70 degrees, and people are starting to wear scarves! I don't want to let myself get too excited because there is still a part of me that thinks the warm weather will return for a final hooray, BUT I'm not going to let that stop me from ordering a delicious hot chocolate on my way to work in the morning...

Do you enjoy to Fall season? Is there a special drink or treat that you reserve for this time of year?

Fall is Coming! I Think...

Rumor has it that Fall is upon us.  Unfortunately, this is not the case for California quite yet.  Temperatures hit the 80's yesterday and are trending upward the rest of the week.  It looks like summer is going to give us a final hooray before it says goodbye.

When Summer decides to finally hang it's hat and say goodbye for a couple of months, I'll be ready with my scarf, rain boots, and nice warm cup of hot chocolate!  Until then, my plan is to soak up what is left of the summer sun.

Do you have any tips to beat the end of season heat?  Do you feel like the weather keeps playing a joke on us?

(Photo courtesy of suziebeezie.tumbler.com)