FRIDAY FAVORITES

                     This adorable baby costume

Pretty Painted Pumpkin inspiration

This quote by one of my favorite authors

NYC fall fashion

This messy ponytail

Happy Friday! I'm writing this post ahead a time, because when you read this I will be in New York, or just barely landing. I am looking forward to exploring this city and sharing my adventures with you. Enjoy your weekend!

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

I've been spending the last few days packing my stuff and preparing for my quick to New York. Honestly, this trip has taken a lot more planning than usual, solely due to the weather. As a Californian who usually travels to warm places or in the summer time, it's easier to pack because I already have the wardrobe for my destinations. However, this Californian does not have many fall or winter clothes, or at least not by East Coast standards.  I realized I only own a handful of sweaters and long sleeve shirts, how sad right? That meant I had to go out and purchase a few things so that I am not freezing during this trip. I know it may seem like I am exaggerating because it's not even snowing yet. But I get cold super easily, and we can blame the conditioning of the warm San Diego weather for that. Below are some goodies I am bringing on my trip:

BIG BEAR LAKE

This weekend I took a quick 24-hour trip up to Big Bear Lake to celebrate a friend's birthday. The San Bernardino Mountain region holds a dear place in my heart. I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but for the first half of the year, I worked around the Lake Arrowhead region. It was sweet gig! I got paid to drive up to the mountains 3x a week and inspect the restaurants, hotels, camps, and lakes. I got to protect the health of the locals and tourists, while soaking in this absolutely breath-taking place. Honestly, working up there made me feel like I was on vacation. Even though I wasn't stationed specifically in the Big Bear area I got trained there and would go there and venture over there on emergency situations. Its been three months since I had trekked up the mountain, and I felt nostalgic being back.

On Saturday morning we hiked up Castle Rock Trail. The trail wasn't that long (approximately 2 miles to the top), but man was I out of breath. The elevation change definitely got the best of me. But I was more excited that I was getting in a good work-out. At the top there wasn't much, just an extremely dangerous rock that you had to climb up. I opted out of climbing up it, due to my extreme clumsiness. But along the way there were many spectacular views of the lake, hence the photo above. The weather was perfect and a great get away from the hot weather in San Diego. I can't believe its October and its almost 100F degrees outside. I am dying for fall weather, please please hurry!

In addition to hiking we also rented a boat and went fishing on the lake. I've been fishing a lot lately, and I like it a lot. Its kind of weird that as a city girl I enjoy fishing. My brother who lives in Dallas would be proud of me (he is the epitome of a Texan). Unfortunately, I did not catch anything which I was bummed about. Regardless, I got to sip champagne, walk around the village, go to the brewery, and watch Netflix movies while crafting all while in great company. It was a perfect and relaxing weekend. Were all planning on heading back in the winter and doing some snowboarding!

OCTOBER GOALS

I am VERY excited for October for the simple fact that I already have a bunch of cool plans lined up. I guess this shouldn't be a goals post, but a "What I am doing this Month" post. Whatever, its all good. So excited to welcome fall and sweater weather.

1) NEW YORK CITY-Yes! I am heading to New York City mid-October to visit a dear dear friend of mind that just moved there to attend NYU. I've been to New York once before, and that was like eight years ago. I honestly don't remember that much. I just remember being in love with the buzz of this city. In fact I wanted to go to NYU after high school, but my parents wouldn't let me. So I settled on going to the school furthest away from home but still in California, hence how I ended up in San Diego. I am kind of even thinking of relocating to NYC in the next few years (but shhh don't tell anyone). I am just so excited for this trip! Countdown: 16 more days!

2) BIG BEAR-Another mini get-away for a friend's bday. I love being in the mountains and I am looking forward to spending some quality time with some quality people. Can't wait to spend this weekend fishing, hiking, crafting, and smiling from ear to ear.

3) PUMPKIN PAINTING PARTY-I am nervous over the fact that I am hosting my first party in maybe four years. Even though the idea of planning parties and decorating seems amazing, I am not the hosting type. Some people are naturals at it, me not so much. Regardless, I am excited to host a little get together at my house and put my pinterest skills to the test.

4) SPOOKTACULAR 10K RUN-Time to get back into running and racing. I think there is no better way to do this then by running in a costume! I have no goals for this run, but just to get my groove back in terms of running and earn a pretty medal in the meantime :)

What are your goals for October?

RETURN OF THE MACK

I'm back as a newly 25 year old.

A few days ago I celebrated my 25th birthday. It wasn't anything particularly special, but it was nice. I actually strongly dislike celebrating my own birthday, because I've always had the most lame birthdays in the past. For this reason I refuse to have expectations or make big plans. The actual day of my birthday I had to work, which was fine. I wouldn't have had anything to do if I was off work anyways. But I flew home and spent the rest of the weekend in the Bay Area with friends and family. I didn't do anything unique, but did get treated to breakfast and lunch which was great.

I had convinced myself that I was not having a quarter-life crisis. But with time I realized, I was indeed having a quarter life crisis, just in a more subtle manner. I think most people have a crisis of some sort because they don't have their shit together. But thats opposite for me. I have my shit together. I have a great career using my degree. I make decent money and live comfortably. I know a lot of people my age would kill to be in my shoes. But even with all these amazing blessings my heart desires other things. I wish to be traveling, meeting new people, seeing new sights, getting my hands dirty in a non-profit, or using my creativity to produce some beautiful.  It kind of freaks me out that I am not doing these things. 

This past month I piled too much on my plate, and for once my life felt overwhelming. With the loss of friends (and someone I considered my one true love) to new and distance cities I told myself the best way to live was to keep myself completely engaged at all times. It got to the point where I had some type of activity planned out every. single. day. At first it seemed like a great idea, but living that type of lifestyle became tiring. I almost didn't have time to do the most basic things like laundry or enjoying a glass of wine while eating pizza and watching trashy reality TV on Hulu. Lets be real, those things matter! We all need some down time to unwind. 

So I dropped out of some activities and started saying no to invites.  And now I feel like I can breath a lot easier. I mean I still feel like I am juggling a lot, but its more manageable now. I am excited and ready to pick up blogging again. Most importantly, I am ready to give it a lot more effort than before. 

 Here is to 25 treating me right!

HAPPY SEPTEMBER

 

I'm still feeling the funk you guys. Everyday is kind of different, some good and some bad. I feel like I am getting the bunt of everything at work, its honestly like a roller coaster. Most days at work I am bored! Yes, two months in and I am bored out of my mind. I never have anything to do! On a good day I'll have 4 hours worth of work, but then I still have a half day of nothing but to read the same shit over and over again. Now imagine doing that 5 days a week! And there are moments at work when I am stressed out or put on the spot. Thankfully those moments don't last very long, but still. To be bored all day and then have your blood pressure spike. Maybe, I am overreacting a little bit. I am just a natural worrier and when I am put on the spot I want to do well.

But honestly when I spend the day at work not doing anything, it kills me. I could be doing something more productive--running, working out, writing my book, anything besides staring at a screen for hours on end.

The book writing is going well. Hard work. But well.  There are times when the words flow so easily, and other times where I have no idea where to go next. The first few weeks I was focused on making everything sound really well. So the first two chapters are excellent. But then I got impatient, and I didn't want to loose the ideas I had in my head. So now I am just cranking away and writing as many chapters as I can. I thought I'd at least get the main plot going and finish the story and then go back in and fill in everything else. The last part would be touching it up and making it sound nice. I honestly wish I hard more time to write. Its all I want to do right now, but I have Spanish classes 2x and now Dodgeball on Wednesdays.  That doesn't leave much time during the week, plus I am training for my 10k next month. My best writing is done on the weekends. I head to the coffee shop on the corner early in the morning and stay there for half the day. I get a lot done. Ultimate goal is October to have the whole first book done. I'm shooting at about 60k-65k words.

My September goals are not to focus too much on my birthday (its honestly always a flop), to run my little heart out in preparation for the halloween 10k, and to write write write!

UNCONTENT

Life is draining me lately.  Even though everything appears right on the outside, it just doesn't feel right at all. Lets start with my new job. I've been wanting this job forever and thought it would be a life saver in terms of my happiness. And let me first say I am completely blessed to have this position. But this job is draining me! Not in the way that I am completely stressed out and in over my head, but quite the opposite. I am completely bored and unproductive!  Most of the time I am completely bored, and have absolutely nothing to do. Out of my 8 hour work day I average only 2-4 hours where I actually have work to do. The rest of the day I have to make-up work for myself to do by reading, and reading, and reading over again. Do you know how hard it is to read the same thing over again every day for 2 months straight? Its brutal. It's killing me being so bored and unproductive to the point where I just feel like my soul is being sucked out of me. 

I also miss traveling so very much. Its been a dream of mine to travel more, and I have been doing more of it. Like when I went to Mexico City this past April. But I just thought it would be more frequent and more extensive since I now have a steady income that allows me to save money. My pinterest is filled with pictures of far away places that I long to see. And yet, its going to be another year before I have the time to actually go where I want. It seriously makes my heart hurt a little. And I have money saved up too. If its not one thing its another.

In my perfect world I would write, sell books, travel around the world, and live with the love of my life.

Theres gotta be more to life!