how to do summer

summer has arrived, and although i am far from being a summer connoisseur, here are my top six tips for surviving the season:

1. start the day with a satisfied tummy.

2. protect yourself from the sun's beaming rays...bring shade.

3. find a good book and dive into it. recommendation: a homemade life.

4. hydration is not a trend. it is a fact of life. tote your water bottle.

5. satisfy those cravings. feeling savory? how about fish tacos. need a little sweet treat? well hello there, ice cream. follow your heart...or stomach. 

6. and last but not least, be open to love...it's all around!

mother flow

why oh why, Mother Flow, must you be so gosh darn persistent? after a few months of your absence, why did you have to come back and remind me of your power?

the aches. the cramps. the unwarranted episodes of crying. the heaviness...the mess!

i grew so accustomed to living month-by-month without you, and now, at the launch of summer, you decide to return. Mother Flow, i do love you for the purpose of your work, but i have to be honest when i say: i don't have to like you right now.


yours truly.

this is daddy

in honor of father's day, here is a post for the one who...

never fails to make me laugh from deep within.

will always make sure the oil in my car is filled.

enjoys his space and the finer things in life: barbeque, naps, and morning newspaper.

will stay up late jamming to his iPOD.

teaches me a thing or two about relaxing.

still tucks me in bed when i visit.

tinkers around the house, fixing, building, or finding something to fix or build.

will shed a tear and try to hide it.

loves his wife and daughter unconditionally.

here's to you, daddy! 

banana scan

while in line at starbucks this afternoon, i witnessed an unusual occurrence: a banana being scanned. why, i asked myself, did this seem so out of the ordinary? after two minutes of contemplation and mental flashbacks of trips to the market, it donned on me that fruit don't have bar codes. they have numbers, specific identifications. during that brief moment of banana scanning, i felt a tad offended. that poor piece of sustenance was reduced to the equivalent of an "item." an item with a bar code.

yes, starbucks, i realize you're not a market, but please don't dismiss a fruit's usual identification for reasons i have yet to learn. that blinking light and scanning beep throw fruit advocates, like myself, for a wild loop.

the market basket

over the past few months, i've realized the importance of varying totes, coordinating our carry-wear with specific tasks and activities. a clutch for a party or late-night outing...perfect for an ID, keys, lip gloss. a wicker tote for the beach...the ideal bag for all things sandy. the over-the-shoulder bag...easily accommodates books and laptop without putting undue force on a particular shoulder. 


my preoccupation with carry-wear became apparent every time i frequented the farmer's market. there i was, filling my canvas bags with fresh finds. sure, it was an earth-friendly alternative to the plastic bag, but every time i got home, i was bothered: my soft-fleshed fruits and vegetables were either bruised or prematurely leaking their juices....all because they were crushed by each new addition inside the canvas bag. the strawberries beneath the cauliflower, beneath the nectarines, beneath the radishes, and so on.

let me preface that i take tender care of my produce. each deserves to be savored in its most prime state. i cringe (and occasionally voice my opinion) when the bagger at the grocery store tosses everything into one bag without giving a single thought to the food's sensitivity, its delicate nature.

finally acknowledging the anxiety evoked by the canvas bag, i took action. i marched over to pottery barn, scoured the store, and fixed my eyes on the perfect market basket. i eagerly used it this morning, and to no surprise, i was instantly pleased...

sturdy enough to withstand the produce weight. open enough to hold my flowers without destroying their faces. big enough to separate the goods, but small enough to carry without strain. clearly, i am an advocate of market baskets. oh, the possibilities that await with undefiled produce!

fear not the gloom

it's no secret: june gloom is here. the drizzly mornings, fooling out-of-towners into thinking the entire day will be sopped in. the early evening blanket of marine layer, forcing the summer-loving demographic into fashioning a light sweater. june gloom is our annual guest, a lovely spectacle.

i am one to admit it has taken me a substantial amount of time to see the beauty in the gloom. in my younger days, june gloom was the enemy. actually, anything associated with fog and mist was the enemy. having a thick mane of curly hair and a juvenile preoccupation with appearances, i did everything in my power to avoid the prospect of frizzy hair - even if that meant wearing baseball caps and headbands. i despised the schizophrenic weather. what do i wear for the day? what time should i go to the beach? should i even go to the beach? oh, what will i do if the sun never comes out? it was a continual battle: me vs. june gloom.

i don't really know how i came to terms with this annual guest. perhaps i've put up my white flag, surrendering to this unrelenting victor. perhaps it's because i enjoy early morning runs, sans heat. or maybe it's because i've finally arrived to me: curly hair, frizzy hair, wild hair, and all. whatever the reason, i am happy to welcome this gloomy season, always comforted by the sweet breaks of light.

i did it!

i did it! i ran my first half-marathon! having no expectations, i entered this race with endless possibility. no time to beat, no competitor to run against. it was just me, running because i love it. running because it's freedom. running because it's a proactive approach to benefitting a cause: kicking cancer to the curb!

at the health expo

it was an early day. woke up at 3:30 am, in san diego by 4:30 am, at the start line by 6 am. sleepy? no way! with over 32,000 runners, i was charged with energy.

my support: gino and kristen (cousin). bless their hearts!

it couldn't have been a more beautiful morning...clear skies, cool temperature, and scenic course. and the music! at the start line, i began the race to footloose. at that moment, i knew it was going to be an amazing experience. 

and it was. i loved running with people of all ages, shapes, and sizes. i loved knowing everyone was running for a different reason. to compete and qualify for another marathon. to celebrate a life. to cross this off a bucket list. to propose. i loved the cheers from the spectators. i loved being uplifted by the music. and i also loved the silence while running through the intervals without music. focus. determination. refection. 

i finished the race in 1 hour and 52 minutes. i finished feeling like i could run forever. a natural high came over me, fueling me to cross the finish line blowing kisses. when i turned the last corner and saw my mom, gino, and kristen cheering for me, i felt like i had come home. like i had traversed a route of unknowns to satisfy something within myself, coming out of it feeling inspired and welcomed by people i love. it was thrilling. 

the finish line

about 15 feet from the end

my sweet support

running the rock 'n' roll half-marathon was one of the greatest experiences of my life. as much as i try to paint a detailed picture of the day, there really is no way to convey the immense emotion and satisfaction that was felt. it will be interesting to see how the next half-marathon goes...santa barbara, i'll be seeing you in november!

note: just so you know, the bowel movement came AFTER the race! hallelujah! 

the big day

the countdown begins. in 16 hours, i will be stretching, praying, and lining up for the rock 'n' roll half-marathon. from the moment i committed to this feat in january, june 5th has been a much anticipated day. less than 24 hours from changing a dream to reality, i am feeling a mix of emotions...and here they are:

i am...

-- drunk with the energy brewing from yesterday's health expo
-- anxious about jumping - or running - into a world of unknowns
--  proud of myself for getting this far...and feeling great!
-- nervous about my bowels. during the past few runs, i've needed a toilet for the morning BM. hopefully Nature will make its call before the race
-- at peace with however i finish, as long as it's with a smile on my face and legs fully intact

so until tomorrow, keep my strength, endurance, and first-time jitters in your thoughts and prayers! off i go...