Sunday, September 27, 2009

Wonderful Weekend

After a pretty hard week, this weekend was wonderful and exactly what I needed. I took Friday off and used the day to prep for a dinner party we were having on Saturday - IKEA, Target, Jo-Ann's, and Party City. Rachel arrived in town around lunch time and we took it easy until we had to leave for Tucson to see Pink Martini at the Rialto Theatre. What an amazing show! They were just so fantastic...a lot of shimmy-shimmy in our seats. And, the Rialto is a beautiful theatre. I won't go into too many details on our KISS-rocking on the way down to Tucson and our experience of eating dinner on a bench outside of a restaurant. Just know that, as usual, Rachel and I had some quirky fun.

Saturday, we spent the day getting the house and food ready for our dinner party. We were hosting 13 of our closest friends (people who in reality were more like family). Highlights of the food: ricotta cheesecake styled by Miss Rachel, rosemary roasted almonds and homemade tomato sauce, courtesy of a recipe from Mario Batali. Before the party, Ry (yes, he was home on a Saturday -- a wonderful treat), Rachel and I went to Costco to get a few things (including delicious goat cheese with figs) and take a break over a super-cheap lunch.

Dinner was so great! We ate outside at our lovely decorated table, sharing laughs and stories. I really enjoyed seeing all of the smiling faces around the table. People I loved and cared about were all in one place. I felt blessed. The party was a hit. Most everyone left by 12 a.m., but a few of us played Guitar Hero until 2 a.m. Oh, what fun! I didn't even realize how late it was; I was enjoying myself too much.

A testament to the kind friends we have...everyone brought a gift for us. Our home looks like a florists at the moment with the flowers that were given to us -- calla lily, orchid, bouquet of sunflowers. Add chocolate bars and a beautiful-smelling salt scrub to the list of gifts and I almost don't feel worthy of the generosity. The love everyone brought to the house was enough of a gift for me. I am a lucky girl.

So today has been a wind-down, preparing for the realities of work and the grind of the weekday. Before Rachel left to drive back to Cali, we had dim sum. I can never have enough chinese broccoli with oyster sauce. Delish! After Rachel headed out on the road, I realxed a bit and read a book...which turned into a nap. Ahh! The rest of the afternoon was filled with football, a bit of work and then some TV.

What a weekend! Does tomorrow have to be Monday?

Weight Loss Challenge Update: 7 pounds lost so far

Saturday, September 05, 2009

Creative Juices

Creative juices is so kitschy, but it is the best way to describe what has been going on so far this weekend. Creativity has been bounding and hopping all over the place and I love it. I haven't been in this place for a while.

Yesterday, I spent the morning playing guitar and creating musically. Then, last night, I visited with a few friends for drinks and conversation. I ended up walking around First Friday, talking to artists. It really inspired to be more bold and courageous with my art. I shouldn't be holding it back and hiding it. Going to work on being more out there with my painting and photography.

Today, I met with another friend to talk writing. We are both working on novels so we are going to meet monthly with additions to our manuscripts, discussing ways to improve and direction. This was our first meeting and it was wonderful! I have been quite motivated to add to what I have so far. It was so nice to hear that my writing inspired him -- my writing! I have been writing off and on all afternoon, with a few cleaning and guitar-playing breaks. With the dark cloudy sky outside, it has been perfect for creating.

On an indirect note of creative juices...yesterday, I decided to get my hair cut. It hadn't been cut for about four months and I thought it was time for a trim. The hairstylist (whom I'd never had cut my hair before -- I walked into the salon near the house) had trimmed my hair and returned my long layers. My hair was about as exciting as it always is -- long hair has the tendency to just "be there." We started talking and I told her I wanted something different -- something edgier (I am having a lot of rock n roll moments lately).

"What do you suggest? I'm feeling adventurous."

"Well, we can make it edgier, but the back will be shorter than it is now."

She explained her idea for my hair and asked me what I thought.

"Let's do it!"

I now have an edgy hair cut that has been helping to feed my creativity. It is a bob with a bit of angle added to it. When she ironed out my hair yesterday with my new cut, I felt like I was channeling Joan Jett just a bit (cool). Today, with the humidity and the resulting curls, I think I have more of a Charlize Theron (I won't complain about that).

Update on my weight loss: I lost 1.5 pounds in my first week of my weight loss challenge. Feeling very good.

Currently can't listen to much more than The Beatles and Depeche Mode. It's all good.