Safely arrived on the east coast after a long day of travel, but I am happy to be back and looking forward to kicking off the week with my classes tomorrow as well as work later this week.
Miss her so much already but I know I’ll be home again before I know it!
Love,
Happiness Starts Here
After a couple days off of the blog, I’m happy to report back that I am absolutely loving being home! Although I miss my brother, who is still in school because his spring break isn’t for a couple more weeks, I’m digging being an only child for a little while. 😉
Yesterday, I had the privilege of singing a solo piece at both of my mom’s choral concerts. Our good family friends came to see us and it was really special to be able to share this concert and performance experience with my mom. The concerts took place at two retirement homes and I think the audiences really enjoyed the performance. It’s always very special to share music with people who so clearly appreciate it and I know from past experience that these older folks are some of the most appreciative.
On another note, since food is a pretty crucial (and super fun!) part of being home, we’ve eaten at a couple delicious restaurants, most notably Lyfe Kitchen where I devoured the best vegan burger I’ve had yet! Located in downtown Palo Alto, right off yuniversity Avenue, the atmosphere is casual but modern, and the service is incredibly quick. They have a wide selection of organic wine and beer, as well as 3 different menus based on your dining preferences and dietary concerns- Gluten free, Vegan/Vegetarian and Everything-tarian. There were so many things I wanted to try so I will definitely be back before this week ends.
Today started off with a rockin, butt-kicking boot camp at my gym! Holy cow I think I sweat out at least a gallon. And I loved every minute of it.
This afternoon mom and I took a trip downtown to hit up DSW for a new pair of audition shoes, and I totally lucked out finding these babies. They’re just the right height, super comfortable (for heels) and they’ll go nicely with all my audition garb. 🙂
The best part of being home has really been spending time with my parents, and having some wonderful talks with my mom. They arise somewhat randomly but we always have great discussions about all sorts of things, which I love and treasure.
Happy Tuesday!
Love,
Happiness Starts Here
Happy Friday friends!
Finding the joy. Today I have been feeling funky, second-guessing myself, worrying a little too much, and for no good reason. Even throughout my yoga practice this morning I felt tense and kind of angry. This was so weird to me because yoga always helps me see things more clearly and peacefully.
This afternoon I had a couple rehearsals and they went fine, I chatted with several people but two of my closest girlfriends weren’t there, so I started getting down on myself for not having any friends. What the heck? I talked with several of my pals today and just because they weren’t there, all of a sudden I was a loner? No, not one bit true!
On Wednesday I was chatting with my mom about possible career changed and I started crying. Not really a regular occurrence.
So here’s the thing. This week has been tough for me. I’ve been thinking so much about my future: my career possibilites, my family, my home, I have been so wrapped up in the future and getting it right, that I’ve been letting everything that I love about my life and myself seem like chump change. The fact is, I won’t get it perfectly right. I don’t really know that anyone ever does, but today I am choosing to acknowledge this fear I’m harboring. Today I want to choose to let some of that go, even if it’s just breathing and focusing on the things that were so great about this week; like being able to Skype with my mom, and actually having so many possibilities open to me.
So today I’m choosing joy, because I want to live my life like the celebration that it is! The things I can’t change will happen no matter what, so I want to live in this moment.
And I am seeing one of my favorite operas at New England Conservatory tomorrow, which I am really looking forward to!
What are you doing this weekend?
How are you choosing joy today?
Love,
Happiness Starts Here
Happy Monday all!
Today totally reminded me why we need to have crappy days (like yesterday) sometimes… So that the next day can be awesome! I woke up early to get in a sweaty yoga class with my man Dave Farmar, and I was SO glad that I did. There’s nothing like completely filling my lungs and sweating in the morning to know my day is going to be fabulous.
I talked with several friends on the way to school and managed to run into another one while I waited for my class to start. Chatting with friends is such a pick-me-up, even if it’s just texting each other silly things. I love the interaction 🙂
I had a really great first voice lesson back from the holiday break, and I feel so good about my progress and how I’m feeling when I sing right now. Yoga is absolutely helping me get more in touch with my breath and my body, so there is no way I’m giving up on my 40 days anytime soon!
I had a sweet lunch at my all-time favorite Cambridge eatery, Life Alive, then had an appointment and did my grocery shopping at the Co-Op over there for the second time. They have such an awesome selection of organic and local products, and the prices are super reasonable! Not to mention their bulk bins are to die for- 7 different kinds of lentils and way too many granolas to choose just one?? I might have found foodie heaven.
With my freshly re-stocked fridge, I made some bomb.com beef and bean (and veggie) chili to warm me up after being out in the cold. Now I have the pleasure of getting to Skype with my mom before diving into some reading and homework.
How did you start off your Monday?
Love,
Happiness Starts Here
Today I was proud of myself for venturing out into the cold for a bomb.com workout at the gym and a quick stop at Whole Foods on my way home, gotta get this girl’s Peanut Butter stash all stocked up! And with plenty of yummy leftovers in the fridge, my wallet thanked me for not being tempted by my favorite thing ever- the hot food/salad bar. Seriously, getting takeout there is one of the best things.
I’m enjoying being cozy at home since it’s pretty chilly outside, although I think I’ve come down with a cold… Nothing some hot tea and a good night’s sleep can’t fix right?
What’s your favorite cold remedy? I remember when I was younger my mom would always make me hot vegetable or chicken broth in a mug accompanied by buttered toasts, and I would lay in bed reading or watching a movie. Ah that actually sounds like exactly what I plan to do this evening!
Love,
Happiness Starts Here
Hello!
I hope your Thursday is treating you well. I felt really good about getting my booty in the gym this morning! Since my mini-commute to the gym is much longer in Boston than back home in Cali, I was kind of dreading having to deal with public transportation again just to get a workout in, but as soon as I stepped foot in the weight room, I remembered how worth it the extra time was. I love the feeling of exercising and making full use of my body and sweating and feeling air rush in and out of my lungs.
Besides having class and rehearsal today, I got to Skype with my mom which is always a treat. Just seeing her face and hearing her voice is comforting. 🙂
Any other endorphin junkies like me out there? What’s your favorite way to sweat?
Love,
Happiness Starts Here
<a href=”http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/11602287/?claim=tnzzjyzq24a”>HERE</a>
It’s with a slightly heavy heart that I headed back to Boston, although I was looking forward to getting back into the groove of school and music. It was truly a wonderful few weeks being home in California with my family and close friends, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience there. I was able to spend quality time with my loved ones, even traveling a bit north to San Francisco and south to Carmel and Monterey.
I knew this particular holiday break at home was going to be different from previous years and although I know it in my heart to be true, I was so happy to hear that my mom and brother both could see such a clear change in me. I have said it time and time again here, I apologize if I sound like a broken record, but I really feel like I am living again and I absolutely took in every precious second I was home and surrounded by love. I had a challenging past semester in school but it opened me up to so many new experiences and allowed me to grow so much, I can’t help but be so thankful for the opportunity. I know the coming semester will undoubtedly have its unique ups and downs, but I move forward into this new time with joy and excitement rather than fear and anxiety as I had in the past.
Here are just a few snapshots of my lovely time at home: 🙂
I hope your week is off to a marvelous start! What did you do this weekend?
Love,
Happiness Starts Here
As my final day home, it has been a pretty darn wonderful one. I started the day with a hike with my family and 2 close friends, followed by a jaunt to a nearby farmers market for fresh bagels, with cream cheese of course! My brother and I then had our last training session together for a while at the gym, and it was perfectly sweaty and we both hit personal bests on the leg press! He repped it out at 730 pounds!!!! My PR was a little less heavy but I’m still proud of myself since I pressed 4 plates for a total of 360 pounds! I felt like superwoman! 🙂
The afternoon was mostly devoted to packing, but some QT with mom getting gel manicures was definitely included. I feel so blessed to have been able to spend so much precious time with my family during this break, and that I even managed to study for and pass my personal trainer exam. It has been an amazing few weeks at home and although it would be great to stick around until the snow melts in Boston, I know I have wonderful things awaiting me upon my return, and I am really looking forward to diving back into my music and performing back at school. And searching for a job!! (Just in case anyone was looking for a part-time hard-working, organized office assistant or gym attendant in the Boston area- I’m looking, and available!)
I hope you had an enjoyable weekend! I’m topping mine off with a home-cooked dinner with the family and one of my favvvvorite tv shows, The Mentalist. Anyone else watch this? It is SO mind-bogglingly good!
Love,
Happiness Starts Here
Happy Thursday!
So I know I am a little (majorly) late to the party on this one, but I finally saw Frozen tonight and it was everything I could have hoped for and more!! I loved the story and the animation and characters were spectacular!
The music was beautiful and I especially loved that the movie didn’t feel cheesy or super over-the-top at all.
Olaf was by far my favorite character and I just couldn’t get over his little snowball feet waddling around in the snow. I had a smile on my face the entire time I was watching it!!
Have you seen any good movies lately?
Love,
Happiness Starts Here
Just getting home from a fabulous day of girly fun in San Francisco with my mom. We did a bit of shopping for the cold Boston weather since I’m headed back there (sooner than I’d like to admit). We picked up some of my favorite teas from David’s Tea and I bought my very first pair of Dr. Martens!! I have been coveting them for at least a year now so I am looking forward to wearing them constantly, beginning with breaking them in, since they’re notoriously painful…
We also managed to meet up with one of my friends from undergrad while we were downtown and popped into Galette 88. It’s a cute little bistro in the Financial District, with traditional Breton galettes, from the north of France, where my mom is from!
I feel SO much more relaxed today, now that my exam is finally behind me, so I am going to focus on enjoying myself and being home with my family until I return to the freezing east coast.
Happy hump day!
Any San Franciscans reading? What’s your favorite lunch spot in the city?
Love,
Happiness Starts Here
Happiness Starts Here 