women for women

women for women international gives me hope. it is something good in the world. it is passionate women empowering other women to be passionate. it is an organization born from the pain of one woman that has grown to change the lives of women in 8 countries. this is something i can get behind. women everywhere deserve a chance. we deserve empowerment and a hope-filled future. what a beautiful story to hear and long to be a part of.

where are the good guys??

some angry haikus
to jackasses everywhere
from fabulous girls:

seriously, why?
when your ego is put down
does hurting me help?

i opened myself
and you threw it in my face
so you could save face

i was so honest
not attacking, rude, or mean
you were not the same

i deserve better
someone who listens and loves
with no harsh judgment

where are the good guys?
who are they dating? not me
please reveal yourself

napland

joy of all joys. today i discovered the most beautiful thing: a nap room at work. i didn't know until today that such wonderful things actually exist. let me explain. in the building i work in there is a room designated for napping. it is furnished with a comfy cot-type bed, lamp, chair, shelf full of fresh sheets, and a trusty lock. how have i worked here for almost 2 months and only now found out about this?! this magical room is the best kept secret around. from now on, i am certain my lunch breaks will be better than ever.

travel

groupon getaways may very well be my new favorite website. i could get lost looking at all the adventures that our world has to offer: kenyan safaris, trips to sydney and the great barrier reef, weekend getaways to quaint lodges in new england. i want to see and experience it all. thanks, groupon, for making that possible (i can dream, can't i?).

miss representation

the following is a trailer for a new documentary that just came out that tackles the issues of how women are portrayed in the media and how disempowering that is for women.

i can't wait to see the full documentary. the trailer is thought-provoking and empowering and makes me want to do something more tangible to raise up strong, confident, independent girls.

transformation of a pumpkin

this week was busier than i expected and i never got to write about my pumpkin patch adventure last sunday. it was fabulous. thank you stocker farms in snohomish for a lovely fall day; searching for the perfect pumpkin(s), caramel apple latte in hand.

                                                 the winners

As of last night, a few of these lovely pumpkins have been transformed into works of art. i love friday nights filled with friends, homemade caramel apples, pumpkin carving, and watching Elf :)

                      my owl, tamura's harry potter pumpkin, and kirby's face

                                                      yum!

so, although it's getting dark earlier and is gray more frequently and is much colder than it was a month ago, i am still finding the beauty and traditions that fall has to offer to be quite worth the downsides of the season.

pure brilliance

"When the light turns green, you go. When the light turns red, you stop. But what do you do when the light turns blue with orange and lavendar spots?" -Shel Silverstein, A Light in the Attic


most of life lies in the "blue with orange and lavendar spots" category, doesn't it??

Ride the Ducks

today has been an incredible saturday.

wake up without an alarm
stay in bed and watch a movie
delicious coffee and letter writing
meeting my roommate's dad and stepmom
hanging out downtown at pikes place market
piroshky piroshky
great conversation with the owner of thailand junkie
riding the ducks
observing occupy wall street, seattle style

now, let me explain "ride the ducks," the number one tour in seattle. this is the ultimate tourist experience. and therefore generally the desire to experience the ducks in all their wonder as a seattle-ite (if i'm even allowed to call myself that) is looked down upon. the visit from tamura's family was the exact excuse we needed to take a duck tour. and my was it worth it. an hour and a half of exploring all the quirky, fabulous things seattle has to offer, by land and by sea (lake actually). the cheesy jokes, loud music, and laughter were endless. people on the street danced and sang with us as we sat stuck downtown due to the occupy seattle protest/rally. there is nothing more fabulous than dancing to the ymca song with a bunch of strangers and people holding signs and making a political statement. the ridiculousness of it all was what made it so inspiring. it was all i hoped for and more.

tamura and i on the duck, gasworks behind us

gasworks, lake union, and the aurora bridge

haikus for today

a day full of rain
glowing kids to remind me:
im grateful for life.

chili and quinoa
warmth to my fingers and toes
the end of monday.

Autumn in a jar

fall is here. the leaves are changing. the air is crisp. and my apartment smells of pumpkin and spices. some of my favorite things about fall are: pumpkin spice lattes, candy corn, pumpkin carving, the anticipation of christmas, baking fall flavors, pumpkin ale, caramel apples, thanksgiving, christmas decorating. my list could go on. fall is a beautiful time of year. and i must mention that i am a newbie to fall. this is only my second fall, EVER. i am unabashedly in love with the season.

in keeping with the celebration of fall, tamura and i baked delicious pumpkin cheesecake brownies yesterday. while looking at the brownie recipe, i stumbled upon what seemed like the perfect autumn dream:

homemade pumpkin spice lattes. the syrup was incredibly simple to make, and the homemade lattes i crafted this morning were divine. the syrup is autumn in a jar and the latte was everything i could hope for.

so cheers. to everything that is beautiful about fall.