Bopril

Quietly Festive

Sorry for the quiet of late, and for those of you that have asked, there's no special reason for it. I've just felt a little quiet, I suppose.

All is well, and we're enjoying another lovely holiday season, marveling at how in the world it can be possible that Christmas is just a few weeks away. Every year, I think it is impossible for time to go any faster, and then the next year arrives, and I realize that it isn't impossible at all.

We have been enjoying a twinkly, festive home for several weeks now, and all of my various channels have long been tuned into holiday music. I've made a good dent in the shopping list, and our holiday cards are ready to be stuffed, addressed and sent to all of the corners that hold our loved ones.

Our calendars are sprinkled with holiday parties, Husband's birthday looms on the horizon and a fun Brock family Christmas beachside in Charleston promises to end the season on a high note and with plenty of relaxation and good weather.

There are a few activities I'd still like to pack in --- a visit to the North Shore to see the houses adorned with lights, a walk through Zoo Lights in Lincoln Park, a stroll around the Christkindel market in downtown Chicago --- but even if none of those happen, it will still be a lovely holiday season that I've enjoyed immensely. Sometimes, it is nice to take what comes, slow down the mania, and just enjoy the path as it unfolds. I am finding this holiday season to be one of those times.

Our holiday traditions are still very much on track, anchored by our annual visit to Santa Paws, where the boys were on their best behavior and whispered all of their wishes to the man in red. I will never tire of watching merry pups of all ages and sizes enter the store full of exuberance, only to resort to terrified wiggles and trembles when Santa is in their sight. What is it about jolly old St. Nick that sends kids and pups alike into freak out mode? On the bright side, it always makes for an excellent photo opp:

The "I'm pretty freaked out by this guy, Mom" face remains impressively consistent from year to year. Don't believe me?

2010:

2008:

For some odd reason, we don't have 2007 or 2009 in electronic form, but they're displayed proudly on the fridge and they feature the same expressions, believe it.

Ah, holidays. I wish they came around more often, but then again, that would probably dampen the magic, at least a little. Here's hoping you're in the thick of your own holiday magic, friends.

Merry, Merry!

Thankful

For family, near and far. To be surrounded by such a strong network of people who see the best in me, love me without fail, push me to new heights, remind me that I’m never alone.

For an especially amazing husband who continues to inspire me and make me laugh and remind me that this life is beautiful and lucky and endlessly fun, mostly because I get the distinct honor of living it in his company.

For fur babies who are so much more than pets; for their sweet faces and unwavering love that pull me through the deepest of trenches and greet me with “smiles” every single day. I struggle the most in expressing my gratitude for these furry little beings; words aren’t quite adequate to convey what they’ve brought to my life.

For grace and for surprises, often intermingling, always catching me when I most need to be caught and always reminding me of the importance of perspective, and of the promise of what’s to come. I think 2012 is going to be an especially amazing year for us, and I’m grateful in advance.

For unwavering spirit and belief, for perseverance and fortitude, and the knowledge that we are at least partially responsible for the path in front of us. What we put into the world does tend to come back to us, and even when times are tough, I try always to tip the scales in favor of putting good into the universe. I see so many doing the same. It gives me pause, and inspires gratitude.

For a warm home, a table overflowing with food, good health and good cheer. It is too easy to take these things for granted when so many make do with so much less.

For this space which gives me a place to exercise my writing muscle and connect with friends near and far. Even when I’m far too inconsistent with posting or even wholly uninspired, being a click away from access to you is a blessing.

For all of this, and so much more,  I am immensely thankful.

+++++++++++++++++++++

I hope that you enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving with your loved ones, friends. I hope you were surrounded by all that you’re especially thankful for, and that you were able to reflect on all that makes your life awesome.

We spent a quiet few days at the lake this year; our colds lingered a bit, but overall, we’re on the mend and the quiet and relaxation was just the ticket to push us back to good health. We cooked and ate and talked and read and watched Love Actually and Christmas Vacation and the requisite boatload of football. But mostly, we were content just to be. And I was struck, as I am every year, by the embarrassment of riches that I’ve been blessed with. And I relaxed in MIL's cozy home and gave thanks for every single one.

My cup runneth over. Happy Holidays – my favorite time of year – from our family to yours.

Happy Wednesday: Marcel the Shell

I am going to go out on a limb and assume this is the most adorable thing you'll watch all week. This video has been making the rounds, and I can't stop watching it.

"Treats and snoozin', snoozin' and treats, that's it."

"Wanna know why I smile so much? Uh, cuz it's worth it!"

Hope you enjoy, friends.

To Emmy on her Birthday

I am thinking of this sparkling little girl today, on her third birthday, and of her amazing Mommy, whom I adore. I can’t believe I haven’t yet scooped up this little cutie in person, but thanks to technology, I feel like I know a little of her spirit.

(photo borrowed from Mommy's blog --- hope you don't mind, Rob!) :)

Happy birthday, sweet Emmy! You’re already showing three who’s boss.

Jumble

This morning, we began the day with a quick walk around the block following our Starbucks run. We do this most Fridays, since I work from home and we have a little more time and flexibility. The leaves have turned and are starting to fall, and our neighbors have begun showing their adoration for Halloween in the form of webbing and pumpkins and scary things galore. It makes me smile, all of it. These final few months of the year are truly my favorite, and I vow each and every October to really dig in and enjoy the hell out of every moment.

As I was walking this morning, my brain was running on a hamster wheel --- I need to find a better apple orchard this year and find time to go earlier, where is the nearest pumpkin patch, oh, let's decorate the front of the building with mums, pumpkins, and maybe a hay bale or two, need to get costumes for the fur babes --- on and on it spins. I do this so often. In my haste to live every season, make awesome memories with my family, write and rewrite our story, I find myself in a place where there is just never enough. Not enough time, not enough options, not enough clarity, not enough. 

I am trying hard to reign that in, because wrapping up my favorite time of year in anxiety and a quest to have the perfect season is really just missing the entire point, isn't it?

Because in the end, we won't remember elaborate plans and trips and activities. We'll remember simple walks together, watching the leaves fall and enjoying our festive neighbors and their interpretations of each holiday. We'll remember fur babes running through leaves, the taste of chai lattes, the feeling of home, no matter the season.

Let's slow down, friends. And enjoy the awesome things in front of us every day instead of looking for the perfect way to experience our lives. As it turns out, we knew how to do that all along.

Would you like a few fun reads for your Friday? Well, ok then!

A simple (and awesome) way to honor an amazing man

DIY side tables that had me plotting similar projects of my own

The perfect blend of casual and chic

The right idea for celebrating Fall (and family, and love, and all things awesome)

The reason I am now obsessed with finding something to stencil. These two amaze me on the regular.

Happy Fall, y'all!

iSad

We knew it was coming. But it doesn’t make it any easier to accept, or any less sad or jolting to go --- in just a moment’s time --- from a world with such a legendary artist to one without.

I’ve been watching the outpouring of sadness and remembrance and tributes and expressions of gratitude on a semi-constant loop, and I’m just…sad. Time is particularly cruel in this way, I think. It sneaks up on you and shows you in Technicolor how much a stranger meant to your daily life, how impactful his gifts were on your interactions, your connections, your work.

There isn’t much I can say, really --- and so many are saying it better than I ever could, but apart from the obvious fact that he will remain a legend, that he was creative brilliance personified, that he changed the world indelibly, more than once, I think the thing I’ll take away the most from this is what death always reminds us of: that none of it is certain. We can’t see to the end, no matter how much we might like to. There isn’t enough time to waste a moment, not enough days or hours or minutes to push to tomorrow what we could do today.

I hope that his innovation, determination and spirit will remain and will continue to inspire brilliance and out-of-the-box thinking, both within Apple’s walls and in schools and households and companies around the world. I hope we’ll learn something from his much too early passing, and that we’ll apply it to our own lives and construct our days in such a way as to live every last drop out of them.

I will continue to play in the immense playground that he built and left for us, and use his “toys” to create work that matters to me, and hopefully also to you. I will be grateful for his commitment to taking chances and pushing forward, always. I will remember him from time to time in the coming weeks and months and years when I swipe my finger across a shiny screen, and open up a whole world of engagement and creation and innovation, quite literally at my fingertips.

Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do. -Steve Jobs. 

 

RIP, Steve. And thank you, as much for the lessons on how to live my days as for the brilliant technology that helps me do it better.

Friday Funday

Today is a 'mental health day,' aka 'comp day' from work that I was about to lose if I didn't quickly use it. The last couple of weeks have been pretty intense, so I decided to kick-start the weekend with a day at home and catching up on life.

Thus far, I've enjoyed a morning walk, chai latte in hand, an acupuncture session and consult with the lovely Caroline (whom I adore), and some time browsing my beloved inter-webs. Veggies are currently steaming on the stove, and I think there is considerable reading and perhaps a mani-pedi in my near future.

Even though the day has also included a considerable amount of time and effort cleaning up runny doggie excrement - from the rug, and also my sock - overall, I quite like this extra weekend day all to myself.

I know it will fade all too fast, so I'm off to enjoy the expanse that's left in front of me. Have a lovely weekend, friends.

And before you go, a few gems I've enjoyed this week, for your reading pleasure:

Cute (and love) overload via the always lovely artist of words, Rebecca

A place I think we all know well, and one we can collectively push against

Just the kick in the pants I needed this week (perhaps you need it too?)

Awesome advice for exploring an awesome city

An important reminder (that I intend to watch regularly)

And finally, a relaxing photo for a relaxing Friday:

The Horses of Derby

The Hats of Derby

Happy Weekend!

I know that I still owe you the final few stops from our Italy trip as well as our Derby fun from last weekend. I am working on all, and will post them in short order, I promise.

But in the interim, best wishes for a happy weekend. I'm powering through my workday with my trusty Friday office mates and the gorgeous peonies I picked up last week that are still going strong. I've always loved peonies, but they are currently making a run for the title of my very favorite flower. Aren't they stunning?

We're getting organized this weekend, attacking closets and drawers and any excess space that is enabling clutter. No area will escape my wrath and by Monday, we'll be fully ready to (finally) transition into a new season at Casa Carretta. I'm hoping to get a little planting done as well so that our front and back balcony and patio will be spring and summer ready too.

Have a lovely and relaxing weekend, Internet. I hope it is filled with all the things you love to do and the people you love to do them with. TGIF.