Begin

And so I begin.

I wish I could offer you more than a simple note but the website redesign is well under way and I am currently going through all 800 posts I have written over the last few years and re-labeling them to match the exciting new pages that I am creating on the new site.  The ability to move through the website is going to be SO MUCH EASIER and I cannot wait to see it all come together.  I must spend the few hours I have today getting this done so I am going leave you simply with this quote.

So often we want to begin, but something holds us back.  

Fear.  Frustration.  Uncertainty.

But it really is simple isn't it?

To begin, is simply to begin.

Taking that first step may be the hardest, but the reward outweighs it all.

I challenge you all to begin something you have been wanting to do.

Can I promise it will work out?

Nope.

But I can promise that you will never regret trying, you will only regret not beginning.

Happy Monday.

Weekend

It's Friday!  It's Friday!

I cannot believe we are at the last week of March and April starts next Tuesday.  I know they say the years start to go fast but I had no idea that they would go as fast as they are.  Sometimes I feel like everything is on fast forward.

This weekend we of course have a ton of sporting events but I am really looking forward to some mellow evenings at home and a little Mother/Son fun on Sunday.

If you missed it this week...

I shared this little gem of a store in Los Olivos...

I made my favorite lunch...

I shared a little glimpse of our Spring activity...

I am trying to turn my black thumb around with this...

Happy Weekend.

Fiddle Dee Dee

I am totally jumping on the Fiddle Fig Tree bandwagon.

They are just too cute.

I went back and forth between a real one and a fake one because I tend to have a strong inability to keep plants alive, both inside and out.  I really tried for the fool proof fake but nothing looked as good as the real ones.  And so, here I go.  Lucky for me a local nursery will order the tree, pot it for me and deliver it right to our living room, without me destroying it.  Once it is in the house, it is up to me and I am going to DO MY BEST to take care of this thing.

Besides my recently potted succulents in our kitchen, this will be the first living plant allowed into our home...  

I think I can... I think I can... I think I can...

* images via 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

Ball Park

Weekends = Baseball

Hello Spring!

The best part is that getting ready for a game is about as easy as it gets.

Tee, cut offs, hat and sneakers and you are ready to go!

Avocado Toast + Cheese

I know I am jumping on the trend bandwagon with this post but I do not care because I am obsessed with Avocado Toast.  For breakfast, lunch or dinner, I just cannot get enough.  As a mom, it does make the EASIEST lunch ever, allowing you to get some great nutrients in with very little time.  The only difference between mine and perhaps the uber healthy version is that I like cheese with it, because cheese is my favorite and I see no reason not to add it.  Here is what you need to do...

Ingredients:
Two slices of cheese
One Avocado
Two pieces of bread
Salt and pepper

1. Turn your broiler on.
2. Toast two pieces of bread in your toaster and then set on a baking sheet with a slice of cheese on each piece.
3. Still the toast and cheese under the broiler just long enough to melt the cheese on top.
4. Remove from the oven and place on a plate.
5. Slice the avocado and lay slices across each piece of toast.
6. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
ENJOY!

Waxing Poetic

The final stop of my retail therapy in Los Olivos was Waxing Poetic, a jewelry, charms, candles and housewares boutique.  You may have heard of Waxing Poetic as they has been mentioned in a number of publications and is not only available in their two boutiques (Los Olivos and Summerland) but also in numerous boutiques across the country.  The last time I was in Los Olivos they were in a different location so I was excited to visit the new store and of course, peruse all the dainty treasures.

When you enter the store, you immediately feel as if you are in someone's living room.  Books line the walls, there is a beautiful writing desk and you are surrounded by intricately designed charms, jewelry, scarves and candles...just to name a few.  I found myself getting lost in the store as I immediately began thinking of all the sentimental gifts that I could pick up here.  Something for the bride, for your pregnant sister, your mother, a first communion.  Truly, they have embraced the moments of life and created opportunities for you to give something that is just not a gift but something that will be held on to forever.  I may have also started my own "wish list" for the hubby while I was inside.  As with all the boutiques I visited while in the valley, the customer service was phenomenal and even though I have discovered all the locations Waxing Poetic is available in Orange County, there is still something special about being in this store in Los Olivos.  It is a very special little place.

You can visit the Los Olivos boutique at 2477 Alamo Pintado Ave. or click here to find where Waxing Poetic is sold near you.  

I also recommend following them on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with their new pieces.

Weekend

I love this picture of my husband.  I am not even sure he knows I took it.  We were walking around Mission Santa Ynes and he simply just sat down for a moment and took it all in.  It is very rare that I see him pause for a second.  With how much we are going-going-going, these moments do not come often.  But for just a minute, he sat.  I think we all need that every now and then, though we do not always allow ourselves to take it.  About a second after this shot was taken, the kids were yelling to move on and just as fast as he sat, he was at it again, but perhaps with just a little more at peace than he had before.

If you missed it this week...

We came home...

I shared my cowgirl side...

I made a visit here...

and then here...

Happy Weekend.

Wendy Foster

Nestled next door to my favorite coffee house in Los Olivos is Wendy Foster, a boutique that exudes classic sophistication with a relaxed country feel.  The walls are filled with art representing the Santa Ynez Valley while the tables and racks are filled with simple yet chic pieces that fit right into the Los Olivos lifestyle...or any lifestyle for that matter.  With designers such as Vince, Joie and Current Elliott alongside local designers such as Emily Rosendahl, there was just too much goodness in one place for me to handle.  The staff was extremely friendly and I had a wonderful time chatting with them while I shopped.  Just like I said with yesterday's visit, I will definitely be back.      

Wendy Foster is located at 2928 San Marcos Ave., Los Olivos, Ca. with additional locations in Santa Barbara.  I highly suggest following their Instagram account to see all the new merchandise they receive, along with shots from their life in Los Olivos.   

Plenty Boutique

A few months ago I began following the Plenty Boutique in Santa Ynez on Instagram and knew instantly that they were a "must stop" the next time I was up there.  The pieces they showcased and the travels they took gave me the sense that I was going to like this place.

It was better than I even expected!  I adore their ability to bring the ethereal and wonderlust feeling of the valley that I love so much into a beautiful boutique filled with all sorts of treasures.  It was a bohemian paradise.  Everywhere I looked their was something that caught my eye.  The boutique began from two friends who make their own jewelry and you could spend hours looking through every piece.  Racks are filled with Free People, Stone Cold Fox, J Brand, Bella Luxx and many other brands that share in the laid back yet sexy feel you often see in Orange County.  If you are not in the mood for clothes or jewelry, there are a number of bags, bath products, hats, scarves and numerous other accessories scattered throughout the boutique.  It was cozy, welcoming and fun to shop.  It was such a lovely experience and I will definitely be back.

Plenty Boutique is located at 1110 Faraday St., Santa Ynez. California.  

I highly suggest following them on Instagram and liking them on Facebook to preview their incoming merchandise and events. 

* No compensation was provided for this post.  When I see something I love, I want to share it!

Cowgirl

via

I may not be an official cowgirl but I often find myself drawn to cowboy hats, country music, boots and cowhide.  It tends to get worse whenever I leave the Santa Ynez Valley.  Sure you can totally overdo it, which can be bad...really bad.  But when tastefully incorporated into your wardrobe and interior design, it adds a warmth and comfort that I just love.

Returning Home

Oh Monday, you always arrive too soon.

Today we are heading home from yet another wonderful few days in the Santa Ynez valley.  I am not sure what it is about this place that tugs at the heart strings of both my husband and I but we just cannot ever get enough.  I would like to chalk it up to us both going to college in the Central Coast but it is more than that.  We have friends that live here that we just adore spending time with.  We love walking from the house to the local coffee shop, letting the kids run through empty fields, eating some incredible "farm to table" food, wine tasting, meeting and getting to know many of the locals and overall, just embracing the relaxed feeling that being in the valley brings.  As soon as we leave, I am already thinking about planning our next trip back.  Anyone else have a place that does this to them?

I did step away from the family just a bit to visit a few of the local boutiques and am excited to share each of them with you.  The retail therapy in the valley continues to get better and better and I thought I would share some of my favorites.  Keep an eye out for them over the next few days.  

Now it is time to pack up the house, jump on the 101 and re-enter reality, but first I think I am going to do one more walk through the canyon, just to catch one more breathe.

If you are interested in seeing more of our trips to the Santa Ynez Valley, here are some additional posts from last year (January, February, May).  I also updated my favorites!

Happy Monday.

Weekend

Friday!

We are heading out of town today to one of my favorite spots and I cannot wait to get going.  With how busy our schedules seems at times, I love when we find opportunities to sneak away with the kids and just enjoy being a family without timelines and expectations.  It is so necessary!     

I want to thank everyone for their kind texts and comments on Wednesday's post.  I hope that by sharing my journey with anxiety, others can related or just know that they are not alone with how they may feel at times.  Life is such a roller coaster and the power of women is pretty incredible.  I feel there is such a benefit to sharing and relating to each other.  Thank you for the support and love!

Happy Weekend.

Gladiator

I have been eyeing these Stuart Weitzman Gladiator Sandals since our trip to Chicago in January when I was sitting in -40 degree weather for the first time of my life and thinking of warmer weather.

They were made for long legs!  

I continue to go back and forth on pulling the trigger but meanwhile, these gladiator sandals are just as cute and perhaps offer a little more relief on the wallet than my little investment piece above.

  

Mr. Anxiety and Me

via

It has been a long time since I have said anything about my anxiety.

This doesn't mean that it is gone, or that I am over it or that it is not any less important in my life.  

I guess the reason I haven't said much about it is because I have been fortunate enough that it has not really affected me lately.

And so I say nothing.

But then I realized that perhaps these are the moments that I should say something about it because right now my head is clear.  So often, when I am having terrible anxiety, my only focus is how much I do not like it and what I should do to get through it.  I never really take a step back and see what has changed over the last two and a half years since being diagnosed with anxiety.  What has changed regarding how I deal with things and how I have changed as a person.  

So now I will say something.  

When anxiety hits, it is awful.  Anyone who suffers from it will tell you that it feels terrible and sucks the joy right out of you as you wait, expecting something terrible to happen.  It is no way to live life yet it is so hard to break free from.  I would not wish it upon anyone.

But there is a positive to it.

Yes, I said a positive side to anxiety.

And that is the lessons you learn about yourself as you become stronger in your will to not be anxious.

Anxiety, as much as I hate it, has made me look at myself and the way I live life and really made me decide who I want to be.

Thanks to anxiety, my faith is stronger than it has ever been.  Though I was raised Catholic, I do not believe I have truly been Catholic until this past year.  My faith has become my rock when fighting this and I am so grateful that something brought me so close to something I was missing.  I have also given up the need for control, independence and perfection.  I no longer feel the need to control everything around me, accepting that I can't.  I depend on my husband more than anyone but I also depend on my friends and family, knowing that I cannot make it through life on my own.  And perfection is unattainable, no matter how hard you try.  I am more open about my shortcomings, understanding that we all have them.  I find time to pray, go to yoga, take a bath and re-center, knowing that "me time" is important, even if some days it is extremely short.  And I am stronger.  With every moment of anxiety that I work through, I realize the power I have and it brings a confidence that was never there before.  

So I guess what I am saying is, I am a happier person with anxiety than I was before the anxiety hit.  

Sounds crazy I know, but sometimes it is the thorn in our side that begins to define who we want to be, how we want to live and what we are not going to let get us down.

There are so many people that deal with so many things that I cannot imagine experiencing in life.  I look up to these people with so much admiration, thinking to myself that I would never be able to handle their circumstance as well as they do.  Life tends to put everything into perspective.  My issue is a small one, and if this is the biggest thing I need to deal with in life, then I have been fortunate.

So perhaps anxiety is not that bad.... who am I kidding.  It is terrible.

But I will always keep my glass half full.  

Insta-Life

It has been a long time since I have shared some of my life from Instagram on here.  

This is just a taste of what has been going on.

You can see a greater glimpse into my everyday by following me here: @jugglinginheels