Love, Love, Love.

There are moments when we're reminded how much others love, care, and support us.  Some of these moments happened over the weekend at my engagement party.  I'm lucky to have my loving, caring, and supportive bridesmaids and true friends.  I know you'll all be awesome ninjas on the big day!

Book Clubbing

Ten months ago I started a book club with some of my dearest friends and our sisters and yesterday was our tenth meeting.  I must say it feels like Christmas every time a new book is chosen.  Does that make me a huge nerd?  Probably.  But books are wonderful things (and they deserve an independent post) and who doesn't love an excuse to grab lunch with the girls once a month?  

 

Our reading list for this book club came from those lists published by major universities and newspapers with titles like "30 Books to Read Before You're 30", "Classics to Read Before You Die", "Most Influential Books of Our Time", etc., etc..  I am itching to read them all - even though there are some titles I wouldn't pick up if it weren't for book club.  It is all about branching out!

Past reads include:  Life of Pi (Yann Martel), The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams), The Stranger (Albert Camus), The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle), Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte), Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass (Lewis Carroll), Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (Hunter S. Thompson), Sons and Lovers (D.H. Lawrence), The Elegance of the Hedgehog (Muriel Barbery), and this month's title is She's Come Undone (Wally Lamb).

Choose Gratitude

I stumbled across this article from Whole Living (one of my favorite magazines) and I felt it worth sharing here.  I will admit I struggle with choosing gratitude instead of dwelling on those daily annoyances but I feel it is totally worth it to keep trying to make the right mental choices.  This is so much easier said than done - especially when it's comfortable to slip back into old habits (I'm guilty of this, who isn't?) and to cozy up with old friends Self Pity and Negativity. 


But that is no way to live a happy, healthy life.  I'm grateful for this article:


Gratitude is a Choice--Perhaps the Most Important One

Tuesday Tune

I have to refrain from featuring a Sarah McLachlan song every Tuesday.  She is an amazing artist and she is one of my favorite singers, hands down!


"Loving You is Easy" is her first single from her new album, Laws of Illusion and I.  Can't.  Wait.  until my pre-ordered copy arrives!

The Three C's

"In dealing with people remember the three C's:  you didn't cause it; you can't control it; and you can't cure it."  - Lorna P

The Dis.

This past weekend my best friend and I visited Disneyland for the day and I was reminded (once again) how much I love the darn place!


Top 5 Reasons Why I Love THE DIS:
1.  I can be a kid no matter what my driver's license says
2.  Frozen lemonades in Adventureland and corn dogs on Main Street
3.  Laughing uncontrollably on Thunder Mountain
4.  Feeling the rush of excitement and anticipation all over again as if I've never been there before
5.  Everything else :)


Readers, what do you love most about The Dis?

Tuesday Tune

"Open up, everything's waiting for you.  You can go your own way (go your own way), you can call it another lonely day..."


One of the most inspiring, empowering songs I know and LOVE is Fleetwood Mac's 'Go Your Own Way'.  Even if you didn't just go through a break-up, singing along to this song will make you feel like you can conquer the world!  Ok, maybe I'm being dramatic - but it will DEFINITELY make you smile (and maybe do an inward fist pump).


Enjoy the original (my favorite version) and some covers by Wilson Phillips (second favorite), Dolores O'Riordan (lead singer of The Cranberries), and Carrie Underwood.

California Dreamin'

There is nothing better than the anticipation of an upcoming adventure. 

I've packed my bags and am heading down to Los Angeles for the weekend to visit my best friend.  We will have nothing short of a memorable weekend, this is guaranteed when we're together.

I'm most looking forward to laugh attacks.  The side-splitting, pee-in-your-pants, hyperventilating, cry-your-eyes-out laugh attacks.

My Favorite Person

We just finished our wedding website, phew!  And after writing my piece about James I knew I'd like to share it here, too.  He's just too great to not brag about!

James n  1.  Danielle's future husband  2.  One who is contagiously optimistic, happy, and relaxed  3.  One who often laughs out of nowhere and when asked answers "I just told myself a joke"  4.  A girl's [Danielle] best friend, fiance, handyman, and super hero  5.  One who listens intently, and always with a smile  6.  Batman undercover  7.  One who can always have fun in any situation  8.  One who has goals in life, but who is already successful  9.  One who has a knack for choosing the weirdest movies on Netflix  10.  One who is always on Danielle's side, no matter what  11.  One who will become a kind, dynamic, fantastic husband, and someday, father  12.  The greatest football player the NFL didn't draft  13.  One who can always make you laugh  14.  One who pronounces random words with a French accent  15.  One who never takes anything too seriously  16.  One who truly sees the good in each person  17.  One who has the natural ability to be friends with everyone  18.  One who stole Danielle's heart and will keep it forever.

India Inspired

Like some fellow bloggers, I also feel inspired by Anthropologie's May catalog.  It has me itching to buy their entire inventory and buy a one way ticket to India - or anywhere.

Look! Prince Charles!

I laughed harder last night than I have in a long time and it dawned on me that I should do that much more often.  My best friend and I finally connected - we usually have conversations via voicemail but last night was the real deal.  I love nothing more than to reminisce about our adventures and last night we relived our 2006 London/Paris vacation play by play.  I kept laughing, crying, and hyperventilating, and when I hung up the phone I felt like I'd just come home.  That's what (best) friends are for.


Thought I'd share some of the highlights from our quest for fun:

Tuesday Tunes

One thing I'll never get tired of:  MUSIC.  There is a song for every mood, every moment.  One of my favorite things to do is create soundtracks for my life - what an awesome job it would be to work on movie soundtrack compilations!  I first heard these songs back in college on the Putumayo radio channel on iTunes.  I was trying to concentrate on studying in the library and Putumayo saved the day!


I am excited to share with you all one of my most treasured albums (and I can honestly only say that about a handful of CDs I own!):


Putumayo Presents: Acoustic Africa

The second I hear the beginning notes of "Sore" I feel myself relaxing.  My other favorite tracks are Palea, Bana, and Tradicao.  This is a perfect cd to pop in when you want subtle, soft sounds to take you away to a faraway place.  I couldn't love it more!

Should I?

I came across this article while flipping through my mom's Oprah magazine and it really struck a chord in me:


When to Forgive and When to Hold a Grudge


Recently I've found myself expecting less from others so as not to feel disappointed if they let me down and I thought I was, perhaps, selling them short.  After reading this article I have confirmed that my actions are in the name of self preservation.  There are certain types of people I'll always have a "grudge" against - and not necessarily in a negative way but in a way that lets me still enjoy our relationship freely.

Comfort Me.

"You can always cope with the now, but you can never cope with the future - nor do you have to.  The answer, the strength, the right action, or the resource will be there when you need it, not before, not after." 

[Eckhart Tolle]

Photo taken at El Morro Fort in San Juan, PR.  May 2009.

Life is Too Short...

Be yourself; everyone else is taken. 

[Oscar Wilde]

So true.  Do what you want, do what you love!  I know it is, at times, much easier said than done BUT don't let anyone control the way you feel.  Life really is too short to let other people run it for you.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Cinco de Mayo and my recent jaunt to Mexico have me thinking of my favorite party decoration:  paper flags!  My sister and I made some for my college graduation party - not quite as beautiful as the professionally made flags but festive nonetheless!

Who could not love the vivid COLORS, and intricate cutout designs?  I am so in love!



[Photos courtesy of Casa Bonampak]

Great Friend, Great Food

Met with a girlfriend tonight for dinner and we had excellent Persian food.  How refreshing is it to talk to someone with such a realistic (not to mention optimistic) outlook?  I always love hearing her stories, thoughts, and advice.


Anything wedding related has been consuming my thoughts as of late, and unfortunately, not always in a positive way!  Certain family issues have been causing stress, to say the least.  So, I super loved being able to chat freely and to hear funny, real-life experiences in return.  It was a perfect release!


For the first time I tried Fassenjoon and the verdict is:  DELICIOUS!  I cannot wait to return - there were at least 15 menu items I am dying to try!

PS - This is one of my favorite pieces of art and is currently hanging in my dining room.  [Kairouan - Auguste Macke]

Tuesday Tune

[Make it Mine - Jason Mraz]

"Listen to your voice
the one that tells you
to taste past the tip of your tongue
leap in, the net will appear


I don't want to wake
before the dream is over
I'm gonna make it mine
Yes I, I know it...


...Well I don't wanna wait no more
Oh I want to celebrate the whole world
I'm gonna make it mine
Oh yes I'm following your joy..."




 

There's nothing like a Jason Mraz song to turn your mood around!

Think About It:

Remember:

A Ticket to Ride

Anticipation, research, list making, packing, daydreams of exploration, flurries of excitement, planning, new stamps in your passport, the innocent curiosity of a new place.

I love discovering.  I love new colors, smells, sounds, tastes.  I love learning.  I especially love the unexpected (even when I plan for it)!  

James, my parents, and I just returned from a cruise to Catalina Island, CA and Ensenada, MX.  Here are my favorite memories: